The courtyard buzzed with tension, dust swirling gently in the late afternoon light. Amidst the crowd of students and onlookers, Xiao Wu stood defiant, her small frame practically bristling with indignation. Though her flushed cheeks and soft features gave her an almost cherubic appearance, her glare carried all the bite of a storm barely contained.
With one hand planted firmly on her hip and the other jabbing toward her opponent, she shouted, "Xiao Chenyu! You really haven't learned your lesson, have you? Picking on us part-timers again—weren't you humiliated enough last time?"
Her voice rang out, clear and unyielding, silencing the murmurs around them.
Beside Chenyu stood his elder brother, Xiao Huo—a man built like a furnace, his presence fueled by arrogance. Backed by his reputation, his smirk deepened.
"Heh. Do you even know who my brother is?" Chenyu shot back smugly. "He's a Soul Master at level twenty-eight! Have you ever seen anyone that powerful at his age? What's your brother got, huh? Peasant tricks and cheap luck?"
Xiao Huo chuckled darkly and stepped forward, eyes narrowing at Xiao Wu. "So, this little brat's the one who laid a finger on my brother?" His voice dropped into a low, mocking tone. "Where's your pathetic excuse of a brother now? Tell him to come out and die like a man."
At that, a spark ignited behind Xiao Wu's eyes. Her lips curled into a snarl.
"Oh, a big-deal Soul Master, huh? And you think that gives you the right to insult my brother?" she barked. "I'll show you that Xiao Wu isn't someone you can push around!"
For her, Qian Yu wasn't just a brother—he was her anchor, her guardian, her world. The thought of anyone defiling his name with their contempt lit a fire in her chest that could only be quenched by battle.
Before another insult could fly, she launched herself forward.
Xiao Wu's martial art, a fluid and elegant grappling style, made her look more like a dancer than a fighter. She twirled through the air, leg extended in a swift, arcing kick aimed straight at Xiao Huo's head.
But power isn't always met with grace.
Xiao Huo, despite his bulk, moved with seasoned ease. With a flick of his arm, he intercepted her attack, lifting her clean off the ground. Her body arced midair before crashing onto the dirt with a dull thud.
"Cute, but you're out of your league," he sneered, brushing invisible dust from his shoulder. "Send your brother instead. At least he might last more than five seconds."
Gritting her teeth, Xiao Wu scrambled back to her feet. The pain in her ribs did little to dull her fury.
"You arrogant blowhard!" she spat. "You'll regret this!"
Xiao Huo's expression darkened. "Enough! You want to fight? Then I'll oblige."
With a deep breath, he summoned his spirit. Flames burst to life along his arms, licking at the air with a hungry glow. A brilliant yellow and white pair of spirit rings rose around him, crackling with energy.
"Let's see how you handle this."
He lunged forward like a meteor, body engulfed in fire. The very air seemed to warp around him, his spiritual pressure collapsing the space within three meters. There was no finesse—only overwhelming force.
Xiao Wu didn't flinch.
As he barreled toward her, she dipped low, spinning into another graceful counter. Her limbs moved like water around him, catching his momentum and redirecting it in a single, artful twist—
BOOM.
The ground shook as Xiao Huo was flung backwards, skidding several meters across the courtyard.
For a moment, even his own lackeys were too stunned to cheer.
"You little—!" he snarled, leaping to his feet and charging again. This time, the flames surged from his palms as he unleashed a barrage of strikes.
The air crackled as their hands collided.
A flash of red and blue light burst between them, a shockwave rippling outward and knocking several spectators off balance.
Xiao Wu staggered back, her breath ragged, arms trembling. She was strong—but this time, she was struggling.
From the sidelines, Xiao Chenyu sneered. "That's what you get for crossing me!"
And then—
A voice, low and calm, cut through the chaos.
"Oh? I heard someone was looking for me. And when they couldn't find me... they thought bullying my sister was a good idea?"
Heads turned.
From the edge of the crowd, a slender figure stepped forward. His eyes were calm as moonlit water, his stride slow and measured.
It was Qian Yu.
"Qian Yu-ge!" Xiao Wu's voice rang out like a bell, breaking into a bright smile as she ran to his side.
Around them, the other part-timers erupted into cheers.
"Boss!"
"Boss is back!"
Qian Yu reached out, ruffled Xiao Wu's hair gently, and said with a soft smile, "You've done well. Leave the rest to me."
She nodded, the tension in her shoulders finally melting.
Xiao Huo, sizing him up with a sneer, said, "So, you're the punk who laid hands on my brother?"
Beside him, Chenyu barked, "That's him, big bro!"
Qian Yu looked up—Xiao Huo easily stood a head taller—but didn't flinch.
"Yep, that was me," he said calmly. "So, you're the one pretending to be a big shot? What was it—Little Firefly, was it?"
The jab hit its mark. Xiao Huo's brow twitched.
"Well, aren't you sharp-tongued," he growled. "Let's see if you're half as good with your fists."
Qian Yu's gaze stayed level. "I don't need to be amazing. Just strong enough to squash a firefly."
Xiao Huo began to circle him, voice dropping into a more serious tone. "You do realize who my father is, don't you? He's the lord of Nuoding City. Hurt me, and not even the Academy can protect you."
Gasps spread through the watching students. The weight of Xiao Huo's words hit hard—none of them had known the city's lord had a son enrolled here.
"You filthy strays!" Xiao Huo spat at the part-timers. "This city only tolerates you out of pity, and this is how you repay us? I'll see you all kicked out of Nuoding by nightfall!"
The crowd of students wavered. Some faces turned pale. Even the boldest among them hesitated.
But not Qian Yu.
He stood there, tranquil as still water.
He had faced Haotian Douluo himself without trembling. Why would he fear a loudmouth with a famous dad?
Even if the city lord himself showed up, Qian Yu wouldn't blink.
Behind Xiao Huo, several guards loomed, thick-necked and grim-faced. They watched Qian Yu closely, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
Qian Yu smiled faintly.
"So that's it. You're the city lord's son," he said, stepping forward. "Then I suppose today's your unlucky day. Because even your father won't be able to save you."
"You little—! Are you mocking me?" Xiao Huo growled, his fists clenched.
Qian Yu's voice turned cold.
"No," he said, eyes gleaming like tempered steel. "I don't waste time mocking the dead."
Because Xiao Wu had been hurt. And to Qian Yu, that was the one line no one—no matter who they were—could ever cross.
A dragon's reverse scale had been touched.
And that could only mean one thing.
Someone was going to die.
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