In Qian Ye's eyes, Hu Liena was despicable — perhaps even more so than her master, Bibi Dong.At least Bibi Dong's cruelty came from conviction. Hu Liena's came from weakness.
A student molded by the so-called Pope, gifted with endless resources, trained to be the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall — and yet, she betrayed it all for love.For Tang San, of all people.
The Clear Sky Sect's whelp. The same blood that slaughtered my parents…
Qian Ye's expression did not change, but a chill flickered in his eyes.
To love your enemy is not compassion. It's rot disguised as mercy.
He recalled everything: Hu Liena's fall in the City of Slaughter, her infatuation with Tang San's false identity, and the chaos that followed.Because of her, Spirit Hall had lost not one, but three hundred-thousand-year spirit rings — and with them, victory itself.
If Bibi Dong had absorbed those rings, Tang San would have never stood a chance.The war's end at Jialing Pass might have been written in Spirit Hall's favor.
Instead, it was written in shame.
A pretty face hiding a rotted heart. That is Hu Liena.
As for Yan, he was nothing more than a loyal fool — a dog in love with his leash.He followed her since childhood, adored her, obeyed her every whim, and received nothing in return but a smile and rejection.
And Xie Yue — ever the performer, elegant and hollow. A peacock that mistook vanity for strength.
These three, the so-called "Golden Generation."Golden? No. Gilded tin — bright on the surface, soft beneath.
He almost laughed aloud at the thought.
No wonder Spirit Hall fell. With "prodigies" like these, how could it not?
Qian Ye walked calmly down the street.
Hu Liena's voice cut through the air like a spark against flint."Qian Ye! Stop right there!"
Her tone carried the arrogance of one used to obedience.
He didn't stop.
But the three were faster, closing in to block his path.
Hu Liena pointed at him, her expression cold. "I told you to stop. Didn't you hear me?"
Yan stepped forward with a sneer. "Hey, brat, Na-na's talking to you. What, you deaf?"
They towered over him — twelve, thirteen, fourteen years old — while he looked barely six. To them, this was mockery made easy.
Qian Ye stopped at last. His expression was unreadable, his gaze level. "Is there something you need?"
Hu Liena folded her arms, voice laced with disdain."You're the wild child the Grand Elder picked up, aren't you? The one who dared to refuse my teacher's gift?"
At those words, the air around Qian Ye grew heavy.
"Wild child."
The phrase echoed like poison in his ears.
His parents' blood, spilled by the Clear Sky Sect, still haunted him — but they had been his parents.No one had the right to erase that.
Hu Liena's words continued, sharp as daggers."The Pope herself offered you a ten-thousand-year soul bone, and you refused? Do you even understand what kind of honor that is? Even I've never received such a gift!"
Qian Ye's eyes narrowed. Jealousy… so that's her motive.
That meant only one thing: Bibi Dong herself had whispered the story in Hu Liena's ear.A manipulation meant to test him — or bait him.
Clever. She can't move against me openly, so she sends her little disciples to play at provocation.
Hu Liena took a step forward, chin raised. "I challenge you. Let's see what kind of power makes my teacher favor a child like you—"
Smack!
The slap came before she could finish.
A sharp crack echoed across the street.
Hu Liena froze, stunned. The world itself seemed to halt for a heartbeat. Even Yan and Xie Yue stared, momentarily unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Qian Ye's expression remained calm, his hand lowering slowly back to his side.
"Don't bark at me," he said quietly. "You're not qualified."
For the first time in her life, Hu Liena didn't know how to respond.Her cheek burned. Her pride burned more.
Then, Yan's fury ignited. "You hit Na'er?! You little bastard, I'll kill you!"
He lunged forward, his hand reaching for Qian Ye's collar.
But Qian Ye moved first — a smooth step back, a flash of motion — and his foot drove straight into Yan's stomach.
Boom!
Yan's body flew backward, crashing through a wooden stall before hitting the ground with a choked gasp.
The air rippled with the impact.
Xie Yue's fan stilled mid-wave. His eyes, sharp but wary, studied Qian Ye's posture — calm, controlled, utterly without hesitation.
That wasn't the reflex of a child.
Qian Ye looked down at the fallen Yan, his voice cold and even."If you stand in my way again, I won't aim for your stomach next time."
He turned away, his black hair drifting in the breeze, his steps unhurried — not because he lacked fear, but because he owned the moment completely.
Hu Liena stood motionless, her hand pressed to her cheek, fury and humiliation twisting in her chest.
"Who does he think he is…" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Xie Yue exhaled slowly, folding his fan."Someone we shouldn't provoke — not yet."