After returning to Labor Peak from the Cool Breeze Gorge, Yang Ye made his way toward the canteen. Upon entering, he immediately felt the heavy weight of attention from the room. Half the people present stared at him, some with friendly smiles while others looked on with a malicious glint. It was clear that his recent troubles had already become the topic of gossip.
Yang Ye nodded at those who greeted him with kindness, but just as he was about to grab some food, a cold, commanding shout rang out from behind.
"Yang Ye, stop right there!"
Yang Ye frowned as he recognized the voice—Manager Xu. He had expected trouble, and it had finally arrived.
Turning around, Yang Ye's gaze landed on Manager Xu, who was approaching with a group of three. Manager Xu was a burly middle-aged man, his figure so round that it was almost comical. His face was equally chubby, and his eyes were barely visible, hidden behind folds of skin. He wore the usual broad Labor Peak robes, but it was clear that his flesh strained against the fabric, his shoulders and back rosy from excess.
Known throughout the Sword Sect by the nickname Skinner Xu, he was infamous for his cruelty. Anyone who offended him would find themselves at the mercy of his ruthless punishments, often ending with severe bodily harm. More than one disciple had been mutilated, their skins "skinned" by his cruel hands.
Behind Manager Xu, Du Xiu and his group stood with cold smiles playing on their lips, clearly enjoying the spectacle. They were Yang Ye's tormentors from the earlier incident, and it was obvious that they were eager to see him brought down.
The whispers from the surrounding Labor Disciples were filled with a mix of fear and pity.
"I knew it. Yang Ye hit Du Xiu, so how could Skinner Xu let him off? It's over for Yang Ye."
"Yeah, last time someone stood up to Xu, they were beaten to death on the spot. Why didn't he just let it slide? Youth these days have no patience…"
"Shhh, keep quiet. If Xu hears you, you're next."
Yang Ye stood still as the group of four approached him. As they came closer, Manager Xu pulled out a long, menacing whip, and a wicked grin spread across his chubby face. His eyes gleamed with malicious intent.
"Yang Ye," he said with a cold, mocking smile, "a person must learn to accept reality. You were once an Outer Court Disciple, but now you are nothing. Since you've entered my domain, you must follow my rules. You've struck my nephew, so tell me, how will you make amends?"
From behind him, Du Xiu sneered, his voice full of venom. "Uncle, why waste words? Just kill him!"
Yang Ye's gaze turned icy as he faced Du Xiu's spiteful stare. But he quickly shifted his attention back to Manager Xu.
"Tell me," Yang Ye said in a calm voice, "how do you intend for this to be resolved?"
Manager Xu chuckled and then, to Yang Ye's surprise, reached into his robes. He pulled out a torn envelope, which had clearly been opened and read. A smug grin spread across his face as he unfolded the letter inside.
"I heard you have a younger sister, only a little over ten years old. I also heard she isn't married yet. So, tell me, what do you think of me?" Manager Xu's voice became sickeningly sweet as he leered at Yang Ye. "I've always had a liking for young girls. Ask your sister to become my concubine, and maybe, just maybe, I'll spare your life. Kneel down and apologize to Du Xiu, and we'll call this even."
His words hung in the air, dripping with contempt and cruelty. However, before he could finish his sentence, his voice was abruptly cut off.
Boom!
A massive fist suddenly shot forward, smashing into the side of Manager Xu's face. The sheer force of the blow sent him flying, crashing into the ground several meters away.
The entire canteen fell silent. Everyone froze in shock, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.
Yang Ye stood with his fist still clenched, his cold eyes fixed on the fallen manager. Blood trickled from Manager Xu's mouth as he struggled to regain his bearings, but Yang Ye didn't show any mercy.
"You want to take my sister? You're not even worthy to be in her presence," Yang Ye's voice was cold and filled with an ominous promise. His eyes blazed with a fire that would not be quenched until he had severed the head of every enemy who dared to threaten those he cared about.
Manager Xu, now trembling on the ground, could barely lift his head to meet Yang Ye's gaze. His cruel smile had disappeared, replaced by fear and disbelief.
"Y-You…" Manager Xu stammered, his voice hoarse from the blow. "You dare?!"
Yang Ye took a step forward, his presence looming over Manager Xu like a vengeful specter. "I dare," he said simply, his tone like steel.
Yang Ye's gaze turned bloodshot when he heard Manager Xu disrespecting and humiliating his younger sister. His expression twisted into one of pure fury, and in that moment, all his restraint shattered. His younger sister and mother were his reverse scales—anyone who dared to threaten or insult them would find no mercy from him.
Without any warning, Yang Ye launched his fist forward.
Bang!
Manager Xu, caught completely off guard, had no time to react. The force of Yang Ye's punch drove him back, and his face collided violently with the blow. A horrible, shrill scream pierced the air as Manager Xu was sent sprawling to the ground. Blood poured from his mouth and nose, staining the floor beneath him.
But Yang Ye was far from done.
With the speed of a lightning strike, Yang Ye closed the distance between them, his figure like a shadow. He dodged the whip that Manager Xu had struggled to raise, and with a fierce roar, he swung his fist again—this time aiming directly at Manager Xu's body.
"You piece of trash!" Yang Ye spat venomously. "Are you even worthy of my younger sister? I'll fucking kill you!"
The sound of the blow landing was sickening, but Yang Ye didn't stop. He wrenched the whip from Manager Xu's hand, his fury guiding each strike. The lash of the whip cracked through the air with terrifying force as it connected with Manager Xu's bloated, bloodied form.
Manager Xu's cries became more frantic, shrill, and desperate with each hit. "AH!! Yang Ye, you're dead! How dare you hit me! AH!! Stop!! AH!!! Lord Yang!! Don't hit me anymore, don't hit me anymore! I was wrong… I was wrong…!" His voice trembled with fear and pain, but Yang Ye's wrath only grew more intense.
The entire canteen fell into a stunned silence as the brutal scene unfolded before their eyes. The Labor Disciples stood frozen, wide-eyed, unable to comprehend what they were witnessing. No one had ever dared to strike Skinner Xu like this. After all, Manager Xu was not just any figure—he was a powerful manager appointed by the Sword Sect, a man whose cruelty was renowned. Yet, here was Yang Ye, unrelenting in his punishment.
But as the vicious strikes continued, the initial shock began to fade, replaced by something else—excitement. The Labor Disciples who had long suffered under Skinner Xu's rule clenched their fists tightly, their faces glowing with a rare sense of satisfaction. This was something they could never have imagined doing themselves, but Yang Ye was doing it for them. They could see that Yang Ye was taking vengeance not only for himself but for them as well.
"Yang Ye, quickly, quickly let go of my Uncle!" Du Xiu, who had recovered from his shock, screamed from the sidelines. His voice was frantic, though there was an underlying fear in it. He wanted to stop Yang Ye, but he was terrified of his strength, unable to move closer. The sight of Yang Ye's wrath filled him with dread.
But Yang Ye paid no attention to Du Xiu. His only focus was on Manager Xu, whose pleas were nothing but background noise to him. Yang Ye's anger blazed brighter with each strike, his resolve unwavering. He continued to lash the whip against Manager Xu, over and over again.
In a matter of moments, Manager Xu's once plump body was drenched in blood. The whip had cut into his flesh, leaving deep, gaping wounds all over his body. He lay there, broken and humiliated, the victim of his own cruelty.
Yang Ye's eyes burned with fury, but his mind was crystal clear. The anger he felt was not just for Manager Xu's actions—it was for all those who dared to target his family. He would never tolerate anyone who threatened those he loved.
Manager Xu's shrill cries echoed throughout the canteen, but now, no one was listening to him. Everyone in the room could hear the satisfaction in his suffering. The Labor Disciples stood tall, their hearts filled with an emotion they had never experienced before—hope. Yang Ye had done what they could not do for themselves.
The whipping continued.
"AH!!! AH!!!" Manager Xu's screams rang out as blood continued to flow from his injuries. His once-pompous demeanor had vanished, replaced by pure terror and agony.
Yang Ye's savage expression remained unchanged, his fury still unchecked. He had made a promise to himself—anyone who dared to touch his family would pay the price. Manager Xu had crossed that line, and now he would feel the consequences.
As Yang Ye stood over Manager Xu, his rage began to cool, and the intensity of the moment started to fade. But before he could fully process the satisfaction of delivering justice, a cold voice pierced the air.
"Stay your hand!"
The voice was cold, commanding, and laced with Profound Energy that reverberated through the canteen, shaking the very air around them. Everyone in the room, from the Labor Disciples to the bystanders, felt the pressure of the voice as it drowned out all other sound.
When Yang Ye heard that voice, his heart skipped a beat. He turned around, his eyes locking onto the source of the voice. The figure that stood there was an old man in a pristine white robe—Elder Qian.
A complicated expression flashed across Yang Ye's face. He could never forget this man—Elder Qian was the one who had taken him in as an Outer Court Disciple in Southpeace City, the one who had changed the course of his life. Without the warning Elder Qian had given, his younger sister and mother would likely have fallen into the clutches of the Liu Clan, a fate Yang Ye would never wish on them.
Despite being reduced to a Labor Disciple under Elder Qian's orders, Yang Ye held no resentment in his heart. On the contrary, he felt a deep sense of gratitude toward the old man. After all, Elder Qian was the one who had spoken up when everyone had written Yang Ye off as a waste, ridiculed by his fellow Outer Court Elders. This was the same old man who, despite the doubts from the Sect, had seen potential in Yang Ye and taken him under his wing.
Taking a deep breath, Yang Ye tossed the bloodied whip aside and walked toward Elder Qian, his expression turning solemn. He bowed deeply, a show of respect he hadn't shown anyone else. "Elder Qian," he said, his voice carrying a weight of gratitude and a tinge of nervousness.
Elder Qian's eyes softened slightly as he looked at Yang Ye, a wisp of complicated emotion flashing in his gaze. He had always known Yang Ye's potential, but for reasons unknown to him, Yang Ye had been unable to absorb any Profound Energy during his first year in the Sword Sect. That had been the main reason why Yang Ye had been relegated to the Labor Disciples.
Now, seeing Yang Ye standing before him, Elder Qian felt a mix of curiosity and surprise. This was the same Yang Ye he had once taken in, yet the boy had changed. There was something different about him now.
At that moment, Du Xiu—the scheming young man who had previously tried to humiliate Yang Ye—rushed forward and kneeled before Elder Qian with a loud thud. His face contorted with fake grievance as he pointed at Yang Ye. "Elder Qian, you have to uphold justice for us. First, Yang Ye heavily injured me, then he had me do his work! My Uncle came to reason with him, and look! He severely injured my Uncle as well! You must uphold justice for us!"
Yang Ye's brow furrowed at Du Xiu's blatant twisting of the truth. But he remained silent, knowing that his actions had already been justified in his own mind. He had done what he had to do.
Around them, the other Labor Disciples—those who had endured Manager Xu's cruel treatment for years—glared at Du Xiu, their faces a mixture of anger and disbelief. They were disgusted by Du Xiu's audacity, knowing full well the truth of the matter. Skinner Xu was not a victim; he was a tyrant.
Elder Qian, however, didn't seem fazed by Du Xiu's words. His sharp eyes scanned the scene, and his gaze eventually shifted to Manager Xu, who was barely conscious, blood dripping from his wounds. A trace of surprise flickered in Elder Qian's eyes, but his expression quickly hardened. He then turned to Yang Ye, his eyes narrowing with keen interest.
A strand of Divine Sense swept over Yang Ye, as though Elder Qian was probing deeper into his abilities. After a few moments, Elder Qian's eyes lit up with shock. "You... you're already at the fourth rank of the Mortal Realm?"
Yang Ye nodded quietly. He hadn't been hiding his progress, but seeing Elder Qian's astonishment still brought him a sense of pride. He could feel the weight of the past year's struggles lifting from his shoulders.
He raised his hand, and the Profound Energy inside his body surged. A soft, golden glow flickered around his palm. "Elder Qian, I'm finally able to absorb Profound Energy now."
Yang Ye's words carried a hint of relief, and as he spoke, the golden light on his palm grew brighter. It was a sight that filled him with both pride and humility. His years of hardship, his relentless training, and his determination had led him to this moment.
When Elder Qian saw the golden light, his eyes widened in pure astonishment. He took a step forward, his voice trembling slightly with disbelief. "Your… your Profound Energy is gold in color?"
Yang Ye nodded again, his expression calm but filled with an inner satisfaction. This moment, in front of the very man who had once doubted him, was one of the most meaningful of his life.
Golden Profound Energy was an extraordinary sign—it marked a profound connection with the heavens, a purity and strength rarely seen among cultivators. Elder Qian's reaction showed that he had not expected Yang Ye to reach this stage so quickly.
"You've… exceeded my expectations," Elder Qian said slowly, his voice filled with admiration.
Yang Ye's heart swelled with emotion as he met Elder Qian's gaze, silently acknowledging that the path ahead, though fraught with challenges, was his to walk. And he would no longer be the same person who had once been ridiculed as weak.