Yun Hanzhou had always been cruel by nature. Just because his spirit dog was injured, he had ordered the Ye family's patriarch to break dozens of Mo Que's bones. Such a man deserved no sympathy—only retribution.
"Ahhh—!"
Agonized screams echoed through the stone prison.
In mere moments, Mo Que had shattered dozens of bones in Yun Hanzhou's body, leaving him crippled. The once-arrogant young master now lay on the ground like a discarded husk, his face contorted in unbearable pain.
"You useless cripple… You will never die a peaceful death! Mark my words—so long as I live, I will make you regret this for the rest of your miserable life!"
Even in such a pitiful state, Yun Hanzhou showed no remorse. His hatred for Mo Que burned in his eyes, a venomous glare filled with malice.
He was convinced that Mo Que wouldn't dare kill him. As long as his older brother existed, no one in the Ye family—or even Baizhou—would dare to touch him. Even the Ye patriarch had yielded to his whims. Why would a "cripple" like Mo Que be any different?
"You truly believe I won't kill you?" Mo Que's voice was chillingly calm, his gaze devoid of emotion. "Don't worry. I'll send you to meet your wretched mutt soon enough. But before that, I still have use for you. So, live a little longer."
With that, he grabbed Yun Hanzhou like a ragdoll, shoved open the prison door, and strode out.
Yun Hanzhou was nothing more than a playboy with no real strength. Now that his limbs were shattered, he was completely at Mo Que's mercy.
"You think you can escape? Heh… Don't be foolish!" Yun Hanzhou sneered, even as blood trickled from his lips. "You injured my spirit dog, and the Ye family nearly killed you for it. Now that you've done this to me, what do you think they'll do? No one escapes the Ye family, least of all you!"
Mo Que's steps didn't falter. His heart had already severed its last ties to the Ye family.
Today's events had only confirmed what he had long suspected—his life meant nothing to them. They had been willing to offer his existence as mere compensation for Yun Hanzhou's pet. Now that he had crippled Yun Hanzhou, they would certainly hunt him down without hesitation.
Leaving was his only option. And Yun Hanzhou would be the leverage to secure his escape.
"Mo Que, how dare you!"
A furious voice interrupted his path. A young man of the Ye family blocked his way, his expression twisted in anger. Upon seeing Yun Hanzhou's wretched state, his eyes burned with disbelief.
"Ye Mingkong," Mo Que murmured. He recognized him immediately.
Ye Mingkong had once been the most outstanding talent in the Ye family—until Ye Chenxue surpassed him. Even now, aside from Ye Chenxue, he remained the strongest of their generation.
"Release Master Yun at once!" Ye Mingkong demanded, his aura flaring.
"I have no quarrel with you. Move aside," Mo Que replied flatly.
Ye Mingkong scoffed. "Move aside? You're just a cripple! Do you really think you can order me around? I have already stepped into the Peeping Gate Qi Realm and can release my vital energy freely. Aside from Ye Chenxue, no one in the Ye family can rival me. And you—" He sneered, voice dripping with disdain. "You're nothing. A crippled failure. Do you think you're still the same genius you were three years ago?"
As he spoke, he condensed his vital energy into his palm and struck toward Mo Que.
Mo Que's eyes remained indifferent.
With one hand still holding Yun Hanzhou, he lifted the other and met Ye Mingkong's strike head-on.
Boom!
The moment their palms collided, Ye Mingkong's face twisted in shock.
It felt as if he had slammed into a mountain of iron. A terrifying force surged through his arm, sending him stumbling backward, his blood surging chaotically.
Meanwhile, Mo Que stood unmoved.
"You… You were crippled! How can your body be this strong?" Ye Mingkong's voice trembled with disbelief.
For the past three years, Mo Que had been ridiculed and beaten down by everyone in the Ye family. How could he suddenly possess such terrifying power?
Both the Qi Realm and Body Refining belonged to the same foundational stage of cultivation, but they were entirely different paths.
Ye Mingkong's cultivation in the Peeping Gate Qi Realm was exceptional, but Mo Que… he had undergone nine revolutions of divine essence refinement. His accumulation over three years had transformed his body into something extraordinary.
"I won't say it again. Move," Mo Que repeated, his voice ice-cold.
Ye Mingkong's pride wouldn't allow it. His expression darkened as he clenched his fists. "You're just a worthless cripple! You think you can stand above me now?"
Fury ignited within him. His vital energy surged, and he lunged forward, determined to crush Mo Que.
Mo Que's patience snapped.
For three years, he had endured humiliation. He had been spat on, mocked, and beaten by those who once feared him.
Now, even Ye Mingkong—someone who would never have dared look him in the eye in the past—thought he had the right to challenge him.
His rage ignited.
This time, he didn't hold back. His right fist clenched, and with a single motion, he swung forward.
Boom!
Ye Mingkong didn't just stumble—he was sent flying backward.
His face paled. His chest convulsed. Then, with a gag, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"You… entered the path of Body Refining?!" Ye Mingkong gasped, horror flashing in his eyes.
His body trembled as realization struck.
Mo Que, the "cripple" they had scorned, had surpassed him.
"You kept calling me useless," Mo Que said, stepping forward. His gaze was filled with years of pent-up fury. "Yet here you are, defeated by a single hand. What does that make you?"
Ye Mingkong's expression twisted. Then, his hand darted into his robes.
Crack!
He shattered a stone talisman. A sinister grin spread across his bloodied lips.
"Haha… Useless cripple, you think you can just walk away? You will never leave the Ye family alive!"
Mo Que's eyes darkened. The crushed stone talisman was a summoning charm—a distress signal.
As the fragments crumbled, hurried footsteps echoed in the distance. A crowd of Ye family members rushed toward them, quickly forming an encirclement.
Seeing this, Yun Hanzhou let out a hoarse, gleeful laugh. "Hahahaha! You're finished, Mo Que! You thought you could escape? Now you'll die a miserable death!"
A deep, authoritative voice rang through the air.
"Mo Que, you have gone too far!"
A man in fine robes approached, exuding an air of absolute authority. His presence was suffocating, his expression a mask of cold fury.
Ye Rufeng—the head of the Ye family.
His sharp gaze fell on Yun Hanzhou, bloodied and limp in Mo Que's grasp. His eyes narrowed with barely concealed rage.
"You insolent wretch," Ye Rufeng hissed. "Release Master Yun at once!"
Mo Que didn't answer. Instead, he tightened his grip.
Crack!
Another bone in Yun Hanzhou's arm shattered. His screams filled the air.
"You—!" Ye Rufeng's face darkened, his fury erupting like a storm.
His gaze flickered toward Ye Mingkong, still coughing up blood on the ground, and his heart trembled.
Mo Que had done this?
Could it be… that the fallen genius of Baizhou had finally risen again?