“Ouch! It hurts! Waaah… Help! Mother—!” Shen Qingyun cried out as he scurried around with his head in his hands, his wails instantly echoing throughout Shi Fang Courtyard.
Having been spoiled since childhood, Shen Qingyun had never endured such physical pain and terror before. The agony was so intense his vision darkened, and all he wanted was to escape this terrifying woman.
Yet his deeply ingrained arrogance refused to let him yield. Stiffening his neck, he snarled with venomous eyes, “You crazy bitch, I’ll make you—”
Thwack!
A pebble whistled through the air and struck his upper lip with pinpoint accuracy!
“Mm!” Shen Qingyun clutched his mouth, the metallic taste of blood spreading across his tongue. He stared in horror at Shen Qingwu just steps away, trembling with rage.
How dare she?!
“Bitch—”
He had barely spat out the word when a sharp pain shot through his wrist. Shen Qingwu forcibly pried his hand away from his mouth!
The next instant, his already sore and swollen upper lip suffered another heavy blow!
“Urgh!” He grunted in pain, tears streaming down his face.
A tall shadow loomed over him. With his arms twisted behind his back and a hand poised threateningly near his lips, Shen Qingyun looked up and found the woman’s calm eyes chillingly cold. He swallowed hard, not daring to make another sound.
Shen Qingwu observed the little tyrant who had been all bluster moments ago, now frozen stiff like a rabbit caught by the scruff of its neck by an eagle. Amused, the corner of her lips twitched upward as she released him.
Shen Qingyun scrambled away, putting thirty feet between them before jumping up and down while shouting, “You vile woman! Just bullying someone younger! Wait until I achieve Qi Induction next month—I’ll break your hands!”
It was common knowledge that before the age of six, one could only temper their body and bones. Only after six could they undergo Qi Induction and officially embark on the path of cultivation. The realms progressed from low to high, divided into nine major realms: Mortal Realm, Qi Realm, Spirit Realm, True Realm, Transformation Realm, Mystic Realm, Saint Realm, Grandmaster Realm, and Celestial Realm.
Starting from the True Realm, each major realm was further divided into three stages: Initial Condensation, Sea Transformation, and Perfection.
To date, the strongest cultivator recorded in the annals of any nation had only reached the Grandmaster Realm—and only one person at that. Legends said that predecessor lived for a full five hundred years.
Currently, the known top experts across various nations remained at the Saint Realm, countable on one’s fingers.
As for the legendary Celestial Realm, it was said to allow transcendence beyond the mortal world, enabling spiritual journeys through the void and free separation of soul and body. However, no one had ever been known to achieve it.
The world believed Shen Qingwu was frail and sickly, incapable of cultivation, unaware that she had received secret teachings and her own cultivation had quietly approached the threshold of the True Realm.
After his outburst, Shen Qingyun turned to flee, but within a few steps, his nape was seized in an iron grip, immobilizing him completely.
Crack.
A crisp sound of breaking bone echoed.
Seeing his wrist bend at an unnatural angle, Shen Qingyun let out a piercing scream: “Ah—! My hand!”
How dare this madwoman?! How dare she?!
“Young master,” Shen Qingwu spoke, her voice cold as midwinter ice, “No need to wait a month. I can cripple you right now.”
“No—please don’t—” Shen Qingyun trembled all over, his face smeared with tears and snot. “Sis… sister, I was wrong… Sob… I’m sorry!”
He truly believed the woman before him would kill him!
He needed to escape first, then get his parents to exact revenge for him!
“Do you think your parents can protect you?” Shen Qingwu chuckled softly, the young master’s thoughts written all over his face.
“Didn’t you see how swollen your sister’s face was after I beat her? She’s also been confined for three months. Your parents couldn’t save your sister, and they can’t save you either.”
At the thought of Xi’er sister’s miserable state, Shen Qingyun shuddered violently, even forgetting to cry, his small face now filled with pure terror.
Even Xi’er sister, with her high cultivation, had been bullied so badly by her!
She was simply a great demon king!
Shen Qingwu released her grip. Shen Qingyun’s legs gave way, and he fell to the ground with a “thud.”
Shen Qingwu crossed her arms, deliberately frightening him: “When I was on the mountain, I often passed time by hitting birds with stones, and now I never miss. If you dare to tattle…” She paused, picking up a remaining small stone between her fingertips and flicking it casually!
The stone whizzed past Shen Qingyun’s ear, carrying a faint whistling sound.
Immediately after, a falling flower was pinned to the tree trunk by the stone!
“Next time, it won’t be a falling flower it pierces, but your tongue and eyeballs!”
Shen Qingyun was instantly scared out of his wits, a foul-smelling liquid spreading beneath him, his eyes filled with terror as he looked at Shen Qingwu.
Shen Qingwu lowered her gaze, suppressing a laugh, her tone softening slightly: “But if you obey me from now on and don’t speak of today’s events, I’ll let you off.”
Shen Qingyun nodded frantically, tears still hanging on his cheeks, but he didn’t dare to cry anymore.
“One more thing.” Shen Qingwu frowned. “No more foul language from now on.” The second branch of the family had completely spoiled their child.
Shen Qingyun nodded vigorously again, then he saw Shen Qingwu lean down and grab his broken wrist once more, immediately shutting his eyes and howling in fear: “I’ll obey! Ah—”
Another “crack” sound, and Shen Qingyun’s hand regained sensation.
While he was still dazed, hearing Shen Qingwu say “Go.” was like receiving a royal pardon. He scrambled away, crawling and stumbling.
Watching his panicked retreat, Shen Qingwu couldn’t help but curl the corners of her lips, a faint smile flashing in her eyes.
Just a spoiled child. A good scare would make him behave from now on.
But just as this smile reached her eyes, her peripheral glance caught Xia Chun shrinking in the corner, causing it to vanish without a trace.
Xia Chun was so terrified by this sudden change that her legs gave way, and she fell to her knees with a “thud.” Her knees hit the bluestone pavement, pain making her grimace, but she didn’t dare make a sound.
Although the young mistress looked sickly, the coldness in her eyes was like an ice-forged dagger, piercing straight into her heart, making her tremble all over.
“Xia Chun,” Shen Qingwu’s voice betrayed no emotion, “you’re my maid, yet you allowed the young master to assault me earlier, showing no loyalty to your mistress. Tell me, how should I deal with you? Should I sell you off to be done with it, or…”