Chapter 3: Bullying the Weak with Power
“You…”
Shen Tian’s expression changed.
He had not expected Shen Yanzhou to cling to the casual words he had just spoken.
The hand holding the reins tightened, veins bulging.
Seeing Elder Mo about to step forward with an impassive face—
Wu Ruyue rode her horse ahead to block him, her voice cold: “Shen Yanzhou, aside from bullying others with power, what other ability do you have? I’ll tell you this: Shen Tian has been in the southern borderlands, following the Demon Suppression Army, battling everywhere, sweeping through lairs of beasts one after another, guarding the peace of the frontier people.
He has achieved great merits, won the deep regard of the Demon Suppression King, and has even been accepted as his adopted son.”
“If you dare to oppress Shen Tian by relying on your status, once the Demon Suppression King returns to the capital, he will certainly not let you off lightly.”
“Oh? Since when was it your turn, Miss Wu, to teach me how to conduct myself?”
“Elder Mo, do it.”
Shen Yanzhou folded up his fan, still smiling faintly as he spoke.
“You…” Wu Ruyue’s face froze, her delicate hand suddenly clenching tightly.
“A mere Deputy Captain dares to offend the heir? With the Prince’s love for the heir, even if I were to kill you today, you would have to endure it.”
Elder Mo, a sixth-rank martial expert, moved like a shadow.
With but a flash, he appeared before Shen Tian.
His withered, claw-like hand glowed faintly with true energy.
With a light strike, Shen Tian was sent tumbling uncontrollably from his horse.
“What a fine heir indeed…”
Shen Tian’s anger surged.
He resisted instinctively, unwilling to yield.
He had trained in the southern border, fought on battlefields, and defended the nation.
Meanwhile, this wastrel of an heir in the capital indulged in wine and pleasure, living in luxury and excess.
Yet, just over a few words, he was to be humiliated with a slap?
Moreover, from all the clues he had pieced together, this heir was very likely a fake.
The real son of the Demon Suppression King was most likely himself.
“Hm? Only at the seventh-rank Blood-burning Realm, yet still able to stand firm? Not bad.”
Elder Mo was slightly surprised.
At the moment Shen Tian fell, he had skillfully steadied his robe and quickly regained his stance.
At once, Elder Mo struck again, palm sweeping down like rolling waves, a vast tide of force engulfing Shen Tian’s figure.
Wu Ruyue, alarmed, gripped the red-tasseled spear at her waist, about to intervene.
“Ruyue, stop at once.”
“Do not harm harmony.”
A hurried voice suddenly came from the Wu residence gates.
Wu Hong, surrounded by several servants, rushed over in panic.
“Father…” Wu Ruyue’s brows furrowed.
“The heir’s identity is exalted, you mustn’t be reckless! Whatever the matter, we can talk it through…” Wu Hong wiped the cold sweat from his brow, quickly standing before Wu Ruyue.
Seeing her father like this, Wu Ruyue immediately felt a sense of dread.
Shen Yanzhou, on the other hand, watched calmly as though enjoying a show, waiting for the stream of negative emotions to flow in.
Negative emotions from Wu Ruyue +4, +5, +6…
Negative emotions from Shen Tian +11, +13, +14…
According to the original plot, Shen Tian had long since uncovered the truth through various means.
He had thoroughly investigated his identity as a fake heir, waiting only for the day his lineage was revealed before erasing him as a stain.
The day the fake heir was exposed would be the day of his death.
If not for knowing Shen Tian’s many hidden cards and that he could not yet be killed, Shen Yanzhou would have already ordered Elder Mo to strike him down.
“Be sensible. Submit quietly, let my young master slap you, and this matter will be over.”
On the other side, Elder Mo was also somewhat surprised.
The Shen Tian before him felt like a slippery loach—though far below in cultivation, he was still difficult to pin down.
This darkened his expression.
If Shen Yanzhou were to mention this to the Princess Consort later, he might not escape punishment.
As Elder Mo stopped holding back, Shen Tian began to feel the pressure mount.
At the clash of their palms, Shen Tian’s blood churned violently, until with a muffled cry, he spat a mouthful of blood that soaked his chest, his body flung backward.
Elder Mo pounced swiftly, dry hand seizing Shen Tian’s collar, while the other slapped across his face.
With a crisp crack, a clear palm mark instantly appeared.
“How dare you…”
“Do you know who I truly am?”
The sword box at Shen Tian’s waist hummed and rang, sword qi leaking out.
His whole body trembled with rage, his face pale, vast true energy surging forth as he struggled.
Since childhood, he had faced countless perils and trials, but never had anyone dared humiliate him like this.
“I care not who you are. Offend my young master, and this is your punishment.”
Elder Mo sneered, dismissing Shen Tian’s words as empty threats.
He struck him with several more slaps.
“Shen Yanzhou, quickly order the Demon Suppression Prince’s enshrined guard to stop…”
Wu Ruyue, watching from the side as Shen Tian’s face grew swollen from the blows, her voice turned cold.
“Didn’t we agree on twenty slaps? How many has it been?”
Shen Yanzhou said lazily, even thinking it was too few.
This Shen Tian was remarkably tolerant.
By now, he should already have been at the sixth-rank Sea-Cleaving Realm, yet he still refused to reveal it.
But that was fine too.
Let him suffer more, let his proud heart take the blow.
“You…”
Shen Tian’s eyes blazed with fury.
If looks could kill, Shen Yanzhou would have been slain countless times.
Very soon, under Elder Mo’s continued blows, Shen Tian’s handsome, resolute face swelled visibly.
Before all eyes, enduring such humiliation, Shen Tian could no longer bear it.
With a furious roar, his eyes rolled back and he fell into unconsciousness.
“So he wasn’t much after all…”
Elder Mo tossed him to the ground with disdain.
Shen Yanzhou narrowed his eyes.
He could see Shen Tian was merely feigning unconsciousness.
This man had come to the capital with a great plan, intending to confirm his true identity.
He wished to avoid unnecessary complications, hence his restraint.
This made Shen Yanzhou sigh inwardly.
If Shen Tian had truly lost control and fought back, he would have had all the reason he needed to crush him.
Still, today’s harvest was not small.
Negative emotions from Shen Tian +11, +13, +14, +15…
“Shen Yanzhou, those who commit too much injustice will bring ruin upon themselves. With conduct such as yours, you will invite retribution sooner or later.” Wu Ruyue said coldly, clearly disgusted.
“Thank you for your concern, Miss Wu.”
“Tomorrow at noon, in the Heaven Room of the Yingchun Pavilion, I will prepare a banquet.”
“I hope Miss Wu will give me the honor of attending. If you don’t come, should I find myself in poor spirits, I might just send certain things over to the Xuanlin Guards.”
Shen Yanzhou still smiled cheerfully, ignoring Wu Ruyue’s frosty gaze.
With that, he turned away, returned to his carriage, and said—
“Back to the residence.”