Qin Xue Humiliated

A sudden slap left Qin Xue dizzy and her ears ringing. Her delicate body staggered forward, nearly pitching over, but fortunately, she was also at the Martial Realm Sixth Level and did not fall to the ground. After steadying herself, Qin Xue turned around furiously. When she saw Qin Feng, a flicker of fear passed through her eyes, and she timidly said, "B-Big Brother!"

If it had been Qin Feng, Qin Xue would have long since glared at him in anger and hostility. Qin Feng had repeatedly bullied Qin Yu in the past, filling Qin Xue with particular fury and resentment. But Qin Yong was different. She instinctively feared him. First, Qin Yong's reputation as a commander of a thousand made him seem lofty and unreachable in her eyes. Second, the killing aura he unconsciously exuded made Qin Xue's heart tremble with fear.

"Big Brother? What right do you have to call me Big Brother? A lowly servant girl's spawn like you is worthy of calling me Big Brother?" Qin Yong sneered repeatedly. Having had both his arms and legs broken by Qin Yu had made life worse than death for him. Now, Qin Xue's appearance further ignited the fury in his heart. He strode toward her, seized her snow-white neck with his broad hand, and lifted her up like a chick.

Slap! Slap! Qin Yong struck Qin Xue across the face twice, alternating hands. "Get out of here. This is not a place where you can come and make trouble." As he spoke, he carried Qin Xue, whose cheeks were swollen and whose lips were streaked with blood, toward the door.

Qin Yu probably never could have imagined that simply sending Qin Xue to deliver a message would lead to such a mess. He had intended for her to give the pill formula to Zi Xun'er, deepening Zi Xun'er's impression of Qin Xue so that she would protect her. Yet things had gone against his wishes.

Just as Qin Yong reached the doorway and was about to toss Qin Xue up and kick her flying, a cold, feminine shout rang out. "Who dares cause trouble in my pill shop?"

Qin Yong froze, while Cui Shuo's expression changed slightly. Seeing the peerless beauty slowly descending the stairs, he immediately turned and shouted, "Why haven't you stopped yet?" Then he respectfully looked toward Zi Xun'er. "Cui Shuo greets Alchemist Zi..."

Qin Yong hurriedly put Qin Xue down and looked uneasily at Zi Xun'er. When he saw her world-shaking beauty, his gaze instantly became dazed. Qin Feng, meanwhile, wore a respectful expression and hastily stepped forward, fawning as he said, "Alchemist Zi, you misunderstand. We were not causing trouble. It was someone blind to her own limits causing trouble in the pill shop, so we taught her a lesson on your behalf."

Cui Shuo shot Qin Feng an approving glance and echoed, "That's right, Alchemist Zi. We saw someone causing trouble in the pill shop, so we stepped in to stop it." He had previously been wondering what excuse he could use to meet Zi Xun'er, and now that one had delivered itself to his doorstep, naturally he had to make use of it. Moreover, he had investigated the origins of that young man surnamed Chen and discovered that he merely had a transactional relationship with Zi Xun'er, so he no longer had any reservations about him.

Zi Xun'er swept her gaze over Cui Shuo and Qin Feng, ignoring the cultivators around her whose eyes were dull and full of infatuation. Trailing her luxurious purple gown, she gracefully walked toward Qin Xue.

Qin Xue, who had been struck three times by Qin Yong until her head spun, was utterly terrified. Sensing someone approach, she reflexively raised her head. When she saw Zi Xun'er's cold and proud, peerlessly beautiful face, Qin Xue could not help but stare blankly. She had never seen such a beautiful woman before.

Zi Xun'er came before Qin Xue and looked down at her, sizing her up with a cold, proud demeanor. Seeing the slap marks on Qin Xue's face, her eyes narrowed slightly as she slowly asked, "Were you causing trouble in my pill shop?"

"Yes, it was her. To be honest, Alchemist Zi, she is my younger sister. Her temperament is fierce, and she loves stirring up trouble. This time, she even dared run into the pill shop and run wild. My elder brother Qin Yong only acted to stop her in a fit of anger." Qin Feng hurriedly stepped forward and fawned over her, while inwardly wishing with all his heart that Zi Xun'er would kill Qin Xue.

"Slap your mouth. Did I ask you?" Zi Xun'er suddenly turned her head, her phoenix eyes fixed on Qin Feng as she spoke icily.

Qin Feng froze, his heart giving a jolt. He had no idea what he had said wrong, but since Zi Xun'er had spoken, there was no room for him to maneuver. He began slapping his own face.

Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!

Qin Xue lowered her head in fear. Zi Xun'er's icy phoenix eyes made her dare not meet her gaze directly. Listening to the loud slaps Qin Feng dealt himself, she felt both flustered and terrified. Her heart pounding in fear, she took a deep breath and gathered her courage. "I didn't..."

Cui Shuo opened his mouth, but when he saw Qin Feng relentlessly slapping himself, he quickly shut it again, not daring to interject carelessly. Yet he sneered inwardly. She still dared to quibble? She was simply tired of living.

"Then why did they say you were causing trouble?" Zi Xun'er asked.

"I... I was asking that sister for directions, asking... asking..." Qin Xue clutched the envelope tightly and stammered. Tears welled in her eyes, making her look especially pitiful. But before she could finish, Zi Xun'er interrupted her. "So you mean you were not causing trouble?"

"Mm!" Qin Xue nodded heavily, tears falling.

"Since you weren't, why didn't you fight back when they bullied you?" Zi Xun'er continued pressing her.

"I... I..." Qin Xue stammered. Cui Shuo's expression beside her tightened slightly. He could no longer make sense of Zi Xun'er's intentions, and Qin Yong and Qin Feng both felt their hearts skip a beat.

"Was your strength insufficient?" Zi Xun'er stared at Qin Xue. Then her tone shifted. "Remember this from now on: whoever dares bully us women must be made to pay the price. Which hand did he use to hit you?"

Qin Xue was somewhat bewildered. She stubbornly raised her head to look at Zi Xun'er, but did not answer.

"His left hand, or his right hand? Have you forgotten?" Zi Xun'er asked gently.

"It seemed to be... his right hand." Qin Xue thought for a moment before answering.

A smile appeared on Zi Xun'er's face as she looked at Qin Xue. Her slender hand pointed from afar at the dumbfounded Qin Yong, and she softly said, "Someone, chop off his right hand and feed it to the dogs!!"

Though her voice was extremely soft, it rang especially clearly in the pill shop, where one could hear a needle drop. A young man suddenly stepped out from the crowd, seized the horrified Qin Yong, and a blade appeared in his hand. In one swift motion, he hacked off Qin Yong's right arm alive.

"Ah!" Qin Yong let out a scream like a pig being slaughtered, but just as the sound rose, an icy voice said, "Get out. If you dare make another sound, chop off his left hand."

Qin Yong's cry stopped abruptly. His face turned deathly pale, the muscles in it twitching violently. He turned and fled the pill shop.

The hundreds of cultivators in the pill shop all stared at the cold and proud Zi Xun'er in horror. Even Cui Shuo's face had gone pale. He had no idea how he had offended Zi Xun'er again. He wanted to explain, but the words reached his lips and he did not dare speak them. Qin Feng struck himself even harder, his face swollen all over, blood appearing at the corners of his mouth from the slaps. Even the female staff member had gone pale, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.

"Do you remember now? If anyone dares bully you again, return the favor like this. Come, go upstairs and sit with Sister." Zi Xun'er smiled radiantly, a hundred charms blooming at once. Qin Xue stared blankly, then was pulled away by Zi Xun'er and walked up the stairs with her mind completely blank.

The pill shop was silent as a grave. Cui Shuo stood there dumbfounded, his mind exploding with a boom. Zi Xun'er had called herself Sister? She had acknowledged Qin Xue as her little sister? Not only had he failed to bully Qin Xue, he had instead... bestowed a great fortune upon her?

Qin Feng had slapped himself until he began to cry.

Sitting in the loft, Qin Xue's mind was blank. Everything had changed too quickly, leaving her still in a dazed state.

"Here, these are gifts from Sister. Consider them compensation for being bullied in the pill shop." Zi Xun'er took out two bottles of pills and set them before Qin Xue. Then she took out a bottle of some unknown liquid and applied it to Qin Xue's cheeks.

Qin Xue stared blankly at the peerless beauty before her, feeling inexplicably moved.

"Your name is Xue'er, right? Did you come looking for me?" After applying the medicine, Zi Xun'er sat beside her and asked softly.

"Y-You are Sister Zi Xun'er?" Qin Xue asked blankly. After receiving Zi Xun'er's answer, a trace of nervousness rose in her heart. Recalling what her brother had told her to convey, Qin Xue feared she might anger Zi Xun'er. After hesitating for a moment, she handed over the envelope, which she had nearly crushed in her grip. "S-Someone asked me to give this to you."

Zi Xun'er took the envelope, did not even look at it, and set it aside. "Did he say anything else?"

Qin Xue's face turned slightly pale, and she quickly waved her hands. "No, he didn't say anything else."

The corners of Zi Xun'er's lips lifted into a smile. She nodded slightly and said, "Mm. With Sister here from now on, no one can bully you, understand?"

Qin Xue looked at Zi Xun'er and nodded blankly. As though remembering something, she hesitated, her small fists clenched tightly, and softly said, "Sister Zi, y-you... do you know my brother? C-can you help him?"

A trace of tenderness and affection flashed through Zi Xun'er's beautiful eyes. "He does not need my help. Do not underestimate your brother."

"B-But..."

"Enough. I'll have someone escort you home. Rest first, and remember: if anyone dares bully you again, come find Sister." Zi Xun'er smiled gently.

Qin Xue could only close her mouth.

After Qin Xue left, Zi Xun'er's eyes shifted, and the corners of her lips curled in a half-smile. She softly murmured, "Is this favor great enough?" As she spoke, she casually picked up the envelope. When she saw the words on it, Zi Xun'er's expression froze...