Ye Tian was quite satisfied with his strike. He hadn't even used his full strength, after all. If he had gone all out, he very well could have killed Qin Lin.
The onlookers were once again shocked by Ye Tian's terrifying power. Defeating a Qin Family genius in a single blow—this was the second time it had happened. The Qin Family had lost all face.
Just then, however, a slender figure caught Qin Lin firmly, simultaneously feeding him a white elixir. Their relationship seemed anything but ordinary.
Ye Tian glanced over, and his expression changed dramatically. The newcomer was none other than Ye Shixue, the one who had already cut all ties with him.
Both Ye Tian and Ye Feifei found it exceedingly strange. Why was she here, and why had she caught Qin Lin? Could there be some special connection between them?
Qin Lin's face was deathly pale. Several gashes deep enough to expose bone marred his body. Bright red blood flowed from them unceasingly, and he looked to be in excruciating pain.
Ye Shixue, for her part, let Qin Lin lean against her chest, her own face devoid of expression. The intimate gesture was baffling; they acted like a couple, completely unabashed.
"Thank you, Little Sister Xue!" Qin Lin said. He could clearly feel his body resting against something soft, and an indescribable feeling welled up in his heart. He couldn't understand why Ye Shixue was treating him like this.
"We're friends. You don't need to be so polite," Ye Shixue said softly to Qin Lin. "Ye Tian went too far, attacking you so viciously. He won't come to a good end."
Qin Xiaowan and Qin Li hurried to Qin Lin's side. "Brother, are you okay? Who is she?" Qin Xiaowan blurted out.
For a woman to so brazenly let a man lean against her chest... it was just scandalous! Qin Xiaowan was baffled. Qin Lin was usually so proper. When did he get involved with this beautiful woman?
Qin Lin noticed their strange looks and slowly straightened up, moving away from Ye Shixue. "I'm not dead yet. I never expected Ye Tian to be this powerful. It seems I really underestimated him."
Qin Lin, however, didn't introduce Ye Shixue. It was only their second time meeting, and the first had been brief. They had no real connection and barely knew each other. He, too, was baffled as to why she was treating him this way.
Just then, Ye Shixue gave a slight nod to Qin Xiaowan and Qin Li before walking toward Ye Tian. No one understood what she was doing. Was she planning to avenge Qin Lin and teach Ye Tian a lesson?
After a few steps, Ye Shixue stopped. She swept her gaze over the crowd before it landed on Ye Tian. "Ye Tian, you're really something else, bullying people here again. Now that you've injured Qin Lin, shouldn't you just drop it?"
Ye Tian never dreamed Ye Shixue would question him like this. He even wondered if there was something wrong with her head. To think she would actually side with Qin Lin and challenge him now.
"Ye Shixue, this is none of your business," Ye Feifei, unable to watch any longer, interjected. "It's not your place to tell Brother Tian what to do. You'd better leave, or don't blame me for what happens next."
"Ye Feifei, do you think you're so great just because you're the Ye Family's young miss?" Ye Shixue retorted furiously. "In my eyes, you're nothing. To be blunt, you're just my replacement. You treat my castoffs like treasure. What's there to be proud of?!"
Rage flashed across Ye Feifei's gorgeous face. She already held a strong grudge against Ye Shixue, but for Ye Tian's sake, she had never caused her any trouble. But for Ye Shixue to call her a replacement in front of all these people... this was absolutely intolerable.
"Ye Shixue, you truly are shameless!" Ye Feifei snapped, no longer caring about maintaining her ladylike image. "Do you really think we don't know what you've been up to? What, trying to cozy up to a young master of the Qin Family now? I'm afraid you're not worthy. You should take a good look at your own standing."
"Feifei, there's no need to talk to someone like her. It's beneath you," Ye Tian said to her. "In my heart, you are no replacement. You are a true goddess to me!"
Ye Shixue acted as if she hadn't heard a word Ye Tian said. "Ye Tian, this ends here. If you insist on continuing, then don't blame me for getting rough."
'What's wrong with her?' Ye Tian thought. 'When did Ye Shixue become so despicable? Siding with an outsider and talking to me like that... It's just bizarre.'
In the past, if Ye Shixue had spoken to him this way, his heart would have ached with bitterness. But now, he just found it laughable; her words didn't affect him in the slightest.
"Qin Lin, aren't you supposed to be so tough? Weren't you going to defeat me?" Ye Tian taunted. "I wonder if you have any fight left in you. If not, admit defeat in front of everyone, and maybe I'll consider letting you go. Otherwise..." Ye Tian didn't finish, but his meaning was perfectly clear to everyone.
Qin Lin, grievously injured, felt caught between a rock and a hard place. But he couldn't let the Qin Family's honor be lost at his hands. "Don't get cocky, Ye Tian! I was just careless for a moment and fell into your trap. You want to take my life? You're not worthy!"
"Is that so? Then let's go again!" Ye Tian roared. 'Trying to save face at a time like this... what a blockhead.' He had originally planned to spare him for Qin Xiaowan's sake, but the man clearly didn't know what was good for him.
Ye Shixue's attitude only frustrated Ye Tian further. 'Fine. You want to get close to Qin Lin? Then I'll make damn sure you don't get your way. A fickle woman like her needs to suffer.'
At that very moment, the thought of killing Qin Lin took root in Ye Tian's mind. He wasn't afraid even if experts from the Qin Family arrived. He had the Eight-winged Golden Scale Python protecting him from above. If anyone from the Qin Family dared to come, he would dare to kill them right here.
"Qin Lin, don't! You're no match for Ye Tian!" Ye Shixue said, turning to him.
There was a reason for Ye Shixue's sudden concern for Qin Lin. After meeting the two brothers at the restaurant, she had wanted to develop a relationship with one of them so she could absorb his Yang Qi.
After she had left them, the voice of the Demon Dragon had sounded in her mind, telling her that while Qin Lin was not a Pure Yang Body, he did possess a natural Fire Attribute Constitution. If she absorbed his Yang Qi, her cultivation would improve immensely. That was why Ye Shixue was now so determined to protect Qin Lin.
Little did she know, Ye Tian wasn't giving her the chance. He now intended to kill his opponent. 'If Ye Tian really dares to kill Qin Lin,' she vowed internally, 'I will hate him even more. One day, I will make him pay a terrible price.'
"Little Sister Xue, thank you for your kindness! Ye Tian may be powerful, but I'm no pushover either. If it comes to it, I'll take him down with me!" Qin Lin said, his expression ferocious. If one looked closely, they might have noticed a red Paper Talisman clutched in his hand…