Manipulating Everyone Against Protagonist

"Why so angry? Didn't your father teach you to be kind to others?" Ah Long scolded as he stared at the deep pit at his feet, cursing under his breath. He was lucky to have dodged Ye Chen's fierce attack.

"You're asking for it!" Ah Long's mention of Ye Chen's father only fueled Ye Chen's rage. He wouldn't tolerate any disrespect towards his late father.

Without holding back, Ye Chen swiftly moved beside Ah Long and aimed a punch at his abdomen. Ah Long narrowly evaded the attack, understanding the gravity of the situation.

Angered by Ye Chen's unprovoked violence, Ah Long unleashed his full strength, channeling his internal energy into his legs and aiming a kick at Ye Chen's head.

Under the dark night sky, with waves crashing against the dock, the two engaged in a fierce battle. Soon, Ah Long was evidently outmatched due to Ye Chen's superior cultivation level. The gap between the Dark Energy realm and the Innate realm was an insurmountable gulf.

...…

"It's getting late; I should take you home," Yun Che suggested to Shen Qingqiu at Hai Di Yue Tian Shang Guang restaurant, noting it was already ten o'clock. Shen Qingqiu, not having used her internal energy to sober up, was slightly tipsy.

"Okay~" Shen Qingqiu replied obediently, her cheeks flushed like a docile kitten, looking utterly adorable.

"Waiter, the check please," Yun Che called out. The waiter promptly arrived, beaming.

"Young Master Yun, our boss has said this meal is on him. It's his treat for you," the waiter informed.

"Tell your boss I owe him a favor," Yun Che said, not dwelling on the matter. He gently supported a somewhat inebriated Shen Qingqiu and headed for the exit.

"Young Master Yun, please take care…"

...

"What's that fighting noise?" As Yun Che and Shen Qingqiu approached the small cabin, they heard sounds of a scuffle outside. A sense of foreboding struck Yun Che, and he hurriedly opened the door.

Shen Qingqiu sobered up a bit in the cold sea breeze. On seeing Ye Chen and Ah Long fighting on the beach, she was baffled. Why were these two fighting?

"Ye Chen, stop it!" Shen Qingqiu demanded angrily.

"Senior Sister, are you alright?" Ye Chen stopped fighting and looked relieved to see Shen Qingqiu.

"What are you trying to do?" Shen Qingqiu asked, visibly annoyed. She couldn't understand why Ye Chen would follow them here, let alone start a fight with Yun Che's bodyguard.

"I… I was just worried about Senior Sister being harmed by some villain…" Ye Chen replied, clearly not expecting Shen Qingqiu to be so angry.

"Do you have a persecution complex or something?" Shen Qingqiu was almost amused by Ye Chen's absurd behavior.

She couldn't fathom why he would think she, of all people, needed protection. As the Shen family's young mistress with formidable martial skills, who would dare to harm her?

"Even if I were attacked, the assailant would be more powerful than me. What help could you possibly offer?"

Shen Qingqiu's pointed question left Ye Chen speechless. He wanted to accuse Yun Che of harboring ill intentions towards her, but he couldn't voice this without evidence.

"Ah Long, what exactly happened?" Yun Che looked at Ah Long, signaling him with his eyes.

Ah Long, understanding the cue, feigned weakness and spoke, "This guy came here demanding to see President Shen. I told him she was dining with you and asked him to wait, but he started beating me up without a word…"

Ah Long then coughed violently and spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning pale and his lips trembling, as if enduring immense pain.

"Do you have anything else to say?" Shen Qingqiu's gaze was icy as she looked at Ye Chen, truly baffled by her junior brother's behavior today.

"He's slandering me! He insulted me first," Ye Chen protested, feeling utterly aggrieved and frustrated.

"Slander? How do you explain his injuries then? Can you deny that you caused them?" Shen Qingqiu pressed him further.

"I…" Ye Chen was at a loss for words, feeling like a mute who had swallowed bitter herbs – full of suffering he couldn't express.

"Apologize to Ah Long and Yun Che," Shen Qingqiu said, taking a deep breath. Regardless of her anger, Ye Chen was her junior brother and her master's favorite disciple. She couldn't be too harsh on him.

"I…" Ye Chen hesitated, clearly unwilling.

"What, you don't want to apologize?" Shen Qingqiu glanced at him, her cultivation power as a master of the Transformation realm manifesting an invisible pressure that bore down on Ye Chen.

"I… I will…" Ye Chen broke into a sweat, his back soaked with cold perspiration. He realized Shen Qingqiu was truly angry, and if he didn't apologize, he might face a severe beating.

Remembering something terrifying, Ye Chen involuntarily shivered…

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