Qin Yuechi's face paled as she quickly interjected, "Madam Zhao, Chen'er is still young and spoke impulsively. Please don't take his words to heart."
Madam Zhao's expression turned icy. "Young? If I recall correctly, Qin Chen will be sixteen soon. Rumor has it he failed yet again to awaken his bloodline during the Tianxing Academy's recent ceremony. As a member of the Qin family, instead of diligently pursuing knowledge to bring honor to our house, he engages in illicit duels that tarnish our reputation. Now he dares to spew nonsense and abuse servants in violation of our family rules. Tell me, what punishment does he deserve?"
Qin Yuechi staggered as if struck, her face turning deathly pale. Madam Zhao was determined to condemn her son!
"The one who deserves punishment is you!" Qin Chen's gaze turned frigid as he stared unflinchingly at Madam Zhao. Despite her authority as matriarch of the Qin household, he showed no fear. "As head of the Qin family, you condone servants bullying family members. Is this your so-called family discipline?"
"You..." Madam Zhao hadn't expected Qin Chen to dare retort, and her anger flared.
Before she could respond, Qin Chen continued his furious tirade: "As a married woman, you consort with Zhao Qirui - a man notorious throughout the capital for his debauchery. Is this your concept of feminine virtue?"
Zhao Qirui, who had been leering at Qin Yuechi, suddenly stiffened, his face flushing crimson. "This little bastard actually dares insult me?" he fumed inwardly.
Madam Zhao pointed a trembling finger at Qin Chen, her hair ornaments shaking with rage. "Zhao Qirui is my royal cousin!"
There was indeed some distant relation between Madam Zhao's ancestors and the royal family, so her addressing Zhao Qirui as "cousin" wasn't entirely inappropriate.
"Even better!" Qin Chen sneered. "As cousins meeting privately, your behavior constitutes incest - even more disgraceful! As a court-appointed noblewoman, you should set an example of propriety for all women. If this scandal spreads, how will the Qin family maintain its standing in the Great Qi Kingdom?"
His words struck like daggers, each syllable dripping with venom.
"You... you little bastard! How dare you spout such nonsense!" Madam Zhao finally exploded, trembling with fury as she ordered the guards, "Seize him immediately!"
If Qin Chen's accusations became public, she would lose all face in the capital.
The remaining guard growled and lunged at Qin Chen from both sides to pin him down.
"Don't you dare touch my son!" Qin Yuechi threw herself in front of Qin Chen.
"Apologies, Young Mistress," the guard said coldly, raising his hand to shove her aside.
But before his hand could touch Qin Yuechi's shoulder—
A flash of steel cut through the air.
The room temperature seemed to drop instantly as a blade gleamed.
"Ahhh!" Blood sprayed as the guard's forearm tumbled to the ground. He screamed in agony, staggering back, but Qin Chen's sword pursued like a shooting star. Despite desperate attempts to dodge, the blade plunged straight into his heart.
Withdrawing the sword smoothly, Qin Chen stated coldly: "I warned you - touch my mother and die."
Blood gushed two meters high from the guard's chest as he collapsed, desperately trying to stem the flow with his remaining hand before going limp.
The room fell deathly silent except for the dripping of blood from Qin Chen's sword.
Madam Zhao and her entourage stood frozen like strangled ducks. Servants peering through the doorway trembled in terror. Yānzhi turned ghostly pale, shuddering as she thought, "This bastard actually killed someone!"
The surviving guard broke out in a cold sweat, paralyzed with fear. He suddenly remembered - though Qin Chen hadn't awakened his bloodline, he had genuinely earned his place at the prestigious Tianxing Academy. At just fifteen, he was already a Human-level martial artist.
In the Tianwu Continent, martial artists progressed through nine tiers: Human, Earth, Heaven, Mystic, Ancestor, Revered, King, Emperor, and Sovereign - each with early, middle and late stages.
Before reaching Human-level, practitioners must first clear seven meridian channels during the Pulse Condensation period to generate true qi. Thus, Human-level practitioners were considered true martial artists.
These ordinary guards were only mid-to-late Human-level themselves, explaining how Qin Chen could kill one so easily.
Madam Zhao was the first to recover, her face purpling with rage. Never had she imagined the timid, obedient Qin Chen would dare commit public murder.
Even Qin Yuechi stood stunned, her heart sinking despite her shock.
"Qin Chen, you've gone mad!" Madam Zhao shrieked. "Guards! Arrest him for family discipline immediately!"
The surviving guard snapped to attention.
With a metallic ring, he drew his saber and lunged like a wolf, channeling qi through his feet to propel himself forward in a leaping strike aimed at Qin Chen's arm.
This was the infamous "Flying Dragon Saber Technique" - a Yellow-grade high-level martial art of the Qin family. The move "Venomous Dragon's Tongue" lived up to its name, striking with viper-like viciousness.
The guard intended to pierce Qin Chen's arm in revenge for his comrade, confident that as long as he didn't kill the young master, any punishment from Madam Zhao would be light.