Jin Yu eyed Min Li as he stepped forward, fists clenched in rage.

  Jin Yu, however, remained unfazed, his posture casual, like he was at a tea ceremony, not a duel.

  Min Li glared at him, his voice trembling with barely-contained fury. “You think you can mock us and get away with it? I challenge you to a duel, right here, right now!”

  Jin Yu let out an exaggerated yawn, stretching his arms above his head as if he were about to take a nap. “A duel?”

  He glanced at Rainbow, who was still lying lazy on his wrist, as if searching for confirmation. “Huh. Well... if you insist.”

  Rainbow twirled her petals excitedly and mimicked a dramatic "fighting stance," puffing herself up as if preparing for battle.

  She even flashed her "roots" threateningly, as if ready to tangle Min Li up in a viney, flower-filled trap.

  The sight was so absurd that Jin Yu couldn’t help but chuckle, his lips curling into a teasing smile. “But you see, I don’t really like bullying the weak. It’s not my style, you know?”

  Min Li’s face turned beet red, veins popping in his neck. “I’m not weak!” he shouted, taking a step closer, his body radiating an aura of mid-stage,human realm. “You mock me and then insult me? Do you think I’ll let you get away with it?”

  Jin Yu glanced at him, then lazily turned his gaze back to the sky. “I wasn’t insulting you, little boy. I was simply stating facts. You clearly don’t have what it takes to face me, so I’ll spare you the humiliation.”

  “Enough!” Min Li snarled. “You will regret underestimating me!” His body surged with energy as he readied himself to attack.

  Jin Yu raised a hand, still grinning. “Alright, alright. Let’s see what you've got, then.” He motioned for him to go ahead, his eyes glinting with mock amusement. “But remember, if you embarrass yourself... it’s on you, not me.”

  Min Li let out a guttural roar and launched himself forward, faster than Jin Yu had expected.

  His fists were surrounded by swirling energy as he aimed a powerful punch at Jin Yu’s face. The force behind the blow could’ve cracked stone—yet Jin Yu didn’t even flinch.

  Just as Min Li’s fist was about to collide with Jin Yu’s face, The little flower, dancing mockingly on his wrists, suddenly flared with color. Jin Yu had raised two fingers, calmly infusing his Qi and will into her. Rainbow responded instantly, glowing with a faint crimson hue that shimmered like silk in the air.

  Min Li’s fist was blocked—not by Rainbow herself—but by a Qi-forged barrier projected through her, like a delicate shield of willpower laced with amusement.

  "What The Fuck!"

  The young man was so startled that his next punch missed completely, and he stumbled awkwardly, almost tripping over his own feet.

  The room went silent, save for the soft swaying of Rainbow’s petals. Min Li’s face contorted in a mix of frustration and embarrassment as he scrambled to regain his stance.

  Jin Yu couldn’t hold back his laughter anymore. “You really want me to take you seriously?” he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “This is the best you’ve got? Maybe I should’ve brought a teddy bear to the duel instead of Rainbow. She seems like the more serious contender here.”

  Rainbow, hearing her praise, gave a little "bow," causing her petals to fan out in a dramatic fashion. It looked like she was truly basking in her newfound glory.

  Min Li’s face flushed with rage, but he was also now struggling to get a grip on his temper. His fists shook at his sides as he tried to control his emotions. "You... you..."

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Come on, Min Li," Jin Yu mocked, his voice sweet and sugary. "Show me something that doesn’t make me feel like I’m fighting a toddler.”

  That was the last straw. With a furious yell, Min Li shot forward again, this time aiming a spinning kick directly at Jin Yu's midsection.

  However, as he swung his leg toward Jin Yu, the latter calmly stepped aside, grabbing his foot mid-air. Min li's eyes widened in shock as Jin Yu easily tossed him across the room with a single, effortless motion.

  BANG! CRASH!

  Min Li collided with a nearby table, knocking it over and sending wine glasses flying through the air. He lay there for a moment, stunned, as the room fell into stunned silence.

  Minya,the lady, looked at min Li with a face red with embarrassment.

  Is this the one who vowed to take revenge for me?. So embarrassing!

  Master min's lips twitched slightly,his face a bit red. This brat has caused us to lose face !

  “See?” Jin Yu said, his tone smug. “You’re too slow. Too predictable. And, frankly, just too weak. This fight was over the moment you stepped up.”

  "Y-You—!” Min Li staggered to his feet, panting, his face red with exertion and humiliation. “You’re just… you’re just messing with me!”

  “Oh, now you get it.” Jin Yu smiled.

  Influence +2,500

  Influence +3,000

  (Emotion provoked: Humiliation )

  "YOU BASTARD!, I'LL KILL YOU!"

  Min Li’s next three attacks were all shut down—first a jab that was caught and redirected, then a roundhouse kick that Jin Yu ducked under lazily, and finally, a desperate palm strike that Jin Yu caught flat in his own palm.

  Min Li was left wheezing, bent forward, hands on his knees.

  “Wh… what realm are you even in?” he asked, chest heaving.

  Jin Yu tapped his chin playfully, “Late stage Essence Core Realm, I guess....”

  Min Li froze. “W-What?”

  “I said, late stage Essence Core. You deaf?, or is the humiliation just loud in your ears?”

  Min Li doubted his ears. His jaw dropped slightly. “That’s… impossible! , You were not that strong two days ago!"

  Jin Yu tapped his chin playfully. “True. I was not. But.... talent waits for no one, I guess.”

  Min Li stared at him, stunned, and then suddenly leaned forward, eyes gleaming. “H-How did you get that strong so fast?! Did you find some secret realm? Did you awaken some special constitution? Did you took an ancient divine pill?”

  Jin Yu took a deep breath, blinking slowly. “Nah.”

  Min Li blinked back. “...Then what?”

  Jin Yu leaned in, lowering his voice dramatically. “Wanna know the real secret?”

  Min Li nodded eagerly.

  Jin Yu whispered, “I wake up early.”

  Min Li: “...What.”

  Jin Yu gave him a solemn look. “You’d be amazed how many things you can get done before breakfast.”

  Min Li looked at him like he’d just been struck by lightning.

  Then Jin Yu added with a grin, “Also, I make people angry. A lot.”

  Influence +100. (Embarrassed)

  Jin Wei glared at Jin Yu . Stupid boy!

  Min Li paused. “Is… is that part of your training?”

  “You could say that,” Jin Yu said with a mysterious smirk.

  From the side, Rainbow swirled around him arm playfully, glowing in approval.

  Min Li stared at Jin Yu like he was seeing a god walk the mortal plane. “Teach me,” he said suddenly, voice serious. “Please. I want to learn how to be strong like you!”

  Jin Yu blinked. “Didn’t you just try to murder me a minute ago?”

  Min Li nodded solemnly. “Yes. And I would do it again. But now I know better. You're… you're my new idol.”

  Jin Yu smirked. “Ah. From mortal enemy to fanboy. You’re learning fast already, follow me kid" Jin Yu patted Min Li's back and walked away slowly with a smile, like a scholar teaching a student.

  The silence that followed was tense. Master Min’s eyes remained fixed on Jin Yu’s back, suspicion deepening in his expression. The supposed explanation meeting had long gone off track, and instead of a punishment, the boy was gathering disciples?

  Min Li cheerfully followed behind Jin Yu, wiping the blood from his lips like a badge of honor. “Master! What’s the first step to power?”

  Jin Yu glanced back with a crooked smirk. “Step one: stop getting beat up in five moves.”

  Rainbow twirled above Jin Yu’s shoulder and mimicked Jin Yu’s previous actions, her petals flaring dramatically like a little actress reenacting the fight.

  The whole room shook with restrained laughter—except Master Min and his daughter, who looked like they were chewing glass.

  Min Li didn’t seem to notice, grinning wide. “So what’s step two?”

  “Step two,” Jin Yu said seriously, “is to not call me ‘Master’ in public. You’re ruining my mysterious reputation.”

  “I’ll call you whatever you want, just teach me!”

  At this point, even Uncle Lin was rubbing his temples.

  Master Min, who had remained seated with a composed front until now, finally frowned. His eyes narrowed on Jin Yu’s back, and with a subtle movement, he released a thread of divine sense to probe the boy’s realm—just to verify the outrageous claim for himself.

  The moment his divine sense touched Jin Yu, it sank and vanished like smoke under rain.

  Master Min's eyes widened. “What…?”

  He tried again, sending a more refined stream of spiritual Qi this time. But again, it vanished into nothingness—absorbed or dissipated with no trace.

  The elder stood, his voice calm but laced with tension. “Jin Wei.”

  Jin Wei, who had been enjoying a quiet cup of tea, looked up with mild surprise. “Yes, old friend?”

  Master Min’s gaze didn’t leave Jin Yu’s back. “Did you teach your son the Misty Veil Technique?”

  Jin Wei blinked. “Misty Veil? That dusty old thing?”

  “He blocked my divine sense,” Master Min said quietly. “Even I can’t see into his realm.”

  The room fell into stunned silence.

  Jin Wei’s eyes followed his son’s retreating figure. A small, knowing smile tugged at his lips. “Who knows..."

  Master Min heart itched,he feel like slapping the mysterious smile off Jin Wei's face.

  After a long silence,Master Min finally sat down and spoke, his voice low and composed. “Jin Wei. Is this your idea of giving us an explanation?”

  Jin Wei gave a soft chuckle. “My son gave a very polite explanation. He even smiled while giving it.”

  Min Li’s cousin, still fuming from her seat, finally burst out, “You’re just going to let this slide?! After what he did to me?!”

  Jin Yu, hearing that, turned with a harmless smile. “Aww, don’t be like that. I was only playing with you. Who knew you’d faint in the middle of the game?”

  He sighed dramatically, as if heartbroken.

  Rainbow spun around his head, mimicking the young lady fainting with a flutter of petals and a faint squeak like, “Oh no~!”

  That earned a few choked laughs from Chen Haoran and Haozi

  “You!” The girl’s face turned beet red. Bastard!

  Influence +1,500

  Influence +2,000

  Influence +2,500

  (Emotion provoked: Immense Fury)