The moment Tan Weifeng's palm strike landed, regret flashed through his eyes.
He had acted on impulse — at the school gate, of all places.
Attacking ordinary people without cause, and in full public view, was the gravest of taboos.
Then, a furious roar split the air:
"Tan Weifeng, you're asking for death!"
Liang Xiao's voice was like thunder.
Tan spun around instinctively — and a streak of light shot toward him, slicing the air so close that it grazed his ear.
"You—!"
Before he could finish, the force of Liang Xiao's strike hit him. His face went pale. He tried to defend himself, channeling inner energy into his outstretched hand.
"Wait, I didn't mean—"
Bang!
The words died in his throat as his hand exploded into a spray of blood.
"Aaahhh!!!"
His scream echoed across half the campus.
Students, teachers, and bystanders turned at once.
Law enforcement officers on duty whipped their heads toward the source of the sound. The principal, who had barely walked away from the ceremony, rushed back.
Even out-of-town proctors hurried over, and reporters surged toward the commotion like sharks catching scent of blood.
Liang Xiao's eyes burned with fury as he sprinted through the gate. Murderous intent radiated from him like heat from a forge.
He raised his hand again, gathering True Qi at his fingertip — preparing to unleash Destruction Needle to finish Tan Weifeng off.
"Ah Xiao, don't—!"
His grandfather's trembling voice cut through the chaos.
"Brother!" cried Liang Yuan, his voice small but sharp with fear.
Liang Xiao froze mid-step.
He looked — his grandfather and brother were alive, shaken but unhurt.
His killing intent dimmed slightly. His mind cleared.
But mercy didn't follow.
His figure blurred as he dashed forward again.
"Don't you dare touch my young master!"
A middle-aged man lunged toward him, face contorted with panic.
Liang Xiao didn't hesitate — his palm shot out.
The man was thrown aside like a ragdoll, crashing into a wall with a sickening thud.
Then, with another burst of speed, Liang Xiao kicked Tan Weifeng squarely in the stomach.
Thud!
Tan Weifeng flew backward several meters, curling up on the ground like a shrimp, choking on blood.
Just as Liang Xiao prepared to strike again, a gust of spiritual wind swept toward him from the side.
He reacted instantly — snapping his fingers.
Bang!
The oncoming spell shattered mid-air.
"Stop—!"
The old principal finally arrived, stepping between Liang Xiao and the incoming law enforcers.
"Please, everyone calm down!" he said urgently. "This must be a misunderstanding!"
"My hand… my hand…"
Tan Weifeng writhed on the ground, howling in agony. His right arm was a mangled mess — bone and flesh torn apart. Unless he found a miracle-level regeneration elixir, he'd be crippled for life.
A powerful aura surged closer — heavy and authoritative.
Captain Huang, from the Changlin City Law Enforcement Department, had arrived.
"Captain!" The officers saluted immediately.
Liang Xiao's eyes flickered as Huang stepped forward, face expressionless.
"What happened here?" Captain Huang's voice was ice-cold. "Even if you're the top scorer in the college entrance exam, that doesn't give you the right to attack someone in public."
His tone was harsh, deliberately detached — as if he didn't know Liang Xiao at all.
Inwardly, though, he sighed. I just told this kid to keep a low profile… and now he's practically waving a flag for the Longevity Cult to find him.
But this situation, he realized, could be turned to their advantage.
If Liang Xiao was taken into custody, it would actually keep him safe from outside threats.
Huang's eyes flicked subtly toward the middle-aged servant lying unconscious nearby. Then he turned back, voice cold and steady.
"Tan Weifeng attacked my grandfather and younger brother without reason," Liang Xiao said firmly. "There are witnesses — my family never provoked him."
The crowd murmured in agreement.
The law enforcers exchanged uneasy glances.
They could tell — Liang Xiao was still a pre–Qi Refining cultivator, while Tan Weifeng was at Qi Refining Level 1.
Yet the latter was the one crippled on the ground.
Captain Huang's eyes narrowed. "Is that so? We'll see. Investigate the identities of the two victims."
Liang Xiao blinked in confusion. Hadn't he already looked into my family yesterday?
The old principal frowned slightly. He sensed what Captain Huang was doing — setting the stage.
"Yes, Captain!"
An officer activated his handheld scanner, aiming it at Liang Wen and Liang Yuan.
Moments later, the device beeped.
"Captain — this man is a retired soldier!"
Gasps spread through the crowd.
The officer continued, "His name is Liang Wen. Twelve years ago, during the Evil Calamity of Humeng City, he lost an eye in battle and was forced to retire."
The crowd's expressions shifted immediately.
For a cultivator — especially one not recognized as a Citizen of Honor — to attack mortals was already a serious crime.
To harm a retired soldier was a capital offense.
Federation law treated its defenders with near-religious respect.
Even the weakest veteran was under the protection of the state.
This was why so many ordinary people risked everything to enter military academies — for the hope of earning that shield of honor.
Captain Huang's lips curved slightly as he delivered the final blow.
"According to Federal Law," he said loudly, "a cultivator without Honor Citizen status who attacks a retired soldier without provocation is guilty of a capital crime — punishable by immediate execution."
Liang Xiao almost smiled. As expected of Captain Huang.
The old principal's eyes glimmered. He understood immediately — Huang was shielding the boy under the guise of enforcing the law.
Tan Weifeng's expression shifted from pain to panic.
"No, no — wait! My young master is a Descendant of Glory!" shouted the middle-aged servant, staggering up despite his injuries. "According to the law, as long as there are no serious consequences, he can atone with payment!"
"Yes! My great-grandfather was a Citizen of Honor!" Tan Weifeng stammered desperately. "He bled for the Federation!"
"Captain," an officer confirmed quietly, "the database shows that's true — Tan Weifeng is indeed a Descendant of Glory."
The servant — his name was Fan Bo — fumbled for his communicator, calling Tan Weifeng's father.
But before the call connected, he suddenly froze.
Blood trickled from his nose. His eyes rolled back.
He collapsed.
"Uncle Fan!" Tan Weifeng cried, face twisting.
An officer knelt to check. "Intracranial hemorrhage," he said solemnly. "Dead."
"What…" Liang Xiao frowned. He hadn't even struck the man that hard.
Tan Weifeng's shock turned to elation. He jabbed a trembling finger at Liang Xiao.
"Captain! He killed him! Fan Bo was an ordinary man — and he killed him!"
The old principal's heart clenched. Liang Wen and Wu Jun, standing nearby, stiffened in alarm.
Captain Huang's expression didn't change.
"Cause of death," he said flatly, "was cerebral hemorrhage brought on by prior injury and emotional distress. The primary assailant bears responsibility. Both parties will be taken into custody."
As he spoke, his voice slipped into a soundless transmission to Liang Xiao:
"It's not safe outside. You've drawn too much attention. The Longevity Cult has started moving again.
Stay inside for two days — your Glory Citizen ID will be ready by then."
Liang Xiao's eyes flickered in realization.
So this is his plan…
That middle-aged man hadn't died from his kick — Huang had finished him off.
A staged casualty.
A convenient pretext for Liang Xiao's "detention."
Cunning. Ruthless.
And thankfully, on my side.
"Captain Huang," Liang Xiao said aloud, bowing slightly, "may I speak to my grandfather and brother before we leave?"
"One minute," Huang said evenly.
"Thank you."
Liang Xiao hurried over.
"Ah Xiao…" Liang Wen coughed, blood at the corner of his mouth. "You were too impulsive just now. That boy wouldn't have dared to kill us."
"Brother, are you going to be okay?" Liang Yuan's small voice trembled.
Liang Xiao knelt, his tone low and steady. "Grandpa, Yuan — don't worry. I'll be fine. I'll get my Glory Citizen ID in two days."
Liang Wen froze for a heartbeat, then his face relaxed in relief. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
If Ah Xiao truly became a Citizen of Honor, then today's incident meant nothing.
For an honored citizen, killing in defense of family wasn't even considered a crime.
The law bent toward those with strength — as it always had.