I Will Trample Him Under My Feet

The large trees by the lake rustled softly in the breeze, their emerald leaves brushing together in a steady rhythm.

Horne's gaze was deep, his expression resolute—regret was not something he acknowledged. Every decision he made was for the future of the Su family.

"Qingying," he began, his voice thoughtful, "why do you ask about Horn now? Though you spent some time with him back then, I doubt someone like you would ever fall for him."

His tone was confident, but his eyes betrayed a hint of fear, as if Xia Qingying's true identity was far more dangerous than he let on.

Xia Qingying remained calm, her gaze detached. "Mr. Su, rest assured. I have no interest in interfering with the Su family's affairs, nor any feelings for Horn." She paused, letting the silence fill the air. "With my background, I know a way to transplant the immortal bones back into their original owner. You didn't ask me for help back then, which means you were already leaning toward Su Wu."

She added, her voice icy, "Horn is just a defective toy in my eyes. That's why I didn't care what happened to him."

Despite the respect in her words, the indifference on her face left no room for doubt—Xia Qingying was no ordinary guest. Horne remained calm, unwilling to show anger in her presence.

Years ago, when Horn's parents went missing and his immortal bones were transplanted into Su Wu, Horne had made his choice. He believed it was the best decision for the Su family, despite the costs.

"Qingying," Horne's voice was a little softer now, "what do you think of Horn? After losing both his bones and his eyes, he has still managed to come this far. To reach the early Sea Transformation Realm at twenty-one is no small feat."

Xia Qingying glanced at the lake, unbothered by the question. "Mr. Su, are you wondering what heights he could have reached if his immortal bones and purple eyes hadn't been taken from him?"

She continued, her voice steady. "Horn is the rightful owner of those bones and eyes. Without that loss, his achievements would surpass Su Wu's by far. But deep down, I think you already know this—you just refuse to admit the regret you feel."

She sighed. "In my memory, Horn was always a naïve child. His fate was set long ago, and even if given a second chance, he wouldn't be able to grasp it."

As soon as she finished speaking, the sky trembled, and a colorful beam of light shot upward from the distance. Horne's eyes widened in surprise.

Even Xia Qingying, usually composed, frowned slightly. "The power of heaven and earth..." she muttered. "Someone has just communicated with the heavens."

Horne smiled, a sense of pride creeping into his voice. "It must be Su Wu. Come, let's see for ourselves."

In a blink, his figure vanished, and after a brief hesitation, Xia Qingying followed.

Within the Su family's estate, Su Wu was in his private training room. His father, Su Xiao, stood outside, watching over him solemnly. Nearby, Su Yan, Su Ming's father and Su Xiao's elder brother, offered a congratulatory smile.

"Third Brother," Su Yan said, "it looks like Xiao Wu is progressing well. Congratulations in advance."

Su Xiao, the current head of the Su family, nodded respectfully to his brother. If Su Yan hadn't stepped aside, Su Xiao would never have gained his position so easily.

Before he could respond, Horne and Xia Qingying appeared outside the training room. Both Su Xiao and Su Yan immediately bowed, greeting them with deference. "Father." They then turned to Xia Qingying, speaking in unison. "Miss Xia."

Xia Qingying barely acknowledged them with a nod. Her presence demanded respect—Horne had made it clear long ago that anyone who disrespected her would face severe consequences. No one, not even the arrogant Su Wu, dared cross her.

Inside the training room, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathered around Su Wu, his momentum rising. Horne could sense Su Wu's growing strength. Xia Qingying, too, felt the powerful forces converging.

"Su Wu has connected with heaven and earth using the immortal bones," she observed, her voice calm. "He's mastering them."

Horne smiled broadly. "Qingying, this is excellent news! Once Su Wu fully controls the immortal bones, he'll be able to help you with your matter."

From the moment Xia Qingying had come to the Su family, her interest had always been in the immortal bones, not the family itself. Now that the bones resided within Su Wu, her gaze turned toward him.

After ten more minutes, the spiritual energy grew even stronger. A massive rib-like structure appeared in the sky, casting a shadow that made even Horne feel uneasy.

"This phenomenon is caused by Su Wu's immortal bones projecting their power into the sky," Xia Qingying explained.

Just then, the door of the training room opened, and Su Wu stepped out, clad in black. His smile was confident, and the air around him crackled with energy.

Su Xiao's face lit up with excitement. "Have you broken through to the late stage of the Sky Control Realm?"

Su Wu nodded, his smile widening as his eyes landed on Xia Qingying.

Horne stepped forward, patting Su Wu on the shoulder. "Well done," he praised. "The future of the Su family lies with you."

Su Wu's eyes gleamed with a fierce resolve. "Grandfather, at your birthday banquet, I want to challenge Horn. I will crush him in front of everyone."

Horn had been a thorn in his side for too long. Today, he would remove that thorn for good. He was determined that no one would ever claim his success was built on Horn's bones again.