Get punched

The world tilted violently as the punch slammed into Qin's face, a sensation of pressure and dull pain spreading through his skull. For a moment, time stretched, the sounds of shouts and fists faded, and he watched his nose crumple under the force, bending at an unnatural angle.

 Blood sprayed in slow motion, droplets suspended in the air like tiny rubies catching the light. He felt the shock ripple through his body, the sharp snap of bone. There was a detached calm as he observed it, a clinical sort of fascination. Pain registered but it was woefully ignored.

He let himself fall, arms limp as gravity yanked him down. The ground rushed up, and he embraced it, his body crumpling against the dirt. Dust kicked up, mingling with the metallic tang of blood in his mouth. It was almost peaceful, lying there, staring up at the sky through the haze. 

Qin turned his head, meeting Fang Yuan's cold, detached gaze. Alongside the other beaten and bruised teens, he forced himself to glare back with hatred, his eyes simmering with rage. But inside, he was grinning. 

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5 minutes earlier :

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"It's Fang Yuan."

"What's he doing at the middle of the gate entrance?"

"Hmph, every time I see his dead dysfunctional state, I feel so pissed off."

"Don't worry about him, he's probably waiting for someone."

The group of young teens barely spared him a glance. Fang Yuan's presence was like an annoyance they had grown used to, a part of the background they dismissed without thought. They continued on, just as they always did. But before they could move past, Fang Yuan stepped into their path, blocking them.

"I'm plundering. Everyone must surrender a piece of primeval stone before they can leave."

The teens froze, their expressions twisting from confusion to outrage.

"What, I didn't hear wrongly, did I?"

"Fang Yuan, your head must have overheated and gone confused. You would actually stand at the gates of the academy and blackmail us?!"

"Have you gone mad? Who gave you the guts to demand our money for no reason?"

"Scram, you're just a petty C grade, how dare you block my way. If you don't scram, I will send you flying with my... Urghh!"

Fang Yuan struck.

His right palm lashed out with a speed and precision that took them by surprise, cutting through the air and landing with a solid thud on the side of a boy's neck. The unlucky teen's eyes rolled up as he collapsed, his body hitting the ground like a sack of stones.

"Fuck! You actually dared to strike?!" The rest of the group staggered back, their bravado faltering as they watched their friend slump to the dirt. Panic rippled through the crowd, some of them backing away, their eyes wide.

"Gu Yue Bei Ju fainted, what should we do?" one of them called out, voice quivering.

"What else can be done?! There's so many of us, and Fang Yuan is alone. We should all rush at him together and beat him up," someone shouted, attempting to rally the others, rage flaring in their eyes.

"That's right, he sure doesn't know his place! How dare he provoke us alone. He's definitely digging his own grave!"

But before they could act, Fang Yuan surged forward. His movements were swift, calculated-a predator diving into a flock of sheep. His palm slashed through the air, the edge slicing into another boy's neck. The teen's eyes rolled back, and he fell without a sound.

"Ahh -!" Another teen charged, fist swinging wildly. Fang Yuan ducked under the blow, sidestepping the attack with a smooth, effortless motion. In a flash, his leg shot up, striking his attacker squarely between the legs.

A sharp, anguished scream tore through the air as the boy doubled over, clutching his groin. His scream rose in pitch, a high, pitiful wail as he collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain. His face was pale, his body trembling as cold sweat soaked through his clothes.

Fang Yuan moved like a whirlwind, fists flying, bodies crumpling beneath his blows. It was chaos-a violent dance as he tore through them, one by one. The teens' bravado shattered, their confidence crumbling under the relentless onslaught. They staggered and fell, their cries of defiance turning to screams of pain and panic.

Among them, Qin braced himself, taking the role he was meant to play. His duty was clear-try to protect Chi Cheng. But as he rushed forward, he moved with the predictability of an inexperienced teenager. He didn't resist when the blow came, when Fang Yuan's fist met his face and sent him tumbling to the ground.

As he dragged himself up, he pulled out two primeval stones from his pouch and walked way alongside the ashen faced Chi Cheng. 

Qin's lips twitched, his inward grin spreading wider.

'Oh Fang Yuan, such generosity, selling your instruction for a mere primeval stone...' he mused, amusement swirling beneath his mask. A good sparring partner was a rare gift. And with his memories as a hidden split soul so carefully limited, it was an opportunity he wasn't about to waste.