Don't believe me? You will.

The corners of Su Chen's mouth curled into a wicked smile as he watched Zheng Xuan reach for the silver needle. He said lightly, "A friendly reminder: remove that needle recklessly, and your hand is ruined. No cure."

Startled, Zheng Xuan retracted his hand.

Situ Lei scoffed, "Young Master Zheng, don't listen to his scare tactics. Removing a needle can't ruin a hand!" He carelessly pulled the needle from Zheng Xuan's hand before the man could react.

"Ahhhhh! It hurts!"

A searing pain shot through Zheng Xuan's hand, as if every nerve ending was being torn. Tears streamed down his face as he clutched his wrist, jumping and wincing. The others recoiled, a jolt of apprehension striking them. Could it be… that serious?

They looked at the hand. It had swollen dramatically, a grotesque purple-black, resembling a pig's trotter. What was happening? Could it truly be ruined?

"Young Master Zheng, try moving it," Situ Lei asked cautiously, equally frightened.

Zheng Xuan tried, but the hand felt alien, unresponsive. "My hand… it's destroyed!"

Despair and anger flooded him. He roared at Situ Lei, "You bastard! Why did you pull out the needle? It wasn't your hand!"

Situ Lei was speechless, utterly deflated. How could I know his methods were so bizarre? he thought. His impulsive act had done the damage. He turned to Su Chen, "Kid, whatever trickery you used, heal Young Master Zheng's hand, or face the consequences!"

The other young masters joined the chorus of threats. To them, it wasn't a threat, but a statement of fact.

Su Chen replied calmly, "I can save him, but I won't. Unless you all lie down and bark like dogs, none of you are leaving."

Shen Bo's eyes narrowed. "Are you really playing this way?"

Su Chen smirked, "Problematic statement. Weren't you the one who wanted to play first? Or are you just unaccustomed to being played with?"

These young masters were used to controlling others. The audacity of someone daring to treat them this way was incomprehensible. The command to bark like dogs seemed insane.

Society was stratified, they believed. Humiliating inferiors was commonplace, like toying with pets. Their feelings were irrelevant; their value lay solely in their amusement. These young masters saw themselves at the apex, and Su Chen's defiance—his refusal to be humiliated and his attempt to reverse the power dynamic—was infuriating.

Situ Lei's eyes hardened. "You're set on fighting to the bitter end?"

Su Chen sneered, rising from his chair. "Fighting to the bitter end? Because of your family backgrounds?" He walked towards them. "Let's get on with it."

Shen Bo, his temper flaring, lunged with a punch. But Su Chen swiftly kicked out, shattering Shen Bo's knee with a sickening crack. Shen Bo crumpled to the ground. The pain was excruciating.

The others were stunned. This guy dared to fight back – and brutally.

Su Chen kicked Shen Bo again, sending him face-first into the dirt, knocking out teeth.

"Are you coming at me yourselves, or should I do it?" Su Chen clapped his hands casually.

Zheng Xuan glared, his swollen hand still throbbing. "You've made your threats. I'm tired of hearing them."

Su Chen frowned slightly.

Situ Lei looked at his companions. "This kid doesn't fear death. Let's see what he can do!"

The young masters charged. Seconds later, they were sprawled on the ground, groaning. Su Chen had barely moved, yet these pampered elites had received a humiliating lesson they would never forget. The physical pain and shame burned like fire in their eyes, a fire aimed squarely at Su Chen.