The young master's kick sent Qiu Mingli crashing to the ground, his stomach hurting so much that his body involuntarily curled up.

At that moment, everyone in the square waiting for the school shuttle bus turned their gazes toward the scene. Luckily, there weren't many students around at this time. Otherwise, this would undoubtedly have become another joke at Tianhai University.

The people nearby shook their heads. This young master was so arrogant, daring to kick people around in Tianhai… Truly outrageous!

"Damn it…" Xu Ke cursed angrily, ready to rush forward and protect Qiu Mingli.

Ye Feng's reaction was quicker, and he swiftly grabbed him.

Xu Ke's aura surged as he instinctively resisted. Fortunately, Ye Feng was strong enough to hold him back. What shocked Ye Feng, however, was that he had used his full strength to pull Xu Ke back and had almost failed. If Xu Ke weren't focused on the commotion, I wouldn't be able to hold him back right now… I'm at the Innate Initial Stage and achieved outstanding results in the Martial Alliance selection competition. How could I be at a disadvantage? Is this really the strength someone at the Postnatal Late Stage should possess? No wonder Qian Jun lost!

Wait a second… Ye Feng's expression changed again as he realized a shocking fact. When did Xu Ke reach Innate Great Perfection? How long has it been? Isn't his breakthrough speed too terrifying?!

Nearby, Tang Yingchang's eyes widened in shock as he saw Xu Ke reveal his aura. How could I have not noticed Mister Xu's cultivation for a few days, and he's already broken through again?! Is this the potential of a Medical Saint's Pupil?

At that moment, Xu Ke, who had been stopped, spoke in a grim voice without even turning his head. "You want to stop me?"

Only then did Ye Feng snap out of his shock. I'll deal with the Innate Great Perfection thing later. I have to stop Xu Ke right now.

He whispered urgently, "I'm not stopping you, but tell me, what are you planning to do?"

"My teacher just got beaten. What do you think I'm going to do?" Xu Ke turned his head, glaring fiercely at Ye Feng.

Startled by Xu Ke's furious, slightly bloodshot gaze, Ye Feng quickly said, "Think about the bigger picture. Stepping in might solve your teacher's problem, but what if you expose yourself?"

In truth, Ye Feng didn't want to get involved in Xu Ke's affairs, but he had to consider his own safety. If Xu Ke was exposed, he would be doomed as well.

"Then you solve it for me?" Xu Ke said coldly through gritted teeth.

He had already dismantled the seven-person ambush, so he initially thought it wouldn't matter if he exposed himself. But considering he might implicate Qin Yu and Ye Feng, Xu Ke calmed down slightly. He couldn't act recklessly just for Qiu Mingli's sake.

"No problem!" Ye Feng eagerly agreed.

He was terrified Xu Ke would go crazy. If that happened, this young master who kicked Qiu Mingli would probably die right here… As long as he doesn't go crazy, anything is fine!

With that said, Ye Feng immediately strode toward Qiu Mingli, with Xu Ke and Tang Yingchang following behind him.

While Ye Feng and Xu Ke were talking, Qiu Mingli still hadn't caught his breath. The kick to his abdomen had left him unable to breathe for what felt like an eternity.

"Get up! You think playing dead means you don't have to pay?" the young master cursed, preparing to kick Qiu Mingli again.

Qiu Mingli scrambled backward in fear. If he was kicked again, not only would he have to compensate this young master, but he also wouldn't be able to finish his work for the day.

At this instant, Xu Ke's killing intent skyrocketed.

Feeling the bone-chilling cold from behind him, Ye Feng panicked. He rushed in front of the young master, seized his leg with one hand, and shouted coldly, "Xie Jinhua, this is Tianhai, not your Sui City, and certainly not your Xie Family's domain! Try being so insolent again!"

Seeing Ye Feng intervene, Qiu Mingli let out a sigh of relief, feeling as though he had escaped death. Thank goodness, thank goodness someone stood up for me… Just then, he looked up and caught a pained expression in Xu Ke's eyes. But after a moment of surprise, the look vanished as if it had never been there. This sparked a thought in Qiu Mingli's mind. Why does this person seem a little familiar?

"Who the fuck dares to touch me?" Xie Jinhua became enraged when he found he couldn't kick out. But when he turned his head and saw it was Ye Feng, his expression darkened. "So it's you, Third Young Master Ye!"

"Third Young Master Ye, what is the meaning of this? Are you trying to provoke a dispute between the Xie and Ye Families?"

Xie Jinhua was a full ten years younger than Ye Feng and not nearly as strong. But even knowing he couldn't win a fight against Ye Feng, he wasn't the slightest bit afraid. He was of the direct lineage of the Xie Family in Sui City. A foster child like Ye Feng certainly couldn't compare.

Behind Xie Jinhua, two bodyguards stepped forward, their threatening gazes fixed on the hand Ye Feng had on their master's leg.

"Xie Jinhua, there's no need to be so alarmist," Ye Feng sneered, letting go of Xie Jinhua's leg. "You're a student at Tianhai University. You should know the school rules. What do you think you're doing right now?"

"School rules?" Xie Jinhua scoffed. "You think you can use that to pressure me?"

"Let me tell you, this damn school custodian ruined my clothes, so he deserved to be hit! I *am* the school rules!"

Ye Feng's eyes grew dark, and he laughed from sheer anger. "This is Tianhai, not a place for you to run wild."

This time, he was genuinely angry. Not only did Xie Jinhua not treat Qiu Mingli like a human being, but he also acted with insufferable arrogance toward Tianhai and Tianhai University.

The surrounding people waiting for the academic exchange conference with Sui City University frowned. This Xie Jinhua was truly disgusting.

"I was wronged, so I fought back bravely, and you call that running wild?" Xie Jinhua mocked. "Hilarious. With so many good schools in Sui City, I, an outstanding student, deigned to come to your Tianhai University. Am I supposed to just meekly endure your mistreatment?"

Ye Feng's face turned ashen. This Xie Jinhua was truly skilled at flattering himself. He had specifically investigated him; the only reason the guy had come to Tianhai was that he couldn't get into any university in Sui City. He had only been admitted to Tianhai University because his uncle was in the upper management.

The same was true for this academic exchange. A slacker like Xie Jinhua had no chance of attending. How could he have gotten the opportunity if not for his uncle?

"Besides, you're standing up for this person? Do you even know who he is?" At that moment, Xie Jinhua pointed at Qiu Mingli.

Ye Feng looked at him coldly. "Who?"

Xie Jinhua suddenly lowered his voice and sneered, "He's one of Xu Ke's people—Xu Ke from the Wang Family, the man who murdered your brother!"

"He's the one who got Auntie Shan kicked out. At Tianhai University, he's the kind of person everyone wants dead."

Hearing this, Xu Ke's expression turned colder. So Xie Jinhua and Shan Lan are relatives… No wonder he would publicly beat someone over a little splash of water. It turns out he was venting Shan Lan's anger.

Ye Feng stared at Xie Jinhua without saying a word.

Xie Jinhua continued, "Are you sure you want to offend me for one of Xu Ke's people? I don't think it's worth it, Third Young Master Ye! Be careful. If your father and second brother find out about this, they might think you have some secret connection to Xu Ke."

At these words, Ye Feng's face tightened.

Xie Jinhua wasn't an idiot. He had no need to pick a fight with Ye Feng over someone like Qiu Mingli. Right now, it was best to persuade Ye Feng to back down with words if possible.

But he had no idea that his words had struck right at the heart of Ye Feng's worries.

And what's more…

The very person in question, Xu Ke, was standing right behind him at that moment, watching…