C16 A Beauty.

Lyu Bin was on the receiving end of Hsiao Rann's kick, skidding across the slick floor until he crashed into a counter. Medications tumbled down from the shelves, covering him and adding to his disheveled appearance.

As Hsiao Rann's temper flared, the bystanders kept their distance, steering clear of the altercation. No one, not even the security guards by the entrance, wanted to intervene.

At first, the guard had assumed Hsiao Rann was the one taking the hits, which is why he stayed out of it. But as the crowd obscured his view, he remained unaware that Lyu Bin was the actual victim. Had he realized it was Lyu Bin on the receiving end, he would have intervened much sooner.

Hsiao Rann advanced on Lyu Bin with increasing speed. Reaching him, he delivered another forceful kick.

This time, Lyu Bin was powerless to defend himself, backed up against the counter. The kick was so severe that blood spilled from the corner of his mouth and tears streamed down his face. The impact even shattered a large section of the glass atop the counter.

Shards of glass cascaded down, littering the floor with a carpet of splinters.

Hsiao Rann recognized he had to stop; any further and he might actually kill Lyu Bin. His previous kicks had been fueled by blind rage, without a moment's thought. Now, with a clearer head, he realized the full extent of his strength.

Still seething with anger, Hsiao Rann felt as if there was an inferno raging within him, with nowhere to unleash it.

With a bellow, he swung another punch.

A gasp rippled through the crowd, who had witnessed Lyu Bin's pitiful condition. If this punch connected, it could be fatal.

Time seemed to freeze. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the unfolding drama, wondering if Hsiao Rann's fist had found its mark. Lyu Bin, who had been crying out in pain, was now ominously silent. Had he been beaten to death?

Several timid onlookers had already gone white with fear.

Lyu Bin fell silent, not because Hsiao Rann had beaten him to death, but because he was terrified by Hsiao Rann's display of power.

Hsiao Rann's fist slammed into the ground.

As Hsiao Rann's fist made contact, Lyu Bin thought he saw the floor crack and debris fly.

Hsiao Rann had smashed through the half-meter-thick floor that normally wouldn't crack even under the weight of several hundred kilograms. Now, it lay in pieces from Hsiao Rann's single punch, the cement slab beneath also visibly fractured.

Enraged yet in control, Hsiao Rann needed to release his anger. In his fury, he nearly expended all of his fake vital energy in that one blow.

Lyu Bin was genuinely terrified. He hadn't anticipated Hsiao Rann's formidable strength. Had that punch been aimed at him, he would surely be dead. The cuts on his face from the flying shards were the least of his concerns.

Pain seemed to vanish for Lyu Bin as he quickly scrambled to his feet and knelt before Hsiao Rann.

"Hsiao Rann, I beg you to spare me. I'll never trouble you again," Lyu Bin pleaded, mustering the strength to bow his head in submission.

Lyu Bin's fear was palpable. He had more worldly knowledge than most and had heard tales of individuals whose chests could crush boulders and whose fists could dent steel plates. He had even witnessed such a person once, a murderous devil, leading him to subconsciously equate Hsiao Rann with that kind of monster.

He believed Hsiao Rann had intentionally spared him. Yet, another punch would undoubtedly be fatal. Clearly, he didn't want to die; he was young, and despite his habitual bullying, he turned into a spineless coward when faced with someone stronger.

Hsiao Rann had the urge to end Lyu Bin, but his sense of reason prevailed. Having just inherited the Pill Sovereign Lineage, he couldn't let Lyu Bin ruin his prospects. As for dealing with Lyu Bin, Hsiao Rann knew he had plenty of options.

"Don't move, any of you. I'm a police officer." Hsiao Rann's ears perked up as he heard these words. The police had arrived.

By now, Hsiao Rann had fully regained his composure and it was out of the question for him to lay a hand on Lyu Bin again.

With an air of innocence, Hsiao Rann raised his hands and began to weep. It was all an act. "You're finally here! They attacked me."

The bystanders were taken aback. To them, Hsiao Rann's audacity was astounding. With Lyu Bin still kneeling on the ground, writhing in pain, how could Hsiao Rann claim he was the one who had been attacked?

Hsiao Rann, unfazed by the onlookers' incredulous stares, pressed on. "Officer, please believe me! I was assaulted by all four of them."

Zhang Yan blinked, her confusion evident. She hadn't caught the full sequence of events, but among the four people Hsiao Rann accused, one was knocked out, another was kneeling, and two others were doubled over with their hands clutching their stomachs.

Yet the one filing the complaint seemed relatively unharmed, save for the blood dripping from his hands, suggesting nothing more than a minor injury.

Zhang Yan's bewilderment grew. As a police officer, she stood out from her peers. Her friends often said she wasn't cut out for police work due to her naivety. Her colleagues at the station were protective, never assigning her dangerous tasks. She hadn't been scheduled to respond to this call, but after the station received the alert, she was the closest, so she arrived on the scene solo.

Hsiao Rann called out once more, "Officer, arrest them quickly! Especially the ringleader who struck me first."

The crowd's opinion of Hsiao Rann sank even lower as they heard his plea. He had the gall to play the victim after instigating the violence.

Yet, despite the police presence, and without being questioned, the onlookers chose to remain silent. It was true that four had been against one, but the result of the scuffle was nothing short of miraculous.

As Hsiao Rann pointed at Lyu Bin, his head swiveled, and his gaze darkened. Gone was the facade of innocence; his eyes now bore a lethal edge that could cut through Lyu Bin without a word.

Upon catching Hsiao Rann's pointed look, Lyu Bin understood exactly what he had to do. He had no choice but to follow Hsiao Rann's directives. The worst he faced for fighting was detention and a fine.

But, if Lyu Bin defied Hsiao Rann's wishes, he knew he couldn't bear the brunt of his wrath. He had initially led his crew to cause trouble for Hsiao Rann, but the tables had turned, and it was Hsiao Rann who had given him a thrashing. True to form, Lyu Bin preyed on those weaker than himself, but the moment he realized his target was stronger, he'd quickly concede defeat.

"Yes, officer. It was us who provoked Hsiao Rann. We deserved to be hit. None of this is Hsiao Rann's fault," Lyu Bin promptly clarified to Zhang Yan, following Hsiao Rann's instructions.

"Are you Hsiao Rann?" Zhang Yan asked, puzzled. It was strange to her that the supposed victim was now calmly explaining himself, while the aggressor lay on the ground. But with Lyu Bin's confession, she had no grounds to pursue the matter further.

"Yes, Police Sister, I am Hsiao Rann," he answered Zhang Yan's inquiry.

"Why did they attack you?" Zhang Yan pressed on.

"I had just purchased some medicinal herbs and was ready to leave when they claimed the herbs they saw belonged to them. I explained that I had already bought the herbs, but they insisted that what they saw was theirs. After I angrily rebuked them, they tried to beat me and took the herbs," Hsiao Rann recounted with composure.

Lyu Bin was taken aback; he had no interest in the herbs! It was all a ruse by Hsiao Rann. Regrettably, he couldn't reveal the truth to Zhang Yan.

"Is that so?" Zhang Yan directed the question at Lyu Bin.

With Hsiao Rann's eyes fixed on him, Lyu Bin hastily nodded in agreement.

Hsiao Rann, seeing Lyu Bin's nod, added, "Police Sister, he also took my wallet. Without money, I won't be able to get by."

Lyu Bin felt his anger rising, but at the sight of Hsiao Rann's tightening fist, he quickly surrendered his wallet. "Here is your wallet."

Hsiao Rann snatched the wallet and emptied it of all its contents, roughly three thousand yuan. Tossing the wallet back, he quipped, "I'll give you back the extra 0.5 yuan. I wouldn't want Police Sister to think I'm a swindler."

Lyu Bin was seething with anger, yet he managed to conceal it behind a sycophantic grin.

Zhang Yan, witnessing the exchange between Hsiao Rann and Lyu Bin, took Hsiao Rann's words at face value. She was even impressed, thinking him a commendable citizen for his intention to return the surplus cash.

Just then, two more officers arrived on the scene, pushing through the onlookers to assess the situation.

The duo comprised a seasoned officer and his younger counterpart, who seemed more interested in Zhang Yan's allure than in scrutinizing Hsiao Rann and the others.

"What's the problem here? Who called the police?" the senior officer inquired, approaching Zhang Yan.

Zhang Yan relayed Hsiao Rann's fabricated story. The older officer cast a skeptical glance at Hsiao Rann and his group, clearly not as gullible as Zhang Yan.

Nevertheless, with Zhang Yan offering no further details, the officer refrained from pressing the issue. He gestured to the younger officer to apprehend the suspect, but the latter was too captivated by Zhang Yan's charm to catch the signal. It took a nudge from the older officer's boot to snap him to attention. His first instinct was to go for Hsiao Rann, who was nearest.

"He's the victim; no handcuffs are necessary," Zhang Yan interjected before the young officer could proceed with the arrest.

Hsiao Rann couldn't help but feel a twinge of satisfaction. Zhang Yan's naivety had led her to take his words at face value.

The three individuals sprawled on the ground didn't warrant handcuffs. Yet, Lyu Bin, who had earlier braced himself against the ground through sheer willpower to avoid Hsiao Rann's wrath, was now writhing in agony. Among them, he was the most pitiable, and ironically, he was the only one to end up in cuffs.

Before long, the wail of sirens announced the arrival of an ambulance, ready to transport the wounded to the hospital.