Ruthless Paul

Anyi City, the capital of the Great Xia Dynasty, is one of the top ten cities in the realm. Within the walls of this bustling metropolis, apart from the royal family, countless noble families thrive. Among them, the Paul Family stands out as one of the most powerful, possessing immense strength and influence.

As the harsh winter settles in, a biting cold fills the air, yet the streets of Anyi City remain largely free of snow. This is clearly the result of constant efforts by diligent workers clearing the paths.

Paul, wearing a coat he had obtained somewhat opportunistically—though he did leave behind some silver as payment—walks toward the grand entrance of his family's estate. The imposing characters that read "Paul Family" are etched above the gate, stirring a complex mix of emotions within him. At the moment he was kicked off the cliff by his cousin, Paul truly believed he was destined for death.

To his surprise, he had not perished. Instead, he had transformed from a martial arts outcast into a true warrior. Although he never intended to return to the Paul family, he found himself without any resources, not even a suitable martial arts technique for cultivation. With winter's chill pressing down, he felt he had no choice but to return home.

"Paul! You worthless servant! Where have you been these past three days?"

As Paul stepped inside the estate, a venomous voice echoed through the halls. At the sound of it, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, but he quickly masked his reaction. He looked up to see a youth, about ten years old, with a wicked grin approaching him.

"Three days?" Paul suddenly realized, his mind racing. "How is it only three days? I spent six days within the River Diagram and Luo Book!" His confusion left him momentarily silent, and this only fueled the other boy's fury.

"You deaf or dumb, you filthy cur?!" the youth yelled, charging at Paul and lifting his foot to deliver a vicious kick.

Inside, Paul seethed with anger. This boy, like him, served the Paul family, tending to the horses. However, during his absence, the workload had increased, and the resentment among the servants had boiled over. Today, Paul An had been eager to escape his chores, seeking solace in the company of women, only to stumble upon Paul's unexpected return.

The ongoing torment Paul had endured at the hands of others had conditioned him to remain silent. He had learned early on that resistance only led to a more severe beating. Ever since his parents had died when he was five, he had been a victim, living as a scapegoat for others' frustrations.

Initially, when insulted, he would charge back with rage, only to be beaten into submission. After a particularly harsh incident where he was left bedridden for months, he chose to endure silently, his heart nurturing a deep-seated hatred. He would remember each face of those who tormented him, vowing revenge.

Now, however, Paul was no longer a weakling. He had become a warrior, and the years of repression were about to erupt.

As he stared at Paul An, his eyes burning with fury, his expression twisted into a snarl. The shift in his demeanor caught Paul An off guard, prompting him to hesitate, but he quickly scoffed, "What am I afraid of? He's just a waste!"

"D*mn it! How dare a waste like you scare me!"

With renewed anger, Paul An propelled himself forward, launching a kick aimed straight at Paul's chest. Above him, a faint silhouette of a dragon emerged—a manifestation of his martial strength, a clear indicator of his training as a first-layer postnatal warrior.

"You will pay for this!" Paul roared, clenching his fist tightly, drawing upon the strength he had cultivated. He smashed his fist downward, colliding with Paul An's incoming kick.

The impact sent shockwaves through the air. "Two dragons' strength! Impossible!" Paul An screamed in disbelief, witnessing two dark, almost tangible dragons hovering above Paul's head.

Crack!

In that instant, Paul's fist slammed into Paul An's leg, shattering bones with a sickening crunch. The scream that followed was a harrowing wail that echoed through the estate. Paul An was launched backward, crashing into the snow-covered ground, his cries piercing the winter air.

"What's happening?" startled servants nearby rushed over at the sound of the commotion.

Instead of finding peace after sending Paul An flying, Paul felt an uncontrollable rage flooding his system. He advanced with bloodshot eyes and a chilling aura, step by step toward his fallen foe.

"You dare break my leg, you b*st*rd? You're asking for death!" Paul An spat through gritted teeth, despite the excruciating pain radiating from his injury.

With a calm yet menacing demeanor, Paul drew closer, fixing his cold gaze on Paul An. "You think I'll let you get away with this?" With that, he stepped forward, bringing his foot down harshly.

Snap!

The sound of another bone fracturing filled the air as Paul crushed Paul An's other leg. The pitiful screams that followed were nothing short of gut-wrenching.

"Weren't you having fun bullying me?" Paul mocked, landing a powerful kick to Paul An's midsection. The force sent Paul An tumbling through the air, blood spilling from his mouth as he lost consciousness.

As Paul watched him fall to the ground, he could see the once-feared bully now laid low, his body crumpled like a broken doll.

The surrounding servants gawked in disbelief. Hadn't Paul always been the family's punching bag? What had transformed him into this formidable force?

In a moment of twisted satisfaction, Paul's gaze hardened as he approached the trembling Paul An, who lay moaning on the ground.

"Filthy cur!" Paul snarled, kicking savagely at Paul An's mouth, causing the boy's jaw to shatter under the relentless force. His tormentor had finally been silenced, but Paul's fury drove him on. He stomped on Paul An's hands, breaking each finger with deliberate cruelty.

Once he finished, Paul's expression softened slightly, the storm of emotions finally ebbing away. He surveyed the stunned onlookers, his gaze cold and unyielding. Without a word, he walked past the paralyzed servants, each one instinctively parting to avoid his wrath.

This world was ruthless; when he was weak, they laughed and kicked him. But now, as a warrior, he was feared. The whispers began once he was out of sight, gossiping about the transformation of the once-timid Paul into a force to be reckoned with.