Chapter 425: Trampled Huo Yuhao—Less Than a Dog

Huo Yuhao's heart shattered upon hearing Huo Yun'er's words.

His despair deepened, consuming him entirely.

"Qian Ran, why are you doing this?"

"Why are you taking everything from me?"

"What did I ever do to you?"

Tears streamed down Huo Yuhao's face as he relentlessly questioned Qian Ran.

"Cut the crap with your pity act. I just don't like you. I enjoy crushing people like you underfoot," Qian Ran sneered, kicking Huo Yuhao to the ground and stomping heavily on his abdomen. "You're one of the few sources of amusement I have in this world."

Huo Yuhao? What a joke.

Even if he had some talent, so what? Should Qian Ran let him grow unchecked? Let him grow strong enough to one day destroy Qiu'er? Or threaten Juzi's life?

This waste served no purpose.

Some things were born to be useless.

Even if he became powerful, he'd still just be a more capable fool.

Why did Tang San take a liking to Huo Yuhao? It wasn't because Huo Yuhao was exceptional—it was because he saw him as a guard dog. A glorified house pet for the Tang Sect.

In truth, Huo Yuhao was the ultimate live-in son-in-law—a complete dependent. While most novels about such characters show them eventually turning the tables, Huo Yuhao? He was a doormat, through and through.

Even Tang San didn't truly respect him. Otherwise, the later trials of Peerless Tang Sect wouldn't have been so cruel to Huo Yuhao. Perhaps Tang San, midway through training him, realized how revolting Huo Yuhao was and deemed him unworthy of his daughter.

Yet Huo Yuhao licked his boots all the same.

If you're going to be a bootlicker, why not lick mine?

At least I, Qian Ran, occasionally toss you a bone.

"Huo Yuhao, to me, you're nothing but a dog. No, you're worse than a dog," Qian Ran said coldly. "Someone like Dai Hao is at least a loyal hound. You? You're not even close."

"Qian Ran, if you have the guts, kill me."

"Kill me!"

Huo Yuhao screamed hoarsely, his voice filled with despair.

Staring at the ceiling, Huo Yuhao felt utterly hopeless.

Could he even keep fighting Qian Ran? Did he still have a chance? The gap in strength between them was widening. Typically, cultivation became exponentially harder in the later stages, but Qian Ran defied all such rules. His progress was so fast it left Huo Yuhao without any hope of catching up.

Now, he had lost everything.

His dignity had been trampled to dust. He had even acknowledged this villain as his father and helped him take those vile, sinful photos.

Watching Qian Ran's shameless displays of intimacy, Huo Yuhao felt powerless to stop them.

He chuckled bitterly.

He, Huo Yuhao, might truly be the most worthless trash on the planet.

Perhaps death was the only escape. Death would bring relief.

Gradually, his turbulent emotions subsided, leaving him lying there like a lifeless husk. The light in his eyes was extinguished, leaving only hollow emptiness.

"Huo Yuhao," Qian Ran said nonchalantly, "if you just accept me as your father, we could let bygones be bygones. Oh, and by the way, today might be your last chance to see Yun'er. It won't be so easy after this."

Qian Ran licked his lips. He planned to move Huo Yun'er into his spatial ring, where she'd remain at his side indefinitely.

Although he hadn't spent much time with her, Qian Ran found himself increasingly attached to this woman.

He needed someone like Huo Yun'er to maintain order in his carefully crafted new home inside the spatial ring. She was the only one who could manage the Dai family maids and ensure everything ran smoothly.

Huo Yuhao's vacant eyes flickered slightly with emotion. Seeing Huo Yun'er in her wedding gown, he felt an unbearable pain that stabbed at his heart.

It was all his fault.

He, the useless son, couldn't even protect his own mother.

"I'll make Yun'er happy, day and night," Qian Ran whispered, crouching close to Huo Yuhao. "As for your life, I'll spare it. Killing a dog isn't worth my time. You're my source of joy, after all, Yuhao. Hahaha. I'll wait for you to take Yun'er back from me—if you can."

Carrying Huo Yun'er in his arms, Qian Ran strode away, disappearing without a trace.

Huo Yuhao lay motionless on the ground for what felt like an eternity, through the night and into the next day.

Finally, a faint spark stirred within the shattered remnants of his self-esteem.

"Qian Ran, I'll kill your entire family!"

Huo Yuhao rose unsteadily, his eyes blazing with hatred and venom.

No matter the grievances between him and Qian Ran, this humiliation was unforgivable. Qian Ran not only sought to destroy him but had the audacity to call himself his stepfather. It was beyond deranged.

Qian Ran had to be sick in the head.

Why did he always target other people's loved ones?

There were countless women in the world—wasn't that enough for him? Qian Ran could summon an endless line of admirers from the outer academy alone, and they wouldn't run out for months. And those were all volunteers.

Why did it have to be her?

It was obvious Qian Ran was deliberately targeting him by going after his loved ones. If he had a sister, an aunt, or any other female relatives, they too would undoubtedly fall prey to Qian Ran's schemes.

Qian Ran's actions were purely spiteful.

What's worse, Qian Ran seemed to have a peculiar penchant for seizing women connected to others. From Zhou Yi of Fan Yu to Xian Lin'er of Qian Duoduo… Qian Ran's tendencies were undeniably twisted.

"Qian Ran, I never provoked you. You won't escape the wrath of the great Tang San. You can't beat him," Huo Yuhao muttered as he clung to the thought of Tang San, his face regaining some color.

If he couldn't defeat Qian Ran, surely Tang San could.

If he could reach Tang San and enlist his help, wouldn't they have a chance to crush Qian Ran? Surely, Tang San, who sought to nurture him, wouldn't tolerate Qian Ran's rise.

"I'll consult the two masters of the Clear Sky Clan. There must be a way!"

"And I must act fast. If my mother has already been tainted by Qian Ran, I have to save her before it's too late. Before she…"

His voice faltered, his teeth gritted in anguish. If his mother became pregnant, it would be the ultimate humiliation and disgrace!

No matter what he endured, no matter the pain or setbacks, he couldn't give up.

If he abandoned the fight, his loved ones would be lost forever.

He refused to let that happen.

Once Huo Yun'er was freed from Qian Ran's brainwashing and mind control, she would return to her former self.

And when Qian Ran's despicable schemes unraveled, the real clown would be Qian Ran himself!

(End of Chapter)

Notes-Read advanced chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X