C2 Being Beaten up by a Woman

Inside the house, Shi Luo lay prostrate on the plush silk bed, his fingers gently tracing the scars marring his face, a look of pain mingled with incredulity etched across his features.

"Who would've imagined that I, the esteemed first-generation Battle Emperor of the Divine Continent, would be reduced to such a state, battered and bruised?" Shi Luo lamented, feeling the puffiness of his cheeks. His mind wandered to his past life as a Battle Emperor, undefeated in countless battles against the world's mightiest, ultimately ascending to the pinnacle of power and securing the legendary title. Yet here he was, bested by someone at the mere Divine Ability Stage. Fate truly had a twisted sense of humor.

"Still, my father has been surprisingly kind to me. His blows seemed merciless, but he cleverly spared my vital points, ensuring that even with serious injuries, my core strength remains unharmed."

"Stone!" he called out. Reborn, he had no recollection of his former self, Shi Luo, and there was much to learn. Stone, his most trusted servant, had been the one to subtly signal him when his father's temper flared.

"Young Master, are you alright?" Stone entered, his voice soft as he regarded Shi Luo on the bed. His face betrayed no concern, suggesting that such beatings were all too familiar. As the closest servant, he had grown accustomed to the sight.

"Your name is Stone, isn't it?" Shi Luo inquired coolly, appraising him with a gaze that, despite his frail form, carried the commanding presence of a long-standing sovereign.

"Young Master, do you have any commands?" Stone asked, taken aback, his pulse quickening under the intense scrutiny of his young master. A shiver ran through him as if a wild beast had locked eyes with him, and he involuntarily bowed, a sheen of cold sweat on his back.

"Relax," Shi Luo said, noticing Stone's tension and shaking his head with a wry smile. Adapting to this abrupt shift in identity was proving to be a challenge.

"Stone, as you're aware, I've lost my memory, and not even my father is in the know. I need you to share with me the tales of my past, to help piece together my fragmented recollections."

Shi Luo's smile radiated brilliantly as he spoke with a warm tone.

Stone was taken aback, then gazed at Shi Luo, his face etched with bewilderment. What's gotten into the young master? It was one thing to play dumb in front of the old master, but now that he's gone, why keep up the act?

Stone nervously swallowed, his eyes betraying a touch of fear as he looked at Shi Luo.

"Young Master, are you truly not pretending?" The young master's moods were unpredictable. Sure, Stone had enjoyed good food and drink in his service, but it was a risky job. Cross the young master, and retribution could be swift. It was best to tread carefully without a clear read on the young master's mood.

"Pretend? Pretend what? I've genuinely lost my memory, young master. Why would I lie to you?" Shi Luo's expression darkened as he spoke softly, yet to Stone, it conveyed a different sentiment altogether.

"Young Master, your acting is becoming more convincing by the day. Now you've even managed to deceive me. Impressive." Stone clicked his tongue in admiration, observing Shi Luo's stern face with a sense of awe.

"What act? I've truly lost my memory," Shi Luo insisted, his voice low as he smacked Stone's forehead with a resounding slap, his gaze stern and foreboding.

"Young Master, surely you haven't been addled by that blow from Group Leader Xia Luo? This won't do; I must inform the Patriarch. We can't let this slide. The Shi Family's Young Master won't be pushed around by the City Lord's Mansion."

Stone's expression was gravely serious as he turned to leave, not waiting for Shi Luo's response.

"Stay right there!" Shi Luo commanded, his voice firm. "Clarify what happened, or face the family's discipline."

"Young Master!" Stone's voice was low but sharp enough to startle himself, as he looked at the young master's livid face and continued.

"Have you forgotten, Young Master? Just two days ago, you and Second Young Master Shi Wei were at the Heavenly Fragrance Inn. After a few drinks, you encountered Princess Xia from the City Lord's Mansion. For some reason, you began to flirt with her, and upon being rejected, you clung to her leg, loudly proclaiming your desire to take Princess Xia home as a concubine."

"What? How could I possibly do something so preposterous?"

Shi Luo's face, swollen and red, twitched slightly, a mix of shock and embarrassment coloring his features. He hadn't committed the act himself, yet he empathized deeply. To behave like a thug during a robbery amidst a crowd of thousands would require immense courage.

"Young Master, I'm telling the truth. Group Leader Xia Luo was so furious she gave you a thrashing, and who would've thought your constitution was so frail that you fainted from the assault? Because of this, the Patriarch had a heated quarrel with the City Lord."

Stone maintained an air of innocence, though internally he scoffed. Was this really so outrageous? After all, you've done far more outlandish things in the past.

"What? I was actually knocked out by a woman?" Shi Luo's face went through a series of changes. He could rationalize his own foolish actions as youthful indiscretions, but being bested by a woman? How could Shi Luo, the undefeated Battle Emperor, ever accept that?

"It's baffling, indeed. You used to cower in front of Princess Xia like a mouse before a cat. I can't fathom what got into you yesterday. No one could hold you back; you charged at Princess Xia with such ferocity. You're lucky, Young Master. Had it been any other day, Princess Xia's temper might have led her to do far worse," Stone said, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Young Master, does it seem strange to you?"

Stone looked at him, puzzled. He seemed to grasp what Shi Luo was pondering and offered words of comfort.

"Young Master, you've never been fond of cultivating, preferring to indulge in life's pleasures. Though you're sixteen, your cultivation is still at the Qi Refining First Layer. Naturally, you're no match for Xia Luo, who's at the Eighth Layer. So, don't take it to heart. In the presence of true talent, it's always wise for the Young Master to remain humble."

Shi Luo remained silent, disregarding Stone's words and sinking into deep thought. His past life's experiences suggested that the situation was not as straightforward as it seemed. If, as Stone claimed, he was indeed intimidated by Xia Luo's superior strength, he wouldn't have provoked her unless he was a fool. So why did he lose control yesterday?

"Stone, what's the state of my relationship with the Second Young Master, Shi Wei?" Shi Luo asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

"It's not good, to put it mildly. In fact, it's quite poor, given that the Second Master and the Master have always been at odds over family affairs. This discord has trickled down to you and the Second Young Master as well, but for some reason, the Second Young Master, who has consistently mocked you, suddenly became quite warm towards you about half a month ago, frequently inviting you to dine with him," Stone explained, his face etched with confusion.

Shi Luo's realization dawned upon hearing this; yesterday's incident was clearly more than it seemed. "This 'Shi Luo' truly led a befuddled existence. Had I not been reborn and taken over this body, would the original Shi Luo not have perished long ago? The Second Young Master, Shi Wei, harbors malevolent schemes. But now that I've taken your place, I'll bear this grudge on your behalf.

"Ultimately, the issue is a lack of strength. To think that a Battle Emperor of my stature was bested by a frail woman—if word got out, it would be utterly laughable. No, I must pursue my cultivation. In my past life, I was a Battle Emperor; in this life, I must ascend to the nine heavens and traverse the universe, carving out a legendary name for myself."

With a subtle gesture, Shi Luo dismissed Stone, his frown deepening as he sank into contemplation.