Waste Son!

"But Young Master—"

Yan Xiangma tapped the Provost Captain's head with his fan. "But what? What do you mean? Are you trying to say my life is worthless?"

"Young Master, your subordinate didn't mean that."

"Then are you saying I'm lying?"

"Your subordinate dares not."

"Since I'm not lying, and since you don't think my life is worthless, then why are you treating my savior with such an attitude?"

"I—Your subordinate—"

"A passionate youth who risked his life to protect the safety of the shop's customers, fighting with all his might, can be called a heroic model, an example for the Empire. Should such a person not be reported to the City Lord, commended, and made a role model for countless youths? Yet you draw your swords and arrows against him, intending to prosecute him for murder—Have dogs eaten your conscience? Have dogs eaten your sense of justice?"

"Young Master, your subordinate—"

"Put away your weapons," Yan Xiangma commanded.

The Provost Captain helplessly waved his hand. With a 'clack' sound, the provosts sheathed their swords and lowered their bows and arrows, all breathing a sigh of relief.

When facing Li Mu Yang, when their eyes met his blood-red gaze, they felt no psychological advantage. Instead, they felt a sense of being preyed upon by a beast, with their lives in constant danger.

They had a clear feeling that if they had obeyed their superior's orders and charged forward to apprehend the wanted criminal, not a single one of them would have survived—they would all have been eliminated by the prisoner.

Thinking of this, they felt immensely grateful to Yan Xiangma, the City Lord's son, who had barged in to disrupt the situation. Although this guy's methods were incredibly foolish, this time he had genuinely saved their lives.

Yan Xiangma walked to Li Mu Yang's side and asked in a low voice, "Are you alright?"

The blood-red color in Li Mu Yang's eyes faded, and he shook his head. "I'm fine."

"That's good. Don't say anything, leave this to me," Yan Xiangma said.

He walked up to the Provost Captain and pointed at the severely injured men in black lying on the ground. "Look carefully, it was these scoundrels who tried to harm this Young Master. I also heard them talking about kidnapping me—This is a premeditated crime. I will report this matter to the City Lord. You'd best lock them up in jail and interrogate them thoroughly. See if they have any accomplices, and find out what their intentions were in kidnapping me, whether it was for money or for lust—"

"Young Master, we didn't mean to kidnap you—" a man in black hurriedly shouted. They already knew that this gaudily dressed fellow was of considerable standing. If those provosts listened to his orders and truly took them to jail for harsh interrogation, and then framed them with the crime of kidnapping, they feared their lives would be in jeopardy.

Before the man in black could finish speaking, Li Da Lu had already walked up to him and, by accident, stepped on his throat—It was unclear how he walked, to end up on someone's neck like that.

As a result, the man in black, like a gelded donkey, let out desperate roars but couldn't make a sound.

Yan Xiangma was very pleased with Li Da Lu's performance. This dog occasionally had a moment of brilliance. It wasn't a waste of his years of education and guidance.

"Look at their faces, they all look fierce and menacing, like bad guys—" Yan Xiangma said, pointing at the men in black. "The rest is up to you. You won't disappoint me, will you?"

"Young Master—"

"Just a friendly reminder, as the notorious prodigal son of Jiangnan City, I'm capable of doing anything."

"Yes, Young Master." The Provost Captain stood up straighter. "Your subordinate understands what to do."

"I like dealing with smart people. What's your name?"

"Your subordinate is Jia Qiang."

"Follow me, and from now on, you'll truly be strong."

"Thank you, Young Master."

Yan Xiangma waved his hand. "Hurry and take those villains away. Seeing their wicked faces frightens me—"

"Yes." Jia Qiang waved his hand, and the provosts pounced like wolves and tigers, lifting the men in black from the ground and carrying them away.

Jia Qiang saluted Yan Xiangma. "Young Master, your subordinate takes his leave."

"Go on, go on. You should know how to write the report, right? If you need my cooperation, just say the word. Don't be polite with me. Eliminating these kidnappers and bullies is the responsibility of every citizen of Jiangnan City—"

You are the biggest kidnapper and bully in Jiangnan City, the Provost Captain Jia Qiang thought to himself.

Of course, even with ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare say such a thing to his face.

"Thank you, Young Master. If every citizen of Jiangnan City had your spirit of sacrifice and sense of ownership, why would we worry about public security?"

Jia Qiang waved his hand and quickly left with his subordinates. If he lingered any longer, he felt he might vomit on the spot.

After the provost team had completely departed, Li Mu Yang finally relaxed his guard.

Yan Xiangma patted Li Mu Yang's shoulder. "Cousin, are you—Don't look at me like that, alright? You look like a bad guy."

The red haze in Li Mu Yang's eyes vanished, and he said with a face full of apology, "I'm sorry, I was too sensitive."

Li Mu Yang walked to the corner, helped his mother out of the flour, and asked with concern, "Mom, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Mu Yang—" Luo Qi looked at her son, feeling a sense of uncertainty. Was the young man before her truly her son? Her son—when did he become so powerful?

Also, when he hurt people with his red eyes, that feeling made Luo Qi feel both unfamiliar and scared.

This was not the Li Mu Yang she knew. She had never seen such cold and cruel eyes in her son.

"Mom—" Li Mu Yang's voice was hoarse. He saw his mother's hesitation and nervousness, and he also felt her body's resistance. When he reached out to help her, she had a subtle dodging movement. This was the person closest to him, his most beloved family. Even they looked at him like this? What about others?

Li Mu Yang felt deeply hurt.

Li Mu Yang wanted to explain something, but he didn't know how to.

Because even he himself didn't know what had happened.

Could it be, as the Crow suggested, that he had truly become a monster?

"Mu Yang—" Luo Qi reached out and took Li Mu Yang's hand, her voice firm as she said, "No matter what, you are Li Mu Yang, and you are my son—"

"Mom, I'll always be your son," Li Mu Yang said, his eyes red.

"Yes, you've always been my son, my good son. If you hadn't rushed over so urgently to save me—" Luo Qi said, comforting him.

The pastry chef in the shop was helped up. They had only sustained minor scrapes and bruises and were not seriously injured. Xiao Ting also rushed to Luo Qi's side and asked, "Sister Qi, are you alright?"

She then looked at Li Mu Yang with admiration, saying, "Mu Yang, you're amazing. Thanks to you today, otherwise, Sister Qi and I would have—"

She couldn't finish her sentence. If it hadn't been for Li Mu Yang, they might have truly had their purity violated by a street thug like Zhang Tianyi.

Li Mu Yang understood Xiao Ting's meaning and thought to himself how fortunate he was to have this ability. If he were still the same useless boy who couldn't lift a finger or carry a shoulder pole as before, even if rage burned within him upon seeing such a situation, he would have been kicked away if he rushed forward.

In that case, his mother might have made an even greater sacrifice to save him.

Thinking of this possibility, Li Mu Yang's inner turmoil vanished instantly.

He didn't care what kind of monster he became; he only wished he had the ability to protect his family from harm.

Luo Qi walked up to Yan Xiangma and bowed deeply to him, saying with immense gratitude, "Young Master Yan, thank you for saving my family this time. This life-saving grace—"

"Auntie, please don't say that," Yan Xiangma quickly declined, smiling. "I don't have any life-saving grace. I didn't do anything, and I didn't see anything. By the time I arrived, Li Mu Yang had already handled everything—"

"Young Master Yan, you saved Mu Yang," Luo Qi said very seriously. "If you hadn't spoken up for him, Mu Yang would likely have been taken away by the military police. If the charges had been confirmed, it would have been a greater disaster for our family— He's still just a child, a student who just finished the Literary Examination. If something had happened this time, not only would his future be ruined, but his life might also have been in danger. Isn't that life-saving grace?"

Yan Xiangma thought about it seriously and said, "Auntie, since you put it that way, I really can't refute it— But you don't need to keep it in mind. Just let Li Mu Yang and Li Sinian remember this favor. They can find an opportunity to repay it later."

Li Mu Yang looked at Yan Xiangma and asked with a puzzled expression, "How did you get here?"

"I went to your house to find you— to discuss some matters. But your front door was locked. So, I had Li Da Lu go inquire, and then I heard that something had happened at your shop. As soon as I heard, I got anxious. If something happened at your shop, wouldn't that mean something happened at our shop? So, I rushed here on horseback."

"Thank you," Li Mu Yang said gratefully. "I've troubled you again this time."

Yan Xiangma waved his hand and said, "Don't thank me just yet. Who knows who should be thanking whom?"

Li Mu Yang's expression stiffened slightly, and he asked, "What do you mean?"

"It means nothing. I'm just saying we're brothers, so there's no need to always say thank you— By the way, if there's nothing else here, I'll be heading back."

Yan Xiangma waved his hand and said, "I won't help with the cleanup. See you."

After speaking, he led a group of hangers-on and walked towards the exit.

Li Mu Yang watched Yan Xiangma's receding back, a flicker of light in his eyes.

"Mu Yang—" Luo Qi called out. She reached out and tidied Li Mu Yang's messy clothes, saying with heartache, "You've suffered. Mom will never let you be bullied again—"

"Mom—" Li Mu Yang tightly hugged his mother's slender body and said hoarsely, "I should be the one saying that— From now on, I will never let you be bullied again. Leave the responsibility of protecting you to me, your son."