"But, Young Master—"
Yan Xiangma tapped the military police captain on the head with his fan and said, "But what? But what? Are you trying to say that this young master's life isn't worth much?"
"Young Master, this subordinate meant no such thing."
"Then are you saying I'm lying?"
"This subordinate wouldn't dare."
"Since I'm not lying, and since you don't think my life is worthless, what gives you the right to treat my lifesaver with this attitude?"
"I—this subordinate—"
"A hot-blooded youth disregarded life and death to protect the safety of the shop's customers, risking his life in battle. He's a heroic model, an example for the entire Empire. Shouldn't someone like that be reported to the city lord and rewarded, so he can become an example for countless young people? Yet now you're pointing blades and arrows at him, trying to punish him for attempted murder—have dogs eaten your consciences? Have dogs eaten your sense of justice too?"
"Young Master, this subordinate—"
"Put all the weapons away," Yan Xiangma shouted.
The military police captain had no choice but to wave his hand. With a chorus of clicks, the military police sheathed their blades and lowered their bows, all secretly breathing sighs of relief.
When facing Li Mu Yang, when meeting his blood-red eyes, they had no psychological advantage whatsoever. Instead, they felt as though a beast were eyeing them hungrily, and that their lives were in danger at any moment.
They had a very clear feeling that if they followed their superior's orders and rushed forward to apprehend the wanted criminal, not a single one of them would survive—they would all be wiped out by the criminal.
At that thought, they were especially grateful to Yan Xiangma, the city lord's son who had rushed in and disrupted the situation. His way of doing things was ridiculously foolish, but this time he had genuinely saved their lives.
Yan Xiangma walked over to Li Mu Yang and asked in a low voice, "Are you all right?"
The blood in Li Mu Yang's eyes gradually faded. He shook his head and said, "I'm fine."
"Good. Don't speak. Leave this to me," Yan Xiangma said.
He walked up to the military police captain, pointed at the severely injured black-clad men lying on the ground, and said, "Look carefully. These bastards were trying to hurt this young master. I also heard them saying something about kidnapping me—this was a premeditated crime. I'll report this to the city lord. You'd better lock them up and interrogate them thoroughly. Find out whether they have any accomplices, and what exactly they intended by kidnapping me—whether they wanted money or my virtue—"
"Master Yan, we weren't trying to kidnap you—" one of the black-clad men hurriedly shouted. They already knew that this richly dressed fellow had a powerful background. If the military police followed his orders and truly took them to prison for torture and interrogation, then pinned a kidnapping charge on them, they would probably lose their lives.
Before the black-clad man could finish, Li Da Lu had already walked up to him and accidentally stepped on his throat. No one knew how he walked, or how he had somehow ended up standing on the man's neck.
The black-clad man immediately howled like a gelded donkey, desperately trying to scream but unable to make a sound.
Yan Xiangma was very pleased with Li Da Lu's performance. This dog of a servant occasionally had moments of brilliance, after all. His years of teaching and influence had not gone to waste.
"Look at their faces. Every one of them looks fierce and wicked. They're obviously bad people—" Yan Xiangma pointed at the black-clad men. "I'll leave the rest to you. You won't disappoint me, will you?"
"Young Master—"
"Friendly reminder: As Jiangnan City's famous spoiled young master, there's nothing I'm incapable of doing."
"Yes, Young Master." The military police captain straightened his back. "This subordinate understands what to do."
"I like dealing with clever people. What's your name?"
"This subordinate is Jia Qiang."
"Follow this young master, and from now on, you'll truly be strong."
"Thank you, Young Master."
Yan Xiangma waved his hand and said, "Hurry up and take those villains away. Seeing their wicked faces still frightens me—"
"Yes." Jia Qiang waved his hand, and the military police pounced on the black-clad men like wolves and tigers, lifting them from the ground and carrying them away.
Jia Qiang saluted Yan Xiangma and said, "Young Master, this subordinate will take his leave."
"Go, go. You know how to write the report, right? If you need my cooperation, speak up at once. Don't be polite with me. Eradicating these kidnappers and tyrants is the duty of every Jiangnan City citizen—"
You're the biggest kidnapper and tyrant in Jiangnan City. Military police captain Jia Qiang cursed inwardly.
Of course, even if he had ten times the courage, he would never dare say such words to Yan Xiangma's face.
"Thank you, Young Master. If every citizen of Jiangnan City had your spirit of sacrifice and sense of ownership, why would we need to worry about public security?"
Jia Qiang waved his hand and quickly led his subordinates away. If he kept humoring Yan Xiangma, he feared he would vomit on the spot.
Only after the military police had all left did Li Mu Yang finally relax his guard.
Yan Xiangma patted Li Mu Yang on the shoulder and said, "Cousin, you—don't look at me like that, all right? You look like a bad person."
The red clouds in Li Mu Yang's eyes vanished. His face full of apology, he said, "I'm sorry. I was too sensitive."
Li Mu Yang walked to the corner and helped his mother up from inside the mound of flour. He asked with concern, "Mom, are you all right?"
"I'm fine, Mu Yang—" Luo Qi looked at her son, feeling a lingering uncertainty. Was the young man before her really her son? Her son—when had he become so powerful?
And when he had hurt people with those red eyes, the feeling he gave Luo Qi had been both unfamiliar and frightening.
This did not match the Li Mu Yang she knew. She had never seen such a cold and cruel gaze in her son.
"Mom—" Li Mu Yang's voice was hoarse. Seeing his mother's hesitation and nervousness, he also felt the resistance in her body. When he reached out to support her, she had made a tiny evasive movement. She's my closest family, the person I love most in the world. Even she sees me this way? What about everyone else?
Li Mu Yang felt deeply wounded.
He wanted badly to explain something, but he did not know how.
Because even he himself did not know what had happened.
Could I really have become a monster, just as the crow said?
"Mu Yang—" Luo Qi reached out and took Li Mu Yang's hand. Her voice was firm as she said, "No matter what, you're still Li Mu Yang. You're my son—"
"Mom, I'll always be your son." Li Mu Yang spoke with red-rimmed eyes.
"Mm, you'll always be my son, my good son. If you hadn't come rushing here so desperately to save me, none of this would have—" Luo Qi comforted him.
The shop's pastry chefs were helped to their feet. They had suffered only superficial injuries and were otherwise fine. Xiao Ting also hurried to Luo Qi's side and asked, "Sister Qi, are you all right?"
Then she gazed at Li Mu Yang with a face full of admiration and said, "Mu Yang, you were amazing. We owe it all to you today. Otherwise, Sister Qi and I would have—"
She could not continue. If not for Li Mu Yang, would Zhang Tianyi, a street thug like him, truly have defiled their honor?
Li Mu Yang understood what Xiao Ting meant. Fortunately, I have this ability. If I were still the useless youth I used to be, unable even to lift a hand or shoulder a load, then even if rage had set my heart ablaze, I would have been kicked aside the moment I charged forward, wouldn't I?
If that had happened, his mother might have made an even greater sacrifice to save him.
At the thought of that possibility, the knot in Li Mu Yang's heart vanished in an instant.
He did not care what kind of monster he became. He only hoped he would have the ability to protect his family from harm.
Luo Qi walked up to Yan Xiangma, bowed deeply, and said with immense gratitude, "Young Master Yan, we owe you for saving our entire family this time. This was a favor that gave us a new lease on life—"
"Auntie, please don't put it that way." Yan Xiangma hurriedly declined, grinning. "I didn't give you a new lease on life. I didn't do anything, and I didn't see anything either. After I arrived, Li Mu Yang had already taken care of everything—"
"Young Master Yan, you saved Mu Yang." Luo Qi spoke with utmost seriousness. "If you hadn't spoken up for him, the military police would have taken him away. If the charge had been confirmed, it would have been an even greater disaster for our family—he's still a child, a student who had just finished the Literary Examination. If something happened this time, not only would his future be ruined, he might even lose his life. Isn't that a favor that gave us a new lease on life?"
Yan Xiangma thought seriously for a moment and said, "Auntie, since you put it that way, I really can't refute you—though you don't need to take it to heart. Just have Li Mu Yang and Li Sinian remember this favor. They can find a chance to repay it later."
Li Mu Yang looked at Yan Xiangma in confusion and asked, "How did you get here?"
"I went to your house to find you—to discuss something with you. But your front gate was tightly shut. So I had Li Da Lu inquire around, and he heard that something had happened at your family's shop. When I heard, I panicked. If something happened at your family's shop, didn't that mean something had happened at our family's shop too? So I rode over as fast as I could."
"Thank you." Li Mu Yang spoke gratefully. "I've troubled you again this time."
Yan Xiangma waved his hand and said, "Don't thank me just yet. We don't even know who should be thanking whom."
Li Mu Yang's expression stiffened slightly. He asked, "What do you mean?"
"Nothing. I'm just saying that we're brothers, so you don't need to keep the word 'thanks' on your lips—by the way, if everything's fine on your end, I'll head back first."
Yan Xiangma waved his hand and said, "I won't help clean up. See you."
With that, he led a group of hangers-on outside.
Li Mu Yang watched Yan Xiangma's retreating back, light flickering in his eyes.
"Mu Yang—" Luo Qi called out. She reached over to straighten his disheveled clothes and said with heartache, "You've suffered. From now on, Mom absolutely won't let anyone bully you again—"
"Mom—" Li Mu Yang pulled his frail mother tightly into his arms and rasped, "I should be the one saying that—from now on, I'll never let anyone bully you again. Leave the responsibility of protecting you to me, your son."
Before you continue