Protector

Scarface's words fell on Lin Yue's deaf ears.

A few ordinary people who were not even Martial Masters—what right did they have to question him?

"Pay up." Lin Yue's tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable force.

"Either pay, or I'll discipline these beasts for you."

Scarface's face turned green, then white. He reached into his robes, only to find them empty—used to robbing others, how could they possibly carry money to compensate anyone?

His eyes rolled, and he suddenly turned to the two trembling butchers, glaring at them viciously:

"You two want this brat to stand up for you?

Believe it or not, once he leaves, I'll tear down your stalls and make sure you can't survive in this Outer City!"

The butchers already feared the Wild Dog Gang to the bone. Threatened like this, they immediately panicked.

Wang Butcher hurriedly tugged at Lin Yue's sleeve and stammered, "Lord Lin, forget it, forget it... It's only a little meat. It isn't worth it..."

The other butcher nodded along as well:

"Yeah, yeah, we're fine. Please hurry and leave. Don't bring trouble down on yourself for us."

Yet Lin Yue did not turn around. His gaze remained locked on Scarface, and a cold, sharp curve lifted at the corner of his lips:

"No money? Fine."

He looked at the pack of wild dogs still licking meat scraps from their mouths, and his voice suddenly turned harsh.

"Then kill these beasts to pay for the meat!"

The moment those words were spoken, not only did Scarface's expression change, but even the surrounding passersby sucked in cold breaths.

Everyone knew that the Wild Dog Gang treated these vicious dogs like their own limbs. Killing the dogs was no different from slapping them across the face in public!

"How dare you!"

Scarface roared, veins bulging on his forehead. "These dogs are Hall Master Protector's precious treasures! Touch even a single hair on them if you dare!"

"I'll try, then."

Lin Yue rolled his wrist, his knuckles cracking softly. Fury surged in his eyes—back then, his dad and mom had been chased and bitten by these vicious dogs. The fright had left them with chronic illnesses. He had long wanted to settle this debt!

Seeing that Lin Yue was serious, Scarface knew reason would not work. He gritted his teeth, stomped viciously at the wild dogs, and shouted:

"Get him! Tear this brat who doesn't know death from life apart!"

Already stirred by the scent of blood and savage intent, the wild dogs immediately bared their fangs. Low growls rumbled in their throats, saliva dripped from their fangs, and their scarlet eyes locked onto Lin Yue. The next second, they were about to pounce!

The people around them turned pale and hurriedly backed away, terrified of getting caught in the crossfire. A large empty space quickly opened up in the middle of the road.

Li Xiao stood at the tavern entrance, watching Lin Yue closely. He wanted to see just how much stronger a Martial Master was than an ordinary person.

Lin Yue showed no fear. Rather than retreating, he advanced. His body flashed with the nimbleness of a civet cat, dodging the pounce of the foremost vicious dog. At the same time, he raised his hand into a palm strike and slapped another dog's side with lightning speed.

With a miserable howl, the dog flew sideways as if struck by a heavy hammer, smashing into the wall. It did not even groan before falling still.

That move was swift and ruthless, instantly cowing the remaining wild dogs and making Scarface and the others' faces change drastically.

These wild dogs had all drunk the blood of the Gang Leader's Exotic Beast wild dog. Their combat strength was even greater than that of the gang members themselves.

"Who's next?"

Lin Yue stood where he was, his gaze sweeping over the frightened wild dogs and Scarface's iron-blue face. His voice was cold as ice. "Either pay, or every one of these dogs dies here today!"

Clap, clap, clap.

A string of loud applause came from the end of the street, carrying a trace of mockery as it pierced through the standoff.

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a figure slowly approaching from the far end of the road.

The man wore black fitted clothing. He was not tall, yet he radiated a sinister air.

What was most terrifying was that he was not walking, but riding atop a wild dog as large as a calf.

The wild dog's fur stood on end like steel needles, every strand jet-black. Its fangs protruded from the corners of its mouth, and its dripping saliva corroded pale marks into the hard stone slabs. Its eyes, each as large as a bronze bell, were filled with brutality and vicious light.

"Protector! The Protector is here!"

Scarface froze for a moment, then wild delight erupted across his face. He quickly led his subordinates in a bow, bending so low at the waist that it was as though they had seen their savior.

As the figure drew nearer,

the few wild dogs that had been baring their fangs at Lin Yue seemed to have all their strength drained away in an instant.

They tucked their tails and lay prone on the ground, trembling violently. They did not even dare raise their heads, whimpering fearfully in their throats—it was suppression from deep within their bloodline, like prey encountering the most supreme predator.

The man atop the Giant Dog slowly raised a hand, stopping Scarface's bow. His gaze fell on Lin Yue, and a cold smile rested on his lips:

"A little brat from Mountain Splitting Martial Arts Hall? You've got some nerve, killing my dogs on my territory?"

His voice was not loud, but it carried a suffocating pressure. He was clearly also a Martial Master, and his aura was even more profound than Lin Yue's.

Lin Yue frowned tightly. He could sense the threat emanating from the other man. It even felt like facing his Master.

But he still stood straight, saying in a deep voice:

"The Wild Dog Gang lets vicious dogs rob merchants. Shouldn't they be taught a lesson?"

"Taught a lesson?" The Protector gave a disdainful laugh and patted the Giant Dog's head beneath him.

"My dogs snatching a little meat to eat—what's the big deal?

But you, a green brat who just broke through to First-Turn Martial Master, dare come stroke the tiger's whiskers of my Wild Dog Gang? Do you really think Mountain Splitting Martial Arts Hall can protect you?"

The Giant Dog beneath him seemed to understand its master's words. It suddenly unleashed an ear-splitting roar, spraying saliva everywhere and frightening the surrounding passersby into retreating several more steps.

Li Xiao stood at the tavern entrance, taking in the entire scene.

He could tell that Scarface's wild dogs were exceptionally strong, yet they were still no match for Lin Yue. With one palm strike, Lin Yue could send a wild dog flying several meters and smash it into pulp. Was this the power of a Martial Master?

Li Xiao's expression grew solemn, and his desire to enter a Martial Arts Hall as a disciple and become a Martial Master became even more urgent.

The Giant Dog beneath the Protector was no ordinary creature either.

Blood Qi faintly coiled around its body. It was clearly no ordinary beast. No wonder the other wild dogs feared it so deeply.

Lin Yue clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.

He knew the other man was difficult to deal with, but matters had reached this point. There was no road left but forward.

He took a deep breath and declared loudly, "Rules are rules. Even if you're a Protector of the Wild Dog Gang, you can't bully people with your power!"

"Haha, you want to talk rules with my Wild Dog Gang? Even if your Master came, he wouldn't have the nerve to say that!"

A vicious gleam flashed in the Protector's eyes. "Today, I'll let you know that in this Outer City, the Wild Dog Gang's rules are the rules!"

Before his words had even faded, he slapped the Giant Dog beneath him. "Didn't you want to kill these wild dogs?

You're only a First-Turn Martial Master, so I won't bully you.

If you can defeat the one beneath me, you can leave today! Go!"

The vicious dog, as large as a calf, roared again. Its four paws kicked off the ground as it lunged fiercely at Lin Yue amid a foul wind, moving several times faster than the wild dogs from before!