So You're the Fucking One Called Hei Meng?

Boom!

In an instant, the aura of a Dou Wang expert came crashing toward him. Caught off guard, Hei Meng stumbled backward, his feet thudding rapidly against the ground.

"Cough, cough..."

Hei Meng retreated to the courtyard entrance and hastily reached out to grab the doorframe, finally stopping his backward momentum.

Just then, Base had been about to follow him inside when he saw Hei Meng suddenly driven back out.

Then he heard Hei Meng's startled cry, and his expression changed.

"A Dou Wang expert? How... how is that possible?!"

Every Dou Wang expert was someone who could make the earth tremble with a stamp of their foot.

Yet Su Tian was merely a One-Star Great Dou Master. How could he possibly possess the strength of a Dou Wang expert?

Hei Meng was no less shocked than Base.

As he stared at the elderly figure standing before him, a name he knew all too well came to mind.

"Master... Qing Mu!"

Hei Meng drew a deep breath as that familiar name surfaced in his mind.

He knew a great deal about Qing Mu.

After Queen Medusa had brought Qing Mu to the Snake-People Tribe, she had put him in charge of refining pills for the tribe.

With his strength as a Dou Wang and his status as a Fifth-Rank Alchemist, Qing Mu had earned a measure of respect rarely afforded by the Snake-People Tribe.

For precisely that reason, his life in Temple City had not been too bad.

After all, given his status as a Fifth-Rank Alchemist, even the Snake-People Tribe, with its bitter hatred of humans, did not dare behave too outrageously toward him over matters that did not touch on its principles.

Even Queen Medusa addressed him respectfully as Master Qing Mu when speaking with him.

With his strength and standing, Hei Meng had even less reason to dare act presumptuously before Qing Mu.

What Hei Meng had never expected, however, was that Qing Mu would appear beside this human brat-and seemingly intend to stand up for him.

Damn it! How could I have forgotten? Master Qing Mu dislikes having too much contact with our Snake-People Tribe, so he chose to settle in the quieter western part of Temple City.

Seeing Qing Mu remain silent, a dark, ruthless look on his aged face, Hei Meng felt a sinking sense of foreboding.

He truly had never imagined that Su Tian would have any connection with Qing Mu.

And from the looks of things, Qing Mu cared quite a bit about Su Tian, enough to speak up on his behalf.

That was information Hei Meng had not known beforehand.

At that thought, Hei Meng turned and shot a fierce glare at Base, who was cowering behind him.

Damn bastard! Why didn't you tell me this brat knew Master Qing Mu, and apparently knew him quite well? How am I supposed to dare attack him right in front of Master Qing Mu now?!

Although he did not know the relationship between Su Tian and Qing Mu, Hei Meng understood that with Qing Mu present, his plans would likely have to be put on hold.

If Master Qing Mu really intends to stand up for this human brat, I'm afraid I won't be able to avenge Hei Man today. In that case, I'll just have to find another suitable opportunity to finish the brat off!

Hei Meng's eyes flickered, and he reached a decision in an instant.

After all, Qing Mu was a genuine Dou Wang expert. Any attempt by Hei Meng to attack Su Tian in front of him would almost certainly fail.

I refuse to believe Master Qing Mu can stay glued to this brat's side forever!

At that thought, Hei Meng drew a deep breath and looked toward Su Tian, who had been pushed aside by Qing Mu's aura. His eyes flashed, and a vicious glint of murderous intent swept through them.

Su Tian sensed that murderous intent perfectly clearly.

Want to kill me, do you?

Yet he merely gave a cold smile, without the slightest trace of fear on his face.

Quite apart from having Qing Mu backing him up today, even without Qing Mu present, Su Tian did not believe Hei Meng could be absolutely certain of killing him.

At least until word came from the Great Elder, Su Tian's life still had some measure of protection.

That was also why he had dared cripple Hei Man and Base.

Su Tian did not believe the Great Elder would take his life over two insignificant tribesmen who had come looking for trouble themselves.

"Since you recognize me, who exactly gave you the nerve to behave so outrageously in my presence?!"

Seeing that Hei Meng knew who he was, Qing Mu's expression turned cold. A faint trace of killing intent seeped out as he rebuked him sharply.

Hearing the anger in Qing Mu's voice, Hei Meng felt his heart tremble. An ingratiating smile hurriedly appeared on his fierce face, and he spoke respectfully.

"Please don't misunderstand, Master Qing Mu. I didn't know you were here. I thought..."

"You thought what? You thought he was here alone?"

Before Hei Meng could finish, Qing Mu cut him off. The chill on his face deepened as he snorted.

"I wouldn't dare!"

Hei Meng was only a Three-Star Dou Ling. When had he ever seen Qing Mu act like this? Feeling the crushing aura radiating from him, Hei Meng broke out in a cold sweat and hastily bowed with his hands clasped, looking even more deferential.

After all, Qing Mu was not someone he could afford to provoke.

"You wouldn't dare? Is there anything you wouldn't dare do? If I weren't here, you would probably have attacked Su Tian already, wouldn't you?"

Qing Mu sneered, his hands clasped behind his back, making no effort to hide the disgust on his face.

"Su Tian is my Medicine Boy. Are you planning to kill him? Is this how your Snake-People Tribe treats its guests?"

Su Tian stood quietly to the side. Hearing Qing Mu's words, he could not help looking startled.

But he quickly realized that this was Qing Mu's way of protecting him.

After all, with his status as Qing Mu's Medicine Boy, Hei Meng would have to weigh the consequences before trying to touch him again.

Once he understood that, Su Tian cast a grateful look at Qing Mu's back. Whatever Qing Mu's true intentions might be, he was genuinely trying to protect Su Tian right now.

Looks like Base still hasn't given up. I was kind enough to spare his life before, yet he still dared bring someone here. Now he has only himself to blame for seeking his own death.

Su Tian narrowed his eyes. Seeing Base hiding behind Hei Meng, he immediately understood how this had come about.

And just from hearing Hei Meng's name, Su Tian knew he had to be connected to Hei Man.

Thus, Su Tian could easily imagine that Base was almost certainly involved in Hei Meng's appearance here.

With your Dou Crystal destroyed, you're nothing but an ant. When a suitable opportunity comes, I'll take your life myself.

Su Tian took another long look at the cowering Base behind Hei Meng. An icy curve lifted the corner of his mouth; he had already decided Base's fate.

Meanwhile, under Qing Mu's harsh questioning, Hei Meng's imposing air wilted. Wearing a bitter smile, he offered a feeble explanation.

"Master Qing Mu, I have no such intention. You've misunderstood..."

"No such intention? Are you saying I imagined that powerful killing intent just now?"

Qing Mu showed no mercy, immediately cutting Hei Meng off again.

"Well, well. A mere Three-Star Dou Ling, and you dare harbor murderous intentions toward my Medicine Boy right before my eyes. What's next? Will your Snake-People Tribe be coming for my life?"

Qing Mu's words were relentlessly aggressive. As a Fifth-Rank Alchemist, he certainly had the standing to be so overbearing.

Of course, had Su Tian dared speak that way, he would probably have earned nothing but the Snake-People Tribe's sneers.

After all, in this world, only great strength could grant someone status and a voice.

At that moment, Su Tian gained an even deeper understanding of that rule.

"Master Qing Mu..."

Under Qing Mu's barrage of questions, Hei Meng was beginning to panic. All he could do was keep smiling ingratiatingly, though fury was already blazing in his heart.

Even Queen Medusa treated Qing Mu with great courtesy, let alone a mere Deputy Commander like Hei Meng.

If Queen Medusa learned that Hei Meng had angered Qing Mu, he would likely face a considerable punishment himself.

That was why, no matter how furious he became while facing Qing Mu, he could only suppress his anger and continue trying to appease him.

A Fifth-Rank Alchemist carried immense weight.

"I'll ask you just one thing. Did you come here today for Su Tian?"

Qing Mu could not be bothered to listen to Hei Meng's nonsense. He snorted, fixing Hei Meng with a piercing gaze as he asked in a low voice.

At that moment, even the air seemed filled with a sharp, crushing pressure.

Hearing the question, Hei Meng's fierce face twisted into a bitter smile. After a moment of silence, he finally nodded with difficulty.

"Yes..."

Clearly, Hei Meng knew lying now would serve no purpose. It would only make Qing Mu more displeased.

He feared that if he angered Qing Mu further and provoked him into attacking, he might well lose his miserable life here.

If he admitted it openly now, however, Hei Meng figured Qing Mu would refrain from going too far out of consideration for the Snake-People Tribe's reputation.

At worst, he might suffer serious injuries.

Thinking that way made Hei Meng feel somewhat better.

After all, Qing Mu was a Dou Wang expert. There would be nothing shameful about word spreading that he had severely injured Hei Meng.

"Did you know Su Tian is my Medicine Boy?"

Qing Mu snorted. An inscrutable look flashed across his aged face as he continued questioning him.

Although Hei Meng did not understand the point of that question, he still answered honestly, "I... truly didn't know."

A helpless bitterness crept into Hei Meng's voice.

In truth, he really had not known that Su Tian and Qing Mu shared such a relationship.

Otherwise, even if he had wanted to avenge Hei Man by going after Su Tian, he would have made thorough preparations beforehand.

He would not have ended up trapped in such a passive position.

"Very good."

Hearing Hei Meng's answer, Qing Mu shed the cold expression on his face and instead revealed a meaningful smile.

The smile at the corner of Qing Mu's mouth left Hei Meng momentarily stunned.

Then Qing Mu suddenly spoke, his voice calm. "Su Tian, come here."

Su Tian was initially taken aback by the sudden summons, but he did not refuse. He obediently walked to Qing Mu's side, clasped his hands, and asked respectfully, "What are your instructions, Elder Qing?"

"I'll stand up for you today. Since someone has gone out of his way to come looking for trouble, how could we let his kindness go to waste?"

Qing Mu smiled faintly, then continued.

"He's yours. So long as you leave him alive, do whatever you please."

"You got it!"

Su Tian immediately perked up. Excitement spread across his face, and eagerness shone in his eyes.

"Just sit back and watch!"

Su Tian had not expected Qing Mu to give him such instructions.

But that did nothing to diminish the sudden surge of excitement in his heart. He even rubbed his hands together, as though he could no longer wait.

Hei Meng, too, was visibly stunned by Qing Mu's instructions to Su Tian.

At first, he had not quite grasped what was happening.

Only when he saw Su Tian swagger toward him with a smug, arrogant expression did Hei Meng understand what Qing Mu meant.

This useless piece of trash thinks he can attack me?

Once he understood, fury flared in Hei Meng's heart, and an overwhelming sense of humiliation washed over him.

If Qing Mu attacked him, Hei Meng would not consider it particularly shameful even if he ended up seriously injured.

But if Su Tian were allowed to attack him, then no matter how things ultimately turned out...

Once word got out, Hei Meng would likely lose every last shred of dignity.

Su Tian was merely a One-Star Great Dou Master, while Hei Meng was a Three-Star Dou Ling!

That was precisely what made Hei Meng feel so deeply humiliated.

"With this piece of trash?"

Boom!

Hei Meng had barely finished his mocking words when he felt a mighty aura surge wildly from Qing Mu's body.

Caught by the sudden turn of events, Hei Meng had no time to react.

Pfft!

In a mere instant, Hei Meng felt an immense pressure mercilessly engulf him. His legs buckled, and he dropped involuntarily to his knees.

No matter how he struggled or resisted, he could not move his body at all.

Not only that, but the abundant Dou Qi within him seemed imprisoned inside his body. No matter how desperately he tried to mobilize it, he could not make it circulate in the slightest.

Hei Meng had become a human punching bag, incapable of offering any resistance.

Just then, wearing a deeply mocking expression and rolling his wrists, Su Tian slowly approached Hei Meng.

"So you're the fucking one called Hei Meng?"

Seeing Hei Meng's stifled, humiliated state, Su Tian sneered and taunted him.

"Weren't you pretty arrogant at the start? I'm not quite used to seeing you like this. How about putting on that attitude again for me?"