"Ahhh! My hands, my hands!"

After the young man was knocked flat by Qiu Qiu’s powerful dragon roar, he felt his hands pinned beneath his body. They scraped against the earth, dragged along the ground for quite a distance.

"You two women!"

Pain twisted his face into a hideous grimace. His eyes widened, bloodshot with rage, as if trying to unleash the endless fury within.

He bared his teeth, revealing sharp fangs. His furious expression was utterly terrifying.

"I’ll break your limbs, then capture you and have my fun! After my brothers and I are done, we’ll sell you to nobles for their pleasure!"

Blinded by anger, he drew the long sword at his waist and charged straight at Xiao Ling and them.

The surrounding mercenaries and bystanders quickly cleared a path, stepping back. None wanted to get involved.

After all, to them, meddling was just asking for trouble.

So if it wasn’t necessary, they’d just watch—it was entertainment anyway.

"You bastards—ahh!"

Just as the young man raised his weapon high, a powerful blow slammed into his back.

He was knocked flat to the ground, pinned firmly by something hard pressing down.

He couldn’t move at all.

"Who’s messing with me? Who is it? Who?!"

Whenever he tried to push himself up, the foot on his back pressed harder, slamming him back down.

Realizing resistance was futile, he shouted for his companions to help. "Get this guy off me!"

"Ahhh! I’ll kill you, bastard! I’ll—mmph!"

But mid-shout, a red-and-white Shattered Curved Blade pressed against his throat.

A terrifying oppressive aura surged from behind him. The blade’s bone-chilling cold made his body tremble uncontrollably.

Terrified, he snapped his mouth shut, not daring to utter another word.

"You’re the manager. What do you plan to do about this happening right outside your bar?"

A voice filled with authority and dread sounded behind the young man. It made him hold his breath, his body slowly curling up in fear.

But the voice wasn’t aimed at him. The suffocating pressure lessened slightly.

"This was my oversight. My management was lacking. Please be magnanimous and overlook these minor details. I’ll have someone deal with them immediately."

That voice—it was Stithian, the manager of the underground bar!

Yet he spoke so respectfully, even ingratiatingly. Could this person be untouchable?

Stithian was one of the most powerful figures on this street, yet he was so deferential.

And he’d carelessly offended such a person—wasn’t that courting death?

"Tch. I don’t have time for this nonsense."

Baiyi finally lifted his leg off the young man’s back and sheathed the Curved Saber at his neck.

But the young man still didn’t dare lift his head or push himself up.

He knew moving without permission would get his head sliced off.

"Dad… Dad!"

Qiu Qiu, who’d been tightly protected by Xiao Ling, saw Baiyi appear. She wriggled free from Xiao Ling’s arms.

She leaped up, landing on Baiyi’s head and hugging it tightly.

"Tch, you little brat! Stop pulling my hair."

Though Baiyi complained, he let Qiu Qiu climb onto his shoulders and cling to his head.

"Young Master Baiyi…"

Seeing Xiao Ling standing before him, head bowed, Baiyi knew she’d brought Qiu Qiu here on her own.

He was a bit angry—she hadn’t followed his orders to care for Qiu Qiu and wait.

But after seeing her risk her life to protect the girl, he didn’t want to scold her.

After all, she’d acted for Qiu Qiu’s sake.

"Tch. I’ll question you thoroughly when we get back. For now, just behave."

Baiyi walked over to Xiao Ling, leaning against the wall and still shaken. He gently took her slightly trembling hand.

"Y-young Master?"

As that rough, warm hand held hers, her fear and unease gradually faded.

"It’s nothing. Let’s go back."

Baiyi wanted nothing more than to skin alive the motionless man behind him.

But with Qiu Qiu and the Maid here, he decided to take them back first.

"General Baiyi, what about our matter?"

Before Baiyi could leave with them, Stithian hurriedly blocked his path, pressing about military authority.

"General?!"

The young man on the ground gasped sharply. He recalled the word-of-mouth tales of Baiyi—the strongest general of the Great Empire.

In those stories, Baiyi was mythologized: a Demon who could single-handedly slaughter an enemy army of ten thousand.

Even the mercenaries unconsciously stepped back at the title "General."

They all knew what it meant in the Great Empire.

It wasn’t doubt—it was the terrifying aura from Baiyi that everyone felt clearly.

"I’ll come find you next time. Then, you’d better make your words clear! No more ambiguous, vague talk."

With that, Baiyi shot a fierce glare at Stithian in the crowd, then turned and left.