"I'll say it one last time! Disperse now!" Zhang Qiang glared at Ning Kun and said coldly.
"You're going too far!" Hu Yun gritted his teeth, his voice trembling with apprehension. "This is a matter between our two families! What does it have to do with you?"
"I said no, and that means no! Say one more word of nonsense, and don't blame me for what happens next!" Zhang Qiang sneered. If they were smart, this would be the end of it. Otherwise, he wouldn't hesitate to cause a bloodbath.
The onlookers just watched. With the village chief's son involved, who would dare to intervene?
"I'm happy with Ning Kun. What business is it of yours, an outsider, to meddle? Are you afraid people don't know what kind of person you really are?" Dandan, who had no such reservations, mocked him coldly.
"Dandan, I'm doing this for your own good. He's a good-for-nothing. He doesn't deserve you," Zhang Qiang said with a sneer.
Dandan ignored him, focusing on gently wiping the blood from Ning Kun's lips.
"IâŠ" Ning Kun began to speak, but Dandan cut him off. "Don't talk. I don't care what anyone says. You're the only one for me."
This man was kind and decent, a hard worker who was endlessly attentive to her. He just had a habit of boasting sometimes, claiming how incredible he used to be in the Martial Department.
"I'm going to kill him today." The fury in Zhang Qiang's heart finally erupted. He grabbed a nearby chair and raised it, ready to smash it down on Ning Kun.
However, a large, powerful hand shot out and stopped him.
"Who dares to meddle in my business?" Zhang Qiang roared, whirling around angrily. He was met with a pair of piercingly cold eyes staring back at him.
Ning Kun looked up as well. He didn't know why Chen Yang had returned, but a wave of grievance washed over him, and tears welled up in his eyes. He had been the renowned Standard Bearer of the Hanyun Valley Martial Guard! Who didn't know the name Ning Kun? Now, without his uniform, had he really fallen this far?
"Boss." Ning Kun's eyes were bloodshot, his teeth clenched so hard his jaw ached. His fists were balled so tightly they creaked.
Chen Yang patted his shoulder. "I know."
"Who is this piece of trash? Get the hell out of here, or I'll beat you too!" Zhang Qiang yelled. "Don't you know where you are? You dare to meddle in my affairs? Are you looking to die?"
Those words completely ignited Ning Kun's towering rage. Insulting him was one thing, but to dare insult his Bossâthe former Supreme Martial Commanderâwas courting death!
"Kneel and apologize," Ning Kun said, his face as dark as a thundercloud. He advanced slowly, like an enraged lion. An overwhelming killing intent erupted from him, soaring toward the heavens.
The onlookers were stunned. How could Ning Kun, the cowardly good-for-nothing, suddenly transform into someone else? His words were sharp and carried an authority that brooked no defiance. Even Zhang Qiang was momentarily taken aback.
"You want me to kneel to this mutt? Why don't you go die yourself?" Although a little spooked, Zhang Qiang remembered he wasn't alone. His arrogance returned, and he spat out vicious words.
"You're courting death!" Ning Kun surged forward, kicking up a gust of wind.
BOOM!
His massive fist slammed squarely into Zhang Qiang's abdomen. The once-strutting bully was sent flying backward several meters like a sack of garbage, crashing heavily to the ground.
Everyone's heart pounded in their chest. Wasn't Ning Kun a known wimp? Since being kicked out of the Martial Department, anyone could bully him, and he would never fight back. But now⊠what kind of strength was this?
"My god, is he possessed by a Heavenly God?"
"He's ruthless. He's in for it now."
After a long moment, the crowd began to murmur, their voices filled with shock and, more often than not, a hint of schadenfreude.
Zhang Qiang struggled for a while before his two cronies finally helped him to his feet. He glared, his eyes bulging with fury, and roared, "You're finished! If I don't kill you today, I'll write my name backward!"
But Ning Kun had no intention of stopping. He started walking slowly toward Zhang Qiang. A jolt of fear shot through Zhang Qiang. This was bad. "What are you all standing around for? Get him! Kill him for me!" he bellowed at his lackeys.
However, Ning Kun was like a tiger pouncing on a flock of sheep. His fists swung wide and heavy, sending seven or eight young men flying. Finally, he grabbed the last man by the neck, hoisting him into the air with a single arm. "Come at me with whatever you want; I can take it. But you dare insult my Boss? Do you believe I won't wipe you out?"
At this, the entire area fell deathly silent. This wasn't the cowardly Ning Kun they knew; this was a god of slaughter. The chilling killing intent seemed to make the very air grow cold.
THUD.
Ning Kun casually tossed the man aside and stared down at Zhang Qiang. "Kneel. Apologize!"
"You⊠youâŠ" Zhang Qiang started to curse, but a vicious slap cut him off, splitting his skin and sending blood flying.
"Kneel!"
Zhang Qiang was speechless.
SLAP!
Another heavy slap sent him stumbling back against a wall. "Just wait 'til my dad gets here!" he screamed hysterically. "I swear I'll skin you alive!"
CRACK!
A single punch shattered Zhang Qiang's nose. Before he could even register the pain, Ning Kun grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up like a helpless chick. The crowd was silent, their minds reeling from the sudden turn of events. They stood frozen, utterly bewildered. Who would dare to intervene now?
"I just couldn't be bothered with trash like you," Ning Kun said coldly. "Did you really think I was a pushover?"
The crowd remained silent.
"Let me go!" Zhang Qiang struggled violently, his hands flailing wildly. He tore Ning Kun's sweatshirt, revealing a muscular torso covered front and back with terrifying scars.
The sight was breathtakingly gruesome.
HISS.
A collective gasp went through the crowd.
"What⊠what is that?"
"What in the world has this man been through?!"
Except for Chen Yang, no oneânot Ning Shan, not Hu Yunâhad ever seen such a body. Dandan instinctively covered her mouth, her eyes misting over. The web of scars was suffocating to look at. Even Zhang Qiang stared, his eyes wide with disbelief. What kind of hell could forge a body like that? This... this wasn't a wimp! This was a devil! That scar running from his left shoulder down to his lower right abdomen⊠was that from a blade?
In that instant, a chill ran down everyone's spine.
"Ning Kun, you'd better let me go right now!" Zhang Qiang screamed, mustering all his strength.
Ning Kun released his grip.
Zhang Qiang grinned, but before his ferocious smile could fully form, Ning Kun's fist hammered down on his head.
THUMP!
Blood streamed from Zhang Qiang's nose, ears, and mouth as he collapsed to his knees.
"You⊠youâŠ"
Ning Kun stomped his foot down on Zhang Qiang's face, grinding it into the dirt.
"AGHHH!" Zhang Qiang howled, filled with rage and humiliation. He was the village chief's son! He was rich and powerful! People always gave him some respect! And today, he was being trampled into the ground!
"Still not convinced?" Ning Kun sneered.
Zhang Qiang fell silent.