Facing the gaze Chen Yang cast her way, Tang Lan showed no sign of weakness, meeting it head-on.

He's just a guy who became disillusioned in the Martial Department and had no choice but to retire. What's so great about him?

"Move aside!" The two words were delivered with an icy chill.

Suddenly, Tang Lan felt a cold dread wash over her, and she instinctively staggered back several steps.

What an intense killing intent!

It wasn't just Tang Lan; many people in the crowd felt a momentary daze. But after that brief stupor, her defiant spirit was ignited. Just as she was about to step forward and question him again...

"How dare you speak to Xiaolan like that? She's a young woman! Have your parents taught you no manners, you grown man? Were your lessons in etiquette fed to the dogs? Get your elders over here! I want to ask them personally if they even know how to raise a person!"

The sharp rebuke echoed like a thunderclap, resounding across the square. Its stern tone was like an adult scolding a child. Instantly, the bustling square fell quiet. All eyes were drawn to the confrontation, and a hush fell over the crowd.

Under their watchful eyes, a stocky man, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, strode forward with purpose, his hands tucked in his pockets and a grim expression on his face. His unfriendly eyes were fixed intently on Chen Yang.

"Hu Yang?" Tang Lan, who had been on the verge of erupting, furrowed her brow the moment she saw him. "What are you meddling in?" she asked, displeased.

"Xiaolan." Upon looking at Tang Lan, the young man named Hu Yang's gloomy expression instantly morphed into a fawning smile. "I came especially to find you."

As he spoke, his eyes darkened again as he glanced at Chen Yang. "I certainly didn't expect to find someone bullying you. He doesn't have the slightest bit of manners!"

His sharp words left no room for rebuttal.

Even Tang Yuan, standing not far away, frowned deeply, his displeasure obvious. He'd seen this Hu Yang a few times. Even though Tang Lan had clearly stated her dislike for him, the man persisted relentlessly, believing he could change her mind.

"Before you criticize others, take a look at yourself," Tang Yuan said coldly.

Hu Yang finally noticed Tang Yuan and greeted him with unconcerned enthusiasm. "Elder Tang, this man had the audacity to be rude to Xiaolan! Forget about acting like a gentleman; he doesn't even have basic manners."

He had been pursuing Tang Lan for some time, only to be constantly rejected. In his mind, it was simply because she had yet to recognize his finer qualities. In reality, Tang Lan had seen right through his deplorable character and thus had no interest in even getting to know him.

"This is my business. What has it got to do with you?" Tang Lan glared at Hu Yang. "Hurry up and leave. You're not needed here."

"That piece of trash bullying you is my business," Hu Yang replied, not only refusing to leave but growing even more arrogant. "Today, I'm going to teach this scum how a person should behave."

"If his own family can't teach him, there's always someone in society who will." With his hands in his pockets, Hu Yang stared down at Chen Yang, his cold eyes filled with untamable arrogance.

Ridiculous! Tang Yuan fumed internally, unable to watch any longer. He keeps calling others ill-mannered, but isn't his own conduct utterly atrocious?

However, Hu Yang didn't stop. Instead, he closed the distance to Chen Yang. He had come this far; how could he possibly back down now?

Just as Tang Yuan prepared to intervene, Chen Yang raised his hand, swinging a slap toward Hu Yang.

I just came out to clear my head. Why is there so much trash everywhere?

"Get lost!"

The words boomed, but Hu Yang, far from retreating, advanced with a cruel smile, charging straight at Chen Yang. At this, many onlookers gasped, covering their mouths in shock.

"It's bad enough you won't kneel, but you dare to attack me? You're courting death!" Hu Yang sneered, overflowing with confidence and paying Chen Yang no mind.

CLASP!

Chen Yang caught Hu Yang's incoming fist and twisted it downward with a flick of his wrist.

CRACK!

With a sickening snap that echoed across the square, Hu Yang watched, wide-eyed, as his own wrist bent at an impossible angle.

What?!

Everyone in the square stared with wide eyes, their scalps tingling with shock and disbelief.

Chen Yang's gaze was glacial as he stared at Hu Yang. "You? Teach me how to behave?"

Hu Yang's face was ashen. His body trembled uncontrollably, and cold sweat poured down his face. He stared at Chen Yang, his eyes looking as if they would pop out of their sockets. The piercing pain felt like it was tearing his body apart.

"You... how could you..." Hu Yang's face twisted in disbelief. He subconsciously glanced toward Tang Yuan, his eyes pleading for help.

Chen Yang spread his fingers and brought his palm down.

SMASH!

Hu Yang plummeted, his knees slamming into the hard ground with a sickening crunch. Blood sprayed from the impact.

HISS!

The agony of his shattered kneecaps shot through every nerve in his body.

"Educate me? Who the hell do you think you are?" Chen Yang said, looking down at the kneeling man.

Hu Yang: "..."

THUD!

Chen Yang kicked out. Hu Yang slid across the ground like a sack of garbage for several meters before crashing into a planter, spraying another burst of blood.

A dead silence fell over the square.

This... wasn't this a little too brutal?

Hu Yang looked as if he'd been fished out of a pool of blood, a miserable, beaten dog.

"Cough, cough." He spat out two mouthfuls of blood, his Divine Spirit completely shattered. Caring for nothing else, he began to kowtow frantically. "I'm... I'm sorry! I was arrogant! I was blind not to see how great you are! Please, I'm kowtowing, I'm sorry..."

Tang Lan: "..."

Tang Yuan: "..."

Everyone: "..."

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.

His forehead struck the ground again and again, each impact a dull thud.

This guy... just moments ago, he was so arrogant, acting like he was the Heavenly King himself, ready to teach others how to behave. And now? Now he's on the ground, groveling and kowtowing like a dog.

This startling turn of events was simply absurd. Everyone stared at Chen Yang in disbelief. Who could have imagined that this plain-looking person possessed such formidable skills? Especially his ruthless methods, which sent shivers down their spines.

Even Tang Yuan was deeply shaken, yet at the same time, he found himself nodding in approval. Clearly, his initial judgment of Chen Yang had been correct. This young man was a promising seed. If properly nurtured, his future accomplishments would be limitless.

Chen Yang reached out and caught a falling leaf. He twirled it between his fingers, not giving anyone a second glance as he strode away.

Tang Lan stared, dumbfounded, at his receding back, her heart a whirlwind of emotions. She had expected Hu Yang to thrash Chen Yang, but the result...

This guy... he's so strong.

"Hey, you..." Tang Lan took a step forward, wanting to find out just how strong he really was.

WHOOSH!

Chen Yang, still walking away, pinched the leaf between two fingers and casually flicked it behind him. The sound of something slicing through the air hissed sharply.

The leaf grazed Tang Lan's cheek before—BOOM!—it embedded itself deep within the trunk of a large sycamore tree standing next to Tang Yuan.

The great tree shuddered violently, shedding a rain of withered leaves.

Tang Lan: "..."

Everyone: "..."

"..."

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