Chapter 041: Provocation

  At this moment, a young man dressed in white approached the stall, leisurely fanning himself with a folding fan. A group of imposing guards followed closely behind him. His expression was one of arrogance, his nose tilted upward as if he regarded everyone else as beneath him.

  Beside him stood a scantily clad woman, her nearly transparent garments barely covering the essential areas. Her fair and enticing skin was mostly exposed as she flirtatiously swayed her body, breathing hotly against the white-clad young man’s face.

  "Do you want it?" The young man didn’t even glance at the black-robed man, instead pointing directly at the small beast in Yang Tian’s hands. He then casually slapped the scantily clad woman’s hip and grinned.

  "Young Master, you’re so naughty! I want it!" The woman snuggled up to the young man, pressing her ample bosom against his chest while gazing at him seductively.

  A flicker of heat flashed through the young man's eyes. Without any concern for those around him, he reached into her bodice and began to fondle her shamelessly. The woman let out a few coquettish moans, further exciting the onlookers, some of whom wished they could take her right then and there.

  As Yang Tian turned to leave, the white-clad young man’s expression stiffened before turning cold. A dark gleam flashed in his eyes as he barked, "Stop right there! Did I say you could leave?"

  At his command, his guards instantly surged forward, surrounding Yang Tian with menacing gazes locked onto him.

  "Tsk tsk, isn’t that Huang Hai? Who’s that little vixen beside him?" A man in the crowd whispered to his companion, his eyes hungrily scanning the scantily clad woman.

  "Who knows? Probably some new plaything he picked up. That black-robed guy is in trouble now." His friend shook his head slightly.

  "No doubt about it. Huang Hai is the youngest son of the Huang Family’s patriarch. That black-robed guy is doomed. The Huang Family is a powerhouse in Martial City; they’re not to be trifled with."

  The crowd murmured among themselves, their eyes filled with schadenfreude. Huang Hai was infamous for his arrogance and debauchery, and many locals had suffered under his tyranny. Yet, due to the Huang Family’s influence, no one dared to cross him.

  Yang Tian clenched his fists and turned back, his gaze sweeping over Huang Hai before he indifferently asked, "What do you want?"

  "What do I want? Didn’t the beauty beside me just tell you? Hand over that little beast. One bloodstone, and I’ll buy it!" Huang Hai sneered, his eyes flashing with malice as he continued to fondle the woman in his arms.

  "Sorry, I didn’t hear you. Mind repeating that?" Yang Tian scratched his head and spread his hands in mock innocence.

  The crowd fell into a stunned silence, some even widening their eyes in disbelief.

  "Hahaha, he asked me to repeat myself? He actually asked me to repeat myself?!" Huang Hai burst into laughter, but the darkness in his eyes deepened.

  "This kid has guts, daring to provoke Huang Hai. He must have a death wish."

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  "Let’s just enjoy the show. Look at how calm he is—he must have something to rely on." Two burly men in the crowd whispered to each other, eager to see how things would unfold.

  "Awoo!" Suddenly, Xiao Bai broke free from Yang Tian’s grasp and leaped onto his shoulder, baring its tiny fangs at Huang Hai. Its adorable yet defiant posture caught the attention of many young women in the crowd.

  "Young Master, I want it!" The scantily clad woman’s eyes sparkled as she tugged at Huang Hai’s arm, acting spoiled.

  "Shut up!" Veins bulged on Huang Hai’s forehead as he gripped her chest harshly, making her wince but remain silent, biting her lip in pain.

  "That little beast seems quite intelligent. Could it be a spiritual beast?" someone in the crowd murmured.

  "It must be!" Many eyes gleamed with greed. Spiritual beasts were rare in Martial City and often fetched astronomical prices at auctions.

  Seeing Xiao Bai's disdainful expression, Huang Hai's face twisted in fury. With a chilling voice, he commanded, "Take him down! Kill that wretched beast!"

  At his words, the guards hesitated momentarily, but upon seeing Huang Hai’s enraged face, they gritted their teeth and stepped forward.

  "You dare make a move?" Yang Tian smirked, folding his arms without a trace of fear.

  The guards' expressions changed, and their surging energy instantly retracted. Everyone in Martial City knew the unspoken rule—no fighting was allowed. Even the Huang Family, a local power, couldn’t afford to break this rule. Their patriarch had repeatedly emphasized this law.

  A terrifying precedent had been set before—a Tongxuan Realm expert had once tried to attack his enemy here, only for a giant hand to descend from the void and crush him into a bloody pulp.

  Martial City was not just a gathering place for geniuses; it was also home to terrifyingly powerful figures. No single faction could act recklessly here, let alone the Huang Family, whose influence did not rank among the top on the Eastern Continent.

  Huang Hai’s expression darkened as he stared at Yang Tian. Suddenly, he burst into laughter, striding up to Yang Tian and slapping his shoulder. "You’ve got guts. If you dare, don’t step outside the city gates!"

  Yang Tian smirked. "Whether I leave or not is none of your concern. What an idiot." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Huang Hai fuming with rage.

  "Damn it!" Huang Hai dug his fingers into the woman’s flesh, leaving red marks, but she dared not make a sound, enduring the pain with teary eyes.

  "Find out who he is! I want him dead!" Huang Hai’s voice roared with fury as his guards quickly dispersed.

  Meanwhile, Yang Tian stuffed Xiao Bai back into his robe and made his way to his courtyard. Along the way, he frequently glanced behind him, his eyes growing colder with each step.

  Not far behind, a group of guards trailed him, stopping abruptly when he entered a certain courtyard. Their leader's face drained of color as he stared at the plaque above the entrance, his legs trembling in fear.

  "Captain, what do we do?" a guard asked nervously, his voice shaking.

  "Damn it, who the hell do I ask?! Get lost!" The captain kicked the guard aside, his face filled with terror as he sprinted back to report to the Huang Family.

  Inside the room, Yang Tian shut the door and placed Xiao Bai on the table.

  "You little troublemaker. First day here, and you've already offended a major power." He flicked Xiao Bai’s tiny head with a chuckle.

  "Awoo…" Xiao Bai whimpered pitifully, drooling as it eyed him expectantly.

  "Fine, but behave yourself next time, or no more treats." With a sigh, Yang Tian tossed a beast core to Xiao Bai.

  Watching Xiao Bai gnaw at its food, Yang Tian sighed and gazed out the window. "Huang Family, stay out of my way at Martial Mountain."

  In the Huang Family estate, the once-furious Huang Hai now trembled with fear, kneeling before two elderly figures, pleading for mercy.

  "Fool! Do you even know who you provoked? Anyone staying in a Heaven-Class residence belongs to the top powers of the Eastern Continent!" the sinister-faced elder scolded.

  Huang Hai shuddered and prostrated himself, spilling out the entire story in terror.

  "Trash! How could I have such a useless son?!" The elder raised his hand to strike, but Huang Hai frantically kowtowed, his face filled with fear.

  "Get out!" The elder roared, veins bulging as he clenched his fists.

  Beside him, another elder in black spoke coldly, "Brother, whether he belongs to a top power or not, he’s connected to them. We cannot let him live."

  A chilling silence filled the room before the elder’s face twisted in determination. "The Huang Family has stood for millennia. Any threat—must be eliminated."