"Am I not you?" Jun Moxie showed no shred of chivalry. He glared fiercely, his expression menacing, and demanded, "What's your name?"

"I, I, I’m called Han Yanmeng... I’m very powerful, please don’t hit me," the little girl stammered, thoroughly frightened. Her jade-like little face was pale, completely forgetting that she possessed formidable profound energy cultivation herself.

Since the day she was born, everywhere she went, everyone she met treated her with utmost respect. When had she ever encountered such an overbearing and tyrannical figure? This man was simply a composite of the most extreme hooligan, scoundrel, and local thug!

The young girl was genuinely terrified!

Who could have imagined that sneaking out from Shengbao Hall on a whim for a bit of fun would lead her to encounter such a fiend? The little girl’s heart pounded violently; she had already conjured countless unfavorable scenarios for herself, and the more she thought, the more fear caused her entire body to tremble.

"Han Yanmeng?" Jun Moxie glared. "That brat is from Snowwind Silver City. Did you come from there too? Right, who is Han Yanyao to you?"

"She, she is my older sister. Please don't hit me, my sister dotes on me, and she is very powerful," Han Yanmeng replied, trembling. Her purpose was brutally simple: to avoid a beating.

Jun Moxie froze.

So this girl was the little princess of Snowwind Silver City that Mu Xuetong had mentioned? The sister-in-law of his Third Uncle!

If one calculated strictly, she was actually his elder! Damn it!

"Is this your family's pet dog?" Jun Moxie pointed at the wretchedly injured Xiao Fengwu on the ground and asked.

"No, no, it’s not," Han Yanmeng nervously waved her small hands. "He is not a dog raised by my family."

Before the young Miss Han could finish, Young Master Jun cut her off. "No wonder he has such terrible manners. Turns out he’s just a stray dog!"

The little girl hastily waved her hands to defend him. "He's not a stray dog either; he, he is a human. He is my senior martial brother. His surname is Xiao, his name is..."

"He’s a human? I can’t tell! He’s just a dog!" Jun Moxie interrupted her again, casually wiping his hand across his own face. His hand was smeared with Xiao Fengwu’s blood, making his appearance even more ferocious and terrifying. "I say he's a dog, so he’s a dog! A wild dog with no manners! Understood?"

"No, no, he he he, he really isn't a dog," the little girl, accustomed to luxury since birth, had never encountered such a fiercely domineering person. In her panic, she had no idea how to argue. Suddenly, an idea flashed, and she blurted out, "You, you see, he he, he doesn’t have a tail. Dogs have tails; he really is a person!"

Jun Moxie paused, then couldn't help but roar with laughter, deliberately saying, "That’s because you don’t know—his tail was cut off. Otherwise, why would he look so much like a human!" As he spoke, he glanced at Xiao Fengwu, and this glance made him notice something different.

After taking such a beating from him, this fellow was still gasping, his chest still rising and falling. His fingers were already twitching subconsciously, appearing as if he was about to wake up...

A thought struck Jun Moxie: Logically, this guy's cultivation was limited; there was no reason he should withstand such punishment. What was going on? There must be something strange!

Tightening the cloth strip around his waist, Jun Moxie strode over to Xiao Fengwu, frowned, and scrutinized him from top to bottom. Suddenly, he reached out and, with a ripping sound, tore open the robes on the man's chest, instantly revealing a piece of strange, silver-glowing soft armor worn underneath. Jun Moxie pinched a piece with his fingers and pulled with both hands, but it didn't budge an inch!

What a fine item! Young Master Jun smacked his lips and, showing no hesitation, proceeded to undress him completely, taking the entire piece of close-fitting soft armor. He then grabbed the longsword from the ground, flicked his wrist, and thrust it forcefully against the armor. He felt the tip of the sword meet extreme softness, yielding completely, having easily neutralized the thrust. There wasn't a single mark on the soft armor.

He hadn't expected this brat to carry such a treasure. It seemed he hadn't punished him thoroughly enough before. Without a second thought, he launched into another round of ferocious beating on the completely defenseless Xiao Fengwu. In moments, Xiao Fengwu went completely still. However, Young Master Jun knew his limits; the fellow was knocked unconscious but not dead. He just wouldn't be waking up anytime soon!

Han Yanmeng stepped forward, intending to help her senior brother, but in her distraction, she was sent flying by a slap from Jun Moxie, who showed her no mercy. She landed on the ground, clutching her face, crying as tears streamed down uncontrollably.

"What is this?" Jun Moxie glanced down at Han Yanmeng. Even being the villain required a knack—if you’re going to play the part, play it all the way.

"Snow Silkworm Armor," Han Yanmeng replied, her eyes wide with terror as she looked at him. As she watched, a surge of indignation arose in her: This shameless brute actually had skin that was finer and more beautiful than hers. It was simply against the laws of nature.

Truly lacking in grace! Who hits a girl?

"Snow Silkworm Armor. A fine item. Yes, yes, very nice."

Jun Moxie admired it obsessively, turning it over and tossing it lightly in his hands.

Han Yanmeng secretly pursed her lips, but the movement pulled at the pain in her face, causing new tears to well up.

The Snow Silkworm Armor was certainly a rare treasure on the continent, but among the high-ranking members of Snowwind Silver City, it was hardly rare—in fact, almost everyone had one. It was an exclusive treasure of Snowwind Silver City. If this Snow Silkworm Armor wasn't considered much, there were even more advanced versions. This obvious bumpkin definitely hadn't seen the world; he was so thrilled by a mere Snow Silkworm Armor. She possessed something much higher quality...

"Do you have anything better? What is the best one?" Jun Moxie didn't seem to be looking at her, but he read her expression with perfect clarity. The little girl’s worldly experience was truly too shallow. Her secret pout was an involuntary action; though subtle, it fell squarely into Young Master Jun's sight. What did it mean? Ha, Jun Moxie could clearly see the hint of undisguised contempt.

So, while asking the question, Young Master Jun's face suddenly moved within an inch of Han Yanmeng's.

"The best is the Profound Silkworm. I don't have it on me," Han Yanmeng gasped in fright, watching his bloodied face rapidly enlarge before her. Her little heart nearly stopped beating. She managed to pull back at the last second, not speaking the whole truth. If she had revealed it, this little bully—this bumpkin—would surely try to forcibly seize her own piece. A Profound Silkworm Armor wasn't nothing, but hers was close to her body; if he took that too...

"Profound Silkworm? Hmph, hehehe." Jun Moxie looked over her body with ill intent. Han Yanmeng’s hairs stood on end, and she instinctively crossed her arms.

"Don't worry, I know you have that Profound Silkworm Armor on you, but I don't rob girls. I am very well-mannered," Jun Moxie smirked at her. A knot of dissatisfaction formed in his heart. If he eventually managed to wipe out the Xiao family power in Snowwind Silver City, and then, through effort, brought about the union of his Third Uncle and Han Yanyao, this little girl right here would officially be his elder!

Should he call her Little Aunt? Or Little Aunt-in-law?

Damn it, this was totally unbalanced. Having a superior Profound Silkworm Armor right there, yet being unable to snatch it—it was truly frustrating!

Jun Moxie reached out and gave her cheek a hard pinch to vent his dissatisfaction. Han Yanmeng let out a terrified shriek as Jun Moxie laughed loudly and strode away. "Miss Han, that fellow—hey, from now on, just call him Senior Sister. No need to call him Senior Brother, haha!"

Behind him, after her scream subsided, Han Yanmeng finally breathed a long sigh of relief when the tyrannical "villain" was gone. But immediately, her lovely brows furrowed again. Because she suddenly recalled that last sentence the "villain" uttered before leaving.

"Why? He is clearly Senior Brother Xiao. Why tell me to call him Senior Sister? I truly don't understand! This man speaks nonsense; he must be a martial arts master gone mad! He’s definitely not normal!"

Han Yanmeng stared with her wide, round eyes, pondering the mystery for a long time. Finally, she mumbled to herself, reaching one conclusion: You cannot judge the thoughts of a madman by the standards of normal people! I won't stoop to arguing with a lunatic!

The autumn wind gradually picked up, whistling mournfully. Xiao Fengwu’s injuries were severe, and he showed no sign of waking. Having never experienced real trouble, Han Yanmeng stood alone, utterly lost. After standing frozen for a long time, her fear deepened. Then, an extremely bizarre phenomenon occurred: as the wind grew stronger, the maple grove began to slowly shrink, dissolving into flying ash. From the leaves to the branches, then to the trunks, it was as if everything were made of flour, silently vanishing into the ether with the autumn breeze...

Han Yanmeng’s small mouth dropped open in shock, unable to close it for a long moment. After a while, she let out another sharp scream, about to flee, only to see Xiao Fengwu still lying unconscious on the ground, barely holding on to life, capable of passing away at any moment. She shrieked again, casting aside her terror, snatched up the half-clothed Xiao Fengwu, and bolted toward the city, rushing and panicked, yet moving with surprising speed...

In the little girl's heart, a thought surfaced, a sudden reminder: I’ve seen a ghost.

Jun Moxie certainly had no intention of killing Xiao Fengwu now. Killing him might bring momentary satisfaction of revenge, but in the long run, it was not beneficial at all.

As far as the Xiao family was concerned, if a junior like Xiao Fengwu was pushed forward to accompany the little princess of Silver City on an outing, the Xiao family's intentions were crystal clear.

This meant Xiao Fengwu was the most beloved and highly anticipated prodigy among the younger generation of the Xiao family; otherwise, he wouldn't have been chosen to pursue the Silver City Little Princess! But this kind of person had a strength that wasn't overwhelmingly high—what a perfect situation!

Keeping him alive could serve as leverage against the Xiao family at a crucial moment. If he rashly eradicated the Xiao family's roots, leaving only a bunch of old gods and mystics, wouldn't they immediately go completely mad?

While one should strike the snake's vital spot, if one is unsure of killing the snake completely, it’s best not to touch the vital spot. A rash touch invites the most brutal backlash.

The Jun family's current strength could not withstand such a severe repercussion.

Keeping such a pawn around might be more effective.

As Jun Moxie walked along, he felt the whistling wind pass right through him. It was incredibly uncomfortable. Without clothing to shield him below, things swayed inconveniently. As the saying goes: Wind blows through the crotch, and the wind feels chilly on the backside.