"Damn it, this little one has already caused trouble right after arriving in Yun Jing..." Ye Jingyu muttered internally, but his body moved swiftly forward. He wasn't afraid that these people could actually harm Xiao Taotao—how could ordinary people resist a ferocious beast that could stump a Sixth-Level Soul Master?

He was worried that Xiao Taotao's ferocity would flare up, leading to a massive disturbance in Yun Jing, which would be troublesome...

He had come here for revenge this time, and his current strength wasn't sufficient yet; he needed to keep a low profile...

"Esteemed elder brother, this is my pet. It’s a bit disobedient and has offended you. I beg your forgiveness, elder brother. Please allow me to cover all your expenses today?" Ye Jingyu covered the distance to the burly man in a few steps and spoke very courteously to him...

"Oh?" Hearing this, the big man immediately raised his head to look at Ye Jingyu, but his gaze quickly settled on Hu Yanmeng behind him...

It erupted into a fiery, scorching light—the kind of look that desired nothing more than to strip Hu Yanmeng bare and deal with her right then and there...

It wasn't just him; several men accompanying him also stared at Hu Yanmeng with eyes blazing, as if they were old men who had never seen a woman in their lives...

Although Luo Ling'er was also a rare beauty, she was, after all, still a young girl, merely a cute child in their eyes, utterly incomparable to the coldly aloof Hu Yanmeng...

A face brimming with enchantment, a proud figure, coupled with an icy demeanor, was enough to ignite the desire in any man. Ye Jingyu swore that even in Yun Jing, a place teeming with beauties, finding a cold, stunning beauty like Hu Yanmeng would be exceedingly difficult...

"What does elder brother think?" Seeing the man's raw, undisguised gaze, Ye Jingyu felt a slight surge of anger, but unwilling to provoke a fight, he stepped forward, blocking the man's view, and maintained his polite tone...

"Do you take this lord for a deadbeat deadbeat who refuses to pay his dues? I need you to treat me to a meal here? Who do you think you are?" The big man became furious when Ye Jingyu blocked his line of sight. He slammed his hand on the table, stood up abruptly, his eyes wide open, the thick flesh on his face twitching—he looked every bit the ruthless character...

"Then what do you want?" Upon hearing such rude scolding, a wave of annoyance washed over Ye Jingyu. When had he ever feared anyone? Not even when he first arrived at Baiyun Mountain Villa had he been afraid. Now, the only reason he was being polite was to avoid being targeted by Qin Yan's people. But since he had offered courtesy and the other party refused to give him face, he shouldn't be blamed for what followed. His voice turned icy cold as he spoke...

"What do I want? Leave the two women behind you to drink a few rounds with this lord, and this matter will be dropped. Otherwise, don't blame this lord for being impolite..." The brute failed to detect the chill in Ye Jingyu's tone, mistaking it for fear. He spoke with extreme audacity. This time, he seemed to notice that Luo Ling'er behind Ye Jingyu was also a beauty and pointedly demanded her as well...

Hearing the brute’s words, Hu Yanmeng’s cold expression deepened to sheer ice. If Ye Jingyu hadn't been present, she might have already drawn her bow and unleashed an enraged volley...

When had an archer from the Hu Yan tribe ever been so defiled? Even the most powerful warriors of the Chi Yi clan treated them with great respect...

As for Luo Ling'er, a look of pure innocence remained on her face, showing not a trace of anger. Her large, watery eyes darted back and forth between Ye Jingyu and the brute, seemingly pondering how Ye Jingyu would deal with this man...

The other patrons had long been drawn to the escalating situation, but they seemed somewhat intimidated by the brute. Although they were murmuring amongst themselves, their voices were very low, and their glances toward the commotion were fleeting...

Ye Jingyu stared blankly at the brute. He truly found it unbelievable. This was Yun Jing! This was right under the Emperor’s nose! Logically, the people here should be refined and courteous. If they wanted to deal with someone, they would use covert means, not display such arrogance!

Moreover, the man looked to be in his thirties. Why was he acting like a spoiled second-generation heir? Was this the extent of his intellect? Or were all people in Yun Jing this presumptuous?

"Heh heh..." After a moment, just as the brute was about to lose patience, Ye Jingyu's lips twitched, and a cold laugh escaped his mouth...

"Let's go..." He didn't spare the brute another glance, swiftly stepped forward, picked up Xiao Taotao who was still gnawing on a pig trotter, and turned to walk upstairs. He simply couldn't be bothered with this kind of person... He didn't believe this fellow would actually dare to start a fight right here...

Since this person had openly demanded the princess of the noble Shu Yun Kingdom to drink with him, the resulting crime was enough punishment for him. Even if Ye Jingyu didn't handle him, the imperial guards lurking nearby would likely find trouble for him...

"Where do you think you're going?" Unexpectedly, the brute seemed genuinely fearless. Seeing Ye Jingyu attempting to leave, he thrust out a hand, aiming straight for Ye Jingyu's shoulder...

Ye Jingyu hadn't anticipated the man would actually dare to strike. Although he was only at the Martial Master realm, his reaction speed, perception, and physical strength far surpassed that of an average Martial Master. Sensing the chill descending from behind, he shifted his stance and effortlessly evaded the grab...

"Good kid, so you're also a trained fighter..." Seeing Ye Jingyu dodge his grasp so easily, the brute roared, suddenly accelerating and hurling a heavy kick toward Ye Jingyu...

Seeing the opponent advance rather than retreat, kicking at him again, Ye Jingyu’s anger flared. He didn't dodge; instead, he kicked out a leg, meeting the brute’s sweeping kick head-on...

"Rumble..." A massive sound erupted as Ye Jingyu's and the brute's lower legs collided heavily. The immense force caused the entire tavern to tremble, while the brute’s body was thrown backward repeatedly. If the men accompanying him hadn't rushed to support him, he might have fallen flat...

As for Ye Jingyu, he hadn't moved an inch. His physical strength now neared ten thousand jin. If it was purely a contest of raw power, who—aside from Chi Yi Xiu—could possibly match him?

"Good kid, such great strength..." After being supported by his companions, the brute felt his lower leg go numb. If his true qi hadn't been abundant, the bone in his leg might have fractured from that single impact... His gaze toward Ye Jingyu was now filled with shock. After all, Ye Jingyu didn't look particularly tall or large. How could such immense power be contained within such a slender frame?