The group of youngsters saw this scene and hurried forward, fumbling to cover Gou Dai's leg wound.
But a piece of flesh had been torn off his leg, and the bleeding couldn't be stopped so easily.
The Martial Arts Arena resounded with another wave of wretched wailing.
The servant also panicked, not knowing what to do.
After all, it was he who released the two evil wolves. Now that they turned on their owner, if pursued, he might get blamed.
Chen Tang watched this farce with a calm expression.
In his eyes, the provocation from these teens was really too weak; he didn't even pay any attention to it.
Throughout the whole process, he didn't even lift a finger.
In fact, to others, Chen Tang looked just in his teens, similar in age to everyone else.
However, on one side, there was chaos, panic, and incessant wailing.
Over here, Chen Tang was composed and steady.
The feeling they gave off was worlds apart.
Mei Yingxue unconsciously glanced at Chen Tang a few more times.
"Let's go!"
Mei Yingxue tugged Chen Tang's arm, glancing outside, signaling for them to leave amidst the confusion.
Chen Tang understood, and left the Martial Arts Arena with Mei Yingxue and soon arrived outside the Plum Blossom Martial Arts Hall.
"What happened just now?"
Even now, Mei Yingxue still couldn't understand, her expression strange.
The earlier scene clearly showed Gou Dai trying to use the two evil wolves to harm Chen Tang.
But somehow, the two wolves suddenly backed down.
And even turned on Gou Dai!
Mei Yingxue instinctively looked at Chen Tang.
Feeling Mei Yingxue's gaze, Chen Tang said, "After all, they're evil wolves, full of wild nature, hard to tame, when they go mad they bite anyone."
"That's probably it."
Mei Yingxue nodded.
The earlier scene had happened right in front of her.
Chen Tang hardly moved, and only at the last moment did he seem to realize the crisis, turning back to glance once.
This matter should have nothing to do with Chen Tang.
But upon meeting again, Mei Yingxue found that Chen Tang seemed a bit different now.
The Chen Tang from before would turn red-faced and avoid eye contact whenever he saw her, not daring to look directly at her.
Yet now, Chen Tang occasionally would make eye contact while talking with her.
His eyes were gentle and clear, without a trace of distraction, completely different from Gou Dai's lecherous gaze when he looked at her.
After a moment of pondering, Mei Yingxue expressed concern and said, "Have you really not considered coming to our Martial Arts Hall? Gou Dai suffered a big loss today and might not be able to swallow his pride."
"If you come to the Martial Arts Hall to work, after all, my father and I are there, he wouldn't dare to act recklessly."
Gou Dai?
That's a fitting name, quite comparable to Niu Er.
"Thank you for your kind offer, Miss Mei. There shouldn't be any problems."
Chen Tang politely declined.
Seeing that Chen Tang persisted, Mei Yingxue didn't press further, only reminding him, "You must be more careful then."
Chen Tang nodded.
At that moment, the servant carrying the groaning, pale Gou Dai rushed out of the Plum Blossom Martial Arts Hall towards the Evil Wolf Gang.
The two evil wolves obediently followed behind.
Upon seeing Chen Tang and Mei Yingxue at the hall entrance, the hatred in Gou Dai's eyes grew, clenching his teeth and fists, saying nothing.
Mei Yingxue frowned and said, "After all, this matter started because of me. Let me accompany you to avoid any accidents."
"Alright."
This time, Chen Tang did not refuse.
The two walked along the street toward Chen Tang's home, and before long, as they passed an alley, they heard the sound of cursing and barking.
"You wretched girl, you run, let's see you run again! You're only causing trouble for me!"
"Slap! Slap!"
The sound of the whippings resounded amid the curses.
Both Chen Tang and Mei Yingxue instinctively stopped to glance inside.
At the entrance of a courtyard, they saw a small-framed little girl kneeling on the ground, trembling, her hair disheveled, face obscured.
All they could see was the girl's tattered clothing, with welts drawn across her body, the blood had already seeped into her clothes.
A middle-aged man in his forties or fifties stood with one hand on his hip, a whip in the other, cursing as he beat her.
Each lash caused the girl's body to tremble.
Though in today's world, human life was cheap, and such things were not uncommon.
But witnessing it firsthand, Chen Tang still frowned slightly, feeling very uncomfortable.
"Woof! Woof!"
Every time the middle-aged man swung his whip, a fit of wild barking erupted from the yard.
"Sigh."
Mei Yingxue sighed softly and said, "This is the little girl you risked your life to save just over two months ago."
"What?"
Chen Tang's heart jolted.
Just last night, he'd had a nightmare.
In the dream was this little girl.
The sight of her clinging to him and crying lingered vividly.
He only knew the girl was later rescued.
He never thought he would encounter her today.
"What's happening here?"
Chen Tang asked with a frown.
Mei Yingxue replied, "The girl is actually a servant bought by this family. That day she went to buy things and caught the eye of the Black Water Gang's Young Leader, who tried to take her away."
"You were stabbed over thirty times, collapsing unconscious in a pool of blood. This girl begged and kowtowed to those around, hoping someone would save you. But nobody dared to step forward as the Black Water Gang stood there."
"It wasn't until Chief Meng of the County Government Office arrived with his men, and after a standoff, made the Black Water Gang leave. Although the Black Water Gang was powerful, they couldn't openly clash with the Government Office."
Chen Tang's former self was unconscious at that time and completely unaware of what transpired afterward.
"Later, your father saved you, and this girl tried to file a complaint at the Government Office, but this family forcibly took her back."
As Mei Yingxue said this, she glanced at the middle-aged man.
"I hear the family flew into a rage over this, venting their anger on the girl, believing she caused trouble for the family, and gave her a severe beating."
"Since then, the injuries on her face never healed, always black and blue, unrecognizable."
Chen Tang remained silent.
"Old Xu, what's gotten you so mad?"
Neighbors in the alley heard the commotion and came out to watch the drama unfold.
The middle-aged man named Old Xu cursed, "That damn girl, she sneaked off to the Government Office to create trouble for me again!"
"Why go to the Government Office? After all, she's just your bought servant. Even if you beat her to death, the officials wouldn't care." A neighbor asked.
"That's why she's such a troublesome girl!"
Upon hearing this, Old Xu got even angrier and delivered another whip to the girl, cursing, "She went to file a complaint about that incident over two months ago! Even accusing the Black Water Gang of abducting women and street killings, asking the County Government Lord to bring justice for 'Brother Atang'."
Hearing the words "Brother Atang," Chen Tang felt a shiver, as if struck heavily.
The last words his former self heard before passing out were the little girl's cries for 'Brother Atang.'
His past self hadn't saved the wrong person.
Mei Yingxue looked at Chen Tang with a complex expression.
"That girl is too naive. What kind of place do they think the Government Office is?"
"Heh, they say it well, 'The Government Opens South, Don't Enter With No Money Even With Reason.'" Neighbors gossiped.
"Woof! Woof!"
Suddenly, a half-grown yellow dog rushed out from the yard, madly charging at Old Xu!
"To hell with you!"
Old Xu lifted a leg and kicked the yellow dog, which was spun to the ground.
Before the yellow dog could get up, Old Xu raised his whip, lashing the dog repeatedly, cursing, "How dare this beast bite me, I'll slaughter you for meat tomorrow!"
"Yelping!"
The yellow dog yelped in pain.
The little girl, who had been silently enduring, suddenly rushed forward, shielding the dog beneath her and taking the lashes without a word.
Beyond the alley, not only were Chen Tang and Mei Yingxue watching.
The chubby old man and Qingmu also quietly observed from afar.
The usual smile on the chubby old man's face had vanished, replaced by a cold gaze.