"Pfft!"
Not only could Xiao Xun'er no longer hold back her laughter, covering her mouth to let out a light giggle, but even the surrounding crowd watching the commotion burst into suppressed guffaws.
Amidst the laughter, Mo Yuhan and the two others, who had witnessed the entire process, also laughed with unconcealed mockery.
And this laughter, in Galeo's ears, was like adding fuel to the fire. He was already furious and humiliated from losing face in front of Xun'er, and now being mocked by the surrounding people filled him with rage. When his gaze swept across Mo Yuhan, the pent-up fury instantly found an outlet.
He suddenly twisted his head, his vicious gaze sweeping like a venomous snake towards Mo Yuhan and the two others.
When he saw Little Fairy Doctor beside Mo Yuhan, Galeo's eyes couldn't help but light up.
The young girl was delicate and gentle, with a pure aura. Although not as captivating as Xun'er, she possessed a unique charm.
Then he looked at Mo Yuhan's other side, at the figure completely shrouded in a wide grey cloak. Although her face was unclear, the subtly full curves outlined by the cloak, and the mysterious yet breathtaking beauty peeking from the shadows of the hood, were alluring.
"Where did this wild brat come from, daring to mock this young master?"
Galeo sneered, seizing the opportunity to pick a fight and turn his aggression towards Mo Yuhan, attempting to regain his dignity, while also harboring the dirty thought of flirting with these two beauties, one older and one younger.
He led several followers, pushing through the crowd aggressively, heading straight for Mo Yuhan and the two others, his gaze wickedly scanning the cloaked figure and Little Fairy Doctor: "And these two little beauties, why hide your faces? Let this young master take a look…"
Before he finished speaking, an icy, bone-chilling killing intent, without any warning, emanated from beneath the wide grey cloak.
Like an arctic gale, it instantly swept through the area. Several close onlookers shivered violently, looking at the cloaked figure with surprise and uncertainty.
Little Fairy Doctor's expression changed, and she instinctively reached for her medicine pouch.
However, Mo Yuhan was faster than Little Fairy Doctor.
The moment Galeo uttered the last frivolous word, "look."
A ray of light, like the breath of a dormant young dragon, suddenly struck.
Mo Yuhan was so fast that he left a blurry afterimage in his original spot. He didn't even put down the oil-paper package in his hand.
There were no fancy moves, no earth-shattering roars, only the simplest and most direct straight punch!
The fist, enveloped in condensed pale yellow Dou Qi, seemed to tear through the air, carrying a sharp, piercing shriek, and with the force of thunder, it unceremoniously landed squarely on Galeo's greasy face, which was filled with shock and disgust.
"Bang—!!!"
A dull, heart-stopping thud of flesh colliding rang out.
The sneer on Galeo's face hadn't even had time to transform into horror before his entire body, like a kite with a broken string, instantly lifted off the ground.
Blood foam mixed with several broken teeth sprayed from his mouth, drawing a dazzling red line in the air, and his tall body uncontrollably arched backward, flying away.
Crash!
He knocked over two followers behind him who had no time to react, and the three of them, like rolling gourds, crashed heavily into a thick wooden shelf selling medicinal herbs by the roadside.
The wooden shelf instantly shattered into pieces, and various medicinal herbs scattered like falling flowers. Galeo was buried under the broken wood and herb pile, with only his two legs still twitching unconsciously outside. Blood gushed from his mouth and nose, and he couldn't even let out a complete scream before directly fainting.
Dead silence!
Absolute dead silence!
The bustling market intersection, which had been noisy and laughing a second ago, was now so quiet that a pin could be heard dropping.
Everyone seemed to be under a spell, their expressions frozen in shock, bewilderment, and disbelief.
Xiao Yan's innocent smile also stiffened, and Xiao Xun'er's delicate hand that covered her mouth dropped. For the first time, her clear eyes showed gravity and scrutiny.
Guard Payne's pupils constricted sharply, his hand gripping his weapon tightened, and his whole body instantly tensed.
Time seemed to solidify like grease, the bustling sounds of the market suddenly drained away, leaving only the monotonous rustle of medicinal herbs rolling off the overturned wooden shelf, and Galeo's wheezing sound like a bellows from where he lay in the rubble.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on Mo Yuhan, who stood before the mess, one hand steadily holding the oil-paper package of sugar cakes, and his other small fist still held in a striking posture.
The pale yellow Dou Qi aura slowly dissipated from his fist.
Mo Yuhan withdrew his fist expressionlessly, as if he had merely swatted away an annoying fly.
He didn't even spare a glance at the unconscious Galeo in the pile of rubble, only carefully protecting the oil-paper package in his hand to ensure the sugar cakes inside hadn't fallen out.
Then, he turned around and handed the oil-paper package back to the figure under the wide cloak beside him, his voice returning to its previous calmness, as if the earth-shattering punch had never happened:
"Auntie, Little Fairy Doctor sister, the sugar cakes aren't broken, eat them while they're warm."
Under the cloak, Bibi Dong gently nodded, picking up a small piece of sugar cake, as if approving of Mo Yuhan's action and being accustomed to it.
This extreme contrast made the dead silent market seem like cracking ice.
Gasps of cold air converged into a suppressed tide.
"One… one punch?"
Someone mumbled hoarsely, their voice stuck in their throat.
"Galeo… he's a One-star Dou Zhe!"
The person next to him stared blankly, as if unable to comprehend the reality before his eyes.
"That child… he's at most eight years old, right?"
Someone swallowed with difficulty, their gaze shifting between Mo Yuhan's tender face and his unruffled eyes.
"Dou Qi… that's Dou Qi… he's definitely a Dou Zhe!"
An experienced old mercenary's voice trembled, filled with unconcealed horror.
Xiao Yan started cultivating at four, possessed Nine-stage Dou Qi at ten, broke through to Ten-stage Dou Qi at eleven, successfully condensed his Dou Qi vortex, and instantly became the youngest Dou Zhe in Wutan City in a hundred years, truly unparalleled in the region.
However…
The rest of the words were drowned in a blank silence.
This could no longer be described merely as "talent."
The deliberately innocent smile on Xiao Yan's face had long faded, replaced by a deep solemnity, like an unyielding dark ink.
No matter how much exaggeration was in Galeo's strength, the title of One-star Dou Zhe was real, yet this young boy, who seemed a full cycle younger than himself, with just one punch, without Dou Techniques, without building momentum, just pure speed, power, and terrifyingly condensed Dou Qi, defeated Galeo in one strike!
An eight-year-old Dou Zhe?
This realization was like a cold iron spike, fiercely striking Xiao Yan's heart.
Having experienced the sharp pain of falling from the clouds into the mud, he understood the preciousness and cruelty of talent more than anyone.
What this child displayed was no longer genius, but a monstrous prodigy.
Who is he? Where did he come from? When did such a monstrous prodigy lurk beneath the waters of Wutan City?
Countless questions instantly tangled into a knot, filling Xiao Yan's gaze towards Mo Yuhan with unprecedented scrutiny and a hint of apprehension that he himself hadn't even noticed.
In Xiao Xun'er's clear eyes, the faint smile that had arisen from Xiao Yan's teasing had long vanished without a trace, leaving only a deep, still calm.
She perceived it more clearly than Xiao Yan; in the instant Mo Yuhan struck, the purity of that Dou Qi and the inherent dominance it contained were absolutely not something any known cultivation method in Wutan City could achieve.
What made her heart slightly tremble even more was the fleeting, icy killing intent from beneath the cloak—indifferent and pure, carrying a sense of absolute superiority, almost like looking down on ants.
This was definitely not the demeanor that should exist in the Gama Empire, which was content to stay in its corner of the Dou Qi Continent!
This mysterious child, and the woman he called his auntie… their origins were unfathomable.
Even the gentle Little Fairy Doctor, she also gave off a dangerous feeling.
Xiao Xun'er's slender fingers unconsciously twirled lightly within her sleeve. The keen warning from her ancient clan bloodline caused a subtle ripple in her gentle Dou Qi that was hard to detect.
"Young... Young Master!"
Galeo's dazed followers and other unaffected attendants finally snapped out of their shock. They scrambled to the ruins, frantically digging through shattered wood and scattered medicinal ingredients.
When a pale, blood-stained Galeo, with his front teeth knocked out and already unconscious, was dragged out, a wave of fear initially gripped his followers' hearts.
Their Young Master had been beaten to such an extent that even if he didn't die, he would at least lose a layer of skin when he returned to the Jia Lie family. Fierce flames instantly ignited in their eyes, and their gazes, filled with malice, shot towards Mo Yuhan and the two others.
"You little beast! How dare you harm our Young Master! Brothers, let's go, chop him up!"
The leader, a burly man who was a Three-Star Dou Zhe, had a ferocious, twitching face. He roared, and Dou Qi surged within him.
He, along with several equally fierce companions, pounced on Mo Yuhan and the two others like hungry wolves.
At this moment, all reason was thrown to the wind, leaving only the mad desire to tear this brat to shreds and vent their anger. If they could just bring Mo Yuhan and the two others back, it would be considered an atonement for their failure.
However, as soon as they moved, a clear voice, like a solid rock, suddenly rang out: "Stop!"
Xiao Yan stepped forward, his figure firmly blocking the space between Mo Yuhan and the two others and the Jia Lie family thugs.
The last trace of childishness on the young man's face completely faded, his eyes sharp as a drawn cold blade. The imposing Aura of the Xiao Family's Third Young Master emanated powerfully.
Payne and the other Xiao Family guards simultaneously took a step forward. With a 'clang,' their weapons were uniformly pointed at Galeo's subordinates, and Dou Qi subtly surged. A cold, Killing Intent instantly permeated the air, freezing the market's atmosphere slightly.
"This place is my Xiao Family's market!"
Xiao Yan's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly cut through all the noise, carrying a heavy sense of oppression. "Young Master Galeo provoked first, and being inferior in skill, he brought this upon himself. No one else is to blame."
His gaze, like lightning, swept over the Jia Lie family thugs, whose movements were stiffened by his Aura. He spoke slowly, enunciating each word: "If you dare to cause more trouble on my Xiao Family's territory and harm the innocent... do you really think the blades of my Xiao Family guards won't taste blood?"
His last sentence was filled with chilling Killing Intent. Coupled with Payne and the others' poised stance, like leopards about to pounce, the invisible pressure made the thugs' faces turn pale, and cold sweat instantly beaded on their foreheads.
The Three-Star Dou Zhe strongman's face twitched violently. He looked at the Xiao Family guards, who were full of Killing Intent and in a strict formation, then at his Young Master, who lay on the ground like a dead dog.
Finally, his gaze swept over the terrifyingly calm child, and a surge of anger shot from his spine straight to the crown of his head.
He knew that the Jia Lie Family could only swallow this humiliation today. If they continued to provoke, not only would they fail to save face, but their own lives would likely be forfeit!
"...Good! Very good! Xiao Yan! Xiao Family! The Jia Lie Family will remember this debt!"
The strongman squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth, each word steeped in venom, yet he dared not make any further moves.
He glared fiercely at Xiao Yan and Mo Yuhan, then almost shrieked an order to his subordinates: "Carry the Young Master! Let's go!"
The followers, as if granted a great pardon, awkwardly and frantically lifted the unconscious Galeo. Under the countless gazes of disdain and mockery from the surrounding crowd, they stumbled like stray dogs, pushing through the people, and hastily disappeared around the corner of the market.
The taut air suddenly relaxed.
Xiao Yan then slowly turned around, his gaze complex as it fell upon Mo Yuhan.
The eight-year-old child still stood quietly beside the cloaked figure, as if the earth-shattering punch and the subsequent surging undercurrent had nothing to do with him.
The small figure in Xiao Yan's eyes seemed to be shrouded in a deep, unfathomable mist.
Mo Yuhan also looked up, meeting Xiao Yan's scrutinizing gaze.
His tender face remained expressionless. Although he didn't understand why Xiao Yan would stand up for him, Mo Yuhan still nodded at Xiao Yan and smiled slightly: "Thank you."
The two words were extremely concise, but they made Xiao Yan's heart skip a beat.
This child... he was too calm, not the Heart-Nature of an ordinary child.
After speaking, Mo Yuhan did not linger any longer.
He steadily held the sugar cake in one hand, and with the other, gently supported Bibi Dong's arm beneath the cloak. His voice was soft: "Auntie, Little Fairy Doctor sister, let's go."
Little Fairy Doctor immediately moved silently closer, her vigilant gaze sweeping over the lingering crowd one last time, tightly guarding them on the other side.
The three turned and merged into the still somewhat sluggish flow of people in the market.
The wide gray cloak almost completely engulfed Bibi Dong's figure, leaving only a mysterious and fragile silhouette.
Little Fairy Doctor's delicate figure pressed close to Mo Yuhan.
And Mo Yuhan, walking at the very front, held his small back straight, his steps steady and firm, as if the mess behind him and the unspent raging waves were nothing more than a trivial speck of dust on the sole of his shoe.
Xiao Yan watched as the three figures melted into the crowd, finally disappearing around the street corner in the direction of the Mittel Auction House. His brows were deeply furrowed, and he remained silent for a long time.
Xiao Xun'er moved gracefully to his side, her clear eyes also holding a trace of unresolvable solemnity. She whispered, "Brother Xiao Yan..."
"A Dou Zhe under ten years old..."
Xiao Yan slowly exhaled a turbid breath, his eyes as deep as night. "Xun'er, it seems this Wutan City is much deeper than we perceive. That child, and the person he's protecting..."
He paused, his voice deepening, "are no ordinary people."
The magnificent silhouette of the Mittel Auction House stood quietly in the distance. The upcoming special auction for medicinal ingredients seemed to be shrouded in an elusive mist due to the involvement of these three.
The market's clamor and the scent of blood were left behind.
Mo Yuhan and the two others no longer had the inclination to continue browsing and headed straight for the Mittel Auction House.
The Mittel Auction House's arched entrance, built from monolithic blocks of grayish-white stone, stood like the throat of a giant beast, quietly located in the most bustling heart of Wutan City.
Above the lintel, the gilded characters "Mittel Auction House" shimmered with a subtle brilliance in the afternoon sun, silently proclaiming wealth and status.
The three ascended the wide stone steps leading to the entrance. Inside, the light suddenly became soft and bright.
The air was filled with elegant and expensive incense, completely isolating the dust and clamor from outside.
Almost as soon as the door opened, a graceful figure, enough to make any light linger, approached with a waft of fragrance, swaying with exquisite curves as if drawn by the most precise ruler.
The person who came was Ya Fei.
This chief auctioneer of the Mittel Auction House's Wutan City branch was not standing on a high platform, yet she was still like the focal point of a spotlight, instantly capturing all the light and attention at the entrance.
She wore a perfectly tailored, vibrant red cheongsam. The red was not a flamboyant flame, but a premium cinnabar, aged and imbued with the luster of countless treasures, so rich it was impossible to dilute. It accentuated her already frost-white, snow-like skin, making it appear even more radiant and translucent, like fine mutton-fat jade glowing with a warm luster under soft light.
The cheongsam's fabric had a subtle, delicate sheen, clinging to her breathtaking curves like water. From her rounded, fragrant shoulders, it flowed downwards, outlining a full and proud, astonishing curve at her chest.
This curve was not merely ample; it possessed a fullness brimming with vital tension, subtly trembling with her light steps, like a perfectly ripe peach exuding a silent allure.
Her waist, so slender it seemed one could grasp it with a single hand, was hinted at beneath the cheongsam's high-slit side. It connected to a sudden tapering, then a dramatic, full rise of her rounded hip line. The undulating curves were as fluid as a master's meticulous brushwork, breathtaking and inspiring endless reverie.
The cheongsam's slit was very high. As she walked, her two long, straight, flawless jade-like legs, highlighted by the deep red fabric, appeared in a fleeting glimpse, dazzlingly white.
She wore a pair of matching, fine-heeled velvet shoes, which further accentuated her already tall figure, making her even more statuesque. Every step had a natural rhythm, her waist swaying gently, like a red lotus swaying in the wind, languid and deadly