Chapter 496: A Disobedient Dog

No matter how little status Lin Qiyun had in the tribe, she was still the former Clan Leader's daughter. Her lineage was undeniable!

Zhang Qiao was just a servant, after all. The only reason he dared to cause trouble for Lin Qiyun was because of his master's backing.

"I've taken the pills."

"If you want them, go talk to my young master."

"Or is it that the great Young Master Qiyun intends to bully a mere servant like me?"

Zhang Qiao said coolly.

Lin Qiyun's eyes narrowed. A rare spark of anger ignited within her, a stark contrast to her usual gentle and serene nature. "Do you really think I don't dare to act?"

"You're welcome to try!"

Seeing this, Zhang Qiao dropped the pretense, his voice now laced with disdain. "I show you respect because you're the former Clan Leader's daughter, so I don't want to lower myself to your level!"

"But if you insist on hounding me, then don't blame me for getting rough!"

He pointed into the distance, a sneer of contempt on his face. "My young master's guards are waiting right over there. If you want to start something, Young Master, you'd better think carefully about the consequences!"

"You!" Lin Qiyun's delicate body trembled with anger, her chest heaving. She was accustomed to quietly enduring hardship, having suffered plenty of bullying within the tribe.

But she couldn't bear to see Xiaohe humiliated by a mere servant right in front of her, while she herself stood by and did nothing!

To think even a servant dared to walk all over her, not only snatching the pills but also twisting the truth to paint her as the villain and himself as the victim!

This was the last straw. Lin Qiyun could no longer hold back. She rolled up her sleeves, her fair, jade-like hands ready to strike Zhang Qiao.

Zhang Qiao simply watched with a cold gaze, completely unconcerned.

He knew exactly how strong Lin Qiyun was.

Fourth Layer of the Bone Forging Realm.

'That's nothing to speak of!'

After all, even he, a mere servant, was at the Third Layer of the Bone Forging Realm!

Because he was skilled at flattering his young master, he had received numerous rewards. As a result, Zhang Qiao's cultivation level was always considered exceptional among the servants.

Many servants his age were still just ordinary people with no cultivation at all.

But he had already embarked on the path of cultivation, and his cultivation level was nearly on par with some of the younger members of the tribe.

'What would a few punches from a weak woman like Lin Qiyun even do?'

'Not only would I be largely unharmed, but I could use the incident to gain leverage over Lin Qiyun. I could go to my young master at any time to have him retaliate on my behalf!'

This was why Zhang Qiao was so brazen!

Lin Qiyun was too weak, and her status too insignificant!

In the tribe, even a servant like him could look down on the former Clan Leader's daughter!

Just as Lin Qiyun was about to strike.

Suddenly, a long, slender arm shot out.

A warm, broad palm took hold of Lin Qiyun's hand.

Lin Qiyun was seething with anger, ready to strike without a thought for the consequences.

When someone suddenly grabbed her, she froze. Her beautiful eyes turned to Ye Chen beside her. "Husband?"

"Let me handle this."

Ye Chen looked directly into Lin Qiyun's eyes, his expression calm as he spoke.

His voice was placid, yet it carried an undeniable undercurrent of resolve.

"You?"

Lin Qiyun was surprised, clearly not expecting him to say that. "But your injuries..."

"If you act, the repercussions will be too great."

"But I'm just an outsider in the tribe. Let any consequences fall on me."

With a slight tug, Ye Chen pulled Lin Qiyun behind him.

Only then did he turn his calm gaze to the man before them, Zhang Qiao.

"Hm?"

Zhang Qiao froze for a second, then a mocking sneer spread across his face. "You can't be serious? A half-dead cripple like you wants to fight *me*?"

"Do you really think you can do as you please just because Young Master Qiyun is backing you?"

He looked as if he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world. "Let me tell you, believe it or not, I'll..."

THUD!

Before Zhang Qiao could finish his sentence, Ye Chen's hand shot out, grabbing his head and viciously slamming it into the ground!

Amid the violent impact, dust flew everywhere. Zhang Qiao's face was instantly reduced to a bloody pulp, and the words he was about to speak were choked back down his throat.

MMPH... MMPH... MMPH...

Zhang Qiao struggled desperately, but Ye Chen held him down firmly with a single hand, his face pressed so tightly to the ground that he couldn't lift his head no matter how hard he tried.

"You're a good dog."

"But a dog that barks at everyone it meets will eventually be beaten to death and left on the side of the road."

Ye Chen said coolly, "You may be loyal to your master, but you've also brought an unforeseen disaster upon him."

MMPH... MMPH...

Zhang Qiao was choked with a mixture of shock and fury.

The shock came from his utter vulnerability before this supposed cripple.

Even the Imperial Physician had declared that the man could never return to the path of cultivation, especially not with his current grievous injuries.

Yet here he was, completely powerless to resist, effortlessly slammed to the ground with a single palm.

The fury came from the fact that this man, a mere outsider, dared to assault him within the tribe's territory!

Zhang Qiao tried to say something, but the words came out as muffled gurgles.

'Ye Chen didn't even need to hear him to know it was all just useless threats, telling him not to do anything reckless.'

He couldn't be bothered to listen. He simply grabbed Zhang Qiao by the hair, lifted his head, and then...

SMASH!

...brought it crashing down again!

Teeth shattered, lips split, the bridge of his nose caved in!

Zhang Qiao's head was ringing. He felt a wave of dizziness, and the searing pain in his face began to feel distant, almost numb.

His tense body slowly went slack, and the parcel he was carrying fell to the ground.

It contained a wooden box, and inside that box were the five Essence Replenishing Pills!

"Then I'll be taking these."

Ye Chen spoke coolly. He released his grip on Zhang Qiao's hair and took the wooden box from his body.

"You..."

Zhang Qiao finally came to. He struggled to lift his mangled, bloody face, his body still trembling faintly from the pain.

But at that moment, he saw Ye Chen raise his foot.

Zhang Qiao's pupils contracted violently. As if anticipating what was to come, his heart began to hammer in his chest, an indescribable terror blooming in its depths!

"Don't!" Lin Qiyun cried out, horrified.

But it was too late.

Before Zhang Qiao's disbelieving eyes, Ye Chen stomped down, crushing his head completely!

Blood and brain matter splattered across the ground.

Xiaohe, terrified by the gory scene, went pale and curled her small body into a ball.

"Husband, you..." Lin Qiyun stared blankly at the scene, a tidal wave of shock crashing through her.

"There's no need to keep a disobedient dog."

"So you kill it."

Ye Chen stood up, his expression impassive.

Looking at the headless corpse on the ground, he felt not the slightest ripple of emotion.