At the doorway stood two servants dressed like footmen, both around twenty years old. One was pockmarked, the other had a crooked, ugly nose. Their eyes darted about constantly, giving them the air of thieves—a sight that instantly turned one's stomach.
One was called Pockface, the other Dognose. They were Ling Rui's two lapdogs—dogs that bit.
The one who had spoken earlier was Pockface. He held a small pouch in his hand, twirling it incessantly, his face twisted in contempt as he eyed Ling Xiao and her son.
The Ling family's finances were managed by the Fifth Elder. As a branch of the main Ling lineage, Ling Zhan's household should have received their monthly allowance delivered by the steward. Yet now, two dogs from the Fifth Elder's grandson's entourage had come instead. This clearly showed that Ling Zhan's family was not favored by the Ling clan.
"I'll fetch it right away,"Meng Xiyun hurriedly stepped forward with graceful strides toward the pair.
Before Meng Xiyun could approach, Pockmarked casually tossed the money bag toward her.
Evidently, Pockmarked intended to humiliate Meng Xiyun. He hadn't thrown the bag with enough force, sending it only a meter before her. It seemed poised to fall to the ground.
A fleeting look of displeasure crossed Meng Xiyun's face. She quickened her pace and managed to snatch the pouch just in time.
Both Pockface and Dog Nose were taken aback, not expecting the woman to catch it.
Meng Xiyun smiled. "Thank you both for coming."She weighed the purse, quickly opened it, then addressed them again. "Gentlemen, isn't our household's monthly stipend thirty gold coins? Why are there only ten here?"
"Madam, do you suspect us of stealing your coins? This was personally delivered by the financial steward. Why not go ask him yourself?"Dog Nose tilted his head, speaking through his nostrils with a sneer. His attitude bore no resemblance to a servant's, but rather that of a high-and-mighty superior.
The steward Dog Nose referred to was the son of the Fifth Elder—Ling Chong, Ling Jian's father. Everyone in the Ling household knew Ling Chong and Ling Zhan had been sworn enemies since childhood. By suggesting Meng Xiyun confront Ling Chong, Dog Nose was clearly using him to intimidate her.
"You…Never mind. Just leave,"Meng Xiyun said, her voice trembling with frustration. Clutching the ten gold coins in her hand, she felt bitter. She had planned to buy some tonics this month to strengthen her son's health. Now, twenty gold coins short, life would be truly difficult. After all, she still needed to set aside some for her husband Ling Zhan's drinking.
Pockmarked and Dog Nose smirked smugly, about to turn and leave.
"Hold on!"Ling Xiao stepped forward and barked.
"What do you want?"Pockmarked sneered, turning to glare at Ling Xiao. He didn't even address him as Young Master Ling Xiao—just "you."Clearly, these servants mirrored their master's contempt for Ling Zhan's family.
"Hand over the twenty gold coins, or don't think you're leaving here,"Ling Xiao said coldly. Damn it. He was a young master, after all, yet he had to kowtow to two lowly servants. It seemed that on this continent, without formidable strength, one was even more despicable than the most vile servants.
"Didn't Dog Nose say it already? If you want those twenty gold coins, go ask the treasurer for them. Or... ask Young Master Ling Rui. I wonder if you dare to ask him,"Pockmarked said with a playful expression.
A few days prior, Ling Xiao had been beaten half to death solely because Ling Rui had insulted his parents, prompting Ling Xiao to fight back. Pockface and Dog Nose had been front-row spectators then, their status as Ling Rui's servants emboldening them to act with utter arrogance and utter contempt toward Ling Xiao.
"Looks like you two dog slaves won't learn until you see the coffin,"Ling Xiao said, his face darkening.
Mazi and Goubi showed no fear. Though servants, they were both Level 4 Martial Trainees. Facing Ling Xiao, a cripple, they considered themselves masters. Why would they fear him?
"Enough, Xiao'er. Let them be,"Meng Xiyun tugged at Ling Xiao's hand. She feared her son might act impulsively and risk injury again—a sight she dreaded witnessing.
"Mother, rest assured. Watch Xiao'er teach these two servants a lesson and vent your anger,"Ling Xiao pulled away from Meng Xiyun's grasp and slowly approached Pockface and Dognose.
"What do you think you're doing?"Pockmark took a step back. Though they despised the Ling Zhan family, they dared not defy their superiors. The Ling household enforced strict rules—any servant showing disrespect faced expulsion at best, execution at worst.
"Give me twenty gold coins within three counts, then get out!"Ling Xiao bellowed.
"We told you the gold isn't with us! Go ask the head steward if you think you can handle it!"Dog Nose interjected from the side.
"Three—"
"Let's go. Ignore him,"Pockmarked pulled Dog Nose by the sleeve.
"Two—"
The two ignored Ling Xiao and turned to leave. While they dared not defy their superiors, Ling Xiao couldn't do anything to them with their skills.
"Forget it, Xiao'er. Let's go back,"Meng Xiyun called from behind.
"One. Three counts have passed. You're courting death!"Ling Xiao roared, suddenly taking a step forward. In an instant, he caught up to Pockmarked Face and Dog Nose.
Both were fourth-level martial disciples. Ling Xiao's rear attack was immediately sensed, and they split apart.
"Flowing Water, Drifting Clouds!"Ling Xiao unleashed the first form of his Cloud-Sweeping Palm, striking toward Pockmarked.
Pockmarked gasped in shock. He hadn't expected Ling Xiao's attack to be so swift and tried desperately to dodge.
Alas, Ling Xiao moved with the blinding speed of "Cloud Traces, Phantom Shadows."How could Pockmarked possibly evade?
Ling Xiao's palm slammed heavily into Pockmarked's nose bridge.
Crack.
"Aah!"Ma Zi's nose was crushed by Ling Xiao's palm, sending him into a wretched scream as blood spurted from his nostrils.
Seeing Ma Zi crouch down, Ling Xiao kicked him again right where he was clutching his nose. Ma Zi screamed once more and collapsed to the ground.
"You... you dare strike someone? Don't you fear Young Master Rui?"Dog Nose couldn't believe Pockmarked had been beaten by this so-called "Meteor City's Number One Good-for-Nothing,"knocked out in just two moves. He quickly invoked his master's name, attempting to intimidate Ling Xiao.
"Hmph. I'll settle accounts with Ling Rui eventually. For now, I'll teach you two blind servants a lesson."Ling Xiao snorted coldly, his feet moving like the wind as he approached the still-dazed Dog Nose. He swept his leg up, landing a kick squarely on Dog Nose's crotch.
"Aaargh!"Dog Nose yelped, clutching his groin and hopping around in place.
The bastard actually went low!
Ling Xiao rendered both men incapacitated in mere moments, then began doling out punishment.
"You worthless scum! Spit out the gold coins!"Ling Xiao grabbed Dog Nose by the collar and landed two punches squarely on his eyes. Instantly, Dog Nose was transformed into a panda.
"I, I..."Dog Nose started to speak.
Ling Xiao grabbed his shoulders with both hands while simultaneously driving his knee upward with brutal force, smashing it into Dog Nose's groin—the very spot where his pants had been damaged earlier.
Dog Nose couldn't utter a word before the pain knocked him unconscious. His balls were probably shattered.
Ling Xiao turned and glared furiously at Pockmarked.
Pockmarked's heart sank with terror. He immediately whined, " Young Master Xiao, no, please stop hitting me! I'll give you twenty gold coins right now!"
"Fuck you!"Ling Xiao cursed, planting his foot squarely on Ma Zi's face.
The poor man's nose, already battered beyond repair, was now completely shattered. His face was covered in blood, his appearance utterly wretched—a far cry from his earlier arrogance.
Both Pockmarked and Dog Nose had passed out. Ling Xiao bent down, rummaged through their pockets, and pulled out two money pouches from each. Without checking the contents, he headed straight back to his doorstep.
At the doorway, Meng Xiyun stared in utter disbelief at her son, who had just displayed such formidable power. She couldn't fathom how her own child had knocked out two Fourth-Tier Martial Trainees in mere moments.
"Mother, let's go inside. Don't let the sight of these two dog slaves sully your eyes,"Ling Xiao said, pulling Meng Xiyun back to the door before turning to lock it.
Ling Xiao shoved one money pouch into Meng Xiyun's hands, kept the other for himself, and headed straight back to his room.
Meng Xiyun clutched both pouches, still dazed as she watched her son's slender figure vanish from the doorway.
Back in his room, Ling Xiao tossed the pouches aside, flicking his wrists repeatedly as he muttered, " Damn it, just two punches and my hands hurt. This body's as fragile as a reed. Good thing I struck first—otherwise, I might not have been able to cripple those two dog slaves."
Earlier, Ling Xiao had deliberately chosen his targets. Having only opened one meridian and regained a fraction of an ordinary person's strength, he'd wisely opted for preemptive strikes, focusing solely on his opponents' most vulnerable points.
For anyone, the nose is always the most vulnerable spot. Even a light punch can be unbearable for martial artists. Thus, after Ling Xiao's two strikes, the scarred man was in too much pain to retaliate. The dog-nosed one fared even worse. The "little chicken"is the most vital spot for any man. Ling Xiao struck viciously, crippling his "little chicken,"aiming to intimidate the scarred man. Though Ma Zi's nose was injured, if he dared fight back desperately, Ling Xiao might not have been his match. Fortunately, Ma Zi dared not defy his superior and was further intimidated by Ling Xiao's methods, allowing Ling Xiao to subdue both men in one fell swoop.
After his morning exercise and dealing with two more servants, Ling Xiao was drenched in sweat. He quickly fetched a bucket of water to bathe.
After bathing, Ling Xiao resumed meditation in his room, striving to open the second meridian as swiftly as possible. He anticipated that his punishment of the two dog-like servants would provoke retaliation from their master. Thus, every second counted. Once all twelve primary meridians were fully opened and his internal energy condensed, he would fear no provocation.
Growing stronger was now his paramount mission!