His Primordial Stones were completely gone. Lin Yun walked down the street, his face a picture of dejection. ’Great, now I have to start worrying about Primordial Stones all over again...’

"HOOT HOOT HOOT..." In contrast to Lin Yun’s dejection, Little Ape seemed quite relaxed. It dangled from Lin Yun’s shoulder, swaying back and forth and looking around curiously.

"Hey, Little Ape, can’t you have a little sense of crisis? We’re broke," Lin Yun said in a low voice.

However, Little Ape showed no reaction to Lin Yun’s words, still looking as carefree and cheerful as ever. It was as if having Primordial Stones was a problem for Lin Yun, and Lin Yun alone.

"Damn it, Little Ape! No Primordial Stones means no food for you," Lin Yun cursed before continuing.

Sure enough, the moment it heard "no food," Little Ape’s expression turned solemn. It seemed the prospect of missing a meal was completely unacceptable to it.

Man and ape fell into a shared state of dejection. Just then, a commotion broke out not far away.

"Young Master Qin, please! My daughter is still so young, you can’t do this!"

"Bah! Scram! If I want her, she’s mine! You dare to stand in my way, you old bastard? Are you looking to die?"

Following the sound, Lin Yun saw a young man kicking and punching a white-haired old man. Beside them, a terrified girl of about fifteen or sixteen stood with tears streaming down her face.

The young man was a Martial Artist, and judging by his aura, he was around the Seventh Layer of the Opening Realm. The old man, however, had no cultivation whatsoever. Lin Yun wasn’t some bleeding-heart do-gooder, but since he’d seen it, he felt he had to do something.

"Stop," Lin Yun commanded, pushing through the crowd to stand before the young man.

Hearing this, the young man sneered at Lin Yun. When he saw that Lin Yun’s cultivation was only at the Fifth Layer of the Opening Realm, his arrogance intensified.

"Well, well. Someone here actually dares to meddle in my business. Looks like you’ve got a death wish," the young man said arrogantly.

The young man’s full name was Qin Tian, and he was the young master of the Qin Family, the top family in this small town. In a town of only a few tens of thousands, the Qin Family reigned supreme, backed by two powerful Qi Sea Realm experts.

Lin Yun didn’t know Qin Tian’s identity, but even if he had, he wouldn’t have cared. ’I wasn’t even afraid of two major powers, so why would I fear this petty little Qin Family?’

"Kid, our young master asked you a question! Are you deaf?" one of the two guards behind Qin Tian barked when Lin Yun didn’t respond.

At these words, the corners of Lin Yun’s mouth curled into a wicked smile. He had already guessed from Qin Tian’s attire that he was the scion of some prominent family. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

’Perfect. I’m out of Primordial Stones right now.’ When it came to dealing with local thugs, Lin Yun never held back, and his conscience wouldn’t feel a thing.

"Hmph! I just don’t like the look of you. What are you going to do about it?" With this thought, Lin Yun put on the air of an arrogant fop, looking even more conceited than Qin Feng had.

"Well, well, I can’t believe it. Someone’s actually more arrogant than me. We’ll see what you have to be so arrogant about in a minute," Qin Tian said mockingly. As he spoke, his two guards moved to block Lin Yun’s escape. Both were Martial Artists at the Ninth Layer of the Opening Realm.

"Sigh... He’s offended Qin Tian. That kid is doomed."

"What a pity. Such a kind-hearted young man, ruined just like that." Watching the scene unfold, many townspeople sighed. Qin Tian’s infamous reputation was known to all, and thanks to the Qin Family’s doting, he was utterly lawless in this town.

When dealing with spoiled young masters, Lin Yun’s method was simple: beat them. ’If you don’t give them a good thrashing, these brats will never learn to listen.’ So, ignoring the sighs from the crowd, Lin Yun made the first move.

"Kid, you dare strike first? Kill him for me!" Qin Tian roared furiously when he saw Lin Yun attack.

The two guards leaped forward, launching a pincer attack on Lin Yun. However, he felt no pressure at all. Despite their Cultivation at the Ninth Layer of the Opening Realm, their Combat Power was inferior to even a Seventh Layer of Opening Martial Artist from Mysterious City.

These men were used to bullying the weak and fearing the strong; they had zero real combat experience. They didn’t even use a Martial Skill. Lin Yun easily dodged their attack, and then—SLAP! SLAP!—two sharp sounds echoed as he slapped both of them across the face.

"All show and no substance," he muttered, shaking his head. Their combat experience was pathetic. Unlike the Martial Artists in the Land of Chaos that was Mysterious City, each of whom had been through life-and-death struggles, their Combat Power was far superior.

Having been slapped in the very first exchange, the two guards were furious. If they lost face in front of Qin Tian, their lives would be miserable when they returned to the family.

"You’re dead, kid! If we don’t tear you limb from limb today—" they roared, charging forward again. But before they could finish, Lin Yun’s palms landed squarely on their faces once more.

"Damn it! This is for talking so much! This is for bullying the weak! This is for talking back to me! And this is for having such punchable faces!" Lin Yun cursed, slapping them repeatedly with every word.

To the onlookers, the scene was utterly bizarre. Qin Tian’s two infamous guards were being continuously slapped by a plain-looking young man.

Of course, Lin Yun was using his Disguise Technique. His current appearance was completely ordinary—the kind of face you wouldn’t look at twice in a crowd, a world of difference from his usual handsome features.

"You... you stay away..." After dozens of slaps, the two guards’ faces were swollen like pigs’ heads, and they had spat out several bloody teeth.

After finishing with the two guards, Lin Yun ignored them. They weren’t worth his attention. It was time for the real business at hand—the crucial matter of whether he and Little Ape would get to eat.

He walked step by step toward Qin Tian. Having witnessed Lin Yun’s ferocity, the terrified Qin Tian backed away. His two guards had been dealt with in a flash. Qin Tian wasn’t a fool; he knew he was no match for Lin Yun and didn’t even have the strength to fight back.

"Stand still!" Lin Yun roared. Qin Tian instantly froze as if he’d been electrocuted, standing ramrod straight.

"Very good," Lin Yun said, looking at Qin Tian with a wide smile. "Now, let’s discuss the matter of compensation."

"Compensation? N-no! Hero! Young Master! I don’t need any compensation," Qin Tian stammered, thinking Lin Yun intended to compensate him.

Hearing this, Lin Yun could feel his face darkening with exasperation. ’Has this idiot never even left town? He has absolutely no life experience.’

"Listen carefully. You are going to compensate me," Lin Yun said, feeling he had no choice but to spell it out.

"Me, compensate you? Why? You’re the one who beat up my guards! On what grounds should I have to compensate you?"

"Are you asking for another beating?" Hearing Qin Tian’s retort, Lin Yun immediately slapped him across the face.

"Your guards hit my hand with their faces, and now my hand really hurts. So tell me, how are you going to compensate me?" Lin Yun said, his expression completely straight. Hearing this, everyone—from Qin Tian to the townspeople—nearly fell over in shock. ’Who in the world hits someone’s hand with their face?!’