Chapter Thirteen: The Arrogant Young Ruffian

On the way to Qingyang Town, the Howling Heaven Dog had just unleashed its Soul Howl, stunning a canine beast. The Golden-Eyed Eagle was also affected, and the Howling Heaven Dog was scolded by Jiang Yan through a spiritual communication technique. Now, the Howling Heaven Dog dared not bite Sun Yang. No matter how Yun Ying commanded, the dog merely barked at Sun Yang and circled Yun Ying, refusing to advance.

Watching Yun Ying try to direct her snowy white pup in circles, Sun Yang burst into hearty laughter. After laughing for quite some time, he strode quickly to Yun Ying, raised his hand, and shoved her to the ground. With a vicious snarl, he shouted, “You brat! Want your dog to bite me? Find a bigger one if you dare. If you try to sic your dog on me, I’ll drag you home and feed you to my family’s big black dog—see if you dare let your dog bite me again.”

“You two, come here and take this brat home. Bring her parents, too. How dare you sic a dog on me, I’ll show you what I’m capable of!” Still unsatisfied, Sun Yang turned and gave harsh orders to his servants behind him.

Two servants, each wearing a small cap, stepped forward grinning. The one on the right, with a sly, greasy face, laughed as he approached, saying, “Young Master, why bother with this little brat? If you get upset, the old master would surely be heartbroken. Leave it to me—I’ll drag her whole family here and make them pay.”

As the sly servant spoke, he reached down with the other servant to grab Yun Ying...

A low, mournful growl sounded by the sly servant’s ear. Suddenly, a white blur flashed before his eyes. Thinking of the white lapdog, he quickly withdrew his hand, but it was too late. The Howling Heaven Dog, a first-tier superior spirit beast able to contend with top-tier cultivators, easily dealt with mere servants.

With a cry, the sly servant clutched his bleeding wrist and collapsed onto the ground, wailing. The other servant, who had grabbed Yun Ying’s clothes, rolled on the ground, clutching his fingers. Nearby lay a severed finger—the Howling Heaven Dog had attacked in an instant, biting through one servant’s wrist and severing the other’s finger.

The Howling Heaven Dog growled low and threateningly, blood at its mouth, its white fur bristling. It sat majestically beside the now-seated Yun Ying, its snowy head fixed on the youth who had shoved its little master, ready to pounce at the slightest movement. The Golden-Eyed Eagle continued to sway its massive head, scanning the crowd.

“Ah! The dog bit someone!”

“Haha, the little girl’s white dog wounded a Sun family servant—now things will get interesting.”

“That girl’s family is doomed. Her dog dared bite a Sun family member.”

“Poor girl, poor child…”

The crowd erupted in shouts, some worried for Yun Ying, others eager for drama. In the eyes of Qingyang Town’s residents, Yun Ying’s fate seemed sealed—she had offended the Sun family’s young master, and her outcome would be tragic.

Sun Yang, likely unused to blood, stood stunned at the sight of his servants injured by the Howling Heaven Dog. After a moment, he came to his senses, berating himself for being intimidated by a little girl and her dog. With renewed rage, he jumped three feet high, hands on his hips, and pointed at Yun Ying, cursing, “You brat! Your nasty dog bit my servants—good! I’ll bury you, your dog, and your whole family. Somebody, kill that dog first!”

Yun Ying, pushed to the ground by Sun Yang, saw the Howling Heaven Dog’s martial prowess as it brought down two adults. She watched the servants rolling in pain and the severed finger nearby, frozen in terror, unable to move.

“Don’t be afraid, Junior Sister,” came a gentle voice at her ear. A warm arm wrapped around her and lifted her up. Looking up, Yun Ying saw her senior brother’s gentle smile—Jiang Yan had arrived, and seeing Yun Ying fallen, he tenderly picked her up.

Seeing her senior brother, all Yun Ying’s grievances surged forth, and she buried her head in Jiang Yan’s chest, sobbing loudly.

Jiang Yan comforted her softly, turning to glare coldly at Sun Yang, who was still shouting and cursing.

Worn out from yelling, Sun Yang finally stopped jumping and snarled at Jiang Yan, “You brat, how dare you glare at me! I’ll gouge your eyes out. Your sister’s stray dog bit my servants—I’ll bury your whole family!” Though he cursed viciously, a doubt crept in—would making the dog pay for it really be proper?

The sly servant, clutching his wrist, struggled up from the ground, his face twisted in pain. He growled, “Young Master, don’t let them off lightly—lock them up with Blackie and let Blackie tear them apart. These peasants dared offend you!”

Sun Yang, incited by his servant, grew even more arrogant. “Yes—let Blackie bite them all, tear them all to pieces!”

Just then, the portly Mr. Ning hurried out from the Ning family compound. Hearing Sun Yang’s rants, a flash of annoyance crossed his fat brow. He spat, “Sun brat, get out of here. Young Master Jiang is not someone you can provoke.”

Sun Yang was furious—this fat official, a town elder, sided with outsiders rather than his own townsfolk. His face reddened, but recalling how his father always treated Mr. Ning with deference, he dared not provoke him too far. Still, he refused to let the Howling Heaven Dog off for biting his servants.

“Mr. Ning, that girl’s dog bit my servants—it’s her fault. You can’t cover for them!” Sun Yang pointed to the servants writhing on the ground and appealed to Mr. Ning.

Mr. Ning hesitated. Everyone had seen Yun Ying’s white dog bite the Sun family’s thugs. As a town official, he couldn’t twist the truth, but with the immortal sect backing him, things were different.

He puffed out his belly impatiently and said to Sun Yang, “Listen, brat, I know what happened—you started it. It’s lucky I’m not punishing you. Stop pestering them and get lost!”

Sun Yang was livid—the girl’s dog had bitten his servants, something even he, notorious as he was, hadn’t dared do. Not only was Mr. Ning refusing to discipline her, he was taking the side of the ‘offender’. Sun Yang was never one to let things go, especially now that he had some justification.

“Fatty Ning, don’t think you can shield them. Their dog bit my servants—it’s their fault. If you cover for them, you’re not fit to be a town official. I’ll go to Dongping Prefecture and report you!” Sun Yang shouted loudly.

The sly servant echoed him, “The official is covering for guilty outsiders—we’ll report him to Dongping Prefecture and get him removed!”

A trace of smugness flickered across Mr. Ning’s chubby face. Whether he kept his position didn’t depend on Dongping Prefecture; as long as he clung to Young Master Jiang—the future sect leader—he’d be secure as Qingyang Town’s official. Hearing Sun Yang and his servant’s clamor, Mr. Ning laughed coldly, about to speak, when Jiang Yan waved his hand to stop him.

Jiang Yan, holding Yun Ying, turned toward the Ning family estate and walked in. “Sun Yang, you started this. If not for my young dog protecting its master, my junior sister would have been bullied. Your servants were bitten—let’s call it even. I won’t press charges for frightening my junior sister. Now, leave.”

Mr. Ning was momentarily confused, but relieved. Jiang Yan’s willingness not to pursue Sun Yang for frightening Yun Ying gave him a way out. After all, in public, Yun Ying’s dog had bitten Sun family servants—Jiang Yan’s choice not to pursue it meant Mr. Ning wouldn’t be accused of twisting justice.

Casting a cold glance at Sun Yang and his servant, Mr. Ning turned away. He’d been ready to arrest Sun Yang if Jiang Yan pressed the issue, knowing the town officials would eagerly curry favor with Young Master Jiang. Now, since Jiang Yan let it go, Sun Yang could leave.

Jiang Yan ascended the steps. The Howling Heaven Dog joyfully leaped several meters, landing atop the high steps, while the Golden-Eyed Eagle waddled up after.

Sun Yang’s thin face darkened like a soot-stained pot. That fat official was unafraid of losing his position, but Jiang Yan couldn’t just walk away. “You can’t leave! You must give me an explanation. Your nasty dog bit my servants—no matter what, you’re mostly at fault. You won’t pursue me, but I’ll pursue you! Fatty Ning may cover for you, but I won’t let wrongdoers go free. Today I demand an explanation—no one’s pleas will sway me, unless immortals from Mount Hua descend!”

Sun Yang’s arrogant shouts echoed before the Ning family mansion. Many townsfolk who knew Jiang Yan smiled quietly—wasn’t Young Master Jiang himself an immortal?

But Sun Yang, bellowing loudly, failed to notice the Golden-Eyed Eagle waddling up the steps behind him. Seeing someone blocking its way, the eagle moved forward...

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