Huo Qiyuan saw men outside the door, all scantily clad and sweating profusely. He waved to Leng Ren and the others behind him, signaling them to assess the situation before making any rash moves.
The shopkeeper, upon hearing the man's words, turned deathly pale. This was truly trouble! He frantically waved his hands, trying to defend himself, but his words came out stammeringly.
"No! No! Gong Ye, how would I dare? They... they... don't understand the rules, I... I also..."
The man addressed as Gong Ye pushed his way into the backyard. "Enough! Don't tell me all that. Save it for young master Qi to hear! And you few, accompany us to the front."
Entering the backyard, the man immediately saw the shopkeeper's wife and mother, who were holding the little girl tightly, their faces filled with fear. The little girl was clutching a string of candy that Su Muqing had just given her, looking timidly at the approaching figures.
Seeing this, the shopkeeper's heart jolted. He quickly followed, spreading his arms to shield his wife, mother, and daughter. Gong Ye swaggered up, shoved the shopkeeper, making him stagger, and then, in their terrified gazes, forcefully snatched the candy from the little girl's hands.
The little girl clung tightly to the candy, refusing to let go. The man hadn't expected her to have such strength. With a strong tug, the candy broke, and the little girl, startled, burst into tears.
Leng Nuo couldn't stand it any longer. She flew up and kicked Gong Ye in the face, sending him flying several meters. She then hurled insults at him, "You even snatch things from a child, have you no shame?"
The ruffians behind the man gaped, staring blankly at the flying figure for a long time. As they came to their senses, someone called out Gong Ye's name, and they rushed to help him up. They never imagined that these outsiders would be so bold, daring to lay hands on someone with so many of them present!
"Gong Ye!"
"Big Brother!"
"Big Brother, are you alright?"
"Flow... Big Brother is bleeding..."
"Heavens! Big Brother, your teeth..."
The shopkeeper also hadn't expected that Su Muqing's group would make the first move. Gong Ye was a notorious thug in Yong'an Town, sticking to people like glue, impossible to shake off. After being beaten like this today, the feud had just escalated.
Seeing his frightened wife and mother, and his daughter crying inconsolably, the shopkeeper got up and scurried to shield them, his gaze towards the others filled with dread and helplessness. With things having escalated to this point, how would it all end?
Looking at the blood-splattered man and the large shoe print on his face, the minor ruffians gasped. How much force was in that kick to leave him looking like this?
Gong Ye stumbled a few times before he could stand on his own. Then, with the help of others, he finally got to his feet. He shook his dazed head, feeling a sense of dizziness, unable to distinguish north from south.
"Pah, pah, pah! What... what is this? Where... where is it bleeding?" Gong Ye spat out a mouthful of bloody water, revealing several yellowish-white teeth lying within.
His henchmen looked at the large, dark hole where his front teeth had been, their speech becoming slurred. His lips also began to swell at a visible rate.
One subordinate, with a missing screw in his head, impudently pursed his lips and asked him, "Big Brother, your mouth... does your mouth hurt?"
Gong Ye had regained some clarity by this time, and the searing pain in his mouth seemed to activate along with his mind, becoming acutely clear.
Seeing the ugly face shoved close to his eyes, he fiercely slapped the subordinate, the force of the blow spinning the man around.
"You damn bastard, you ask if it hurts! I'll beat you a few times, and then you'll know!"
Gong Ye cursed with slurred words, his slaps growing heavier each time, making the subordinate yelp and scramble to avoid them.
"What are you all doing here? Don't you know young master Qi is waiting in the hall?" Since they hadn't appeared in the front hall, the young tyrant Qi had grown impatient and dispatched a thug-like man to check on the situation in the backyard.
The subordinate, being beaten by Gong Ye, scurried for cover but still managed to report to the newcomer, "Brother Li, these people hit Gong Ye, and knocked out several of his teeth!"
"What? You dare to lay hands on him! I think you're tired of living!" Brother Li yelled, rolling up his sleeves, ready to throw down.
However, upon seeing the large shoe print on Gong Ye's face, the swollen, unrecognizable mouth, and the dark, empty space where his front teeth had been, Brother Li shivered and rolled his sleeves back down.
"What are you all standing around for? Surround them! Since these people are so uncooperative, give them a proper welcome." Brother Li beckoned to many people, encircling Su Muqing and her companions.
These people were clearly well-fed and cared for, at least not starving. While the common folk outside were thin and weak, these men, though not exactly fat, appeared much more robust than the average villager.
The once spacious small courtyard became cramped with the addition of twenty to thirty burly men, on top of those already present.
Seeing so many of his men arrive, Brother Li suddenly felt emboldened. He rolled up his sleeves again and stepped forward, looking at the "pretty boys" before him with disdain.
He surveyed everyone, momentarily stunned by the faces of Su Muqing and Huo Qiyuan, marveling that such exquisite individuals could exist in this world.
Although Su Muqing had taken steps to disguise herself when going out, her natural beauty meant she couldn't be made truly ugly no matter how she dressed. Sensing the man's somewhat lecherous gaze, Huo Qiyuan unhappily moved Su Muqing behind him and fixed Brother Li with an extremely cold stare.
Brother Li felt a chill run down his spine under Huo Qiyuan's icy gaze, and he reluctantly averted his eyes. He then felt indignant. They were just outsiders, and with so many of their people here, even if it was five against one, they could still handle these people. What was there to be afraid of!
He smirked arrogantly, waving his hand to his own men with what he thought was a cool demeanor. "Go on! Teach them a good lesson and show them Yong'an Town's hospitality!"