C4 It Was Just a Dog!

"Xiaoxia, go ahead and get some rest. I need to delve deeper into this cultivation technique," Ye Xiaoyun told Ye Xiaoxia.

"Alright, then make sure you don't stay up too late, Young Master. I'll head out now," Ye Xiaoxia replied before stepping out of the room.

With Ye Xiaoxia gone, Ye Xiaoyun resumed his seated cultivation, tuning into the Qi swirling in his Dantian. The Holy Dragon Heart Arts activated, voraciously drawing in the spiritual energy from the environment.

Ye Xiaoyun exhaled sharply as he opened his eyes and rose to his feet, sensing the transformation within himself.

"The spirit medicine I've been taking for years is now three parts refined. A few more days of cultivation, and I'll be ready for another breakthrough," he murmured to himself.

"What's the significance of the Nine-clawed Silver Holy Dragon? It's quite peculiar," Ye Xiaoyun pondered aloud, recalling the information that had flashed through his mind.

His thoughts then shifted to the Holy Dragon Battle Technique, a formidable array of Heart Arts, combat, and movement skills, each more potent than the last.

On the continent, martial skills were categorized as Human Rank, Earth Rank, and Heaven Rank, each with its own subdivisions.

Yet, the martial skills within the Holy Dragon Battle Technique were of such depth that they might surpass even those of the Heaven Rank. This cultivation method knew no bounds; as the practitioner's level advanced, so too would the might of the martial skills.

"I'm not yet capable of mastering these martial skills with my current level of cultivation. In a few days, I'll request some Human Rank martial skills from my father to practice," Ye Xiaoyun said to himself.

"It's well into the night; time to get some sleep." With that, he closed his eyes and lay down to rest.

As dawn broke the next morning, the sun crept up, casting a gentle warmth over the moist air and the dew-kissed grass.

"Time to rise and shine," Ye Xiaoyun murmured, dressing himself and fetching a basin of water to wash his face. Though Xiaoxia was there to assist him, he cherished her deeply and preferred not to burden her with too many chores.

Reflecting on the previous day's training, Ye Xiaoyun noticed not just an increase in his cultivation but also a significant enhancement in his physical strength. The injury on his right shoulder had fully healed, leaving not a trace behind.

Compared to the average Martial Cultivator at Rank Five, Ye Xiaoyun was significantly stronger. With his physical prowess alone, he was nearing the level of a Rank Seven Martial Cultivator.

Stepping outside, Ye Xiaoyun took a deep breath of the fresh air.

"Hey, Xiaoxia, off to bring breakfast to that waste of a young master again?" Ye Xiaoxia was confronted by someone as she carried breakfast to Ye Xiaoyun's quarters.

"What did you just say? Who are you calling a waste?!" Ye Xiaoxia snapped back, recognizing the person as Ye Han's lackey, Ye Gao, a servant of the Ye family. He had been there when Ye Han had tormented Ye Xiaoyun the day before.

"Oh, what's the matter? Am I wrong? Ye Xiaoyun is nothing but trash. Five years and not even past the first rank of Martial Cultivator. He's beneath me. If it weren't for his status as the young master, I'd teach him a lesson myself for being so brazen around Brother Ye Han," Ye Gao taunted.

Ye Xiaoxia was too furious to respond. She tried to leave, but Ye Gao was clearly intent on harassing her, deliberately blocking her way.

"Move it!" Ye Xiaoxia demanded, clearly incensed.

"And what if I don't? You should stop wasting your time on that trash young master and serve Young Master Ye Han with me instead. With your looks, if Young Master Ye Han took a fancy to you, you'd be set for life. Hahaha!" Ye Gao jeered, his laughter echoing.

"In your dreams!" Ye Xiaoxia retorted through clenched teeth.

"Just like your pathetic master, no strength yet too stubborn to admit it! You're just someone who'd rather suffer than lose face!" Ye Gao sneered before seizing Ye Xiaoxia's wrist.

"Ow! That hurts! Let go of me!" Ye Xiaoxia cried out in pain from Ye Gao's grip.

"You won't learn your lesson without a little pain! Blame your worthless young master for this! Hahaha!" Ye Gao bellowed with laughter.

Ye Xiaoxia's hand was painfully gripped by Ye Gao, rendering her unable to hold onto anything. The breakfast she had prepared for Ye Xiaoyun lay scattered on the ground.

"What are you doing? Release me!" A voice suddenly cut through the air.

Ye Gao turned toward the source of the voice and saw the so-called 'trash' he often mocked, Ye Xiaoyun himself.

"Well, if it isn't Young Master Xiaoyun. To what do we owe the pleasure?" Ye Gao said, his face breaking into a mocking grin.

"I said let go. Are you deaf?" Ye Xiaoyun replied, clearly not in the mood for games.

"Fine, fine, as you wish, young master," Ye Gao sneered, releasing Ye Xiaoxia's hand.

Ye Xiaoxia, now free, immediately collapsed into Ye Xiaoyun's embrace, sobbing uncontrollably.

Ye Xiaoyun gently lifted her arm, noting the redness and swelling at her wrist. Seeing her in such pain and crying in his arms, he couldn't help but feel a surge of protectiveness.

"Don't you think you've gone too far?" Ye Xiaoyun's brow furrowed, his voice icy.

"Too far? I don't think so. And even if it is, what can you do about it? You're just a useless trash. Can you even help her? Hahahaha," Ye Gao taunted, laughing boisterously.

"Careful with your words. Take them back now, or not even Ye Han will be able to protect you," Ye Xiaoyun warned.

"Oh, I'm trembling with fear! What could you possibly do to me, Young Master Xiaoyun?" Ye Gao retorted, his face full of defiance.

"Let's settle this with a challenge. If I win, you'll apologize to Xiaoxia. If I lose, you can deal with me as you see fit," Ye Xiaoyun proposed.

"What? Did I hear that right? You want to challenge me? Hahahaha, you must be out of your mind," Ye Gao laughed in disbelief.

"Enough talk. Are you in or are you out?" Ye Xiaoyun pressed.

"Alright, alright, let's do this. I'll show you what a real gap looks like!" Ye Gao accepted the challenge without hesitation.

"Xiaoxia, just watch from the side. I'm going to get revenge for you," Ye Xiaoyun reassured Ye Xiaoxia.

"Master Xiaoyun, please be cautious," Ye Xiaoxia cautioned.

Ye Gao may have been a servant in the Ye family, but after years of following Ye Han, his martial skills had certainly improved. Now at Martial Cultivator Rank Five, he was someone Ye Xiaoyun couldn't have beaten in the past. But times have changed. Ye Xiaoyun was also at Rank Five, with combat abilities nearing Rank Seven!

"Go ahead, make the first move. I wouldn't want you to accuse me of bullying later," Ye Gao said with full confidence.

"Why don't you start? I'm worried that you won't be able to stand up again after I strike," Ye Xiaoyun taunted.

"Fine! Today, I'll show you the true strength of a Martial Cultivator!" Ye Gao declared, exuding the energy of a fifth-stage Martial Cultivator.

With a shout, Ye Gao launched a punch at Ye Xiaoyun, thinking, "This will surely fracture your bones!"

But Ye Xiaoyun effortlessly sidestepped.

"Impossible!" Ye Gao exclaimed, unable to believe that Ye Xiaoyun could dodge his punch.

"It has to be a fluke!" Unconvinced, Ye Gao launched another punch with all his might.

Thud! Ye Xiaoyun's palm met Ye Gao's punch head-on, showing no sign of strain.

"How can this be!" Stunned by the turn of events, Ye Gao was at a loss for words.

"You were the one who pinched Xiaoxia's wrist with this hand, weren't you?" Ye Xiaoyun inquired before suddenly gripping Ye Gao's fist tightly.

"Ah! Stop! Please, stop! Let go! Ah!" Ye Gao cried out, feeling his fist being crushed.

"Have you admitted defeat?" Ye Xiaoyun inquired.

"I admit it! I'm defeated! Please, release me, Master Xiaoyun! Ah!" Ye Gao howled in pain.

"Now, kneel and apologize!" Ye Xiaoyun commanded, releasing his grip.

With a thud, Ye Gao dropped to his knees, bowing deeply three times to Ye Xiaoyun and Ye Xiaoxia. He then pleaded, "Young Master, I was wrong! I admit my mistake!"

"Do you even know your place?" Ye Xiaoyun inquired.

"I do! I do!" Ye Gao frantically bobbed his head in agreement.

"Good. You're nothing more than Ye Han's lapdog. You have no right to speak to me in such a manner, nor to trouble my maid. Got it?" Ye Xiaoyun added.

"Clean up the food on the floor. And remember, don't let anything go to waste next time! Understand? If there is a next time, you'll be licking it up!" Ye Xiaoyun warned sternly.

"Absolutely no next time! There won't be a next time!" Ye Gao assured him.