"Who dares lay a hand on this young master's people?" Lei Ting bellowed in rage, snatching up a clod of dirt and hurling it straight at Angus.
The miserly landlord yelped and jumped back, his face paling as he turned to see Lei Ting, his hair practically standing on end with fury.
Lei Ting was beyond furious. The memories flooding from Colin's mind stoked his anger, and now this scoundrel thought he could buy Tifa for a measly five gold coins? If there'd been a brick nearby, Lei Ting would've smashed it over his head already.
"Colin, you brat!" Angus snarled, baring his teeth. "Didn't get enough of a beating the other day? Crawling back for more? Don't think your dead baron father can protect you now! You're no noble anymore!"
"Young master!" Tifa clutched her contract, tears streaming down her face as she tried to kneel before Lei Ting. He yanked her up roughly. "Young master, Tifa won't be able to serve you anymore. Please remember to eat, wear warm clothes when it's cold, and don't punch the wall when you're angry—it's bad for you!"
"Shut it. Who said anything about selling you?" Lei Ting glared at her and shoved her behind him.
"Hmph." Angus sneered. "Brat, whether you sell her or not isn't up to you today! Besides, five gold coins is a fortune for the likes of you!"
The bodyguards burst into mocking laughter, their eyes full of disdain.
"Last warning. Anyone who touches my people leaves here carried out—horizontally!"
Angus poked his fat head out from behind his men, snarling, "Kid, if you don't scram, I won't hold back. My boys here already gave you a taste last time. Today, we'll break your legs!"
Uncle Oak staggered up from the ground, his wrinkled face flushed red as he brandished a stick. "Who dares lay a finger on my young master?"
"Uncle, stand down!" Lei Ting pulled the old man behind him, facing Angus and his thugs alone.
"Beat them! Break every bone in their bodies!" Angus shoved his men forward, spitting with rage. "Tifa, you're mine today—and not a single coin for you!"
The burly guards charged. Lei Ting stepped forward to meet them, while Oak and Tifa watched with bated breath.
One guard swung a massive fist at Lei Ting's head. Lei Ting ducked smoothly and swept a kick at the man's ankle.
As a former disciple of the Dragon-Tiger Sect's Talisman branch, he knew a thing or two about combat.
The kick was perfectly placed. The towering guard lost his balance and face-planted into the dirt.
Lei Ting's foot throbbed in pain.
"Forgot this isn't my old body," he muttered. His original form had been destroyed, and with it, his cultivation. Now, all he had was the vast magical energy within him.
The sudden turn of events shocked Angus and his men. Just days ago, this kid couldn't fight back at all. Now, he'd taken one down in a single move?
With furious roars, the guards surrounded Lei Ting, attacking from all sides. Lei Ting dodged and weaved, relying on his refined footwork to evade their blows. When he couldn't, he used their momentum to trip them.
Oak and Tifa watched in disbelief. Despite the chaos, their young master wasn't just holding his own—he was toying with them.
Angus screamed insults, calling his men "dumber than Razorboars," only fueling their rage.
Lei Ting knew he couldn't keep this up. His body was drenched in sweat, his lungs burning. This weak, untrained form was nothing like his old one. If this dragged on, he'd collapse from exhaustion before they even landed a hit.
"Stop!" Lei Ting roared, leaping back as the guards hesitated.
Angus smirked. "Scared now, brat? Apologize to your granddaddy here, hand over Tifa, and maybe I'll let you crawl away."
Lei Ting ignored him, discreetly pulling out three talismans from his robe—his last resort.
Back in the sect, his skill had only allowed him to master one type of talisman: the Five-Light Divine Thunder Seal. A single-target attack spell, lethal to ordinary men. It was the same technique that had shattered the Ancestor's barrier. Back then, he'd loved blasting the same spot over and over.
But would it work now? Magic and spiritual energy shared the same origin, so theoretically, yes.
Even if he won this brawl, it wouldn't be enough to scare off Angus for good. Only the title of a mage—the unspoken nobility—could ensure Tifa's safety.
With a flick of his wrist, he channeled the magic within him and aimed at the ground before Angus. Years of practice made the activation effortless.
**BOOM!**
A thunderclap split the air, a bolt of lightning as thick as a serpent striking the ground before Angus. The blinding flash sent the landlord tumbling backward, his face white with terror.
The effect was beyond Lei Ting's expectations. Even the guards trembled like leaves.
Back in his prime, he'd never achieved this level of power. The vast magic from the Spirit-Suppressing Pearl wasn't just usable—it amplified the talisman's strength.
"Ah—ah—!" Angus scrambled back like a crab, his vision still blurred from the searing light. The fear of magic had rooted itself deep in his heart.
**BOOM!**
Another bolt struck before the guards, blasting a crater into the earth. They dropped to their knees, begging for mercy.
"Young Master Colin, I was wrong! Spare me, please!" Angus wailed, the stench of urine rising from his robes.
Against a noble mage, ordinary men stood no chance.
"Get out! If I see you again—" Lei Ting didn't finish the threat.
The guards didn't wait. They hauled Angus up and bolted like rats fleeing a sinking ship.
Turning back, Lei Ting saw Oak and Tifa staring at him, their eyes shining with awe.
"Told you. Young master's 'Shiver-in-Fear Golden Lightning Talisman.' Believe me now?"
Tifa nodded vigorously.
Will Angus return with a deadlier scheme?