"Get lost!"
Nina Pei saw the vicious dog pounce at her. Her face turned pale, but she didn't hesitate—she spun around and kicked the mid-air beast, sending it flying.
But more vicious dogs followed, one after another, lunging at Nina Pei and Claire Sheng—five in a row, jaws wide, teeth bared, eyes cold and menacing. Nina was so terrified she froze on the spot.
In the blink of an eye, five dogs were upon them, about to drag Nina Pei and Claire Sheng to the ground for a savage mauling.
Whoosh.
A sound sliced through the air.
A knife shot across the room, its blade instantly piercing all five airborne dogs. With a whimper, they were sent flying toward the wall by the force of the impact.
Five dogs were skewered on a single blade, nailed dead to the wall. The knife sank deep, blood splattering everywhere.
The impaled dogs howled in agony, their organs ruptured. In moments, they fell silent, dead.
"Hm?"
Zuo He sat at the head seat, his gaze sharp as an eagle, locked onto Evan Lin.
Drake Huang's face was dark. His right hand tapped lightly on the armrest, eyes fixed on Evan Lin, killing intent growing stronger by the second.
"Mr. Huang, I may need to trouble you soon."
Zuo He didn't even turn his head, his voice steady and deep.
He trusted Drake Huang's strength. This time, Zuo He had spent a fortune to bring him back.
Drake Huang's reputation in River City was at its peak. For over ten years, no one had ever caused trouble at the Jared Qian Auction, all thanks to Drake holding down the fort.
Recently, there was a stir at the Jared Qian Auction, which Zuo He had heard about.
Word was, a young man had fought Drake Huang to a standstill.
The story spread widely among the upper circles, but it was the second matter that Zuo He cared about most.
That was Drake Huang's breakthrough.
Drake Huang had been stuck at the peak of the Inner Strength realm for years, never breaking through.
The Zuo family, as shareholders in the Jared Qian Auction, had heard about this.
Earlier, Drake Huang spent three years training in seclusion, trying to break through to the legendary separate Vajra stage. Instead, he ended up injuring his cultivation.
But after the recent battle, Drake Huang turned misfortune into fortune—he seemed to have stepped into the Vajra realm!
"This kid has incredible talent, but leaving him alive is a huge risk. Since you've given the order, Patriarch Zuo, I'll kill him right here."
Drake Huang nodded slightly.
"Mr. Huang, I heard your master is about to come out of seclusion?"
Hearing this, Zuo He felt a bit relieved. Remembering something, he asked the question.
"Yes, my master will emerge in a few months."
Drake Huang's tone was calm, but when he mentioned his master, genuine reverence flashed in his eyes.
"I've long heard that Master Mo Yang was once the number one in the Vajra realm. If he comes out of seclusion this time, his strength will surely be even greater. That story of him smashing a mountain with one punch is still legendary today."
Mentioning Mo Yang, Zuo He's aged face filled with longing and admiration.
True admiration—for strength.
"When Master comes out this time, it won't just be about Vajra anymore. Back when he guided my cultivation, just a few simple pointers gave me enough insight to meditate on for years. Only now am I starting to grasp it."
Drake Huang took a deep breath, recalling that man in his mind. Even now, having stepped into the Vajra realm, he couldn't help but sigh—his master was like a mountain, lofty and unreachable.
While they talked, on the other side Evan Lin casually chopped off a dog's head, expression unchanged. With a few simple strikes, he slaughtered all the dogs that pounced his way.
It was as easy as slicing fruit—each swing killed one, sometimes three dogs at once.
Just moments ago, the dogs were ferocious and snarling. Now, seeing their companions' mangled bodies on the floor, their bravado vanished. Whimpering, they stared at Evan and then scattered in terror.
The middle-aged man and woman, who'd been knocked away by Evan's finger flick, came to and saw the carnage—faces turning pale with horror.
Ivy Zhao clutched her mauled chest, lying on the ground, face deathly white and wracked with pain, as if she might die any second.
Allen Zeng's thigh had chunks of flesh bitten off—he'd already passed out from the pain.
The air was thick with the stench of blood.
Evan Lin tossed his knife aside, glanced coldly at the trembling Sisi Shao and the others, and said, "Still not leaving?"
To Sisi Shao and her group, Evan Lin looked like a demon king right now.
Even after slaughtering so many dogs, Evan's clothes were eerily spotless—not a drop of blood on him.
Hearing Evan's words, the terrified Thomas Zhao was the first to react. He crawled toward the door, bawling like a dog.
Sisi Shao and a few others dragged the two wounded classmates outside.
"Claire, let's go!"
Nina Pei was shaken by the scene, her voice trembling. But she stayed clear-headed enough to glance at Evan Lin, who stood tall and sharp. After a complicated look, she bit her lip, scooped up Claire Sheng, and carried her out the door.
"Aren't you leaving?"
Claire Sheng looked like a terrified porcelain doll, her face deathly pale. As she passed Evan Lin, she looked up and timidly asked:
"You go first. I'm fine."
Evan Lin nodded slightly to Claire Sheng, sighing inwardly—this little one was probably scared out of her wits.
Nina Pei bit her lip, glanced at Evan Lin, and whispered a thank you, then dragged Claire Sheng out by force.
The hall, now littered with bodies and dead dogs, felt suddenly empty.
"You're not leaving?"
Evan Lin strolled over to the memorial table, poured himself a cup of tea, and shot a playful look at Rachel Liu, who stood there biting her lip.
Rachel Liu was splattered with dog blood, still clutching a knife. She'd just killed her first guard dog, and now her pale arm trembled, eyes blank with shock.
Blood ran down Rachel Liu's neck, soaking into her collar—a mix of beauty and gore.
"I..."
Rachel Liu tried to speak, but her voice shook and no words came out. She stubbornly shook her head instead.
"Why bother?"
Evan Lin sneered, his eyes full of disdain.