The sergeants watching the scene just laughed and remained indifferent. For them, it was nothing more than a moment's amusement, the death of one person hardly mattering to them.
The innocent vendors, unable to bear the sight, turned away, their hearts heavy with sadness. These were the people of the Zhou Dynasty, and instead of being protected, they were being bullied by their own soldiers.
A young man with a sense of justice clenched his fists in frustration. Yet, the overwhelming strength of the imperial guards made him despair. What could he do? Standing up now would only lead to his own death. They were just ordinary people, after all. Who cared about the lives of mere ants?
Just as the situation was about to turn more tragic, an angry voice suddenly cut through the air from the end of the street.
"Damn it! Are you really a general of the Zhou Dynasty? Why are you bullying an innocent old man?"
Everyone was momentarily stunned by the unexpected outburst before quickly moving aside.
A slender and defiant girl, clad in tight leather armor, strode towards the scene with a look of fury.
"Heh!" The veteran Youzi laughed derisively, ignoring the girl's reprimand. His cruel actions continued unabated.
But the girl's nimble form suddenly appeared directly in front of Youzi, as if by teleportation.
"Move away!" she shouted, slamming her palm into her chest.
"Bang!"
To Youzi, it felt like a sledgehammer had struck his chest. Before he could react, he was sent flying.
"Boom!"
"Crack!"
The force of the girl's strike caused Youzi's chest to collapse several centimeters, breaking his sternum.
"Hiss..." Youzi collapsed heavily to the ground and lost consciousness almost immediately.
The soldiers watching finally reacted, their expressions shifting from indifference to alarm. The girl, still in an aggressive stance, now seemed like a formidable opponent.
"Enemy attack!"
"Swish, swish, swish..."
In an instant, countless weapons were pointed at the girl, and a ring of soldiers closed in around her.
Despite being surrounded, the girl remained calm, her eyes filled with disdain.
"Humph! What a den of snakes and rats!"
"A bunch of scum!"
"Old man, are you okay?"
The girl's concern for the old man was evident despite the threatening situation.
"I... I'm fine, just... ugh!"
"Girl, you've gotten yourself into trouble for standing up for me!" The old man, fearful of the soldiers, admired her bravery, though he worried about the consequences.
More soldiers gathered, and upon seeing the girl's beauty, they leered with malicious intent.
"Damn, catch her alive! It's been ages since I've seen such a beautiful woman!"
"Haha! Don't worry, brothers. We'll each have our turn with her!"
"I'm so eager!"
"I'm the captain here. I'll have my fun first!"
The girl's face grew colder with each lascivious remark from the soldiers.
"Old man, don't worry!" She spoke with resolve. "I don't believe there's anyone in Beiyang City who can harm me!"
The soldiers, dismissing her as a mere Martial King, underestimated her. They thought that even if the King of Heaven came, they would still be able to capture and ravage her. Their arrogance was palpable.
As the soldiers grew bolder, the girl's anger surged. Her temper, once controlled, now flared violently.
The veterans, seeing her growing fury, were more determined to subdue her. But the next moment, their laughter stopped abruptly.
A powerful aura suddenly surged from the direction of the Beiyang City Lord's Mansion.
"Whoosh!"
A tall figure, surrounded by a radiant light, rushed toward them.
"Hmph! Who dares to challenge my daughter?" The voice, imbued with holy power, arrived before the figure itself.
"Bang!"
"Bang bang!"
The once-arrogant veterans fell to their knees instantly, their faces contorted with fear and cold sweat pouring from their brows. The pressure was so overwhelming that some with lower cultivation levels vomited blood and fainted.
"Ahhh!"
Even Martial Kings and Martial Emperors struggled under the immense pressure. With terror in their hearts, they raised their heads to see the newcomer.
The figure revealed was a middle-aged man of average appearance, but his presence was anything but ordinary. Despite his unremarkable looks, his imposing aura made it clear that he was a peak half-saint.
The soldiers' hearts sank with the realization that they had provoked a formidable semi-saint.