Lee Vance panicked, grabbing Rowan's arm tightly. The Vances were martial artists—even Lee couldn't match them. For the once-waste Rowan to step in? It was suicide!
Lee clung desperately, refusing to let him intervene.
Seeing Lee's worry, Rowan's heart warmed. Lee Grant's words only solidified his resolve: "Rowan, this doesn't concern you—go. I don't want you hurt."
Rowan shook his head, a brilliant smile breaking through. He glanced at Lee Grant, then Lee Vance, and said, "Uncle Lee, Lee, stop fretting over me. This matter, I'm handling. The Vance family? To me, they're nothing."
The Vances were a family, but no match for the Miles behemoth. Rowan didn't plan to borrow Miles power—he'd settle this with his own strength.
"Ha, kid, who the hell are you?"
Vance Sea laughed at Rowan's dismissal of his family, but his voice dripped with killing intent.
"Don't worry—I'm not the old waste Rowan anymore." Rowan said seriously to Lee, shaking free and striding toward Vance Sea.
"Rowan Miles," he introduced calmly.
"Rowan Miles? That rings a bell. Oh, right—you're the Miles family's waste! Ha! A non-cultivating cripple meddling in this?"
Vance Sea sneered with contempt. "Since you're sticking your nose in, I can't play favorites, can I? Men, break this waste's limbs and toss him out."
At Vance Sea's command, two Vance retainers advanced, grinning maliciously as they reached for Rowan's shoulders.
Breaking limbs!
A cold killing intent flashed in Rowan's eyes. Vance Sea was vicious for his age—the Vances were no good sort.
"Kid, don't blame us—blame yourself for courting death." The burly men leered, their hands lunging faster.
To them, two martial artists ganging up on a waste was overkill.
But orders were orders—they'd kill if told.
Their hands closed in on Rowan's shoulders… Inside the inn, gasps from Lee Vance and Lee Grant rang out, full of dread.
The men grinned, accelerating their grasp—but suddenly, their hands halted.
"Hm?" The retainers froze, assuming another martial artist had intervened. But no—it was the waste Rowan, clutching their fists.
Shock hit, then fury.
A martial artist grabbed by a waste? Humiliating! They roared, surging power to shatter his grip.
But their fists wouldn't budge. Rowan's hands felt like twin mountains, immovable.
Panic set in—they'd met a master.
This "youthful waste" was no cripple—a martial expert! Acquired fifth level, yet he restrained them effortlessly.
Their cultivation was at least superior.
The men growled, swinging their free fists at Rowan's head.
Rowan's eyes turned icy. With a snort, he shook his arms, swinging the men like ragdolls.
Bang! Bang!
They slammed into the ground with earth-shaking thuds. The hard floor cracked under the force.
The Acquired fifth-level warriors were left dazed, heads ringing.
The room fell silent, everyone stunned.
What was this? Rowan, the legendary waste, so ferocious? Those two were Acquired fifth-level—strong, yet crumbling before him?
Lee Vance gaped, eyes sparkling with thrill.
"Uncle Lee, Lee—which hand or foot did they use on you?"
"Left hand." "Right foot." "Right hand." "Left foot."
Lee Grant, Lee Vance, and the inn staff answered in unison.
Rowan's eyes chilled. "Good—hands and feet all used. You've bullied plenty with them, haven't you? Then today, I'll break them all."
Striding forward, he stomped on one man's thigh.
Ah!
A wail pierced the air, mingled with a bone-crack, sending chills through the listeners—fear and awe.
Rowan's face remained impassive as he stomped repeatedly. In moments, snaps echoed like fireworks, followed by the men's agonized screams.
"Noisy!"
Irritated by the cries, Rowan frowned and kicked twice, sending the pair flying.
The inn fell quiet.
"What? Staring like I'm a monster?" Rowan dusted his hands, suddenly laughing. The killing aura vanished like mist in spring wind.
"This… Rowan, when did you get so fierce?" Lee Vance slapped his jaw shut, then bounded over, yelping in excitement.
Lee Grant stared, equally shocked.
Rowan chuckled. "Sorry, I haven't had time to tell you—I'm not the old waste anymore."
"You rascal." Lee Vance laughed heartily, genuinely thrilled for his friend.
"You… you waste, you crippled my men—you're dead!" Vance Sea had stood frozen since the takedown, shock turning to terror in his eyes.
At the voice, Rowan's face hardened. He whirled, striding toward Vance Sea.
Slap!
A crisp smack echoed. No one saw Rowan move—he'd slapped Vance Sea's handsome face.
Vance Sea screamed, spinning like chaff through the air. Blood and teeth sprayed from his mouth.
Thud!
He crashed onto the street outside, face swollen. The physical pain paled to his rage.
"You're dead! You waste dared hit me—you're dead, dead!" Vance Sea roared, eyes aflame.
"Shut up!"
Rowan leaped down in two strides, towering over Vance Sea. "I warn you: Lee's my brother. Touch the Fortune Inn again, and I'll wipe your Vance family from this world!"
"You're dead! The Fortune Inn's done! Prepare to die!" Vance Sea spat venom, powerless against Rowan's strength.
Rowan's brow furrowed, killing intent flaring. "If the inn suffers, the Vance family vanishes. Get lost!"
With a cold shout, he kicked Vance Sea flying.
"Isn't that the Vance young master? Beaten like that?"
"Word is, Rowan Miles from the Miles family did it. When did that waste get so savage?"
"Eh? The Vances targeting the Miles?"
"Fool—even with a hundred guts, the Vances wouldn't touch the Miles. But Rowan's a waste. Now he's clashing with them—what's the Miles stance?"
Rowan swept the street crowd with a cold glance, then returned inside. The staff rushed out to clean up.
"Rowan, offending the Vances—you're in deep now," Lee Grant said worriedly as Rowan entered.
"Uncle Lee, don't worry. A mere Vance family means nothing to me. If they trouble you again, call me—I'll crush them." Rowan said confidently.
Yes, the Vances were insignificant. Though his power was modest, his cultivation speed guaranteed Innate soon.
Rowan's goal was immortality! In time, he'd sweep the mystic realms, even the legendary immortal or celestial worlds.
Lee Vance was his brother; the Grants had treated him well. Rowan wouldn't watch them bullied.
"Hope the Vances back off. Otherwise, I won't mind erasing them from this world." A cold killing intent flickered in Rowan's eyes.