Heavenly Dao Nemesis

Dogs

The boy lifted Liam slightly off the wet ground. His two companions stood nearby, grinning as they were enjoying a performance.

"What's wrong, trash? Why aren't you saying anything now?" The boy shook Liam by the collar. "Didn't you just call us dogs? Go on, say it again. Let me hear you."

Blood trickled from the corner of Liam's mouth, but his expression remained eerily calm. Beneath his battered appearance, a pair of cold eyes regarded the three disciples with undisguised contempt.

"Three against one," he murmured. "And you still need to hold me by the collar to feel brave. Tell me, is this the best the Azure Cloud Sect's outer division has to offer? No wonder the other sects look down on you."

The boy's expression darkened. "You bastard! Do you have a death wish?"

His grip tightened until the fabric around Liam's neck began to strain.

"Brother Chen, stop wasting your breath," the second disciple interrupted, cracking his knuckles. "Just break his other hand, then he'll learn to keep his mouth shut."

"That's too easy." The third disciple chuckled. "Why don't we wait for his Olivia? She always comes running whenever this trash gets beaten. We might as well teach her a lesson while we're at it."

Liam's expression changed. The name stirred memories that did not belong to him.

Olivia had endured years of hardship without abandoning the original owner of this body.

And now these insects dared to threaten her.

A faint smile touched Liam's lips.

"You talk quite a lot for someone who needs two companions to bully an injured man," he said. "Why not release me and fight me alone? Unless, of course, you're afraid that even a half-dead disciple might embarrass you."

Brother Chen's face flushed with anger. "You're asking for it!"

He raised his free hand, spiritual energy gathering around his fist. Although his cultivation wasn't particularly impressive, it was more than enough to crush someone whose meridians had been severely damaged.

"Let's see how long that mouth of yours keeps running after I—"

"Brother!" A frightened cry rang through the alley.

The three disciples turned toward the entrance, where a slender girl came running through the rain. Her gray robes were old and patched at the sleeves, while her wet hair clung to her cheeks. She clutched a small bundle of medicinal herbs against her chest, careful not to crush the precious contents as she hurried toward them.

The moment she saw Liam suspended by his collar, her face drained of color. "Brother Liam!"

Olivia rushed forward.

Brother Chen released Liam with a contemptuous shove. He fell heavily onto the muddy ground, coughing as pain flared through his battered ribs.

Olivia dropped beside him immediately, placing the herbs on the ground before reaching for his shoulders.

"Brother, can you hear me? Are you all right?" Her voice trembled as she examined his bloodied face. "Why didn't you wait for me? I told you I'd come back as soon as I finished collecting the herbs."

Liam looked at her without answering.

She was younger than the memories had made her seem. At sixteen, she was little more than a child, her thin frame suggesting that she had spent far too long going hungry. There were faint bruises on her wrists, and the hems of her robes were worn nearly to threads.

Yet she was more concerned about him than herself.

Olivia turned toward the three senior disciples, pressing her trembling hands against her knees. "Senior Brothers, please let him go. He's already badly injured. If you continue, he might not survive."

Brother Chen scoffed. "That's none of our concern. Your useless brother offended us, so he has to pay the price."

"But he hasn't done anything to you!"

The moment the words left her mouth, Olivia seemed to realize her mistake. She lowered her head, her fingers tightening around her robes.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken out of turn. Please, just tell me what you want. I'll do whatever I can."

"Whatever you can?" Brother Chen repeated with an amused smile.

He extended his hand. "Then hand over your spirit stones and the medicinal herbs. Consider it compensation for wasting our time."

Olivia hesitated.

The little bundle she had brought contained several low-grade healing herbs. She had spent the entire afternoon gathering them, hoping to prepare medicine for Liam's injuries. The spirit stones in her pouch were the result of weeks of exhausting labor.

Giving them up would leave them with almost nothing.

Still, Olivia didn't hesitate for long.

She pulled a worn pouch from her sleeve and placed it in Brother Chen's hand.

"This is everything I have," she whispered. "Please take it and leave my brother alone."

Brother Chen tossed the pouch to the second disciple.

The young man opened it, counted the few spirit stones inside, and immediately scowled. "Is this a joke? You expect us to accept this miserable amount?"

Olivia swallowed nervously. "It's all I hav

e. I can collect more herbs tomorrow. If you give me a little time, I'll—"

Smack!