Before the Grand Governor's residence, a crowd had gathered in short order, countless pairs of eyes fixed on Yang Kai and Luo Haiyi.
The enforcer stepped forward with the Dragon Tooth Whip in hand, swept his gaze across the assembled onlookers, and bellowed, "These two caused a disturbance within the Star Market and violated its rules! By order of the Grand Governor, each shall receive one lash of the Dragon Tooth Whip as a warning to all!"
Yang Kai was about to say something in his defense when a sharp whistle cut through the air. An instant later, searing agony ripped across his back, so excruciating he nearly sprang to his feet.
The pain was beyond description — he felt as though his very soul was trembling. The words on his lips were swallowed by a guttural scream. He could clearly feel that single lash tear through his clothes, split open flesh and skin, and send blood streaming down his back.
The Dragon Tooth Whip had apparently been forged through some extraordinary method that amplified the pain tenfold upon striking the body. Had Yang Kai's willpower been any lesser, that one lash alone would have knocked him unconscious on the spot.
Since stepping onto the path of cultivation, he had fought countless life-and-death battles and sustained grievous injuries more times than he could count, yet never once had he experienced pain this unbearable.
His eyes bulged, his eyeballs trembling violently in their sockets, his vision blurring to a haze. The Boss's anxious voice reached his ears: "It's over, isn't it? Untie me already!"
"Hold… hold on!" Yang Kai hissed through clenched teeth.
"What's wrong?" the Boss asked tensely.
"There's still one more lash. I'll take it for her!" Yang Kai turned his head toward the enforcer. The official looked oddly at him. "You're certain?"
No one who had experienced the Dragon Tooth Whip's bite had ever volunteered for a second. Setting everything else aside, that kind of willpower was genuinely admirable.
The Boss wouldn't have it. "Have you lost your mind?"
Yang Kai forced out a pained smile. "Boss, Miss Luo is a woman after all. With everyone watching, one lash on her — how is she supposed to face anyone afterward?"
His own clothes had been shredded and his flesh laid bare. If that whip landed on Luo Haiyi, setting aside whether she could endure the pain, her body would inevitably be exposed. For a woman to suffer such humiliation in public — she really might never be able to show her face again.
The Boss was simultaneously exasperated and amused. "And here I thought you were about to die — still worrying about someone else."
Yang Kai bared his teeth. "This whole mess started because of me." If he hadn't been so eager to get word to Luo Haiyi, none of what followed would have happened.
With that done, he looked up at the enforcer. "Go ahead."
The enforcer regarded him coolly, said nothing more, flicked the whip, and it came screaming through the air.
Crack. Yang Kai's entire body went rigid as that soul-rending agony surged through him once more. A large chunk of flesh was ripped from his back in an instant. He held his breath for a long moment before a low growl finally rumbled from his throat.
The Boss drew her fingers together like a blade, slashed twice to cut him free from the restraints, and the moment the bonds loosened, Yang Kai could barely stay upright — he swayed and collapsed into her arms.
"Lord Yang…" Luo Haiyi turned to look, her beautiful eyes red-rimmed, tears sliding down her cheeks. Unfortunately, she was still bound in place and utterly unable to move.
"I'm fine… I'm fine!" Yang Kai gasped between labored breaths, clenching his teeth and forcing himself to hold on.
"Shut up!" the Boss snapped, glaring at him. Clutching Yang Kai to her, her figure flickered as she shot straight toward the First Inn.
The Boss's speed was staggering — in just a few breaths, they had arrived at the First Inn. Old Bai, the Accountant, and the others standing watch at the entrance barely registered a figure before the Boss swept inside wrapped in a gust of wind.
They exchanged glances, hearts lurching, and hurried in after her.
In the private quarters, the Boss set Yang Kai down and had him lie face-down on the bed. She tore his ruined clothes away, then pried open his mouth and tossed a spirit pill inside. "Swallow it."
Yang Kai sucked in air through his teeth but did as he was told, gulping the pill down.
An instant later, a small hand pressed against his back, applying some sort of salve he couldn't see. It was cool and soothing, and the pain eased almost immediately.
A faint, clean fragrance filled his nostrils. Only then did Yang Kai realize he was in the Boss's bedroom, and a measure of embarrassment crept in. "Boss, I'm sorry to trouble you."
The Boss said nothing, her attention wholly focused on spreading the medicinal paste across his back.
Footsteps approached, and Yang Kai turned his head to see Old Bai, the Cook, and the Accountant crowd through the door and gather around the bed, staring down at him.
Old Bai asked worriedly, "Are you all right?"
Yang Kai managed a smile. "I'm fine."
The Cook clucked his tongue. "Two lashes, huh… they really went all out."
The Accountant sighed. "How did you end up clashing with someone in this Star Market? Da Zhan Tian runs the tightest ship of all — nobody dares cause trouble in their territory."
The Boss let out a cold snort. "Wasn't it some petty jealousy over a woman? You men… heh, you're all the same!"