"I don't need you to tell me what to do," Ma Shihao glared at Li Yang, reprimanding him before saying dismissively, "Don't think you can spout nonsense just because you have some skills. In the provincial capital, no one dares to disrespect our Ma family."
"Ma Shihao, you've got some nerve!"
Long Lingling, seeing the commotion, walked over and was furious to find Ma Shihao confronting Li Yang. She immediately stepped forward to retort, "Do you not even respect my Long family?"
"Oh, Miss Long, I didn't expect you to be here too."
The moment Ma Shihao saw Long Lingling, the corner of his mouth curved upwards slightly. He smiled and said, "The Long family's influence is comparable to our Ma family's. How could I not respect you, Miss Long?"
"Miss Long, I thought you had already parted ways with this country bumpkin. I didn't expect you to still keep him around. This kid is just a pretty boy. Why do you insist on being with him? Why not consider me? Follow me, Ma Shihao, and you can live a life of luxury and ease."
"Pah! You think you're worthy?"
Long Lingling spat at him disdainfully, then mocked him contemptuously, "You're nothing but a defeated opponent of Li Yang. Forget about you being just a bodyguard; even all the bodyguards here combined are no match for Li Yang."
"Hahaha!"
Ma Shihao burst into laughter, shaking his head and saying, "Miss Long, you underestimate the power of my Ma family."
"The Thirteen Protectors?"
Long Lingling's brow furrowed. She wondered if the Ma family had brought the Thirteen Protectors with them.
If all thirteen of them were present, it would be truly difficult for Li Yang to deal with them.
"Heh, you're trying to bluff. Your Ma family's Thirteen Protectors never go out easily unless there's a major mission. Are you two father and son bringing them out just to offer incense?" Long Lingling regained her composure and asked tentatively.
"Haha, what a joke. How did you know we were here to offer incense? Besides offering incense, we are also here for..."
"Shihao, stand down!"
Before Ma Shihao could finish his boastful laughter, he was interrupted by Ma Peiqing from behind. Ma Peiqing stepped forward sternly, glaring at Li Yang and saying, "So you're the one who bullied my son. I, Ma Peiqing, haven't come to find you yet, but you've already blocked our Ma family's path."
"Old Master Ma, everyone here saw clearly what happened just now. Your Ma family initiated the bullying. I merely intervened when I saw injustice. Are you going to blame me for this?"
Li Yang walked forward with a faint smile, saying dismissively, "Old Master Ma, you've come to Dengfeng Temple with such fanfare today. Could it be that you've heard some news? Are you perhaps looking for something?"
"Kid, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Ma Peiqing's brow instantly furrowed. He wondered if this kid had also learned about the treasure map.
This secret was so deeply hidden; very few people should know about it. How could he possibly understand?
"Heh, still not admitting it? Then I'll just teach all of you from the Ma family a good lesson today and see if you tell the truth."
Li Yang said coldly, then motioned for Long Lingling to step aside, preparing to make his move.
Long Lingling believed that the Ma family had definitely not brought the Thirteen Protectors. As long as those thirteen fiends weren't here, these bodyguards certainly couldn't do anything to Li Yang.
Therefore, Long Lingling didn't take them seriously at all and directly retreated to the side.
Li Yang strode forward, a powerful aura emanating from him that immediately made the surrounding tourists retreat.
Ma Peiqing's accompanying bodyguards quickly protected him, surrounding Li Yang. Their eyes gleamed menacingly, as if they were about to kill.
"All of you, attack!"
With a command from Ma Peiqing, all the bodyguards raised their fists and charged forward collectively.
Li Yang stomped his foot. The moment all the punching power converged and rushed towards him, his body instantly flew into the air.
The next second, a dazzling golden light appeared in mid-air. As everyone looked up, a giant palm descended from the sky.
All the bodyguards panicked and hurriedly gathered their full strength, raising their fists to resist. Waves of punching power surged into the air, but like pebbles thrown into the sea, they were utterly unable to withstand the palm's force.
Boom!
The giant palm descended from the sky, crushing all the bodyguards beneath it.
When Li Yang retracted his palm force, a massive palm-shaped pit appeared on the ground, with all the bodyguards trapped within.
Li Yang's figure faintly reappeared in mid-air, and he landed steadily on the ground. He said dismissively, "Are these few small fries even worthy of fighting me?"
After speaking, Li Yang looked at Ma Peiqing and said, "Old Master Ma, why don't you call out your Ma family's Thirteen Protectors to play with me? Let's see how strong your Ma family truly is."
"Kid, you are truly arrogant!"
A cold glint appeared in Ma Peiqing's eyes. He could tell that this kid indeed had some ability.
However, with such little skill, trying to oppose the Ma family was like a moth to a flame.
As his voice fell, he directly pulled out a long flute from his waist and blew into it. As the melodious and resonant flute music sounded, the wind and clouds in the sky suddenly changed, and thirteen dark figures instantly appeared.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
They were like shooting stars, drawing thirteen streaks of light in the air, simultaneously appearing before Ma Peiqing.
At this moment, everyone present looked on with fear.
As the thirteen figures landed, each one occupied a different position, forming the Beidou Thirteen Gang Feng Formation.
Seeing the arrival of the thirteen, Ma Peiqing's face naturally showed a confident expression. He looked at Li Yang dismissively and said, "Kid, if you can defeat my Ma family's Thirteen Protectors today, I, Ma Peiqing, will take your surname from now on."
"Then you can wait to be my son."
Li Yang said dismissively, then strode forward like a shooting star towards the center of the formation.
"Li Yang, be careful! The Ma family's Thirteen Protectors are very powerful. Many top experts in the provincial capital have died at their hands," Long Lingling quickly stepped forward to remind him.
Li Yang smiled and said, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
After speaking, Li Yang took a few more steps forward and looked at the thirteen people before him, saying coldly, "Thirteen great heroes, please show mercy later. I only wish to spar with you thirteen today and don't intend to cause any deaths."
"Kid, when we thirteen act, we never leave a way out for anyone. If you don't want to die, it's not too late to surrender now," the leader of the Thirteen Protectors said in a chilling tone.
"You've misunderstood. I'm not afraid of death; I'm worried that if I'm not careful, I might kill all thirteen of you. After all, this is a sacred Buddhist site. It would be inauspicious to accidentally cause a death," Li Yang said disdainfully.