Chapter 137: The Second Slap
The Second Slap
Just as Marichi’s hand was about to snatch the guitar from Liza Voss—
Julian D’Aurelius suddenly stepped forward.
His expression remained calm, almost indifferent, as if the scene in front of him was nothing more than a mildly annoying interruption to an otherwise pleasant day.
His movement was swift.
Clean.
SLAP!
His palm struck Marichi’s face with a loud, crisp sound that echoed across the quiet interior of the Melodic Sea music store.
For a moment, everything froze.
Marichi staggered back two steps, one hand clutching her cheek. Her burgundy hair fell across her face as she stared at Julian with wide, stunned eyes.
The entire store seemed to fall silent.
The customers.
The staff.
Even the faint background music had become irrelevant.
Her mind struggled to process what had just happened.
She... had been slapped?
By a stranger?
But the shock only lasted a moment.
The next second, rage flooded her face.
"You—!"
She shrieked and lunged forward like a furious cat, her fingernails extended as she tried to scratch Julian’s face.
Her movements were wild and undignified.
But before her hand could even reach him—
SLAP!
His fingers shifted once more.
That next hit cracked through the air sharper than the one before it.
Spinning through the air, Marichi twisted under the blow. The impact sent limbs flying off course.
A sharp sound escaped her as she fell against the smooth floor, fingers pressed hard to her stinging face.
"Ahhh - !"
Shaking, her words carried hurt instead of pride. She spoke through gritted teeth, each syllable heavy with shame.
Again, silence filled the space between them. Quiet settled like dust after motion stops.
Everyone stared.
For a few moments Marichi stayed flat on the dirt. Then her eyes lifted slowly.
Fire burned in her stare. The anger had stained her eyelids deep crimson.
"You... how dare you hit a woman?!"
She screamed hysterically.
"Are you even a man?!"
After a pause, Julian stayed quiet.
A quiet move brought out a cigarette tucked in his coat. He took it slow, fingers easing it free.
A match caught flame under his steady hand.
A tiny spark danced for a moment on the edge of the metal. The light wavered like it was breathing fast.
He pulled hard on the cigarette, filling his lungs slowly.
A wisp of smoke rose when he breathed out slow. The air carried it higher without hurry.
It was just after that when his eyes finally dropped to where she stood.
"Sorry."
His tone was flat.
"I believe in gender equality."
A bit of gray tumbled off the burning tip. Smoke curled away into still air.
"If you behave like a jerk..."
"I’ll hit you."
Inside his mind, however—
( Cough... )
( Technically we’re all villains here. )
( But you’re just cannon fodder. )
( Honestly, you deserved that beating. )
Behind him, Liza Voss nearly burst into laughter.
She quickly covered her mouth.
Gender equality?
She had heard many strange things in Julian’s thoughts before.
But this...
This was something else entirely.
Her shoulders trembled slightly as she tried to suppress her laughter.
At that moment—
The door of the store opened again.
A young man entered, accompanied by an elderly man wearing a navy suit.
The moment the young man saw Marichi sitting on the ground with a swollen face, his expression darkened instantly.
He hurried forward.
"Baby!"
He crouched beside her.
"What happened?"
The moment Marichi saw him, her expression immediately changed.
Her arrogance returned instantly.
"Young Master Hall!"
She clung to him pitifully.
"Help me get revenge!"
She pointed at Julian with trembling fingers.
"This dog of a man hit me!"
Her voice trembled as if she had suffered the greatest injustice in the world.
This man—
Was her sugar daddy.
The source of all her arrogance.
Ever since becoming his woman, she had caused endless trouble.
But no matter how serious the situation became—
Young Master Hall could always solve it with a single phone call.
The young man, called Manish Hall, had a rather ordinary face.
His ears were large, and his expression looked strangely honest.
But when he saw the swelling on Marichi’s face, his expression darkened with anger.
He gently helped her stand up.
"Alright, alright."
He patted her shoulder softly.
"I’ll get revenge for you."
"Don’t cry, baby."
His voice sounded gentle, but when he turned toward Julian—
His expression instantly turned cold.
"You’ve got some nerve."
He stared at Julian sharply.
"You dare touch my woman?"
His voice grew colder.
"Do you even know whose woman she is?"
"My woman."
"Manish Hall’s woman."
When Julian heard the name—
His heart nearly jumped with excitement.
(Manish Hall ?!)
(Finally... the protagonist’s opponent appears.)
This man wasn’t from Valemont.
He was the second young master of the Hall family from Valcenza.
The Hall family was a top-tier powerhouse there.
Compared to them, the families in Valemont were practically insignificant.
Manish Hall had come to Valemont to attend an auction.
But before the auction had even begun—
He was destined to clash with Evan, the so-called Obsidian King.
At the auction, Manish Hall would deliberately compete with Evan for treasures.
That conflict would escalate.
Eventually, both sides would attempt to eliminate each other.
And in the end—
Evan would kill him.
Julian’s eyes gleamed slightly.
(Perfect.)
(This is my chance to stir the pot.)
He decided to make a bold move.
Julian looked at Manish Hall and sneered.
"I do as I please."
He blew out a thin stream of smoke.
"Why should I explain myself to you?"
Manish Hall eyes narrowed.
"You’re quite bold."
He turned slightly toward the elderly man behind him.
"Old man."
His tone was cold.
"Break his hands first."
The elderly man nodded calmly and stepped forward.
He moved with the quiet confidence of someone used to violence.
Manish Hall sneered.
He had met many people like this.
Arrogant.
Thinking they had backing.
There was no need to waste words.
Pain was the best teacher.
Only after suffering would they understand who they should fear.
The elderly man slowly walked toward Julian.
Behind Julian, Liza’s expression changed slightly.
Her sharp assassin instincts immediately sensed something unusual.
That old man—
Was an Old Martial Arts practitioner.
Not very strong.
But still someone within the Iron Realm.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Young Master Julian is just an ordinary person...
He can’t fight someone like that.
She was about to step forward—
When suddenly—
The door of the store opened again.
A tall middle-aged man walked in with steady steps.
It was Jareb.
The newly recruited Old Martial Arts bodyguard of the D’Aurelius household.
Ever since witnessing Julian’s terrifying strength previously—
Jareb had insisted on becoming Julian’s personal bodyguard.
Or rather—
His follower.
Because he understood something very clearly.
Someone as powerful as Young Master Julian did not need protection.
What he needed...
Was someone to clear away the trash before he had to move.
After all—
A master of the Gold Realm like Young Master Julian would not casually make a move.
Jareb stepped forward, his gaze cold as he stared at the elderly man.
A mocking smile appeared on his face.
"Do you really think..."
His voice carried quiet disdain.
"...that someone like you is worthy of making a move against our Young Master Julian?"