Pei Guang had planned to participate, but with only a few minutes left until the system timer refreshed, he noticed a message from Stelle.
Stelle: "I'm so mad! You and March ran off to Cloudford together? What fun are you two up to?"
Stelle: "Answer me! Pei Guang! Say something!"
Pei Guang: "I got carried away. Didn't notice my phone. We're here beating up a scumbag; want to join?"
As soon as he sent that message, Stelle appeared by his side, wielding her glowing blue bat and scanning the area. "Where is he? Where's that jerk?"
Pei Guang pointed to the pile where March 7th and Bailu were already mid-beatdown, "Over there. Just make sure he's still breathing; other than that, feel free to do whatever you want."
Stelle: "Alright, March! Clear the way for me—watch this!"
Stelle eagerly joined the fray, and at the same time, Banxia emerged from the trash can. She turned to Pei Guang and hesitated. "Mr. Pei Guang, are you all doing this because of me?"
Seeing Banxia's tear-streaked face, her makeup completely ruined, Pei Guang shook his head. "You're overthinking it. This isn't about standing up for you. We're just sick of dealing with scum and felt like giving him a beating. No matter what you say, we're not stopping. Unless… you'd like to join in?"
Banxia shook her head, and seeing her lack of interest, Pei Guang shrugged and rejoined the brawl.
Bailu, who was usually so careful with her precious medicines, had clearly lost her temper. Her approach to treatment today was simple: only heal Liangmu when he was on the brink of death, restore him to full health, and then allow the beating to continue. By her calculations, even using a minimal amount of medicine, this cycle could last an entire day and night.
As the group thoroughly enjoyed "teaching a lesson," the commotion caught the attention of a nearby Cloud Knight patrol. Three Cloud Knights rushed over. "What's going on here?"
The sight of four people beating one man clearly startled them, and they prepared to intervene. But as they moved to step in, Pei Guang turned to them, his expression sharp. "Are you planning to stop us?"
Feeling the cold intensity in Pei Guang's gaze, one of the Cloud Knights swallowed nervously. "Sir, please stand down."
However, another Cloud Knight, recognizing Pei Guang, exclaimed, "Wait! Aren't you the benefactor who saved us and Lady Tingyun? What brings you here?"
This Knight had previously been part of Tingyun's escort. During that mission, he'd misunderstood Pei Guang's intentions but was later saved and revitalized thanks to the miraculous coffee. He had since returned to the flow of operations at Cloudford. Never did he expect to run into Pei Guang again here.
The cheerful Cloud Knight quickly expressed his gratitude. "Thank you again, benefactor! Your assistance and incredible medicine helped us avoid succumbing to the mara. But... what's going on here?"
By now, Pei Guang's party had earned immense goodwill among the Cloud Knights stationed in Cloudford and other zones. The fact that they'd saved countless soldiers from becoming mara-struck made them legends. In Xianzhou culture, where gratitude is deeply valued, as long as Pei Guang's group didn't actively disrupt the harmony of the Xianzhou, they would always be allies of the Cloud Knights.
So, while the sight of them beating someone raised questions, it was unthinkable to assume they'd act without reason.
Pei Guang looked the questioning Knights straight in the eye. "We're treating him."
The Cloud Knights stared blankly at Liangmu, who was wailing under the relentless assault. It didn't look like any kind of treatment they'd ever seen.
Pei Guang's expression remained serious. "Don't believe me?"
The Knight who'd spoken earlier hesitated before replying awkwardly, "Normally, I wouldn't… but after everything you've done for us, I'll trust you. If you say this is treatment, then it must be."
Pei Guang nodded. "Good. Now, come help us. This man has a rare condition—if we don't beat him, he'll die. As long as we don't kill him outright, we need to go all out. Use any method you want, just nothing too gruesome. There are ladies present; let's keep it civilized."
The Cloud Knight nodded solemnly. "If it's to save a life, then it's our duty as Cloud Knights. Let us assist you!"
Without hesitation, the Knight delivered a solid punch—one that carried the strength of a seasoned warrior. No underhanded tricks, no cruelty, just pure, righteous power.
Pei Guang grinned. "Now, for the rest of you—don't just stand there! Ever heard of morale-boosting during combat? Sing! Dance! Anything to support your comrades."
The Cloud Knights looked puzzled. "We're warriors... we only know how to fight."
Pei Guang waved them off. "Doesn't matter. Singing or dancing can give buffs during battles. It doesn't have to be good; it just has to exist. The effect will be there."
The Knights exchanged uncertain glances but ultimately trusted Pei Guang's wisdom. If this strange technique worked, it could be a valuable skill for future battles.
Pei Guang elaborated, "Split up. Two of you continue the treatment; one of you, follow me to try this out. If it works, it could be a game-changer."
One cheerful Knight volunteered, "Makes sense! You two stay and heal this man. I'll go with the benefactor and see what this is about."
With that, two Knights joined the "treatment" team, giving March 7th and Stelle a chance to step back.
March 7th stretched her arms, fuming. "I've seen plenty of awful people across countless worlds, but this guy is something else."
Stelle nodded, gripping her bat tightly. "I don't know what he did, but if it's enough to make you mad, then beating him up feels just right!"
Stelle's eyes sparkled with a wisdom that belied her usual demeanor. While some might joke that her wisdom resembled that of Aqua, in truth, it was far from it. She often stayed quiet, but she saw through situations with startling clarity.
As they stepped aside, they spotted Pei Guang at the center of the action, leading the Cloud Knights in a dance lesson. He had pulled out a speaker he'd taken from the Herta Space Station and started playing a track: "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained."
As the music played, Pei Guang drew his weapon, prompting the cheerful Cloud Knight to instinctively tighten his grip on his own.
Pei Guang began to sway to the beat, retreating slowly as he demonstrated his moves. What he performed was none other than the iconic axe gang dance—one of the few choreographed routines he knew well. His movements, while unorthodox, exuded confidence.