Chapter 5 Dog Blood

Whoosh! Jayce's words silenced the entire courtyard, like a graveyard at midnight. He dared to call Nigel by his name! How bold! And he even told Mr. Dawson to get over there. Everyone thought this reckless kid was asking for trouble! Even a beggar or a fool sleeping on the street knew better than to mess with Nigel, especially at his birthday party. Speaking to him like that was a death wish. Nigel's expression turned dark. No one had spoken to him like that in years. And now, this brat was being so brave—utterly reckless! Before Nigel could respond, a bodyguard swung his fist directly at Jayce's face. The Dawsons' bodyguards were either ex-military or trained fighters, all incredibly powerful. Coincidentally, this bodyguard had trained since childhood and served in the army. Many martial artists had been defeated by him. He didn't hold back; this punch could easily kill someone as frail as Jayce. Since Jayce dared to cause trouble at Nigel's birthday party, he deserved this! The fierce punch was met with a thin silver needle. Bang! Everyone expected Jayce to be knocked to the ground. But in the blink of an eye, it was the bodyguard who collapsed, foaming at the mouth and completely unconscious. No one saw what happened; they just saw the bodyguard raise his hand and fall. No one noticed the tiny silver needle in his fist. Jayce's movements were too fast for anyone to react. The Dawsons' best bodyguard was taken down in an instant. Now, everyone looked at the shabby young man with newfound respect. He was holding a bucket filled with a red liquid that had a faintly foul smell. Nigel frowned, his expression changing slightly. "Who are you, daring to cause trouble here?!" Jayce raised his head, his gaze icy. "I'll say it one last time. Get over here." Jayce's swift takedown of the bodyguard had everyone on edge. This kid was dangerous! Nigel set down his wine glass and stood up. Despite Jayce's strange abilities, Nigel still didn't take him seriously. He walked forward confidently, with the demeanor of a future leader of The Big Four, stopping in front of Jayce. "You dared to cause trouble at my birthday party. Do you know the consequences?" As soon as he finished speaking, Jayce lightly patted Nigel on the shoulder. It seemed gentle, but it was incredibly heavy! Bang! Nigel suddenly dropped to his knees, his kneecaps hitting the tiles with a crisp sound. Everyone was stunned! Nigel, on his knees? Pain shot through Nigel's body, making him tremble, his face flushed, and his teeth chattered. Jayce's light touch had an enormous force that Nigel couldn't resist. Who was this kid? Jayce looked down at Nigel, speaking coldly. "You dared to imprison Rosa in a dog cage. Do you know the consequences?" He was throwing Nigel's words right back at him. Nigel's expression changed. Rosa? Could he mean that pesky maid from the Howes? Nigel looked up, his face twisted in pain. "Who are you?" Jayce didn't respond immediately. Instead, he continued, "Within three days, your entire family must kneel and apologize to Rosa. If not, you'll face the consequences." Wow! Jayce's words sent shockwaves through the crowd. Is he serious? Making Nigel's whole family kneel and apologize? Who does he think he is? Jayce went on, "I heard it's your birthday today. It would be rude not to give you a gift, so here's something for you." With that, Jayce lifted the bucket of fresh dog blood he was holding and slowly tilted it. The foul, sticky blood poured over Nigel's head, coating him from head to toe. Jayce moved slowly, but Nigel remained motionless because every slight movement sent searing pain through his knees. Within seconds, the courtyard fell completely silent. Everyone watched as Jayce emptied the entire bucket of dog blood over Nigel's head, not spilling a drop. No one stepped forward to stop him. Who would dare? The toughest bodyguard had already been taken down. Who else would risk their life? Besides, if Nigel wasn't moving, why should they? If Nigel knew what they were thinking, he would be furious. It wasn't that he didn't want to move; he simply couldn't! Once the bucket was empty, Jayce threw it to the ground and wiped his hands with a white cloth he had brought. "Remember what I said. If you don't comply within three days, you'll face the consequences." With that, Jayce turned to leave. He paused briefly at the door. "By the way, I'm from the Howes." ... "Hurry, get some water!" It wasn't until Jayce had left that everyone snapped out of their shock and rushed to rinse the dog blood off Nigel. "Help Nigel up!" Ignoring the stench, they lifted Nigel. By now, his legs were numb, and he couldn't even feel the pain. His legs were limp as if they weren't his own. His kneecaps were likely shattered, and without immediate treatment, his legs might be permanently damaged! "Call an ambulance, quick!" Nigel and the bodyguard were soon whisked away in an ambulance. The courtyard reeked of dog blood, and the once joyous birthday party had turned into a disaster. The Dawsons and their guests were at a loss. One question lingered in everyone's mind, but no one dared to ask. The Howes? Could the Howes Jayce mentioned be the same Howes from ten years ago? Weren't the Howes wiped out? How could anyone be left? If that young man was a Howe, he wouldn't easily let go of what happened back then. The Dawsons not only betrayed the Howes but also framed them. Wouldn't they be the first to face his wrath? ... Leaving the Dawson Residence, Jayce felt no remorse. Even though those inside were once family, they now seemed utterly detestable. When the Howes were in trouble, they didn't expect help, nor did they want to drag others down with them. But betrayal and ruthless extermination were too much to bear. Jayce looked up at the sky, a cold smile on his lips. This is life, sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose. Such is the fickle nature of the world.