"Li Xiaoyao?" Alex's heart skipped slightly at the name the young man shouted.
He remembered that in the original story, Liu Jinyuan and the others encountered Li Xiaoyao almost exactly at this spot in Southwater City. It made sense that Li Xiaoyao would appear here now.
"Heh, you little thieves are really bold," Li Xiaoyao said with a cocky smirk, slipping the purse into his robes as he looked down at the men sprawled on the ground.
"Master, please spare us! Spare our lives!" the thieves cried in fear, shuffling backward and begging desperately.
"Master, huh? That's right—you're not wrong. I am a master. I like the sound of that. Keep calling me master. Each of you say it a hundred times—no, a thousand—and maybe if I'm in a good mood, I'll let you live."
As they groveled and called him a Master, Li Xiaoyao grinned smugly, clearly enjoying the flattery. Then he drew his shining sword and waved it menacingly.
Seeing this, Liu Jinyuan couldn't help but feel the urge to step forward and speak.
Yes, these thieves had been wrong to steal. But taking the law into his own hands wasn't right either. They should be handed over to the authorities instead.
"Don't speak yet," Alex whispered, stopping Liu Jinyuan with a hand on his arm and glancing to the side.
A breathtakingly beautiful young woman in a white dress was hurrying toward them.
"Brother Xiaoyao, forget it. Let them go," Zhao Ling'er said softly, her voice full of compassion as she looked at the trembling thieves.
"Alright, Ling'er. I'll listen to you," Li Xiaoyao replied with a smile. He turned back to the men and barked, "You're lucky Ling'er spoke for you. Otherwise, you wouldn't be walking away today. Don't let me catch you stealing again."
With that, Li Xiaoyao brushed the matter aside as if it were nothing, and walked off with Zhao Ling'er at his side.
Once it was resolved, Liu Jinyuan had no intention of lingering. He hurried with Alex toward Southwater City, his mood visibly lifted at the thought of seeing Lin Yueru.
Alex couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. Liu Jinyuan's eagerness was proof enough of his genuine feelings for her.
As fate would have it, once they entered Southwater City and drew closer to the Lin Family Fortress, they saw crowds of people hurrying in the same direction, eager to witness the day's excitement.
"Hurry up! Don't miss it—today's the big day!" someone in the crowd exclaimed. "Lin Tiannan's daughter, Lin Yueru, is holding a martial arts competition to choose her husband."
"Of course! Alliance Leader Lin Tiannan leads the entire Southern Martial Arts World. To marry his daughter would be to gain both status and fortune! And they say Miss Lin Yueru is not only talented but stunningly beautiful. Whoever wins will be the luckiest man alive."
"Heh, but don't forget—in order to win, you'll have to defeat Miss Lin herself first. She's inherited her father's skills. No ordinary fighter stands a chance against her!"
The onlookers chatted eagerly among themselves.
For people in the old world, where entertainment was scarce, Lin Yueru's sudden martial arts competition was a major event, naturally drawing huge crowds.
"What? My cousin is holding a martial arts tournament to find a husband?" Liu Jinyuan froze in shock.
He hadn't expected that after journeying all the way to Southwater City to propose, his cousin had already arranged such a contest.
"Come on, Alex, let's go take a look," Liu Jinyuan said anxiously, pulling Alex with him as they joined the flow of people.
After about twenty minutes, they reached a massive arena. A young woman in a blazing red outfit, like a fiery rose, stood confidently at the center of the stage.
"Everyone, I am Lin Tiannan…" A middle-aged man with a commanding presence strode forward, his voice clear and powerful as he began his opening remarks.
As Liu Jinyuan reached the arena, his eyes immediately locked on Lin Yueru. Like a moth drawn to a flame, he couldn't look away.
Alex, however, kept his attention on the crowd.
He knew that in the original story, Li Xiaoyao would leap onto the stage partway through. His own goal now was to prevent that.
Lin Yueru's entanglement with Li Xiaoyao was a tragedy—not only for her and Li Xiaoyao, but also for Liu Jinyuan.
If Alex could change that outcome, he was determined to try.
When Lin Tiannan finished his speech, the competition began in earnest.
While others watched the duels, Alex scanned the crowd for any sign of Li Xiaoyao and Zhao Ling'er. With thousands gathered around, spotting just two faces was no easy task.
On the stage, the battles were quick and decisive. Lin Yueru's skill was undeniable—she dispatched challengers one after another.
But most of the competitors were hopelessly outclassed, which only fueled her frustration.
How could such unskilled fighters even dare to step onto her stage? Known for her fiery and headstrong nature, Lin Yueru's blows grew harsher, and soon several contestants were badly injured.
Among the crowd, Zhao Ling'er's face darkened. She turned to Li Xiaoyao, whispering that she wanted to leave.
"This arrogant girl has gone too far. I'll teach her a lesson!" Li Xiaoyao growled. Anger flashing in his eyes, he couldn't stand by any longer.
With a sharp cry, he drew his sword and sprang forward, leaping toward the stage.
"Arrogant girl, stop this at once! Face me instead!" he shouted mid-air.
Alex, who had been searching for him all along, immediately spotted the movement. His eyes narrowed.
In a flash, he unleashed his body technique. His speed was so great it blurred past what normal eyes could follow, and in the blink of an eye, Alex was already on the stage.
Thud!
He struck with a powerful kick.
Li Xiaoyao, still airborne, had no chance to land. Alex's kick caught him mid-flight and sent him crashing backward, away from the stage.