"Looks like I've been found out after all."
Tang Wutong showed a hint of helplessness, then explained, "I've recovered my childhood memories. My name isn't Wang Dong'er anymore. I'm Tang Wutong—that's my real name."
"Tang Wutong? Surname Tang."
Hearing this, Bei Bei and the others couldn't help exchanging glances.
Wang Dong'er was from the Clear Sky Sect, which was originally the Tang family's sect, so bearing the surname Tang was only natural—having been surnamed Wang before was what seemed odd.
But… is she really the same Wang Dong'er as before?
Recovering childhood memories, reverting to her original name, and yet changing so drastically—can that be normal?
Wang Dong'er's character had been tenacious, proud, independent, and meticulous. The Tang Wutong before them, however, radiated more of a naive liveliness, an innocent curiosity toward everything around her. The gap between the two was simply too large.
Suppressing their doubts, Xiao Xiao and the others reluctantly accepted Tang Wutong's explanation and changed how they addressed her—no longer "Dong'er," but "Wutong."
At the same time, they learned Tang Wutong was also a Master; her Servant, Vita, happened to be sisters with Sparkle, and the two got along famously.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiao and the others wore odd expressions; their gazes toward Tang Wutong also carried a touch of sympathy.
To be able to play so well with someone as flighty and fun-seeking as Sparkle—and even be called sisters—was this graceful, elegant Miss Vita truly normal?
Moreover, Tang Wutong's obvious dependence on Vita stirred even more suspicion in Xiao Xiao and the others.
After all, the former Wang Dong'er had been extremely independent and stubborn—it was impossible for her to rely on others like this.
Next, on the way to registering in Mingdu with the Shrek Academy and Clear Sky Sect groups, Tang Wutong's behavior along the road chilled Xiao Xiao and the others even more.
She showed strong curiosity about everything in Mingdu, her eyes brimming with a desire to explore; yet when she looked at anyone, there was a faint sense of distance in her gaze, as if others existed in a different world from hers, separated by an unbridgeable chasm.
That innate aloofness, buried in her very bones, sent a nameless chill through them.
This was definitely not the Wang Dong'er they remembered.
Wang Dong'er had been proud too, but that came from confidence in her own strength and respect for the strong—never this sort of lofty disdain that treated everyone else as dust.
Watching Tang Wutong's demeanor and bearing—so utterly unlike before—Xiao Xiao silently lowered her head, her eyes full of loss and confusion.
Bei Bei clenched his fists tightly, knuckles turning pale, while Jiang Nannan lowered her gaze, long lashes hiding the complex emotions in her eyes.
…
Mingdu's sunlight was still bright, its streets still bustling, but a faint gloom seemed to settle over the hearts of the Shrek crowd.
Lu Jingming did not immediately lead the group to the Sun–Moon Empire's Mingdu Grand Hotel that was receiving the academies competing in the tournament.
After all, not everyone traveling with them were competitors or leading instructors. By the rules, the rest had no right to lodge in the hotel prepared specifically for the event.
Only those chosen by Lu Jingming himself—contestants like Wang Qiu'er—and the team instructor, Jingliu, could cross the threshold of the Mingdu Grand Hotel.
As for the others, if they weren't on the roster, they had to find their own inns or hotels.
That said, Lu Jingming did have some foothold within Mingdu.
"Yingying, it's been a while. You've worked hard these days."
Before a secluded three-story townhouse in the city, Lu Jingming looked warmly at the white-haired girl waiting there and spoke.
The white-haired girl was Ji Yingying, the Yama of the Wuchang Division. For years, she had led the Wuchang Division to operate covertly in Mingdu, rendering great service to Haiyuan City.
Standing by Ji Yingying's side was a girl with long pink hair and tan skin—Na Na.
She was currently studying Lu Jingming with curious eyes. Though she had long heard many legends about this city lord and had been repeatedly instructed to serve loyally, this was her first time seeing him in person.
"Xiao Ming!"
At the sight of Lu Jingming, the icy gaze that had been like ten-thousand-year-old glacial frost in Ji Yingying's eyes softened in an instant. The change was so stark it was like a lifeless doll suddenly gaining warmth and turning into a living girl.
Seeing this, Na Na looked stunned.
Having followed Ji Yingying for a long time, she knew better than anyone how ruthless the cold-blooded Wuchang Douluo could be.
For Ji Yingying, not to mention wearing such a gentle expression, even speaking normally with others was already rare.
Under Na Na's wide-eyed stare, Lu Jingming stepped forward, gently took Ji Yingying's small hand, and the two walked side by side into the townhouse.
Na Na stood there dumbfounded, her mind replaying the slight flush on Ji Yingying's earlobes just now. Her worldview felt like it was shattering—how was this the fearsome Wuchang Douluo? She was clearly a lovestruck maiden!
"Everyone, please follow me."
Na Na's daze lasted only an instant. She quickly remembered her duty, bowed, and led Gu Yue and the others into the house.
This townhouse was provided by the Common Alliance and was one of the Wuchang Division's bases in Mingdu—always well-hidden.
Of course, after this, its secrecy would likely be blown.
After all, with Lu Jingming and his group striding in openly, the Sun–Moon Empire's spies watching from the shadows weren't fools; they would certainly notice something.
But Lu Jingming had no intention of hiding.
He knew that after this Holy Grail War ended, the Wuchang Division had no need to continue operating in Mingdu—this place was now rife with danger.
He could almost be certain that once the soul master tournament concluded, Xu Tiannan would launch war without hesitation.
Whether or not Xu Tiannan's current plan succeeded—netting all the forces attending the tournament and the Masters and Servants participating in the Holy Grail War—so long as he had the strength after, he would never pass up the chance to wage a unification war.
In that case, what had once been a relatively safe Wuchang Division would, if it remained in Mingdu, undoubtedly become a prime target for Xu Tiannan's crackdown.
As for their ally, the Common Alliance, they could only fend for themselves now. Whether they could read the current situation would depend on that woman Shangguan Wei'er's judgment.
Speak of the devil.
Barely had Lu Jingming settled into the base when Shangguan Wei'er, the leader of the Common Alliance, arrived to pay a visit.
"City Lord Lu, I suppose this is our first official meeting? A hero in the bloom of youth indeed—City Lord Lu truly seems like a celestial descended to earth, with extraordinary bearing."
Shangguan Wei'er wore flowing red, her black hair cascading like a waterfall, her features dazzlingly beautiful. She looked like a maiden in the flower of her youth—bewitching and alluring.
Even Lu Jingming, who was used to seeing beautiful women, had to admit that this leader Shangguan did indeed possess striking charms.
Shangguan Wei'er felt the same. Although she had seen photos of Lu Jingming, seeing him in person still drew a sigh of admiration.
In both looks and temperament, Lu Jingming stood head and shoulders above any man she had seen.
Even the regent Xu Tiannan, who had seized great power despite his disability, seemed inferior to Lu Jingming by a margin.
"Leader Shangguan, there's no need for flattery. I assume you didn't come just to praise me."
Lu Jingming's expression was calm.
Being praised by a great beauty was pleasant enough, but Shangguan Wei'er was old enough to be his mother; besides, he'd heard so much praise over the years that the novelty had long worn off.
"Very well. City Lord Lu is indeed straightforward, so I'll get to the point. I want to bring the Common Alliance under your banner and leave Mingdu—leave the Sun–Moon Empire."
Shangguan Wei'er's expression tightened; fear flickered in her eyes as she spoke in a low voice.
At that, even Lu Jingming couldn't help being stunned, staring at her in disbelief.
After all, the Common Alliance was no small force. It was one of Mingdu's three major underground organizations, backed by the Sun–Moon Empire's nobility, thriving within the empire's borders.
Even after the Evening Water Alliance, supported by the Holy Spirit Cult, rose to challenge them and seized much territory and business, the Common Alliance remained a formidable behemoth.
And yet, the controller of this behemoth—a smooth, high-society Titled Douluo—was proposing to submit to him, a city lord from another empire. It was almost absurd—downright surreal.
Lu Jingming shook his head, wondering if he'd misheard. "Leader Shangguan, you're sure this isn't a joke?"
"City Lord Lu, I, Wei'er, would never jest about this. You don't know—the man Xu Tiannan has gone mad. I don't want to stay in Mingdu for another moment."
Shangguan Wei'er donned a pitiful, teary-eyed look—delicate and heart-rending.
That instantly chilled Gu Yue's eyes.
Not only Gu Yue—Ji Yingying, guarding Lu Jingming's side, also fixed Shangguan Wei'er with a cold stare.
Sensing the icy gazes converging on her, Shangguan Wei'er stiffened slightly, put away the pitiful act, and returned to normal—as if the previous display had been an illusion.
No wonder she could swim the noble circles of Mingdu for years—her acting was immaculate.
Naturally, Lu Jingming wasn't going to take her words at face value.
He did have the idea of bringing the Common Alliance under his control—after all, they were talented people, and talent was what Haiyuan City lacked most.
But his original plan had been to wait for Ye Guyi to mature, then use her strength to intervene when the Common Alliance hit a rough patch—mixing favor and threat to bring them in step by step—not to have them abruptly offer themselves up like this.
"Leader Shangguan, speak plainly. Only by being honest can we build trust."
Lu Jingming's fingers lightly tapped the tabletop. His tone was mild, but it pressed on Shangguan Wei'er.
She had wanted to banter as usual, but with those cold gazes pinning her, she stiffened and obediently explained, "City Lord Lu, as you know, the Common Alliance controls most of Mingdu's entertainment and dining. In our line of work, we're very sensitive to this city's darker undercurrents."
Her tone seemed calm, but Lu Jingming still caught a trace of deep-seated fear in her seemingly placid face.
As she spoke on, Lu Jingming's brows knitted tighter and tighter.
It seemed Xu Tiannan hadn't only moved against forces outside Mingdu and the Jingyang Mountains—he hadn't spared those within Mingdu either.
Among the Common Alliance's rank and file, many had recently gone missing.
Though they were nobodies—street thugs and the like—Shangguan Wei'er was keen enough to sense something was wrong.
Through her connections, she vaguely discovered that the upper crust of the Sun–Moon Empire—including several great nobles she frequented—had undergone eerie personality shifts, becoming unrecognizable.
The entire upper echelon of the empire, save for a few, seemed to have fallen, without anyone noticing, under the control of an invisible hand.
Shangguan Wei'er excelled at reading people. She noticed that nobles who usually cherished their lives had suddenly become especially bold of late, carrying a near self-destructive inclination—and, more than that, a desire to destroy everything.
This bizarre change had even spread to those at the helm of the empire's vital apparatus—some ninth-rank soul engineers included.
And while the regent Xu Tiannan seemed normal on the surface, every time she faced him, Shangguan Wei'er could feel a bone-deep terror.
She knew the Sun–Moon Empire had changed—and so had Mingdu.
If she didn't act now, there might be no chance later.
So, using the tournament as a cover, Shangguan Wei'er decisively chose to cling to a powerful thigh.
Within the empire, she had no one left she could trust. She could only turn to Haiyuan City, their former underground ally.
Lu Jingming listened quietly, fingers still tapping the table, mind racing.
"You want to throw in with me? Not impossible."
He spoke slowly. "But I need to know—what can you offer me? And why do you think I'd risk offending the Sun–Moon Empire to take in your Common Alliance?"
Joy flashed in Shangguan Wei'er's eyes. She hurried to say, "City Lord Lu, the Common Alliance has operated in Mingdu for many years. Our intelligence network and connections across industries are not something ordinary factions can match. If we join Haiyuan City, all of that can be yours. We also control a great many industries and assets in Mingdu—these can be our pledge of fealty. As for Xu Tiannan, his attention is on the tournament and the Holy Grail War right now. If we move quickly and leave before he reacts, he may not strike immediately. Besides, with your strength, would you really fear Xu Tiannan?"
As a long-time ally of Haiyuan City, she knew their strength well enough—hence her thought to take refuge with them and escape Mingdu, which to her had become a powder keg.
Lu Jingming neither agreed nor denied.
He knew that taking in the Common Alliance would indeed benefit Haiyuan City, and he didn't plan to refuse.
"Don't be hasty. Make your preparations. After the tournament, I'll contact you."
His tone was mild.
Though anxious, Shangguan Wei'er knew she could not press too hard. She nodded. "Very well. I'll await your word."
With that, she rose, took her leave, and departed the base.