"Report, Lord—news from the Luo family has already gone out."
Yun Xiao replied, "Tonight, the Luo family's eldest young master, Luo Chen, will face that youth in a life-or-death duel on the South City arena."
"Shall our City Guard take action?" she asked.
Du Chuan shook his head slowly. "Since the Luo family has already moved, that boy's death is certain. There's no need for the City Guard to act. We'll simply attend the match tomorrow and observe."
To Du Chuan, even if Lin Yi somehow beat Luo Chen tomorrow, he wouldn't walk free out of the South City arena—the Luo family would never allow it. The City Guard had no reason to intervene.
Yun Xiao inclined her head. "Yes, Lord."
Night deepened.
In the small courtyard behind Taotao Residence, Lin Yi ate the simple meal the servants had brought, washed, and felt sleep approaching. He was about to return to his room when a clear, melodious voice—like an oriole at dusk—floated from behind him: "Young man, wait a moment."
He turned. Under the moonlight stood a woman so startlingly beautiful she seemed carved from the moon's own light. Her skin shone like jade, her brows and eyes painted with perfect lines; a long blue dress drifted about her as the night breeze teased its hem. She looked like a fairy fallen from the heavens—the most exquisite woman Lin Yi had seen since coming to this world.
He composed himself and asked evenly, "Who are you?"
The woman covered her lips with a fan of her hand and laughed, a silver bell of sound. "Hee—General of the City Lord's Mansion, Lu Mingxi."
Her gaze appraised him. "I never imagined the brute who forced his way through the south gate and destroyed the Tang family would be such a handsome youth."
Lin Yi's surprise flickered. Qingfeng City's lord commanded six generals—each a Breath Condensation Realm powerhouse. He had not expected one of them to be so devastatingly beautiful.
"I didn't expect the City Lord's mansion to have such a radiant general either," he replied. "Why does Lady Lu visit me at this hour?"
Lu Mingxi's smile deepened. "Call me sister. I came tonight to save your life."
Lin Yi raised an eyebrow. "You expect me to be grateful? I offended the Luo family and the City Guard. Even if your mansion wanted to shelter me, you couldn't simply guarantee my safety if they truly sought my death."
She shook her head softly. "Of course. You are not one of our people. If the City Guard decides you must die, the City Lord's mansion cannot stand in their way."
Lin Yi's expression sharpened. He suspected where this was leading. "So you want me to join the City Lord's mansion—to become one of your people?"
Lu Mingxi chuckled. "Finally—someone who thinks. Join us, and I can guarantee your life."
He considered for a moment, then asked, flatly, "And if I refuse?"
Her smile turned ice-cold. "If you hadn't already angered the Luo family and the City Guard, I would simply invite you. If you refused, your sister would have you killed on the spot. We cannot risk allowing a potential enemy to live. But you're going to die tomorrow anyway, so there's no need for me to waste my breath now."
"So that's your offer," Lin Yi said, expressionless.
Lu Mingxi's smile widened as if the world unfolded to her design. "Join the City Lord's mansion tonight. That is your only chance."
Lin Yi shook his head. "No. I have other options."
Her brow furrowed, puzzled. "Other options?"
"Like killing every one of my enemies," he said, voice flat, "including your City Lord's mansion."
At that, Lin Yi's power flared. The eighth layer of the Breath Condensation Realm erupted from him in a ripple of sheer pressure. Water-like currents—thin as serpents—spooled up and coiled about his arms.
Lu Mingxi felt it hit her like a physical blow; the air itself crushed her ribs. Her face, once composed, went deathly pale, and her breath stumbled.
"You—" Her smile froze. Her eyes widened with horror. She had never imagined this youth would be so monstrously strong—his pressure exceeded even that of the City Lord himself. How had she just been so brazen as to threaten him?
Her put-on cheerfulness collapsed into a brittle, shaking laugh. "The moon is lovely tonight… heh—Young Master, I must be going. I'll leave you to your business—goodbye, goodbye!"
She turned to flee, but Lin Yi's voice, cool and quiet as a knife, had already come from behind her.
"Going somewhere?"