“Ha ha ha! That was quite the battle. Your son is an amusing man,” Zhe Dāozhe slapped his knee several times in good humor.

“I should have chosen someone else for the tournament,” Huǒ Huangdi said with a sigh, pressing a hand to his face. “Huǒ Nan is a powerful cultivator, which is why I selected him, but he is far too lazy. Dammit. If he just spent more time cultivating and less time lazing around, he would be one of the most powerful members of my clan.”

“It is true that he has talent,” Zhou Xie’e said thoughtfully. “I actually think forfeiting was the right call here. It became clear to me that your son wouldn’t win against Jian Wu. I think he realized that as well and forfeit before he was made a fool of.”

“It does take intelligence to know when to give up,” Shui Meili added. Then she smiled wryly. “However, I think in this case, he just didn’t want to fight anymore.”

Wu Meiying listened to the conversation between the clan heads and sect masters with half an ear. Most of her attention was on Wu Jian as he went back to the contestant booth. He looked so cute when he was confused. She wanted to run up and pamper him, but she knew that would not be a good idea. No one could know she was involved with him--not yet at least.

Gosh, holding myself back is getting harder and harder.

Now that almost all of her secrets were out in the open and Wu Jian had accepted her completely, Wu Meiying found the lock on her restraints rattling. It was like her heart, which she had confined within chains, was starting to break those chains. This was the first time since they had begun their cycle of reincarnation that she had been able to tell Wu Jian everything and have him accept her. The last reincarnation she had told the truth to had rejected her and committed suicide.

Thinking back, she believed the reason he had rejected her so harshly was because of what happened. Just like this reincarnation of Wu Jian, his entire family had been killed when her enemies found them. They had escaped, but they hadn’t been separated. Wu Meiying had apologized and told him everything back then. She had believed their love would survive, but Wu Jian had been beside himself with grief and rage. He lashed out at her, told her that his family’s death was all her fault, that their blood was on her hands, and then proceeded to take his own life. Wu Jian’s current reincarnation had been separated from her, which gave him time to settle his emotions. That was why he accepted her.

But I still need to be careful. I can’t allow this to let me make another mistake. I can’t let Jian be hurt anymore.

Wu Meiying had been a selfish creature for so long, only caring for her own emotions and desires. The previous Wu Jian had woken her up. His actions had made her realize how horrible she had been. She didn’t want to be like that, which was why she offered to sever ties with Wu Jian if that was his wish. Wu Meiying considered herself truly blessed that he still wanted to be with her even after learning the truth.

“What do you think of the battles so far, Mei?” asked Zhe Fēnglì.

I wish you wouldn’t call me that…

Wu Meiying did not let her irritation show on her face as she answered him. “All of the cultivators are quite skilled, though there’s an obvious gap between larger and smaller nations. It’s unfortunate, but it can’t be helped. Bigger nations like the Ten Kingdoms Alliance and Xia Dynasty have more land and access to greater resources. They can raise their cultivators to a higher level than a smaller nation like the Qing Province or the Zhou Kingdom.”

It was a sad truth no matter where you were. Larger nations generally had more abundant resources for cultivation simply because they were larger. There were also a lot more legacy ruins in larger nations since they had greater landmass for them to hide in. A bigger population resulted in a larger pool of potential cultivators. Larger nations had a longer history and more traditions, which meant access to more advanced techniques and superior cultivation methods. Since larger nations were had a more established infrastructure, they were more likely to have established sects, schools, and institutions meant to train cultivators. A larger nation could also provide better protection against external threats like magical beasts and enemy nations, offering a safety that let cultivators focus on increasing their power. These factors combined meant larger nations and sects would always have greater power.

“Of course, that’s not always the case,” Wu Meiying continued, grinning beneath her veil. “Those two from the Shang Kingdom have proven themselves most capable.”

“Hmmm. I didn’t really see the one called Mei Xilan fight before,” Zhe Fēnglì confessed. “She was on mission to the Ming Province when I traveled to the Shang Kingdom to assist them… but I do remember when Jian Wu showed up. It was toward the end of the war with the Zhou Kingdom. He appeared and demolished several cultivators that we had been struggling against. Granted, they were all weakened from prolonged fighting, but he was still just barely at the Human Limit Realm. It should not have been possible for him to defeat Deva Realm cultivators, even weakened ones, and yet he did so with ease.”

Wu Meiying felt pride swell within her chest. She struggled hard not to show it, but she felt so proud of how strong Wu Jian was becoming. She wanted to tell everyone that he was her man.

Ugh, keeping a lid on my emotions sucks.

The battles continued apace until six winners emerged; Wu Jian, Zhuan Lin who had been seeded, Da Feiyu, Huǒ Pànguó, Huǒ Schuchang, and Huǒ Yujie would go on to the next round.

***

Because there were six people instead of eight, it had been decided that the third round would be a round robin. The top two winners would go on to fight each other. That being the case, the battles were slated to take place tomorrow.

Night had come.

While the Xia Dynasty boasted about being the safest nation, that did not mean there was no crime.

In the dimly lit section of the city, the night swelled with untamed life. The so-called respectable veneer of the day had faded to reveal a grittier world that thrived in darkness. Dim paper lanterns hung from the balconies of various establishments, bathing the narrow, cobblestone alleys in an eerie glow. They cast long, dancing shadows that stretched and twisted like spectral serpents in the uneven night. The air carried a mix of scents, from exotic herbs located in nearby apothecaries to the bittersweet fragrant of incense and sex emanating from brothels that lined the street.

He walked with purpose, traveling deeper into the so-called dark district.

Even places like Heavenly Chengshi, which boasted one of the Xaio Continent’s lowest crime rates, had its fair share of criminal activity. If anything, due to the size and density of its population, there were simply more people present who might commit crimes. This was especially true in high-density cities, where there was a greater chance for social tension and competition over resources. No matter how much the Phoenix Clan tried to crack down on criminal activity, there would always be those willing to commit crimes for the sake of their ambitions.

His destination was located within the dim underbelly of this bustling metropolis, nestled between a network of twisting alleys, a place known as the Phoenix Roost. This tavern seemed no different at first glance, yet to the knowing eye, it was a veiled realm of intrigue, a secret sanctuary for those who thrived in the shadows.

The tavern was an ancient structure, worn by time but sturdy. The wooden door bore the faintly engraved image of a phoenix, and hidden behind it, the mark of a serpent. It opened silently as he entered. Inside, the air was a heady mix of rich incense, aged spirits, and the lingering scent of smoke from the dragonbone fireplace. It looked like a fine establishment to any who stopped by. Nobody but those in the know would think anything amiss.

He walked up to the long counter, behind which, the barkeep, a burly figure with a gaze sharper than a sword, managed an array of bottles filled with liquors of varying hues, some normal but others radiating faintly with chi. As he sat down, the barkeep grunted.

“What’ll ya have?”

“Give me your best Phoenix Ale.”

Phoenix Ale was a fiery concoction famed and feared across the Xia Dynasty. It was not a drink for the faint-hearted, with its distinctive flaming hue, a clear testament to its potent nature. It was brewed from a combination of rare herbs and steeped in a liquid called phoenix blood. Of course, it was not real phoenix blood, but a red liquid derived from a plant called the phoenix blossom vine, an unusual, flowering vine that grew in areas with high spiritual energy of a fiery nature. It's blooms were a vibrant mix of red, orange, and gold, resembling the plumage of a phoenix. The liquid derived from steeping it was a deep golden red like phoenix blood.

“Hmph.”

The barkeep reached under the counter, retrieved a glass, and mixed the drink with practiced hands. He slid it across the counter. It stopped directly in front of him.

“To those who enjoy the night,” he said, tipping the glass back.

“To those who abstain the day,” the barkeep said. “They’re in the back.”

“You have my thanks.”

After paying the man and leaving a generous tip, he stood up and wandered to a hidden door marked only by an intricate carving of a phoenix, which he opened and walked through. New noises reached his ears. The hoots and hollars of gamblers. Men and women crowded around low-seating tables and played games of chance.

Gambling was illegal in the Xia Dynasty. At least, gambling that wasn’t sanctioned by the Phoenix Clan. They did their best to crack down on anyone trying to cut into their business with cold brutality, and yet, places like this continued to thrive specifically because of their harsh laws.

He ignored the gambling and made his way to the back room, where an unadorned door sat. On the other side were a group of people sitting in lounge chairs. A few women were with them, dressed in the skimpy clothing women of the night wore. The lascivious expressions on their faces as the man pawed at them didn’t even give him pause as he sat down in the only empty chair--facing the man he had come to see.

The man in question looked… normal, for lack of a better word. He had brown hair, brown eyes, and a forgettable face. You’d never be able to spot him within a crowd, which made him perfect for his job.

He grinned. “Been a while since I’ve seen you. Has your clan come to do more business with me?”

He kept his polite smile up even though he wanted to vomit. If it weren’t for the Phoenix Clan’s interference, his clan would have already established their own shadow group here, but Huǒ Huangdi was always wary of them and stymied all their attempts. It had taken great pains just to establish an auction house, and the taxes and fees they had to pay to keep it running was astronomical.

“Indeed. There is something I’d like you to do. You’re the only man for the job, Shen Yunhai” he said. This name was not one that would strike fear in anyone’s heart, but that was only because he was so good at his job. It would be much harder to do find work if people actually knew his name.

The man leaned back and grinned languidly. “Name the job and I’ll give you a price.”

He licked his lips. “There is a young man I want you to kidnap. His name is Jian Wu.”

“Ain’t that one of the kid’s taking part in the tournament?” Shen Yunhai rubbed his chin. “That’s gonna cost you extra.”

“It’s fine.” He shrugged. “The clan head is willing to pay your price.”

“Ha ha ha. That’s good. I always liked your clan head. He understands how the world works. Very well.” Shen Yunhai slapped his knee and stood up. “All right. I’ll kidnap that kid for you.”

He sighed in relief. His clan could not act within the Xia Dynasty since Huǒ Huangdi was keeping a close eye on them. That was why he had to resort to using a dark guild like this. He knew he could count on them to get the job done. After all, the Yin Yuan Dark Guild was one of the most powerful within the Xia Dynasty, and this man was its top-ranked assassin.