Waves of fire spread across the walls and ceiling, framing Chi Yue'an like an ancient god of fire—burly, overbearing, and radiating sheer dominance. In his early forties, he wore his hair slicked back. His skin was slightly tan, his nose broad, and his face wide with taut flesh, projecting the aura of a battle-hardened tough guy. The fine crow's-feet at the corners of his eyes lent him a touch of mature charm.
Chi Yue'an entered the hall using Fire Walk, his sharp gaze sweeping over the wrecked scene. When he saw the corpses of the three Spirit Realm walkers, his pupils shrank slightly, and his expression turned cold as ice.
"Three useless pieces of trash!"
He let out a cold snort. Only upon spotting the unconscious Master Wu did his complexion soften slightly.
This man was his cash cow and helped him control several prominent figures and dignitaries in Songhai. That he could wield unquestioned authority in Shakou District was due not only to his personal strength at the Saint stage, but also largely to the "evidence" in his grasp.
Cultivating a fully capable moneymaking tool was far harder than training a Spirit Realm walker.
As long as Master Wu didn't die, the stronghold of Bronze Sparrow Tower could be preserved.
"Chi Yue'an!"
Kou Beiyue's eyes reddened instantly, bloodshot. His handsome face twisted into a vicious snarl, like an enraged lion.
Hearing his name, Chi Yue'an looked over and remarked indifferently:
"I checked the archives yesterday and only then realized it was you, little brat. Ever since you broke out of the Public Security Bureau's morgue, there's been no word of you for nearly two years. You never showed your face, so I thought you'd died in the Spirit Realm long ago."
At that point, Chi Yue'an licked his lips and curled his mouth into a smile.
"Your sister was quite something. Ever since she came to Bronze Sparrow Tower, I stayed here every night. She gave me pleasure I hadn't felt in a long time. I loved to toy with her and abuse her in every way imaginable. Too bad she wasn't very obedient. A stubborn temperament. So sometimes, I'd invite other guests to join in..."
"Shut up!!!"
Kou Beiyue broke down. Old hatred and fresh fury surged together, and memories of his sister's dying moments flashed through his mind. Losing all reason, he charged at Chi Yue'an with a roar.
Seeing this, Chi Yue'an gave a cold smirk, wearing the look of someone whose scheme had succeeded. Without haste, he summoned a thin crimson glove from his inventory.
Bad. Losing your cool in front of a Saint is no different from courting death... Zhang Yuanqing immediately summoned the Burst Pistol and fired covering shots.
Bang! Bang!
The bullets reached the target faster than Kou Beiyue, but Chi Yue'an simply raised a hand and pushed it forward gently, conjuring a barrier of fire out of thin air.
The explosive steel-core bullets spun at high speed, suspended in midair, unable to advance even a single centimeter. Before they could detonate, the extreme heat melted them into black molten iron.
Without sparing a glance at the enemy shooting at him, Chi Yue'an raised his right hand, clad in the thin crimson glove. With a whoosh, a raging blaze erupted from it and solidified, forming a long saber with a bright yellow core and a crimson exterior.
Unlike weapons condensed by other Fire Masters, which clearly looked like flame at a glance, Chi Yue'an's saber looked, at first glance, like a solid, genuine blade.
Chi Yue'an stepped forward with a thud, sweeping the crimson saber upward.
Blazing wind hit him in the face, shocking the enraged Kou Beiyue back to some degree of clarity. He brought his combat knife horizontally in front of his chest.
Sizzle—
The edges of the two weapons rubbed against each other. The knife in Kou Beiyue's hand turned red-hot like a branding iron in an instant, and with a dull, soft pop, it snapped.
Having no time to mourn the broken item, Kou Beiyue displayed the melee prowess expected of a Bewitching Demon, throwing his upper body back violently to let the scorching upward slash graze past his chest and abdomen.
Chi Yue'an took another stride forward, drew back the flaming saber, briefly gathered force, and swung horizontally toward his waist.
Clack, clack, clack!
A flurry of crisp, hurried footsteps approached as the Red Dancing Shoes sprinted and went airborne, unleashing a swift, ferocious flurry of kicks straight into his waist and abdomen.
Even with Chi Yue'an's formidable physique, the blows made him stumble, throwing off the saber's trajectory.
Chi Yue'an took a step back, the long saber shrinking at will into a short blade as he slashed at the eerie Red Dancing Shoes.
Whoosh!
The blade scorched the air. It clearly struck the dancing shoes, but the strike felt no different from slicing through empty air.
"Huh?" Chi Yue'an was taken aback, clearly unprepared for such an outcome.
Right then, black qi enveloped his face, his eyes turned blood-red, and violence and madness replaced his calm composure.
His sanity degraded rapidly, his mind falling into total chaos. Within two or three seconds, he "devolved" into a beast driven purely by instinct and emotion.
Just as his mind fractured, a gleaming blade materialized silently at his neck, slicing toward the carotid artery.
The ambusher, Zhang Yuanqing, immediately manifested behind Chi Yue'an.
Among Zhang Yuanqing's array of items, the Burst Pistol and Ruffian Boxing Gloves—both Fire Master items—were eliminated first; they certainly wouldn't work against a Saint-stage Fire Master of the same class.
The Heavenly Toad Censer had too long a lead-up time and was unusable in an occasion like this.
The Cat King Speaker's suona couldn't be played again, while the drum sound would affect Kou Beiyue, leaving him vulnerable to an instant kill by Chi Yue'an—tantamount to helping the enemy backstab an ally.
The Eye of the Insightful and Disguise Ring were auxiliary items, easily disregarded, while the Demon-Subduing Pestle's functions weren't suited for this situation.
The only items that could pose a threat to Chi Yue'an were the Bloodthirsty Blade, the Red Dancing Shoes, the Red Bridal Veil, and the straw doll.
Of these four items, the straw doll obtained from Hei Wuchang took effect the fastest and could directly threaten a Level 4 Saint.
Although Chi Yue'an was a Level 4 Saint and stronger than the previous three Spirit Realm walkers, he was a Fire Master, after all. Zhang Yuanqing believed his ambush had a real chance of succeeding.
Rip...
Chi Yue'an's feet slipped, and his body fell backward, evading the strike aimed at his carotid artery. Unflustered, Zhang Yuanqing turned the blade downward and thrust.
Plunge!
The Bloodthirsty Blade pierced Chi Yue'an's shoulder.
A Night Wanderer... The sharp pain cleared Chi Yue'an's head slightly. Snapping his waist and back, he stood straight despite the Bloodthirsty Blade lodged in him, paying no heed to the deepening wound. A fireball flared in his palm as he slapped it backward at his ambusher.
Wearing the Eye of the Insightful, Zhang Yuanqing anticipated his attack in advance and stepped aside without haste.
His slap meeting empty air, Chi Yue'an clenched his fingers tight. The fireball in his palm detonated with a boom, like a high-explosive grenade going off.
The signature skill of the Ruffian Boxing Gloves was something a Level 4 Fire Master could perform with ease, and with far greater power and violence.
Zhang Yuanqing's body shattered into pieces, disintegrating into countless splashes of water that spilled across the floor.
Facing a Level 4 Saint, how could he not have donned the Yinyang Robe in advance?
This item granted him the ability to control water and fire, indirectly bestowing the skills of both a Water Ghost and a Fire Master.
"A Water Ghost?" Chi Yue'an was shocked.
This person possessed an astonishing variety of means: the Night Wanderer's Night Walk, a Witch Doctor's curse, and even the passive skill of a Water Ghost.
Chi Yue'an extended both arms, aiming his palms at the ground—at the enemy who had turned into water.
Dealing with a Water Ghost was simple: evaporating the water with extreme heat was enough to kill them.
During this process, gentle, holy halos of light welled from within Chi Yue'an, repairing the shoulder wound and suppressing the corrupting black qi.
The Sweet Dew Inner Armor—this item derived from a Musician—had taken effect.
Whoosh!
Two scorching fire serpents shot from his palms, licking at the water on the floor.
Smack!
At the critical moment, Kou Beiyue sprang up and delivered a high kick to Chi Yue'an's arms, sending the flames blasting into the ceiling instead.
With two dull thuds, the Red Dancing Shoes coordinated with the attack, briefly suppressing the Level 4 Saint.
Hiss—splatter—
Sensing the scorch of fire, the ceiling's fire sprinklers went off, spraying dense, powerful streams of water that soaked the floor.
Zhang Yuanqing's consciousness finally returned. Drawing upon the shower of water like sweet dew, he slowly reassembled his body and regained human form.
Just as he regained his human form and vision, Chi Yue'an's body erupted with a boom. His aura skyrocketed, radiating a terrifying pressure.
Rager!
The core skill of a Saint-stage Fire Master.
From Level 4 to Level 6, throughout the entire Saint stage, a Fire Master possessed only one skill: Rager.
This skill massively boosted a Fire Master's strength, multiplying it by anywhere from one to three times. Thus, Saint-stage Fire Masters were hailed as quasi-invincible entities; at this stage, even a Bewitching Demon had to steer clear of their edge.
Kou Beiyue, who was in the middle of a close-quarters assault, stiffened.
The Red Dancing Shoes were unaffected, but their strikes could no longer budge the "raging" Fire Master.
Chi Yue'an lowered his knees slightly, cocked his right fist at his chest, and punched forward like a drive rod.
Crack!
Kou Beiyue's sternum snapped instantly. He flew backward like a broken sandbag, heavily crashing into an arcade machine behind him and shattering it.
He slumped limp to the ground, his body twitching, unable to rise again.
Thud, thud, thud. Seeking a swift resolution, Chi Yue'an gave him no chance to breathe. Flames burst from his gloved palm, condensing into a long saber that slashed down with a vengeance.
Splash!
With no time to use the Red Bridal Veil, Zhang Yuanqing's body once again dissolved into crystal-clear water. Sweeping up the water raining from the ceiling, he formed a winding current.
The current surged agilely, wrapping around the blazing saber.
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—
The crystal-clear current turned turbid in an instant, bubbling vigorously and spewing thick white steam as it came to a rolling boil.
The fresh water spraying from the sprinklers constantly replenished the mass of water, maintaining a delicate balance against the blazing saber.
Meanwhile, the little feet of the Red Dancing Shoes kicked frantically at his chest, doing their best to rescue their useless owner.
"Seeking death! I'll turn you to ash."
Flames flashed in Chi Yue'an's eyes. The blazing saber's temperature skyrocketed, releasing clouds of steam. The mass of water clinging to the saber hissed fiercely, more than half of it evaporating in an instant, far too fast for the sprinklers to replenish.
Bang!
A heavy, resounding gunshot echoed from outside the hall.
Chi Yue'an's head snapped forward, and he stumbled slightly.
More enemies? He quickly stabilized himself, endured the sharp pain in the back of his head, and wheeled around to guard against the hall's entrance.
Three figures walked in through the doorway. Leading them was a young man wearing baggy shorts, a loose T-shirt, and flip-flops. A cheerful smile hung on his face, his eyes squinted into slits, radiating a laziness rooted deep in his bones.
To his left was a man in a black vest and white dress shirt, his leather shoes polished to a shine, his mustache neatly groomed—retaining his elegance and dignity even on a midnight outing.
To his right was a gorgeous mixed-race beauty in a white shirt and black skirt suit. Sensual and stunning, her shapely legs were clad in black stockings, and she held a magnificent rifle inscribed with gold patterns leveled before her.
They were finally here... Taking advantage of the distraction, Zhang Yuanqing reformed his human body and collapsed limply beside Kou Beiyue.
At the same time, he halted the Red Dancing Shoes' pursuit function, activated its second form, and slipped them onto his feet.
He did this both to guard against a dishonorable sneak attack from Chi Yue'an and to keep the shoes from roping him into an awkward dance.
Zhang Yuanqing hadn't expected Chi Yue'an to arrive so quickly, but he had taken precautions. Before the operation, he had notified Guan Ya and filled her in.
With Guan Ya's experience and wisdom, upon discovering that a Saint was involved, she would certainly notify Fu Qingyang rather than come alone.
And that was indeed what she had done—yet Zhang Yuanqing hadn't expected Ling Jun to show up instead of Fu Qingyang.
Can this guy handle this? He's the certified trash personally dubbed by Fu Qingyang... Zhang Yuanqing gasped heavily for breath.
Guan Ya's gaze lingered on Zhang Yuanqing for a few seconds before shifting to Chi Yue'an. Gritting her teeth, she said:
"I'm going to blow your head off with one shot."
Li Dongze drew his small pistol and raised his cane horizontally.
Ling Jun quickly held up his hands, making pressing motions before them as he offered a lazy smile. "Come now, let's talk things out. Harmony breeds wealth, harmony breeds wealth."
Chi Yue'an sized up the three of them and asked in a low voice:
"Who are you?"
As he spoke, gentle and holy halos of light rippled out, healing the bullet wound on the back of his head.
Songhai was vast, and Spirit Realm walkers from different districts rarely crossed paths. As a Deacon, Chi Yue'an had even less reason to recognize ordinary walkers from other districts.
The reason he suppressed his fiery temper and murderous intent was that the easygoing young man who looked so approachable gave him a palpable sense of danger.
Li Dongze said solemnly, "I am a Decurion of Team Two, Kangyang District, Five Elements Alliance Songhai Branch. Not long ago, I received a report of illegal gambling and group lewdness taking place here."
A Decurion from Kangyang District... Not in the least flustered, Chi Yue'an replied impassively:
"Nothing of the sort. I received a report that evil professions infiltrated a private residence and went on a killing spree, so I rushed here to deal with it. I've already taken over this matter. Go back."
None of the three moved.
Chi Yue'an narrowed his eyes, his tone suddenly harsh and accusing.
"What? People from Kangyang District want to stick their noses into my Shakou District's business? Let alone a mere Decurion like you, even Fu Qingyang has no authority to meddle in my jurisdiction! If you don't scram right now, I'll beat you all to death. Think the Elders will uphold justice on your behalf?"
Regulations of the Songhai Branch explicitly stated that official walkers from one district were forbidden from meddling in affairs outside their jurisdiction unless an Elder granted permission or the local district's official walkers requested backup.
With the rules set in stone, there was no way Chi Yue'an would let walkers from another district take over Bronze Sparrow Tower.
When he threatened to kill them, it wasn't just bluster. If these three insisted on meddling, vied for control over Bronze Sparrow Tower, and raised a hand against him, the nature of the matter would escalate severely.
If official walkers from Kangyang District meddled in another district's affairs without authorization, violently seized control, and attacked that district's Deacon, killing them would count as legitimate self-defense on his part.
At most, he would receive a disciplinary mark on his record.
"Uh, we do seem to lack justification here. How about we take our people and pull back first?"
Ling Jun had come to save someone, not investigate a case. He wasn't part of the Five Elements Alliance either, and had little interest in meddling in such affairs.
Guan Ya and Li Dongze looked toward Yuanshi Tianzun.
"Take them?"
Growing increasingly aggressive, Chi Yue'an sneered. "I don't think so. They're evil professions. Not only did they kill members of my team, they slaughtered ordinary people. You think you can just take them away whenever you please? Are you harboring criminals—"
At that point, his expression shifted slightly. He whirled around and stared at the ordinary-looking young man who had used the Night Walk skill.
Kangyang District... a Night Wanderer...
"You're Yuanshi Tianzun?" Chi Yue'an's face changed slightly.
In that moment, Zhang Yuanqing felt the reckless abandon of someone who had nothing left to lose. Grinning wide, he snapped, "Your daddy in the flesh!"
Having just used the Yinyang Robe, his emotions had become irritable, impulsive, and exceedingly domineering.
Yuanshi Tianzun, Class A merit, held in high regard by the Council of Elders... Chi Yue'an found the situation tricky. A figure like this couldn't simply be killed.
At least, not by his own hands.
He shifted tactics at once. Taking a deep breath, he looked at Ling Jun and the other two, speaking with an overbearing edge:
"You may take him. But that other Bewitching Demon stays."
His subsequent strategy would be to destroy evidence and clear out the women in Bronze Sparrow Tower. As long as there was no ironclad proof, his status as a Deacon combined with his backing and connections would allow him to minimize the fallout and make the matter disappear.
Ling Jun nodded slightly. "Fair enough!"
He turned to Zhang Yuanqing. "Let's go. We leave first, and you can coordinate with Fu Qingyang on what comes next."
Coordinating meant going through procedure.
To investigate a Deacon, one needed an Elder's approval, submitting an investigation request along with evidence.
And Chi Yue'an's superior Elder wasn't Elder Gou, making things even more complicated.
"No, we can't leave! If we leave today, nothing will come of this!" Zhang Yuanqing pushed himself up, looking at Ling Jun and the other two while panting heavily.
"I've already investigated everything. Chi Yue'an backs underworld syndicates, abducts and imprisons innocent women, coerces them into earning money, and uses them to bribe prominent dignitaries in Shakou District! He's forcibly acquired well over a thousand shops! On top of that, he's suspected of murder..."
He laid out the intelligence he had gathered today, item by item.
Li Dongze listened, dumbfounded.
He had only heard a vague summary from Guan Ya, without any concrete grasp of the details.
The same went for Guan Ya.
What she had heard from Zhang Yuanqing was merely that underworld forces in Shakou District were persecuting women and bribing dignitaries.
Even that had been enough to make Guan Ya feel physically sick and deeply incensed.
Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine these people were far more depraved than she had envisioned. Their treatment of the women in this building could no longer be described as mere "persecution"—they were treated as cash cows and playthings for venting animal lust.
And that didn't even account for the vicious commercial competition.
The lazy expression on Ling Jun's face grew solemn bit by bit, the smile at the corner of his lips slowly fading away.
Chapter 161