Realm Walker

Layer upon layer of fire spread along the walls and ceiling, framing Chi Yue'an like an ancient god of flame. He was imposing, domineering, and radiated an overwhelming presence.

The man was in his early forties, with slicked back hair, slightly dark skin, a broad nose, and a wide face. The skin across his cheeks was pulled taut, giving him the look of a fierce, battle-hardened warrior. The fine crow's feet at the corners of his eyes added a touch of mature, rugged charm.

Chi Yue'an had firewalked into the main hall. His sharp gaze swept across the wreckage of the scene. When he spotted the three Spirit Realm Walker corpses, his eyes narrowed and his expression turned colder still.

"Three pieces of trash!" He snorted contemptuously, and only when he noticed the unconscious Master Wu did his expression soften slightly.

That man was his money making tool, and through him, Chi Yue'an controlled a number of prominent and powerful figures across Songhai. His ability to rule Shakou District with absolute authority relied not only on his Saint tier strength but also on the "evidence" he held over those people.

Cultivating a profitable puppet like Master Wu was far harder than cultivating a Spirit Realm Walker. As long as Master Wu lived, the Bronze Sparrow Tower operation could be preserved.

"Chi Yue'an!" Kou Beiyue snarled at the new arrival.

His eyes turned red in an instant, bloodshot and blazing, and his handsome features twisted into something savage, like a lion consumed by fury.

Chi Yue'an glanced over at him.

"I checked the files yesterday and realized it was you, you little runt," he said in an indifferent tone. "After you escaped from the Public Security Bureau morgue, there was no news and no sightings of you for two years. I assumed you'd already died in some Spirit Realm dungeon."

He paused, licking his lips, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth. "Your sister was quite something. Ever since she arrived at Bronze Sparrow Tower, I spent every night here. She gave me a kind of pleasure I hadn't felt in a long time. I loved toying with her in all sorts of ways, tormenting her. It's a shame she wasn't very obedient. She had a stubborn personality. So sometimes, I'd invite other guests to join in—"

"Shut up!!"

Kou Beiyue broke. Old grudges and fresh rage surged up together. The image of his sister before her death flashed through his mind. He lost all reason and charged at Chi Yue'an with a roar.

Seeing this, Chi Yue'an smiled coldly, the expression of a man whose scheme had worked exactly as planned. Unhurried, he summoned a thin red glove from his inventory.

This is bad. Losing your head when facing a Saint is no different from courting death. Zhang Yuanqing immediately summoned the Burst Pistol and opened fire to provide cover.

Bang! Bang!

The bullets reached the target before Kou Beiyue did, but Chi Yue'an simply extended his hand. A barrier made of flame materialized from nothing. The steel-core rounds, which had explosive capability, hovered in midair spinning at high speed, unable to advance even a single centimeter. Before they could detonate, the intense heat melted them into black rivulets of molten iron.

Without even looking at the shooter, Chi Yue'an raised his right hand, now sheathed in the red glove, the Crimson Flame Divine Weapon. With a whoosh, roaring flames erupted from his palm, then solidified into a long blade, bright yellow at its core and crimson red along its edge.

Unlike the weapons other Fire Sages condensed out of fire, which were obviously made of flame at first glance, this blade looked entirely real. At a casual glance, it was indistinguishable from solid steel.

Chi Yue'an stepped forward with a heavy thud and swung the crimson blade upward in a rising slash.

Scorching wind blasted across the room. In his fury, Kou Beiyue recovered a sliver of composure and raised his military bayonet in a horizontal guard.

Sizzle...

The two blades ground against each other. Kou Beiyue's bayonet turned red hot in an instant, glowing like a branding iron. Then, with a dull, muffled crack, it snapped in two.

He had no time to mourn the loss. Displaying the close combat prowess expected of an Enchanting Demon, he threw his body backward in a violent lean, letting the scorching edge of the upward slash skim past his chest and abdomen by mere inches.

Chi Yue'an stepped forward again, pulled the flame blade back and swept it in a waist-high horizontal arc.

Clack clack clack...

Rapid, crisp footsteps stormed in as the Red Dancing Shoes sprinted forward and launched themselves into the air, unleashing a furious barrage of kicks aimed at Chi Yue'an's midsection. Even with his powerful physique, the impact sent Chi Yue'an stumbling, and his blade veered off course.

He retreated a step. The long blade shrank at will into a short dagger, which he slashed at the eerie dancing shoes.

Whoosh!

The blade seared the air in front of him. It had clearly struck the shoes, yet the effect was no different from cutting through empty space.

"Hm?" Chi Yue'an's expression froze. He hadn't expected that result.

At that very moment, a dark miasma shrouded his face. His eyes turned a burning crimson as violent rage and madness replaced his composure and calm. Reason crumbled rapidly, and his thoughts dissolved into chaos. Within two or three seconds, he had devolved into a beast driven by nothing but instinct and raw emotion.

In the midst of his mental collapse, a gleaming blade appeared at his neck without a sound, sliding toward his carotid artery. The ambusher, Zhang Yuanqing, materialized behind Chi Yue'an.

Among Zhang Yuanqing's many items, the Burst Pistol and Thug's Gauntlets, both Fire Sage-class equipment, were the first to be ruled out. They would be useless against a Saint tier practitioner of the same class. The Celestial Toad Incense Burner required too much setup time, making it impractical for this kind of fight.

The Cat King Speaker's suona tune couldn't be used again, and its war drums would affect Kou Beiyue too, which meant he would be instantly annihilated by Chi Yue'an. That would be the equivalent of helping the enemy backstab his own teammate.

The Eye of the Beholder and the Disguise Ring were support items, and immediately disqualified. The Demon-subduing Awl's function didn't apply here either.

The only items capable of threatening Chi Yue'an were the Bloodthirsty Blade, the Red Dancing Shoes, the Red Bridal Veil, and the Straw Doll. Of those four, the Straw Doll, originally from Black Wuchang, was the fastest acting one and could directly threaten a Level 4 Saint.

Chi Yue'an was indeed a Level 4 Saint, far stronger than the three Spirit Realm Walkers from before. But he was a Fire Sage, and Zhang Yuanqing was confident he could pull off the ambush.

Screech...

Chi Yue'an's feet moved. He tilted his body backward, dodging the slash aimed at his carotid artery. Zhang Yuanqing didn't panic. He simply angled the blade downward and thrust.

Squelch!

The Bloodthirsty Blade pierced Chi Yue'an's shoulder.

A Nocturnal Specter... The searing pain cleared Chi Yue'an's head somewhat. His back arched and he straightened up, driving the blade even deeper into his own shoulder in the process. Without sparing the worsening wound a single glance, he summoned a fireball in his palm and slammed it toward the attacker behind him.

Zhang Yuanqing, wearing the Eye of the Beholder, had already anticipated the attack. He sidestepped with unhurried precision. Chi Yue'an's palm strike hit nothing but air. But then his five fingers clenched suddenly, and the fireball detonated with a thunderous boom, as though a high explosive grenade had gone off.

It was the signature technique of the Thug's Gauntlets. A Level 4 Fire Sage could replicate it effortlessly, and with far greater destructive force.

Zhang Yuanqing's body shattered into countless droplets of water that splashed across the floor. He was going up against a Level 4 Saint. How could he possibly have neglected to wear the Yin Yang Spell Robe beforehand? The robe granted him control over water and fire, effectively giving him access to the skills of both the Water Ghost and Fire Sage classes.

"A Water Ghost?" Chi Yue'an exclaimed in surprise.

This person's repertoire was staggering. He possessed the Nocturnal Specter's Night Wandering, the Hex Master's Curse, and now the Water Ghost's passive ability as well.

Chi Yue'an extended both arms, palms facing the ground and at the enemy who had dissolved into water. Dealing with a Water Ghost was simple. Just evaporate the water with extreme heat, and the target would die.

As he prepared his attack, gentle, holy light radiated from within his body, mending the wound in his shoulder and suppressing the dark miasma of the Straw Doll's curse. It was the Sweet Rain Inner Armor. The Musician-class item was doing its work.

Whoosh!

Two blazing serpents of fire erupted from his palms, licking across the puddles of water on the floor.

Crack!

At the critical moment, Kou Beiyue sprang to his feet and delivered a high kick that smashed into Chi Yue'an's outstretched arms. The streams of fire were redirected toward the ceiling.

Bang bang!

The Red Dancing Shoes joined the assault, and together they briefly suppressed the Level 4 Saint.

The fire sprinklers on the ceiling detected the heat and activated, sending dense, powerful jets of water cascading down, soaking the floor.

Zhang Yuanqing's consciousness finally returned. Drawing on the water coming down like rain, he slowly reconstituted his body, reforming into his human shape.

The instant he regained his form and his vision, he saw what seemed like a concussive blast ripple through Chi Yue'an's body. The man's aura surged upward in waves, bringing with it a terrifying pressure.

Berserk! The core skill of the Saint tier Fire Sage.

Across the entire Saint tier from Level 4 to Level 6, a Fire Sage learned only one skill: Berserk.

It could massively amplify a Fire Sage's strength, making them anywhere between two to three times as deadly. Because of this, Saint-tier Fire Sages were considered near invincible by other Walkers of that tier. Even an Enchanting Demon would have to retreat from that kind of raw power.

Kou Beiyue, who had been pressing the attack at close range, froze mid-motion. The Red Dancing Shoes were unaffected, but their kicks could no longer budge the enraged Fire Sage.

Chi Yue'an sank his weight into both knees, cocked his right fist tight against his chest, and drove it forward like a piston rod.

CRACK!

Kou Beiyue's sternum shattered instantly. He flew backward like a burst sandbag and crashed through a row of gambling machines with a thunderous impact. He slumped to the ground, his body convulsing, unable to rise.

Chi Yue'an pressed the advantage, giving him no chance to recover. Flames roared from his gloved palm, condensing into a long blade that he raised high and brought down in a devastating chop.

Zhang Yuanqing, unable to activate the Red Bridal Veil in time, let his body collapse once more into clear, transparent water. It merged with the spray falling from the ceiling, forming a sinuous, flowing stream.

The stream surged forward and wrapped around the blazing blade.

Hiss, hiss, hiss...

The transparent water instantly turned murky, bubbling and steaming as it reached a violent boil. The sprinklers above continuously replenished the water, maintaining a precarious equilibrium with the blazing blade. Through it all, the little Red Dancing Shoes kicked at Chi Yue'an's chest, desperately trying to save their useless master.

"You're courting death! I'll reduce you to nothing."

Fire flashed in Chi Yue'an's eyes. The temperature of the blazing blade spiked dramatically, evaporating large chunks of water and releasing massive clouds of steam. The water encasing the blade let out furious, sputtering hisses as it vaporized at a terrifying rate, far too fast for the sprinklers to keep up.

Bang!

A heavy, resonant gunshot rang out from beyond the hall entrance. Chi Yue'an's head jerked forward as the bullet struck the back of his skull, and he stumbled a half-step forward.

More enemies? He steadied himself, fighting through the searing pain in his skull, and spun to face the doorway.

Three figures walked in. The one in front was a young man wearing baggy shorts, an oversized T shirt, and flip flops. A lazy grin hung on his face, and his eyes were narrowed to slits. He radiated an indolence that seemed to seep from his very bones.

To his left stood a man wearing a black vest over a white dress shirt, with leather shoes polished to a mirror shine and a thin mustache groomed to perfection. He refused to sacrifice an ounce of elegance or composure even for a midnight excursion. He carried a gentleman's cane in one hand.

To the right was a mixed-heritage beauty in a white blouse and black pencil skirt. She was alluring and striking, with her shapely legs sheathed in black stockings. She held an ornate rifle traced with golden patterns in both hands, leveled and steady.

They're finally here. Zhang Yuanqing seized the opportunity to reform his body as he collapsed beside Kou Beiyue, barely holding himself together.

At the same time, he deactivated the Red Dancing Shoes' pursuit mode, switched them to their second form, and wore them on his feet. This served two purposes. First, to guard against any dishonorable sneak attack from Chi Yue'an, and second, to prevent the shoes from forcing him into an awkward dance battle at this time.

Zhang Yuanqing hadn't expected Chi Yue'an to arrive so quickly, but he had taken precautions. Before he began the operation, he'd notified Guan Ya and told her everything. Given her experience and sharp mind, the moment she realized a Saint was involved, he knew she would alert Fu Qingyang rather than come alone.

And that was exactly what she'd done. But Zhang Yuanqing hadn't anticipated that it wouldn't be Fu Qingyang who accompanied her, but Ling Jun.

Can this guy even handle it? Fu Qingyang personally called him trash, Zhang Yuanqing wondered as he gasped for air.

Guan Ya's gaze lingered on Zhang Yuanqing for a few seconds before shifting to Chi Yue'an.

"I'm going to put a bullet right through your skull," she spat through clenched teeth.

Li Dongze drew his small pistol and raised his cane.

Ling Jun hurriedly lifted both hands, making calming gestures in front of the pair.

"Easy now, let's talk this out," he said with a lazy smile. "Peace brings prosperity, peace brings prosperity."

Chi Yue'an studied the three newcomers, his voice low and guarded. "Who are you?"

As he spoke, gentle, holy light rippled across his body, mending the gunshot wound at the back of his head.

Songhai was a vast city, and Spirit Realm Walkers from different districts rarely interacted. As a steward, Chi Yue'an certainly wouldn't recognize ordinary Walkers from another district.

The reason he held his temper and killing intent in check was the easygoing young man. The one who looked so agreeable and laid back on the outside made him feel genuinely threatened.

Li Dongze said in a solemn tone, "I'm the Squad Leader of Kangyang District Squad Two, Songhai Branch of the Five Elements Alliance. We recently received a report of mass gambling and group debauchery at this location."

A Squad Leader from Kangyang District? Chi Yue'an showed no alarm, and he kept his tone flat.

"There's nothing of the sort here. I received a report that Evil-class practitioners had infiltrated a private residence and gone on a killing spree, so I came to handle it personally. I've already taken charge of this matter. You may leave."

None of the three moved.

Chi Yue'an narrowed his eyes, and his voice turned sharp and accusatory. "What's this? Do you people from Kangyang District think you can meddle in Shakou District affairs? Even Fu Qingyang doesn't have the authority to interfere in my jurisdiction, let alone a mere squad leader. If you don't get lost right now, I'll beat you all to death, and we'll see if the elders bother seeking justice on your behalf!"

The Songhai Branch had explicit regulations. Official Walkers from different major districts were forbidden from interfering in affairs outside their jurisdiction unless an elder granted permission or the local district's official Walkers requested support.

The rules were clear. There was no way Chi Yue'an would let another district's people take over Bronze Sparrow Tower.

His threat of lethal violence wasn't all empty bluster. If these three insisted on intervening, seizing control of the situation, and attacking him, the consequences would be severe. Kangyang District Walkers would be privately meddling in another district's affairs, using violence to take over, and assaulting the local steward. Even if he killed all of them, it would be justified as self-defense. At worst, he'd receive a formal reprimand.

"Ah, he does have a point," noted Ling Jun. "This really isn't our jurisdiction. Maybe we should just take our people and go."

He had come to perform a rescue, not to investigate. He wasn't even part of the Five Elements Alliance. He had no desire to get tangled up in bureaucratic disputes.

Guan Ya and Li Dongze both turned their eyes to Yuanshi Tianzun.

"Take your people and go?" Chi Yue'an pressed his advantage, his tone growing more forceful. "That's not going to work either. These two are Evil-class Walkers. They didn't just kill my operatives, they slaughtered ordinary civilians too. You think you can just waltz in and take them? Are you trying to harbor criminals—"

Mid sentence, his expression shifted. He whipped around and stared at the plain-faced young man who had used the Night Wandering skill.

Kangyang District. A Nocturnal Specter...

Chi Yue'an's expression flickered with surprise. "You're Yuanshi Tianzun?"

At that moment, Zhang Yuanqing felt the reckless defiance of a man who owed so many debts he'd stopped caring. He bared his teeth in a grin.

"That's right, punk!"

Having just used the Yin Yang Spell Robe, he was emotionally volatile, aggressive, and thoroughly belligerent.

Yuanshi Tianzun. Holder of A-rank Merit. Highly valued by the Council of Elders... Chi Yue'an suddenly found the situation far more complicated. He couldn't kill someone like that.

At least, he couldn't be the one to do it. He rapidly adjusted his strategy, drew a deep breath, and turned to Ling Jun and the others. His voice carried the weight of authority.

"You can take him. But the other one, the Enchanting Demon, stays."

His plan going forward was straightforward: destroy the evidence and empty Bronze Sparrow Tower of the women. Without hard proof, his position as steward and the connections behind him would be more than enough to quietly make this whole mess disappear.

Ling Jun gave a small nod. "Fine."

He turned to Zhang Yuanqing. "Let's go. Leave this place first. You can coordinate with Fu Qingyang on the follow-up."

Coordinate. In other words, go through proper channels. To investigate a steward required an Elder's approval. One had to submit a formal inspection request along with evidence. Moreover, Chi Yue'an's superior wasn't even Elder Teddy. The situation was even more complicated than that.

"No. We can't leave. If we walk away today, this case is dead." Zhang Yuanqing pushed himself to his feet, swaying.

He looked at Ling Jun and the other two, panting heavily. "I've already figured everything out. Chi Yue'an sponsors criminal organizations. He kidnaps and imprisons innocent people, forces them to make money for him, and uses them to bribe Shakou District's most powerful officials. He's forcefully acquired over a thousand shops. And on top of all of that, he's suspected of murder..."

He laid out every piece of intelligence he'd gathered that day, one crime at a time, item by item.

Li Dongze listened with his jaw hanging open. He'd only heard a rough outline from Guan Ya. He had no real understanding of the true scope of it all, and neither had Guan Ya herself. Zhang Yuanqing had only told her that criminal forces in Shakou District were abusing women and bribing officials.

Even that alone had been enough to make Guan Ya feel physically ill, to ignite a fury that came from somewhere deep inside her. She had never imagined that what these people had done was even more depraved than she'd thought. The harm inflicted on the women inside this building couldn't be described with a simple word like "abuse." They had been treated as tools for generating profit, as objects for sating bestial urges. And that wasn't even accounting for the ruthless business tactics.

The lazy expression on Ling Jun's face hardened, bit by bit, until every trace of his casual smile had vanished completely.

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