Direct and Straightforward

Seeing that Fan Lang remained silent, Murong Bai withdrew his gaze, adjusted the white cloak he wore, and strode toward the exit. Two guards followed closely behind, their steps forceful and brisk.

Only after Murong Bai left did the quiet Duel Arena become lively again.

"The head of the Murong Family is truly overbearing. He wouldn't even let anyone speak."

"The entire Murong Family belongs to him, so of course he's overbearing. I heard the Murong Family's private army has expanded to fifty thousand men. They train day and night and are well-equipped, no different from a nation's army."

"Murong Bai has set his sights on this rogue. Things are about to get interesting."

"Murong Bai forced the rogue to join the Wind Cloud Genius Battle. He has no choice but to go. In Wind Cloud City, few people dare defy Murong Bai!"

The crowd buzzed with discussion, full of anticipation for the upcoming Wind Cloud Genius Battle. It was a major event in Wind Cloud City.

At the center of the Duel Arena, Fan Lang, the person involved, remained perfectly calm. There were still seven full days before the Wind Cloud Genius Battle. By then, his level would surely break through to the Mystic Spirit Realm. What was there to fear?

Geniuses? They were all trash!

Fan Lang took a deep breath, then left triumphantly.

Once outside, he saw Dou Bin again.

Dou Bin wore a grim expression as he handed Fan Lang a gleaming Currency Card. "This is your pay for today. Nearly ten thousand taels."

As agreed before, each victory earned eight hundred taels. Fan Lang had won eleven matches in a row, and he had received an additional amount for his final challenge against a higher-level opponent. Altogether, it came to around ten thousand taels.

Fan Lang accepted the Currency Card with a smile. A sweep of Mystic Power caused a fairly satisfying number to appear on it.

"Thanks. I'll be back tomorrow," Fan Lang said with a smile.

"Fine. If you dare come, the Underground Arena will dare arrange matches for you," Dou Bin said.

"Bet more on me winning tomorrow. Maybe you'll make a tidy profit."

Dou Bin said nothing.

Fan Lang's smile grew even brighter. "Where's Butcher Girl? I'm taking her away. Give me her slave contract as well."

"Don't worry. The Underground Arena is a reputable place. We'll let you take Butcher Girl away. But I have to remind you—she's the kind who kills without blinking. Otherwise, she wouldn't have earned the nickname Butcher Girl. Be careful she doesn't slit your throat in the middle of the night," Dou Bin said in a strange tone.

"That's none of your concern. Once I bring her back, I'll discipline her slowly."

"Discipline Butcher Girl?"

Dou Bin's eye twitched. That was far harder than training a magical beast...

Clap, clap.

Dou Bin clapped twice.

At once, someone led in a woman wearing shackles. Naturally, she was Butcher Girl.

Butcher Girl was tall and slender, dressed in light armor that outlined her enticing curves. The curve of her chest in particular was round and full as melons, extremely voluptuous. She had a pair of Phoenix Eyes, long and narrow, with two cold glints in their depths. Below her delicate nose, she wore a ghost-faced fanged mask that added several degrees of ferocity to her appearance.

That ferocity was no empty show. Nearly a hundred duelists had already died by her hand. The mere mention of her name was enough to make many duelists tremble in fear.

Fan Lang looked at Butcher Girl. The two stared at each other for several seconds, like two fierce beasts sizing one another up.

"My name is Fan Lang. I won you in a battle, so you have to come with me," Fan Lang said.

Butcher Girl silently nodded. At least when it came to leaving the Underground Arena, she had no intention of resisting.

"Where's the contract?" Fan Lang turned and asked Dou Bin.

Dou Bin took a contract from one of his subordinates, waved it before Fan Lang, then tore it into pieces.

A mere piece of paper like that had little binding power. The Underground Arena did not keep slaves imprisoned with such scraps of paper, but through the forceful suppression of a large group of Mystic Warriors.

Fan Lang glanced at the scraps on the ground, then looked away. He beckoned to Butcher Girl and walked ahead.

Someone removed Butcher Girl's heavy shackles. She moved her limbs a little before following behind Fan Lang. She looked calm on the surface, but inwardly, she was incredibly excited.

She could finally leave this hellhole!

The two walked out of the Underground Arena one after the other. It was already getting late, and a streak of dusk in the west dyed the heavens and earth red. Neither spoke as they passed through streets and alleys.

When they reached an empty alley, Fan Lang stopped. Butcher Girl behind him stopped as well, and the two remained about five meters apart.

Fan Lang turned around, his face solemn. "There were outsiders earlier, so some things weren't convenient to say. It's just the two of us here now, so let's speak frankly. Although you're nominally my slave now, your legs are your own. I can't keep watch over you all day, and if you want to leave, you can still leave. I don't like being betrayed. If you don't want to follow me, you can leave right now."

Butcher Girl was slightly stunned. She had not expected Fan Lang to be so direct.

Everyone wanted freedom, especially those who had once lost it. Butcher Girl had indeed considered running away before. Once she was free, the world was vast, and she could go wherever she wanted.

Before Butcher Girl could answer, Fan Lang continued, "You've already seen my strength. This is only the beginning. I'll become even stronger in the future, perhaps stronger than you can imagine. Be my follower, and your future will be limitless. Whether you want to travel the world with me or leave me now, the choice is yours. I will never force you."

Butcher Girl did not make a rash decision. She lowered her head slightly and considered it again and again. In truth, she could not come up with any clear answer. She simply felt that she did not want to part ways with Fan Lang like this. She wanted to remain with him.

Maybe it was because Fan Lang was strong.

Maybe it was because Fan Lang was fairly good-looking.

Or maybe it was because she felt grateful to him.

Even Butcher Girl herself could not figure out exactly why.

"I'll go with you," Butcher Girl decided.

"Very good. Then come with me. I guarantee you won't regret it." Fan Lang smiled faintly, turned around, and continued onward.

Butcher Girl followed him.

The distance between them shrank from five meters to two.

The two returned to the City Lord's Mansion beneath the fading dusk. The guards at the gate had long since changed shifts and were no longer the ones who had been beaten earlier. In the course of their duties, the guards stopped them and questioned Butcher Girl's identity.

Fan Lang pointed at Butcher Girl and introduced her directly as his attendant.

As a retainer, there was nothing wrong with bringing along an attendant. After notifying the City Lord's Mansion, the guards let them pass.

Fan Lang entered the City Lord's Mansion, intending to treat Butcher Girl to a good meal.

Halfway there, they passed the library tower.

A thought struck Fan Lang, and he called out loudly, "Old White, are you in there? Could you come out for a moment?"

Hearing this, Old White emerged from the library tower and asked, "Fan Lang, what do you need?"

"Nothing much. I just wanted to show you something."

Fan Lang smiled and raised both hands, gathering Mystic Power into them. Before Old White, he rapidly formed hand seals, his hands moving like butterflies dancing among flowers as they traced glowing lines in the air, forming a talisman seal.

At the sight, Old White's eyes narrowed, and his breathing quickened considerably.

Fan Lang completed the final gesture. The talisman seal in his palm was fully formed, containing a considerable amount of Mystic Power and Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy. He thrust it forward with force. The seal instantly expanded, transforming into the two characters Heaven and Earth.

Heaven! Earth!

Energy erupted and swept in every direction, the roar exploding like a thunderclap.

Fan Lang withdrew his hands without another word and left with Butcher Girl.

There truly was no need to say anything. That move alone had explained everything.

Old White looked as though he had seen a ghost. He muttered, "One day... He learned the four-star battle skill Heaven and Earth Seal in just one day!"