Fight to the Death Arena

At noon, Langya Xing brought Mu Bai to a lakeside restaurant.

The entire building was constructed from redwood, with bronze wind chimes hanging from its upturned eaves. Whenever the breeze passed through, they rang with a crisp, clear sound.

Drunken Immortal Tower, the finest restaurant in Langya City. Langya Xing introduced it, saying, "The Steamed Silver Scale Fish here is made with spirit fish native to the cold pools. It works wonders for healing injuries."

The moment they stepped inside, the manager hurried over with a smile plastered across his face. "Young Master Xing, your presence brings glory to our humble establishment! Your private room has already been prepared, as has your favorite dish—"

"The usual, and add a few signature dishes," Langya Xing cut off his flattery and headed straight upstairs.

The private room was set beside the lake, and outside the window lay the sparkling waters of Mirror Lake.

The dishes arrived quickly. Besides the Silver Scale Fish, there were several dishes Mu Bai had never seen before: Ice Soul Shrimp wreathed in cold vapor, Crispy Fried Golden Cicadas golden all over, and a pot of Hundred Spirits Brew that gave off a rich fruity aroma.

"Try this." Langya Xing picked up a piece of fish and placed it in Mu Bai's bowl. "Silver Scale Fish can only be found in the depths of Mirror Lake. Ordinary martial artists couldn't catch one even if they tried."

The fish was incomparably tender and fresh. More miraculous still, a cool current instantly spread through his entire body. Mu Bai could even feel the hidden injuries in his meridians, caused by the Blood Spirit Martial King's bloody mist, slowly healing.

After three rounds of wine, Langya Xing gradually became more talkative. Pointing at a small island in the middle of the lake outside the window, he said, "That is the Martial Discussion Stage. There are matches there on the fifteenth of every month. But..." A mysterious smile curled at his lips. "Tonight, I'll take you somewhere more interesting."

Mu Bai had just been about to ask where when the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open.

A young girl in a goose-yellow ruqun burst inside, followed by several flustered waiters.

"Brother Xing really is here!" The girl looked about fifteen or sixteen. Her round little face carried a touch of innocent charm, completely different from the Langya Mei Mu Bai had met yesterday.

At the sight of her, a rare trace of a smile appeared on Langya Xing's cold face. "Little Grape, how did you find this place?"

"I went to Starlight Pavilion, and the maid said you had brought a guest out for fun." The girl called Little Grape curiously sized up Mu Bai. "Who is this big brother? I'm Langya Tao, Brother Xing's cousin."

Mu Bai was just about to offer a salute when Langya Tao had already skipped over and sat beside him. "No need to stand on ceremony! Since you're Brother Xing's guest, you're naturally my guest too. No need to be so formal!"

Langya Xing gave a light cough. "Little Grape, don't be so unruly."

"What does it matter?" Langya Tao pouted. "This big brother isn't an outsider anyway." Then she suddenly lowered her voice. "Oh, right, Brother Xing. Brother Xin and the others seem to be plotting something. I overheard them mentioning your name this morning..."

Langya Xing's gaze sharpened. "What exactly did they say?"

"I didn't hear clearly. It seemed to be something..." Langya Tao tilted her head, trying to remember. "Oh, right. They also mentioned someone..."

After saying that, she tilted her head and looked at Mu Bai. "Big brother, could you be the Mu Bai they were talking about?"

Mu Bai first smiled and nodded at Langya Tao, then exchanged a look with Langya Xing.

It seemed Langya Xin's faction was watching them even more closely than they had expected.

"I understand." Langya Xing rubbed his cousin's hair. "Go back first. Don't let anyone discover that you came looking for me."

Langya Tao obediently nodded. Before leaving, she secretly stuffed a small sachet into Mu Bai's hand. "I made this talisman myself. It can refresh your mind and keep your head clear~ Big Brother Mu Bai, you have to carry it with you. Then you won't get a headache after drinking!"

Once she had left, Langya Xing's expression turned solemn again. "It seems tomorrow's trip to the clan grounds won't be peaceful."

"That sachet..." Mu Bai hesitated.

"Keep it." Langya Xing said calmly, "Though Little Grape is young, she has extraordinary talent in talismans. Since she went out of her way to give it to you, it is also a token of her feelings."

As the sun sank in the west, Langya Xing brought Mu Bai to a secluded alley in the western part of the city.

At the end of the alley stood an inconspicuous black iron door, with two guards in bronze masks standing before it.

"Masks." Langya Xing took two exquisite masks from his sleeve and handed one to Mu Bai. "Put it on. No one here knows who you are."

Mu Bai accepted the mask. It was icy cold to the touch, its material neither quite jade nor not jade, with a vicious ghost face carved into it.

The instant he put it on, he felt a strange force envelop his entire body. Even his aura became blurred and indistinct.

Langya Xing's own mask was pure white, revealing only his eyes and mouth. It looked both mysterious and elegant.

He showed the guards a black token, and they immediately stepped aside respectfully.

Beyond the door was a spiraling staircase leading downward. Fluorescent stones embedded in the walls emitted a dim blue glow.

The farther down they went, the clearer the clamor of voices became.

When they finally reached the bottom, Mu Bai was stunned by the sight before him—this was a vast underground space. At its center stood a circular arena roughly fifty zhang across, surrounded by tiered stands already packed with spectators wearing all kinds of masks.

"Langya City's Underground Arena." Langya Xing leaned close and whispered in Mu Bai's ear. "Here, life and death are of no consequence."

They had only just found their seats when an earth-shaking bell rang out from the arena.

A host in a golden mask stepped into the center, his voice spreading throughout the venue through some kind of sound-amplifying device:

"Today's main event—Blood Saber versus Iron Hand! Both are in the Houtian realm, with odds of one to three!"

Amid the audience's cheers, two martial artists emerged from the passageways on opposite sides. On the left was a burly man wearing a bloodstained mask, carrying a huge saber as wide as a door panel. On the right was a tall, thin man with metal gloves that gleamed with cold light on both hands.

"Begin!"

At the host's command, the two martial artists instantly clashed.

Amid flashing blades and flying fists, blood soon began to spatter.

Mu Bai watched with his heart pounding—this was no martial contest at all, but a fight to the death!

Every move struck straight for a vital point. There was no room whatsoever for mercy.

"Blood Saber is a collateral descendant of the Liu Family," Langya Xing said calmly, as though commenting on a song-and-dance performance. "Iron Hand is the commander of the Wang Family's guards. The two families share an old blood feud. Settling it here determines life and death without hurting the harmony between their families."

Mu Bai stared fixedly at the arena.

One metal glove had already been severed, three fingers gone without a trace; the other man's abdomen had been pierced through, a bloody hole revealing a faint glimpse of his intestines. Yet the two continued their frenzied slaughter, as though they could not feel pain.

"Why..." Mu Bai's voice was dry. "Why are these Houtian martial artists willing to risk their lives like this?"

Langya Xing gave a soft laugh. "Because in Langya City, martial artists who cannot become Grandmasters of Martial Arts before the age of forty are worth less than a good exotic beast." He pointed toward the stage. "People like them either risk their lives in the martial arena for resources, or become deathsworn servants for great families. Even the best outcome is no more than becoming a steward of the outer city."

Mu Bai suddenly understood why Langya Xing held the patriarchs of those subordinate families in such contempt—in this world where martial strength reigned supreme, power was everything.

Without innate talent, no matter how lofty one's status, it was still a castle in the air.

A dull thud pulled Mu Bai's thoughts back to the arena. One man's broadsword had finally severed the other's head, but he himself collapsed with a crash from excessive blood loss.

The stands erupted with feverish cheers and curses—clearly, some had won a fortune, while others had lost everything.

"Let's go." Langya Xing rose to his feet. "You've seen everything you needed to see."

By the time they left the martial arena, night had fully fallen.

Bright moonlight spilled over the silent alleyways, a stark contrast to the bloody frenzy from moments before.

"I just received word. The family's people will arrive tomorrow." Langya Xing removed his mask, his face betraying neither joy nor anger. "Rest well tonight. What comes next... will be the true test for you."

Mu Bai nodded and tightened his grip on the Qinglin Sword at his waist.

Everything he had seen and heard today gave him a deeper understanding of the colossal Langya Family—this was not the Carefree Prince's Estate. Here, there was only naked survival of the fittest.

Yet for some reason, he felt no fear. Instead, an unprecedented fighting spirit surged within him.