Brother and Sister

What would others think?

Originally, Emperor Hanmos personally welcoming Qi Bei back was meant to show favor to the Nord Family and express gratitude for Qi Bei saving Princess Mingyue. Now that Cody Nord said that, those who knew him wouldn't think much of it, but what about the common folk who didn't know him?

The anger that had just gathered in Emperor Hanmos's eyes dissipated. He couldn't be bothered to repeat himself.

Just then, a black line appeared at the end of the official road.

It was like dark clouds before a heavy rain, making people feel incredibly oppressed.

The black line grew thicker and thicker, its outline becoming clearer, and the ground began to vibrate rhythmically.

"The Black Armored Army, worthy of being the Golden Leaf's foremost army. To think their charge would be so synchronized. Even before the army arrives, I can barely breathe."

"Yeah, my heart feels like it's going to leap out of my throat. My whole body is trembling."

"With the Black Armored Army behind the Nord Family, they can firmly hold their seat as the foremost family in the Golden Leaf Dynasty."

The commoners gathered below discussed excitedly and enthusiastically. The Black Armored Army had brought so much glory to the Golden Leaf Dynasty. In their hearts, the Black Armored Army was the pillar of the dynasty; as long as the Black Armored Army stood, the Golden Leaf Dynasty would not fall.

Finally, the Black Armored Army, riding uniformly black warhorses, galloped to within a thousand meters of the South City Gate, like a black tide capable of destroying everything.

The faces of the surrounding commoners turned ashen. Some of the more timid ones collapsed to the ground, the Black Armored Army's killing aura was simply too potent.

The Black Armored Army stopped a thousand meters from the South City Gate, pulling their reins in unison. It was like a frozen wave. When their hooves struck the ground together like thunder, everyone's heart felt as if it had been trampled by the hooves, ready to burst.

At this moment, the Black Armored Army parted neatly to both sides. Huai'an Nord, riding an Earth-Splitting Tiger, charged out from the middle, followed by two personal guards, heading straight for the South City Gate.

According to regulations, unless they were part of the army responsible for the capital's defense, any army on a mission was forbidden from entering the Imperial City. Those who violated this would be considered rebels.

"Your subordinate, Huai'an Nord, greets Your Majesty." Huai'an Nord stopped at the foot of the city wall, dismounted from the Earth-Splitting Tiger, and bowed. However, his expression was a bit awkward.

"Rise. Where is that young fellow, Qi Bei Nord?" Emperor Hanmos said from his vantage point on the city wall.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Qi Bei... Qi Bei is feeling unwell. He stayed in Star City yesterday to rest," Huai'an Nord replied.

Star City was only half a day's journey from the Imperial City and was one of the five major guard cities protecting the capital.

Of course, Star City had another reputation: it was known as a "haven of tenderness" because it was the Golden Leaf Dynasty's most famous city for entertainment, a holy land for food, drink, and gambling.

Star City had hundreds of brothels and casinos of various levels. It gathered most of the popular games in the world. As long as you had enough gold coins, you would definitely fall in love with this place.

"Scoundrel! Huai'an Nord, you don't need to enter the city. Go immediately and tie that brat up for me!" Emperor Hanmos said with a dark expression, while Raymond Nord stepped forward and shouted.

"Yes, Father. Your Majesty, this subordinate takes his leave." Huai'an Nord, who had just reached the foot of the Imperial City, turned back with the Black Armored Army to Star City.

"Your Majesty, my son is truly incorrigible. I will definitely discipline him properly," Raymond Nord said with a look of disappointment.

"Heh heh, young people have been in the Undead Mountain Range for nine months. It's understandable for them to want to have some fun," Emperor Hanmos said with a fake smile. He then ordered a return to the Imperial Palace.

Soon, only members of the Nord Family remained on the city wall.

Patriarch Cody Nord raised his cloudy eyes and glanced at Raymond Nord, saying, "Overthinking it."

Raymond Nord gave a wry smile. This wasn't his instruction; it was that brat's own decision. Playing such a trick to embarrass Emperor Hanmos would not benefit the Nord Family. Although Emperor Hanmos viewed the Nord Family as a thorn in his side, both sides maintained a superficial relationship of benevolent ruler and loyal subject.

Qi Bei, accompanied by two Black Armored Soldiers in plain clothes, swaggered through the streets of Star City. Everything felt so familiar, yet so strange.

Scenes from his past and present lives flashed before his eyes, making him somewhat dazed.

"A dream of floating life," Qi Bei sighed softly, looking down.

The two Black Armored Soldiers were Lie Huo and Tie Tou, the captains of the squad Qi Bei had saved earlier. They followed behind Qi Bei like shadows, wherever he went, they followed.

At this moment, the dazed Qi Bei, while walking, veered off course. Ahead of him, a young girl was bending over, her derrière raised, selecting jewelry at a stall.

Although Qi Bei was distracted, his body's instincts allowed him to avoid crowds and obstacles. He was about to instinctively turn, but unexpectedly, the jewelry the girl was holding fell to the ground. The girl bent down and stepped back to pick it up.

With this backward step, the girl's firm buttocks bumped directly between Qi Bei's legs.

The force of action is reciprocal. The girl's bump was automatically repelled by the inner force emanating from Qi Bei, making her feel as if she had been forcefully pushed.

The girl let out a startled cry and turned around, her face flushed. Her beautiful eyes glared angrily at Qi Bei.

Qi Bei's dazed gaze disappeared. Seeing the girl holding her hips, he felt a bit awkward. He really hadn't meant to. So, he apologized, "I'm sorry, I was a bit distracted."

"Shameless," the girl gritted out. Seeing Qi Bei dressed respectably and with two followers who looked like high-class thugs, she didn't believe him at all.

Qi Bei rubbed his nose and glared at Lie Huo and Tie Tou. These two, they didn't remind him at all.

Little did he know that although Lie Huo and Tie Tou admired his strength, they had also heard rumors about his womanizing and decadent private life. They also thought he had done it on purpose and wouldn't be foolish enough to remind him.

"Sorry." Qi Bei didn't want to get entangled with this pretty girl. He gave her an apologetic smile and walked forward.

"You... Ah..." The girl trembled with anger. Suddenly, she let out a soft cry of pain, her delicate face turning as pale as paper.

The girl clutched her chest, seemingly in great pain, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Qi Bei turned around and, seeing the girl's state, was stunned. He stepped forward and helped her.

"Hey, are you alright? You..." As soon as Qi Bei spoke, his left palm suddenly felt a burning sensation. The Dragon Imprint had reacted. This meant this girl was also an extreme Yin Body. But why hadn't it reacted just now?

"Don't touch me!" The girl tried to push Qi Bei away forcefully, but her delicate body suddenly spasmed, and she fainted.

"Bold scoundrel! How dare you bully my sister? Take your life!" Just then, a furious roar echoed. A burly man with an enraged face leaped out, his massive fist hurtling towards Qi Bei's head.

Lie Huo and Tie Tou simultaneously took a step forward, one to the left and one to the right. One attacked high, the other low, sweeping towards the giant.

The giant neither dodged nor blocked, allowing Lie Huo and Tie Tou's heavy fists and kicks to land on his body.

"Bang bang." Lie Huo and Tie Tou's attacks were like striking refined iron. Both their bodies were repelled by the impact force of the giant's body.

Qi Bei's eyes lit up. This giant's body had no energy fluctuations, yet it was as hard as iron, coupled with natural divine strength. He was truly a human shield.

Facing the giant's massive fists, Qi Bei raised his hand, his palm colliding with the giant's iron fist.

With a dull thud, an invisible wave of energy dispersed between them, smashing several nearby stalls into pieces.

The giant opened his bell-like eyes, veins bulging on his forehead, but Qi Bei stood calmly in place, his golden hair flowing, not having retreated half a step.

The giant let out a roar, his arms suddenly thickening by several rings, tearing his sleeves apart. His thick arms were covered in bulging muscles.

Qi Bei felt the strength from the giant's fist suddenly nearly double. With a low grunt, he circulated his inner force, channeling it through his palm to impact the giant's arm.

The giant's body lurched backward, and a terrifying ferocity suddenly emanated from his eyes, as if some monster was about to emerge.

Qi Bei's pupils contracted. He felt a sense of danger and immediately shouted, "Don't you want your sister's life?"

The giant's body trembled, the ferocity in his eyes receded, he withdrew his hand, and his enlarged arms returned to normal.

"I didn't hurt her, we just had a small misunderstanding. Perhaps I can save her," Qi Bei said.

The giant's bell-like eyes stared intently at Qi Bei, who met his gaze calmly.

After a long while, the giant took two steps back, picked up his sister who was still sweating profusely in her unconscious state, and turned into an alley.

Qi Bei followed. The giant took many turns and entered a dilapidated courtyard on the west side of Star City.

Every world is like this. Where there are nobles, there are commoners. Where there are rich, there are poor.

Star City seemed prosperous everywhere, but its west side was a messy slum. Low, dilapidated houses stood unevenly, foul-smelling ditches emitted unpleasant odors, and buzzing insects and scurrying rats were visible everywhere.

The siblings' home was equally dilapidated, but it was tidily kept. Some easy-to-grow flowers and plants were even planted in the courtyard.

The giant placed his younger sister on the simple wooden bed and rumbled, "If anything happens to my little sister, I will kill you even if I have to die."