Siblings

What would other people think?

Originally, Emperor Hanmos had personally come to welcome Qi Bei back to show his favor toward the Nord Family and his gratitude for Qi Bei saving Princess Mingyue. Now that Kodi Nord had put it that way, those who knew him would not think much of it—but what about the ordinary commoners who did not?

The anger that had just gathered in Emperor Hanmos's eyes dispersed, and he could not be bothered to repeat himself.

At that moment, a black line appeared at the end of the official road.

Like dark clouds before a torrential rain, it made everyone feel unbearably oppressed.

The black line grew thicker and thicker, until some outlines could be made out clearly. Rhythmic tremors began to shake the ground as well.

"The Black Armored Army truly deserves to be called the Golden Leaf Dynasty's finest army. Even with thousands upon thousands of horses galloping, their rhythm is astonishingly uniform. The army hasn't even arrived, yet I already feel like I can't breathe."

"Exactly! My heart's about to leap out of my throat, and my whole body is trembling."

"With the Black Armored Army, the Nord Family can sit firmly upon the throne of the Golden Leaf Dynasty's number one lineage."

The commoners watching below discussed it with excitement and fervor. The Black Armored Army had brought the Golden Leaf Dynasty far too much glory. In their hearts, the Black Armored Army was the pillar that held up the heavens. As long as the Black Armored Army did not fall, the Golden Leaf Dynasty would not fall.

At last, the Black Armored Army, mounted entirely on black warhorses, had thundered to within a thousand meters of the southern city gate. Like a black tide, it seemed capable of destroying everything.

The watching commoners' faces turned ashen. Some of the more timid ones even collapsed onto the ground. The Black Armored Army's Killing Intent was simply too heavy.

A thousand meters from the southern city gate, the Black Armored Army raised their reins in unison. Like waves frozen in an instant, they came to a halt. When their hooves slammed down together with a thunderous boom, everyone's hearts felt as though they had been trampled beneath those hooves, almost bursting apart.

At that moment, the Black Armored Army split neatly apart from both sides. Huai'an Nord charged out through the middle on an Earth-Splitting Tiger, followed by two personal guards, heading straight for the southern city gate.

According to regulations, unless it was an army responsible for the Imperial Capital's defenses, no military force on assignment was permitted to set foot inside the Imperial Capital. Violators would be treated as rebels.

"Your subordinate Huai'an Nord pays his respects to His Majesty." Huai'an Nord stopped beneath the city wall, leaped down from the Earth-Splitting Tiger, and bowed in salute, though his expression was somewhat awkward.

"Rise. Where's that little fellow Qi Bei Nord?" Emperor Hanmos asked from atop the city wall, looking down from his superior position.

"Reporting to His Majesty, Qi Bei... Qi Bei is feeling somewhat 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 Capital and was one of the five satellite cities guarding it.

Of course, Star City had another title: it was known as the Land of Tenderness, because it was the Golden Leaf Dynasty's most famous pleasure city, a sacred ground for eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling.

Star City had several hundred brothels and casinos of every grade. Most of the popular amusements in this world could be found there. As long as you had enough gold coins on you, you would definitely fall in love with the place.

"Damn it! Huai'an Nord, you don't need to enter the city. Go bind that stinking brat and bring him here at once!" As Emperor Hanmos darkened his face, Raymond Nord stepped forward and shouted.

"Yes, Father. His Majesty, this subordinate takes his leave." Huai'an Nord had barely reached the foot of the Imperial Capital's walls when he turned around and led the Black Armored Army back toward Star City.

"Your Majesty, my worthless son is truly incorrigible. I will certainly discipline him properly," Raymond Nord said with an expression of exasperation.

"Heh heh, the young man spent nine months in the Undead Mountain Range. Let him have some fun," Emperor Hanmos said with a smile that did not reach his eyes, then ordered everyone to return to the Imperial Palace.

Soon, only the Nord Family members remained atop the city wall.

The clan head, Kodi Nord, raised his murky eyes and glanced at Raymond Nord. "Trying to be clever."

Raymond Nord gave a bitter smile. This had not been his instruction; that stinking brat had decided it himself. Playing this trick and making Emperor Hanmos lose face brought no benefit to the Nord Family. Although Emperor Hanmos regarded the Nord Family as a thorn in his side and a knife in his flesh, both sides still maintained the outward appearance of a benevolent ruler and loyal minister.

Qi Bei strode through Star City's streets with two Black Armored Soldiers dressed in plain clothes. Everything was so familiar to him, yet at the same time so strange.

Scene after scene from his past and present lives flashed before his eyes, leaving him somewhat dazed.

"Life is but a dream," Qi Bei murmured with a lowered head.

The two Black Armored Soldiers were Lie Huo and Tie Tou, the squad leaders of the unit Qi Bei had saved back then. Like shadows, they stood behind Qi Bei. Wherever Qi Bei went, they followed.

But as the dazed Qi Bei walked on, he gradually veered off course. Ahead of him, a young girl was bending over with her bottom raised as she selected jewelry at a stall.

Although Qi Bei's mind was elsewhere, his body instinctively avoided the crowds and obstacles. He had originally been about to turn aside, but just then, the jewelry in the girl's hand fell to the ground. The girl bent over and stepped backward to pick it up.

With that step backward, the girl's pert bottom happened to collide directly between Qi Bei's legs.

Force acted upon both sides. When the girl struck him, the inner force within Qi Bei's body automatically rebounded, making her feel as though someone had forcefully thrust into her.

The girl cried out and spun around, her cheeks flushed and her beautiful eyes glaring furiously at Qi Bei.

The daze faded from Qi Bei's eyes. Seeing the girl clutching her bottom, he felt somewhat embarrassed. He truly had not done it on purpose, so he apologized, "Sorry, I was a little distracted."

"Shameless." The girl ground her teeth as she spoke. Seeing Qi Bei dressed like a respectable gentleman, with two obvious high-level thugs following behind him, she would never believe him.

Qi Bei rubbed his nose and shot Lie Huo and Tie Tou a glare. Those two fellows had followed behind him without even warning him.

How could he know that although Lie Huo and Tie Tou admired his strength, they had also heard rumors about his philandering and dissolute private life? They had assumed he did it on purpose and naturally would not have the tactlessness to warn him.

"Sorry." Qi Bei had no interest in arguing with this pretty, delicate girl. He gave her an apologetic smile and walked on.

"You... Ah..." The girl trembled with rage. Suddenly, she let out a pained whimper, and her pretty face turned as pale as paper.

The girl clutched her chest as though enduring tremendous agony, cold sweat pouring down her face.

Qi Bei turned around. Seeing her condition, he froze for a moment before hurrying over and supporting her.

"Hey, are you all right? You..." Qi Bei had barely begun to speak when a scorching heat suddenly surged through his left palm. The Dragon Imprint had actually reacted. In other words, this girl was also a supreme Yin Body. But why had there been no reaction just now?

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

"Bold scoundrel! How dare you bully my sister? I'll have your life!" Just then, an angry roar rang out. A burly giant with a face full of fury burst out, his bowl-sized fist smashing toward Qi Bei's head.

Lie Huo and Tie Tou stepped forward at the same time. One swept in from above and the other from below, attacking the giant from both sides.

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

Boom, boom! Lie Huo and Tie Tou's attacks landed as though they had struck refined iron, while the impact from the giant's body sent both men flying backward.

Qi Bei's eyes lit up. The giant's body gave off no energy fluctuations whatsoever, yet it was hard as iron, and he possessed tremendous innate strength. He was truly a human-shaped shield.

Facing the giant's bowl-sized fist, Qi Bei raised a hand and met the iron fist head-on with his palm.

A muffled boom rang out. Invisible waves of air scattered between the two, blasting several nearby stalls into pieces.

The giant's bell-like eyes widened, the veins on his forehead bulging violently. Qi Bei, however, stood calmly in place, his golden hair fluttering as he did not retreat even half a step.

The giant roared. His arm suddenly swelled several times over, bursting the entire sleeve apart. His thick arm was covered in knotted muscles.

Qi Bei felt the power transmitted from the giant's fist suddenly nearly double. With a low shout, he circulated his inner force and sent it surging through his palm into the giant's arm.

The giant's body leaned backward slightly. A terrifying ferocity suddenly radiated from his eyes, making one feel as though some monster were about to burst out.

Qi Bei's pupils contracted. He actually sensed danger. He shouted at once, "Don't you want your sister to live?"

The giant's body trembled. The ferocity in his eyes vanished. He withdrew his hand and stepped back, his enlarged arm returning to normal as well.

"I didn't hurt her. It was just a small misunderstanding between us. Perhaps I can save her," Qi Bei said.

The giant stared fixedly at Qi Bei with his bell-like eyes, while Qi Bei met his gaze openly.

After a long while, the giant retreated two steps, picked up his sister—who was still drenched in cold sweat despite being unconscious—and turned into an alley.

Qi Bei followed. After making several twists and turns, the giant entered a dilapidated courtyard in western Star City.

Every world was like this: where there were nobles, there were commoners; where there were rich people, there were poor people.

Star City seemed prosperous everywhere, but its western side was a filthy, disorderly slum. Low, decrepit houses stood unevenly scattered, foul-smelling sewage ditches ran throughout the area, and mosquitoes buzzed chaotically alongside rats darting everywhere.

The siblings' home was equally dilapidated, but it had been cleaned and arranged neatly. Some hardy flowers and plants grew in the courtyard as well.

The giant placed his little sister on a crude wooden bed and said in a booming voice, "If anything happens to my little sister, I'll kill you even if it costs me my life."