Surrendering

Tie Tou eagerly brought over a chair and placed it directly on Young Master Fox's obese body. "Fifth Young Master, you're tired too. Take a rest."

Qi Bei dropped onto it without ceremony. Young Master Fox rolled his eyes back and passed out on the spot.

By then, many curious guests had gathered in the lavish hall. Most of those who came here for entertainment were powerful and influential. Seeing the usually arrogant Young Master Fox brutalized like this, they excitedly discussed the scene among themselves.

"Who is that? He must have offended the Fox Family terribly."

"Look at how brazen he is. Does he look like someone afraid of the Fox Family?"

"The two beside him look like soldiers who fought their way through blood and fire. Could he be a young master of the Heron Family?"

In the distance, two veiled young women were also watching the scene.

"Sister, what do you think this person's identity is? He's bold enough, isn't he?" asked the younger girl, who looked about twelve or thirteen. Her body had not yet matured, but the pair of lake-green eyes revealed beneath her veil were extraordinarily captivating.

"A direct descendant of the Nord Family. It seems the Fox Family is doomed to swallow this loss," her older sister replied. Her figure was far more developed than the little girl's beside her, with a full chest and curving hips. Even without seeing her face, anyone could guess she was a peerless beauty.

"How do you know, Sister?" the little girl asked.

"Because those two beside him are soldiers of the Black Armored Army. Who commands the Black Armored Army? Do I really need to say?" Her sister's eyes were brown, gleaming with wisdom.

The little girl pouted. How had she failed to notice that?

At that moment, the guard captain of Drunken Moon Tower stepped forward and said stiffly, "Young Master, could you release Young Master Fox? We are all people of standing. Whatever the matter is, it can be discussed properly. Why make everyone lose face?"

"Get lost. Bring your master here." Qi Bei barked coldly, his murderous gaze sweeping over the guard captain.

The guard captain felt a chill run through his entire body. Such a gaze was impossible without years of slaughter behind it. What terrified him even more was the aura of death contained within that murderous intent. One glance felt like being dragged into the depths of hell.

"This young master may not know this, but Drunken Moon Garden belongs to the current Seventh Prince." The guard captain endured the pressure and revealed his master's identity, figuring that this unknown young master would surely stop making trouble.

"Seventh Prince? That fellow Mafite? Then all the better. I reserved Clear Water Tower first, yet your Drunken Moon Garden gave it to this stupid pig. If you don't give me an explanation, I'll smash your Drunken Moon Garden." Qi Bei spoke calmly. He remembered Mafite. Back then, Mafite had bullied him, only to be beaten by his elder brother until he cried for his father and mother. Afterward, whenever Mafite saw the two brothers, he would take a detour.

The guard captain froze. This kid actually refused to give even the Seventh Prince face. This was going to be a major headache.

"Hahahaha, Qi Bei, you came back. Why didn't you say so?" A young man in an ornate robe walked over laughing, his tone extremely warm. Anyone who did not know better would have thought he and Qi Bei had a wonderfully close relationship.

"Mafite, how are you going to handle this?" Qi Bei asked blandly. From his words, it was obvious he was not surprised in the least that Qi Bei had returned alive from the Undead Mountain Range. He had clearly received the news long ago.

"You. Get out of Drunken Moon Garden. Don't come back." The young man pointed at Linda and spoke coldly. His speed in changing faces had truly reached consummate perfection.

Linda's pretty face went pale. She bowed and withdrew.

Qi Bei did not concern himself with the woman. From her perspective, the decision she had made was entirely understandable. But she had misjudged the situation, and punishment was what she deserved.

"Qi Bei, consider this my apology. The banquet at Clear Water Tower is ready." Mafite had publicly apologized to Qi Bei. As a member of the imperial family, he had already lost more than enough face.

Qi Bei raised an eyebrow, seemingly still dissatisfied.

Mafite stepped closer and lowered his voice. "Qi Bei, your elder brother also owns a share of Drunken Moon Garden. If you smash up the place, you'd be smashing your own family's property. Don't disbelieve me. Otherwise, why do you think my business was able to establish itself in Star City?"

Qi Bei was surprised, but he believed him. Mafite had no reason to deceive him. Star City was the Nord Family's territory. For the imperial family's business to put down roots here, it was impossible without the Nord Family's permission.

Qi Bei rose and kicked the unconscious Young Master Fox toward the group of noble men and women he had brought with him in the distance.

The onlookers knew the spectacle was over.

But Mafite's surrender to Qi Bei was destined to become gossip over everyone's tea and wine. Some had already guessed Qi Bei's origins, while most were still completely baffled by his identity.

Inside Clear Water Tower, a great banquet had only four people seated at it: Mafite, Qi Bei, Vajra, and Phantom.

Huo Lie and Tie Tou claimed they were still carrying out guard duty and refused to take their seats.

Vajra could not have cared less. He simply buried his head in the food and devoured it. His appetite was astonishing. Before Qi Bei and Mephist had even taken more than a few bites, over half the plates were already empty.

"Qi Bei, come and taste this Hundred Flower Brew brought in by the Elf Race. Only when a hundred flowers merge into one can such a fine wine be made." Mephist raised his cup. The wine's fragrance filled the air, rich without being cloying, concentrated yet never dispersing.

"Though a hundred flowers may merge into one, there are still principal and secondary flowers. If the flowers have no distinction between primary and secondary, what is brewed will not be wine. It might even be poison." Qi Bei drained his cup in one gulp, savored the aftertaste for a moment, and then smiled.

A flicker passed through Mephist's eyes. He truly had not expected that the Fifth Young Master of the Nord Family would emerge alive from the Undead Mountain Range, much less that he would seem utterly transformed. Mephist's words had carried a hidden barb, yet Qi Bei had not only understood it but struck back with fierce precision.

As a member of the imperial family, Mephist understood the conflict between imperial authority and the great aristocratic clans all too well.

Any excessive concentration of power would create conflict. His words represented the imperial family: he hoped the aristocratic clans would no longer dominate alone, but that power would be divided equally.

Qi Bei's answer, however, indicated that an equal division of power was impossible. His distinction between primary and secondary forces also alluded to imperial authority. If power beneath the emperor were divided equally, then who would restrain the emperor?

"Before long, perhaps we really will become family," Mephist changed the subject.

"That may not be so. The muddy waters of our Nord Family can't lure in a celestial crane." Qi Bei shrugged. His infatuation with Princess Mingyue had vanished along with the transformation of his soul.

"That isn't for you to decide, nor is it for Mingyue to decide," Mephist said.

Qi Bei did not continue the topic. Instead, he said, "Drunken Moon Garden is filled with beauties vying for attention. How about letting me see for myself?"

Qi Bei's heart stirred restlessly. He wondered whether Drunken Moon Garden had any women with peerless primordial yin. If there were, he would simply take them away.

Mephist burst out laughing. He was just about to order someone to bring over several stunning beauties when a tiger's roar approached from afar and reached the front of Clear Water Tower in an instant.