Miles must die, but not at this time.

Lin Xia was so stunned by his own thought that he felt scorched inside and out. He could not help shaking his head, trying to fling away the absurd notion.

Just then—

"CLANG!!!"

A tremendous, ear-piercing crash of metal rang out from the front courtyard, followed by several furious, alarmed shouts.

"Stop them!"

"They've gone too far!"

The clamor, pounding footsteps, and faint ripples of colliding energy instantly shattered the peaceful afternoon atmosphere of the backyard.

The strange expression vanished from Lin Xia's face at once. His brows drew tight, and his gaze turned sharp.

Something had happened!

Without Hesitation, Lin Xia rose to his feet and swiftly glanced at Larvitar, which was still diligently gnawing at the last bit of Purple Lightning Iron on the Stone Table, seemingly oblivious to the commotion outside.

"Larvitar! Stop eating! Something's wrong!"

Lin Xia called out in a low voice, his tone carrying an unquestionable Sense of Urgency.

The moment he finished speaking, Lin Xia moved like an arrow loosed from the bow, rushing without hesitation toward the source of the noise in the front courtyard.

Alarm bells rang wildly in his heart. Who dared cause such trouble in Gengjin City, at the headquarters of the Blacksmith Association?

This was no ordinary dispute!

Yet just as Lin Xia was about to reach the front courtyard, Lou Gao, who was coming downstairs, blocked his way.

"Teacher, what exactly is happening up ahead?"

Lin Xia's heart tightened as he instinctively looked at Lou Gao.

Lou Gao's usually hearty and open face was now as dark as leaden clouds before a storm.

His tall body paused slightly, his sharp gaze piercing through the courtyard and locking onto the source of the disturbance in the front courtyard. His thick brows were drawn tightly together.

"Xiao Xia, take Larvitar and go back to the backyard! Stay there and don't come out!"

Lin Xia halted. He clearly saw the gravity in his teacher's eyes—and even... a trace of suppressed fury.

Just as Lin Xia was about to ask what was wrong or express his wish to face it together, Lou Gao seemed to see through him. Beneath those tightly furrowed brows, a flicker of gratification flashed through his eyes—this child had not backed down. He truly regarded the association as home.

"Listen to me!"

Lou Gao's voice grew heavier, carrying the authority of an elder.

"The Blacksmith Association's affairs are mine to handle! The sky won't fall! Go back, read in peace, or keep Larvitar company while it eats some Mineral Ore. Don't worry!"

After saying that, Lou Gao gave Lin Xia no chance to argue. He flung his sleeve and strode toward the front courtyard, his back as solemn as a mountain, yet radiating fury on the verge of eruption.

Watching Lou Gao leave with such resolve, Lin Xia's heart sank.

His teacher had never spoken to him in such a grave, almost dismissive tone before.

What had happened in the front courtyard?

Don't worry?

That clearly meant, This is serious. Don't get involved!

"Teacher..."

Lin Xia murmured, unease churning within him.

He looked at Larvitar in his arms, which had just let out a sparkling electric burp. Though ignorant of what was happening, it had instinctively sensed its Master's emotions and quieted down. Lin Xia's gaze hardened.

"No, I have to take a look! At worst, I'll stay hidden. I can't really be a coward who hides with his head tucked in!"

Lin Xia made his decision quickly.

Rather than following directly to the main hall in the front courtyard, Lin Xia carried Larvitar and, relying on his familiarity with the association's layout, circled around to a concealed staircase at the side that led to the second-floor Corridor of the hall.

The view there was broad, allowing him to clearly see the situation in the hall below, while the pillars and shadows kept him hidden from easy detection.

Lin Xia had just concealed himself in the Corridor's shadows and poked his head out to look down when his pupils suddenly contracted!

The atmosphere in the hall was taut with hostility.

The Blacksmith Association's guards and several high-ranking blacksmiths stood on either side with grim faces, their fists clenched as they glared furiously at the uninvited guests in the center.

Among the leaders was the Martial Soul Hall Deacon Elder who had once tried to recruit him—Charlotte!

However, Charlotte was now standing slightly behind a man dressed in a luxurious crimson robe.

The red-robed man was of average build, his face rounded with the softness of someone who had long lived in comfort and privilege. Yet his eyes were exceptionally sharp and sinister, while a faint, deeply unpleasant arrogant smile hung at the Corners of the Mouth.

A badge symbolizing his identity as a Martial Soul Hall Bishop was pinned to his chest. It gleamed beneath the torchlight, radiating an invisible pressure.

Miles!

The bishop of Gengjin City's Martial Soul Holy Hall!

The greedy, lustful Miles from the original story—the one who would ultimately bring about his own death at Tang San's hands!

Lin Xia's heart seemed to skip a beat as a chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head!

Fragments of the original plot flooded into his mind like an icy tide—an assassination at night, theft by disguise, the Blacksmith Association being implicated, Teacher Lou Gao throwing himself into the forge fire...

Below, Lou Gao had already stepped before the members of the association, standing several meters away from Miles in confrontation.

There was no fear on that weathered face—only fury suppressed to its utmost limit, blazing fiercely. His voice boomed through the hall like muffled thunder.

"Miles! What is the meaning of this?! You brought your men to trespass into my Blacksmith Association and even injured my guards?! Do you really think the Blacksmith Association is made of clay, to be kneaded and squeezed by your Spirit Hall as you please?!"

The fake smile on Bishop Miles's face faded somewhat, but the arrogance carved into his bones remained undiminished.

Unhurriedly brushing nonexistent dust from his crimson sleeve, he spoke in a lofty, condescending tone.

"President Lou Gao, why get angry? This bishop merely heard that your association seemed to have encountered something unusual underground today and obtained some... well, rather extraordinary items."

"Out of my duty to ease His Holiness the Pope's burdens and ensure local peace, I came to learn more about the matter, lest any dangerous objects fall into civilian hands or petty villains set their sights on them, bringing disaster upon Gengjin City."

The moment those words came out, the Blacksmith Association erupted in uproar! This was clearly nothing but blatant seizure by force!

Using lofty-sounding excuses to commit acts of banditry!

Lou Gao was so furious that his beard and hair bristled. Veins bulged at his temples, his fists clenched with crackling sounds, and his immense Soul Power spilled out uncontrollably, making the surrounding air thick and heavy.

"Bullshit! What belongs to the Blacksmith Association is not for you to inspect or safeguard! You want it? Then step over Old Man's corpse first!"

The atmosphere instantly froze.

The fake smile on Miles's face vanished completely. His gaze turned cold and dangerous as the aura of a high-ranking Soul Master gradually rose around him, colliding with Lou Gao's presence in invisible crackles.

The Spirit Hall Deacons behind Miles also gripped their weapons tightly, the glow of their Soul Rings flickering in and out of view.

The conflict was on the verge of erupting!

Hidden in the shadows of the Corridor, Lin Xia's heart pounded wildly, his palms drenched in cold sweat.

Looking at the tense scene below, where bloodshed could break out at any moment, and recalling the tragic ending from the original work, a powerful thought split through his chaotic mind like lightning.

No! They absolutely could not reach that point!

Miles had to die, but nothing could happen to him at this time and in this place!

Besides, the conflict between the Blacksmith Association and Spirit Hall could clearly be talked through. They could coexist peacefully!

The bloodshed in the original story had largely stemmed from Lou Gao's loyalty toward Titan, Miles's greed, and Tang San's so-called "settling grudges with swift satisfaction"!

Let me put up a disclaimer first!

In my opinion, the conflict between the Blacksmith Association and Spirit Hall—or rather, the Gengjin City Martial Soul Branch Hall—stemmed from a fundamental clash of ideals, competition over economic interests, Spirit Hall's hegemonism, and a bit of personal animosity as well. Lou Gao and Titan were friends, so Lou Gao felt indignant over what had happened to the Strength Clan.

Of course, the more important issue was Miles's character and conduct. He magnified the conflict between Spirit Hall and the Blacksmith Association, deceiving those above and below him solely to pocket more benefits.

But after Tofu finished reading and analyzed it, there was still a way to resolve this situation. After all, to be honest, the gap in strength between the Blacksmith Association and Spirit Hall was simply too great. Since I started with the Blacksmith Association, Spirit Hall was an obstacle I could not avoid. And given the protagonist's current strength, he was destined to be unable to simply start killing people, so I will come up with a reasonable way to settle this grudge.

All in all, by the point the conflict between the Blacksmith Association and Spirit Hall had developed to, personal grievances were no longer that important. It was more like a typical conflict between "technological independence" and "hegemonic monopoly."

To Spirit Hall, the Blacksmith Association was a disobedient piece of fat—one capable of posing a threat and possessing vital strategic resources—that had to be annexed or destroyed.

To the Blacksmith Association, Spirit Hall was a bandit trying to seize the resources they depended on for survival and strip them of their professional dignity.

Everything above is merely Tofu's humble opinion. Putting up another disclaimer~