**Action: Capture Lu Kai**

Lu Kai sprinted ahead, his body movements bizarre, leaping left and right like a wolf darting through shadows. He was about to shake off the pursuers when he glanced back with a cold smirk, his eyes brimming with contempt.

He shot a look at Li Hongye, his gaze lingering on her heaving chest and slender waist, a lewd grin spreading across his face:

"Next time we meet, strip naked and wait for me in bed."

"Hahaha--!"

He laughed wantonly, his tone arrogant and crude, showing no regard for the pursuers behind him.

Just then, at the corner ahead, a dark figure stepped out.

It was Gu Chang'an!

Lu Kai froze for a moment, then burst into laughter, "You want to stop me too? With just a cleaver, kid, you're not worthy--"

Before he could finish.

Gu Chang'an drew his cleaver and moved, his form like the wind, his steps landing in uncanny positions!

"Clang--!"

A flash of cold light streaked through the air like lightning, aimed straight at Lu Kai's waist!

Lu Kai's pupils shrank. He had no time for more words, flipping his body to dodge, but the cleaver still sliced through his outer robe, a trail of blood seeping from his side.

"You're asking for death!"

Lu Kai roared, swinging his long blade in a diagonal slash like lightning, fierce and ferocious!

Gu Chang'an focused his mind, activating [Flowing Wind Steps] at full power, sidestepping narrowly to evade the blade.

"Thud!"

Then, Gu Chang'an stomped hard on the bluestone pavement with his right foot, sending gravel flying, and spun around for a horizontal slash!

"Such a fast blade!"

Lu Kai's face changed drastically as he raised his saber to block.

"Clang!" The impact numbed his tiger's mouth, and he was forced back two steps.

"This kid's no joke. So young, and already this strong!?"

Lu Kai's heart churned with doubt and unease.

"Haah--"

Gu Chang'an let out a shout, gripping his cleaver with both hands as he charged again, his footwork tricky.

He unleashed the Iron Cutting Saber Technique at full force.

He struck out several slashes in succession, forcing Lu Kai to scramble in defense, retreating step by step!

An inch longer, an inch stronger.

An inch shorter, an inch riskier.

Gu Chang'an, wielding his cleaver, kept closing in on Lu Kai, pressing the attack relentlessly.

Lu Kai kept dodging, but fresh wounds kept appearing on his body.

Gradually, panic set in.

The onlookers erupted in uproar:

"Who's that? Going toe-to-toe with the wanted criminal Lu Kai?"

"He's a disciple of Sky Wind Martial Hall... Gu Chang'an!"

"Didn't he just join the hall a few days ago?"

"This saber technique... it's brutal!?"

"With that strength, he's probably already a Ranked Martial Artist."

"Lu Kai's been a Ninth Rank Martial Artist for ages. For Gu Chang'an to fight him to this point, he's definitely Ninth Rank too."

"..."

"Get the hell out of my way--!!"

Lu Kai knew he couldn't drag it out any longer. He suddenly planted his feet, unleashing all his power.

A single strike—"Wolf Fang Break!"

He slashed down fiercely, the blade's aura carrying a piercing howl!

Seeing this, Gu Chang'an knew he couldn't meet it head-on and quickly dodged.

"Kid, if you chase me again, I'll chop you down."

Lu Kai saw Gu Chang'an evade and felt a surge of joy.

Just one more step and he'd be free—but then--

"Slap!!"

A black shadow streaked through the air—it was Li Hongye's Iron Whip!

"Lu Kai, you're dead."

She snapped coldly, the whip's tip coiling precisely around Lu Kai's sword arm. With a sharp yank, blood sprayed and the crack of bone was clear to hear!

"Ah!!" Lu Kai screamed, his long blade flying from his grip.

The next moment—

Gu Chang'an leaped in, dropping one knee onto Lu Kai's chest and pressing the flat of his blade hard against his throat, shouting:

"Move and you die!"

Lu Kai's eyes were bloodshot, but he had no strength to struggle. He could only pant heavily, his face twisted in unwilling fury.

The street fell silent, the onlookers too stunned to speak.

Li Hongye landed, her eyes carrying both approval and surprise as she looked at Gu Chang'an:

"Not bad, Junior Disciple Brother."

Gu Chang'an rose and clasped his hands: "Senior Disciple Sister flatters me."

Li Hongye smiled at him, but there was a hint of complexity in her expression.

She thought to herself: This kid... might be fiercer than I was back then.

What shocked her even more was—

Gu Chang'an hadn't even entered a rank yet.

And now, in just one morning, he had.

That speed, that talent—truly no small feat.

Li Hongye put away her whip, her face calm but hiding a trace of relief.

She ordered a few constables: "Take Lu Kai to the County Office. Don't let him get a chance to kill himself."

They acknowledged and bound the already faint Lu Kai's hands behind his back, escorting him toward the County Office.

The street gradually returned to order, though the crowd still buzzed with discussion.

Li Hongye walked over to Gu Chang'an: "Junior Disciple Brother, when did you break through?"

Gu Chang'an clasped his hands in a polite bow, his tone humble: "This morning. Thanks to Master arranging the medicinal bath, I got lucky and barely stepped into the Ninth Rank."

"Medicinal bath?" Li Hongye raised an eyebrow and broke into a smile. "Looks like my father spent a pretty penny today. Your aura doesn't feel like a 'barely' breakthrough."

Gu Chang'an scratched his head, grinning a little sheepishly: "Heh... honestly, I didn't expect it myself. Maybe my foundation was solid enough."

Li Hongye's eyes flickered, and she chuckled lightly: "You're quite modest. Anyone else would be bragging to the skies by now."

Her smile faded, and her tone turned more serious:

"But seriously, I can tell your aura is very stable. How long did you practice martial arts before this?"

"Half a year," Gu Chang'an answered bluntly.

"Half a year?" Li Hongye paused, then shook her head with a sigh. "Half a year to enter a rank... I took nearly three years back then. You're truly gifted."

Gu Chang'an said earnestly: "I just got lucky. Speaking of which, I have to thank Master. Without him, I wouldn't even know what 'Skin Tempering' means. And Iron Cloth Shirt—he taught it to me personally, even prepared the medicine formula."

"If not for Master, I don't know when I'd have truly entered a rank."

Li Hongye's eyes stirred slightly, and she silently added a few points to her assessment of him:

Good talent, and knows gratitude—this is someone worth befriending.

"What about your family?" she asked suddenly. "I heard from my father that you came here fleeing a famine?"

Gu Chang'an's expression calmed:

"Yeah. My hometown was up north. Drought hit for years, no harvest at all. Our family of ten headed south, and in the end, only I survived."

Li Hongye frowned slightly, then let out a soft sigh: "How did you get by after that?"

"Chopped wood, hunted, scavenged—did whatever I could. Saved up a bit of money, then put it all into joining the martial hall. I figured surviving on brute labor alone wasn't sustainable; I needed some real skill." Gu Chang'an spoke frankly, without a trace of complaint in his tone.

Li Hongye listened quietly, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, quickly turning to admiration.

Someone who's suffered knows how to cherish things. He's nothing like those spoiled brats who coast on family connections.

She looked at him seriously and asked: "Now that you've entered a rank, what are your plans? Still going to live off hunting?"

Gu Chang'an smiled, his tone firm:

"I want to be a constable. Master already spoke to Director Wang for me."

"Oh?" Li Hongye's brow lifted. "You've thought it through well. Being a constable is a good choice."

"I know Director Wang well too. No need to trouble my father with this—I can handle it myself."

"Besides—" She paused, her gaze carrying a hint of appreciation. "You're already Ninth Rank, and capturing Yellow Wolf Lu Kai this time—the credit is yours. Becoming a full constable is only natural."

Gu Chang'an lit up: "So Senior Disciple Sister, you know Director Wang too?"

"Of course!" Li Hongye said with a smile. "I entered the profession a few years before you. As for your matter, I can settle it with a single word to Director Wang."

She paused, then patted Gu Chang'an on the shoulder:

"Don't let my usual sternness fool you—I'm actually very protective of my own. People from our Sky Wind Martial Hall aren't to be bullied by outsiders."

Gu Chang'an's eyes warmed. He cupped his hands in gratitude: "Thank you, Senior Disciple Sister, for your guidance."

Li Hongye waved a hand:

"No need for thanks. We're family. As long as you don't bring shame to me or my Master, come to me for anything from now on."

Gu Chang'an nodded eagerly, his tone utterly solemn:

"I will train diligently and never disgrace the sect."

Li Hongye looked at him, gave a light smile, then turned her gaze toward the horizon.

Sunlight spilled through the clouds, and in the golden glow, her voice came lightly:

"Come on, let's go report to the County Office. I'll give Director Wang a heads-up right now."