"Hotel?"
The building towering before me was a hundred stories tall, lavishly decorated in gold and jade. Above its palace-like entrance gleamed the gilded words "Winter Arrival Hotel," with a smaller line beneath: "Si Nan Family Palace." Its style was a blend of Chinese and Western, just like the surrounding buildings, yet it dwarfed them all. Come to think of it, wasn't this an industrial city? Why was there a building like this, the sort you'd only see at a tourist destination? And what was this "Si Nan Family Palace" business?
"Don't stare... I really don't know what the family was thinking. After it was finished, they even added some nonsense about a palace. It's embarrassing just to look at." Si Nan Ying looked annoyed as she dragged me inside the palace—no, the hotel.
"This hotel was built with Si Nan Family money, and the family owns property in the center of every city under its jurisdiction. It makes it convenient for family members to find food and lodging when they're out on business. Of course, the family members investigating here are staying here too." As she walked toward the desk, Si Nan Ying explained. The hotel lobby was incredibly spacious. I'd heard that Dubai's Burj Al Arab had a lobby large enough to fit a Statue of Liberty; this place was probably just as impressive. A huge fountain stood in the center, facing a counter twenty meters long. Chinese carved beams and painted rafters blended perfectly with Western grandeur, dazzling and splendid.
Just to make food and lodging convenient... I'd really underestimated the Si Nan Family. I'd thought they were just ordinary nouveau riche, but now they looked like god-tier tycoons! Did land and building materials cost nothing in this world? Then Si Nan Ying beside me said something even more shocking.
"Eh... I don't really want to stay here either, but this is the only hotel in the city that looks halfway decent."
Do you usually live in a crystal palace or something...?
When we reached the desk, the beautiful woman behind it stared at Si Nan Ying in astonishment, then almost cried as she said, "Second Young Miss, you're finally back! Elder Hong has asked about you several times. He's practically frantic! Please go see him right away!"
"What's the big deal... I just went out for a look around. It's not like I can't protect myself." Si Nan Ying gave an exasperated little pout. "We'll talk about that later. This is my friend. Arrange the room closest to mine for her, immediately!"
"But your guards have been assigned to the rooms around yours. Changing the arrangements now might..."
"It's fine! Liu Ye is really strong! Stronger than all those guards!" Si Nan Ying declared proudly, thumping her chest.
...I suddenly had a bad feeling about this.
"I can't pretend I didn't hear that, Miss."
A voice came from behind me. I turned and saw a group of men and women in silver-gray uniforms approaching. Their steps were perfectly synchronized, their expressions stern. They were clearly well trained. At their head was a tall woman with an unremarkable face and an impassive expression, yet she radiated an inexplicable air of authority. Her uniform was blue-gray, setting her apart from the others.
The tall woman bowed to Si Nan Ying and said, "Miss, I understand that you want to look after your friend, but protecting you on this trip is my duty. Forgive me for being so bold, but I cannot allow the guards to be reassigned. Furthermore, Winter Arrival Hotel is closed to outsiders during the investigation. Please think this over carefully."
Her tone was neither servile nor arrogant, and every word was soundly reasoned. What a sharp, capable woman! I thought. The main reason I'd come in with Si Nan Ying was to get closer to her and see if my instincts were right. But if that brought us unnecessary trouble, it wouldn't be worth it. So...
I quietly tugged at her clothes, hoping to tell her we should let it go. But before I could say a word, she announced with complete confidence, "Then let's do this! Send someone to fight Liu Ye. If they can beat her, I'll listen to you. If they can't, you'll listen to me!"
Then she turned to me with an innocent smile and said, "It's up to you! Show them what you can do!"
...Show them what I can do, my ass!!!!
I'd finally come to understand the saying: "You don't fear a godlike opponent; you fear an ally who's a pig."
The tall woman smiled faintly. Si Nan Ying had reacted exactly as she'd hoped. This would both ensure the Second Young Miss's safety and let her test that hooded woman's abilities. Two birds with one stone!
"Since Miss is in the mood, I, Si Nan Yuan, will accept the challenge. Rui Feng, you're up."
"Understood!"
A man of about twenty-five stepped forward. He was tall, with sharp features, and the outline of his muscles showed beneath his close-fitting uniform. He looked like someone who'd trained for years.
...To be honest, I really didn't think I could win. But it was too late to back out now, wasn't it? I was caught between a rock and a hard place.
I steeled myself and stepped forward. Rui Feng stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, arms hanging naturally at his sides. His gaze was alert but calm, and his whole body radiated an air of utter invulnerability.
"Rui Feng, senior guard of the Si Nan Family's main house," he announced, like some master from a martial arts novel.
"Liu Ye." I had no impressive title, so I just gave my name.
"Please, teach me!" As he spoke, he quickly crouched into a sprinter's starting stance. Through his tight trousers, I could clearly see the muscles in his legs twisting and compressing like springs! Enormous power gathered in his legs. He growled, and the compressed springs suddenly released!
With an explosive thud as his feet struck the ground, he shot toward me like a cannonball! This guy really was strong, but... don't take me for a pushover!
A huge mass of blood burst through my skin and clothing, forming a massive Blood Shield in front of me. It collided in midair with the charging Rui Feng!
With a boom, a figure was sent flying. He skidded several meters before regaining his balance. It was Rui Feng! On the other side, my Blood Shield was webbed with cracks and on the verge of shattering.
What incredible force! His charge was even stronger than the Bone Armor Lion's! I was stunned. It looked like I'd run into a real powerhouse this time.
Rui Feng was just as surprised. Understanding what his captain wanted, he'd meant to finish things quickly, so he'd held nothing back in that last attack. He hadn't expected me to block it so easily. This opponent clearly had a few tricks up her sleeve!
For a moment, Rui Feng and I stood facing each other, watching closely. Our nerves wound tighter and tighter as our fighting spirit mounted. Then we attacked at the same time!
Rui Feng charged like lightning, the spring-shaped muscles in his right arm writhing as he swung a fist like a pile driver. I swiftly formed a small Blood Shield—not to block him head-on, but to catch the side of his fist and deflect it just enough to throw off its course. Then I lashed out with a flexible Blood Whip as thick as my arm, striking at Rui Feng's body before he could stop his momentum! Rui Feng snorted. His waist muscles contracted violently, and his body bent in an unnatural way, evading the whip. He immediately threw another punch, colliding with the second Blood Whip that followed close behind!
A red blur and a gray one streaked back and forth at high speed, Blood Whip clashing with heavy fists in a flurry too fast to follow. In just a few seconds, they'd exchanged more than twenty blows! Si Nan Ying kept shouting, "Come on, come on!" while Si Nan Yuan watched the fight with a grave expression. Rui Feng's ability let him control his own muscles. It didn't sound impressive, but in close combat it could unleash astonishing power. Combined with years of training, his hand-to-hand ability ranked among the best of the main house's guards. And Liu Ye was fighting him to a standstill. There was no doubt about her strength!
"Look into that woman named Liu Ye. I want the most detailed information on her before tonight," Si Nan Yuan quietly ordered the team member beside her. Anything that might threaten the Second Young Miss's safety had to be investigated!
As I traded fierce blows with Rui Feng, I was amazed by how quickly I was improving. This was only my third battle since coming to this world, yet I could clearly feel my strength increasing—not the power of my ability, but my combat skills. I'd been a little flustered when defending against Rui Feng's first attack, but now I could fight him on equal footing, and was even starting to gain the upper hand. My body was adapting to battle at an astonishing rate! I also realized that after transforming, my five senses, reaction speed, and athletic ability were several times stronger than before!
We clashed again. Fist and whip collided, then bounced apart. It was time to end this...
I whipped at his abdomen. As expected, he raised his arm to block. Now!
The tip of the Blood Whip twisted, instantly transforming into a sharp Blood Blade that stabbed toward his muscular arm! That strike was enough to cripple him! But then—
With a clack, Rui Feng's elbow suddenly bent the wrong way, evading the Blood Blade. He'd actually used his ability to dislocate his own arm!
After dodging the blade, Rui Feng pressed in close, right up against me with my defenses wide open. His elbow clacked again as it snapped back into place. "Checkmate." He pointed his fingertips at my throat. "I acknowledge your strength, but I'm still the one who won!"
"Hmph..." I sneered.
"You really think so? Look at your feet!"
"What!?"
The blood I'd spilled across the floor during the fight suddenly surged upward, leaving him no time to dodge as it wrapped around his body like a membrane! At the same time, my Blood Blade pressed against his chest.
"I see... The Blood Blade at the beginning was bait, meant to draw my attention away from the floor..." Rui Feng sighed. "I admit it. I lost."