"Bastard!"
By the time Tian Henglei rushed onto the stage, he had gone completely still.
The sight before him drained every last ounce of spirit from him.
Tian Bingyun's limbs lay scattered across the ground, twisted in every direction.
Fragments of skin floated in the foul-smelling blood.
What made Tian Henglei's heart tremble with fear—and filled him with rage—was that Tian Bingyun had already stopped breathing.
All that remained of Tian Bingyun was his torso, like a headless body.
Astonishingly, Tuoba Xuan's arm had plunged deep into the torso between Tian Bingyun's shoulders.
That's right—Tuoba Xuan's punch had gone straight through Tian Bingyun's chest, smashing his head deep into his rib cage.
Boom!
Tian Bingyun's corpse crashed to its knees, leaving only a pile of mangled remains.
After six whole years of pent-up negative emotions, Tuoba Xuan's heart had become somewhat twisted.
It was filled with brutality and madness.
Tian Bingyun had been the perfect outlet for Tuoba Xuan's twisted heart.
That punch had unleashed six years' worth of bottled-up fury and his protest against fate's injustice.
"Hahahahahaha!"
Tuoba Xuan laughed like a madman, like a runaway turbine.
"Crack!"
That was the sound of Tian Bingyun's skull shattering.
Tuoba Xuan slowly pulled his arm out, dragging a heap of filthy organs with it.
As the smoke cleared, the scene on the stage was finally revealed.
In an instant, countless gasps and cries of astonishment rang out.
Some people even felt their stomachs churn at the gruesome sight and threw up.
"You bastard! Give me back my son! Give me back my son!"
Tian Henglei had lost all reason. His Soul Power erupted, and he tried to kill Tuoba Xuan on the spot.
"Tian Henglei, don't you dare!"
Shui Qing'er moved even faster, instantly blocking Tian Henglei. Eight Soul Rings appeared beneath her, and she fearlessly held him back.
"Shui Qing'er! That boy killed someone in front of everyone during the competition. Are you going to shield him?"
Tian Henglei roared hysterically.
Shui Qing'er didn't care.
"This is all your Tian Clan's own doing. If you don't accept it, try me!"
Though they were both Soul Douluos, the gap between them was immense. Tian Henglei was no match for Shui Qing'er.
"Deacon Di, Holy Maiden, I beg you to uphold justice for my son!"
Tian Henglei fell to his knees, tears in his eyes and lips deathly pale.
Shui Qing'er thought, This is bad. If the people from Spirit Hall get involved too, things will go south.
No matter how strong she was, she couldn't face two Soul Douluos at once.
Hu Liena frowned slightly and stopped Lor Diarra from stepping in to help.
"City Lord Tian, your son did break the rules by attacking first. I have other matters to attend to. Please accept my condolences."
After saying this, Hu Liena rose and left without hesitation.
Lor Diarra was confused, but followed Hu Liena anyway.
"No!"
Tian Henglei knelt on the ground and wailed.
With Lor Diarra gone, he had no chance of avenging his son.
"Deacon, Holy Maiden, I beg you, help this old man! If you step in, the entire city of Tianbing will belong to Spirit Hall. I swear I'll serve Spirit Hall for the rest of my life!"
Shui Qing'er furrowed her brows. Tian Henglei really had no shame.
Tianbing City was still a city of the Heaven Dou Empire. It wasn't his to give away with a word.
Even some of the Tianbing City nobles who had come to watch the spectacle were deeply displeased.
They were merely cooperating with Spirit Hall; they hadn't yet pledged themselves to it!
Hu Liena acted as if she hadn't heard and left without looking back.
"Holy Maiden, don't we need to help him?"
Lor Diarra asked, utterly confused.
"No. I've found someone more valuable than Tianbing City. Hurry and notify the main hall."
A cold smile curled at the corner of Hu Liena's mouth.
"You mean... that young man?"
Lor Diarra suddenly understood.
Hu Liena nodded.
"Go!"
"Yes! I'll carry out your order!"
Meanwhile, on the competition stage at the City Lord's Mansion,
Tian Henglei was holding Tian Bingyun's corpse and weeping bitterly.
Tuoba Xuan staggered off the stage.
"Are you all right?"
Shui Bing'er gathered up her skirt and rushed to Tuoba Xuan's side, quickly supporting him.
"I'm fine. I'm just exhausted."
Tuoba Xuan smiled easily.
He'd used far too much force just now.
He'd poured all the emotions and strength he'd been holding inside into Tian Bingyun.
For a moment, Tuoba Xuan felt utterly drained.
But it was only a brief backlash after letting off steam.
"Come to my room first."
Shui Bing'er smiled softly, then put an arm around Tuoba Xuan's shoulders and used her Soul Power to carry him away.
"Wait, wait, I'm covered in blood!"
"It's fine. I don't mind!"
In Shui Bing'er's bedroom,
Shui Bing'er helped Tuoba Xuan take off his shirt, which was caked with dirt and dust, revealing his lean, well-trained muscles.
The wounds on Tuoba Xuan's body had healed, but there were still traces of blood and faint red marks.
"Shui Bing'er!"
Tuoba Xuan suddenly spoke.
"What is it?"
Shui Bing'er froze for a second as she searched for medicine.
Tuoba Xuan fixed his gaze on the startled Shui Bing'er.
"You played your cards well. You knew it was a death trap, and you still let me come."
Shui Bing'er went completely still, flustered and at a loss for words. She wanted to explain herself.
"All right, you don't have to say anything. Some things are just that strange. But I have things to do, so I'll save your reward for later."
Tuoba Xuan's tone was utterly serious. He wasn't joking at all.
"No... It's not what you think... Listen to me... I don't know what came over me then... I... I..."
Shui Bing'er's legs felt weak, and her voice trembled.
"I know."
Tuoba Xuan gently flicked Shui Bing'er on the forehead.
"You had your sister try to stop me. Besides, entering the competition was my own choice. You don't have to feel guilty."
Shui Bing'er's eyes brightened. She'd thought Tuoba Xuan was angry with her and wanted to leave her.
Shui Bing'er wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes.
"Are you not planning to stay in Skywater City?"
Bare-chested, Tuoba Xuan helped Shui Bing'er to her feet.
"Mm. I still have things to do. If I'm quick, I'll come back to find you. But if it takes longer, we'll have to meet again in Heaven Dou City."
"Okay!"
Shui Bing'er sobbed, burying her face deep in Tuoba Xuan's chest.
Tuoba Xuan held Shui Bing'er for a while, then got up, put on a fresh set of clothes, and strode away.
There were things he had to do right away.
Shui Bing'er stayed where she was, hugging her knees and sobbing.
These were tears of joy.
After only a couple of steps, Tuoba Xuan ran into Shui Qing'er and Shui Yue'er, mother and daughter.
Seeing Tuoba Xuan about to leave, Shui Qing'er hurriedly spoke.
"Friend, thank you for your help. You've won this competition, and we'll present your reward shortly. Why not stay in Skywater City for a few more days? We'd like the chance to repay your kindness."
Shui Yue'er chimed in as well:
"That's right, that's right! Why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
Tuoba Xuan waved casually.
"Thank you for the offer, senior, but I've made up my mind. Until we meet again."
With that, Tuoba Xuan bowed to them both and headed out of the City Lord's Mansion once more.
"Hey, wait!"
Shui Yue'er hurriedly tried to stop Tuoba Xuan, but Shui Qing'er held her back.
"Mom, what are you doing?"
Shui Yue'er asked, confused.
Shui Qing'er let out a long sigh.
"That child is destined for something greater. Never mind. We'll have a chance to thank him again."