Only One Shall Live

A curtain hung from the jade dais of the temporary palace.

A shadow passed behind the curtain.

The hall gradually fell silent.

The curtain was made of silver-red cicada-wing gauze, thin as smoke and translucent as mist, obscuring the figure behind it in a hazy blur.

Only the faint outline of someone sitting upright could be seen, their posture straight as a pine, utterly motionless, like a clay idol or wooden carving enshrined in a shrine.

There was no need to think further.

That was the Crown Prince's seat, and the person behind it was naturally the Crown Prince.

Everyone rose, straightened their robes and headwear, stepped to within three paces of the throne, and bowed.

"Greetings to Your Highness, the Crown Prince."

A soft cough came from behind the curtain, followed by a young voice.

"Dispense with the formalities. Take your seats."

The voice was not loud, nor was its tone particularly gentle, yet it carried an unquestionable authority, as though every word he spoke naturally weighed a few measures more than anyone else's.

The crowd thanked him for his grace, then returned to their seats.

Just then, someone rose at the side of the hall.

The man was immensely brawny, his shoulders and back broad as mountains. When he stood, it was like a wall rising from the ground.

He wore black fitted attire, with a long saber hanging at his waist. Its sheath was dark and heavy, while its hilt was wrapped in a dark-red cord knot, blackened by blood.

His features were not particularly vicious; indeed, he could even be called handsome—thick brows, large eyes, a high nose bridge, and full lips.

Yet the light in his eyes was unlike that of an ordinary person, bearing an undisguised, almost innocent cruelty.

Who was this man?

Someone laughed. "Brother Chihu is going to inspect the beasts' teeth again!"

Chihu?

Qiu Chihu!

Memories from more than two years ago resurfaced in Chen Lingxi's mind, and he suddenly recalled this man.

Even while he had been in the capital, he had long heard of his reputation.

The son of Qiu Huai, Commander of the Capital Guard—Qiu Chihu.

Naturally, it was no good reputation. He was known for his cruelty and called himself the "Capital Tiger."

He's here too...

Chen Lingxi narrowed his eyes.

Qiu Chihu untied the long saber at his waist and casually set it on the table. The blade struck the rosewood with a dull thud.

He bowed to the Crown Prince, greeted no one present, and strode toward the side of the hall.

Toward those thirty-odd people.

The hall fell silent for an instant.

Then low conversation resumed. Some raised their cups, some chuckled softly, some turned to speak with their neighbors, as though Qiu Chihu's actions were no more than a trivial matter.

Qiu Chihu stopped before the thirty-odd people.

Starting with the first person on the left, his gaze slowly swept across them.

Those he looked at either lowered their eyes, shifted slightly aside, or clenched and unclenched their fists, yet no one dared meet his gaze.

The corners of Qiu Chihu's mouth curled upward.

He began walking, passing before the line.

When he reached the third person, he suddenly stopped.

It was a young man in his early twenties, with thick brows and large eyes, a fairly sturdy build, and fitted martial attire. He stood ramrod straight.

Qiu Chihu reached out and pinched the young man's chin.

His fingers were as thick as iron pincers. As he gripped the man's chin, the young man's face was tilted slightly upward, and his mouth was forced open.

Qiu Chihu cocked his head and leaned closer, his gaze falling into the young man's open mouth as he inspected his teeth from top to bottom.

The young man's entire body tensed, his Adam's apple bobbing once. In the end, he neither struggled nor made a sound.

After looking for several breaths, Qiu Chihu released him and patted his cheek.

The two pats were not heavy, but they rang out sharply, especially clear in the quiet side hall.

"Not bad teeth," he muttered. His voice was low, but clear enough for the people nearby to hear.

At once, the nobles erupted in laughter.

Then he continued onward.

He inspected another two, pried open their mouths, examined their teeth, and patted their faces.

Like an old farmer buying cattle at the market, prying open a cow's mouth to inspect its teeth, judging its age and whether it could still pull a plow.

Chen Lingxi stood in the middle of the line.

His hands hung at his sides, his expression calm, his gaze fixed on the polished lapis lazuli tiles beneath his feet.

Qiu Chihu's footsteps drew closer and closer.

His boots struck the stone tiles. Once, twice, three times.

Then the footsteps stopped.

They stopped before Chen Lingxi.

Qiu Chihu's gaze fell upon him.

It slowly traveled over him, from top to bottom, then from bottom to top.

Just as he was about to reach out—

Chen Lingxi suddenly lifted his head and opened his mouth of his own accord, displaying a fine set of teeth.

"A clever one." Qiu Chihu threw back his head and laughed. "Those are indeed fine teeth."

He patted Chen Lingxi's shoulder. The two pats were heavier than before, and the force of his palm bore down, making Chen Lingxi's shoulder sink slightly. "Neat and orderly. Not one missing, not one crooked."

He turned and walked back.

Chen Lingxi lowered his eyes and closed his mouth, his expression unchanged.

Then someone in the main hall asked in a lowered voice, "This Qiu Chihu... what is he doing?"

Another voice came even lower, as if afraid of being overheard, nearly whispering into the other's ear. "You don't know? Qiu Chihu likes flower arranging too, but his methods differ from others. He likes to arrange flowers with human bones, using human teeth as accents."

Human bones for flowers, human teeth for accents...

Chen Lingxi kept his head lowered, his expression unchanged.

Qiu Chihu returned to the table, picked up his saber, and fastened it back at his waist.

He lifted the wine cup on the table and drained it in one gulp, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then grinned toward the curtain.

Low conversation continued in the hall.

Some spoke of amusing news from the capital, some discussed this summer's weather, and some quietly gossiped about which official was receiving a promotion.

As though what had just happened was merely an insignificant interlude at a banquet, forgotten as soon as it was seen.

Yunhe Commandery Princess held her tea cup and drank slowly, her gaze resting on Chen Lingxi at the side of the hall, the corners of her lips lifting faintly.

Chu Linzi reclined against the back of her chair, utterly ignoring Lin Longyue's provocative gaze.

Chen Lingxi stood in the line, hands hanging at his sides, unmoving.

Just then, someone emerged from behind the curtain.

It was a eunuch of around fifty.

The eunuch wore no expression. He raised his right hand, extended his forefinger, and pointed toward the side of the hall.

Everyone in the hall followed his finger.

There stood a door.

The door was vermilion, roughly thirty feet high and twenty feet wide. A stone plaque hung above it, carved with two words—"Beast Fighting."

The strokes of those two words were vigorous, as though carved by blades and hewn by axes, emanating a chilling killing intent.

At that moment, the door was slowly opening.

There was no creak, no rumble, not even the slightest sound.

It was as though an invisible hand had pushed it open from within. It silently slid apart to either side, revealing a deep, shadowy passage beyond.

At the end of the passage stood another door.

That door was black, taller and wider than the first. Its panels were tightly shut, and a wisp of cold, dim green light seeped through the crack, casting a ghastly pale sheen over the passage floor.

The eunuch spoke.

"Those who fight beasts shall all enter this palace."

He paused. "Within the palace, it is a fight to the death. Only one shall live."

"Only one shall live?" Lin Longyue's pupils contracted...

"Isn't it a pairwise fight, with the victor winning?"

She looked toward Chen Lingxi and Zheng Qingya's group of three.

Then she looked toward Chu Linzi and Yunhe Commandery Princess. The two women's expressions remained unchanged, as though they had known all along!

Low unrest immediately spread among the thirty-odd people at the side of the hall.

Some drew in sharp breaths, some clenched their fists, some swallowed as their Adam's apples bobbed, and some lowered their heads, lips moving as though silently reciting something.

Chen Lingxi took a deep breath and forced down the restlessness in his chest.

"Did you... hear that?"

Seeing that no one moved, the eunuch spoke again!

At once, it was as though a heavy hammer had crashed down inside the minds of the thirty-odd beast fighters, leaving them dazed and disoriented. Some could not even remain standing and collapsed onto the ground.

The eunuch said no more. He turned and walked back, neither hurried nor slow, the hem of his dragon-patterned robe swaying gently behind him.

He stopped beside the curtain, lowered his hands, and returned to his former silent, puppet-like appearance.

Having witnessed the old eunuch's might, and seeing the armored guards at the entrance, someone stepped forward.

The first person moved.

The second followed, then the third, the fourth.

More than ten people left the line in succession. Some hesitated, some were resolute, some looked as calm as usual, and some had gone deathly pale.

Zheng Qingya stepped out from the line, his pace steady and his expression tranquil, revealing neither joy nor anger.

As he passed Chen Lingxi's side, he paused slightly and turned to look at him.

That gaze was complex. It held the intent to contend, yet also seemed to contain a sigh of sympathy between those sharing the same sickness.

He said nothing, withdrew his gaze, and strode toward the door.

Zhou Xian followed behind Zheng Qingya. Chen Lingxi also stepped out of the line and crossed the threshold.

Behind them, the vermilion doors silently closed.

Before them stood the second door.

The black door towered before the crowd.

Then the black gates slowly opened.

Within was utter darkness, impossible to see through.

One person after another entered.

Chen Lingxi stepped inside, into the darkness, and was instantly startled!

—Beyond the door was not a passage, nor was it a palace!

It was... an entire world!