I'll Ask the Higher-Ups

Seeing the man's stance, Chu Heng's gaze sharpened. He used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and shifted lightly to the side, avoiding the man's outstretched hand.

The man grabbed empty air and froze again. Several surprised murmurs rose from the crowd.

Chu Heng came to a stop.

"Say what you want, but there's no need to get physical."

The man's face darkened. An eight-year-old child had dodged him and humiliated him in public. He felt he had lost face.

"A Soul Master, are you?"

He sneered.

"Not bad for someone so young."

As he spoke, Soul Power surged from his body, and two yellow Spirit Rings slowly rose beneath his feet.

At the sight of his Martial Soul, the onlookers backed away.

Chu Heng narrowed his eyes. Two rings. A Soul Grandmaster.

The man was surprised by Chu Heng's calm expression. Any normal child who saw Spirit Rings would at least look frightened, even if he didn't turn and run. Why wasn't this brat reacting at all?

"Kid."

The man narrowed his eyes.

"Scared yet?"

Chu Heng glanced at the two Spirit Rings beneath his feet.

Scared?

Chu Heng had no time to think about that. Instead, he studied the man's clothing and found it somewhat familiar.

"Are you from Spirit Hall?"

The man paused, not expecting Chu Heng to recognize the uniform. A smug look crossed his face.

"So you've got some sense after all."

Chu Heng blinked. He really is?

"What's your position?"

The man frowned.

"Why are you asking so many questions?"

Chu Heng considered it. In a place like Spirit City, someone of this man's level shouldn't hold much of a position. Did he have family connections?

While Chu Heng was thinking, the man beside him grew impatient.

"Boss, why waste words on this brat?"

He turned to Chu Heng.

"Kid, you still have time to get lost. Otherwise, even if your family comes looking for you, it won't help."

At that, Chu Heng's expression turned strange.

"So you're saying nobody here can do anything about you?"

The leader snorted.

"Brat, do you know who's backing us?"

Chu Heng shook his head.

"No."

"Then mind your own business."

Chu Heng fell silent for a moment, then reached to his waist and took out a silver-white token.

He looked down at the Spirit Hall emblem on its front, then turned it over to examine the unusual bow-shaped pattern on the back.

"Um... I only just arrived in Spirit City. I don't really know the rules here."

Holding up the token, Chu Heng gave him an innocent smile.

"Could you take a look and tell me whether this gives me any authority?"

Chu Heng's manner caught the man off guard. He examined the token carefully, but the longer he stared at it, the deeper his frown grew.

He didn't recognize it.

The front bore Spirit Hall's emblem, but he had no recollection of the bow-shaped pattern on the back.

With that thought, the man's apprehension eased.

"Brat, you think you can scare me with some token you picked up God knows where? You'd better tell me where you got it!"

Chu Heng frowned.

He doesn't recognize it?

He glanced down at the token. Guang Ling would never have given him a fake. That meant the man simply wasn't important enough to recognize it.

"If you don't recognize it, forget it."

Chu Heng tucked the token back at his waist.

"I'll find someone who does to handle this."

With that, he moved to lead the person they had been bullying aside.

But the man had lost face in public. There was no way he would let it end there.

"Stop!"

He stepped forward and reached for Chu Heng's shoulder.

Chu Heng's eyes turned cold. He had already backed down, yet the man still refused to let it go. In that case, there was nothing more to say.

Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!

The man's vision blurred. Chu Heng, who had been right in front of him, slipped past his hand.

"What?"

Before he could react, Chu Heng's right hand closed around his wrist.

Jade Hands!

His fingers tightened slightly, and he pulled with his arm.

Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon!

The man felt a strange force wrench his forward momentum in another direction. He instantly lost his balance.

The next moment—

Bang!

The man slammed to the ground.

The crowd fell silent. A two-ring Soul Grandmaster had been knocked down by a child of about eight?

"Boss!"

The other two came to their senses and charged at Chu Heng. He remained calm. He had no intention of using his Martial Soul against them.

With Purple Demon Eyes active, their movements seemed slow to Chu Heng. He turned aside to avoid a punch, blocked the other man's arm with Jade Hands, then used the force to shove him. The two collided and tumbled to the ground in a heap.

It had taken only a few breaths. Chu Heng stood where he was and flexed his wrist.

He had to admit, the Tang Sect's secret techniques were useful, especially when using his Martial Soul wasn't convenient.

"What's going on here?"

A sharp shout suddenly came from beyond the crowd.

"Everyone, stop!"

The crowd parted, and several Patrol Guards in uniform entered Chu Heng's view. The leader glanced at the men on the ground, then looked at Chu Heng. His face darkened.

"Don't you know private fights are forbidden in Spirit City?"

Chu Heng was about to explain when the man spoke first.

"Sir! This kid attacked us first!"

Chu Heng: "..."

So they were going to blame him before he could say a word.

Fortunately, the Patrol Guard had no intention of hearing only one side.

"You can all explain yourselves after you come with us."

Chu Heng thought for a moment, then took out the silver-white token again.

"Do you recognize this?"

The Patrol Guard paused and took the token. After examining it closely for a while, he frowned.

Chu Heng's heart sank.

Don't tell me he doesn't recognize it either.

"This token..."

The Patrol Guard turned it over several times and studied the bow-shaped pattern on the back for a long while. In the end, he shook his head.

"I haven't seen it before."

Chu Heng's mouth twitched. Teacher, is this token of yours any use at all?

Still, the Patrol Guard was more cautious than the man before him. He didn't assume the token was fake and put it away instead.

"I'll ask my superior about the token. But whoever you are, you've been involved in an incident, so you'll have to come with me."

From what he had seen, the Patrol Guard knew Chu Heng was quite capable. For someone so young to have such strength, his background could hardly be ordinary.

He wanted to stay on Chu Heng's good side, but with so many people watching, he couldn't openly show favoritism. He would take Chu Heng in first, then make arrangements once he had confirmed his identity.

Chu Heng hesitated briefly, then nodded.

"Fine."

Whether it came down to the facts or to connections, he had nothing to fear.

Before long, the Patrol Guards led them away, and the crowd dispersed. Chu Heng had expected to be taken somewhere for questioning, but he fell silent when he saw the cold iron door before him.

"Why does this look like a jail cell?"

"It's temporary detention."

With that, the other Patrol Guard who had brought Chu Heng there shut the iron door.

Chu Heng sat down to one side.

Fine. He could wait.

Meanwhile, the Patrol Guard who had taken the token arrived at a room.

"Sir, I encountered a child while on patrol today. He showed me this token."

The middle-aged man behind the desk took it casually. At first, he paid it little mind, but when he noticed its design and saw the pattern on the back, he froze.

"This is..."

He brought it closer. The more he looked, the more familiar it seemed, but he couldn't remember where he had seen it.

A token made from this kind of material had no business being in an ordinary child's hands.

After a moment's silence, the middle-aged man suddenly stood.

"Where's the child?"

"He's been detained for now."

"You haven't used force on him, have you?"

The Patrol Guard froze.

"No."

"Good."

The middle-aged man gripped the token tightly. For some reason, a bad feeling rose in his chest.

"Wait here. I'll ask the higher-ups."