Night lay like ink, staining the whole of Star Luo Imperial City.
At the Star Emperor Hotel, the lights had long gone out in Zhengtian Academy's private rooms.
Long Aotian sat cross-legged on his bed, still awake. The echoes of his daytime battle with Huo Yuhao had yet to fade. The Golden Blood within him still simmered as he replayed the entire fight.
Almost the instant a dark figure appeared, Long Aotian's eyes snapped open. Gold flashed through them as he barked, "Who's there?!"
A blue-haired figure slowly took shape in a dark corner of the room.
The young man's turquoise eyes curved with amusement, a careless smile on his lips. Dressed in black that blended into the night, he was Huo Xiaohei wearing Sampo's mask.
"Well, well. You found me? Old Sampo hid so carefully, too. No fun." Huo Xiaohei stroked his chin and sauntered out of the shadows with a grin. "Allow me to introduce myself. Sampo, of the Masked Fools. Hope I haven't interrupted your post-fight analysis with this late-night visit?"
Long Aotian's brow tightened. His muscles tensed as he quietly shifted his feet, placing himself in the best position to counterattack.
He did not strike rashly. Instead, he asked in a low voice, "What do you want, breaking in at this hour?"
Huo Xiaohei was about to answer—
Crack!
The air split with a sudden rush!
Long Aotian shot forward like an arrow loosed from its bow. Gilded Emberflame wrapped his fist as it drove straight for Huo Xiaohei's throat, with no probing blow beforehand. The attack was ruthless and clean.
The instant the force swept across his neck, bone cracked sharply.
But the expected spray of blood and flesh never came.
Huo Xiaohei's head hung against his shoulder at a grotesque angle. Instead of dropping