Blocking the Way

"Let's go."

Long Xiao watched everything unfolding in the arena, the corners of his lips barely moving as he gave a soft chuckle.

Curly froze.

"Boss? Aren't we going to see our little bro Xiao Yan?"

Wasn't he the boss's little brother? Why were they leaving? He had wanted the kid to offer him a little tribute.

"It's not time yet."

Wasn't tomorrow the day of his little brother's Three-Year Agreement? He would visit that so-called Misty Cloud Sect then and see just what kind of woman had changed his little brother's entire life.

"All right."

Curly could only follow him with his head hanging.

Meanwhile, after a round of inspection, Xiao Huohuo was confirmed as the final winner.

"Now, please welcome our champion, Xiao Yan, to the stage."

Fa Ma announced the result, and waves of applause rang out.

The people of the Jia Ma Empire rose to their feet, applauding Xiao Yan.

Long Xiao and his two companions left the competition square amid the thunderous applause.

But just as the three reached a small alley, two men who looked like spoiled young masters blocked their path, accompanied by several fierce-looking burly men.

"What do you want?" Long Xiao stopped and looked at the men before him with a contemptuous smile.

Judging by their appearance, surely no one was actually stupid enough to try robbing him?

"Heh." One of the young men, tall and thin, gave Xiao Huohuo a flippant glance and said, "Are you the one who paid with a Dou Ling Pill?"

"Yes," Long Xiao answered.

So they were coveting his Dou Ling Pills?

The tall, thin young man sized Long Xiao up. His face was unfamiliar in the Imperial Capital.

Although he carried himself with distinction, he probably had no powerful backing. He was merely slapping his own face swollen to pretend he was fat.

It seemed the restaurant owner really had not lied. His wait here had not been wasted.

Those were Dou Ling Pills-treasures that money alone could not buy. The greed in the young man's eyes was unmistakable.

"My name is Aoba. I'm from the Alchemist Guild, and my grandfather is Fu Yan."

Aoba folded his arms across his chest and spoke arrogantly.

Usually, in the Imperial Capital, people would show him some respect as soon as he invoked that name.

"What the hell is that?" Long Xiao raised an eyebrow.

Curly also said impatiently, "Boss, is there a lump in this guy's brain?"

A vicious glint flashed through Aoba's eyes. Hmph, this fellow actually dared to ignore him!

Just then, however, the companion beside Aoba stepped forward, ogling Medusa.

"Well, well. Miss, your bearing alone tells me you're a gentle, virtuous woman. My name is Lei Le, and I'm from the Mittel Family. My grandfather is an elder of the family. Might I have the honor of inviting you to dinner?"

A lecherous smile curled Lei Le's lips. Most women were easy to fool. He only needed to reveal his status, and she would surely throw herself into his arms.

He had never expected such an unexpected delight from accompanying Aoba. Although this woman wore a veil, her figure and allure were every bit the equal of Ya Fei from his family.

"Gentle? Virtuous? Are you serious?!" Rather than anger, Long Xiao and Curly's first reaction was sheer disbelief as they cried out.

Could those two words possibly describe Medusa?

The next instant, Medusa's gaze, cold as a blade, shot toward Long Xiao and Curly.

"Uh..."

Both shivered and involuntarily retreated two steps, raising their hands to shield their faces, afraid she might slap them.

Aoba glanced sideways at Lei Le with disdain. They were both among the Imperial Capital's Four Young Masters, yet this fellow cared for nothing but women. How embarrassing!

"I won't waste words. I want the remaining Dou Ling Pills you have. I can pay for them... how about ten thousand gold coins each? Heh." A vicious glint flickered in Aoba's eyes.

Ten thousand gold coins each?!

Hearing that, Curly could not help cursing, spraying spit onto Aoba's face. "Fuck, you're outright robbing us! Who gave you the nerve?"

Medusa could not be bothered to endure these two eyesores any longer either, and prepared to blast them into cannon fodder.

"Don't be so hasty."

Long Xiao stopped the two from attacking, cast an indifferent glance at Aoba, and slowly spoke.

"If you want Dou Ling Pills, that's fine. Take me to the Alchemist Guild, and I can give you more. How about it?"

Aoba was startled at first, then his eyes lit up and he laughed. "That's a fine idea. A wise man truly does know which way the wind blows. If you follow me, becoming the Imperial Capital's Fifth Young Master isn't out of the question."

A mocking smile curled Long Xiao's lips. These people really thought they were important-really thought they were a dish worth serving.

"In that case, I'll come along."

Aoba immediately smiled at his words. "Follow me."

Long Xiao and his two companions followed.

Lei Le, meanwhile, looked at Medusa's alluring back and smiled. "Hmph, what a beauty. If I don't get you into bed, my surname isn't Lei! But business comes first."

He immediately turned and hurried toward the Mittel Family.

After returning to the Mittel Family, Lei Le went straight to his grandfather Lei Ou's room. Breathlessly, he recounted what had happened, then added, "Grandfather, that fellow probably has plenty more precious pills. You're on good terms with Elder Fu Yan. If you hurry over now, you might get quite a share of the benefits!"

"Hmm?" Surprise appeared on Lei Ou's face.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure." Lei Le thumped his chest in assurance.

"Then hurry! Otherwise, that old fellow Fu Yan will take all the benefits!"

Lei Ou thought it over and decided Lei Le had a point.

He immediately grabbed Lei Le and sped toward the west of the city, moving so fast he wished he could grow another pair of legs.

By then, Long Xiao had followed Aoba to the Alchemist Guild.

They arrived at a large courtyard, lavishly decorated and spacious.

That alone showed that Aoba's grandfather must hold a fairly high position in the Alchemist Guild.

"Watch them. I'll go in and inform my grandfather."

Arriving before a room with its door tightly shut, Aoba gave his men an order and prepared to knock.

"No need to go in. Curly, do it."

At Long Xiao's words, Curly immediately nodded. Heh, he had just been worrying about having nowhere to vent.

And this fellow actually dared to stir up trouble!

Curly sneered, walked straight forward, and punched the door.

Bang!

A tremendous crash rang out, and the wooden door instantly shattered, its fragments flying everywhere.

"Who is it?!"

An aged, commanding voice came from inside, tinged with anger.

Curly grinned and chuckled. "It's your granddaddy Curly!"

"Y-you-you!"

Aoba suddenly froze on the spot, staring at Curly in terror.

A chill rose up his spine, and every hair on his body stood on end. He nearly wet his pants!

Curly snorted and swung another slap straight at Aoba.

Smack!

The crisp sound of a slap rang out.

Aoba's cheek instantly swelled, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

After standing stunned for a moment, he clutched his burning cheek and shouted into the room, "Grandfather, save me!"

Meanwhile.

Hai Bodong and Jia Xingtian stood in a small alley.

A corpse lay at their feet.

It was the corpse of the contestant from the Chu Yun Empire. His entire body had been frozen into an ice sculpture, as though it might shatter at any moment.

"Why do I sense a familiar aura?"

Jia Xingtian suddenly raised his head and looked toward the Alchemist Guild.

"It should be a Dou Emperor." Hai Bodong's expression also grew solemn.