I bloom amid slaughter!

Amid the billowing smoke.

Three figures emerged, coughing violently as they charged out of the thick smoke as fast as they could.

The tattoo-faced man in the lead was furious. His clothes had been blasted off his upper body, and his muscles bulged with audible creaks, veins standing out.

"Who?! Which bastard is setting off fireworks in the street instead of sleeping at this hour?! Come out if you've got the guts!"

They had absolutely no idea what had happened.

They had simply been running down the street.

Then a shell had come blasting straight at his face!

Good grief! If they hadn't had their powers protecting them, that shot would probably have sent them straight to meet their great-grandmothers!

A figure with ghostfire flickering inside his hood swept out of the smoke like a phantom and hurled the blood-soaked doctor onto the ground.

He snapped his gaze toward the end of the street and said coldly:

"Can't you tell yet? Someone's targeting us!"

The wind howled, whipping the thick smoke about.

And right then, footsteps suddenly rang out from the distant black fog.

"Who's there?!"

Almost instantly, they whirled around and looked in that direction.

Under the dim glow of the streetlights, they could just make out a figure standing at the end of the street, less than a few hundred meters away. Yet they hadn't sensed his presence at all.

The wind howled.

They faintly heard a voice drifting out of the darkness.

"I bloom amid slaughter, like a flower at dawn. I rise from the mire..."

Those suffocating footsteps drew closer, one step at a time.

They all held their breath.

"I am the searing azure lotus."

The billowing black fog dispersed in the wind as the figure slowly approached, shrouded in mist. His eyes were closed, with a hint of wistful loss lingering at their corners.

Only when he stood before them did he slowly open his eyes.

"I have never harmed anyone... yet so many people insist on putting me to death."

In an instant.

The tattooed man's and the doctor's expressions changed drastically.

They had finally seen the figure before them clearly: a handsome boy's face, his sidelong gaze carrying a trace of pity. He stood facing them stark naked, like a beautiful young man who had forgotten to dress after being hired for sex.

No! That wasn't the point. The face was what mattered!

"Lin Ke?!"

"That's impossible!! Didn't she say she'd already smashed his head to pieces?!"

The tattooed man shuddered, his hair standing on end.

The doctor's face went deathly pale. He had personally operated on the boy yesterday, and now someone who should have been dead was standing before him again. How could he not be afraid?

How could he be here?!

Only the cloaked figure with the ghostfire narrowed his eyes and rasped:

"Where's Shakira?! What did you do to her?!"

Lin En raised his head slightly, holding one hand behind his back.

"What sorrow is there in living, what suffering in death... anyone who dares shoot at another must be prepared to be killed. I never meant to take her life, but she remained so stubbornly misguided."

He lowered his head to look at the faintly glowing [Origin Substance] in his hand.

He gently closed his eyes, as though mourning her.

"I..."

His hand slipped.

Whoosh-

He instantly bent down to catch it, then resumed his serene expression.

"Never justify myself."

The moment they recognized the [Origin Substance] in his hand, their pupils contracted.

They could tell at once from the aura it emitted: this was unquestionably Shakira's Origin Substance.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh-

They instantly scattered, taking up a combat formation as though facing a formidable enemy.

The ghostfire-cloaked figure rasped:

"I see. So you killed her."

"I must admit, seeing you standing here alive is quite a surprise. I assume you haven't come back from the dead? That Lin Ke would never be as composed as you."

Although he hadn't expected this outcome, he had made comprehensive preparations before coming this time, precisely to guard against unforeseen circumstances.

Still, he had never imagined this.

"What exactly are you?!"

His voice was icy.

"Me?"

The corners of Lin En's mouth lifted as he turned sideways to them.

"Aren't I Lin Ke? You took something that rightfully belonged to me. Shouldn't I take it back?"

They watched the boy they had killed yesterday with unwavering vigilance. Without question, anyone who could appear before them so calmly must have come prepared.

The ghostfire figure narrowed his eyes.

"Oh? So you want his Origin Substance?"

They could faintly see that the arm extending from his cloak was nothing but stark white skeletal bone.

Lin En spread his legs slightly, clenched his fists, and smiled.

"What else? Shouldn't something that belongs to me be returned to its rightful owner?"

The charged tension spread through the air around them.

The ghostfire figure rasped:

"Do you know who we are?"

The corners of Lin En's mouth rose slightly.

"Why would I need to?"

The ghostfire figure said impassively:

"You want a fight?"

Lin En smiled faintly.

"Then let's fight."

At that moment.

The wind howled.

Both sides stood poised to strike.

The tattooed man and the doctor had long since grown grim under that immense pressure, even though they still had no idea what he actually was.

But there was no question that anyone who dared stand before them stark naked was anything but ordinary.

The ghostfire-cloaked figure narrowed his eyes and slowly extended his hand.

Whoosh-

Billowing green flames instantly engulfed him.

The tattooed man gritted his teeth as his muscles swelled with cracking sounds. Ferocity filled his eyes, and in an instant he resembled a beast poised to pounce.

Lin En stood there with a faint smile, his legs spread, utterly fearless.

They were like two opponents about to duel atop the Forbidden City. Perhaps the slightest movement from either would bring a sword that instantly claimed their life.

That atmosphere...

That feeling...

Even their breathing...

"Why aren't you wearing clothes?"

The tattooed man asked through gritted teeth.

The corners of Lin En's mouth curled upward as he folded his arms.

"Because you aren't worthy of making me..."

But right at that moment.

"Chotto matte! Hold on a second!"

Pat-pat-pat-pat-

A little girl came racing over with a (;≧д≦) expression, carrying Lin En's pants. With unimaginable speed, she wrapped a piece of fabric around his waist and tied it firmly, covering the thing swaying there.

"All done."

Pat-pat-pat-pat-she ran back.

"...wear clothes."

The smile on Lin En's face remained frozen for a very long time.

The three figures likewise fell into a prolonged silence.

An eerie stillness settled over their surroundings.

Only the breeze continued to blow, making the fabric in front of Lin En's waist flutter noisily.

"..."

"..."

So...

Was this some kind of ritual?

The next moment.

Under their bewildered gazes, the boy silently turned and walked toward where the little girl was hiding.

A few seconds later.

Smack, smack, smack, smack-

Smack, smack, smack, smack-

"Waaaaah!!"

"Couldn't you see I was trying to look [beep-] cool?!!"

"I'm sorry!! Hana Ye just thought being stark naked in public was indecent! And having it flap around wasn't pretty at all! ˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅ I didn't mean anything else!! I really didn't!! Can't you just go stand there again?"

"You ruined the atmosphere! How am I supposed to go back now?!"

Have you ever seen some random passerby run up with water during a duel atop the Forbidden City?!

That damn little girl!

That damn little girl!!

[Ding! Your happiness -1]

He wasn't happy at all anymore!

Out in the street, the three figures stared stiffly at the naked man smacking the little girl as he disciplined her.

"..."

"Boss, I think he's messing with us!"

The doctor spoke in a trembling voice.

[Ding! Nox's anger toward you +50!]

[Ding! Igor's anger toward you +40!]

"Kill him!"

In an instant, the tattooed man named Nox charged like a wild beast, killing intent surging in his eyes. At the same moment, the tattoos covering his body blazed with dazzling light.

His anger had reached its peak.

So all that badass posturing earlier had just been an act?!

"I'll take your life!"

He leaped into the air, a blood-red halo bursting from his fist as he furiously hurtled toward Lin En and Hana Ye.

But at that very instant.

Lin En glanced sideways.