Han Shuo, Qinglin, and Andrei returned to the Central Area together. Everyone's gaze converged on Han Shuo, and congratulations poured from the members of the three great families. Han Shuo handled them with a composed smile, looking modest and neither arrogant nor impatient.
The three family heads had more on their minds and did not show Han Shuo too much enthusiasm. But Kamelita, Jiya, Heitian, and the others close to him had no such reservations, treating his victory as an incredible piece of good news. Amid their celebrations, Kamelita and Heitian also had to console the defeated Qinglin.
Qinglin, who had prepared himself mentally before the fight, had already come to terms with it after talking with Han Shuo and Andrei on the way back. He showed none of the dejection everyone had expected. On the contrary, his fighting spirit seemed to have been stirred, and he kept declaring that he would give Han Shuo trouble next time.
As Wallace watched Heitian, Qinglin, Kamelita, and Andrei grow increasingly close to Han Shuo, his worries deepened. As head of the Saint Family, he looked further ahead than others and had more concerns. Without realizing it, Wallace had begun to take Han Shuo's special standing in Shadow City seriously.
First place had been settled, but the remaining rankings still required fighting. After another round of contests, the Divine Guard Captains' rankings were finally determined-Han Shuo, Qinglin, Heitian, Ralph, Camilla, Baten, and Geluxi. Exhausted by his battle with Han Shuo, Ralph had also lost his match against Heitian, which came as something of a surprise to everyone.
Once the new rankings were settled, Ralph was even quieter than usual. He said nothing from beginning to end, merely sweeping his gaze over Han Shuo from time to time. No one knew what he was