We stepped forward toward the gate again.
With a normal aura.
No deadly pressure.
No fainting guards.
So far… success.
The guards eyed us suspiciously, clearly traumatized from earlier, but since I looked like a weak cultivator now, they didn't dare call me a demon again, and they didn't recognize me at all
The captain cleared his throat.
"Ahem…Welcome to Phoenix Crest City. State your purpose."
"Sightseeing," I replied.
Yue subtly elbowed me.
"Visiting a friend," she corrected, bowing politely.
The guards instantly relaxed because a beautiful woman acting polite is apparently worth more than logic.
The captain nodded rapidly. "Y-Yes! Of course! Please enjoy your stay, and thank you for visiting!"
We walked through the gates without further incident.
…Until the captain muttered behind us
"Is that her husband?," one guard asked. "What a lucky guy"
Yue stumbled.
Her face went red again.
Her defenses were down.
Her embarrassment reached critical condition.
"Yue?" I asked.
She didn't answer.
She simply hid behind me, clutching my sleeve again like a shy kitten.
A kitten who could erase cities.
Just as we walked past the gates, a shadow appeared nearby.
Elder Yi, a stern figure exuding a powerful aura, approached the captain. His voice was calm but carried an unmistakable weight.
"Anything suspicious?" he asked.
The captain bowed quickly. "N-No, Elder Yi. There's nothing suspicious at all."
Elder Yi's gaze swept the city gates, sharp and calculating.
"Strengthen the security. And report to me immediately if the demon appears. I'm going to report this to the City Lord."
The captain hesitated, his face pale. "Elder Yi… just how strong is this demon?"
Elder Yi's eyes narrowed, almost as if he were trying to measure something beyond comprehension.
"I don't know. Judging from the aura it emits… it's more powerful than the City Lord himself."
The words hit the captain like a thunderclap. "Even you, Elder Yi… a Sixth Nascent Soul Realm cultivator… would be no match against this demon?!" His voice trembled.
Around them, the other guards exchanged horrified glances. One whispered, almost to himself,
"If it's stronger than the City Lord… then we're doomed if it decides to attack this city."
Elder Yi remained silent, his expression unreadable, but the tension in the air was thick enough to suffocate.
...
Yue and I made our way deeper into the city streets. Merchants shouted, children laughed, and the air smelled of spices, baked bread… and faint panic from those who accidentally made eye contact with Yue.
But at least no one called her a goddess.
Yet.
We continued our walk, but the peace didn't last long.
A commotion stirred near the marketplace a voices raised, people forming a circle.
Curious, we approached.
In the center of the bustling plaza, a young man in once-ornate robes knelt helplessly on the cold stone ground. His clothes were torn, stained with dust and blood. Armored guards, emblazoned with the crest of a noble house, surrounded him like wolves circling their prey.
His face—though bruised—still held defiance.
The lead guard stepped forward and spat near him with pure contempt."Trash of the Liu Clan! You are not even worthy to stand before our Lady!"
The young man's voice cracked with anger."What's the meaning of this, Yi Min!?"
A delicate figure stood nearby—Yi Min, her expression filled with disgust rather than the warmth he once knew. The sunlight reflected off her silk gown like she was some goddess above mortals.
"You?" She scoffed. "You are weak. Pathetic. How could a trash like you ever be worthy of me?"
She turned to the handsome youth at her side—Young Master Yuwei, revered heir of the Han Family. Pride gleamed in her eyes.
"Only he is qualified to be by my side," she declared coldly.
Yuwei stepped forward, glancing down at the kneeling boy as if he were merely dirt stuck under his shoe. His lips curved into a chilling smile."Young Master Liu Xin, Remember this well," he said, voice dripping with arrogance."Know your place. You're nothing but an insect crawling at our feet."
With that final blow, he wrapped his arm around Yi Min, and they both turned away—leaving without a shred of sympathy or hesitation.
Mocking laughter echoed among the nobles. Whispers stabbed deeper than any blade.
And Liu Xin… froze.
His fists clenched so tightly blood seeped from his palms. His chest heaved with rage and humiliation. His heart—already wounded—shattered completely.
Liu Xin remained frozen, his mind still reeling from Yuwei's merciless words and Yi Min's disdain. But then, two figures approached—Lin Xuan and Yue. Lin Xuan's expression was calm yet resolute as he stepped forward.
"Are you alright?" Lin Xuan asked, his voice steady. He extended a hand, helping Liu Xin to his feet. Yue followed closely, her presence gentle yet commanding.
Liu Xin's chest heaved as he drew in a shaky breath. "Thank… thank you," he murmured, gratitude flickering in his eyes for both Lin Xuan and Yue.
Lin Xuan offered a small, reassuring smile. "You don't have to stay here alone. Come with us. We are not familiar with this city, so we need you to accompany us"
After a moment of hesitation, Liu Xin nodded, accepting the offer. Together, they wandered through the bustling streets until they arrived at a lively, beautifully adorned tavern. Lanterns swayed with the wind, laughter and music spilling into the night, blending with the aromas of roasted meat and brewed spirits.
Seated, Liu Xin began to speak, his tone measured yet tinged with sorrow. "This… this is Phoenix Crest City. The city is dominated by four major families the Han Family, the Yi Family, the Zhao Family… and my own Family, the Liu Family."
He paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing. "The Han Family… their influence surpasses all others. Young Master Yuwei hails from them."
Yue's lips curled into a subtle sneer. "So that's why he's arrogant, he comes from a strong family."
"The Yi Family wields considerable influence in the City," Liu Xin continued. "The Zhao Family keeps to neutrality, though their power should not be underestimated. As for the Liu Family… once prosperous, now we are in decline. Because the Han Family's relentless attacks us with our family one Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, while they have ten." His voice faltered slightly as he recounted the disparity.
Yue felt of sympathy for him, while Lin Xuan's eyes glimmered with excitement. The story resonated with memories of his past life—the important moment when the protagonist's engagement was broken, forcing a path of resurgence. He felt an odd thrill at the thought of guiding Liu Xin toward a similar rebirth.
Yet, Lin Xuan knew the reality. Liu Xin was at the Fourth Qi Refinement Realm, while Yuwei was at the Sixth, a chasm of two realms. The odds were staggering.
Lin Xuan leaned slightly closer, a spark of determination in his eyes. "Do you wish to grow stronger?" he asked quietly.
Liu Xin's eyes flared with resolve. "I… I want to be strong enough to avenge the humiliation I suffered!"
"I'll help you," Lin Xuan declared firmly.
Yue, still enjoying a bite of her meal, smiled faintly and said. "I'll help too."
Liu Xin's chest swelled with gratitude. "Thank you… both of you. I… I won't you guys get involved with the Han Family, they're strong enough to take over this city on their own," he said, uncertainty flickering in his gaze.
Lin Xuan and Yue exchanged a glance and, in perfect unison, laughed softly. And Lin Xuan gaze met Yue
"Yue," he said, the single word carrying an unspoken command.
Yue understood immediately. Calmly, she released a terrifying aura—the peak of the Mahayana Realm, the pinnacle of mortal cultivation. The power rippled outward, shaking the very tavern. Chairs toppled, mugs shattered, and cultivators and commoners alike froze in terror at the sheer might pressing down upon them.
Amidst the chaos, Lin Xuan turned to Liu Xin, his gaze sharp and unwavering. "Follow me, if you want to become strong."
For a moment, Liu Xin froze, his mind spinning. But then… a spark of hope ignited within him. For the first time since the humiliation at the hands of Yuwei and Yi Min, he saw a chance, A path to strength, a chance to revive his family's honor.
If he followed Lin Xuan, he could become strong enough… strong enough to protect his family, to restore the Liu Clan's honor, and perhaps even surpass those who had brought his family to ruin. His fists unclenched, his chest rising with renewed determination, and his eyes shone with a fierce resolve.
"I… I follow you!" Liu Xin declared, his voice steady, carrying both gratitude and an unshakable will.
Yue's eyes scanned the tavern, noticing several guards closing in. "Master, we need to leave, the guards could be here any second."
Lin Xuan nodded, his focus sharp. "Yue… teleport us. Let's get out of this tavern."
In an instant, the three vanished, leaving behind only the trembling echoes of a power that no one in Phoenix Crest City would soon forget.