Sun Radiant Arena Private Box 3.
Reclining sideways on an arhat bed by the window, a mysterious veiled lady, with cyan-hair styled in a fancy bun, gazed down at the winner pretending to be a dead fish waiting for rescue.
"Ah la... how... interesting."
After a soft giggle that was rich like honey, she asked to nobody in particular.
"So? How did our ghost do? Any results?"
One of the veiled maids fanning her bowed. "Yes, Mistress."
She then waved at another attending maid, who shuffled forward on her knees to offer up a red cushion.
On it sat an ice jade vial like some high-class treasure.
Their mistress languidly plucked the vial from the cushion and uncorked it for a sniff.
Like a flower opening to the sun, a smile bloomed on her lustrous lips, and she didn't hesitate to tip the vial.
Out poured some slimy essence that flowed right into her mouth...
After savoring the taste, she licked her lips clean and purred.
"Ah la la... just like I suspected. Such... throbbing vitality."
All the maids stared at their toes as if they saw nothing.
Their mistress's gaze fell back to the man getting rolled onto a stretcher by two eunuchs.
"Go. Tell our ghost to satisfy his every request and get closer to him. I want to know all his preferences and his... deepest darkest desires."
One of the maids curtsied and retreated out from the room.
Then, as if some wicked idea flowered in her mind, a devilishly charming smile that could break hearts and shatter kingdoms bloomed under her veil.
"Ah… and go spread the news of my… interest. Make sure the news finds its way to the ears of that newly promoted bumpkin…"
Her slightly-amused gaze followed the stretcher getting carried out.
"Men... they always need a little pressure to get going."
Sun Radiant Arena Lounge.
When Qian Bage saw the motionless, ragged man on the stretcher being ferried out from the dark corridor, he rushed up, threw himself over the body like a grieving widow, and wailed.
"Ouuuu—Brother Bai! How could you die so young and leave your good brother behind? Why is fate so cruel to separate us? Why!"
Getting shaken all over so hard that he felt that his organs almost fell apart, Bubai barely pried his tired eyelids open and growled out.
"I'm not dead yet! But I will be if you keep shaking me like that!"
"Ou." Qian Bage sniffled, wiped away his crocodile tears and looked up with a grin so wide it could split a melon.
"Haha! I just knew Brother Bai is a real iron-blooded hero! How could a little scrape and burn possibly take you down!"
Without warning, Bubai's chest received a few hearty pats that almost caused him to cough out blood.
"Ou, but it seems brother really got roughed up bad this time… But don't worry!"
"With me around, Brother Bai can lie back and rest easy! No matter who comes to pick on you, us brothers will back you up! If a big Buddha comes, block buddha! If god descends, block god!"
Looking at that chest-puffing rooster beaming with a kind of useless loyalty, Bubai rolled his eyes so hard they almost got stuck in the back of his head.
Yea, keep blowing hot air! It's still too early to tell who will be helping who!
"Tsk. Instead of worrying about him, I'd say you worry more about yourself!"
Qian Bage innocently blinked at the rose who sauntered up beside them with arms folded over her proudly-puffed chest like a queen standing guard beside her demon king's throne.
"Ou? What do you mean?"
Miss Hong scoffed. "Tch. Don't play dumb. You know exactly what I mean. Now shoo—can't you see the patient needs rest?"
She was rude, but Qian Bage simply laughed it off.
"Ouuu! Haha! Brother Bai sure is a lucky man to enjoy such tender care! Alright, alright, Bage won't disturb your two-person world any longer. My big bet is still waiting for me to collect! Hahaha!"
Leaving that excuse behind, Qian Bage patted his butt and ditched them.
Bubai watched his fly-warder go without saying a word. What right did he have to stop him?
They weren't close. They became self-proclaimed good brothers because they planned to scratch each other's backs.
But now that he's in this half-crippled condition, he can hardly blame the other for slipping away instead of guarding him like a loyal dog.
Perhaps he'll even go back to report to his other brothers to rethink their investment plans, right?
Who knows.
Still, Bubai was certain about one thing.
Feeling the malice surging over from every corner, Bubai gave the place a sweep and saw all the greedy stares coming from all the crooks chilling in the lounge.
He was now like a plump, wounded rabbit left out in the open with no guardian.
All these foundation building jackals can't wait to tear into this piece of fat meat!
Lucky for him, next round is a bye. Whoever is next, it won't be him.
Even if the next fight ended quickly, no challenges can come his way—at least not until his hour-long cooldown is over.
For a demonic sect, the rules here were actually pretty fair and civilized.
Then again, if he was truly alone, who knows if these sneaky buggers will play tricks to bully the crippled.
But that's where his hot assistant comes into play.
Like a midnight rose in full bloom, the lady hugged by a skin-tight black qipao blocked right in front of him and leveled a scornful glare at all the jackals.
"Tch. A bunch of trash. Look all you want. But if any of you dare bother us…"
Her spiritual sense lashed out in deterrence.
Sensing the early-foundation-stage spiritual pressure, most turned their hot gazes away.
A servant that strong? That wasn't someone to be casually offended!
But there are some whose lustful gazes only grew hotter as if they spotted easy prey.
Still, none stepped out to make trouble. They were all waiting.
There's nothing they could do to this foundation realm flower vase right now. But…
They could do whatever they want once they snatch her from her crippled owner later!
Miss Hong could almost guess their filthy bad jujus, but she only sneered inside.
Really think this human trash behind her is that simple? She thought so, too! And where did that get her?
"Tsk." She turned on her heels and signaled for the two eunuchs to ferry her pirate captain into a side room.
Once the stretcher got plopped down onto the stone block, she fished out two small pouches of gold nuggets and slipped it to the two servants on their way out.
"A little something. Thank for your trouble."
The eunuchs flashed a toothy grin and one zipped his fingers across his lips. "We know what to do."
Once those two went out and the door clicked shut, Miss Hong turned to stare down at the grinning man playing possum on the stone bed.
"Tsk, still smiling at a time like this? It's a miracle you're still alive."
Bubai cracked one eye open and showed a helpless face. "Hey, shouldn't you be happy I survived?"
"Tsk. Not for long if you stay like this."
Bubai blinked. "Then... how about you carry me over to where I went to bury the goods yesterday?"
Miss Hong scowled. "Tch! That forsaken dumpster again? You going to squat in there like yesterday and do what? Take a dump?"
"With your state, I'd say it's better we go find that hibye friend of yours to cover for you. At least it'll be cheaper than your medical expenses."
Bubai rolled his eyes. "Ok, ok, enough with the squawking. Just do as I say. I know what I'm doing."
Miss Hong sneered. "Tch! I hope so!"
But just when Miss Hong bent over to scoop up his battered body, the door to the chamber shhhk opened.
"!!" Miss Hong immediately flared up and her hand went to her whip. "Who dares to—??!"
But her shriek cut off halfway once she saw the law enforcer lady masked in black. Just like Bubai, she recognized that raven-styled mask.
"…It's you? Why are you here?"
Miss Raven coolly cast a glance at the half-roasted patient on the stone bed. "I've been assigned to nurse him back to health."
Huh? Bubai blinked. He got assigned a nurse?
But isn't that the silver-gold tiers deal? Pretty sure he only paid for the bronze insurance plan…
Then again, why sweat the small details when the golden geese meat delivered herself to his mouth!
"Ohh! Praise the almighty Sun's Holy Blessing! Bless the wise master who came up with this brilliant idea!"
"…" Both ladies gave Bubai a strange look, making him feel like a worm under a magnifying glass.
But neither said more on the topic.
Miss Hong simply glanced back and forth between the two. "Tsk, do you need me to stay?"
Bubai waved her off with a lopsided grin. "No need. I trust Miss Raven here enough to hand her my fragile little life. Haha."
This earned him a sharp glare from Miss Hong. "Tch. Fine! Do whatever you want. If you die, it's not my problem."
She then strutted out like a prideful cat who refuses to look back and shut the door behind her—thud.
And then there were two, staring at each other like statues.
Getting stared at like this made Bubai feel quite… uncomfortable. He even felt a bit chilly down there?
Ahem. Okay, quit wasting time. Get to the point.
"Uh… so, Miss Wu, what are you here for this time?"
"...Heal you."
That flat reply put a sly grin on Bubai's face. "Oh... how kind of you."
The young lady ignored his remark and fished out an ointment pendant from her pouch.
Like a cat eyeing cold porridge, Bubai gave that a passing glance then looked back at the raven that came to his bedside. "You know... I've got a faster way than that."
She paused and stared at him. He stared back. Silence.
Getting no reaction, Bubai blinked innocently and gave her another push.
"Hey, your brother is the one who did this to me. Shouldn't you, I dunno... compensate me a little?"
After another good long stare, Miss Raven finally looked away and fished out a familiar black marble.
Crack.
Darkness bloomed and the shadow realm descended once more, sealing off the room.
Inside this sealed world, it was just the two of them, Yin and yang. Predator and prey.
The darkness took over and the devil grinned.
"Looks like I can't move on my own. My good Yaya, you know what to do... don't you?"