"Big brother Tianyou! How do you like this little arrangement I've made for you?"
In the center of a massive, dimly lit hall, a young man lay sprawled across a plush, oversized armchair. He looked completely wasted, leaning back with a smug, glazed look in his eyes.
In one hand, he swirled a glass of deep red, expensive wine that smelled of rich spices. His other hand was busy wandering over the body of a girl sitting on his lap.
She looked barely twenty-two, a real beauty, and she was doing everything she could to keep him hooked. A playful, teasing smile danced on her lips.
"Young Master... what do you really think of me?" she purred.
She rubbed her chest against his arm, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness, hoping for a compliment.
Tianyou didn't even bother to answer. He just kept his hand moving over her skin like she was some piece of property he'd already bought.
Right in front of him, a boy stood bowed so low his spine looked like a curve. This was Zhao Mang, a guy who lived for licking the boots of the powerful.
He didn't belong to the four great families of Linkshan Town, but he and his whole clan made a living by being professional lapdogs to the elite.
Everything tonight at the Phoenix Pavilion—the wine, the vibe, and especially this girl—was Zhao Mang's doing. He had one goal: suck up to Tianyou and bag some favors later.
He kept that oily, fake smile plastered on his face as he waited. Finally, Tianyou glanced his way.
"Not bad. You've actually made me happy today, Mang," Tianyou muttered, his voice thick with wine.
"From now on, if you run into any trouble in Linkshan, just tell them you're the little brother of me, Lin Tianyou."
Zhao Mang looked like he'd just hit the biggest lottery in history. He started bowing repeatedly, his gratitude so over-the-top it was sickening to watch.
People nearby watched him with pure disgust. It was obvious he was putting on a pathetic show, but Tianyou loved having people grovel at his feet.
"Haha! It looks like Brother Tianyou has finally changed his taste," a sharp, loud voice cut through the air.
"Usually, whenever you're here, it's only to catch a glimpse of the Black Lotus. But today... today looks a bit different."
A handsome guy holding a decorative silk fan walked in, followed by a small group of tough-looking retainers.
Tianyou's brows twitched. He looked up, eyes narrowing. "Wang Shao... how did you find the time to crawl out? Shouldn't you be busy chasing skirts somewhere else?"
This was the Young Master of the Wang Family, another of the four pillars of the town. He was a looker, sure, but his reputation with women was legendary.
But this time, he wasn't surrounded by his usual harem. Only a single maid followed behind him.
"I'm surprised to see you here without a crowd of girls. Aren't you worried you'll break a few hearts today?" Tianyou sneered.
Wang Shao just chuckled, a playful but sharp glint in his eyes. "Haha, Brother Tianyou, you always did have a sense of humor."
"You know me—wherever there's beauty, I'm there. Didn't you notice where we are before asking such a stupid question?"
Tianyou's expression went cold. He looked at Wang Shao with eyes that could draw blood. "Listen, Wang Shao. Everyone in Linkshan knows the Black Lotus belongs to me."
"If you're here to make a move on her, I'm telling you right now: get out while you still can."
"Oh, relax," Wang Shao said, casually dropping into the seat right next to Tianyou without a hint of hesitation.
His men moved behind him like a wall of stone. Zhao Mang, seeing the big players talking, immediately scurried two steps back to hide behind Tianyou's chair.
He didn't dare breathe loudly. 'When two lions fight, a mouse should stay in its hole,' he thought to himself.
He didn't mind calling himself a mouse. Hell, if someone called him a dog to his face, he'd probably bark if it kept him safe.
The air between the two Young Masters turned icy. Tianyou knew he couldn't start a brawl here, and Wang Shao's men looked like they actually knew how to kill.
Wang Shao glanced at the girl in Tianyou's arms and let out a mocking laugh.
"You claim the Black Lotus is yours, yet here you are, rolling around with this one in her own backyard? Bold move, brother."
Tianyou's face flushed with pure rage. His eyes turned a dark, dangerous red.
Creak...
His knuckles turned white as he slammed his fist onto the armrest. He glared at Wang Shao, the killing intent practically vibrating off his skin.
Su Han stormed up the stairs of the Phoenix Pavilion, his boots thumping against the polished wood with a heavy, urgent rhythm. He was pushing past the fifth floor, his mind a storm of rage, when it happened.
Oof!
He collided hard with someone coming around the corner. Su Han tried to swerve at the last second, but the momentum was too much. Both of them stumbled back several steps, clutching their heads in pain.
Su Han looked up, ready to snap, but the words died in his throat. His heart skipped a beat as he stared into the most breathtaking face he had ever seen.
The impact had knocked her silk veil aside, revealing skin as white and smooth as expensive jade and eyes that sparkled like stars. Her brows were arched perfectly, like the wings of a phoenix.
Rustle.
She quickly pulled her veil back into place, leaving only those mesmerizing eyes visible. Su Han shook his head, snapping out of the trance in a split second.
"Sorry, I'm in a massive hurry. My bad," he grunted, not even waiting for her to respond before he bolted toward the sixth floor.
The girl stood frozen, her eyes wide with shock as she watched his retreating back. Her brows twitched in confusion and a hint of annoyance.
She was used to men falling to their knees or stuttering like idiots the moment they saw her face. But this guy? He looked at her once, apologized like she was a commoner, and just... left.
There was no lust in his eyes, only a cold, burning urgency. She felt a strange mix of irritation and intense curiosity bubbling in her chest.
She wanted to know who he was, but she had her own business to attend to. Fixing her robes, she also began walking toward the sixth-floor hall.
Inside the hall, the atmosphere was already at a boiling point. The two famous Young Masters were squaring off, and the crowd was loving the drama.
"Tianyou, are you actually scared of me?" Wang Shao taunted, a playful but sharp smirk dancing on his lips.
Tianyou's eyes were like ice. "Even my dog wouldn't be scared of a pretty face like yours. You're good at charming girls, but if it comes to a real fight, I'll crush your pride just like I'd crush your face."
"Haha! So much confidence," Wang Shao chuckled. "You want to test that theory?"
BAM!
The heavy hall doors swung open with a violent thud. A young man in deep blue robes stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room like a hawk looking for its prey.
It was Su Han. He looked sharp and handsome, though he lacked the flashy, pampered look of someone like Wang Shao.
The crowd immediately started whispering. "Who the hell is this? Entering like he owns the place while two giants are fighting?"
"Wait... look at him. I think I know that face. Isn't that the 'trash' from the Su Clan? The one whose Dantian was shattered?"
"You mean the fallen genius? What's he doing here? He's basically a cripple now. If he gets caught in the crossfire, he's dead meat."
Zhao Mang, who had been hiding like a rat behind Tianyou, saw an opportunity. He wanted to look big in front of his boss, and a "fallen genius" was the perfect target.
He stepped forward, chest puffed out. "Hey, you trash! What the hell are you doing in a place like this?"
Su Han didn't even blink. He ignored the loudmouth and kept searching the room, his eyes finally locking onto Lin Tianyou.
"Are you deaf? I'm talking to you!" Zhao Mang barked, his face turning red because Su Han didn't even look at him.
He felt humiliated. To be ignored by a "cripple" in front of everyone was a slap to his ego. He stepped closer and shoved his hand toward Su Han's chest.
"Listen here, you dog! When I speak, you look at me and you answer!"
Su Han finally shifted his gaze, looking at him like he was a piece of dung stuck to his shoe. "I don't talk to trash. Move aside. You're blocking the air."
He waved his hand in front of his nose, looking disgusted. "Besides, you really stink. Go take a bath."
Zhao Mang froze. He remembered Su Han from the old days—back then, he used to lick Su Han's boots. But now, he thought Su Han was finished.
"You're just a broken waste, Su Han! How dare you show your face here?" Zhao Mang snarled, his teeth grinding together.
Su Han gave a cold, thin smile. "Does your father own this pavilion? No? Then shut up."
"You little—!" Zhao Mang raised a fist, his veins popping. But then he remembered where they were. Breaking the rules of the Phoenix Pavilion was a death sentence.
Su Han didn't wait for him to explode. He walked right past him, heading straight for Lin Tianyou.
The entire hall went silent. People held their breath, their eyes wide with disbelief. "Is he insane? He's actually approaching Tianyou with that look in his eyes?"
Su Han's cold, lethal gaze stayed fixed on Tianyou. The Young Master of the Lin family stared back, his expression unreadable, but his hand tightened on his wine glass.
"What happens when a 'cripple' stares down the town's most dangerous Young Master? The real massacre starts now..."
"Enjoying Su Han's rise to power? Make sure to add this to your collection so you never miss a breakthrough!"