When the noise of the arena had finally begun to settle and wagers were still being argued in corners, Luo He made his way through the back corridors to where Jin Mulan waited.
She stood beside a heavy wooden table, still wearing her crimson armor, spear resting against the wall. Sweat clung lightly to her neck beneath the mask she had just removed, and strands of dark hair had escaped and fallen against her cheek.
Her breathing had steadied, but the battle-fire had not fully left her eyes.
A steward from the pit bowed repeatedly as he pushed forward two iron chests.
"My lady," he said nervously, "the standard champion's purse is two thousand gold coins…" He swallowed.
"But the masters of the house have added a special reward." He opened the second chest. Gold glimmered in torchlight. "An additional one thousand."
Even hardened pit staff stared at the amount.
Three thousand gold for one night.
Then the steward quickly added:
"And if the honored champion returns tomorrow night, there will be a special contest. A challenge against the former back-to-back champion of the underground arena."
He lowered his voice dramatically.
"Victory reward: five thousand gold."
The room murmured. Jin Mulan said nothing. Her eyes turned slowly toward Luo He.
He looked delighted. They were given a private room to change before leaving. As servants counted the coin into travel bags, Jin Mulan unfastened her gauntlets with sharper force than necessary. "Are we coming tomorrow as well?" she asked flatly.
Luo He leaned against the wall, arms folded, watching her with obvious amusement. "Why wouldn't we?" She gave him a look. "You know why."
"No," he said smoothly. "Explain."
She exhaled through her nose. "Because tonight was enough." "Enough gold?"
"Enough glory?" "Enough bruises?"
Still no answer. Luo He's smile deepened. "Then perhaps enough of hearing you speak about another woman while I fight for your entertainment?" Her hands paused for a moment on the armor clasp.
There it was. The truth she had not intended to say aloud. He stepped closer, tone lighter now. "Battle improves you more than pride ever will." She looked away. He continued. "You know it's true. Tonight you advanced."
He reached down, picked up her spear, and spun it once. "You can now form nearly twice as many spear illusions as before." He held up one hand. "Seven."
Then lowered two fingers. "Before tonight, four at best."
A pause.
"You were only comfortable using three."
That struck her more deeply than praise.
Because it was accurate. She had felt it during the fight the strange sharpness, the instinct born only under danger.
Her skills had leapt forward in a single night more than in days of practice.
And she hated that he was right.
They left through the rear exit into the sleeping streets of the capital.
The city before dawn was quieter, lanterns dimming, mist gathering low along stone roads. Workers were only beginning to stir. Somewhere far away, a rooster cried too early. Fei carried one bag of gold.
Luo He carried the other with insulting ease. Jin Mulan walked between them in silence. Then Luo He spoke casually.
"You did me a favor tonight." She did not look at him. "I don't remember doing one."
"You shattered the princess's ego." He said. That made her stop walking. Slowly, she turned. "What?" He kept walking, forcing her to catch up.
"She is proud. Controlled. Untouchable."
He glanced sideways. "Now she has tasted defeat publicly." His smile was faint and dangerous. "She'll be easier to approach."
For one clear moment, Jin Mulan wanted to drive her fist directly into his face. Not out of rage alone. Out of humiliation.
Had she fought like a beast in front of thousands merely to soften another woman for him?
Her fingers curled. Then she remembered. His speed. His warnings.
His maddening ability to evade anything she tried. And worse he would enjoy it.
So she kept walking.
Luo He noticed the tension instantly.
"If you're so eager," he said lightly, "go ahead." She froze again. He had read her thoughts as though they were written across her forehead.
"That look means violence." He added.
"I hate you," she said quietly. "No you don't." Luo He assured. "I strongly consider it. That is close." She said.
Fei wisely moved farther ahead. Luo He seemed in excellent spirits now, talking more than usual. "Don't worry," he said. "If she becomes my wife one day, you can always fight things out with her."
Jin Mulan stared ahead. "I will not fight over scraps." He laughed. "Good line."
Then he continued, entirely too pleased with himself.
"You could become her elder sister." Luo He said. Jin Mulan nearly tripped. "She is two years younger than you." Still he continued. "You may guide her."
"I may bury her." Jin Mulan said. "Also guidance." He said calmly.
She looked at him sharply now. Something had changed. He kept talking. Too much. Too freely. Almost as if he wanted something. And that unsettled her more than his teasing.
Because Luo He did not seek approval.
He did not bend for praise. He did not explain himself unless it amused him.
Yet tonight he kept glancing at her reactions. Kept justifying. Kept talking as if trying to manage her mood. Why?
Then she understood. It was not approval he wanted. It was permission.
Not spoken permission. Emotional permission.
He wanted her not to withdraw from him.
Wanted her still engaged. Still fighting.
Still reacting. Still there. He did not fear enemies leaving. He feared boredom.
And somehow, without either of them noticing when it happened, her opinion had become part of the world that interested him. That realization struck her strangely deep. She hid it at once.
"You are babbling," she said coldly.
He blinked. "Am I?" He asked " Or yes." He noticed him self. "Unusual." He further stated.
"Very." Jin Mulan said. He considered that seriously. Then smiled. "Then you matter more than you expected." Luo He said. She looked away immediately so he would not see the effect of those words.
Unfortunately he already had. They reached the mansion gates as dawn began to color the sky. Servants rushed to receive them. Fei hauled the gold inside. Luo He stretched lazily. Jin Mulan moved past him toward the inner halls.
As she passed, he said softly enough for only her to hear. "We're going tomorrow."
She did not stop walking. "Try and make me." He grinned. "Challenge accepted."