One day before the long-awaited tournament was to be held, participants from every corner of the Shang Dynasty and beyond began streaming into the capital in droves. The city’s main gates had been kept open since dawn to accommodate the endless flow of warriors, merchants, and spectators. In the heart of the city, four large arena stages had already been erected in the expansive central square—each one built from sturdy oak wood and reinforced with steel beams, capable of withstanding the powerful strikes of even the most skilled martial artists. Bright red banners bearing the imperial seal fluttered atop each stage, while colorful pennants stretched between them, painting the sky in shades of gold, blue, and green.The registration post, purposely set up in a single large pavilion at the edge of the square to concentrate the excitement, was packed shoulder-to-shoulder with hopeful contenders. Warriors in leather armor and silk robes pushed and jostled for their turn at the long woode

Zhang Wuji was fuming with rage, his entire body trembling as he pointed a shaking finger at A Long. His face had flushed an unnatural white with fury, the veins on his forehead bulging like twisted cords—he looked like a boiled crab about to burst. But A Long showed no trace of fear or hesitation. The crown prince of the Yuan Dynasty merely threw his head back and burst into loud, hearty laughter as he descended from the stage, his steps light and confident despite the tension in the air.“So Fang An has a warrior friend, Zhang Wuji,” said Peng Fei, one of Zhang Wuji’s companions, his voice filled with unease as he watched A Long and Fang An walk away together. “No wonder he wasn’t afraid of you—this one clearly knows how to fight.”“A warrior?” Zhang Wuji snapped, spinning around to glare at his friend, his eyes still blazing with anger. “I could defeat him with ease! That was just a lucky trick he pulled on Sun Zi—he won’t be so fortunate against me.”“Of course you could,” Li Ming

Zhang Wuji and A Long immediately spun around, their eyes widening in surprise. They hadn’t expected Fang An to already be standing so close behind them, his presence so quiet that neither had heard him approach. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the stage, and Fang An stood there in his simple blue robes, his white hair catching the light as he looked at them with a warm, steady gaze.The son of the White Eagle Sect’s leader felt his legs give way beneath him, overcome by a wave of shame and gratitude. He suddenly collapsed to his knees on the hard wooden planks, his head bowed low as he prepared to beg for forgiveness. But before he could touch the floor, Fang An moved with lightning speed, reaching out to swiftly catch his shoulders and gently urge him back to his feet.“Stand up, Zhang Wuji... You don’t need to do that!” Fang An said firmly, his hands steady as he helped the younger man straighten his posture. “I am not a god for you to worship—I’m just a man who believes

All at once, every patron in the eatery turned their heads toward the door—including Fang An and A Long. The cheerful buzz of conversation and clatter of cutlery fell silent in an instant, replaced by a heavy hush that hung thick in the air like smoke. Even the young waiter carrying a tray of steaming tea froze mid-step, his eyes wide with fear as he stared at the newcomers.Six tall, broad-shouldered men filled the doorway, their massive frames blocking out the bright afternoon sun. Each had fierce faces carved with scars and thick sideburns that curled down to their jaws, giving them a wild, untamed appearance. Slung across each of their backs were two massive swords, their blades so wide and long they were far larger than normal weapons used by most warriors. The metal gleamed with an ominous cold light, as if thirsty for blood.Judging by their size and the way the steel curved with deadly precision, each sword weighed at least 10 kilograms—meaning each man carried about 20 kilogr

"So that’s how it happened?" asked Long Xia quietly, his voice a low, gentle rumble that seemed entirely out of place for a man whose massive frame nearly filled the doorway of the small eatery. His thick, dark beard cascaded down his chest, hiding most of his face, but his eyes—deep-set and weary—betrayed the weight of what he had just learned."It wasn’t just those two who raped and murdered my granddaughters," Sun Zu replied, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge of a splintered wooden table. He took a deep, shaky breath, and for a moment, his gaze drifted past Long Xia to the dusty floor, where images of his granddaughters—their laughter echoing in his mind, their faces as bright as morning flowers—flashed through his thoughts like fragments of a broken mirror. "The other five of your brothers were involved in that vile act as well. Every single one of them knew what was happening, and not a single one raised a hand to stop it.""You never gave me a chance to explain why I kil