BRAAAKKK!The violent pounding on the front door of the old apothecary suddenly gave way to the thunderous impact of an iron axe. The already-rotting wooden door was completely smashed apart, its iron hinges snapping as sharp splinters of wood scattered throughout the dark front room."Hey! You masked rat from the auction last night! Get your ass out here!"A harsh, hoarse voice came from the ruined doorway.Three burly men wearing the black robes of Lantern Sector stormed into the shop with weapons drawn. Two of them carried long, gleaming machetes, while their leader gripped a massive iron axe still covered in splinters from the door."Search every corner! Don't let a single hiding place go unchecked!" the axe-wielding leader ordered viciously.Inside the pitch-black back room, Wu Chen leaned weakly against the cold wooden wall. His thin body was still extremely weak and stiff from last night's purification through the burning of his dead meridians. His arm muscles felt like jelly,

THUD! The one-eyed old man immediately dropped to his knees on the wet, muddy floor of the quarantine tent, completely ignoring the cold water seeping through his trousers. His broad shoulders trembled violently, while his only healthy eye glistened with overflowing tears as he stared at Wu Chen. "Prince Jian Nan... I finally found you again," the old man whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion. Doctor Liu, who had been holding a silver needle above Wu Chen's left shoulder, froze in place. His eyes widened as he stared at Wu Chen, then shifted toward the old man kneeling in the mud. "Prince?!" Doctor Liu blurted out, his voice filled with utter disbelief. "Uncle Chen, what do you mean?! This crude black-robed guard covered in blood... is a prince of the Wuxio Dynasty?!" "He is our prince, Doctor Liu! There is no way I could mistake the bloodline of the late Consort Lan!" Uncle Chen exclaimed, raising his hea

"Submit to my authority, or your entire refugee camp will be handed over to the Tingzhao military tonight," Wu Chen rasped as he read the threatening line written across the black silk letter from Boss Hei. The atmosphere inside the leaking wooden tent instantly turned cold and oppressive. Doctor Liu, standing near the entrance, suddenly held his breath, while Uncle Chen clenched his fists so tightly that the bones in his hands cracked. "Crazy... He already knows about the existence of our faction here," Doctor Liu whispered, his face growing even paler with fear. "Boss Hei... How could he detect our presence so quickly?!" "He controls the entire black market in Lantern Sector, Doctor," Uncle Chen replied in a low voice filled with intense vigilance. "His men are scattered throughout every corner of these filthy alleys like sewer rats. Anyone who tries to secretly organize the refugees will never esc

Click...Without the slightest hesitation, Wu Chen pulled out the black velvet-covered oak chair across from Boss Hei and casually lowered his thin body into it. Behind him, Uncle Chen stepped forward and carefully placed the large wooden tribute chest beside the marble banquet table before standing upright as a protective shield behind Wu Chen.Boss Hei stopped cutting his roasted meat. The corner of his mouth lifted into a cruel, cold smile as he waved toward one of the female servants."Pour our honored guest some wine," Boss Hei ordered in a deep, low voice.The servant immediately approached with a trembling body and poured the dark red wine from a golden jug into a golden cup before Wu Chen. The pungent wine carried a strange herbal scent, a faint trace of poison designed to weaken the flow of meridian energy.Uncle Chen suddenly tensed behind him, but forced himself not to make any sudden movements.Wu Chen stared at the d

Under the crushing weight of Boss Hei's foot pressing down on his already shattered chest, Wu Chen actually let out a low laugh. The sound was hoarse and rasping, thick with filthy blood that seeped from his mouth and coated his split lips. "Ugh... haha... you really think you've already won, Boss Hei?" Wu Chen rasped, slowly wiping the blood from his chin. "Stop that insane laughter, Rat!" Boss Hei roared furiously, pressing his foot down harder until the remaining ribs in Wu Chen's chest cracked again with a torturous snap. "The moment I slam my foot down, your chest will cave in and your heart will be crushed!" "Go ahead... I dare you to do it right now," Wu Chen replied, his eyes gleaming with a terrifying tactical madness. Slowly, Wu Chen raised his violently trembling right hand from beneath his torn black robe. Between his bloodstained fingers, he revealed a small object made of pitch-black quartz stone, with a tiny metal striker attached to the top. It was a secret qua