“Ooh, ooh! I’ve been itching like ants under my skin! Boss, I’m on it!”

Hearing Xinuo’s words, Hill sprinted to my side, excitement bright as sunrise.

She swept a glance over the soldiers and the approaching Fangao De, then smiled, sweet as a cherry blossom. “You annoying flies, time to be quiet.”

At her last word, her small body erupted with Dragon Aura, like a volcano under snow.

It was several times stronger than before, a mountain storm ripping loose.

Rat City fell under crushing pressure, like a thunderhead sitting on stone.

The ground cracked outward from us, spiderwebs racing like dry riverbeds.

Even the white clouds peeled in layers, like silk tearing under wind.

Soldiers collapsed in half a heartbeat, strewn like felled wheat.

Life or death unknown, a hush like winter over fields.

Fangao De sank to one knee, face pale as paper, swaying like a cut reed.

“This is… the aura of a Holy Peak powerhouse!”

He fell and kicked up a puff of dust, like mist off a struck rock.

“Uh… that’s it?”

I’d fought so hard for so long, sweat like rain, yet Hill’s casual burst of Dragon Aura did more.

“Hey! Boss’s cheeks are so soft!”

Hill retracted the Dragon Aura and crouched, her small pale hand resting on my face, cool as spring water.

“…Alright.”

I sighed inside, like wind slipping through pines, and closed my eyes to rest.

Three minutes later, a thin thread of strength returned, like a warm ember under ash.

“Alright, Hill, let’s head back to Xinuo.”

“Mm, okay!”

Hill reluctantly lifted her hand from my cheek, fingers clinging like dew to a petal.

Her cuteness pulled a smile from me, soft as dawn.

I stood, took her small hand, and walked toward Xinuo, like a stream finding its river.

“Servant, is your body alright?”

Xinuo closed her book, her gaze calm as still water.

“Yeah, nothing serious, just a bit tired, like a horse after a run.”

I shook my head, a small motion like a leaf in breeze.

“Then let’s find a place to stay. After that swarm of ants, I’ve lost the mood to wander.”

“Agreed. Right, what about Larr?”

Only now did I notice Larr was gone, a shadow slipping at dusk.

“That ant ran before Hill made a move, like a mouse fleeing a cat.”

“Oh, forget it then. Let’s hurry and find a place to stay, like birds seeking a roost.”

I already crippled one of Larr’s arms, like a broken branch, so I didn’t care he ran.

“Let’s go.”

“Mm-mm! Let’s go!”

Just as we were about to leave—

“Honored sirs and ladies, please wait.”

A man in brocade, around thirty at most, with several retainers, walked toward us, like a flock crossing a courtyard.

“Who are you? What do you want with us?” I looked at the man, displeasure cold as drizzle.

“Ah, my lord, you misunderstand; we’re not here to cause trouble.”

He waved his hand quickly, like beating off bees, and said, “I’m Alonte Rat, City Lord of Rat City.”

“Oh? The City Lord. What do you want with us?” I still eyed him coolly, like ice along a stream.

“Our city guards gave you trouble. I want to compensate you properly, like tilting the scales back.”

“I heard you wanted a place to rest. If you don’t mind, please come to my City Lord’s manor, a quiet harbor.”

Alonte’s sincerity looked steady as an old tree.

“Xinuo, what do you think?”

I turned to Xinuo, seeking her thought, like checking the wind.

“Then let’s go. In this city, the City Lord’s manor should be the best place to stay, like the highest pavilion.”

For her, anywhere was fine, like sleeping under stars.

“Alright then, City Lord Alonte, please lead the way.”

Once I knew Xinuo’s view, I accepted Alonte’s invite, like closing a fan.

“Whew, that’s great. Please let Rat City make up for your displeasure, like pouring tea to soothe a guest.”

Seeing my agreement, Alonte finally exhaled, relief like mist lifting.

“Honored guests, please follow us. The manor isn’t far, like a short walk under shade.”

“Mm.”

With Alonte and his retainers leading, we headed toward the City Lord’s manor, steps like beads on a string.

Meanwhile, in the underground palace beneath Crescent Forest on the Eastern Moon Continent.

Shahun, exhausted, supported Shadow, who looked as old as an eighty-year elder, their steps slow as winter ants.

“Hey! Shahun, Shadow, what happened?!”

Gu Aoson hurried over, worry dark as stormclouds, eyes on Shahun and Shadow.

“Master…”

Seeing Gu Aoson, Shahun finally exhaled, relief like warm wind, and fainted.

Gu Aoson crouched and checked them, his face grave as stone, then drew a simple wand.

“Soul Healing!”

The wand’s large gem released a soft glow, filling the passage like moonlight.

In that light, Shahun’s wounds knit, color returned to his face like dawn.

Shadow shed that aged husk, returning to his thirty-something form like a snake slipping old skin.

A minute later.

“Hah… hah… hah…”

Gu Aoson’s brow beaded with sweat, his back bent slightly, breath heavy like a bellows.

“Mm, my head’s heavy. Ah! Master, are you alright?”

“Yeah, Master, what happened to you?”

“Nothing, just spent a lot, like a river after flood.”

He waved them off, gesture light as a leaf, then said, “Enough about me. What about you? Weren’t you testing the Mizumi Clan?”

“Um.”

Shahun and Shadow traded a look, eyes like crossed blades.

Then Shahun spoke, “Master, here’s what happened…”

He told the whole story, detail by detail, like unrolling silk.

After listening, Gu Aoson fell silent, his thought deep as a well.

“A Holy Peak dragon? That’s tricky, like a thorn under skin. And we don’t know if other strong figures lurk like wolves.”

Muttering to himself, Gu Aoson drew a crystal ball from his black robe, cold as ice.

“Is this the Grand Council? I’m Gu Aoson. Regarding the Mizumi Clan…”

“…That’s the situation. I hope the Grand Council sends more Sacred Realm experts, like iron pillars.”

It seemed he was reporting to the Dark Demon Grand Council.

“Alright. According to eyes we placed in the Latvis Empire, here’s news.”

Within the Eastern Moon Empire, the Kage Family’s current patriarch’s second son—Larr—was crippled by someone from the Mizumi Clan not long ago, like an eagle losing a wing.

And the Kage Family still doesn’t know the Mizumi Clan did it, like a blind man in fog.

Gu Aoson stopped and looked at his two disciples, gaze steady as a blade.

“Master, you mean we’ll use the Kage Family to strike the Mizumi Clan?”

“That’s a solid plan,” Shahun echoed, words like stones.

“Yes. I do intend to use the Kage Family,” Gu Aoson said, satisfied as a cat with cream.

“Right now, Aisha and the others are guests at the Kage Family, like sparrows on a branch.

I’ll send them the plan at once. You two go recover.”

With that, Gu Aoson produced another crystal ball, smaller than before, like a marble.

“Understood!”

“Master, we’ll grab some sleep. Call us if anything comes up, like a bell at dawn.”

“Got it. Go rest, both of you, like ships in harbor.”

…