Phelios? What was this about? Wasn’t this supposed to be his duel with Harvey alone? Why drag Phelios into it—and like this?

As Wenwu stood frozen in shock, Duke Alessandro snatched the whip from a soldier and lashed it across Phelios’s back without hesitation. Phelios stumbled and collapsed to the ground. Yet the Duke didn’t stop. Whip after whip cracked down. Phelios curled into a tight ball, only muffled sobs escaping her lips.

“Uncle Alessandro, stop!” Harvey rushed forward, pulling Phelios into his arms and shielding her with his own body.

Even then, Phelios struggled weakly to break free.

“Harvey, step aside. If I don’t teach her a lesson now, how could I face you if she betrays you again? Guards—drag him away!”

Two soldiers hauled Harvey aside. Duke Alessandro resumed his punishment.

“This is too much.”

Wenwu’s fists clenched tight without him realizing.

“Master, please don’t interfere. Miss Phelios is the Duke’s daughter—she’ll be fine,” Silver murmured beside him.

Silver had a point. After a moment’s hesitation, Wenwu turned to leave.

“I don’t oppose you finding a boyfriend,” the Duke snarled between lashes, “but what is *he*? What can he offer you? Have you even considered the family?”

Wenwu froze mid-step at those words.

“Invisible wind, heed my call.”

“Master, don’t—”

“Shadow-step—Move Like Jade Star!”

Ignoring Silver’s plea, Wenwu summoned Jade Star. A gale erupted around him, forcing the crowd back and clearing a path.

“Oh my, Brother Wu—you finally showed yourself.” A loli perched atop a distant tower smiled sweetly.

Wenwu strode to the square’s center. Out of courtesy, he didn’t point his shortsword at the Duke. “Your Grace, Phelios has done nothing improper. Have you even heard her explanation? Isn’t this excessive?”

His words sounded righteous, but what truly ignited his fury were the Duke’s earlier insults.

“Who are you?”

“I’m—”

Wenwu faltered. How *did* he define his relationship with Phelios? “One-day boyfriend” wouldn’t do.

“Wenwu! I thought you’d chicken out,” Harvey grinned, almost gleeful.

“Oh? *You’re* Wenwu. All this is your fault.” The Duke raised his whip again.

*Convenient.* Now he was the villain. Typical noble tactics.

Seeing reason was useless, Wenwu wasted no words. Channeling Jade Star’s power, he darted forward, swept Phelios into his arms, and retreated—all in one breath. His blade sliced cleanly through the Duke’s whip mid-swing.

He cut Phelios’s ropes, ripped the tape from her mouth, and scanned her body. Not a single lash mark. A cold dread coiled in his gut.

“Wenwu, run! It’s a trap!”

*Exactly.* But as he tried to move, his feet locked in place. A glowing magic circle flared beneath him—familiar. *Teleportation!*

In an instant, Wenwu and Phelios vanished.

“Heh heh heh… The real show begins now.” The loli on the tower flickered out of sight.

“Where are we?” Wenwu held Phelios amid barren rocks and rubble.

“Somewhere outside Sor City,” she whispered.

“Oh my, Brother Wu—did you think skipping the duel would save you?” A familiar voice chimed.

Wenwu turned. The loli sat atop a boulder, grinning. “Amia… was this all your idea?”

“Guess.” With a flick of her wrist, archers emerged from the rocks, arrows nocked and aimed.

“Amia, do you really think a few archers can kill me? You underestimate me.”

“How could I? You burned down Black Street.” Though she spoke respectfully, Amia made no move. Wenwu couldn’t afford to wait—reinforcements could arrive any second.

“I’ve no time for games. Farewell!” He leapt over the archers, racing toward Sor City with Phelios guiding him. Silver was still there.

Strangely, Amia gave no order to fire. She let him go. *Too* easily. Unease prickled his skin.

“Wenwu, be careful. Something feels off,” Phelios murmured. Even she sensed it.

“Stop!” she suddenly cried.

Wenwu halted. “What is it?”

“They’re letting you escape because they’ve set an ambush ahead. We must take another route.”

Her logic was sound. “Agreed.”

“Clever girl—the Duke’s daughter indeed. But you’re too late.” Amia’s voice cut through the air. She stood before them now—had she been faster, or had carrying Phelios slowed Wenwu down?

“I wasn’t afraid of you earlier. What can *one* girl do now?”

“One? Oh, Brother Wu… look closer.”

Wenwu scanned the rocks. Four masked figures had silently encircled them.

“No—Father’s Four Spirit Guards!” Phelios gasped.

“Four Spirit Guards?”

“They guard him in shadows. I never imagined Father would trust Harvey enough to send them…” Her shock surpassed Wenwu’s.

“Miss, by the Duke’s order—forgive us.”

“Bind!” they intoned as one.

An invisible weight crashed onto Wenwu. He gritted his teeth, barely staying upright. Phelios crumpled to her knees under the pressure.

“Brother Wu… remember this?” Amia twirled a dagger—the same one that had made his wound bleed endlessly. Oddly, she moved freely, untouched by the guards’ power.

“I won’t let you die quickly. Every humiliation you gave me… I’ll repay it slowly.”