"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Winter Xueer warily eyed the figure before her—a man who looked exactly like Guan Yu except for his clothes.

"It’s me, Lin Jie," Lin Jie said hastily, seeing Winter Xueer about to snap. "I’m here to get you out."

"You’re Lin Jie? What happened to you?" Winter Xueer asked in surprise, staring at the red face paint. "Like this, no one recognizes me. It’s a disguise."

"Your disguise just makes you stand out more," Winter Xueer said.

"Enough—this isn’t the time to discuss it. Let’s go. Xiao Zhan won’t hold out much longer outside," Lin Jie told her. "We just need to meet up with him."

But Winter Xueer took a step back. "You go. I’m here voluntarily. I won’t leave with you."

"What are you saying?" Lin Jie said. "This is the Ouyang Family. We wiped out their people a month ago. You won’t have a good outcome here."

"That’s none of your concern," Winter Xueer said. "I’ll be fine."

"You’re such a troublesome woman!" Lin Jie stepped forward. "So much nonsense! We don’t trust you staying here. You know this place is bad for you. Come on, let’s fight our way out now." He brandished the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade.

"I said I won’t go!" Winter Xueer shouted.

"I’ll take you out," Lin Jie said, ignoring her. "Don’t be tsundere! Move."

"You’re the tsundere! Your whole family is tsundere!" Winter Xueer retorted.

"What a troublesome woman," Lin Jie muttered, reaching for her. Instantly, ice covered his feet, and the room’s temperature plummeted.

"Don’t come near me. I don’t want to go with you," Winter Xueer said. "Take another step, and I won’t hold back."

Lin Jie ignored her. He lifted his leg lightly, shattering the ice, and kept walking as a freezing gale hurled ice shards at him.

"I told you not to come near me! Leave now!" Winter Xueer yelled.

Lin Jie pressed on against her attacks. "I said I’m here to take you back. You’ll be in danger if you stay."

"I don’t need your help!" Winter Xueer said. "I’m not anyone to you. Why rescue me on your own?" Her face flushed red, but her attacks intensified. The temperature dropped below zero.

"Of course there’s a reason," Lin Jie said. "I don’t dislike women like you with a sense of justice. I don’t want you hurt."

Tears welled in Winter Xueer’s eyes. "Then I can’t let you take me away."

"I must take you," Lin Jie said. "Otherwise, it betrays the Muscle Alliance."

The Muscle Alliance members had risked everything to save her. Most were badly injured; over a dozen died on the spot. Even Thirteen ended up in the ICU.

"They sacrificed a lot for you," Lin Jie said, advancing step by step. Ice shards struck his body, but he didn’t flinch. Winter Xueer retreated. "If I don’t bring you back, their sacrifices are meaningless."

"That’s why you shouldn’t have come!" Winter Xueer cried. "I don’t want more sacrifices!"

"A sacrifice is better than a meaningless one," Lin Jie said, now close to her. "This time, with me here, no one else will die."

"Impossible!" Winter Xueer was pinned against the window. "Do you know who you’re angering? The Ouyang Family is one of Sector C’s strongest forces."

"You knew that back then," Lin Jie said. "Why did you still go after Ouyang Rui?"

Winter Xueer turned her face away.

"That shows you’re a good person," Lin Jie grabbed her hand. "Since you are, I won’t let you get hurt." He pulled her toward the door. "I’m strong, you know."

Winter Xueer struggled but couldn’t free her hand. She wiped her tears. "Such a forceful man. No girl would like this." She grasped his hand back. "Though, it’s not entirely unpleasant."

"Alright, let’s fight our way back," Lin Jie said.

"Promise to protect yourself," Winter Xueer said. "And take off that face paint. Your performance just now scored eight in winning girls over—that paint deducts four points."

"Later. I feel cool wearing it," Lin Jie said. "I admired Second Brother Guan as a kid. Few are worshipped after death like him."

"Sigh," Winter Xueer sighed.

They walked out. Lin Jie saw burly men lying haphazardly on the floor, faces flushed and panting. Xiao Zhan crouched among them, his muscles shrunk back. Robots of the same model as before surrounded him, weapons aimed.

Lin Jie charged without a word. A horizontal sweep of his blade cut the robots in half. Another sweep sent their parts flying. The robots began self-repairing visibly.

"You alright?" Lin Jie said to Xiao Zhan. "Why’s your art style back to normal?"

"Time’s up," Xiao Zhan stood. "I almost died." He pointed to a new blood hole on his chest. "Your Big Dipper just became eight stars."

"Don’t mention it. That bastard did it," Xiao Zhan pointed down the corridor.

Lin Jie noticed rows of security robots at the far end. A young man stood before them, smiling at the trio.

"It’s Ouyang Zihao," Winter Xueer said grimly.

"Where to, Xueer?" Ouyang Zihao said. "You still chose to run?"

"My affairs are none of your business," Winter Xueer said through gritted teeth.

"Is that so?" Ouyang Zihao’s robots raised their weapons. "Change your mind now, and I might let your friends leave safely."

Winter Xueer hesitated—Lin Jie and Xiao Zhan’s plan had failed. She stayed silent because Lin Jie gripped her hand again.

Ouyang Zihao yawned. "Boring. I expected something interesting."

"What do you want?" Winter Xueer said.

"I’m not interested in you," Ouyang Zihao said. "Him." He pointed at Lin Jie’s painted face. "You must be Lin Jie."

"Damn! You recognize me like this?" Lin Jie said. "I’m not into men!"

"Neither am I," Ouyang Zihao said. "I want your Flame Spirit Sword. But you didn’t bring it today."

"Tch, it’s not for show," Lin Jie said.

"I’m magnanimous," Ouyang Zihao said politely. "I can overlook your intrusion, the injured guards, even your attempt to snatch my fiancée at the engagement ceremony."

"Is this guy crazy?" Lin Jie whispered to Winter Xueer.

Winter Xueer frowned at Ouyang Zihao. "What exactly do you want?"

"I heard you defeated two T-3-drugged A Ranks alone in H City. Your record is impressive—you must be confident," Ouyang Zihao smiled at Lin Jie. "I’m confident too."

"You want a duel?" Lin Jie said.

"Precisely."

"If it’s a duel, just say so. Why the fuss?" Lin Jie frowned.

"Simple terms," Ouyang Zihao said. "We fight. If I lose, I let you and Winter Xueer go."

"And if you win?" Winter Xueer asked.

"I let you two intruders go—after my men get the Flame Spirit Sword."

"Betting the sword and Xueer?" Lin Jie asked.

"Exactly."

"I disagree," Winter Xueer said. "It’s unfair! We can’t trust you."

"The guests will witness it," Ouyang Zihao said.

"What a hassle," Lin Jie scratched his head. "Fine, I’ll bet."

"Wait—" Winter Xueer said. "He’s extremely strong. His words aren’t trustworthy—"

"Don’t worry. From the moment he challenged me, he became a joke," Lin Jie said confidently.

"You’re confident," Ouyang Zihao smiled. "The bet is on."

"Good," Lin Jie pointed at him. "Know this? In anime, guys like you—full of nonsense and acting fancy—never survive the opening credits!"