"Hold it."

Suddenly, a seductive, feminine voice rang out from the crowded throng.

Hearing it, Baiyi halted just as he was about to leave with Qiu Qiu and Xiao Ling.

He turned, eyeing the hidden source in the crowd with slight wariness.

Baiyi had caught a peculiar, eerie fragrance.

It smelled faintly like a maiden’s body scent, mixed with rich, alluring floral perfume.

Together, they formed a deadly, intoxicating aroma.

"Dad... Dad?"

Qiu Qiu frowned as Baiyi stopped abruptly, his hand resting on his sword hilt while scanning the crowd.

She too sensed a strange energy lurking ahead—different from others—but its intensity paled next to Baiyi’s.

It couldn’t threaten him, so she dismissed it.

"Young master..."

But Xiao Ling, standing unarmed beside Baiyi, felt otherwise.

With no combat skills, she was crushed by a powerful energy pressing down, stealing her breath.

Only Baiyi’s tight grip on her hand kept her upright.

"It’s fine. Just another annoying pest," Baiyi murmured, gently patting Xiao Ling’s head to calm her.

He wanted to turn and walk away.

Yet he knew if he left now, she’d chase him all the way back to the Imperial Palace.

"Dear little Baiyi," a voice cooed, "you can’t just beat my subordinate and stroll off so easily, can you?"

The crowd parted smoothly to both sides of Beast Rat Street.

A woman emerged slowly, clad in a revealing blue-purple gown and a hat glittering with purple crystal.

Her skimpy outfit barely covered her ample bosom, exposing deep cleavage without a hint of shame.

She strutted forward on long, porcelain legs, each catwalk step oozing seduction.

Her exquisite face and captivating purple pupils drew every man’s gaze.

Their eyes turned lustful, faces lecherous.

Baiyi grew uneasy—the air felt thick with rutting beasts he couldn’t strike down.

He wasn’t wary because he feared her.

In a fight, she wouldn’t survive a single slash from his blade.

But her identity gave him pause: she ruled all black-market dens and powers in Beast Rat Street.

A clash would only bring him trouble. That’s why he loathed her.

"Tsk, old hag. I barely bruised your lackey. He was harassing my maid and... child. Will you defend scum like him?"

Baiyi squeezed Xiao Ling’s trembling hand tighter, trying to steady her.

"Oh? Really?" Ghost Lady’s voice dripped honey. "But my report tells a different story."

"Lady Ghost! You must help me!" the youth on the ground wailed, scrambling toward her.

He reached to clutch her smooth ankle.

She lifted a long leg and kicked his face with her stiletto heel.

Thud!

He flew backward again, smacking hard against the black wall.

"Not my problem. Settle your street squabbles alone. Don’t bother me."

Baiyi’s unease deepened as he studied the seductive woman.

He sensed powerful figures closing in around him—escape with Xiao Ling and Qiu Qiu was impossible now.

Killing them outright would shatter the law’s dignity.

Worse, as a general and Queen Ellyria’s adopted son, it would drag his mother into chaos.

Ghost Lady had him cornered.

"Don’t rush, my sweet Baiyi..."

In a blink, Ghost Lady—once ten meters away—flickered like a blurred shadow.

Less than a second later, her alluring form materialized right before him.

"Body-flicker magic?" Baiyi thought of robed Sorcerers with wooden staves.

He disliked them; he preferred cold steel in a real fight.

"Hehe, no. But it doesn’t matter, Baiyi."

Ghost Lady’s mesmerizing blue-purple pupils locked onto his.

Her intoxicating whisper brushed his ear: "What I want is you. If you run, who will I take it from?"