At some point, the big man’s brothers had been reduced to chunks of flesh scattered across the ground, mingling with the blood in a sticky mess. Their bones remained intact, still frozen in the poses they’d held in life—raising their blades, charging forward, or unleashing their martial skills.

A chill shot from the big man’s feet straight to the crown of his head. The dagger slipped from his hand and hit the ground, its echo ringing through the empty street.

“Didn’t expect me to kill them outright, did you?” To the big man, Xing Hai’s words sounded like an interrogation by a devil from the depths of hell.

If Heaven gave him another chance, the big man would never listen to that lackey and bring people to rob Xing Hai and his companion.

He was the younger brother of Soto City’s commanding general, who was in charge of defending the city. He had little strength and spent his days doing nothing, but the general had no other siblings, so he always covered for him whenever he caused trouble. That was how the big man had risen to his current position.

It was only thanks to that position that he’d been able to clear the street of passersby tonight and rob Xing Hai and his companion.

Looking back now, could a man who casually handed out a bag of gold coins really be someone he and his band of ordinary people could handle?

“I... I’m the city general’s younger brother.” His legs trembled as tears and snot streamed down his face.

He could only hope the man before him would spare him for his brother’s sake.

“You’ve killed this many people. You think you can just walk away?” Xing Hai said.

“No! This is a public street! You can’t kill me! Somebody, help!” The big man screamed like a madman, hoping to draw someone’s attention.

“Stop shouting. No sound can get out of the barrier.” Xing Hai’s words plunged him into icy despair.

A barrier? He could even set up a barrier.

Setting up a barrier wasn’t difficult in itself, but for Xing Hai to do it alone, he had to be at least a sixth-tier Mage—if not stronger.

The bald big man felt that his death wasn’t undeserved. After offending someone this powerful, even bringing his brother here wouldn’t help. Xing Hai might even kill his brother along the way.

“I admit defeat.” The big man finally understood. He dropped to his knees with a thud. “Please, sir, let me end my own life.”

“Granted.” With that, Xing Hai turned and walked away, carrying Eve in his arms.

“Brother, I’m sorry.” The dagger pierced his chest. As he felt the blood gush out, the big man lay on the ground. His life had amounted to nothing, and all he’d done was burden his brother with worry.

If he ever got the chance to live again, the big man would turn over a new leaf and become a decent person.

But there were no such chances... His vision faded into darkness, and his consciousness slowly slipped away.

Xing Hai released the barrier and gently patted Eve on the head.

“Xing... We got away?” Eve had followed Xing’s instructions, so even now she thought Xing Hai had carried her as they escaped for a while.

But if they’d been running away, why hadn’t she felt even the slightest bump?

“No. It seems some expert came to our aid. They all passed out.” Xing Hai gestured with his eyes. Eve hurriedly looked over and saw the vicious, ruthless thugs sprawled all over the street, each wearing nothing but a pair of floral shorts.

“Ah!” Eve’s cheeks turned red, and she ducked back into Xing Hai’s arms. “Xing, let’s go back to the hotel.”

“All right, Eve.” Xing Hai nodded and left the scene.

That night, because Eve was so frightened, she insisted that she and Xing Hai sleep in the same bed. She even wanted him to hold her in his arms as they slept.

According to Eve, back at school she’d always taken turns sleeping in Alice’s and Lina’s arms. The two of them had worked out a schedule down to the minute, and even fought over it more than once.

Xing Hai didn’t mind. He’d faced situations far more dangerous than this on his path of cultivation.

Eve, on the other hand, felt her heart beating faster than ever before.

Early the next morning, the street filled with wails. A group of fierce-looking big men, wearing nothing but floral shorts, stood in the street, clutching their heads and crying.

The bald big man at their head knelt reverently toward the spot where Xing Hai had left the day before and kowtowed three times.

After that, he devoted himself to working alongside his big brother and even achieved a measure of success.

Of course, that’s a story for another time.

Today was Eve’s first day of school.