“Who are you?” The woman’s cold voice matched the chill of the blade at Xu Zimo’s neck.
Xu Zimo turned around with a smile.
“I told you not to move,” the woman warned sharply, her sword steady.
“I’m here looking for something,” Xu Zimo said calmly.
“This is my room. What could you possibly have here?” she scoffed. “You’d better explain yourself honestly, or my sword won’t show mercy.”
Xu Zimo flicked his finger lightly. A wave of force rippled down the blade, and the sword vibrated violently. The shock made her hand go numb, forcing her to release it, the sword clattered to the floor.
“You’re still young,” Xu Zimo said mildly. “Best not to play with blades.”
Ignoring her glare, he began to walk around the room, looking carefully at every corner.
“What exactly are you looking for?” the woman asked, following him now that she realized he meant no harm.
Xu Zimo scanned the place for a while longer but still found no source of demonic energy. Then he turned suddenly toward her.
Startled, she stepped back several paces.
“Give me your storage ring,” Xu Zimo said.
“Why should I? No!” she snapped, turning her hand protectively aside.
Xu Zimo chuckled. With a small gesture, the sword from the floor flew up and leveled at her throat once again.
“Will you give it to me, or shall I take it?”
“I don’t believe you’d actually kill me,” she retorted stubbornly.
The sword pressed closer, thin red lines appeared on her skin.
“You’re insane! Fine, take it!” she cried, alarmed, quickly pulling off her storage ring and tossing it over.
Xu Zimo caught it and examined it leisurely. “Do you always talk to people while hiding your face?”
“My master says it’s unsafe outside,” she said defensively. “So yes, I always cover it. If you want to see my face, you can beg me.”
“Your master is the Dragon Maiden, isn’t she?” Xu Zimo asked suddenly.
“W-what? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she stammered, her voice slightly panicked.
“Those two dragon horns on your head,” Xu Zimo said. “At first I thought you might be the Dragon Maiden yourself, but your cultivation isn’t strong enough. That means your master must be her.”
“What kind of logic is that? Just because someone has dragon horns doesn’t mean they’re related to the Dragon Maiden. By your reasoning, every dragon in the world would be her,” she shot back.
“You don’t have to admit it,” Xu Zimo said calmly. “I was going to find your master anyway.”
“Why are you looking for her?” the woman asked curiously.
“To have her forge a weapon for me,” Xu Zimo answered.
“Forget it,” she said with a huff. “My mast, uh, the Dragon Maiden doesn’t forge anymore. And even if she did, you’re not related to her. Why would she help you?”
“Because I’m handsome,” Xu Zimo said with a grin.
As he spoke, he pulled something from her storage ring, a bull’s horn.
It was a horn radiating thick demonic energy. The horn had seven ridges, wreathed in swirling black mist. If one listened carefully, faint echoes of a bull’s roar could be heard. Even a single horn carried such monstrous killing aura that the entire room grew heavy with its presence.
Xu Zimo put it away, his brows knitting. “Talk.”
“Talk about what?” she asked warily.
“Where did this come from?” he demanded.
“I found it,” she said quickly. “What, are you going to control that too?”
“I’m not joking,” Xu Zimo said, his tone calm but sharp. “If you lie to me, you’ll regret it.”
“I’m not lying,” she replied. “In the North Sea, there’s a place called the Pool of Demon Transformation. I passed by it once and found it there by chance.”
“The Pool of Demon Transformation?” Xu Zimo said. “Take me there.”
“After I attend this banquet,” she said. “Besides, not just anyone can enter the North Sea. You’ll need my master’s permission first.”
“I’ll wait for you at the inn after the banquet,” Xu Zimo said. “And don’t bother trying to run.”
“I haven’t done anything wrong, why would I run?” she said stubbornly.
Only after Xu Zimo left did her expression change. She waved her hand, summoning a small water elemental spirit. It looked like a translucent, oval-shaped creature, adorable and shimmering.
“Go report to Master. Someone may be plotting against the North Sea.”
The water sprite chirped twice, then turned into mist and vanished.
…
“Where did you go?” Xie Changliu asked when Xu Zimo returned to the pavilion.
“Just wandered around,” Xu Zimo replied with a smile.
“Let me introduce someone. This is Brother Wei,” Xie said, pointing to a young man beside him.
“Wei Zhen,” the youth said with a nod.
“Xu Zimo,” Xu replied politely.
“What do you think Young Master Bei is planning, gathering us all here on the day of Yan Yingzhou’s commemoration?” Wei Zhen mused aloud.
“It’s clearly about the City Lord’s seat,” came a voice from behind them.
They turned to see a man in long robes approach and sit down beside them.
“Ah, Brother Changqing,” Wei Zhen greeted.
Changqing nodded politely to the group and sat.
“So, Brother Changqing, it seems you know something?” Wei Zhen asked.
“It’s common knowledge, really,” Changqing said. “You’re just not often in North Sea City, so you haven’t heard. The current City Lord is gravely ill, the Lord’s Mansion is leaderless. He has two sons. The elder, Bei Xiao, and the younger, Bei Qinghai.”
“Then this gathering must be Bei Xiao trying to win support,” Wei Zhen realized. “But the City Lord isn’t dead yet, isn’t that premature?”
“Hanging on by a single breath,” Changqing said with a smirk. “May as well be dead. If he doesn’t rally support now, when will he?”
“Would the Dragon Maiden even approve of this?” Wei Zhen asked.
“The City Lord’s position has always been decided by the Dragon Maiden,” Changqing replied. “But I think she prefers seeing competition, it’s the way of the capable to rule.”
“Have you chosen a side yet?” he asked the group.
“From how much you’ve said, Brother Changqing, I assume you already have,” Xie Changliu said with a chuckle.
“No need to hide it, I support the younger, Bei Qinghai,” Changqing said. “I’m here to speak on his behalf.”
“Then you’ll have to find someone else,” Xie said lightly. “We’re just here for a meal, not to join anyone’s camp.”
“Bei Xiao, the elder son, is here,” Wei Zhen said suddenly.
Everyone turned to look. From the end of the pavilion’s path came a handsome man in white robes, holding a folding fan. A group of young elites surrounded him like stars around the moon as he strolled forward, smiling.
As he passed, many others greeted him warmly.
“Gentlemen, your presence here today honors me greatly,” he said with a polite bow and a charming smile. “I, Bei Xiao, thank you all.”