Han Yu's fist slamd into the burly man's jaw.
The sound was dull and heavy.
The man's head snapped back. His feet left the ground. He flew backward, spinning once in the air before crashing hard into a broken table.
Wood splintered under his weight.
His eyes rolled back as he went limp.
Unconscious.
The corridor fell silent for half a breath, then the four n behind him shouted.
"He hit the Hall Master!"
"Kill him!"
Weapons flashed out.
Swords. Short blades. Even a hooked spear.
Using weapons inside the pavilion was strictly forbidden, but drunk n rarely cared about rules.
The courtesans scread again.
So covered their heads. Others turned their faces away, unable to watch. And deep inside the pavilion, the hidden presence surged.
Han Yu felt it clearly now. It was like a giant beast shifting in its sleep.
It was about to move but Han Yu did not wait.
He raised one hand.
HUALA
A thin line of fla appeared, dancing lightly between his fingers.
Then it split.
Five threads of fire shot out, precise and fast. It was the Dancing Fla Art. Han Yu controlled it so that it didn't turn into Blood Flas though, as that would be a dead giveaway of his origin.
They wrapped around the hands of the four n and even the unconscious burly man.
Sizzle.
The sll of burnt flesh filled the air.
The n scread as the flas bit into their skin, cutting deep enough to burn into muscle.
Their weapons clattered to the floor.
One man dropped to his knees, clutching his hands, howling. Another stumbled back, tears streaming from his eyes.
Han Yu stepped forward.
Chop.
One man collapsed.
Chop.
Another fell.
Chop.
Chop.
All four dropped, unconscious, their bodies twitching faintly.
But that was not all.
Han Yu had secretly used the Soul Stinging Finger when he struck them. Their bodies were not only knocked out. They were paralyzed from the inside. Even if they woke up, they would not be moving for a long ti.
The corridor was silent again.
Only the soft crying of the courtesans remained.
Dust floated slowly in the air as broken wood creaked.
Han Yu stood among the fallen n, calm and steady.
He felt it then.
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH
Eight Emotions Energy.
Grey Surprise poured into him first, thick and fast. It ca from the courtesans, from other patrons peeking from doorways, from staff hiding behind walls.
Then Yellow Joy followed, warm and light. Gratitude. Relief.
But sothing else ca too.
From deeper in the pavilion.
A heavier, denser wave of Grey Surprise.
Stronger. Cleaner. More refined.
Han Yu narrowed his eyes slightly. 'Must be her...'
That reaction was not from ordinary people. It was from soone powerful... Very powerful.
He was now certain that Madam Cold Fang was watching. And she was far stronger than anyone in this town believed.
The courtesans slowly realized it was over.
One of them slid down the wall and sat on the floor, shaking. Another rushed to the injured girls, pressing cloth against the bleeding arm.
Snow Reed appeared at the end of the corridor, her face pale.
She ran to Han Yu's side. "Are you hurt?"
He shook his head. "No."
She looked at the unconscious n on the floor, then at the broken walls, then at the crying won.
Her eyes trembled. "Thank you."
The other courtesans bowed deeply. So were crying as they did.
One of them whispered, "If not for you… we…"
Her voice broke.
Han Yu waved his hand lightly. "Get them away from here. They should not wake up in this place."
Staff mbers finally rushed in, pale and nervous.
They stared at the scene in shock.
One of them recognized the burly man. "That is the Black Horse Hall Master…"
Another swallowed hard. "We should inform Madam…"
A calm female voice spoke from behind them.
"There is no need."
Everyone froze.
The corridor seed to grow colder.
Footsteps echoed softly.
Slow.
asured.
Elegant.
A woman walked out from the shadows.
She wore a dark blue robe trimd with silver thread. Her hair was tied simply, without excessive ornants. Her face was covered in a veil.And while it was not stunning in the usual way, it had a sharp, cold beauty that made people uneasy despite the veil hiding most of her face.
What the veil did reveal though, was her eyes... eyes that were like still winter water.
Deep.
Cold.
Watching everything.
Madam Cold Fang.
The staff imdiately knelt.
"Madam!"
The courtesans also bowed deeply.
Snow Reed lowered her head, gripping her flute tightly.
Han Yu did not bow. He only inclined his head slightly.
Madam Cold Fang's gaze passed over the broken corridor, the injured courtesans, the unconscious n.
Then it settled on Han Yu.
Her eyes lingered longer there.
"You are not from here," she said calmly.
"No," Han Yu replied.
"You are not a ssenger either," she continued.
Han Yu smiled faintly. "That depends on who is asking."
A flicker of amusent passed through her eyes.
She waved her hand. "Take these n away. Heal the injured."
The staff hurried to obey. Servants lifted the unconscious n carefully while the healers rushed to the courtesans.
Soon, the corridor began to clear.
Madam Cold Fang looked at Han Yu again.
"You handled that cleanly," she said. "You did not kill them."
"They were loud, not deadly," Han Yu replied. "Loud people do not always deserve death."
She studied him quietly.
"You used fire, but not ordinary fire," she said. "And you used sothing else that I could not fully sense."
Han Yu shrugged. "Everyone has secrets."
She smiled faintly. "So do I."
The Eight Emotions Energy flowed again.
Grey Surprise from her, but also sothing close to curiosity.
Very rare.
She turned slightly. "Co. We should speak sowhere quieter."
Snow Reed looked at Han Yu anxiously.
He nodded at her gently. "I will return."
Snow Reed watched as Han Yu went into the depths of the pavilion where even she did not go often.
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