The attitude of the three great families had suddenly changed. Now they listened to Andre without questioning every single detail. The problem that had plagued him for so long seemed to have been solved overnight. It didn't seem possible, especially considering the years Andre had spent with them.
"Alright, you are dismissed." When he was alone in the room again, he muttered, "Bryan, you really are influential... I didn't think the three families would still be beholden to you after so many years..."
...
Han Shuo was indeed the one who had solved Andre's riddle. All he had to do was ask Erebus to meet with the three family heads to tell them Han Shuo's position on the matter. Almost immediately, the family heads lined up.
Aside from Han Shuo's current strength, his exploits in the Dominion of Darkness over a decade ago, including his rampage in the City of Gorging Clouds and the killing of Wallace and Hofs, had spread far and wide throughout the Dominion. The Gods of the Dominion of Darkness were aghast when they heard that Han Shuo had killed Wallace and Hofs in an instant and still managed to leave the Dominion alive. No one would dare cross such a person.
"Aobashi, Erebus, I've been in this city for the past few days and I've really enjoyed all the exploits. However, I still have some business to attend to, so I will leave for Hushveil City today," he said as he was about to bid them farewell in the forest outside the city.
Over the past two days, Han Shuo had sent Aobashi and Erebus around to deliver some news, while also eating and chatting with them, but Carmelita and Andre had failed to show up at the very end. He felt a bit depressed about that, so he wanted to leave today.
"Don't overthink it. Andre's busy taking care of things in the city, so he doesn't have much time. Carmelita is still cultivating in seclusion. She may not even know you're here," Erebus explained.
Although Han Shuo knew that was simply not true, he just smiled and didn't press the matter. He waved as he left and said, "Take care, you two. Come to the Fringe when you're free. You're always welcome." Then he zipped off into the distance before disappearing over the horizon.
Some time later, a rustling sound came from the forest. Carmelita came to Erebus and Aobashi's side and looked in the direction Han Shuo had gone. "I don't think he'll be coming back here again."
"No, he will when he has the time." Aobashi raised her hand and smiled. "Given his strength, he must have known you were nearby. Even if you didn't come out, he knew you were here to send him away."
"I wasn't here to send him away! I was just passing through!" Carmelita snapped.
"Sure you were. Well, let's go back. I have some things I want you to give to the City Lord... He should be able to greatly increase his power," she said as she walked back to the city with Carmelita in her arms.
In fact, Han Shuo had definitely noticed her presence there a long time ago, but had just feigned ignorance since she had not come out on her own. He still felt rather sorry for her. No matter what the circumstances, he had killed her father, Wallace, whose cruel surface hid a father who loved his precious daughter very much. It wasn't a grudge that could be easily resolved.
Still, he was grateful that she had come after all, and felt that his journey had not been in vain. Even if he couldn't hang out with Andre and Carmelita like before, at least he no longer had to treat them like enemies. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted from his chest. As he flew towards Hushveil City, the figure of Donna appeared in his mind and brought a smile to his face. He was in a really good mood.
He reached Hushveil City in a single night; the city's strong defences might as well not exist to him. After the Lavers family took control of the city on the orders of the Overgod of Darkness, things had taken a turn for the better for Felder. Not only had he managed to save the Lavers family, he had also managed to take control of one of the seven cities within the Dominion of Darkness. The miserable days he spent in the City of Gorging Clouds were long gone. Now he was running Hushveil City with a passion.
Unlike Andre, Felder seemed to have made a breakthrough in his mental state, thanks to the countless hardships he had overcome. Not long after becoming City Lord, he became a Late-stage Highgod.
With his newfound power and a stigma in his soul, his influence grew to the point where he could easily suppress the patriarchs of the other influential families in the city, allowing the Lavers family to prosper under his rule. Coupled with his wit and diplomatic approach to dealing with the other families, he managed to build a fairly unified city.
By now, the Lavers family had completely supplanted the Hofley family as the true masters of the city. Their residence in the prosperous city centre was much larger and more luxurious than the one they had back in the City of Shadows.
Han Shuo walked at a leisurely pace inside the Lavers' mansion, not a single energy tower able to detect him. Smiling, he sent his consciousness out to search the area before making his way to a room and beginning to drink while he waited. It wasn't long before Donna was heard approaching; she had been summoned by Felder to discuss some pressing matters concerning the city.
Felder valued Donna's opinions and had often listened to her suggestions over the years. He also made sure to seek her opinion when he was faced with a dilemma. After all, it was his failure to take her thoughts into account decades ago that had caused a rift between the Lavers family and Han Shuo, which had ultimately led to the Lavers family's exodus. They had almost fallen into a rut from which they couldn't recover. It was a mistake he wouldn't make again.
Just as Donna was about to open the door, she heard gasping from inside the room. Taking a breath to prepare herself, she slammed the door and yelled, "Who goes there? Ahh..."
She let out a sigh as she realised who it was. She glanced at Han Shuo and gritted her teeth.
Han Shuo smiled and looked at her as he downed the rest of his wine. "What's the matter? Am I not welcome here?"
Donna stomped her foot as she turned to close the door and put up some barriers outside. Then she stepped in front of him. "Why did you come?"
He held her hand and smiled. "Shouldn't I have?"
A look of joy bloomed on Donna's face as she stroked his face and murmured, "I thought... you'd never come looking for me again... I was planning to come looking for you after I'd finished taking care of business here... I didn't think you'd really come..."
He helped her to sit beside him. "Well, I came for you in the end. How's life in Hushveil City?"
"Quite well. My father is a Late-stage Highgod now. Since the God of Darkness himself appointed my father as the city lord, the other families in the city don't dare cause any trouble. Even though Hushveil City can't really be compared to other cities, I'm sure we'll see a lot of development if things continue as they are. She smiled and linked her hands with his as she continued to tell him about the city.
Han Shuo smiled as he listened, interjecting questions from time to time to get a better picture of the situation. Suddenly, she stopped and looked at his hands, seemingly unhappy about something.
Han Shuo was surprised to see her unhappy look. "What is it? I thought you said no one would bother you here."
"You left me here alone while you continued to fool around with the others in the Fringe," she said with a pout, glancing back at her clasped hands with slight disdain.
"Um... well, you know how busy I've been. The Fringe has been rather chaotic over the years, and I have been involved in most, if not all, of the battles that have taken place there. I didn't have time for the others either, you know. The cultivation path is full of ups and downs. Most of the time, I am either fighting against the Hegemons or spending the rest of my free time trying to achieve a breakthrough in the state of mind. I'm busier than you."
"I don't care. You've been with them all this time and haven't even visited me!" She pulled her hand away from his big hand. It was clear that she was angry, but it seemed a little too sudden. Even Han Shuo, well versed in the ways of the fairer sex, couldn't tell what she was thinking at the moment and just gave her a strange look.
Donna put some distance between them, still seemingly angry and not even wanting to meet his gaze. He smiled resignedly and pulled her into his embrace. It was the ideal solution he had come to after years of experience when he didn't know what they were unhappy about.
As expected, she stopped struggling after a few attempts and leaned her head against his shoulders. "Why are you such a gentleman all of a sudden? What happened to your treacherous little hands?"
It only just dawned on him that Donna was unhappy that he wasn't getting a feel or two when he had the chance.