Chi Aoyan was staring at Lin Shu in disbelief, her lips parting ever so slightly. Her master beside her wore the same expression, though his thoughts were sharper, colder.
" I guess her intuition was right… the boy is a monster. Even though he's just a mid-stage cultivator, he dismantled that high-stage brat like a child playing with sticks. We must get him in our team. If we want to achieve our goal, he'll be the blade that cuts the path for us. A true asset worth investing in. "
Aoyan's mind was swirling. She now understood why Lin Shu hadn't accepted their offer. " So this is it… he doesn't need anyone's handouts. He can get what he wants, whenever he wants, from whoever he wants. He toyed with a high-stage cultivator like he was nothing. A boy like this… no, a beast like this… is a treasure. "
Her gaze fell upon her contracted beast. Even the creature, usually fearless, was shrinking back, its fur bristling and eyes wary as it looked at Lin Shu. It didn't want to be near him. That unease spread into her chest, lodging itself like a thorn.
Meanwhile, Lin Shu walked out of the arena without so much as glancing back. His thoughts were calm, calculating.
" Now, I just have to wait. Let them all crawl over each other to give me their best offers. Whoever brings me the most, I'll let them wear the mask of my agent. "
As he approached the exit, he caught Chi Aoyan and her master's stares. His mask shifted into another eerie smile, and with a deliberate slowness, he gave them a single wink before stepping past, leaving the echo of mockery hanging in the air.
" Hurry, Aoyan, " her master urged, his tone urgent but low. " We need him to join us. If he's this strong now, then having him at our side will raise our chances to the heavens. I can assure you, he is at least as strong as you and your beast combined. He'll be the perfect start for our team. "
Aoyan's fists tightened. She didn't know why her chest felt so conflicted. Earlier, she had been furious at his rejection, but now… now she almost didn't want him near them. The thought of Lin Shu among their ranks filled her with contradiction at first she was angry he refused their offer and now she doesn't want him to join them her thoughts were contradiction now. It felt wrong, yet she nodded and followed her master.
They moved swiftly, rushing toward the exit. But when they emerged into the main hall, what they saw made them falter.
Lin Shu was already there, surrounded. Smiling faces, flattering voices, greedy eyes. People swarmed him like moths drawn to a burning sun. They greeted him, praised him, tried to pull his attention toward themselves, their words all dripping with desperation.
And at the center of it all stood the Behemoth, his mask grinning as he let the crowd close in, as if savoring the game that had only just begun.
The main hall of the arena buzzed like a market square, but its energy was far more feral. Lin Shu had barely stepped through the exit before he was engulfed by a wave of cultivators, agents, and merchants, all grinning and bowing as if he were royalty.
The Behemoth's cold mask reflected the firelight, a silent grin carved into steel. Inside, Lin Shu mused, So it begins… let's see what price they put on me.
A tall man with a neatly kept beard was the first to step forward, his robes trimmed in silver thread. He bowed lightly.
"My name is Master Renshu, of the Silver Flow Pavilion. I manage fighters in several circuits across the provinces. Young Behemoth, if you join under my wing, I can offer you four hundred gold coins upfront and access to a rank 1 high-tier sword technique—'Silver Current Flow'. You'll also have lodging and resources from my pavilion."
Before Lin Shu could even respond, another voice cut in.
"Pavilion offers are scraps." A lean woman with hawk-like eyes stepped forward, her voice sharp as her spear strapped to her back. "I am Qiao Mei, known as the Iron Broker. Under my patronage, you won't just fight in this city—you'll fight in three arenas. I'll double that man's offer: eight hundred gold coins, plus a rank 1 high-tier defensive art, 'Iron Skin Tempering'. With me, you'll never worry about injuries."
The crowd stirred, some nodding in approval. Lin Shu tilted his head slightly, his mask smiling wider. A high-tier art so early? They're desperate.
But before he could speak, a stocky man with a booming laugh pushed through, his massive rings clinking together.
"Four hundred? Please. Young monster, I am Huang Bo, the Golden Fang Merchant. If you sign with me, I'll give you a thousand gold coins, a beast companion egg, and the technique 'Golden Fang Rend,' a high-tier offensive art perfect for someone of your strength! Imagine the crowd when they see you wielding beast and blade!"
Murmurs of excitement rippled through the hall. Even Lin Shu's thoughts flickered with interest at the mention of a beast companion egg, though his face betrayed nothing.
Another voice rang out, calm but cutting through the noise. A man in dark blue scholar's robes adjusted his spectacles.
"Merchants and brokers—always short-sighted." He smirked. "I am Shen Tai, of the Azure Quill Guild. We deal not only in money but in legacy. If you join us, Behemoth, I will offer you two thousand gold coins and two rank 1 high-tier techniques of your choice from our library. No risks, no favoritism. Simply the tools to refine yourself."
The noise of bidding swelled, each offer climbing higher than the last. Some shouted promises of training halls, others of noble connections. One even promised a contract with a traveling troupe to make Lin Shu a name across kingdoms.
Lin Shu's eyes gleamed behind the mask. They think I am only a high-stage monster. If I'd gone all out, they'd be tripping over each other with thousands of coins and relics. But this is enough.
Just as he was about to speak, a familiar, slurred-yet-steady voice rang from the entrance.
"Enough with the noise. Step aside."
Chi Yanqi, the Drunkard Flame, strode in, his jug slung lazily over one shoulder. Beside him was Chi Aoyan, her fiery presence drawing gazes as her salamander padded at her side. The hall quieted as the pair approached Lin Shu.
Chi Yanqi stopped in front of him, tilting his jug toward the masked boy.
"Behemoth, you're sharp enough to know these promises are sweet honey hiding sharp hooks. You don't want to be some man's trophy, do you?" His eyes gleamed. "I'll give it to you plain. Join under me, and not only will you fight with the backing of the Chi Clan, I'll give you something none of these dealers could dream of—ten BlueSky Shards."
The hall gasped. Even the rank 2 cultivator present froze at the name.
Lin Shu narrowed his eyes beneath the mask. BlueSky Shards… treasures that fuel breakthroughs, refine Qi, and are worth more than those techniques combined. That's no trinket—that's investment.
Chi Yanqi took a swig of wine before continuing, his tone firm now, slicing through Lin Shu's hesitation.
"You don't need to worry about being overshadowed by my disciple here. I'm not taking you in to polish Aoyan's light. With me, you'll be treated with fairness—your victories, your accomplishments, your worth will decide your rewards, not your closeness to me. No favoritism, no shackles. You'll rise as far as your strength can carry you, and I'll make sure you're rewarded properly."
Chi Aoyan stood silently, her gaze fixed on Lin Shu. There was no malice there, only calculation—and something else. Reluctance, perhaps.
Lin Shu's mask shifted into a slow, exaggerated smile. He raised his hand, waving dismissively at the crowd around him.
"Generous offers, all of them… but I'll have to refuse. The Behemoth does not kneel for gold, techniques, or hollow promises. The Chi Clan's shards are worth my time."
The hall erupted in murmurs, disbelief and frustration echoing from the other agents as Chi Yanqi chuckled, satisfied.
"Good choice, boy. Come—we'll discuss your partnership properly. The rest of you vultures can find another carcass to pick."
Lin Shu followed, his steel mask glinting as he thought, "Exactly as planned.".