— — — — — —
The kneeling old men trembled.
Their spiritual senses clearly felt the presence of the new king, Ryo Yagami, standing dangerously close to Luo Hao, but none of them dared to move a muscle. Their expressions were the very picture of terror.
And Lu Yinghua—who only had the right to lift his head because of his disciple status—looked completely dumbfounded.
That distance, that flippant tone… if this wasn't outright flirting, he might as well eat shit.
Who in their right mind would be stupid enough to flirt with his master? A woman whose temper was harder than diamond and whose brain was basically pure muscle?
The first thought that flashed through Lu Yinghua's mind was that this lunatic was doomed. The second thought was that he was doomed too.
He had no idea how Luo Hao would react to being teased like this—and frankly, he didn't want to know.
What he did know was that this might be the last airport he ever set eyes on.
At that moment, Ryo — practically glued to Luo Hao — squinted and looked down at his left hand, right where an elbow had nearly assassinated him.
He followed the source of that elbow upward, a little surprised, and looked straight at Luo Hao.
"So you actually reacted that fast?"
When he had appeared behind her, Luo Hao immediately answered him with a sharp, powerful elbow strike. Her elegant brows furrowed. Her voice was cool and laced with disdain as she said: "As a king equal to me, do you not even understand the meaning of anticipating your enemy's move?"
Instead of being offended, Ryo grinned.
He let out a soft laugh and replied, voice teasing: "Anticipate your enemy? Don't flatter yourself. That was just your body acting on instinct."
Luo Hao, who had completely fused martial arts into her very being, naturally had such reflexes.
This so-called "anticipation" was nothing more than Luo Hao giving herself a fancy excuse.
If she had truly "anticipated" Ryo leaning in and breathing into her ear, she would've attacked him long before his head even touched her shoulder.
Surprisingly, Luo Hao didn't argue back. She just frowned and stared at Ryo, her expression practically spelling out the word displeased.
'Fuck fuckfuckfuck. We're dead, we're dead, we're so dead…'
Lu Yinghua dared not even raise his head anymore. He was terrified of meeting his master's gaze.
Being caught lying was bad enough, but being caught lying in public? He was now seriously worried his violent master was considering silencing every witness here.
Meanwhile, still standing on the boarding stairs, Liliana's face twisted in despair.
"This is what the King called 'a peaceful meeting with no conflicts'!?"
This wasn't a meeting—this was a straight-up death wish!
Ryo, you tricked me!
"A witch like you shouldn't take Ryo's words at face value," a playful voice cut in.
Liliana turned her head to see Athena smirking at her.
"Sometimes, you should take what he says and flip it on its head. Try to use your imagination a little."
Liliana twitched, covered her face with one hand, and muttered apologetically: "Forgive me for having no imagination at all."
"No need to apologize to me," Athena said with a small, knowing smile. "If anything, that innocent attitude of yours is exactly what he likes."
Then she turned her gaze back down at the two facing off below, her golden eyes narrowing.
"Though… there's no guarantee he won't get bored of you someday."
"Eh!?" Liliana froze, staring blankly.
"You don't get it?" Athena chuckled softly. "Such a pure little thing."
And then—
BOOM!
A thunderous sound like muffled lightning cracked the air. A sharp gust of wind blasted toward them.
Liliana quickly bent forward, shielding herself from the shockwave as she forced her eyes open to look skyward.
Ryo Yagami and Luo Hao had begun to fight.
But aside from the sudden, concentric rings of white air pressure and the deep rumble shaking the airport, she couldn't see either of their figures.
"So fast—I can't see anything at all!"
Even Lu Yinghua, who had been trying to watch, realized this battle was far beyond his ability to follow.
Athena, the only one able to track their movements, took on the role of commentator with a serene smile:
"Oh, he's deliberately holding back his speed—probably studying her attack style. This man really does have a talent for getting under people's skin."
Liliana's jaw dropped.
"He's holding back against her?" she muttered.
Or rather—deliberately holding back his strength while sparring with someone as proud and domineering as Luo Hao? Was he actually trying to make her die of rage?
Everyone knew the Chinese valued pride above everything — well, maybe just in public… okay, at least in their heads. They liked to imagine that. Those arrogant young master novels were popular in China for a reason. And Luo Hao, an ancient god-slayer, took that 'Pride' to a whole new level.
Sure enough, after a brief exchange, Luo Hao's figure reappeared not far from Lu Yinghua.
Her expression was stormy as she glared straight ahead. "Are you mocking me?"
To fight against someone who had clearly restrained himself—Luo Hao's pride simply couldn't tolerate such humiliation.
That was why, despite wanting to beat Ryo to death, she had stopped.
She refused to stain her career with the disgrace of a victory that wasn't earned in full.
Across from her, Ryo's figure slowly came into view, like black ink spreading over white paper.
"Mocking you?"
He let out a chuckle, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Why call it that? I prefer the term 'learning by stealing.'"
As he spoke, Ryo curled his fingers and mimicked a claw strike. "So this is martial arts? Huh—kinda suits me."
"How dare you!"
Luo Hao's eyes widened. She instantly recognized the technique Ryo had just used—her own creation, the Divine Palm Strikes of the Flying Phoenix.
Seeing him brazenly copy her move, Luo Hao laughed angrily.
"Stealing my techniques, are you? Good. Very good. It's been a long time since I met a thief this arrogant!"
"If your goal was to enrage me, I must admit—on that front, I have lost!"
She inhaled sharply, her voice turning into two sharp syllables: "Hmph! Ha!"
The sound blasted out like a shockwave, flipping a nearby plane and sending even the old men behind her—who had been standing in horse stance—flying like leaves in the wind.
Then, behind her, two towering figures appeared out of thin air.
They were six-meter-tall golden guardian warriors, their muscular bodies tense, brows furrowed, and eyes glaring with righteous fury.
Ryo glanced at them with curiosity—he had read about them in the Council of Sages' reports.
"This should be the Authority you got from the Indian god Vajrapani, right?"
Luo Hao didn't answer, her eyes cold.
The twin guardians swung their enormous palms down toward him. Their palm strikes moved the air itself, condensing it into a terrifying mass that carried no sound, only overwhelming force.
"Interesting."
Ryo's eyes lit up. His voice echoed telepathically: "Flying Phoenix Palm… but amplified through those Vajra bodies?"
"In that case, watch this!"
Crackle!
Golden lightning exploded in the air, forming a massive lion made entirely of thunder.
His fifth Familiar Leo Pemptos—Lion of Gold—had manifested.
As the twin guardians' palms came crashing down, Ryo lifted his right hand and extended one finger.
Above him, the lightning lion mirrored the motion, raising its right paw.
Golden light flared in both man and lion's hands.
Leo Saint Technique—Lightning Plasma!
In an instant, billions of glowing golden fists filled the sky, forming an inescapable net that closed in on Luo Hao.
And in that moment, true, primal terror flashed in her eyes.
.
.
.