Shao Yun followed Dunyarzad into the Lambad Tavern.
This was already the second time he had been brought here by someone from the Homayani Family, so he joked half-seriously to Dunyarzad, "Lambad Tavern again? Does your family have some kind of special partnership with this place or something?"
Dunyarzad turned to glance toward the entrance of the tavern. After confirming that it was safe, she finally let out a sigh of relief and murmured softly, "Phew… We're here. They shouldn't be able to find us now."
They had just arrived, which meant it was about time for Dehya to make her entrance.
As Shao Yun had expected, moments later he heard the sound of quick, heavy footsteps approaching from behind—followed by the sharp whoosh of air being cut by a swinging fist.
Clearly, Dehya's target was his head!
However, just as her punch was about to connect, Shao Yun spun around with lightning speed and caught her wrist with perfect precision.
With a swift twist, he pinned Dehya's arm behind her back. In one fluid motion, he caught her other hand as well and kicked the hollow of her knee, sending her collapsing onto one knee as her attack rhythm completely shattered.
Without hesitation, Shao Yun pressed one knee against her back, forcing her down to the cold, hard floor.
Dehya struggled fiercely, muscles tensing as she tried to break free from his grip, but to her growing frustration, no matter how much strength she used, she couldn't move an inch.
At that moment, her hands were tightly locked together by Shao Yun's left hand, while his weight bore down heavily on her back, keeping her completely immobilized.
Pinned beneath him, Dehya could only grit her teeth, unable to move an inch.
Looking down at the female mercenary who had just tried to ambush him, Shao Yun smirked slightly, his voice teasing but calm.
"Little lady, next time you plan an ambush, try using a ranged weapon. Charging straight at me like that for hand-to-hand combat? That's just asking to lose."
But Dehya wasn't one to give up easily. She kept struggling, her amber eyes blazing with determination.
Yet reality was cruel—no matter how she fought, she couldn't escape.
Then she spotted Dunyarzad standing not far away, panic flashing in her eyes.
She immediately shouted, "Miss! Run! Don't worry about me! This damned kidnapper's too strong—go call for help!"
Hearing that, Shao Yun couldn't help but chuckle.
This girl actually thinks I'm some kind of ruthless kidnapper?
Well, since things had gone this far, he might as well play along.
So, he slowly drew his revolver from his belt, the cold gleam of the gun catching the tavern's dim light. Pressing the muzzle gently against the back of Dehya's head, he put on a mock-threatening expression and growled,
"Hmph. Don't move, kid. A single .45-caliber bullet will turn that pretty head of yours into a smashed watermelon. Be smart and don't make me pull the trigger."
To Dunyarzad, however, this entire scene was one massive misunderstanding.
"Dehya! I wasn't kidnapped! Mr. Shao Yun—please stop! You've both got it wrong!"
Pinned on the floor, Dehya froze, eyes widening in shock. She turned her head in disbelief toward Dunyarzad.
"What? Miss—you weren't kidnapped?"
Dunyarzad nodded quickly, her voice urgent. "No, no! This is all just a misunderstanding!"
Realizing her mistake, Dehya looked up at Shao Yun, her tone softening. "Since this is a misunderstanding, my friend, would you mind letting me go now?"
Shao Yun had only meant to scare her anyway, so once things were cleared up, he stood up at once.
Dehya quickly got to her feet, brushing the dust off her clothes.
She studied Shao Yun for a moment—this tall, imposing stranger who had just overpowered her so effortlessly—then smiled brightly and said, "I'm Dehya, Miss Dunyarzad's bodyguard. I was just trying to take her home safely."
After introducing herself, she extended a fist toward him—a friendly invitation for a fist bump.
Understanding her intent, Shao Yun smiled faintly and met her fist with his own. "Nice to meet you. I'm Shao Yun."
The brief contact of their fists carried an unspoken camaraderie between fighters.
Dehya's eyes gleamed with admiration as she looked him up and down. "I've gotta hand it to you—you've got some serious skills. Guess we can say it's no fight, no friendship, huh?"
Shao Yun chuckled, offering a friendly piece of advice. "Let me give you a small tip. Next time you're planning an ambush, stick to long-range attacks."
"If you go in close, sharp-eared opponents can hear your footsteps—just like what happened just now."
"If that happens, you won't even have time to regret it before they turn the tables."
Listening to his casually delivered yet experienced advice, Dehya's respect for him grew immensely.
"Wow, you sound like someone who's seen a lot of real combat. Don't tell me—you're a mercenary too?"
For Dehya, a seasoned fighter herself, true strength always commanded respect—just like how western gunslingers revered legends like Landon Ricketts.
If this man really was a mercenary, maybe they could even work together someday.
Shao Yun, amused by her curiosity, replied lightly, "Oh, me? Just a nobody, really—a nameless wanderer."
Compared to Lumine, that was true enough; his reputation didn't come close.
Dehya laughed, hands on her hips, half-joking, half-serious. "A nobody? Don't make me laugh. If someone with your skills is a nobody, then I might as well be a stray cat!"
Just then, Dunyarzad walked over to formally introduce him.
"Dehya, this is a guest from Sumeru City—a guest of my father's. He just arrived yesterday."
The moment Dehya heard that Shao Yun was her employer's guest, she immediately stopped pressing for details.
As a mercenary hired by the Homayani Family, she understood her position well—and respect for her employer's guests was non-negotiable.
Plus, judging by his skill, she guessed he might be someone of considerable status. Since he clearly didn't want to explain further, she let it go.
So Dehya changed the topic, flashing a relaxed grin. "Ah, so you're one of us! If I'd known that earlier, I wouldn't have attacked. My bad!"
"Besides, you're the one who pinned me down earlier, so I guess I'm the one who lost out, huh?"
Shao Yun laughed lightly. "Don't worry about it."
Seeing that he didn't take offense, Dehya felt relieved and turned to Dunyarzad.
"Well then, Miss, it's time to head home. Your father and mother are worried sick about you!"
At that, Dunyarzad's smile froze instantly.
She waved her hands frantically. "No, no, I can't go back yet! I still have so many important things to take care of!"
Dehya sighed helplessly, her patience thinning.
"Miss, please—just cooperate with me this once. It'll make things so much easier for both of us. If you refuse again… I'll have no choice but to carry you home."
Just as she reached forward to grab her, Dunyarzad darted behind Shao Yun like a startled rabbit, clutching his coat tightly.
"Mr. Shao Yun! Please protect me! I still have so many fun stories about the Lesser Lord Kusanali to tell your wife!"
Watching Dunyarzad hiding behind Shao Yun, Dehya could only let out a long, weary sigh.
"Oh, my lady…"
She looked at Dunyarzad helplessly, then at Shao Yun, her expression earnest.
"Mr. Shao Yun, please understand—her parents are terribly worried. Miss Dunyarzad has suffered from Eleazar since childhood. You wouldn't want to see her suddenly collapse while walking, would you?"
Dunyarzad's eyes widened in protest. "Dehya, please believe me! I'm really much better now! If you don't believe me, I'll prove it to you!"
Before anyone could stop her, she started hopping in place to demonstrate her health.
Dehya watched in alarm, fearing she'd fall, and quickly softened her tone. "Alright, alright—I believe you. But you still need to make your parents believe it too."
Dunyarzad, seeing Dehya relent, said earnestly, "Dehya, you've seen it yourself these past few months—I can even take walks outside the city now. I'm no longer that frail, sickly girl I used to be!"
Dehya's face wavered with concern and resignation. "I know… but your parents are really worried about you."
Standing between them, Shao Yun felt like the unfortunate referee in a game of tag—two women on either side, both looking to him for help.
He sighed inwardly. Why do I always get dragged into these messes…? Damn useless system.
Clearly, this deadlock wasn't going anywhere, so he cleared his throat and offered a solution.
"How about this: since Miss Dunyarzad is safe and sound, there's no need to rush. Miss Dehya, let's all have a meal first. Then we'll go meet Mr. Shahzaman and discuss things properly."
"If Dunyarzad wants to explore the city, both you and I can act as her guards. Sounds reasonable, doesn't it?"
Dunyarzad's eyes lit up instantly. "That's a great idea! With both of you by my side, my father won't object."
Normally, Dehya would never agree to such a compromise—she'd have just slung Dunyarzad over her shoulder and carried her home.
But since Dunyarzad was hiding behind someone she couldn't defeat—and Shao Yun's proposal wasn't unreasonable—she finally nodded.
"Well… alright then. Keeping this up won't solve anything. Let's do as Mr. Shao Yun says."
…
The three of them found a quiet corner inside the Lambad Tavern and took their seats.
Moments later, the burly owner, Lambad himself, approached with a friendly grin.
"Well, if it isn't the famous 'Flame-Mane' Dehya! Haven't seen you in, what, half a year?"
Dehya looked up and waved casually. "Yeah, about that long. Heard your business has been booming lately."
Lambad chuckled proudly. "Can't complain! By the way, I heard you've been working as a bodyguard for the Homayani Family now? Funny—you used to say that job was too boring for you!"
Dehya shrugged. "That was then. I've gotten used to it."
"Anyway, boss, let's see the menu."
Lambad nodded and handed her one.
Just as Dehya lowered her gaze to read, he turned toward Shao Yun and said, "Back again, sir! What'll you have today?"
The single word "again" made Dehya freeze. Her eyes immediately shot to Lambad.
"Wait, Lambad—you know Shao Yun?"
Lambad chuckled knowingly. "Of course I do. Otherwise, when you two started fighting in my tavern earlier, do you think I'd have stayed so calm? This man's a guest of Lord Shahzaman."
Calling it a "fight" was generous—it had been a one-sided beatdown.
Dehya set the menu down and crossed her arms, a playful pout on her lips.
"Well, well, so you were just standing there, watching me make a fool of myself?"
Lambad raised his hands in apology, laughing nervously.
"Ahaha, don't be mad! It's just—seeing the great 'Flame-Mane' actually take a hit? That's not something you see every day! I got a little… carried away watching, that's all."
Dehya rolled her eyes but couldn't help smirking. "I thought you were my friend, and you just stood there enjoying the show!"
Lambad quickly waved his hands. "My bad, my bad! Tell you what—I'll make it up to you. How about a free plate of my best Charcoal-Baked Ajilenakh Cake? On the house, as an apology!"
At the mention of Charcoal-Baked Ajilenakh Cake, Dehya's mock anger melted instantly.
Truthfully, she hadn't been mad—just embarrassed. After all, it wasn't every day someone managed to pin her down like that.
Besides, losing once didn't mean much. She'd just train harder and surpass him one day.
She grinned and said, "Alright then, Lambad! But don't forget to charge me for it—I don't take handouts!"