"Thanks, Brother Smith." Wang Yan wiped the blood off his dagger.
Not far away, the bodies of Niu Mang and his men lay motionless in a pool of blood. Despite Wang Yan's honest and friendly appearance, he showed no hesitation when eliminating those who posed a threat to his life.
"Who were they? They're not from the Burning Fire Clan, are they?" Smith asked, brushing the dust off his coat while examining the corpses.
These men bore no flame marks on their foreheads—clearly not members of the Burning People.
"They're from an organization known as the Night Demons."
"Night Demons?" Smith echoed, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah. It's a group made up of people expelled from academies or rebels who willingly abandoned the law. Most of them are brutal and ruthless—people who'll do anything to accomplish their goals. Be careful if you encounter them again," Wang Yan warned.
"Then why did they attack you?" Smith asked, frowning slightly.
"They probably got wind that we were attacked by the Burning Fire Clan and came to take advantage of the situation. It's what they do. Our Guangxi Society and the Night Demons are long-time enemies. So, seeing us weak was the perfect opportunity."
Once the area was cleared, the group repacked their belongings, climbed aboard their wooden carts, and resumed their journey toward the Dark City.
"If they're hostile and capable of tracking you, you'll need to stay vigilant," Smith advised.
Wang Yan nodded but replied with a slight frown, "I doubt they have that kind of capability yet. Most likely, someone from the auction tipped them off."
"An auction? What auction?" Smith asked, puzzled.
"The Dusk Auction. It's a neutral organization based in the Dark City. Officially, it deals in rare treasures—but in secret, it sells information to the highest bidder," Wang Yan explained.
"If you've got the money, there's no intel you can't buy. Our movements were likely sold to the Night Demons through the Dusk Auction."
Smith nodded slowly. Information brokers weren't new to him. He'd dealt with similar groups in the City of Sin before.
---
Eventually, they arrived at the Dark City.
Massive black walls loomed ahead, surrounding towering gates that looked like the jaws of a sleeping beast. The air was thick with the faint scent of blood, creating a tense and ominous atmosphere.
This was the City of Darkness—a paradise for the strong, a nightmare for the weak, and a place where laws bent to power.
"Brother Smith, welcome to the Dark City. If you're planning to stay a while, I have a few tips," Wang Yan offered.
"Oh? Let's hear it."
"First of all, if you're looking for a place to stay, I highly recommend the Dusk Hotel—it's run by the Dusk Auction House."
Smith raised an eyebrow. "Why that one? Aren't there plenty of hotels here?"
"There are, but most of them are shady. Guests often get robbed in their sleep—or worse, never wake up. But the Dusk Hotel is protected by the Dusk Auction House, which makes it the safest place in the entire city."
"The Dusk Auction House is the wealthiest and most influential organization in the Dark City. No one dares cross them. Their intelligence network is terrifyingly extensive—nothing happens within a hundred-mile radius that they don't know about."
"And the owner of the auction house is known as the Red Queen. She's one of the three most powerful people in the Dark City," Wang Yan added.
"Red Queen?" Smith asked with interest.
"Yes. Alongside her, there's Zhang Yi, the president of our Guangxi Society, and Dong Mie, the leader of the Night Demons. Together, they're known as the Three Heroes of Darkness. All of them are fourth-level powerhouses."
Smith nodded thoughtfully, then changed the subject.
"By the way, Brother Wang Yan, isn't the Guangxi Society's headquarters near the docks? Mind if I take a look?"
"Of course not!" Wang Yan replied, beaming.
He had been hoping to invite Smith, but hadn't dared to be too forward. The fact that Smith brought it up himself was a pleasant surprise. Having someone as powerful as Smith visit—someone who could defeat Niu Mang and his entire group—was a great honor.
Smith followed Wang Yan and the others deeper into the city.
---
The atmosphere in Dark City was all too familiar to Smith—very much like Sin City.
Chaos, suppression, and lawlessness ran rampant. Fights broke out in the open, and gangs bullied the weak without consequence. The law of the jungle ruled everything.
After traversing several grimy streets, the group arrived at a rushing river. Along one bend, a large dock sprawled out, bustling with activity. Merchant ships came and went as laborers hauled cargo on and off the piers.
Several streets branched out from the docks. Green-robed patrolmen walked back and forth, keeping a close eye on the area.
Smith glanced around. "The atmosphere here is... different."
It was. Compared to the rest of the Dark City, this area was brighter, more orderly, and even cheerful. Smiles appeared on the faces of dock workers and passersby.
"Of course," Wang Yan said with pride. "Our Guangxi Society manages this entire area. Merchant ships only have to pay a small tax, and in return, we guarantee their safety."
"This is the one part of the city where fair trade is possible. No forced sales, no thugs, no cheating. Merchants prefer to do business here for that very reason."
It was clear from Wang Yan's tone that creating this haven of order in a city like this wasn't easy.
"You don't have a hotel here, do you?" Smith asked curiously.
"No," Wang Yan said, shaking his head. Then, quickly added, "But if Brother Smith wants to stay, I'll have a room cleaned for you immediately!"
Smith smiled. "I appreciate it."
As one of the three major forces in the Dark City, the Guangxi Society's territory was the safest choice. Smith, now a wanted man by Jinghai College, needed a place to lie low.
"Great! I'll show you to the guest room myself!"
Wang Yan led Smith to the Guangxi Society's guest quarters without hesitation.
---
Meanwhile, across the city in a dimly lit bar, a large man in a leopard-print suit was enjoying a raw, bloody steak.
This was Dong Mie, the infamous leader of the Night Demons.
"Boss Dong," a trembling subordinate whispered. "Niu Mang and the others… they're dead."
Dong Mie continued chewing. "Who did it?" he asked, his voice low and gravelly.
"We received the information from the Dusk Auction. It was a man named Smith."
"Smith?" Dong Mie frowned. "Never heard of him."
"Neither have we. But… Jinghai College has placed a bounty on him. Fifty mid-grade spirit stones."
Dong Mie's hand froze over his steak.
"Fifty? That's not a small price…"
He leaned back in the booth, licking the blood off his fork.
"Looks like a rather... special guest has arrived in the Dark City."
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