Bai Chenxiang's heart hammered wildly.
She had always trusted her speed. It was the Min Clan's pride — their reason to exist. Yet the man before her, half-drunk, had outrun her in a blink.
It was outrageous. Unfair. Monstrous.
And terrifyingly real.
Still staggering, Lucien followed the purple-haired girl into the clearing — where a white-haired elder was pressed to his knees, bound in chains.
"Xiangxiang?!" The old hawk's eyes widened in dismay. "Why are you back!?"
Bai He, the speed Contra of the Min Clan, had ceased resisting. Even he could not save an entire tribe in a pincer this tight. His only prayer had been to give his granddaughter a chance to escape.
"Grandpa! I brought help!"
Hope flared and then sputtered when Bai He's eyes focused on the young man swaying with a jug.
"…You brought… a drunkard?"
"Trust me!" Chenxiang cried. "Big Brother said he'd lend us a hand!"
Lucien grinned wide, waving. "Yup. Me. Let the old bird go."
The opposing thug leader, Lei Datou, sneered. "Fine. Pay his debt and I let him walk. Money only."
Lucien set down his jug, rifled in his Soul Device… came up empty-handed. Then shrugged and produced two heavy jars, tossing them across.
"Two jars. Royal tribute wine. Clear his tab."
Lei's head darkened like stormclouds. "Are you mocking me?! Two jars? For months of debt?!"
Lucien's grin sharpened. "Royal tribute, not swill. You'll get drunk once and won't wake up for three days. But if you'd rather, sure—I'll cleave you too."
Lei Datou moved to shove him away—only to find himself airborne, slammed in a parabola, choking dust.
The clearing stilled.
All eyes fixed on the youth swaying on his feet, sword behind his back, wine in hand.
"Age… drunken… terrible aura… It's him—Lucien!"
"Who called me?" Lucien slurred, lazily glancing over.
The thugs blanched. There was no longer any doubt.
Lei Datou scrambled up, chest tight. "B-Brothers! Withdraw!" He waved frantically, and in less than a minute the encirclement melted back into the night.
The Min survivors sagged into relief.
"Little brother Lucien…" Bai He's voice contained both awe and shame. "Thank you. We misjudged."
Lucien waved him off. "Nah. Not a thing."
Chenxiang looked at him with wide eyes, stunned. A legend… and I fell straight into his carriage. No wonder his speed eclipsed mine…
Her grandfather bowed. "I'll return your aid once we recover."
Lucien perked up. "Fine then, pay in good wine. Tribute quality."
"…We don't… have wine," Bai He admitted, flushing.
Lucien sighed dramatically. "Tch. Poor clan. No money, no wine." Then his eyes slid sideways toward the girl half-hiding behind her grandfather. He grinned, lips curling.
"But… don't you still have a granddaughter?"
Bai He froze. Chenxiang's face turned crimson.
"…This bastard," Bai He muttered, forehead throbbing.
Star Luo Empire – Longxing City.
A few days later, in the courtyard of the Defense Clan, Titan and Niu Gao downed jars of cheap liquor, their voices booming.
"Where are those two slackers, Bai He and Goat? Late again!" Titan grumbled.
"As if you don't know? Goat always sulks, Bird's always broke. Probably pawning feathers to pay tolls…" Niu Gao shook his head, finishing another jar.
The four great single-attribute clans — shattered into fragments after the Hao Tian Sect scandal. Even here, they clung to brotherhood by scraps of wine.
Finally, Bai He arrived, Min Clan survivors and granddaughter in tow.
"Brothers!"
The three old men embraced warmly, hiding tears in their beards.
"Hmph. About time," Titan grunted. Then his eyes flicked to the youth drinking at ease behind Bai He.
"Oh?"
"I'll introduce you," Bai He said quickly, grinning, puffing his chest. "This here is Lucien. Yes—that Lucien. The brat who terrifies every academy from Heaven Dou to Five Elements. He saved my clan with his sword."
Gasps rattled the hall.
Niu Gao's eyes widened. Titan's pupils shrank.
In the corner, a younger voice broke through, cold sweat dripping.
"L—Lucien?!"
Lucien tipped his jug. "Huh? Who called me?"
Tailong stood shaking, face pale, eyes bugging.
"…Grandson…?" Titan turned slowly.
"Yes, grandpa," Tailong whispered, traumatised by memories of being tossed like garbage across Shrek's class. "…That's him."
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