"He Yunlong! Stop!"
The booming voice cut through the chaos of the courtyard. Wang Yan and his friends froze mid-action, their Iron Guards faltered, and even the attackers instinctively paused. Dust hung in the air, and every eye turned toward the source of the command.
At the far edge of the courtyard stood an elderly man, calm yet radiating an unmistakable authority, and Instructor Qiu beside him, his aura subtly flaring, steady and unshakable. The very air seemed to tighten around them. Even in the midst of battle, a sense of restraint and control radiated from their presence.
He Yunlong's face darkened, fury blazing in his eyes. "Patriarch Liang! Do not interfere here!"
Patriarch Liang's voice carried across the courtyard, calm but firm:
"You think that threats and bloodshed can solve your problem, He Yunlong? Step back before you turn this city into a graveyard for your own pride."
He Yunlong's gaze narrowed, his voice sharp and trembling with anger. "These children have killed my men, and dishonored the law and order of Green Pearl City! They will answer for this—no excuses!"
Patriarch Liang's expression remained serene, his voice steady:
"Do not mistake your anger for justice. You are blinded by it. Step aside before more lives are lost for your own mistakes."
Instructor Qiu moved deliberately among the remaining Iron Guards, his presence radiating calm authority. "Settle yourselves. Tend to your wounds. There is no need to fight any further."
He Yunlong's lips pressed tightly, his Black Iron Tyrant Ape martial soul exuding oppressive power. His deputies, Jin Lei and Fang Rui, tensed beside him, their own Soul Ancestor levels and martial souls bristling, ready for command. Yet even with their combined might, the City Lord knew the consequences of misjudging the elderly man before him.
He Yunlong's voice rose, dripping with controlled rage: "Do you think your presence here changes the outcome? I am the City Lord! No one defies me in my city!"
Patriarch Liang's calm voice countered, deliberate and unwavering:
"I am not here to negotiate, He Yunlong. Step back and consider the consequences of further action."
A tense silence fell over the courtyard. He Yunlong's face darkened further, but he knew he could not escalate without risking far greater consequences. Slowly, he signaled his deputies. City guards, allied merchants, and guild fighters hesitated, then, reluctantly, began to retreat. The courtyard, littered with fallen attackers and the wounded, began to calm.
Instructor Qiu approached Wang Yan and the friends, his aura subtly enveloping them in reassurance. "Rest now," he instructed quietly. "Tend to the wounded. Focus on settling yourself first. There is no more fighting to be done here."
Wang Yan, still catching his breath, exchanged a glance with Zhao Qing, Chen Yu, and Liu Ming. Questions hung in their minds like heavy fog. Instructor Qiu was only level thirty-seven. Patriarch Liang's aura, while commanding, was not stronger than the City Lord. Yet He Yunlong had feared them enough to call off the attack. Why?
Chen Yu's brow furrowed. "I don't get it… Instructor Qiu… and the old man… how could the City Lord act like that?"
Zhao Qing shook his head slowly. "It doesn't make sense. Their power shouldn't be enough to make him retreat like this."
Instructor Qiu looked at them calmly, sensing their confusion. "All questions will be answered in time," he said firmly. "First, rest. Settle yourselves. The rest… will wait."
Night had fallen over Green Pearl City, and the once-chaotic courtyard of the Iron Guard Base was now silent. The wounded had been tended to, and the bodies of their fallen comrades respectfully laid to rest. Shadows flickered across the walls from the dim torches still burning along the outer walls, casting long, uneven shapes across the courtyard.
Inside the main hall, Wang Yan, Zhao Qing, Chen Yu, and Liu Ming sat quietly alongside the seven remaining wounded Iron Guards. Instructor Qiu moved among them, ensuring that each was properly bandaged and rested. Patriarch Liang stood near the far side of the hall, calm, his hands clasped behind his back, silently observing the proceedings.
The weight of the day pressed heavily on everyone. The four friends had survived a near-fatal ambush, and most of their comrades had fallen. Their hearts were still racing from the intensity of the battle, but they had to focus on recovery and understanding what had just transpired.
Wang Yan leaned back against the wall, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Seven of our men survived… that's all. And the others… they're gone." His voice was heavy, but controlled.
Zhao Qing's fists clenched, though he spoke quietly. "We fought, we held the line… but I still can't believe He Yunlong would go this far. Why… why did he hesitate when Patriarch Liang arrived? I still don't understand."
Chen Yu, sitting cross-legged, looked toward Instructor Qiu. "Instructor… you're only thirty-seven, and Patriarch Liang isn't stronger than He Yunlong. Then why did the City Lord retreat? He should have crushed us when we were isolated."
The hall had grown quiet. The wounded rested on mats and benches, and the four friends sat together, still shaken by the day's events. Seven of the surviving Iron Guards sat nearby, bandaged and exhausted. Torchlight flickered against the walls, casting long shadows across the hall.
Instructor Qiu finally spoke, his voice calm but carrying weight. "There are things you must understand—things I could not explain in the middle of battle. My name is Liang Qiu, and the old man here, standing with us, is my father, Patriarch Liang."
Wang Yan, Zhao Qing, Chen Yu, and Liu Ming immediately turned to the elderly man, bowing slightly in respect. Patriarch Liang nodded once in acknowledgment, his expression serene and composed, radiating quiet authority.
Instructor Qiu continued, "Yes, our levels are far below the City Lord and his deputies. I am only thirty-seven. My father, while older and respected, is a level forty-seven Soul Ancestor. But if the City Lord feared anyone today, it was not because of me—or even my father directly."
Zhao Qing frowned. "Then… who?"
Instructor Qiu's gaze turned serious. "It was my brother-in-law. That is the force he truly fears. My father and I are not what intimidates him—what matters is the consequences of provoking my brother-in-law recklessly. That is why, despite our lower levels, the City Lord chose to withdraw rather than escalate further."
Chen Yu leaned forward. "So, it wasn't you or Patriarch Liang who made him step back?"
Instructor Qiu shook his head. "No. Our presence alone was not enough. But the knowledge of what my brother-in-law represents, and the reach of his influence, made the City Lord think twice. Even his deputies hesitated—Jin Lei and Fang Rui—they know the potential cost of pressing this further."
The four friends sat in silence, their minds buzzing. Who was this brother-in-law, whose influence alone could make the City Lord hesitate? Even after surviving the ambush, their curiosity and unease grew, questions that demanded answers in the days to come.
End of chapter.