By Your Side

"Why?" I asked in disbelief. "All I did was …"

I stopped, suddenly understanding. This wasn't about picking a fight or exposing the loopholes behind the tournament. Zhong Yilan was the Gatekeeper's niece, and after what had already happened to Chu Xi, it was little wonder that the Gatekeeper could no longer tolerate my presence.

Bai Ye sighed again, seeing my realization. "This was my fault," he explained. "When you were at East Village, I—"

"I heard of it." To my surprise, I couldn't help smiling. "It's a pity that I missed seeing Chu Xi chased by a dog all over her village. I would've loved the scene."