Nemesis

That laughter made Xin Long's blood boil, his heartbeat quickening. His jaw clenched so tightly that his neck muscles tensed, and his fingers curled into a firm fist. The person he had been searching for… yet he suddenly realized that he still lacked the martial skills and authority to confront them. This realization drained the last ounce of his confidence. However, despite trying to suppress it, the traces of fury in his eyes refused to fade, so he instinctively turned his back to the speaker.

At this moment, Xin Long reassured himself that the man had not yet recognized him.

"Since we have guests, the seating arrangements must be prepared properly, my dear daughter.

Come, come! Our guests who arrived with my daughter, please take a seat!"

Hearing that voice from behind, Xin Long instinctively turned around. His previously sharp, stormy gaze softened into a seemingly sincere smile. Clasping his hands together in greeting, he spoke:

"I, Xin Long, pay my respects to the great lord of the Golden Tiger Manor."

Even as he spoke, he closely observed the man before him. The moment their eyes met, the man's face momentarily froze in disbelief. His eyes widened for a split second, then, as if caught off guard, he quickly withdrew his hands from the young woman beside him and let them fall to his sides.

There was no doubt about it. This man was the one. His face, his voice—everything aligned with what he knew. The way his expression changed upon seeing him confirmed it.

A murderous urge surged through Xin Long's veins, so intense that it threatened to consume him. But he forcefully restrained himself. The overwhelming desire to kill filled him with unbearable torment, yet at this moment, all he could do was smile.

Deliberately, he had spoken his own name. Sometimes, saying one's name aloud could restore a sense of control. And beyond that, he wanted the man to take notice of him.

Lowering his head slightly, he gritted his teeth, forcing a faint, controlled smile as he met the man's gaze once more.

Sangguan Jin Hu turned around and found himself face-to-face with the young man who had just greeted him—Xin Long. A shudder ran through him, and involuntarily, he muttered…

"Hng?"

At that very moment, his hands instinctively withdrew from his daughter's arm and dropped to his sides. But that moment of hesitation lasted only a fleeting second. Years of experience quickly restored his composure.

Even as he smiled, he could see that the young man was watching him intently. Though he had grown slightly, his youthful features had not yet faded. However, just as in the past, the young man still seemed unaware of who he truly was. With a faint smile, he shifted his gaze to the girl standing nearby, behaving much like the young man.

She was a delicate beauty, her features strikingly familiar. He felt as if he had seen her somewhere before. His mind raced, trying to recall where, but the answer eluded him. Unable to dwell on it for long, he gave her a polite smile and gestured for her to take a seat.

Sangguan Yun'er, still upset, held onto her father's arm with a bright, reassuring smile. But as soon as she did, a shiver ran through her body. For the first time in her life, she saw an expression of unease on her father's face. She was stunned. His gaze lingered on the young man named Xin Long, and she took notice.

She shifted her eyes between the two, glancing at her father and then at Xin Long, before finally settling on Xin Long, who had already taken his seat. He seemed so lighthearted, carefree even. Yet, when he sat down, his expression steadied, his demeanor turning composed. She had been watching closely and caught the shift in his manner.

She realized something—her father had trembled upon seeing Xin Long. He was worried. For her. And that worry came from facing someone as young as Xin Long. This thought unsettled her. Finally, she sat down beside her father, taking a seat at the nearby table.

After Xin Long sat down, he subtly glanced at Wei Wei, who had also taken a seat beside him. With a slight furrow of his brow, he gave a small signal—a silent reminder to stay alert. This place was neither a diplomatic visit nor a friendly gathering. They had been invited only after an unexpected encounter. Moreover, the master of this fortress was not someone to be trusted. That was why he had given Wei Wei that warning.

Wei Wei responded with a smirk and a single raised eyebrow, signaling that she understood. Xin Long felt satisfied. He then turned his attention to Mu Lan, who was seated directly across from him. As he studied her, his gaze briefly flickered toward the fortress lord seated further away.

After a moment, he took a sweeping glance around the room, memorizing every detail. He could not afford to overlook anything. If trouble arose, he needed to know how to engage those around him, how to fight, and—most importantly—how to escape.

Yet, he did not factor Wei Wei into his escape plans. His only concern was his own survival. That had always been his guiding principle.

As he was lost in thought, his gaze followed the movement of three figures entering the guest hall from inside the building. He saw an elderly man with graying hair, a man with an unremarkable appearance, and a woman whose face was adorned with a constant, enigmatic smile. Without stopping, the three figures walked straight through the hall and exited the building.

The ones Xin Long recognized were none other than Pu Chun, Yiyue, and Venom Mistress Gugu. They were heading into the city to carry out their duties.

As he committed their faces to memory, a servant approached and placed a cup of hot tea on the table in front of him. He picked it up casually, wanting to appear trusting. At that moment, he caught sight of a faint smile from Sangguan Yun'er's father—one of satisfaction.

A masterful deceiver.

Xin Long acknowledged the man's ability to maintain composure while recognizing him. However, the subtle expressions on his face suggested he had yet to realize Xin Long also recognized him. After all, back then, he had been wearing a mask, hadn't he?

But what the man didn't know was that Xin Long had never forgotten his voice. That voice had etched itself into his mind like an unshakable echo.

Just then, the man's voice reached his ears.

"So, how do these young women know you, my daughter? I don't recall ever seeing them here before."

At the sound of her father's question, the Seductress Wei Wei straightened her back slightly before responding.

"Oh, I pass through Nan Hai City quite often. My brother, on the other hand, has only just arrived for the first time. As for how we came to know this young lady…"

She flashed a sweet smile as she extended a hand toward Sangguan Yun'er, smoothly weaving a story to explain their presence. But the moment she finished speaking, she caught the subtle shift in Sangguan's expression—it had tensed.

Feigning embarrassment, she quickly clasped her hands together and bowed slightly.

"My brother and I sincerely apologize."

At the end of her apology, another voice slipped into her ears, this time from Sangguan Yun'er herself, who was seated beside her father.

"Father, don't look so stern. You'll make our guests uncomfortable."

Her words carried a hint of displeasure, her lips pouting slightly in protest. The tension in Sangguan's expression eased into a forced smile. Wei Wei noticed this change and exhaled quietly, releasing the tension in her own hands. She reached for the tea, mirroring Xin Long's casual sip.

After exchanging pleasantries, Sangguan Yun'er personally led them to the resting quarters. Together with Xin Long, Wei Wei followed her inside.

As Sangguan Yun'er stepped out and closed the door behind her, Wei Wei suddenly found herself on the receiving end of an unexpected action from Xin Long—he pulled her into an embrace.

The moment she looked up at his face, she was startled. A chilling, murderous aura flickered in his eyes. His clenched jaw and the tension in the muscles of his neck suggested he was holding something back. The grip of his arms around her was firmer than usual, almost suffocating.

Without a word, Xin Long led her toward the bed, his steps steady, his heartbeat unshaken. As she was pulled along, she couldn't help but feel as though she were being dragged into the depths of hell. His actions—urgent, forceful, and overwhelming—were like those of a storm-battered beast, leaving her momentarily breathless.

At that moment, a wave of frustration washed over her.

Why, Xin Long? Why are you doing this…?

In reality, this was nothing more than Xin Long directing all the killing intent he had been suppressing toward her—the only person he could afford to reveal it to. His desire to murder Sangguan Jin Hu had reached its peak, and she was the only one who could bear witness to the storm brewing inside him.

End - 11