Su Han moved through the streets like a predator on a clock. His pace was urgent, his eyes fixed on the distant silhouette of the inn where he had left Chu Yao. He pushed the thoughts of the Shadow Blade Sect to the back of his mind.

  ?He wasn't even sure if they were hunting him specifically or if it was just a routine sweep. Besides, he had been careful. Viper and his goons were dead, and he hadn't left a single shred of evidence behind.

  ?Then there was Liu Ba. Killing him and his men in front of the Iron-Fist mercenaries was a different story. News like that had a way of leaking, especially when silver coins were involved.

  ?Tsk.

  ?Su Han knew how the world worked. Someone from that group would eventually sell him out for a quick profit or slip up over a jar of wine. But he wasn't losing sleep over it. By the time the news reached the high-ups of the Shadow Blade Sect, he would be far beyond their reach in terms of power.

  ?A small-time thug like Liu Ba wasn't worth a Sect’s full wrath anyway. At most, the local branch in Linkshan Town would come sniffing around.

  ?"Let them come," he muttered to himself. "If I have to uproot the entire branch to stay safe, so be it."

  ?A few hours later, the familiar sights of the outer districts of Linkshan Town came into view. A rare, genuine smile tugged at his lips, mixed with a deep sense of longing.

  ?It had been five long, bloody days. Finally, he was home.

  ?He didn't waste time. He practically jogged toward the inn, his heart thumping a steady, hopeful rhythm. But the moment he reached the familiar door, the air in his lungs turned to ice.

  ?Thud... thud...

  ?His heartbeat echoed in his ears. The door was shut tight, and a heavy iron lock hung from the latch, cold and mocking.

  ?He forced himself to take a breath. "Calm down," he whispered. "Maybe she just went out to get supplies."

  ?Even though he had told her to stay inside, Chu Yao was independent. Still, a nagging sense of dread began to crawl up his spine.

  ?He decided to head down to the restaurant area to eat and wait. He told himself she’d be back by the time he finished his meal. But as the minutes ticked by, his anxiety only grew.

  ?When he returned to the room and saw the lock still in place, his patience snapped.

  ?He stormed toward the reception desk. The middle-aged man behind the counter looked up, his eyes flickering with instant recognition before they turned cold and guarded.

  ?"I booked a room here five days ago and paid a month’s rent in advance for a girl," Su Han said, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. "Where is she?"

  ?The man didn't even flinch, though his hand trembled slightly under the desk. "I don’t know. She left the hotel a day or two ago."

  ?BAM!

  ?Su Han’s palm slammed onto the wooden counter. The crack sounded like a gunshot, making the man jump nearly out of his skin.

  ?"You don't know?" Su Han growled, leaning in until they were inches apart. "I paid for a month. Do you not keep records? Where is the room service? Where is she?"

  ?The receptionist was just a commoner, barely at the 1st Level of Body Refining. Under Su Han's murderous aura, he began to shake like a leaf.

  ?"S-Sir... please! Give me a minute. I’ll check!" Cold sweat poured down the man's face.

  ?Su Han glared at him for a heartbeat before shoving him back into his seat. "Make it fast, or the next thing I break won't be the furniture."

  ?He sat at a nearby table and poured a glass of water, his eyes scanning the room. He noticed it immediately—the waiters and staff were whispering, throwing him nervous, shifty glances.

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  ?His gut twisted. Something was very wrong.

  ?A minute later, the receptionist returned with an elderly manager and a young waitress. The girl looked sharp, her eyes darting around the room.

  ?"Sir, are you asking about the girl in that room?" the manager asked, his voice overly polite.

  ?Su Han didn't answer. He just stared at the old man with eyes that could freeze blood.

  ?"Look, sir, it’s not the inn's fault," the manager continued, smoothing his robes. "The girl left on her own two days ago. This waitress here saw her go."

  ?He gestured to the girl beside him. She caught Su Han’s gaze and immediately looked at the floor, her shoulders trembling.

  ?"Y-Yes, sir... I saw her leave. She told me herself she wasn't coming back," the girl stammered.

  ?Su Han’s lips curled into a dark, mirthless smile. He could smell the lie from across the room.

  ?"Tell me the truth, old man," Su Han said, his voice dropping to a whisper that carried more weight than a scream. "Or I will shut this place down forever."

  ?The manager’s expression shifted. The fake politeness vanished, replaced by a smug, arrogant smirk. He straightened his back.

  ?"Sir, I’ve given you the facts. And as for shutting us down... perhaps you should know that this inn is the property of the Lin Family."

  ?He paused to let the name sink in. "I doubt someone like you has the power to touch anything belonging to the Lins. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have actual work to do."

  ?Su Han’s brows furrowed. The Lin Family. One of the four great pillars of Linkshan Town, just like the Su Clan.

  ?"So," Su Han said, his eyes turning into slits. "You've decided that offending me is safer than telling the truth?"

  ?The manager just bowed mockingly and gestured toward the exit. "I’ve told you the truth, sir. You’re free to look for her elsewhere."

  ?Su Han’s hand hovered near his waist. He wanted to paint the walls with the manager’s blood, but he knew he had to be smart. He needed information, not a pile of corpses—at least not yet.

  ?"Did the Lin Family take her?" he wondered.

  ?A lethal, crimson light flickered in his eyes. If the Lins had touched even a hair on Chu Yao’s head, he would make sure their legacy ended in a river of blood.

  ?Su Han stood frozen for a heartbeat, his sharp eyes scanning the room. He could see the hesitation and restless flickering in the eyes of the waiters. They knew something.

  ?A cold idea formed in his mind. He didn't need to waste his breath on the smug manager or start a war with the Lin Family just yet. His priority was Chu Yao, not a pile of corpses.

  ?He flicked his sleeves with a look of pure disdain toward the manager and turned to leave. But as he walked out, he didn't miss the chance to give a subtle signal to a young waiter standing near the corner.

  ?The waiter caught the hint. A few minutes later, the boy slipped out through the back under the guise of an errand.

  ?Su Han was waiting for him in the shadows. A thin, dangerous smile played on his lips. Before the boy could even stutter a word, Su Han reached into his system storage.

  ?Shua!

  ?A heavy pouch containing 500 silver coins landed in the waiter's trembling hands. The boy’s eyes bulged, the sheer weight of the wealth making his heart skip a beat.

  ?"Thank you, Sir! Thank you!" the waiter whispered, frantically checking his surroundings. "Sir... Miss Chu was here until an hour ago. But Young Master Lin Tianyou was dining here, and... well, he took an interest in her."

  ?The boy gulped, his voice dropping to a terrified rasp. "She didn't want to go, but she was just a servant girl. They forced her into his carriage."

  ?Su Han’s eyes instantly turned a deep, blood-red. A lethal killing intent erupted from his body like a volcanic blast. The waiter turned pale, his knees buckling as cold sweat drenched his back.

  ?"Where is he now?" Su Han hissed, the air around him vibrating with power.

  ?"I-I'm not certain, Sir... but the Young Master usually spends his afternoons at the Blue Phoenix Pavilion. The famous courtesan is performing today. He never misses her dance."

  ?Su Han didn't say another word. He vanished into the crowd. Thanks to the memories of this body, he knew exactly where the Pavilion was.

  ?The Blue Phoenix Pavilion wasn't just a brothel; it was a continental powerhouse with branches in every major city. It was a den of luxury, jade-skinned beauties, and the finest wine—provided your pockets were deep enough.

  ?As Su Han stepped through the grand entrance, a thick, intoxicating fragrance hit his senses. The sight before him was enough to make any man’s blood rush.

  ?Dozens of women—some young and playful, others mature and elegant—moved through the hall in silk dresses that left very little to the imagination. Their heavy makeup and suggestive smiles were designed to drain a man’s spirit and his wallet.

  ?Before he could take ten steps, a woman in her mid-twenties glided toward him. She caught his arm, her fingers trailing along his bicep with practiced ease.

  ?"Oh, little brother... what are you thinking about so deeply?" she purred, her breath fanning against his cheek.

  ?She leaned in, her fragrance clouding his mind. "It's still daytime, but why don't I show you a world that most men don't even see in their dreams?"

  ?Su Han’s heart gave a sudden throb. If he weren't here for Chu Yao, he might have actually stumbled. He gently but firmly removed her hand.

  ?"I'm here to find someone. Is Lin Tianyou here?"

  ?A flash of disappointment crossed the woman's face, but she quickly masked it with a playful pout. "Ah, so you're here for the Black Lotus as well? She’s performing on the sixth floor. You can head up."

  ?Su Han nodded curtly and headed for the stairs without looking back. He knew he had to keep his cool. The Blue Phoenix Pavilion was a neutral territory so powerful that even the heads of the four great families wouldn't dare cause a scene here.

  ?Rumor had it that an expert beyond the Qi Refining stage guarded this place. Even the common guards were at the peak of Qi Refining.

  ?"Sixth floor," Su Han muttered, his grip tightening on the hilt of his hidden blade. "Lin Tianyou... I hope for your sake that she’s unharmed."