On a bustling street, inside an extended-length Rolls Royce.

Duan Feibai asked, "You're saying that even Uncle Guan couldn't handle that Luo Xiu you mentioned?"

Cao Hong sighed softly. "It's not quite like that," he said slowly. "Uncle Guan suffered a qigong deviation some time ago and was in deep seclusion. He only agreed to come out early because of the Qi Origin Pill my master gave him."

"He couldn't fully absorb and digest the Qi Origin Pill in such a short time, so his strength hadn't returned to its peak. That's why he seemed a bit outmatched against Luo Xiu," he continued. "However, once he officially comes out of this seclusion, he will certainly reach that legendary realm. By then, Luo Xiu will be nothing to fear!"

Duan Feibai smiled. "Then allow me to congratulate you in advance."

Cao Hong smiled back. "Still, I have to admit that Luo Xiu has some real strength. His movement technique, in particular, is not only uncanny but also incredibly fast. Even with all the experts from the Western and South Districts gathered, they couldn't touch him."

Hearing this, Duan Feibai's eyes lowered. He glanced at Xiao Ye, who was sitting quietly to the side, and said, "Tonight, you will go and meet this Luo Xiu. Just a little probe to test his abilities."

Xiao Ye nodded gently.

「Before long.」

Cao Hong drove Duan Feibai and Xiao Ye to the Sun Family Grand Manor.

In the spacious and luxurious living room, Sun Gaozhi's expression gradually darkened as he watched Duan Feibai leisurely sipping his tea.

"Grandfather Sun, it's been a few years. I didn't expect to see you in even better health."

Sun Gaozhi's face was a mask. "Why have you suddenly come to Sea City, you brat?" he asked.

"I came for Xiao Li, of course," Duan Feibai said bluntly. "By the way, Grandfather Sun, why don't I see her?"

Sun Gaozhi took a deep breath. "Is this about the marriage contract?"

Duan Feibai nodded. "Grandfather Sun, you should know that Xiao Li is the only one in my heart."

At these words, Sun Gaozhi couldn't help but think of Luo Xiu. "But you are likely not the one in hers," he retorted.

Duan Feibai looked directly at Sun Gaozhi and smiled. "An arrangement sealed by our parents and promised by the matchmaker."

Sun Gaozhi scoffed. "What era do you think this is? Who still abides by such things?"

Duan Feibai let out a silent sigh, then suddenly rose and walked over to Sun Gaozhi. He leaned in and whispered two sentences into the old man's ear.

Sun Gaozhi's face changed dramatically, his eyes flashing with rage. "Young man, are you threatening me?" he said in a cold voice.

Duan Feibai returned to his seat and smiled. "Grandfather Sun, you once commanded three provinces and still wear the medal symbolizing the highest honor. You've eaten more salt than I've eaten rice. How could a junior like me ever dare to threaten you?"

Sun Gaozhi snorted coldly. "A Gui, see our guest out!"

A Gui stepped forward. "Young Master Duan, if you please."

But Duan Feibai acted as though A Gui didn't even exist.

Seeing this, A Gui's gaze hardened. He reached for Duan Feibai's shoulder, intending to toss the young man out.

But in that same instant, the gauze-wrapped longsword in Xiao Ye's hand was already resting against A Gui's neck.

A Gui's body went rigid. Not daring to move, he slowly raised his eyes to Xiao Ye, his expression growing solemn.

Just then, Duan Feibai let out a laugh. "Xiao Ye, this is a senior. Show some respect."

Xiao Ye withdrew her sword and stepped back.

With that, Duan Feibai stood up and departed with a casual and confident air. "Grandfather Sun," he called back, "remember what I said. You should arrange my wedding to Xiao Li as soon as possible."

...

Back in the living room, Sun Gaozhi's face grew increasingly gloomy as he watched Duan Feibai's retreating figure.

"That female bodyguard with the young master of the Duan Family… she's very strong," A Gui said.

He hadn't even sensed it when Xiao Ye made her move! If her sword had been unsheathed, or if she had intended to kill him, he was certain he wouldn't have known how he died until his last breath.

"Her sword is incredibly fast," A Gui continued, his voice grave. "There was no warning, making it impossible to defend against. The feeling… it was as if her blade was always meant to be at my neck."

Hearing A Gui's assessment, Sun Gaozhi's expression grew heavier. "The Provincial Capital Duan Family has recruited many Martial Artists, but when did they acquire an expert of this caliber?"

"This must be the source of the young man's confidence," A Gui said.

Sun Gaozhi suddenly asked, "In your opinion, between Mister Luo and that female bodyguard, who is stronger?"

A Gui pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "It's hard to say. But both Mister Luo and that woman are far stronger than I am."

Sun Gaozhi waved his hand dismissively and walked to the side to sit down, seeming to have aged a decade in an instant.

"A Gui, do you know what that boy from the Duan family told me?"

A Gui looked at him, confused.

Sun Gaozhi's gaze was deep as he said solemnly, "Something has happened to Shen Yun. And he claims to know something about it."

A Gui's eyes lowered. "So he was using that to threaten you?"

Sun Gaozhi gave a cold laugh. "I, Sun Gaozhi, have lived this long without ever being threatened by anyone! A Gui, you are to leave Sea City at once and investigate everything related to Shen Yun."

"Understood!"

「In the blink of an eye, night fell.」

Perhaps because Lin Xiyue had dragged him to the andrology clinic today to "help the little tadpoles find their mother," completely stripping him of his male dignity, Luo Xiu was in a foul mood. After dinner, he went straight upstairs to his room.

A long while later, Lin Xiyue entered.

"I have things to do tomorrow. You'll have to go to the hospital and get the test results yourself."

Luo Xiu waved a dismissive hand, turned his back to her, and continued playing on his phone.

Lin Xiyue slowly climbed onto the bed. "Do you want to do it?" she asked softly.

Luo Xiu looked annoyed. "I swear, Lin Xiyue, are you getting addicted to this?"

Puffing her cheeks out slightly, Lin Xiyue got out of bed, walked to the wardrobe, and opened it. "Which pair do you want me to wear?"

Hearing this, Luo Xiu froze. He sat up and looked at her with a strange expression.

Lin Xiyue pulled a large pile of stockings from a container in the wardrobe, walked over, and tossed them onto the bed. Then, she gave Luo Xiu a mysterious smile.

"Do you like black silk?"

"Or do you prefer the innocent white silk?"

"The mature gray silk and the nude ones also seem quite nice."

"Here, you choose. I'll model them for you."

Luo Xiu stared at the mountain of stockings before him, his face darkening. "To get what you want from me, you're really pulling out all the stops, aren't you?"

Lin Xiyue's expression turned serious as she said flatly, "I figured you were in a bad mood today because of me, so I wanted to apologize." Then her tone deepened. "Hurry up and choose! You might not get another chance!"

But Luo Xiu just waved his hand. "You could wear anything right now and it wouldn't tempt me. I don't want to!"

With that, he got out of bed, intending to sleep on the sofa. He knew very well that if he slept in the bed, Lin Xiyue would undoubtedly try something in the middle of the night, and he wouldn't get a wink of sleep.

However, just as he was off the bed, his expression changed. He spun around and lunged at Lin Xiyue, tackling her to the mattress.

Startled by his sudden action, Lin Xiyue could only stare up at him with glistening eyes. Her delicate hands rested on his chest, feeling his racing heart. "Men really are all talk," she murmured. "What's this? Just a second ago you said you didn't want to, and now..."

Before she could finish, Luo Xiu pushed himself up and walked toward the window.

"Stay in the house and don't go anywhere. Wait for me to get back."

After saying this, his figure flickered, and he leaped straight out the window.

Lin Xiyue rushed to the window to look, but Luo Xiu was already gone without a trace.

"What's gotten into him all of a sudden?" she muttered in complaint. Turning back, she walked toward the bed, but as she went to pull back the covers, she froze.

There, embedded in her wardrobe, was a single leaf.

Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at it.

What kind of force could make a fragile leaf fly into the room and embed itself in the solid wood of a wardrobe? And if that leaf had hit a person…

It was only then that she realized Luo Xiu had tackled her to save her life.

She turned to look out into the night, suddenly filled with worry. "Luo Xiu... please be careful."

Suddenly, an ethereal, lingering cry echoed from the darkness outside. It was the call of a whale from the deep sea.

Upon hearing it, Lin Xiyue clutched her chest. For some reason, she suddenly felt a piercing pain in her heart, a profound ache, as if she had lost the most important thing in the world.

Tears welled in her eyes, and she crumpled to the floor and began to sob.

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