Chpter : 6 " The First Steps to Power "
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The underground arena still buzzed with murmurs even after the battle had ended. Feng Rui had defeated Iron Claw Liu with a single exchange, shaking the entire city's underworld. Seated in a private chamber overlooking the arena, he exuded confidence. Yue Lan sat beside him, sipping wine, while Kai stood by, still struggling to grasp what had just happened. The weight of their victory had yet to settle, but Feng Rui already knew—this was only the beginning.
At the Bai Clan estate, an emergency meeting had been called. Bai Zhong, second-in-command of the clan, slammed his fist onto the wooden table, his face contorted with fury. "That bastard! Who does he think he is?! Taking our arena? He should be dead!" Bai Hengtian, the clan's head, remained composed, stroking his beard as he listened. His cold gaze swept across the room before he finally spoke. "A reckless move will only cost us more. That boy… Feng Rui… is dangerous." Bai Zhong scoffed, dismissing his words. "He's just a kid!"
Hengtian's sharp gaze silenced him. "A kid who crushed Iron Claw Liu without using his full power. You really think he's ordinary?" The room fell into deep silence. One of the elders, his voice calm and measured, spoke next. "We can't ignore this insult, but we must be smart. If we kill him outright, the fighters in the underground arena may revolt. We need to weaken him first… cut off his allies… starve his resources." Bai Hengtian's expression darkened. "Then we shall use the city's noble factions against him. Let them do the dirty work for us."
Feng Rui, of course, expected retaliation. His victory was merely the first step in building an empire, and for that, he needed allies. That was when he met Luo Lingxi. The daughter of the Luo Merchant Guild, she was a rising star in the city's business world. Though young, her sharp mind and ruthless business tactics had allowed her to carve a path to power. And she had her own vendetta against the Bai Clan.
Their first meeting took place in a luxurious tea house. Luo Lingxi was stunning, her long red hair cascading down her back as she studied Feng Rui with sharp, emerald-green eyes. She sipped her tea and smiled. "So, you're the one who turned the underground upside down." Feng Rui met her gaze with a knowing smirk. "And you're interested. Otherwise, you wouldn't have agreed to meet." Luo Lingxi chuckled, her amusement evident. "Clever. I like that." She leaned forward, her voice lowering. "The Bai Clan has been a thorn in my family's business for years. If you're serious about taking them down… I might be willing to support you." Feng Rui's smile widened. "I don't want just the Bai Clan. I want everything." Luo Lingxi's laughter was soft, but there was an unmistakable gleam in her eyes. "I think I'm going to enjoy working with you."
Days later, the Bai Clan made their first move. Under the cover of darkness, one of Feng Rui's outposts—a warehouse filled with weapons and supplies—was set on fire. By the time his men arrived, the entire structure was consumed by flames. Several of his recruits were killed, their bodies left on display as a warning. A single message was left behind: "Kneel, or burn."
Kai clenched his fists, his anger barely contained. "Those bastards! We need to retaliate—" Feng Rui remained silent, his golden eyes locked on the flickering flames. Yue Lan, standing beside him, spoke in a whisper. "You already expected this." Feng Rui nodded. "They're testing us. Seeing if we'll panic. If we respond recklessly, we play into their hands." Kai's frustration grew. "Then what do we do?" Feng Rui's lips curled into a chilling smile. "We don't just fight back." His voice was quiet, yet it carried an undeniable weight. "We erase them."
In the following days, Feng Rui worked relentlessly. Luo Lingxi provided valuable intelligence on the Bai Clan's businesses and alliances. More rogue warriors and mercenaries flocked to him, drawn by his vision of power. But instead of launching a direct assault, Feng Rui planned something far more devastating—he would cut off the Bai Clan's resources, allies, and influence, leaving them weak and desperate.
While scouting one of the Bai Clan's properties, he encountered something unexpected—a woman who was not human. She stood tall, her golden-white hair cascading over her shoulders, her piercing blue eyes filled with an untamed force. Her aura was wild, primal, and powerful. She turned to face him, her gaze assessing. "You're not from the Bai Clan." Feng Rui smirked. "And you're not human." A flicker of amusement crossed her face. "Interesting."
For the first time in a long while, Feng Rui felt a challenge. Who was she? Why was she here? And more importantly… Would she be his next target?