Chapter 56: Ten Moves (Bonus Chapter)

My mouth hung open in shock. Was I dreaming? Was the Dragon Palace really this responsive to requests?

No, that couldn't be right.

I turned my gaze to the three pitch-black holes in the Gate of Karma. The flames that had been burning inside were swallowed by the dragon's maw, which then spat out this ring.

It seemed I knew far too little about the Dragon Palace.

Each time I resolved a karmic tie, one of the holes would light up, and I'd receive a reward. I had thought that was the extent of it, but now it appeared the flames burning within could be exchanged for something in return.

I was desperate to know what the ring did. As my soul returned to my body, the black iron ring appeared on my finger.

With my powers sealed, how was I to unlock the ring?

I tried to sense it with my mind, and suddenly, intricate patterns shone upon the black iron ring.

In that instant, both the chains binding me and the locks on my powers started to loosen.

I was ecstatic. This artifact was even more formidable than Gulijinsha's talisman for breaking formations.

Power locks, once engaged, could only be undone by someone beyond the ninth rank of Yin-Yang Masters; even a ninth-rank master would be helpless otherwise.

But this ring could break them. It was more than just a magical tool—it might well be a legendary treasure.

Of course, I didn't actually break the chains or unlock my powers. Even if I did, escape would be nearly impossible. But perhaps, at a crucial moment, it could make all the difference.

...

Huo Suiwei screamed and smashed everything she could move in the house. The servants cowered, not daring to intervene or even tidy up. When she was angry, she wouldn't hesitate to lash out with her whip.

When there was nothing left to break, Huo Suiwei finally stopped.

"Scoundrel! Bastard! I'll kill you! I swear I'll kill you!" Her face twisted with rage, humiliation threatening to make her explode.

She went to the bathroom, undressed, and stared at herself in the mirror.

When she saw the deep bite mark on her left breast, she covered her face and let out a scream, shattering the mirror with a sudden blow.

The bloody imprint was a mark of disgrace, branded upon the most sacred and cherished part of her womanhood.

Just then, a timid voice came from outside: "Miss, the master is here."

Huo Suiwei took several deep breaths, dressed, and walked out.

In the ravaged hall, a middle-aged man with a square face, hooked nose, and short beard stood in the center.

“Dad,” she said, her voice tinged with grievance.

"Suiwei, I heard you went to see that Qin Feng boy?" Huo Mingdong walked over and patted her head.

"Dad, make that man die. Make him suffer the worst death possible," she said through clenched teeth.

"This is the business of adults; you need not concern yourself. Just know that our Huo family will not allow anyone to bully us and get away with it," Huo Mingdong replied in a deep voice.

Huo Suiwei nodded. "They say my brother is colluding with the evil cult Mani Society. Ridiculous! Our Huo family has been loyal for generations—how could we ever associate with such a cult?"

Huo Mingdong's expression shifted subtly. He coughed lightly and said, "Of course. Some people, for their own interests, throw any filth they can at our family. Don't believe such nonsense."

...

"Of course not. I was born and raised in the Huo family. For generations, we've shed blood for the nation. How many bones of the loyal have been buried on battlefields! Those vile politicians dare to slander us," Huo Suiwei said angrily.

"Suiwei, visit your brother when you have time. You two have always been close. Now... sigh, I don't know if he'll make it through this trial," Huo Mingdong said.

"I know, I'll go soon," she replied, still needing to tend to her wound. The thought of it made her grind her teeth in hate.

...

The sunlight was harsh. After being locked away in the dark for so long, I wasn't used to its brightness.

It was hot—unusual for Beichuan. Perhaps I was in the capital?

After I was put into the car that night, I was flown here under cover of darkness, my eyes blindfolded.

Huo Suiwei's chains still bound me, and the inspectors showed no intention of removing them.

I looked around. The area was encircled by high-voltage iron fences, likely a prison.

Ahead, a row of tables was set up, surrounded by powerful Yin-Yang Masters and martial artists.

Soon, a group strode over with an air of authority.

Three took seats behind the tables, the rest stood behind them.

I glanced up and recognized one: Shangguan Qinghong, the head of the inspection team who had arrested me.

Was this to be a triple tribunal? I sneered inwardly.

"Are you Qin Feng, advisor to Group Three of Bureau Nine?" the middle-aged man at the center asked, his gaze sharp.

I met his eyes without fear, a mocking smile on my lips.

"Incorrigible! Shangguan, announce the verdict," the man said.

Shangguan Qinghong looked at me with regret and sympathy, then stood and spoke: "During his mission, Qin Feng murdered dozens of innocents and severely injured the hostage Huo Xingyu, who was abducted and tortured by Mani Society. His crimes are grave; he should be executed. However, considering his service in breaking the Mani Society case, his merits offset his crimes. The verdict: castration, to be carried out immediately."

My face darkened. I had castrated Huo Xingyu, and now they wanted revenge by castrating me!

Where was Old Fox Zhou? That old man had brought me into Bureau Nine—was he going to abandon me now?

I clenched my teeth, my eyes searching for Zhou, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Yet, behind the glass wall, out of my sight, Director Zhou was standing and watching.

"Director Zhou, you're really not going to intervene?" a bald man asked behind him.

Zhou frowned, said nothing, and kept his eyes on the proceedings.

Just then, two Yin-Yang Masters came and stood on either side of me.

From the distance, a man in a white coat and mask approached with eyes full of venomous hatred.

I recognized him instantly—it was Huo Xingyu, the man I had castrated.

"Hahaha..." I laughed, the sound bitter and desolate.

I had fought life and death, risked everything, only to be branded a murderer and a torturer.

The true conspirators walked free, while now my executioner sought revenge.

I regretted listening to Nightingale. I should have killed him outright instead of leaving him alive.

...

From afar, another figure glared at me with malice—Huo Suiwei, who had wanted to avenge her brother and ended up bitten by me.

"Just castration? That's letting you off easy," she thought, venomous.

Huo Xingyu came before me, voice low and hateful: "Qin Feng, you vermin. I'll make you suffer the pain of castration, slicing you bit by bit, each cut perfectly even, until you wish for death."

At that moment, one of the Yin-Yang Masters beside me drew a dagger, ready to cut open my trousers.

I gritted my teeth, rage twisting my lips.

I closed my eyes; many thought I had resigned myself to fate.

But as the dagger touched my trousers, the chains binding me suddenly slipped off and wrapped around the Yin-Yang Master's hand.

I seized both ends of the chain and pulled hard. The Yin-Yang Master screamed, dropping the dagger.

I snatched it, and in a flash, sprang behind Huo Xingyu, pressing the blade to his throat.

"Don't come any closer, or I'll kill him!" I shouted fiercely. The tip of the dagger pierced more than an inch into Huo Xingyu's neck, blood gushing forth.

"Step back! Step back!" the man at the center of the tribunal cried out.

The dozen or so powerful figures halted, then retreated.

"Brother!" Huo Suiwei screamed. She had never expected such a turn. She thought witnessing her enemy's execution would ease her humiliation, but instead she saw this.

None could believe that, bound by chains and power locks, I was suddenly free.

"Let him go and I'll let you leave," the middle-aged man growled. He was Huo Mingxi, Huo Xingyu's uncle.

"Spare me the nonsense. Get a plane ready. I'll take him with me, and when I feel safe, I'll let him go," I demanded.

"Impossible," Shangguan Qinghong replied.

I sneered, slowly pushing the dagger deeper into Huo Xingyu's neck.

"Stop! I'll agree to your terms, but I need time. Calm down," Huo Mingxi shouted.

Director Zhou and the bald man walked over.

Zhou looked at me; I shot him a cold glance. I had once hoped for his help, but now I had none left.

"Minister Huo won't agree to your demands. He's only buying time. No one leaves Bureau Nine this way," Zhou said quietly.

"Director Zhou, you—" Huo Mingxi protested.

Zhou ignored him, speaking to me: "I can give you a chance. You're one of us, and according to an old tradition: unless it's treason or a capital offense, if you can survive ten moves from someone a whole realm above you, you can be pardoned. You're a third-rank Yin-Yang Master, at the peak of the junior level. That means you'll have to endure ten moves from a sixth-rank, the peak of the intermediate level."

Huo Mingxi wanted to object, but hearing this, he fell silent. A sixth-rank against a third-rank was an abyss; most third-ranks couldn't withstand even one move. Ten moves? It was practically a death sentence.

"Fine. Let's do it," I said, kicking Huo Xingyu aside and tossing away the dagger.

"Shangguan, you go," Huo Mingxi said to Shangguan Qinghong.

Shangguan nodded and strode toward me.