As Ling Xiao walked the streets of Penzes City, he could clearly sense the people’s fear of Tiger. Everyone kept their distance, staring at the fierce-looking giant. Ling Xiao himself was dressed as an Adventurer, wearing a cloak that hid his face, so no one recognized that this slender figure was, in fact, their Lord.

Ling Xiao noticed that the streets were much more crowded with commoners than before, all of them beaming with genuine smiles. Ever since he had reclaimed vast tracts of land from the nobles and redistributed them to the people, the economy of Penzes City hadn’t declined—it had boomed. This had forced many nobles, who had been waiting to see Ling Xiao fail, to shut their mouths in frustration.

Upon returning to the Viscount’s Mansion, Uncle Fu was stunned speechless when he saw Tiger. When he learned that the giant was a Beastman of the Tiger Race, a look of surprise crossed his face. ’The young master must have been through a great deal in the swamp this time.’

The old man’s surprise was fleeting, however, and he quickly led Tiger away to get him settled.

Ling Xiao returned to his private quarters, where Chunlan and Qiuyue were overjoyed to see him. They prepared a bath for him, and after he had bathed and changed, the elegant young noble reappeared before the two women.

Chunlan said happily, "Sister Yezi is still cultivating. She’ll be so happy to know you’re back, Young Master!"

"I’ll go see her," Ling Xiao said.

Arriving at Ye Zi’s quarters, Ling Xiao knocked gently on the door. Ye Wen Ni’s soft voice came from inside the room. "Who is it?"

"It’s me," Ling Xiao replied.

"Oh, Ling Xiao... You’re back!"

Ling Xiao then heard the sound of a frantic scramble from within, followed by the pitter-patter of footsteps. The door swung open to reveal Ye Zi, her face slightly flushed. She gazed at him with deep affection for a moment before flinging herself into his arms, saying nothing, simply holding him in silence.

At the entrance to Ye Zi’s courtyard, Feng Ling had just poked her head out. Seeing the scene, she quickly ducked back inside, clutching her chest. ’He’s actually back! Thankfully, he didn’t see me!’

Ye Zi held him for a moment before tilting her head up. She gave Ling Xiao a playful smile and said, "Somehow, it feels like your power has grown again."

"Yours has too," Ling Xiao replied.

Ye Wen Ni lifted her chin proudly, a smug look on her face, but it quickly turned to frustration. "It’s a shame I still haven’t broken through to the realm of Mad Sword Master. Ling Xiao, tell me... am I just really slow?"

Ling Xiao chuckled, stroking Ye Zi’s flawless, delicate cheek. Unable to resist, he gave it a gentle pinch and said, "Of course not. You’re still so young."

Ye Zi’s brow furrowed slightly. "But your power is so far beyond mine! And I’m even older than you! Ling Xiao, I don’t want to be unable to keep up with you. I don’t want to hold you back." Her voice was softer than he had ever heard it. In that moment, the true, vulnerable side of the little thief was laid bare before him.

"Don’t worry," Ling Xiao said with a smile.

"In this whole world, no one else is allowed to bully you."

"You aren’t either!" Ye Zi narrowed her eyes. "And you, it seems, are getting more and more wicked!"

Ling Xiao gently wrapped an arm around Ye Zi’s waist, resisting the urge to tell her about the High Priest. "That’s because I like you more and more," he said.

Ye Wen Ni’s face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head, unable to meet Ling Xiao’s gaze. Her heart pounded in her chest as an immense wave of happiness washed over her. In that moment, Ye Zi felt she was the happiest person in the world.

’It feels so good... to have someone care about you,’ Ye Zi thought to herself.

...

That night, at a dinner party in the Viscount’s Mansion, Mo Qing and Ling Wu, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, were ecstatic. Even the perpetually serious Meng Li broke into a smile when he saw Ling Xiao. Huangpu Yue’s beautiful eyes swept back and forth between Ling Xiao and Ye Wen Ni, an ambiguous smile on her lips. A woman’s intuition is always sharp; she sensed that the relationship between the two had progressed even further.

Feng Ling sat beside Huangpu Yue. Truth be told, she now found herself somewhat envious of Ye Zi, feeling that she was a truly fortunate girl. She had witnessed Ling Xiao’s excellence and power many times now. Her initial arrogance—that of someone from a hidden clan who looked down on everyone in the Mortal World—had long since vanished into thin air.

During her long stay in Penzes City, Feng Ling had encountered far too many things she had never seen, or even imagined, before. It was a sudden, jarring realization: she had been the frog at the bottom of the well all along, her perspective pitifully shallow.

So, even though she was now free to leave the Viscount’s Mansion, Feng Ling had settled in comfortably. She developed a thirst for knowledge, eagerly learning from everyone she could, while also helping Ye Zi and the others deal with various issues.

Now, Feng Ling’s old arrogance had transformed into genuine self-confidence. She was sure that even if her personal strength never improved, she could still return to her sect and completely change it for the better.

’There was more to the world than just strength!’

Tiger wasn’t present at the dinner. A Beastman’s appetite was too astonishing, so Uncle Fu had already made separate arrangements for him. Tiger was also glad to avoid having to interact with humans so quickly. For him, the most important task at this stage was still learning. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

After the meal, Mo Qing, Ling Wu, and Meng Li sat down with Ling Xiao, Ye Zi, and Uncle Fu. Tiger had also been summoned to join them.

Ling Xiao did not hide the fact that Tiger was a Beastman. He recounted his journey to the group, omitting only the High Priest’s true identity. The people here were his trusted inner circle; there was no need for secrets among them.