As Tang Yin stood at the center of the arena, he immediately drew everyone's attention. This was a place meant for maniacs and depraved soul masters, so seeing a refined gentleman here was almost absurd.
Without hesitation, Tang Yin unleashed his Spirit Body. Arcane runes spread across his skin like living tattoos. The moment he did, the other nine participants locked onto him in perfect coordination. Clearly, they had chosen him as their first target.
Tang Yin sneered inwardly. So that's how you want to play it? Fine. Ruthlessness it is.
Each opponent wielded a tool spirit—swords, daggers, and various lethal weapons. But he didn't flinch. Conventional attacks couldn't pierce his body. Still, that didn't mean he'd let them land a hit. He was here to sharpen his technique, not to act like an immovable wall.
Three of the dagger-wielders moved swiftly, flanking him from three sides and boxing in his escape. Cruel smiles stretched across their faces as they lunged in for the kill.
But their blades struck nothing but air.
Tang Yin vanished, leaving behind only a fading afterimage. In the same instant, he reappeared beside one attacker, catching their dagger with his bare hand. With a savage pull, he dragged the man toward him—and with a single explosive punch, crushed his skull.
One down. Eight more to go.
Among the crowd, a woman with pink-tinted eyeshadow and plump lips sat with her legs elegantly crossed. Her alluring eyes lingered on Tang Yin as a frown crept onto her face—she felt a strange sense of familiarity radiating from him.
Back in the arena—
Tang Yin didn't pause for even a second. He activated Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, his figure flickering like a phantom.
In an instant, he appeared between the two remaining attackers and extended both arms.
His hands clamped around their throats—crack!—the chilling sound of their crushed windpipes echoed through the air. He had just snapped their necks with sheer grip strength.
The remaining six grew visibly tense. They hadn't even seen how he had taken down three opponents in under five seconds. Panic set in. They quickly regrouped, recognizing him as the greatest threat on the arena.
But Tang Yin? He just smiled casually, strolling toward them with the air of someone enjoying a walk in the park. The relaxed curve of his lips carried the coldness of a predator toying with his prey. To the six attackers, that smile might as well have been the face of death itself.
Consumed by dread, they lunged at him all at once trying to overwhelm him with numbers.
Tang Yin's body moved like wind—evasive, fluid, untouchable. He sidestepped incoming attacks and countered by shattering their Spirit Weapons with his bare hands.
The moment their soul-forged tools broke, a wave of intense backlash struck their spirits, rupturing their soul foundations.
Four of them screamed in agony, writhing on the floor. Two collapsed and died on the spot—unable to withstand the pain.
But Tang Yin showed no sympathy. He moved through them like a reaper, dismantling the rest of their techniques and lives without a flicker of hesitation. Their lives held no value to him.
"Aaah!!!"
The audience erupted. Some roared in cheer, intoxicated by the brutality. Others shrank back in fear, realizing they might have to face him in the next round. Some secretly targeted him.
In the stands, Hu Liena sat upright, her golden eyes scrutinizing the arena. When Tang Yin casually waved in her direction with that all-too-familiar, charming smile—
Her breath caught.
"T—Tang Yin?! It really is you—AAH!" she squealed, leaping up the stands in excitement.
She hadn't expected to meet him here of all places. And to make it worse—or better—he looked even more handsome than before.
After all, this girl was a total face-control.
After the match, Tang Yin casually strolled up to her, a knowing smile tugging at his lips.
"Hu Liena. Fancy seeing you here, Seems like you're really motivated to getting stronger."
Hu Liena's eyes lit up like stars as she hurried over, her fingers nervously fidgeting. She paused, then stole a shy glance at him.
"What happened to you this past year, Tang Yin? You… you've changed so much."
Her golden gaze flickered to his striking light blue eyes before she quickly looked away, cheeks warming with a pink hue.
Tang Yin noticed and smirked inwardly.
"Oh? Not a fan of how I look now?" he teased, tilting his head slightly. "Maybe it's just growth spurt. What—don't tell me you've stopped liking me due to my changes."
Her eyes widened. "No—! You look really handsome. I mean… you were already good-looking before, but now it's just… ugh," she mumbled, flustered. "And I still like you. I don't think I could stop, even if I tried."
Tang Yin looked at her for a few seconds, his gaze steady and unreadable. The sincerity in her voice had caught him off guard. Hu Leina's face turned scarlet under his intense stare, but he didn't respond to her confession right away.
Their bond hadn't run that deep yet—not enough for him to give an answer he wasn't sure about—Instead, he offered a light smile.
The two watched rest of the match together, trading quiet conversation and light teasing remarks. Eventually, they stood to leave, and just as they were about to part ways, Hu Liena hesitated before tugging at his sleeve.
"Hey, Tang Yin," she said softly. "Do you want to live nearby? It's hard to rest properly in this city… I could keep watch while you sleep, and you could do the same for me."
Tang Yin paused, considering her words. She had a point—rest was a luxury in this city. After a brief moment of thought, he nodded.
"Alright. Lead the way."
Hu Liena's eyes lit up as she punched the air in celebration, barely able to contain herself. She quickly tried to compose her expression, but a slight tremble betrayed her excitement.
Living together… who knows for how long? The thought made her heart race.
Tang Yin chuckled softly at her antics as they walked side by side toward the place where she was temporarily staying in the city.
The place was cleaner than most of what he'd seen in this filth-ridden hellhole—but it was still far from sanitary. Then again, who had the gal to complain to the Asura God?
Probably a Karen, he thought dryly.
When Tang Yin stepped inside, he took in the small space. It was cramped but surprisingly clean and tidy. The bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom shared a single open area—no walls or partitions, just bare minimum.
What caught his attention wasn't the layout.
On Hu Liena's messy bed, half-covered by a thin blanket, lay a roughly stitched doll—one that uncannily resembled him. Not his current self, but how he looked before his awakening.
"Oh, look what we have here," Tang Yin drawled, stretching his voice to catch her attention as he casually grabbed the doll.
Hu Liena panicked, scrambling to snatch it away, but he was quicker. His teasing smile deepened as he met her evasive eyes.
"Aren't you a little too grown-up to have a doll as a sleeping companion? What—scared of the dark?" He played dumb, lightening the mood, then handed the doll back to her.
Hu Liena immediately stuffed it into her storage ring, puffing out her cheeks proudly. "Who's scared? I just felt lonely in this city all alone, so I made a companion."
She lied. She had crafted that doll exactly one year ago, after the tournament—as her "hubby."
Just like that, the two of them settled into the small, all-in-one room—just the two of them. There was a quiet warmth growing between them, a subtle spark that hadn't been there before. Their relationship was already much closer than it had ever been.
To Hu Liena, it felt like a fever dream she didn't want to wake up from. Her wish had come true before she even had the courage to voice it.
As they spent more time together, casual playfulness turned into light touches—shoulders brushing when they moved around, fingers grazing during banter.
Nothing serious, nothing spoken aloud—yet the tension between them grew, slow and steady, and it was only a matter of time.
With each passing day Tang Yin found comfort in her company, while Hu Liena slipped into his orbit as though she'd always belonged there.
In a city steeped in hostility and slaughter, that small pocket of companionship forged a bond stronger than either had anticipated.
One day, after a particularly exhausting match, Hu Liena slumped down at the table, her body aching but her spirits high. She reached for the Bloody Mary—her reward for the win, a rare moment of indulgence in Slaughter City.
"Oh, by the way—don't drink that Bloody Mary anymore," Tang Yin said gravely, catching Hu Liena by the wrist before she could reach for the glass. "It's made from human blood. It's really poisonous for you."
Hu Liena blinked, startled, then slowly nodded—no questions, no resistance. Just quiet, immediate trust towards him.
"It's not so poisonous for me," he continued calmly, "so don't ask questions when you see me drinking it. It's… part of cultivating my spirit and mind. I have more resistance to—"
Before he could finish, Hu Liena pressed her palm gently over his mouth, her golden eyes locking with his.
"You don't have to explain," she whispered. "I have complete faith in you. I believe in you and will always believe in you. Wholeheartedly."
He tapped into his telepathy and confirmed she was telling the truth. Tang yin fell silent, her unwavering trust catching him completely off guard for the second time. He really hadn't expected his presence to reach so deeply into her heart. She was worthy of his trust as well.
Tang Yin felt a sharp pang of shame for not properly responding to her sincere feelings, but he comforted himself—he was saving that moment for later. After all, now he was certain she would never betray him.