Yongliu City bustled as usual, though an undercurrent of iron and blood now permeated the usual prosperity.

Inside the carriage, Qian Jin observed the surroundings of Yongliu City. The streets were noticeably more crowded than that morning, with city guards showing cautious expressions.

The entrance to the Torrent Battle Fortress, however, was a picture of tranquility, a stark contrast to the atmosphere on the city streets.

“Kid, leaving school this late today?” Mu Guwuxin strode out of the fortress with a beaming, relaxed demeanor. “Come, come, let’s have a good chat.”

Qian Jin smoothly stepped aside, gesturing for Biluo to return to her room first.

Mu Guwuxin slung an arm around Qian Jin’s shoulder as they walked back to the room, then settled heartily into a chair, spreading his legs wide. “See the situation on the street?”

Qian Jin picked up the clear tea Mu Guwuxin had prepared, rinsed a clean cup, poured himself some, and nodded, waiting for the Fortress Master to continue.

“Three more died in the Lei family today,” Mu Guwuxin grabbed another teapot and took a long, direct swig from the spout. “I checked. All three were involved in the plot to assassinate you.”

Qian Jin nodded in sudden understanding. No wonder! For a major family like the Lei’s to have three members killed by assassins in broad daylight—that was a truly serious incident in the City Lord’s eyes. If enough guards weren’t dispatched to search, it wouldn't just be hard to answer to the Lei family; it would also be difficult to explain to the True Strategy Dynasty.

“This evening, the Lei family head will attend a banquet at the City Lord’s residence,” Mu Guwuxin placed the teapot down. “It might result in a few more deaths for the Lei family. You should prepare as well. Take Qingqing and the others tonight; mixing with those people will be quite beneficial for Qingqing’s business endeavors.”

“Understood, see you later.”

Qian Jin rose, tossed the teacup he had used directly into the Dou Jie, and headed for the door.

“Hey, hey… Bu Zi… my teacup!” Mu Guwuxin grimaced, shouting after Qian Jin’s receding back several times before sighing helplessly and shaking his head. “Damn! I used to be the one snatching things from others, and today this little fellow snatched mine. Truly worthy of being the future successor of the Torrent Battle Fortress! I’m both very happy and sad.”

Qian Jin pushed open the door to the specially constructed building in the courtyard of the fortress. He raised his eyelids repeatedly: the room was clearly bigger than before, at least twice the size. Although the natural light was slightly dim due to the setting sun, the entire room now shone with a dazzling brightness, as if harboring a miniature sun.

Biluo, Luo Qingqing, Gu Yue Jiaying, Lucifer Liushui! Four beauties, each dressed in a stunning evening gown—any one of them capable of delivering a dazzling visual impact. When the four appeared together, lined up shoulder-to-shoulder, they truly rivaled the sun hanging high in the sky on ordinary days.

“You’re finally back.” Lucifer Liushui, holding the jacket of a men’s suit, walked towards Qian Jin with a sunny smile.

Luo Qingqing approached Qian Jin, her face flushed with peach-blossom shyness, holding the white inner shirt meant to accompany the jacket.

Gu Yue Jiaying was holding a pair of evening trousers! And Biluo held a belt!

A chill ran down Qian Jin’s spine. What was going on? As a man, he hadn't even managed to conquer a woman yet; was he about to be conquered by them instead?

“I’ll do it myself, I’ll do it myself.”

Qian Jin quickly took the clothes from everyone and scurried back into the room, his hands fumbling as he dressed while listening to the laughter of the beauties behind him.

Gu Yue Jiaying approached and pushed open the door to Qian Jin’s room. She lightly adjusted his clothes, then smoothly looped one of his arms through hers. Her high, resilient bosom gently brushed against his elbow, sending an electric jolt up Qian Jin’s arm straight to his brain.

Seeing Gu Yue Jiaying’s action, Luo Qingqing instinctively looked toward Lucifer Liushui, catching the beautiful demoness directing an equally probing gaze her way.

The moment their eyes met, a spark of hostile fire instantly ignited in the air.

The next second! Both beauties froze simultaneously and took simultaneous steps towards the other side of Qian Jin’s body.

There was still one arm left to loop through—meaning one remaining slot! The two beauties abandoned all pretense and collectively rushed towards Qian Jin’s free arm.

Qian Jin’s scalp tingled violently; he suddenly felt like he was walking through a jungle, targeted by a pack of dangerous wolves.

“First come, first served, hehe.” Lucifer Liushui, relying on her superior agility, managed to hook onto Qian Jin’s arm first, looking triumphantly at the slightly disappointed Luo Qingqing. “Sister Qingqing, you need to try harder next time.”

Luo Qingqing lowered her head, a look of intense concentration on her face, then suddenly looked up at Qian Jin. “Brother Jin, may I have the second dance with you at the ball?”

Lucifer Liushui’s triumphant expression instantly froze. Her beautiful single eye stared blankly at Luo Qingqing, unable to believe that this beauty, usually so timid around Qian Jin, possessed such courage today! She had been outmaneuvered before she knew it.

“Oh, alright.” Qian Jin realized that dealing with four women was far more troublesome than facing Qian Zhanxuan.

“Little Yu sister,” Luo Qingqing said with a faint smile. “Next time, don’t just look ahead and forget to look behind you. As your elder sister, I’ve taught you something new today.”

Qingqing sister… Little Yu sister…

A faint smile touched Gu Yue Jiaying’s otherwise placid, beautiful features. It was a good thing that Qingqing had grown faster due to Lucifer Liushui’s presence.

“Damn it! Qian Jin, you brat…” Mu Guwuxin’s eyes widened almost twice their normal size when he saw Qian Jin emerge from the main hall. The surrounding guards were equally stunned.

Four super beautiful women in evening gowns were overwhelmingly lethal! Many guards present had survived battles on the human-demon front lines, having faced life and death countless times, but they had never witnessed such destructive power.

“Great stars above…” Mu Guwuxin suddenly threw his head back, drawing out a long, deeply emotional cry. “Our Torrent Battle Fortress finally has women!”

Qian Jin paused, blinked, and subconsciously looked around. The Torrent Battle Fortress truly lacked women…

The surrounding guards all nodded in agreement, their faces showing clear affirmation. They surrounded Mu Guwuxin and Qian Jin and escorted them out of the fortress, boarding the carriage towards the City Lord’s Mansion.

Under the setting sun’s afterglow, the streets on both sides of the City Lord’s Mansion entrance were lined with elaborately decorated carriages, signaling that the attendees of tonight’s banquet were all persons of significant status and standing.

“The Lei Family Head, Lei Zhen, arrives…”

Outside the City Lord’s Mansion, before the convoy of magnificent carriages had even fully stopped, members of the mansion standing at the main gate had already clearly identified the crest on the lead carriage and shouted out the announcement.

Warriors and mages from the convoy dismounted their steeds and stepped down from the carriages, forming a protective cordon around the most luxurious carriage, vigilantly scanning every movement around them. Battle Aura faintly radiated from their bodies, and the mages’ spiritual power remained at its peak, ready to instantly activate their portable magic scrolls or swiftly form a magic array to unleash large-scale spells.

Lei Zhen lifted the curtain of the carriage door, instinctively raising his hand to brush his snow-white hair. His pair of aged, poisonous eyes swept over the surroundings. Upon spotting the Torrent Battle Fortress carriage, a venomous glint flashed in his pupils.

Yongliu City was small; the forces capable of making a move against the Lei family could be counted on one hand. Anyone could easily deduce that the recent assassinations of Lei family members were the work of the Torrent Battle Fortress, yet Lei Zhen had found no concrete evidence.

The assassins who infiltrated the Lei family either escaped successfully after the murders or committed immediate suicide upon capture, revealing no information. The Lei family had yet to find any conclusive proof.

“What are you looking at? Haven’t you seen handsome men?” Mu Guwuxin pushed open the carriage door, his enormous frame practically squeezing through the exit. His eyes and tone were filled with provocation as he stared at Lei Zhen.

Lei Zhen felt a choking sensation in his chest, as if a clump of mud had been stuffed into his mouth. His well-maintained skin instantly flushed scarlet, and his eyes fixed tightly on Mu Guwuxin. Since last night, the Lei family had lost six people! Six direct relatives of the Lei family! And all held relatively key positions within the family!

“Still staring? Your face is red! Have you fallen in love with me?” Mu Guwuxin patted the back of his own head. “Too bad, I’m not interested in you. Give up.”

The surrounding banquet guests quickly moved away from Mu Guwuxin, fearful of attracting the attention of the currently most influential and dazzling President of the Torrent Battle Fortress.

“Vice President of the Crystal Magic Tower, Great Mage Xiu Sidake, has arrived…”

Xiu Sidake, clad in flame-patterned mage robes and holding a magic staff worth over a million gold coins, strode forward with a humble, gentlemanly smile, frequently nodding to the surrounding guests. He became the focal point of the gathering, surrounded by an entourage effect.

“Oh?”

Xiu Sidake’s gaze swept past Qian Jin, and he instantly froze. The humble, gentlemanly smile on his face betrayed extreme shock. His Adam's apple involuntarily convulsed as he swallowed repeatedly. His eyes rapidly scanned the four women beside Gu Yue Jiaying before finally landing on Qian Jin, his pupils filled with deep jealousy.

Xiu Sidake’s breathing quickened. The last time he saw this kid named Qian Jin, he was only accompanied by two women. How was it that after just a few days, the number of women beside him had become four? It was truly infuriating! That girl Gu Yue Jiaying was the damned daughter of Fabredis and untouchable, but the other three women…

They must be his! Xiu Sidake struggled to control his breathing, his gaze lingering intensely on the other three beauties. He silently resolved that he must possess these three women by any means necessary. Qian Jin, such a coarse warrior, how could he be worthy of such beauties? And four of them at once! Who did he think he was? A prince of the True Strategy Dynasty, or the Emperor himself?