"Finished watching, eh?" Gan Jing gently swayed the wine bottle in his hand, looking at Kaile. "So, Principal, how about returning my Guardian credentials to me?"

Kaile glanced at the credentials in his hand, then at the line of life and death drawn just beyond where Gan Jing stood. "Cross it, and you must offer respects; failing to do so is an act of provocation. That was Sarathi's fate just now."

Kaile frowned deeply, hesitant for a moment. He passed the credentials to a Seventh-Rank warrior standing behind him. "Deliver this to him."

The Seventh-Rank warrior felt as if he were holding a burning coal. He glanced sideways at his comrades, noticing they had all instinctively shifted their bodies away, adopting evasive postures.

What a joke! That was the line of life and death! Cross it without making offerings...

The Seventh-Rank warrior, with a face like he’d attended his own father's funeral, walked step by heavy step toward Luolin's coffin. He handed the credentials to Gan Jing, then continued walking into the mourning hall. He kowtowed nine times in total, then quickly rose and scurried back to his formation, his heart hammering violently. He shrank backward again, terrified that Kaile might assign him something else to deliver into that dangerous space.

"Good—very good!" Kaile gritted his teeth, glaring fiercely at Gan Jing. "You are the Guardian of the Luo family. What you did regarding Kesarath indeed did not violate the laws of the Zhence Dynasty. However, your actions deeply wounded the honor of my Kai family. This matter absolutely cannot be dropped just like that! Furthermore…"

Kaile’s eyes swept over Gan Jing, landing on Luo Qingqing, who stood just behind him holding a child. A smug, triumphant grin stretched across his fleshy face. "I have another matter: I have come to collect Qingqing."

Gan Jing’s eyebrows twitched. His eyes flickered toward the line of life and death, and the warriors behind Kaile, who had been itching for a fight, immediately deflated, daring not cross the line to seize anyone.

The Zhanmadao, its edge flowing like autumn water, rested silently beside Gan Jing. That single, domineering, decisive strike was enough to give several people nightmares for quite some time.

The tallest man behind Kaile lifted his leg, just about to step forward, when Kaile’s thick arm blocked him horizontally. Shaking his head slightly with an air of confidence, Kaile said gently, "Mr. Glen, you needn't bother. We have evidence for this matter; the City Lord will naturally rule in our favor. Even a Guardian will only be able to stand by helplessly."

Gan Jing stared fixedly at the wine bottle turning in his hand, not sparing Kaile a glance. He decided to let the fat man make his scene today, and use the opportunity to gauge exactly how much power the Kai family had brought, and whether he could collect some initial interest for Luomei's revenge. Gao Lou Da Sha Ba Wen Zi Su Di (High-Rise City Word Express)

"The Guardian of the Luo Family," Kaile smoothed the lapel of his robe, affecting a gentlemanly pose, a false smile plastered on his face. "After Mr. Luolin returned to the Stars, his wife, Ms. Zhulis…"

Kaile looked around the mourning hall, searching for the woman who always gave him the urge to pin her down on a bed. He found that this woman wasn't even present to perform the superficial duty of mourning Luolin—truly clueless! If he ever got the chance, he vowed to drag her into bed and do her hard! Kill her! F** her, f*** your little brother!*

"Ahem…" Kaile coughed dryly, tilting his head up slightly. "Ms. Luolin, or rather, the mother of Luo Jin, the next head of the family—it is felt that a family this large cannot temporarily be managed by just her and Luo Qingqing."

Luo Jin? For the first time, Gan Jing lifted his gaze from the wine bottle, turning to look at the child in Luo Qingqing’s arms. A sad, faint smile touched his lips. This Luo fatty was truly something else… Gan Jing? Luolin? Luo Jin?

"Therefore! Hmph!" Kaile’s excitement built. "Ms. Zhulis felt that since she and Luo Qingqing are both women and neither knows business, she secretly approached me once, hoping to marry Luo Qingqing off to one of my nephews, Kaichi. This way, our Kai family could temporarily help manage the Luo family’s business. Once Luo Jin grows up, the Luo family's assets could be fully returned to him."

Gan Jing used his index finger to tickle Luo Jin in Luo Qingqing's arms. The plump little fellow clutched Gan Jing, making cooing noises and giggling nonstop, bringing a rare spark of life into the solemn hall.

Kaile frowned deeply at Gan Jing’s lack of focus. He adjusted his mood and continued with his prepared speech. Once City Lord Sabonis stepped in and cited the Zhence Dynasty’s laws, no Guardian would matter! At that point, Gan Jing would be nothing more than a dog subservient to the Kai family—just a dog.

The thought of Gan Jing reduced to his own dog made the frown lines on Kaile’s brow smooth out, revealing a faintly lustful smile. "Regarding the suggestion made by Ms. Zhulis, I gave it consideration. Given the Kai and Luo families have always maintained friendly business ties, and my nephew Kaichi is a decent warrior who is of age to marry—he is quite a match for Luo Qingqing—I accepted on his behalf."

"You accepted?" Gan Jing slightly lifted his chin, giving Kaile a listless glance. "Then she should marry Kaichi."

"You…" Kaile’s face flushed crimson. He had never expected that after listening for so long, Gan Jing would simply throw out such a response.

"You…" Kaile took a few ragged breaths, then revealed a sinister grin. "This decision is not yours to make."

"I have never heard of this matter," Gan Jing glanced sideways at the line of life and death. The foot Kaile had nervously lifted in agitation was quickly pulled back.

"Never heard of it?" Kaile laughed dismissively. "We just need to call Ms. Zhulis out here to ask her."

Gan Jing didn't even bother to lift his head, continuing to playfully engage with Luo Jin as he said calmly, "Ms. Zhulis has returned to the embrace of the Stars, gone to join Luolin."

Kaile was so shocked he nearly jumped up, staring blankly at Gan Jing. "What? How is that possible?"

Gan Jing pointed toward Luolin’s coffin. "She is inside, keeping Luolin company."

The Seventh-Rank warrior who had been hiding was dragged out again by Kaile. He once again cautiously approached the coffin, glanced inside, and kowtowed another nine times to Luolin. He cursed inwardly: I haven't bowed this many times to my own father in my whole life, and today I’ve done this for this fatty! He’s more of a father than my father!

"Indeed…" The Seventh-Rank warrior whispered into Kaile’s ear, afraid Gan Jing might hear. "She really is dead…"

"Really… dead…" Kaile’s eyes widened, as if talking to himself, yet also questioning Gan Jing. "She was alive and well not long ago! How could she be dead?"

"Indeed, Guardian Gan Jing."

"Sabonis," his magnetic, cultured baritone voice slowly questioned, "it sounds now as if Ms. Zhulis's death is rather abnormal. If that is the case, it violates the tenets of the Zhence Dynasty…"

"She suddenly complained of a sore throat, and then she died. So cold…"

Everyone accompanying Kaile exchanged glances. That cause of death sounded disturbingly familiar? Ah! Luolin! Luolin’s cause of death was suddenly complaining of chest pain, and then he died!

Kaile looked at Gan Jing with a forced, strained smile. Previously, only Gan Jing, Luo Qingqing, and Zhulis were present. Even if this was clearly a murder, with Luo Qingqing willing to testify for Gan Jing, finding concrete evidence would be extremely difficult. Gao Lou Da Sha Ba Wen Zi Su Di (High-Rise City Word Express)

Capture Luo Qingqing and take her back? Kaile looked toward Sabonis, questioning him with his eyes, only to find that City Guardian Fabredis was also looking toward Sabonis.

The expression in Fabredis’s eyes was utterly placid, yet Kaile’s heart sank. City Guardians usually refrained from voicing opinions on such matters. His actions spoke volumes. If he had also looked as if he were requesting permission to arrest someone, everything would have been fine. But his eyes held no emotion whatsoever, which already signaled his stance.

Sabonis sensed Fabredis's calm gaze and let out a soft sigh internally. This fellow had been quite agreeable these past few years, but anyone who thought the thunderbolt Fabredis was a pushover would run into serious trouble. He never interfered in Oakland, yet today he chose to make a statement.

Sabonis shot Kaile an apologetic look. There was genuinely no way to help him drag Luo Qingqing away for torture and interrogation. Fabredis had maintained silence in Oakland for years; if he made his first statement today and was then disregarded, not only would Sabonis have a headache, but the Kai family would soon be forced to pack up and leave Oakland entirely.

Of course, that would still be considered good luck for the Kai family—leaving fast enough. If they were any slower, there would be nothing left to leave behind, nothing left to pack up.

Kaile let out a sigh, hating Fabredis deeply in his heart.

"Hmph!"

A heavy, cold snort erupted from behind Kaile, making several warriors’ hearts tremble slightly. A chilling aura began to slowly spread outward from behind Kaile.

Gan Jing twitched the corner of his eye. He saw that the warrior who snorted stood tall behind Kaile, a thick, black, bushy beard covering most of his face. Majestic metal armor encased his body, his hand resting on the greatsword at his waist. His brown pupils gleamed with hostility as he repeatedly sized up Fabredis, clearly showing dissatisfaction, perhaps even defiance, toward the City Guardian.

Kaile patted the broad-shouldered man’s shoulder and whispered, "Mr. Glen, please do not be anxious."

Glen fiercely shook the hand gripping his sword hilt. The greatsword clanged sharply against the armor, carrying faint hints of battlefield slaughter. He looked contemptuously at Fabredis: We are both Demon-Slaying Warriors, what am I afraid of you for? Stop posturing in front of me! If you push me, I’ll chop you down and take your place as City Guardian!

Kaile’s smile directed at Gan Jing became stiff. "It seems Ms. Zhulis missed Mr. Luolin too much, which is why she followed him back to the embrace of the Stars. Fortunately, when Ms. Zhulis proposed the marriage for Luo Qingqing, there was another person present—City Lord Sabonis."

Kaile angled his body slightly to the side, extending his arm in an introducer’s gesture, and said smugly, "Surely, with a person of the City Lord’s reputation as a witness, this cannot be false, can it?"