"Are you telling me the duelist tomorrow is another Demon Slayer?" Cage propped his legs casually on the table, looking at the timid Ninth Uncle Keller. "What's his name? What's his background? How old is he? When did he become a Demon Slayer?" "His name is Qian Jin, no real background, not yet nineteen summers old. He became a Demon Slayer—"

"Qian Jin?" Cage, who had been leaning back, shot up instantly, bracing both hands on the table, leaning in so close it nearly overshadowed Keller, and asked darkly, "Is he that student from the Auckland Magic and Warrior Academy? The one who's been missing for two years?"

Keller nodded instinctively, wondering why this Qian Jin had never mentioned it to him, and why his attitude had become so strange the moment the name was spoken.

"Good, very good! This is excellent! I didn't expect it to be him~ Qian Jin... Qian Jin!" Cage grinned menacingly, slamming his fist heavily onto the tabletop. The oil lamp on the table jumped high into the air, leaving a fist-shaped crater in the solid wood. Keller sensed something was wrong and quietly asked, "You know him?"

"Know him? I know him very well." Cage immediately sat back in his chair, leaning slightly backward as he spoke. "I saw him once at the school today. I was already planning to wait until I got back to the academy to see him, and then cripple him directly. He dared to push me? Good. Tomorrow, under the guise of a duel, I will kill him."

"Cage, ah—" Keller spoke softly, "Let me tell you something, and please don't get angry. Gran went out specifically to find that Qian Jin. He said he wants to drain Qian Jin's battle qi before your duel, and then heavily injure him, so you can win cleanly and decisively."

"Trivial," Cage raised an eyebrow, then waved his hand dismissively. "It doesn't matter. The outcome of the duel won't change regardless. He finally found a Demon Slayer weaker than himself; let him play around a bit. But remember to tell him not to provoke Fabredis or the City Lord in the future. If he's looking to die, he shouldn't drag our Kai family down with him."

"Of course, Young Master Cage. Consider tomorrow's duel a good warm-up for the upcoming selections. As for that magic academy student, I will ensure she disappears during the mages' bout."

Behind the house, Keller watched as the forty-two-year-old Mage Grinpann, clad in black arcane robes and holding his staff inlaid with an egg-sized red gem, slowly entered the room.

The arrogance on Cage's face slightly receded. His posture of leaning back against the chair became much more formal. His eyes fixed on the slowly seating Mage Grinpann, and he nodded lightly, "Mister Grinpann, finished your meditation so quickly today?"

"Indeed." Grinpann habitually stroked the glittering ruby on his staff. "It feels a bit awkward taking the Kai family's salary every day for nothing. Thinking about having a duel opportunity tomorrow makes me genuinely excited."

"Mister Grinpann, residing with our Kai family means you are never taking a salary for nothing," Keller quickly plastered a smile on his face. He dared not show the slightest disrespect to Grinpann, who was backed by the Mage Guild and possessed a rather unpleasant temper. His eyes were fixed on the mage's bloated nose, careful not to look directly at it. "We truly apologize for troubling Mister Grinpann with tomorrow's matters."

"It’s nothing, haha..." Grinpann rubbed his beloved staff. "Once I finish this matter for you all, I plan to return to the Magic Guild in Eternal Province for two years of quiet contemplation."

"Two years?" Keller started, hurriedly asking, "Why would Mister Grinpann need to be away for so long? Are you dissatisfied with the salary the Kai family pays? We can discuss that... As you know, in present-day Auckland, if we lose your support..."

"It's not about the salary," Grinpann smiled, clearly enjoying Keller's deferential attitude, and waved his hand gently. "When I leave, I will find my apprentice to temporarily take my place helping the Kai family. As for why I am leaving..."

Grinpann tilted his head slightly, the excitement flickering across his face subtly mixed with an inexpressible pride. "Because I have a feeling my spiritual power is nearing its peak. Spending two years in quiet contemplation at the Magic Guild should allow me to condense that power and ascend to Archmage!"

The teacup Keller held trembled violently, and he stared at Grinpann’s proud expression. The value of an Archmage was almost as different from that of a mere mage as heaven is from earth. "Congratulations."

Cage smiled faintly and nodded his head slightly. An Archmage was indeed extremely precious, but as a warrior with an awakened bloodline, he would absolutely never look up to an Archmage! Basic respect was sufficient. After all, on the future Human-Demon battlefield, securing the support of an Archmage would be far more valuable than that of a mere mage.

Grinpann was quite pleased with the shock Keller displayed. He gently turned his staff, inlaid with the red gem he had named [Sunrise]. "With my current strength combined with the Sunrise staff, I can almost achieve instant casting for some spells. Tomorrow's duel will be more spectacular than you can imagine."

"Yes, yes, I eagerly await tomorrow's arrival as well." Keller’s ingratiating smile widened, while his mind secretly calculated the time Gran had been gone. He should be arriving at the Luo family's wake by now, shouldn't he? I wonder how many mouthfuls of blood Gran will make Qian Jin spit out before he’s satisfied? Hopefully, he won't get too excited and actually kill Qian Jin.

Night fell. A slow-moving dark cloud obscured the half-moon in the sky. The cool breeze sweeping across the deserted streets of the wake hall felt even colder.

Gran walked down the quiet streets of the wake hall, carrying his greatsword. He slightly drew his neck in against the breeze blowing from behind him, frowning as he looked around the environment. He instinctively disliked the atmosphere—it felt bizarre for reasons he couldn't pinpoint.

"The Luo residence is just ahead." Gran quickened his pace by two steps, his greatsword in hand. He raised a hand, lightly leaped, and hooked his fingers onto the solid top of the courtyard wall, pulling himself up. His toe braced against the wall for leverage, and he flipped over, squatting atop the Luo courtyard wall. His eyes peered into the courtyard, and he paused slightly. "What is this...?"

Qian Jin stood motionless in the center of the courtyard, holding his Zhanmadao, silent as a stone sculpture. There wasn't even the faint sign of life detectable from him.

As Gran swept his gaze across, the first thing his eyes registered was a rock. Focusing intently, he finally recognized that it was Qian Jin himself, looking as if he were standing there asleep.

Luo Lin’s corpse still lay in state in the wake hall. A few strips of white silk swayed gently in the wind. Not a single living soul was visible anywhere else. "Qian Jin is keeping vigil tonight?" Gran chuckled, pulling the black cloth tied around his neck up to cover everything below his eyes. "This is too perfect. I might be able to play for a while longer..."

"Since you have come..." Qian Jin’s statue-like body suddenly spoke, the voice echoing eerily through the wake hall. "You might as well climb down from the wall. You are, after all, a Demon Slayer."

Gran turned his head left and right, searching for anyone else on the wall. A vague unease mixed with curiosity settled in his heart. Did this kid really spot me? Or is he just bluffing, guessing someone might come?

"Aren't you coming down yet?" Qian Jin spoke, his eyes closed as he focused his mind and stilled his spirit. "Mr. Gran, you arrived bearing killing intent. You didn't come here to pay respects to Fatty, did you?"

Gran was slightly startled. He looked curiously at Qian Jin, then flipped down to the ground, ripping the black cloth away from his face. "Kid, where did you learn Warrior Reconnaissance techniques? If you teach me that skill tonight, I won't fight. I'll let you save your battle qi to face Cage tomorrow."

"You are a core member of the Kai family in Auckland, aren't you?" Qian Jin ignored the question and continued, "You should know very well how Luo Lin died. Tell me about it, and I can forgive you for disturbing Fatty's rest late at night, sparing your life."

"What did you say?" Gran reacted as if he had heard the funniest joke imaginable. A menacing grin spread across his face as he repeatedly squeezed his fists, his ten fingers cracking loudly. "Spare my life? Since you won't hand it over willingly, I'll just beat you up and teach you what pain means."

"Pain? Can you?" Qian Jin remained still, his eyes closed. "I rarely give my enemies chances. You can reconsider... tell me about the cause of Luo Lin's death..."

Gran let out a low roar, his shoulders rotating with audible cracks. He unleashed his full battle qi, filling his body, and lunged at Qian Jin before the young man could finish speaking.

He didn't take Qian Jin seriously. How powerful could a warrior not yet nineteen years old be, even if he was a Demon Slayer? Unless he was a warrior with an awakened bloodline.

He took three consecutive strides, kicking up dust from the ground with the recoil force, sending it flying up to his ankles. He rushed forward as if riding on clouds, his thick arms swinging up from below, aiming like a siege engine straight for Qian Jin's abdomen.

His physique was sturdy; the continuous impact of his feet against the ground sounded like thud-thud-thud, like beating a heavy quilt with a wooden stick, clearly indicating astonishing explosive power in his legs.

"Good speed, good angle of attack. You certainly possess the strength of a Demon Slayer. Much stronger than those Green-Skinned Three-Armed Apes."

Qian Jin closed his eyes, sensing Gran’s movements. This strike was immensely powerful, like a chariot charging or a warhorse galloping. The momentum of the charge erupted forth, and the strong wind rushed head-on, seemingly intent on choking off a person's breath. The scent of blood mixed within it clearly indicated that this man had... killed before!

Gran reached Qian Jin in the blink of an eye, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes. Is this kid crazy, or what? He isn't even trying to dodge? Could he be paralyzed by fear and forgotten how to move? Doesn't matter! I’ll punch him once and make him vomit his dinner!

In that split second, Gran twisted his waist and shoulders, throwing his punch with immense force directly into Qian Jin's abdomen. Hearing the dull thump of impact and feeling the solid connection of his fist meeting flesh, joy instantly flooded his heart: Success!

What is this? Gran's joy immediately turned into astonishment. His full-power strike hadn't sent the young man flying, nor had it made him double over vomiting from pain. There was no expression of agony twisting his face; his entire body hadn't changed at all. It was as if his heavy blow had only lightly brushed against his abdomen, perhaps not even with the force of a light touch!