Chapter 103: Call your emperor to see me.

“Is this the place?” “Yes, it’s right here.” “I truly didn’t expect it!” Zhou Tian had not anticipated that Afura would end up in such a predicament right here. Yet, upon reflection, there was nothing particularly strange about the situation. Given Afura’s formidable strength, a direct confrontation would never have allowed her to be captured so silently. As Zhou Tian had said, Afura had been drugged. However, Zhou Tian had not foreseen that the perpetrator would be a restaurant renowned throughout the imperial capital, which made Afura’s fall all the more understandable. Who could have imagined that such a prestigious establishment would secretly engage in such underhanded dealings?

“The Huangshui Family, you say? I truly never expected such a grand restaurant to stoop to such acts.” “Hmph! Not only do they run a thriving business, but their boss is also a noble of the Yan and Huang Empire. I heard that the head of the Water Family holds the title of marquis. That was precisely why I let my guard down after hearing their reputation, only to discover they were so vile as to drug my food. Otherwise, I…” “Enough, enough, let bygones be bygones. You need not dwell on this any longer. Am I not here to help you exact revenge? Come now, darling, don’t be upset.” With that, Zhou Tian leaned in and kissed Afura’s cheek.

Had it been Afura’s old temperament, Zhou Tian’s audacity would have earned him a fist in reply. Yet her reaction now was peculiar. After the kiss, Afura did not flare up but merely flushed with a faint blush before obediently nestling against Zhou Tian’s chest.

“Let’s go inside! It’s time to pay our respects to them. Since they’ve treated my woman so generously, we should show our gratitude properly.” With those words, Zhou Tian drew Afura closer and made for the entrance of the Huangshui Restaurant.

Just as they reached the door, a waiter hurried forward to greet them…

“Welcome…” Seeing Afura’s face, the waiter froze for a moment before quickly recovering his composure. He extended a polite invitation for them to enter, then summoned his companion to take over his duties and slipped quietly into the restaurant’s back courtyard.

“Boss! Boss, bad news…”

While two beautiful waitresses served the plump boss, he frowned at the urgent cry and glanced at the runner. “What’s the matter? What bad news?”

“Just a moment ago… a girl we sent to the auction house today came here with a man.”

“What?” The boss jolted to his feet at the words. He studied the waiter intently. “Are you certain you weren’t mistaken?”

“You know my eyes and memory. Anyone who passes my gaze, no matter how much time passes, I will always recognize. That girl was stunning, and I saw her just days ago. How could I possibly forget her face?”

“This is terrible.” After hearing the confirmation, the boss broke into a cold sweat. “I should have known. A woman of such beauty would never remain a virgin without powerful backing. I truly was blind to strike against her. Now this could be a disaster of the highest order.”

He paced three or four circles before suddenly turning to the waiter. “Quickly, write a letter for me. Hurry to the Water Residence in the eastern part of the city. I need the clan leader to resolve this immediately. Otherwise, the Huangshui Family of our Yan and Huang Empire may truly be finished by nightfall.” With that, a servant fetched ink and paper, and the boss began scrawling furiously.

Before long, the urgent missive was handed to a subordinate waiter, who was given a few final instructions before being sent on his way.

Meanwhile, as the Huangshui Family’s staff spun in frantic panic upon the arrival of Zhou Tian and Afura, the pair observed every movement from a hidden corner, unseen and unheeded.

“Why won’t you let me go out and finish those scoundrels? They ambushed me. They nearly turned me into their plaything. If you won’t let me avenge myself now, is it because you’ve already profited from their mistake and intend to spare them?” Because Zhou Tian had blocked her, Afura could not strike the fat man or the waiter. After cursing him softly, she struck his waist with her Nine Yin White Bone Claws, hard enough to draw a hiss from him.

“Shh… so you’ve learned that trick on your own,” Zhou Tian muttered, rubbing the spot. “I would never thank them, of course. I restrained you only to avoid alerting the place. I doubt you merely wanted to kill these two fools. Anyone who dares touch you must have done far worse before. To deal with them properly, we should escalate the matter. Let the Huangshui Family close its doors and make the marquis behind them regret every breath.”

“Truly?”

“Absolutely. I’d never lie to you, darling.” To prevent further punishment, Zhou Tian pulled her into his arms and showered her with sweet words. Most women had no immunity to such flattery, however insincere it might be; when spoken by their man, those words were believed without question.

Though Afura had once been a lesbian, after her relationship with Zhou Tian she became strangely docile. Under his coaxing, resistance vanished. A few moments of sweetness was all it took for her to abandon her revenge plans and nuzzle contentedly into his embrace.

While Zhou Tian and Afura lingered in tender whispers, a message arrived from the Water Family. The marquis of the Yan and Huang Empire wasted no time.

Forced to act, the Water Family realized they could not afford delay. First, the Huangshui Restaurant was their primary source of income. Second, as one of the auction house’s hidden owners, the clan leader knew far more about the bloodshed in the western black market than anyone else. With Zhou Tian and Afura suddenly appearing, there was no need to investigate further; the clan leader already understood who had carried out the massacre.

Whether or not Zhou Tian intended to avenge Afura, the presence of such a dangerous figure inside their establishment left the Water Family no choice but to panic.

Rushing into the imperial palace, the marquis emerged moments later with a sword saint at his side.

“Shouldn’t they be here by now?”

“What do you mean, ‘shouldn’t they be here’?” Afura turned to Zhou Tian, curious. “What are you talking about?”

Before Zhou Tian could answer, Afura asked again. He merely gave her a mysterious smile and shifted his gaze toward the restaurant’s entrance.

As if summoned by some unseen force, the sword saint who had arrived with the marquis seemed to sense their hiding place. After dismissing the marquis, he descended from above and shouted down at them, “Bold criminals! Having committed the western city massacre, you still dare linger in our imperial capital. Surrender at once!”

“This is between me and the Water Family. I advise your imperial family to stay out of it. If you interfere and the matter grows larger, it will harm both sides.”

Hearing Zhou Tian’s warning, the sword saint frowned. He had not expected such a calm refusal. After a brief hesitation, he drew his sword. “Since you refuse to surrender, I will take you myself.”

Afura tensed and stepped forward to shield Zhou Tian.

Moved by her loyalty, Zhou Tian pulled her close and kissed her cheek before addressing the sword saint with a flirtatious smile. “You can fly. You must be one of the Empire’s Guardian Sword Saints.”

The sword saint’s pride was stung, yet he did not let it show. “Knowing my identity, you still refuse to surrender?”

Ignoring the rebuke, Zhou Tian asked, “If I were to capture you, do you think your Emperor would worry?”

“Of course he would.” Afura knew Zhou Tian’s character well. If he lacked confidence, he would have fled long ago. Since he dared taunt a sword saint openly, she knew he had a plan. Relaxing, she chimed in, “The number of Guardian Sword Saints is a key measure of an empire’s strength. Each one holds great weight in the Emperor’s heart, rivaling that of any high minister. If you truly took one, the Emperor of Yan and Huang would surely be driven mad with worry!”

“Little brat, seeking death!” Afura and Zhou Tian’s banter made the sword saint seethe with rage. No longer willing to wait, he unleashed a sword qi that sliced toward them.

Afura prepared to intercept, but Zhou Tian refused to risk her. He pulled her behind him and met the blade head-on with his own body.

“No!” Afura cried out in alarm as the sword qi struck. Yet before she could react, a soft chime sounded. Zhou Tian stepped through the qi as if it were nothing and returned to her side unharmed.

“There, there, no crying,” Zhou Tian soothed, holding her tightly while ignoring the sword saint’s murderous glare. “I’m fine.”

“You’re courting death…” The sword saint could endure no more. He roared and charged forward.

“Quiet down!” Afura’s earlier display had made Zhou Tian wary of testing his Cloud Luo Immortal Armor again. He raised his hand and summoned his treasure rope.

A flash of shadow. The sword saint saw the movement but could not react in time. In the blink of an eye, he was bound by the rope.

Even a sword saint lost all resistance once ensnared. He tried to power through the bonds with his inner qi, but the rope absorbed the energy. Escape was impossible. In moments, the tide had turned. The once-dominant sword saint became Zhou Tian’s captive.

“How was that, darling? Impressive, wasn’t I?” Ignoring the captive’s furious glare, Zhou Tian stuffed a rag into his mouth and strutted before the stunned Afura.

“Impressive? Too impressive. Brother Tian, I love you to death.” Afura threw her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly.

After a moment of intimacy, Zhou Tian held Afura in one arm and stepped on the captured sword saint while addressing the empty air. “Come out, little one. Do you truly think you can hide from me?”

“You… what do you want?” The marquis, having witnessed Zhou Tian’s display, was terrified. He stepped from his hiding spot and threatened defiantly, “Don’t think your strength gives you the right to act wildly. This is the imperial capital of the Yan and Huang Empire. If you harm us, I swear you will never leave alive!”

“Believe me, I know the Empire’s power. But now you have a hostage in your hands. Release your Emperor and let him come see me. Spare the sword saint’s life.”

“You insolent—” The marquis sputtered in outrage.

“Give me ten minutes. If I don’t see your Emperor by then, I will kill him.” Zhou Tian cut him off and delivered his final demand.

“Don’t act rashly. I’ll go to the palace right now. Please, do not harm the sword saint.” The marquis was truly frightened. The sword saint had come to assist him. If he perished because of it, the marquis would be blamed even if the Emperor had ordered the intervention. He could not afford to lose his own head. After calming Zhou Tian, he rushed toward the palace without delay.