The members of the Thousand Leaves Sect heard Yang Kai's words and all turned to look at him with suspicious, confused expressions.
Yang Kai flashed a grin and whispered, "The City Lord looks like he's got everything under control. You don't think he came prepared?"
Du Xian's expression shifted slightly, as if something had clicked. He replied in an equally low voice, "Young Master Yang, you're saying he's planned for…"
Yang Kai shook his head, signaling him to wait and watch.
Over there, the bride—draped in phoenix coronet and ceremonial robes, her head covered by a red veil—walked step by step until she stood before Chai Hu. Chai Hu gazed at her, undisguised joy visible in his single eye, and spoke: "Fifth Sister, step to the side and watch my back. I'll make this old bastard release Big Brother and the others, and then we'll leave far behind and never return to Sky Crane City!"
The bride said nothing. She obediently walked over and stood beside Chai Hu.
"You caused quite the scene in my City Lord's Manor today, humiliating me in front of everyone. And you think… you can just leave?" Luo Jin's face wore a mocking sneer as he let out a cold snort.
"One makes one's own fate!" Chai Hu shot back with a cold laugh.
Luo Jin smiled meaningfully and said, "I think… you'd better stay."
Chai Hu's face changed, and he was about to respond when he suddenly felt a chill sweep up from behind him. In the next instant, a palm pressed down against his back, and a torrent of surging power flooded into his body. His entire frame shuddered violently, and he was sent flying through the air.
Mid-flight, he twisted his head around in utter disbelief. When he saw who had struck him, his eyes filled with grief and despair.
*Thud…*
Chai Hu crashed to the ground, smashing through tables and chairs, but he quickly tried to get back up. However, the palm strike had clearly dealt him a serious wound, for the moment he staggered to his feet, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
*Whoosh whoosh whoosh…*
The City Lord's Manor's experts rushed over in an instant. Several hands pressed down on him simultaneously, power coiling at their palms, held in reserve but not released.
After all, today was the City Lord's concubine ceremony—it was hardly fitting for blood to be shed. Otherwise, Chai Hu would already be dead.
Restrained and pinned, Chai Hu swayed unsteadily, his face twisted in anguish as he stared at the bride. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and he cried out in despair: "Fifth Sister… why…"
The one who had ambushed him from behind, the one who had dealt him such a devastating blow, was none other than the very bride he had come to rescue. Even now, he could hardly believe it was real.
All of this had unfolded in the span of a heartbeat. Not only was Chai Hu stunned, but the surrounding guests had their jaws hanging open in dumbfounded shock. Only Luo Jin seemed to have anticipated it, a smile playing on his lips.
Yang Kai shot to his feet, his blazing gaze locked onto the bride, his expression shifting rapidly.
"Y demonic aura?" Ye Qinghan's brow furrowed, her hand covering her red lips as she whispered, "This bride—she's a member of the Demon Race?"
In the brief instant the bride had made her move, though it lasted only a flash, the power she had unleashed was distinctly different from ordinary source energy. It carried the pure, unmistakable scent of demonic essence.
There were human warriors who cultivated Demon Race techniques or secret arts, bringing their power close to demonic energy, but it could never be this pure. From all appearances, this bride was no human—she was a member of the Demon Race.
The Star Boundary was not without its demons, but they seldom ventured into human territories. Those who did were exceedingly rare, and they went to great lengths to conceal their presence. After all, with the difference in races, there were always those who might harbor ill intentions upon discovering a demon.
Quite a few people besides Ye Qinghan had noticed this, and they all turned curious stares upon the bride.
And judging from the waves of power that had radiated from the bride's strike, she was clearly a Dao Source Realm first-stage warrior.
"Young Master Yang, what's wrong?" Du Xian noticed the strange look on Yang Kai's face and quickly asked.
But Yang Kai paid him no heed. He simply stared fixedly at the bride, his body trembling slightly, as though he had discovered something extraordinary.
"Take him away and keep a close eye on him. After the ceremony, I'll have a thorough chat with him!" Over there, Luo Jin waved his hand and issued the order.
The City Lord's Manor guards nodded in unison, simultaneously sealing Chai Hu's cultivation, and moved to drag him away.
"No!" Unexpectedly, a delicate cry rang out at that moment. Everyone watched as Luo Bing—who had just been freed from her ordeal—charged straight toward Chai Hu, kicking and punching at the guards, shoving them aside with all her strength. She then threw open her arms and planted herself in front of Chai Hu, shaking her head repeatedly: "Don't come near him!"
Her posture made it abundantly clear she intended to protect Chai Hu, leaving the guests utterly stupefied once more. They had absolutely no idea what was going through her mind. After all, everyone had witnessed Chai Hu using her as a hostage earlier. Now that she had been freed, shouldn't she be getting as far away from him as possible? Why on earth was she throwing herself back into danger?
"Bing'er, what nonsense are you playing at!" Luo Jin was furious. This daughter of his had tested his patience beyond measure today—defying and disobeying him time and again, and now she was actually trying to protect the very man who had ruined his ceremony. How could he not be enraged?
"Father, Brother Chai saved my life yesterday. He is my savior—please don't make things difficult for him." Luo Bing pleaded through tearful sobs.
Luo Jin narrowed his eyes. "Your savior?"
Luo Bing replied, "Yes. Yesterday, when I was in danger, it was Brother Chai who rescued me…"
"Yesterday?" Luo Jin's brow creased as he said in a cold voice, "Weren't you out with Young Master Qiu yesterday? How did this man end up saving you?"