Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

Xilun gestured for him to leave: "If there's nothing else, you can take your good son and go back now."

As for the so-called joining the Silver Hand, that's utter nonsense.

Even if I, Xiren, were just an ordinary club assistant today, I would never even consider such a thing. Don't even dream about it.

Li Lei was so enraged by Xi Lun's barrage of vicious words that his chest heaved violently, and he almost vomited blood.

If this weren't the Daewoo Dojo, which maintains the church's control, and if it weren't for the semi-finals tomorrow, even if Lund were right next to him, he would definitely have taken action without hesitation and killed this arrogant and nonsensical brat with one blow!

He laughed in exasperation, staring intently at Xilun, his eyes filled with resentment and cruelty:

"Great...very good!"

Li Lei took a deep breath and said in a chilling tone:

"I thought you were young and had some talent."

I was planning to ask my son to go easy on you during tomorrow's semi-final match, so as not to hurt your fragile foundation.

"But I never expected you to be such an arrogant, rude, and utterly shameless idiot!"

Li Lei abruptly flicked his sleeve and shouted sharply:

"Since that's the case, I'll see if you still have such a big mouth to talk to me like that tomorrow, on this very day, when you're being trampled underfoot in the arena!"

"An'er, let's go!"

Filled with rage, Li Lei stormed off.

Just before leaving the room, Ang Lee stopped, turned around, and stared intently at Xilun.

Those eyes were filled with a venomous and cruel intent, like that of a viper.

He mouthed to Siren silently, "Tomorrow, you will die."

He turned around and strode away with Li Lei.

Seeing Li Lei and his son leave with such vicious words, the door to the room was slammed shut.

Lund's initial sense of relief instantly plummeted, replaced by deep worry.

He walked over to Xiren, patted him on the shoulder, and said in an extremely solemn tone:

"Silen, you were too impulsive just now."

In tomorrow's semi-final, Ang Lee will definitely go all out against you.

His "Soul-Shattering Blade" is extremely terrifying.

If you feel you are outmatched in the ring tomorrow, remember to tell them to give up immediately; the referee will intervene.

Don't be reckless; as long as you're alive, you can always make a comeback.

Xilun turned his head, looked at Lund's worried eyes, and suddenly smiled with relief.

He said softly:

"Don't worry, teacher, I understand."

……

The afternoon sunlight slanted through the towering hemlock forest surrounding the Daewoo Dojo, casting dappled, swaying shadows on the ground.

Xilun found a secluded grassy slope and lay down on his back.

The grass beneath me had a crisp, fresh, and slightly raw scent. The soft sunlight on my cheeks didn't sting; instead, it brought a long-lost, gentle warmth.

A breeze blew from the distant, layered mountains, carrying a touch of the coolness unique to early autumn in Victoria; everything seemed to be in perfect harmony with the gentle breeze.

However, his heartbeat sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet environment, and he couldn't calm down no matter what.

He squinted, letting his gaze wander across the fragmented blue sky above him.

His mind kept replaying Li Lei's arrogant face in the room not long ago, as if he were giving alms to a stray dog, and Li An's vicious and lifeless mouth movements as he left.

"Tomorrow, you will die."

Xilun silently repeated this sentence to himself.

They've already reached the semi-finals.

According to the rules of the Daewoo Dojo competition, even if he loses in the semi-finals tomorrow, he can still get a fourth place at the very least.

For the Iron Cross Club, which had been at the bottom for five consecutive years and was on the verge of bankruptcy, this was a great honor, enough to significantly reduce the heavy knowledge tax and give teachers Lund and President Ryan a sigh of relief.

But this is far from enough.

For tomorrow's match, Xiren still felt an overwhelming sense of unease and irritability.

He never doubted that he could defeat Xiu Kuo, but after watching Li An's match that morning, Xi Lun knew very well that the genius who was built up by noble resources had a ruthless and vicious determination in his swordsmanship.

Xi Lun's chances against Ang Lee are not very high.

Not to mention Ross, the extreme monster that looms like a mountain in front of everyone.

He longed for victory.

It's not just about those extraordinary resources that can transform a person, but also about crushing the arrogant spines of those who hold themselves high.

His competitive spirit was suppressed to the extreme at this moment, like a charcoal fire smoldering underground, making him feel an indescribable sense of frustration.

The sunlight was a bit too bright, so Xilun raised the back of his hand to shield his eyes.

Just then, a light footstep rustled through the grass.

With his ability to hear far and wide, Xilun had already sensed the approaching person, but he did not get up, he simply turned his head slightly.

Her smooth, flowing hair cascaded down in the gentle breeze, perfectly shielding her from the somewhat glaring sunlight.

Immediately afterwards, a woman's clear and curious voice rang in my ears.

"What are you doing hiding here?"

Daisy casually sat down next to her.

Today she was wearing a pair of blue and white cropped jeans, paired with a simple white collared short-sleeved shirt.

This outfit made her look less like an unapproachable viscount's daughter and more like a vibrant and radiant young woman of her age.

Following Xilun's posture, she placed her hands on the grass, leaned back slightly, and lay down as well, looking up at the sky.

Almost instinctively, the moment Daisy lay down, Celen's muscles tensed slightly, and he subconsciously moved his body a little further to the other side.

His movements were small, but they conveyed a cold and aloof demeanor.

He knew that Daisy had always treated him kindly.

But Siren was fundamentally unaccustomed to this unfamiliar kindness.

His experience, honed in the quagmire of betrayal, bloodshed, and scheming in the lower city, taught him that any unprovoked approach often came with an extremely high price tag.

Daisy noticed his subtle evasive movement, couldn't help but purse her lips, turned her head to stare at his expressionless profile, and reached out to pluck a blade of grass and throw it at him.

"Hey, are you mute?"

Xilun looked at the blade of grass that had fallen onto his chest, his chest rising and falling slowly as he exhaled a breath of stale air that had been trapped in his lungs.

He didn't look Daisy in the eye and asked in a flat tone, "Aren't you busy? I remember you said you were going to be in the lab researching pharmaceutical formulas these days."

Daisy rested her arms behind her head, watching the clouds drift slowly across the sky, her tone carrying a hint of relief:

"I've finished my studies early; I've already recorded all the reaction data for those reagents."

Moreover, I heard about it as soon as I came out of the lab.

She turned her head, her eyes flashing with undisguised amazement:

"You've made it to the semifinals. This is the first time in all these years that Iron Cross Club has reached this position."

However, I've also heard that your opponent tomorrow is Ang Lee.

Upon hearing this name, Xilun's eyes instantly turned cold, as if a layer of frost had formed deep in his pupils.

He nodded slightly, his voice as deep as an unsharpened iron spear: "Yes, I want to beat him."

Upon hearing this, Daisy's beautiful brows furrowed slightly. She sat up straight, reached out to pull at the weeds beside her, and spoke with a complex mix of emotions:

"I heard that Uncle Li Lei just went to see you."

This person... how should I put it, he was always so arrogant towards people from the common people, as if everyone should be grateful to him.

However, within Victoria's aristocratic circles, he was indeed very capable, and the Silver Hand's power had expanded extremely rapidly under his management in recent years.

"He was just as arrogant towards my teacher."

There was no anger in Siren's voice, only a chilling calm. "I think he came to me hoping I would join the Silver Hand."

But even if I were to actually go in, I might not receive any decent training.

Given his disdainful attitude towards my teacher, and Ang Lee's undisguised contempt and murderous intent towards me, if I went, I would be left with nothing but ashes.

Xiren paused, then turned to look at Daisy, his eyes sharp as a knife:

"Although I've long been used to how others treat me, whether it's contempt or disdain, I don't care."

But my teacher treated me very well. He regarded me as a true successor to his teachings.

So, I hope to beat Ang Lee tomorrow, in front of everyone.

This almost obsessive, intense competitive spirit added a rare touch of humanity to Xilun's usually indifferent face, but it also made him appear somewhat tense and irritable.

He suddenly recalled the extremely satisfied look Daisy's mother, Risa, had on Ang Lee in the corridor yesterday, and the possessive look in Ang Lee's eyes when he looked at Daisy.

He casually asked, "I heard you and Ang Lee are quite close?"

Daisy paused, her eyes lowered, and she said softly:

We used to study at the same school, so we've known each other since we were little.

Later, because their paths of practice differed, they separated.

She thought about it carefully, seemingly considering her words:

"In the eyes of the elders, he's like an older brother to me. But..."

She pursed her lips, making no attempt to hide the disdain in her tone, "I don't like associating with him."

He always seems polite, but deep down he's a wicked person.

You could tell just by looking at him in the ring today. He could have won easily, but he insisted on slowly dismantling his opponent's defenses. He enjoys the process of torturing others.

At this point, Daisy sighed softly, and the atmosphere around her visibly sombered.

"Actually, things aren't very peaceful in my family right now either."

My dad... he hopes my future partner won't be too ambitious.

People like Ang Lee have eyes full of the desire to climb up the social ladder, and they will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

If we really get involved with him, our entire family will be dragged into his maelstrom sooner or later.

Xilun keenly caught the pause in her words, his deep eyes fixed on her: "What happened at your home?"

Daisy looked down at her toes, her voice muffled: "He has an illness..."

The air around them seemed to freeze for a moment because of this heavy topic.

Xilun didn't offer any words of comfort; he didn't know how to console a girl with such conflicted thoughts.

Daisy seemed to realize the somber atmosphere as well.

She suddenly stood up, brushed the grass clippings off her pants, then raised her foot and gently kicked Xilun's calf with her white canvas shoes.

"Hey, don't look so down. You just made it to the semifinals."

She tilted her head and thought for a moment, her beautiful eyes darting around before a mischievous glint flashed in her eyes: "Want to come out and play?"

Xilun paused for a moment, then subconsciously shook his head: "I still have to train. Tomorrow's opponent is very strong, and I have to get my physical condition to the limit."

Daisy grinned, revealing two sharp little fangs, and mercilessly exposed his lie: "Are you training right now? Training while lying on the grass sunbathing?"

"I..." Xiren was speechless for a moment, and after a long while, she managed to stammer out, "I'm just not in the mood right now."

Daisy bent down, bringing her face close to his, and continued to press him:

"Do you want to come out and have some fun? Just to relax your tense nerves."

"If you push yourself too hard like this, you're more likely to make mistakes when you're in the ring tomorrow."

Xilun looked at the bright face so close to his own, and felt the faint, sweet fragrance emanating from her.

This time, he really thought about it seriously.

He slowly sat up and asked, "What are you going to do?"

Seeing that he had given in, Daisy immediately straightened up, put her hands behind her back, and twirled lightly in place half a circle:

"A banquet hosted by one of my underlings, not far from the dojo."

Today is considered a rest night during the competition, and many scions of elite families will go there to relax.

"Come on, I'll show you around."

Seeing her enthusiastic expression, Xilun swallowed his refusal, silently stood up, and brushed the grass clippings off his clothes.

The early autumn night fell quickly. As Xiren followed Daisy through the wide streets surrounding the Daewoo Dojo, the gas lamps on both sides of the streets had already lit up one after another.

The dim, yellowish light diffused through the thin mist, casting an ambiguous veil over this city where steel and gears intertwined.

A moment later, the two arrived at a three-story mansion located on a street corner.

The architectural style here clearly leans towards luxurious classicism, with an extremely spacious hall beneath a huge glass dome.

Even standing outside the door, you can hear the melodious orchestral music and faint laughter coming from inside.

Inside, the lights were bright, the atmosphere was lively, and the people were dressed in elegant clothes.

Xiren stopped and glanced at the interior of the hall through the bright glass windows.

The men wore well-tailored tailored suits, while the women wore gorgeous shawls and carried wine glasses as they moved through the crowd.

He looked down at the black casual clothes he was wearing for combat. Although the material was fairly sturdy, there were faint signs of wear and tear at the edges.

He glanced at Daisy hesitantly, then said in a dry voice, "Never mind, I won't go in."

Daisy put her hands on her hips and glared at him irritably: "You're already here, are you going to leave?"

This isn't some dragon's den or tiger's lair. You're not even afraid of a monster like Ross, so why would you be afraid of a few young masters and ladies holding wine glasses?"

Xilun shook his head, trying to explain: "I just went there to find a corner to eat, and I don't have anything in common with them."

I didn't know where to put my hands, or how to greet them.

"Who told you to go and chat with them?"

Daisy stepped forward and grabbed Celen's sleeve. "You can dance along."

As soon as the music starts, nobody cares who you are.

Xilun's body stiffened slightly, and after hesitating for a moment, he shook his head vigorously.

"Never mind, I can't jump."

"Don't worry, I'll teach you. I'm the best lead dancer," Daisy said confidently, patting her chest.

She glanced at Xilen's somewhat somber outfit, then looked at her own jeans, and muttered, "But since we're going in, we really need to be a little mindful of the occasion. Wait a minute, I'll go change."

She pointed to a shop across the street, where colorful ready-to-wear clothes were hanging.

As she spoke, she turned around and asked, "Aren't you going to change into something formal? There's a shop right next door that rents out tuxedos."

Xilun shook his head decisively.

Although he was wearing casual clothes, they were still quite formal, and he wasn't particularly particular about them.

Daisy didn't insist and turned to run into the clothing store.

Xilun stood alone at the bottom of the mansion steps, waiting.

His hearing is extremely acute, and his ability to hear far is always subconsciously activated.

He could hear the crisp rhythm of high heels on the waxed wooden floor in the party hall, the subtle clinking of ice cubes in glasses, and even the low-pitched flirting and giggling of the young men and women.

His mind began to race. Could he really withstand Ang Lee's soul-cutter techniques tomorrow?

How long can the external circulation system maintain its limits? With Ang Lee's personality, if he finds that he cannot win easily in the ring, he will definitely resort to any means necessary.

Just as he was lost in thought, he suddenly heard the same crisp sound of high heels stepping on the bluestone slabs behind him.

The footsteps sounded somewhat stiff, clearly indicating that the owner was not used to these shoes.

Xilun turned around.

The woman wore a pale yellow, flowing long dress, the hem of which was adorned with delicate lace trim.

Under the dim yellow gaslight, the bright colors seemed to dispel the surrounding fog.

Daisy was bent over, rubbing her ankle with some distress, and complaining:

"Fortunately, I had practiced basic breathing techniques for a while before, so my muscle control is still okay."

These high heels are so hard to wear; they're practically an anti-human invention.

She straightened up, lifted her skirt, and regained her cheerful mood, giving Xilun a bright smile: "I'm changed, let's go in."

"These clothes are rented; I have to return them to the clothing store later!"

Xilun's expression visibly tensed up.