He noticed what was happening.
In the blink of an eye, Ye Tian vanished from sight. Five steps—just five—and he was already in front of Mu Qingyao, who was being accosted by the assailants.
[Nightlord Core System Activated]
Integration +2%
Commands:
[Calming anger ✅]
[Lowering mental instability ✅]
[Maintaining sanity ✅]
[Increasing precision ✅]
"Do not touch her," Ye Tian murmured, his voice calm yet carrying an edge that silenced even the air around him.
With a swift, precise motion, he severed the hands of the men violating Mu Qingyao. Two bounds later, and as he landed, the old man who dared approach his second wife was decapitated. A deathly silence descended on the hall, as if the very air feared to move.
City Lord's guards surged forward, forming a cordon, but Ye Tian's mind remained razor-sharp, calculating. I knew this ploy would unfold… yet I allowed it to test the currents. Still… I have so much to learn.
From the shadows, six disciples appeared. Ye Tian's eyes flashed. He grabbed two of them by their heads—the ones who had failed to protect his wives—and smashed them onto the tables. Blood spattered, bones cracked, and silverware shattered under the impact.
"Servants who cannot protect their liege," Ye Tian's voice thundered through the hall, echoing against the walls, "are not even worthy to be called dogs!"
A wave of shock rippled through the crowd. Murmurs began almost instantly:
"Did he… just crush them?!"
"Those were his disciples… why didn't he strike the nobles instead?"
"He's… terrifying…"
A panicked noble shouted, trembling, "They were only trying to speak with the ladies! Even if they flirted slightly… how could he cut their arms or even kill them? These are supreme-tier families! Thousands of soldiers, top-tier experts, and he just…" His voice trailed off, swallowed by disbelief.
Ye Tian's gaze swept the hall like a predator assessing the field. "Character, loyalty, and action toward me and mine are all that matter. Fail to protect them, and you die. That is the law here. Anyone who doubts this… will pay the price themselves!"
From a quiet corner, Ling Feng appeared, third daughter of the ruling family of the City of Blades, drawn by the chaos. She watched intently as the young Nightlord executed his judgment.
Ye Tian's piercing eyes found hers, his voice echoing:
"Haaa… you think I don't see your petty little plot? This kind of childish nonsense is what I did when I was five! Do you imagine such schemes could frighten me? Foolishness! You should know better than to toy with someone like me."
Stepping forward, his aura practically bending the air around him, he declared, "Why do you think I created this army, this reputation? If my goal had been merely position or status, there were hundreds of easier ways. I could have eliminated all the useless members of my clan and claimed the patriarchate without lifting a finger!"
Shock swept through the hall. A mere boy, casually speaking of annihilating his own clan…
"To me," Ye Tian continued, voice sharp as drawn steel, "the true measure of a person is their basic character, and how they act toward me and those I hold dear. Even demonic cultivators, unorthodox factions, or enemies can become allies—if they prove themselves. Fail to protect, and you will die by my hand. That is the only truth here."
Ling Feng leaned toward a nearby servant girl, curiosity piqued. "Who is this young man causing such chaos?"
The girl whispered, awe-struck, "He is Lord Ye Tian. He commands the famous Nightshade Hall. Even now, he has punished core members of supreme families for failing to protect his wives. A monster… yet remarkable in his judgment and command."
Ye Tian's eyes swept the hall, unyielding and commanding. "This army I gather is not for petty squabbles among city lords. No… it is meant to annihilate clans, families, kingdoms! Those fortunate enough to witness this glory will remember it forever. Even the immortals—last ascended eight hundred years ago—will not escape my reach!"
Some laughed nervously, unsure whether to take him seriously. Others whispered, awe mingled with fear: he is unstoppable…
A group of young nobles, red-faced and panicked, shouted across the hall, "Boy! You've just begun to rise! You don't know the meaning of true power yet! You've yet to witness the might of real strength!"
Ye Tian's lips curled into a psychotic, theatrical laugh, echoing through the hall:
"Hahahahaha! Haaaaah! Let them come! Let us see… who truly wins in this coin toss game!"
The City Lord roared, veins bulging on his temples, his voice shaking with rage:
"Ye Tian! You will face the wrath of every enemy you've made! You will face countless enemies, unstoppable fury, and no mercy! Even your clan will be powerless to protect you!"
With a calm, commanding gesture, Ye Tian pushed aside the surrounding guards. He called his wives and disciple to his side. Turning to his shadows, he ordered, "Attend to the disciples I punished. Ensure they live… but remember the lesson."
He gestured to leave. The hall buzzed with whispers, awe, fear, and disbelief. Every gaze followed him as he strode out, calm and composed, radiating a deadly aura that left no doubt why he was called the Nightlord.
Ling Feng lingered behind, her eyes fixed on him, a spark of curiosity ignited. Not romantic—yet—but as a woman of rights and conviction, she had witnessed the full measure of his power and intellect. She would remember him, and soon, their fates would intertwine.