Butler Ode led Lin Fan up to the fourth floor and stopped. He dared not go higher.
The fifth floor—the very top—was Tang Yuehua's private quarters. Without her permission, no one was allowed to casually step inside.
"Lord Swordshadow, you know the Lady's rules. I'll leave you here." Ode bowed respectfully.
Lin Fan had lived here before, so he naturally understood this rule.
"Mm, thank you." Lin Fan nodded, then ascended the stairs.
Reaching the top floor, he did not see Tang Yuehua right away.
But he knew her habits well. Whenever she was alone, she liked sitting quietly on her swing chair out on the balcony, gazing into the distance.
Sure enough, walking from the hall to the balcony entrance, he saw her there—silhouetted against the light, quietly lost in thought.
Since she hadn't noticed him, Lin Fan stepped lightly to her back, then suddenly covered her eyes with his palms, speaking in a slightly altered voice:
"Guess who I am?"
Tang Yuehua's body trembled slightly, but then a delighted smile bloomed on her face.
"Brother Fan—you've come out of seclusion!"
Lin Fan chuckled, releasing her eyes.
"No fun at all. I even changed my voice, and you still guessed."
"Because even if your voice changes, I'll always remember your aura. Even if I die, I'll never forget it." Tang Yuehua turned around, her eyes shining.
Lin Fan lowered his head, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"Silly girl—don't talk about life and death. We'll be together for a lifetime."
"I believe you." Yuehua nodded firmly.
"Brother Fan, you've been cultivating in seclusion so long… did it go well? You didn't encounter any danger, right?" she asked anxiously.
"Of course, it went well. Relax. Who am I? I'm your Brother Fan. I've successfully broken through to Rank 96—a Super Douluo." Lin Fan said with a confident smile.
Tang Yuehua's heart finally eased, and joy spread across her face.
"Congratulations, Brother Fan—you've caught up with my eldest brother's footsteps."
Lin Fan raised an eyebrow.
"Mm? Was that a compliment, or are you mocking me?"
"Of course I'm complimenting you! You're so much younger than my elder brothers, yet you've already caught up. That means you're even stronger than they are." Yuehua answered with a soft laugh.
"That's better." Lin Fan grinned, satisfied.
"Since you've returned safely, Brother Fan, you should rest for a while. You won't be leaving again so soon, will you?" Yuehua's eyes shone with hopeful anticipation.
Lin Fan's smile faltered. He lowered his voice guiltily.
"…I'm sorry, Yuehua. The day after tomorrow, I'll have to leave again."
"Leaving the day after tomorrow?" Tang Yuehua froze for a moment, then forced a smile.
"It's fine. You have your matters. I'll be here at Yuexuan, waiting for you to return."
She didn't ask what he was going to do. She never did—always supporting him silently, without question.
Lin Fan felt his guilt deepen.
"Yuehua… you're not going to ask me where I'm going?"
"I know you, Brother Fan. If you're leaving so suddenly, it must be something you can't avoid. So I won't ask. I don't want to be your burden." She gave him a gentle, understanding smile.
Lin Fan drew a deep breath.
"The place I must go… You may have heard of it. The City of Slaughter."
"The City of Slaughter?! No—you can't! It's too dangerous!" Yuehua's expression changed drastically, her voice rising in alarm.
"Calm down, Yuehua." Lin Fan took her hand, steady but firm. "I'm completely confident. At most, I'll need three years before I come out. But I must go—it concerns the inheritance of godhood."
"Godhood… But I've heard the City of Slaughter is the most evil place in the world. Everyone there is a murderer, steeped in blood, and the place itself corrodes the mind." Yuehua's face was filled with worry.
Lin Fan's tone softened, though his will was unwavering.
"Don't forget, I studied etiquette and music under you. Every so often, I cleanse myself, purging worldly filth. If I can still lose my mind there, then I've wasted all your teachings. I wouldn't even deserve to be your student."
"You always tease me…" Yuehua shook her head helplessly. "But since you've said so much, I know I can't stop you."
She turned and went inside, soon returning with her cherished instrument—the konghou. She gently placed it in his hands.
"Brother Fan, I can't do much to help you. All I can give you is this. Take it with you into the City of Slaughter. Play it when you need to calm your heart."
"This konghou has been with me for many years, infused with my noble aura. I hope it will aid you."
Lin Fan accepted it with solemnity, placing the konghou into his spatial soul tool.
"Thank you, Yuehua. To have a wife like you—what more could a man ask for?" He embraced her tenderly.
"Then spend tomorrow with me. Just tomorrow, all to myself." Yuehua smiled playfully, her girlish side revealed only before him.
"Of course." Lin Fan nodded.
And so, he spent an entire day with her, wandering around Heaven Dou City hand in hand.
[System Prompt: 8 days left until the Secret Realm opens. Please proceed to the entrance.]
On the third morning at nine o'clock, Lin Fan reluctantly bid farewell to Tang Yuehua and set out alone again—continuing his path toward godhood.
An empty wasteland stretched before him. A streak of swordlight descended, landing near a withered tree.
"Caw, caw!"
His presence startled several crows into flight.
Behind the dead tree stood a dilapidated stone-and-wood building, though its windows glowed with light.
With a cold expression, Lin Fan approached.
After parting from Yuehua, all his warmth had vanished, replaced by icy killing intent. For he knew well—here, within the boundaries of the City of Slaughter, there was no room for emotions. Only a world where man devoured man.
He pushed open the broken wooden door and stepped inside. Sitting at an empty table as though it were his usual place, he called out flatly:
"One Bloody Mary."
Instantly, the room's many occupants turned toward him—their gazes falling upon his fair, almost delicate appearance.
"Right away, sir." A waiter soon brought over a crimson liquid-filled glass, thick with a pungent metallic stench. A faint mist curled at its rim.
"Drink up, boy! It's delicious!" a scarred man at another table jeered loudly, his tone dripping with mockery.
The others burst into raucous laughter.
Lin Fan's eyes narrowed, his voice like ice.
"If you like it so much, why don't I let you drink it instead?"
"Courting death!" The scarred man slammed the table, surging to his feet. Five dimly glowing soul rings appeared around him as he lunged forward.
Lin Fan didn't even flinch. Releasing his sword of slaughter, suffused with boundless killing intent, he struck once.
Pssh! The blade pierced cleanly through the man's throat.
"Kill him!"
At once, more than a dozen men charged toward Lin Fan.
With no hesitation, he revealed his soul rings, cutting them down one by one.
For the rules of entering the City of Slaughter were clear: either drink the Bloody Mary, or slaughter everyone in the tavern. The waiter alone was exempt.
When the last body fell, the waiter stepped forward, bowing respectfully.
Esteemed strong one, you have passed the preliminary trial of the City of Slaughter. Please—enter.