Hu Liena suddenly turned her head toward Lin Fan, her tone softening:
"By the way, Elder Lin, you've been here in the City of Slaughter for a year now. Since you've never drunk that Bloody Mary stuff… how do you resist the invasion of this killing aura?"
Lin Fan answered slowly,
"Before you came, didn't your teacher tell you? Rely on your willpower."
Hu Liena let out a helpless sigh and shook her head:
"She did, and she even warned me several times. But I underestimated the killing aura… I never expected it to come on so fiercely. Seven days, five matches already—and it's overwhelming."
"Elder Lin, can't you at least tell me a little trick?"
Lin Fan smiled faintly,
"Telling you isn't impossible. I just don't know if it will work for you. My little trick… is music."
"Music?" Hu Liena blinked.
"That's right," Lin Fan explained. "Learning music, playing an instrument… it helps you concentrate fully, calm your heart, and keep your mind clear. When you're truly at peace, the killing intent can't invade your spirit so easily."
"But I don't know the first thing about music." Hu Liena looked embarrassed.
"No matter. I'll play and teach you in the coming days. Otherwise, if you resort to drinking Bloody Mary and your teacher finds out… she'll probably skin me alive." Lin Fan joked.
Hu Liena's eyes lit up, a smile breaking through her cold expression:
"Then… thank you, Elder Lin. From now on, just call me Nana."
"It's nothing," Lin Fan replied casually.
Back in the room, Lin Fan set a konghou harp before himself and sat down with poise across from Hu Liena. He rested his hands lightly on the strings and instructed,
"Quiet your heart. Listen carefully. Don't let your thoughts drift to anything about this city."
"Yes, Elder!" Hu Liena sat cross-legged before him, unusually solemn.
Ding… zheng…
"This is the melody I heard when I first came here, isn't it?" she thought. Watching Lin Fan close his eyes, breathing evenly, his expression serene as his fingers danced across the strings, Hu Liena felt her own heart gradually calm in the flow of music.
The restless bloodlust within her seemed to scatter like mist blown away by a cool breeze.
Lin Fan deliberately infused a thread of soul power into the notes, allowing the warm tones to smooth away the killing intent gnawing at her mind.
After a long while, the melody softened, like heavy rain dwindling to a drizzle, and finally faded. Lin Fan lifted his hands from the strings.
Yet Hu Liena still felt the lingering echoes, unwilling to open her eyes and break the tranquility.
When she finally did, Lin Fan had already poured himself a glass of water and was calmly watching. Her fox-like eyes curved with delight.
"That was beautiful. Elder Lin, I never thought your musical skills were so profound. And… my heart does feel calmer now. Can you teach me?" She smiled in surprise.
"Of course. But this harp—this konghou—has twenty-five strings. It takes years to master, and you don't have that kind of time here. Fortunately, the first instrument I learned was a flute. I still have it. From now on, you'll practice the flute."
He took out a seven-holed flute and handed it to her.
"Thank you, Elder." Hu Liena accepted it with shining eyes.
From that day on, while Lin Fan waited for enough opponents to gather for the Hell Arena, he taught Hu Liena to play the flute.
She practiced diligently, always seeking him out after each match.
Dozens of days passed, and eventually Hu Liena managed to play a simple tune all on her own. She was so delighted she giggled like a child.
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
"Great King, it's fortunate we didn't offend 9517. Who would have thought he knows one of the present-day Slaughter Gods—and a member of Spirit Hall, no less?"
The veiled maiden's voice trembled. "But… but if things continue this way, and the City of Slaughter ends up with two new Slaughter Gods… that would be a disaster for us."
The Slaughter King swirled the scarlet wine in his glass, lowering his head in silence.
"Arrange opponents for 9517 immediately. Let him finish his hundred victories and enter the Hell Road. Do not let him keep supporting that girl. Without him, she'll never reach a hundred wins."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Fewer is better than more. I understand." The veiled maiden bowed deeply.
Back in the arena quarters—
"Thank you, Elder, for teaching me these days. I may not be skilled yet, but at least I can control the killing intent in my heart," Hu Liena said sincerely.
Lin Fan chuckled softly. "Nana, you thank me every time. I'm already tired of hearing it. Tomorrow, I'll teach you a harder piece."
Hu Liena nodded obediently and left for her room.
Just then, the black-veiled maiden appeared in the corridor.
"Demon King, your nine opponents are ready. Tomorrow morning will be your eighty-first match."
Lin Fan raised an eyebrow. "About time. Took you over twenty days—you're not exactly efficient."
"Rest assured. It won't happen again. From now on, the City of Slaughter will prioritize your matches." She forced a stiff smile.
"It had better." Lin Fan's tone was indifferent.
"Then I won't disturb you further." She vanished into the shadows.
"Good luck, Elder Lin!" Hu Liena cheered before returning to her room.
Lin Fan closed his door, his expression turning thoughtful.
"The Slaughter Envoy personally came to inform me this time. There's something fishy here…"
In the past year, the veiled maiden had come many times, but this was the first time she took the initiative to deliver such news—and even promised to prioritize his matches.
"No matter. The sooner I finish the hundred victories, the sooner the task is complete."
Now that he knew the Asura Domain allowed him to use soul skills here, Lin Fan no longer feared the Slaughter King's tricks.
Tang Chen was strong, yes—but corrupted by the Blood-Red Nine-Headed Bat King, his mind was unstable. How much strength could he wield?
The next morning, around nine, Lin Fan left his room. Hu Liena followed close behind—this would be her first time seeing him fight in the arena, and she couldn't miss it. To her, watching Lin Fan battle meant learning true combat skills.
After all, his power was far beyond hers.
"Demon King!"
"He's here!"
"Don't tell me he's competing today?!"
The crowd at the Hell Arena's gates immediately split apart in terror at his approach. His reputation had been carved in blood.
"Participants for today's matches, enter the arena!" an enforcer announced.
Figures leapt onto the bloodstained platform one by one.
Nine opponents stood at the corners of the stage, each wary and keeping distance from the others.
Only the very center remained empty—for none wanted to be the first target of a group assault.
Lin Fan smiled faintly, leaping straight to the middle.
"Damn it! The last one is the Demon King himself!" a burly man cursed in fear.
"Don't panic! On this stage, life and death are left to fate—there's no retreat. If we all join forces, we can bring him down!" another barked, trying to sound brave.
"Then stop wasting my time," Lin Fan said coldly. The Slaughter Sword appeared in his right hand in an instant.
"That… that's Lin Xuan's Slaughter Sword!"
From the spectator stands, Hu Liena's eyes widened in shock as she recognized the weapon in his hand.