Su Jing entered the arena.
Her steps were slow but steady. Behind her walked Zhuo Riyan, his posture relaxed yet domineering, with the little cat sitting lazily on his head. Unlike before, Zhuo Riyan did not restrain himself at all. Crimson-black qi leaked from his body like dark flames, rolling outward in waves and filling the arena with a terrifying pressure.
The moment the three of them stepped inside, the entire arena fell into a strange silence.
Then the murmurs began.
Servants whispered to one another, eyes wide, staring at Zhuo Riyan as if they were looking at a ghost.
"Is that… Zhuo Riyan?"
"Didn't he get crippled?"
"What the fuck is that aura?"
The sons of the clan leaders and his second Brother's watched silently from there small throne, their expressions stiff.
The wives seated among the audience reacted differently.
Su Xi looked at Su Jing with clear happiness in her eyes, a genuine smile appearing on her face.
Su Qingqing's face darkened instantly, her fingers gripping her sleeves tightly as anger burned in her eyes.
Su Ren smirked, arrogance and amusement mixed in his gaze.
Su Sin remained quiet, sitting straight beside her husband, her eyes calmly observing Su Jing without saying a word.
Above them all, Su Hangan and Su Tengan stared down with cold expressions. Outwardly they looked indifferent, even stern, but deep inside both men felt a tightening in their chests. Worry stirred within them, though neither could afford to show it.
Zhuo Riyan turned slightly toward his mother and spoke with a smile. "Mother, you can sit anywhere you want."
Even as he spoke gently, the crimson-black qi continued to spill from his body, oppressive and violent, making nearby servants instinctively retreat.
Su Jing looked back at him, her eyes warm. She smiled softly, then turned and began walking toward the staircase leading to the audience seats.
Zhuo Riyan, on the other hand, walked toward the central platform where Su Mei and the others were already standing. His footsteps were calm, his presence heavy, each step making the air feel thicker.
As Su Jing climbed a few steps, a voice echoed in her mind.
"Sister Jing, come here and sit with me. We haven't talked for years."
It was Su Xi.
She was looking at Su Jing with a bright, welcoming smile.
Su Jing paused, turned her head, and met Su Xi's gaze. After a brief moment, a smile spread across her face. Without hesitation, she changed direction and walked toward Su Xi.
The moment the servants saw this, the murmuring grew louder.
"Look, she's sitting with Madam Su Xi."
"So they're still close…"
"Damn, things are going to get messy."
Su Qingqing's expression twisted with even greater fury, her eyes burning as she watched Su Jing walk away, while the atmosphere in the arena grew increasingly tense.
As Zhuo Riyan reached the edge of the platform, he stopped.
The terrifying crimson-black qi that had been leaking from his body was withdrawn instantly, as if it had never existed. His posture became relaxed, his expression calm, yet a faint smile still hung on his lips. He stood there silently, hands at his sides, eyes sharp and composed.
From above, Su Hangan rose from his throne. He walked to the front of the room, placing one hand on the wall, and his voice thundered across the arena.
"So the competition for the rights of Rain Appreciating Pavilion starts now."
The moment his words fell, Su Zin vanished from beside him. In the next blink, Su Zin appeared at the very center of the platform, robes fluttering slightly as his feet touched the ground.
The female servants erupted instantly.
"Sir Zin!"
"He's so handsome!"
"I fucking love him!"
Some even shouted confessions shamelessly, faces red with excitement.
Su Zin ignored everything.
His expression was calm, his bearing dignified, and when he spoke, his voice carried an unquestionable dominance. "Since the competition has begun, I will act as the judge."
He released his aura.
The invisible pressure rolled outward, heavy and sharp, forcing the noise in the arena to die down almost immediately. Then he took out a jade slip, glanced at it, and began to read.
"The first battle will be between Su Qang and Su Kim."
The servants immediately began whispering again.
"I think this is planned."
"Yeah, they're clearing out the weak ones first."
"Zhuo Riyan will probably face Su Mei or Su Qang at the end."
Before anyone could even blink, Su Kim raised his hand.
"I give up."
His voice was casual, almost lazy. He turned his head toward Zhuo Riyan and smiled faintly, a smile that carried something unclear—mockery, provocation, or simple resignation.
Su Zin closed his eyes briefly, then announced, "Su Kim has given up. Winner—Su Qang."
Su Qang stood quietly, eyes still closed, as if he were deep in thought. He did not even react to being declared the winner.
Su Zin read the jade slip again. "Second fight will be between Su Mei and Su Man."
Once more, before anyone could move—
"I give up too."
Su Man raised his hand without hesitation.
A ripple of shock passed through the audience.
Even Su Hangan's expression darkened slightly, anger flashing in his eyes, though he still did not say a word.
"Su Man has given up," Su Zin announced. "Winner—Su Mei."
Su Mei remained as cold as ever. She briefly glanced toward Su Hangan, her gaze sharp and indifferent.
So he can still control himself, she thought.
Even Su Zin looked annoyed now, his brows knitting together slightly. Still, he read from the jade slip once more, his voice echoing clearly across the arena.
"The third fight will be between Su Luejiao and Zhuo Riyan."
The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere changed.
All murmuring stopped.
Every eye turned toward Zhuo Riyan.
Su Luejiao stepped forward, his face tense, fists clenched tightly at his sides. His gaze was locked onto Zhuo Riyan, fear and hatred mixing violently in his eyes.
Zhuo Riyan lifted his head slowly.
The faint smile on his face deepened, calm and dangerous.
Finally, after all the fucking games, it was his turn.