"Kid. The young miss says you can come in."
Chen Xiu paused, surprised. He hadn't expected Lin Yuxia to invite him inside the hall.
Seems the little rat had a decent impression of him—probably because he'd helped build her momentum yesterday.
Really, in this world, you needed good timing and good instincts—or you'd miss opportunities that came once.
"Thank you, brother. Sorry to trouble you," Chen Xiu said, saluting again.
Courtesy never hurt.
The Forte man didn't reply, but his expression softened a little.
Chen Xiu hoisted the wanted criminal and walked into Grey Tail Hall with his chin up, a small thrill at how smoothly it was going.
He didn't notice Texas, outside, nearly jumping out of hiding when she saw him cross the gang's threshold.
Idiot. What are you doing? You go in and I can't protect you.
Couldn't you just talk at the door?
Texas rubbed her temple, scanned the high gray walls, and quickly estimated the bright and dark sentry placements. Infiltrating wouldn't be hard—just knock a few people out.
So the wolf girl moved immediately.
…
Inside Grey Tail Hall, Chen Xiu studied the interior.
The main hall was wide and imposing. A dragon-carved grand chair sat facing the entrance, flanked by long rows of seats on either side.
Contrary to the cliché, the four-character banner hanging high wasn't "Brotherhood" or "Loyalty."
It read:
PROTECT THE LAND, SAFEGUARD THE PEOPLE.
Well. Guess the slogan needed updating again.
He wondered if Wei Yanwu had written it—there was no signature stamp.
Footsteps—tap, tap—familiar.
Chen Xiu turned and saw Lin Yuxia step over the threshold, dressed in close-fitting black training clothes, sharp and clean.
"Miss Lin," Chen Xiu saluted. "Forgive the intrusion."
"No need for formalities." Lin Yuxia glanced at the bound man on the ground, expression unreadable. "State your business."
Chen Xiu went straight to the point.
"He's Huang Mingjie. An E-class wanted criminal posted by the L.G.D. His bounty is 30,000. I'd like to ask you to help me cash it."
Lin Yuxia's brows lifted. Her eyes fell again on Huang Mingjie.
She examined his face carefully—yes, it matched the wanted list she'd checked not long ago.
What had this bastard done again? Fraud, seduction, repeat offenses—scum.
A spark of surprise lit her eyes.
"Sit. You caught him last night? Nicely done." She tilted her head. "If you wanted the bounty, why not go directly to the L.G.D.?"
Chen Xiu glanced at the rosewood chair beside him. He pulled out a plastic bag and laid it on the seat, then sat barely touching it—almost a half squat.
"Young miss… I'm undocumented."
He sat straight, but his fingers rubbed together faintly, restless.
"And I'm Sarkaz… uh—would they skim my money?"
Lin Yuxia froze.
She wanted to say: under Governor Wei, the L.G.D. wouldn't stoop that low—
but given what Chen Xiu had survived, how could he trust her words?
To him, that money wasn't a "bonus."
It was hope.
Three ten-thousand might be the rope that hauled him out of the mud.
No wonder he'd come to her at dawn. And it was true—she was one of the few who could lock that hope in his hands.
Lin Yuxia stared at Chen Xiu's striking profile for a long moment, her chest tightening with a strange ache.
Chen Xiu, meanwhile, began to feel uneasy under the prolonged look.
Had he said something wrong?
Lin was Wei Yanwu's person. If he accused the L.G.D. of skimming bounties, did that imply the Governor was incompetent?
"Of course—this is just my personal worry!" Chen Xiu hurried to clarify. "The L.G.D. is Lungmen's law enforcement. They must be fair and disciplined. I'm just… scared."
"I understand."
Lin Yuxia suddenly pressed her hand over his.
Her violet eyes softened, her voice gentler.
"Your concern isn't unreasonable. I simply didn't think it through. Leave it to me."
Chen Xiu flinched.
She'd leaned in close—actual physical contact.
If the Rat King saw this, Chen Xiu had a vivid fear he might not walk out of Grey Tail Hall alive.
"Thank you, Miss Lin."
Chen Xiu subtly withdrew his hand, stood, and saluted.
Lin Yuxia didn't think anything was off. Chen Xiu had always been impeccably polite.
Though… his Yan-style etiquette was almost too fluent. Not like someone copying gestures for show.
What kind of Sarkaz was he, exactly?
No halo behind his head, so not an Anasa from the Yumen northwest…
And he didn't match the major Kazdel lineages either.
A strange, mysterious man.
"Wait here." Lin Yuxia left briskly.
About a minute later, she returned and shoved a small rat-patterned pouch into Chen Xiu's hands.
"Thirty thousand LMD. You take the money first. I'll send someone to cash the bounty."
Chen Xiu's eyes lit up. The mission objective—completed flawlessly.
He bowed deeply.
"Miss Lin, you're a good person."
Lin Yuxia's whole body tingled. Being thanked so sincerely felt absurdly good—so good she almost couldn't keep her face straight.
"Ahem." She coughed to cover it, hands on her hips, her thin tail bouncing with energy. "Go on."
Chen Xiu left Grey Tail Hall under Lin Yuxia's escort, eager to find Texas and share the victory.
Outside, Texas, hidden in the shadows, finally relaxed when she saw Chen Xiu walk out alive—and slipped away by climbing the wall.
A cane tapped softly against the stone.
The Rat King emerged from the darkness, watching Texas's departing direction. He summoned the steward.
"Who came earlier? What business with Yuxia?"
"A Sarkaz called Chen Xiu," the steward reported. "He caught a wanted criminal and asked the young miss to cash the bounty."
"Oh?" The Rat King's brow rose with interest. "Tell me everything."
The steward recounted the meeting in full.
The Rat King nodded.
"Careful-minded. Knows his boundaries."
"And sir," the steward added, "he was also the one who took the lead yesterday, building the young miss's momentum."
"Investigate his background," the Rat King ordered. "If there's no issue, let him remain in contact with Yuxia."
The steward looked up, surprised.
"Sir, you won't recruit him into the hall?"
The Rat King smiled.
"That's Yuxia's decision. I won't interfere."
…
Chen Xiu had no idea the Rat King had taken notice of him.
He strode down the alley, ready to show off his haul.
"Texas! Come out—look at this! I told you it would work!"
-------
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