Chapter 38 0040: Duanmu Ci, Defeated!

(Friendly reminder: I have already revised the previous chapter. To prevent the plot from feeling disconnected as you read this one, I suggest you go back and read the previous chapter together with this one.)

“It’s only been a few days, and yet his strength has grown again!” At Hou Manman’s side, the old butler appeared out of nowhere, commenting in a low voice.

Hou Manman looked at him in surprise. “Why are you here too?”

“I saw you rushing out in such a hurry, Miss Manman, so I followed. It took me quite some time to get the club membership card outside,” the old butler replied, his eyes fixed intently on Chu Yun in the arena, as if trying to see through the young man.

“Do you think he can defeat Duanmu Ci?” Hou Manman asked the butler.

“That’s hard to say,” the old butler shook his head. “He is, after all, the most brilliant talent Watchtower City has seen in a century. He’s only seventeen and already has one foot in the first tier of warriors. In the city’s history, he would rank in the top five! True genius is incomparable; it’s what makes the so-called geniuses so proud—being leagues above the average.”

“But I feel his expression is just like when he faced that group of seventh-tier assassins,” Hou Manman mused. “Every time I see that look on his face, I want to punch him. No matter how I try to stir things up, I never see any emotion in his eyes.”

The old butler replied, “Perhaps it’s because of the harsh environment he grew up in. Anyone raised in such circumstances wouldn’t be cheerful or carefree.”

Hou Manman smiled faintly. “Maybe he’ll still surprise me.”

The old butler asked, “Do you really think he can defeat Duanmu Ci? It’s unlikely. No matter how talented he is, it’s impossible to advance to the warrior stage in just a few days. Last time, when I watched him kill Fan Zhiming, I estimated he was around Warrior Level Eight. Even for a genius, advancing in that short span takes half a year—ordinary people might take one or two years. It’s only been a few days; if he’s truly advanced, he’d be more than a genius—he’d be a monster.”

Hou Manman chuckled. “A monster? I’d say he’s more of a troublemaker.”

The old butler looked at her reproachfully. “You shouldn’t make things harder for him. If the second master finds out, he’ll blame you. The clan leader values the elder behind Young Master Chu highly. Sending you here was meant to foster a good relationship.”

Hou Manman sighed. “I wasn’t making things difficult for him. I was just stoking the flames between Ye Linglong and him. Who knew that, at the critical moment, this scoundrel would draw all the attention to himself?”

The old butler sighed. “Miss, you’re not stoking the flames, you’re actually helping cement their bond, don’t you see?”

Hou Manman nodded. “When Chu Yun stepped forward to shield Ye Linglong, I realized it. Tell me, old butler, does that mean I’ve lost?”

The old butler smiled. “The fact that the family sent you here means they have great faith in you. If Young Master Chu walks away unscathed today, he’ll become famous throughout Watchtower City. He won’t lack for suitors, and the Ye family won’t be able to keep him. Ye Linglong won’t keep harping on the engagement either.”

“What if he can’t hold out?” Hou Manman asked.

The old butler replied, “Then it depends on what trump card he has left. If he loses, Duanmu Ci will ruin his reputation, which will surely force that mysterious elder to step forward.”

In the arena, Ye Linglong was also watching the two opponents closely. She felt uncertain, for Chu Yun’s adversary this time was Duanmu Ci.

This young man, widely considered the most likely successor to become the next Lord of Watchtower City, had been granted almost all the Duanmu family’s resources. The platform he stood on was not something anyone else could compare to. Not only was he the future of the Duanmu family, but many also saw him as the very future and limit of Watchtower City itself—his rise would determine the city’s influence for years to come.

A youth so highly favored by the city’s most powerful figures naturally shone with a brilliance that was impossible for Chu Yun to match. Although Chu Yun’s sudden display of strength already impressed Ye Linglong, she knew too well that his light would pale in comparison to Duanmu Ci’s dazzling aura—after all, she had grown up watching Duanmu Ci surrounded by glory and admiration.

In the arena, as the two opponents faced off, Chang Kong had already been helped to his feet. He quietly walked behind Duanmu Ci and whispered two words: “Be careful.”

Those words made Duanmu Ci’s eyes narrow.

As a friend who knew his true strength, for Chang Kong to issue such a warning, it meant Chu Yun had put him under considerable pressure just now.

Meanwhile,

At the City Lord’s Mansion, Lord Guo was reviewing the city’s redevelopment plans when he heard an urgent knock at the door. He got up and opened it.

“City Lord! Something’s wrong! The scouts just reported—something’s happened to our city’s future mage!”

Hearing that it was about Chu Yun, Lord Guo immediately asked, “What happened this time?”

“He—he’s gotten into trouble at the Majestic Club. First, he clashed with Cui Yuanhao of the Cui family, and now it looks like he’s gotten into a direct conflict with Duanmu Ci over a girl.”

Lord Guo’s expression changed at the mention of Duanmu Ci. “This isn’t good. Duanmu Ci could easily kill him, and with all the support he has in Watchtower City, he won’t care who Chu Yun is—he’ll just do it! Give me the number for our scout over there—tell him to stop the fight immediately, in my name!”

The subordinate quickly found the number and handed it to Lord Guo.

Knowing it would be too late to get there in person, Lord Guo could only hope the scout could stabilize the situation.

He dialed the number and gave a direct order: “How bad is the conflict?”

On the other end: “They’re about to fight—Young Master Duanmu Ci has entered the arena himself!”

“Stop them at once!” Lord Guo’s face darkened. “Stop them in my name!”

“They’re fighting!” the voice on the other end cried. A few seconds later, he blurted out, “Oh my god!”

“What is it? Is Chu Yun hurt? You must make sure he survives!” Lord Guo shouted anxiously. “Stop Duanmu Ci right now!”

“No, it’s not that!” The scout took a deep breath. “City Lord, Duanmu Ci has been forced back. Chu Yun is on the offensive now!”

Lord Guo’s eyelid twitched. “What did you just say?”

The scout stammered, “C-city Lord, Duanmu Ci… he seems to be at a disadvantage!”

Through the phone, Lord Guo could hear the uproar and cries of astonishment from the scene, drowning out the scout’s own voice.

Amidst the commotion, Lord Guo could clearly make out, “How is this possible? Duanmu Ci is actually losing?”

“Heavens, the greatest prodigy of Watchtower City is about to be defeated by a peer?”

“Who is this Chu Yun? Why haven’t we ever heard of him before?”

“Can you hear me?” Lord Guo yelled into the phone. “What’s happening over there?”

For a long moment, the scout was left speechless, as if suffocating from shock, before finally taking a deep breath, his voice tight with emotion: “City Lord… Duanmu Ci has lost!”

(Two more chapters tonight)