This time, Bai Xi made a fatal mistake.


    He had forgotten one thing.


    He was facing Alex.


    Alex shouted without hesitation, "Immortal Lu. Immortal Sun. My uncle said that if I dared to take the seal, he would kill me. He clearly has no respect for the two of you."


    Bai Xi''s face drained of color. His brain shut downpletely.


    He never imagined Alex would pull a move like this-dropping the ultimate snitch card and hauling the immortals straight into the fight like it was nothing.


    Sun Muran''s expression turned cold. She took one step forward.


    “So, Bai Xi, you little pig" she said calmly, "do you truly have no regard for us? Do you want me to remove your head before you are willing to hand over the position?"


    The pressure hit Bai Xi like a mountain copsing.


    His legs buckled. His body mmed into the ground, kneeling against his will.


    "I''m sorry! I''m sorry!" Bai Xi cried, panic breaking through hisposure. "Immortal Sun, this matter is merely a family misunderstanding. I''ll give the City Lord''s seal right now! Please forgive me!"


    This was Bai Xi to the core-cruel to the weak, pitiful before the strong.


    He scrambled forward, his voice trembling. "My nephew... I was wrong. Please, just take the seal!"


    He practically threw it at Alex.


    Alex caught it and lowered his gaze.


    The ck-gold seal rested in his palm.


    It was small-norger than his hand-yet impossibly heavy. Dragons and clouds were carved into its surface, ancient and imposing. At its center were the words: Qingshui City.


    Power, authority, and countless lives were bound to this single object.


    Alex allowed a smile to spread across his face.


    It looked like joy.


    In truth, it was only an act.


    Because his next n was simple-to escape Xia as fast as possible and return to Estoria.


    He raised the City Lord''s seal high above his head.


    "From this moment on," Alex shouted, his voice ringing across the square, “I, Bai Xiaochun, am the one and only City Lord of Qingshui City!"


    The crowd erupted.


    Cheers burst out from every direction, loud and unrestrained.


    Alex stepped forward and met Bai Xi''s gaze. He smiled broadly-mocking, sharp,


    merciless. He reached out and patted Bai Xi on the shoulder.


    “Uncle,” Alex said softly, almost kindly, "you may rest now. From this moment forward, the burden of Qingshui City belongs to me."


    Bai Xi''s smile stiffened. "Xiaochun... you—”


    “Everyone,” Alex said loudly, cutting him off.


    "I know this city has suffered under a false City Lord. I know you all carry grievances that were buried and ignored."


    He swept his gaze across the crowd.


    "Starting today, as the true City Lord, you maye to me. Tell me your injustices. Together, we will settle what has been dyed for far too long."


    His eyes hardened.


    "Under the heavens, justice must stand upright. We will no longer allow rats and pigs to trample the people of this city."


    The square fell silent for a heartbeat.


    Then the cheers rose again-louder than before.


    A roar of cheers exploded across the square.


    Men mmed their fists against their chests. Women wiped tears from their faces.


    Children screamed andughed, jumping in ce.


    "Did he just call Bai Xi a pig?" someone whispered.


    "He did!” another muttered, barely holding backughter. “Even his insults don''t hold back."


    Alex slowly lowered the seal. His gaze dropped deliberately to Bai Xi, sharp and cold.


    “Uncle,” Alex said evenly, "I promise I won''t disappoint you. I will investigate every act of corruption, every crime youmitted against the people—and I will make sure you live the rest of your life in misery."


    Bai Xi finally snapped.


    "How dare you!" he roared. "I am thew here! Who dares to judge me?"


    Alex didn''t flinch.


    "Thew of Heavenes first," he said calmly. "Thew of the peoplees second-becausews exist to protect the people. Without the people, there is no country. Without a country, there is no king. You are nothing but a minor city judge- how dare you ce yourself above the people? Even if you call yourself thew, you still have to bend, bow, and kneel before them."


    The crowd erupted. Apuse thundered through the square. Voices rose in fierce agreement, shouts ovepping as people mmed their hands together and cried out their support.


    Alex continued, “And you you have hurt the people for far too long. I will gather every one of your crimes and let Immortal Lu and Immortal Sun deliver Heaven''s judgment upon you."


    Bai Xi''s face flushed red.


    Fear shed through his eyes. He understood immediately-Alex was dangerous. He was trying to use Immortal Sun''s authority to crush himpletely.


    Alex understood something too.


    If Bai Xi survived this moment, if he lived long enough for the immortals to leave, he would have countless ways to strike back. Bai Xi would never stop until Alex was dead.


    So the only option was clear.


    Kill him before he could be killed.


    Bai Xi sensed the danger instantly. One wrong move, and he would die here.


    In a heartbeat, Bai Xi transformed.


    He smiled gently, the calm smile of a seasoned actor. He bowed deeply, his posture humble and respectful.


    "Nephew," he said smoothly, "you haven''t seen the full picture. You cannot pass judgment without evidence. Of course, if mistakes were made, then they should be judged properly."


    He straightened and turned toward the crowd, spreading his arms.


    "Citizens of Qingshui City, our city is finally back in the hands of its rightful lord. May Heaven bless us all."


    Then his voice sharpened, just enough to carry a warning.


    "But I must caution everyone-using people without proof is dangerous. Some


    may take offense. Some may seek revenge."


    The smile never left his face.


    But the threat beneath it was clear to everyone who listened.


    Everyone knew what Bai Xi was doing.


    It was a threat.


    He had ties to the city''s underworld-ck-market groups, powerful merchants, even so-called unorthodox sects. Any one of them could make people disappear. Any one of them could kill without consequence.


    No one dared to speak first.


    "I still hold the position of magistrate,” Bai Xi said coldly. "Do not make a mistake, or


    you will fall into my hands."


    Then he turned and bowed toward the immortals.


    "Immortal Lu. Immortal Sun. Thank you for upholding Heaven''s will. Please allow me


    to take my leave."


    Li Qingxue nodded once and turned away, uninterested.


    Sun Muran let out a mockingugh. "Try not to let me see you again, little pig."


    Bai Xi''s face burned red.


    He was fifty-five years old and yet he was being called "little pig" by someone who looked barely twenty.


    He forced augh and bowed again. He knew better than to show anger. Immortals could appear young even after living for hundreds of years.


    Without another word, Bai Xi waved his hand. His soldiers closed ranks around him,


    and together they marched out through the gate.


    The moment they were gone, the square erupted.


    Cheers,ughter, and shouting filled the air.


    But as the noise slowly faded, a hoarse voice shouted from the back of the crowd.


    "City Lord Bai Xiaochun! We have grievances!"


    The atmosphere changed instantly.


    Theughter died. The joy drained away.


    Dozens of vigers stepped forward. They clutched rolled-up petitions, stained letters, even scraps of cloth covered in shaky ink.


    "My husband disappearedst month," a woman cried, tears streaming down her face. “He refused to pay a bribe!"


    Another voice followed, raw with grief. "My daughter was taken to the magistrate''s office two months ago. She never came back!"


    “Our farnd was seized without exnation," an old man shouted. "The next day,


    a rich merchant owned it. We have no food left. Our children are starving!"


    A restaurant owner pushed forward, shaking with rage. "For four months, Bai Xi and his soldiers ate at my shop and never paid a single coin! When demanded what they owed, they threw my son and daughter into jail for no reason!"


    The crowd surged.


    Voices ovepped. Tears, anger, and desperation spilled out all at once.


    It was as if a dam had finally burst.


    Stories poured out one after another-corruptionid bare, sons and daughters vanishing without a trace, cruel punishments handed down for nothing, homes andnd seized by greedy officials.


    Alex felt his thoughts spin.


    No wonder they hated Bai Xi.


    He lifted his gaze toward Li Qingxue and Sun Muran. Both immortal maidens were watching him closely. Their expressions were calm, distant, the untouched by the


    suffer.ne


    around them. There was no warmth in their eyes-only indifference.


    To them, mortals were beneath notice. Troubles like this were usually not worth their


    time.


    "City Lord of Qingshui," Sun Muran called.


    Alex immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply. “I, Bai Xiaochun, await yourmand. Please instruct me."


    Li Qingxue looked at him coldly. "Something—or someone may be already


    entering this city. If you or your people notice anything unusual, contact us immediately."


    She flicked her wrist and tossed a sheet of talisman paper toward Alex.


    "If you find anything out of the ordinary, activate this talisman. We wille."


    Alex caught it with both hands and bowed again. “Thank you, Immortal. I will report anything suspicious at once."


    Without another word, Li Qingxue and Sun Muran rose into the air. Their figures blurred, then vanished into the sky, leaving Alex alone with the crowd.


    The square felt heavier without them.


    Zhuge Liang stepped forward at just the right moment, his voice steady and


    confident. "Young Master Bai," he said loudly, "the people of Qingshui do not ask for miracles. We ask only for justice."


    He swept his gaze across the crowd.


    "There are honest officials in this


    city-men who refused to kneel to


    corruption and to Bai Xi. They were dismissed, imprisoned, or destroyed by him Release them. Restore Restore them to their posts and let them serve


    you. They will help stabilize the city and strengthen your position as City Lord in your fight against Bai Xi''s remaining power."


    Alex looked at him carefully.


    This man wasn''t just clever. He understood power.


    The surrounding citizens bowed in unison. “Please give us justice, City Lord."


    Alex let out a slow sigh.


    “Fine,” he said quietly.


    ''Let''s y the part of a good City Lord-for now, while I recover from my injuries.


    And when everything finally calms down, I''ll disappear from this ce without a


    trace.''