Shince City was a double-edged sword.


    I leaned against the balcony of my temporary residence, watching the city lights flicker in the distance. The dense poption made qi cultivation nearly impossible – the energy here felt stagnant, polluted by the concentrated mass of humanity. Each morning''s meditation yielded less than half what I could achieve in quieter spaces.


    Yet the resources here were undeniable. Yesterday alone, I''d acquired three herbs that were virtually extinct in Havenwood. My fingers traced the outline of the jade pendant beneath my shirt, warm against my skin. With these ingredients, I could advance my alchemical knowledge significantly.


    A sharp knock interrupted my thoughts. "Liam? You ready?" Eamon''s voice called through the door.


    I sighed, mentally shifting gears from cultivation to social obligations. Tonight was the dinner Jaxon had insisted on – a transparent attempt to ingratiate himself with me now that my fortunes had changed.


    "Coming," I called, grabbing my jacket.


    ---


    "To new beginnings and old friends," Jaxon dered, raising his crystal ss in the private dining room of Shince''s most exclusive restaurant.


    I clinked sses mechanically, studying the man across from me. Jaxon Langley – once my colleague, then my tormentor, now suddenly my eager "friend." His expensive suit couldn''t hide the desperation in his eyes.


    Aurora sat beside me, elegant in a midnight blue dress. She''d been a surprise addition to dinner, arriving with Jaxon. Unlike him, her warmth seemed genuine, her recent promotion giving her a quiet confidence.


    "This ce is incredible," she murmured, looking around at the opulent surroundings. "I''ve heard it''s impossible to get reservations without connections."


    Jaxon puffed up immediately. "The head chef owes me a favor," he boasted, signaling for more wine. "One of the perks of knowing everyone worth knowing in Shince City."


    I suppressed a smile. The reservation had clearly cost him dearly – probably several months'' sry – but he was determined to impress.


    "So, Liam," Aurora leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Leopold Shepherd personally handled your business at Eldoria Financial? That''s... unprecedented."


    I shrugged, maintaining my deliberately understated persona. "He was very helpful."


    "Helpful?" Jaxonughed too loudly. "The man never meets with clients directly! He''s practically royalty in banking circles."


    "Aurora tells me you did something for his wife?" Eamon asked quietly.


    I chose my words carefully. "She had health concerns. I provided some traditional remedies that helped."


    Aurora''s eyes widened. "The rumors say you cured terminal cancer."


    "Rumors exaggerate," I replied simply, though it was exactly what had happened.


    Jaxon stared at me with newfound calction in his eyes. I could almost see the wheels turning – how to mize this connection, how to extract value from my sudden rise.


    "We should discuss those clients I mentioned," he said, reaching into his jacket. "I''ve prepared aplete list—" <dfn ss="meta-ref-static">First published on *.</dfn>


    "Not here," I cut him off. "Tomorrow, at my office."


    Disappointment shed across his face before he covered it with a smile. "Of course! More time to enjoy this fantastic meal."


    As tes of exquisitely prepared food arrived, conversation flowed more easily. Aurora spoke of her promotion challenges, Eamon shared stories from his security work, and even Jaxon rxed enough to tell a few genuinely funny anecdotes about Shince''s business elite.


    By the time dessert arrived, Jaxon had consumed most of a bottle of expensive wine himself. His cheeks were flushed, his gestures more expansive.


    "You know what you need to experience while you''re here?" he announced suddenly, leaning across the table. "The Ring."


    "The Ring?" Eamon asked.


    Jaxon''s eyes gleamed with excitement. "Shince City''s special feature. The Underground Boxing Ring. It''s where the real power yers go after hours."


    Aurora frowned. "That sounds awful, Jaxon. Why would Liam want to see people beating each other up?"


    "It''s not just street fights," Jaxon insisted. "Some of those fighters use Inner Strength techniques. Real martial cultivation on disy!"


    That caught my interest. Since awakening my abilities, I''d been eager to witness other cultivators in action – especially inbat scenarios where they wouldn''t be holding back.


    "Are there actually experts who fight there?" I asked.


    Jaxon nodded eagerly. "Not the highest levels, obviously – those guys would kill each other. But I''ve seen techniques that would blow your mind."


    I exchanged nces with Eamon, who gave a subtle nod. "I''m interested," I said.


    Aurora looked concerned. "Are you sure? Those ces can be dangerous."


    "Don''t worry," Jaxon said, already standing up unsteadily. "I''m a regr. Nobody messes with my guests."


    ---


    The "entrance" to The Ring was a nondescript door in the back of a seemingly abandoned warehouse. Two burly men nked it, their faces impassive as Jaxon approached, speaking in low tones. Money changed hands, and suddenly we were being ushered down a narrow concrete stairwell.


    The noise hit us first – a thunderous mixture of shouting, impact sounds, and pulsing music that seemed to vibrate through the walls. Then came the smells – sweat, blood, alcohol, and something else, something primal.


    We emerged into a vast underground space centered around an elevated fighting tform. Hundreds of people surrounded it, drinking, betting, and roaring as two men circled each other in the ring. The crowd was diverse – I spotted wealthy businessmen in designer suits standing shoulder-to-shoulder with tattooed gang members.


    "This is insane," Eamon murmured beside me, his security training clearly making him assess every possible threat.


    Aurora stayed close to my side, visibly ufortable. "I don''t think I should be here," she whispered.


    I was about to suggest she leave when one of the fightersunched forward with inhuman speed. His fist connected with his opponent''s chest, and a visible ripple of energy spread from the impact point. The second man flew backward, crashing into the reinforced barrier around the tform.


    "Inner Strength," I breathed, recognizing the technique.


    Jaxon grinned triumphantly. "Told you! This isn''t amateur hour."


    He led us to a raised area with private tables overlooking the ring. More money changed hands, and suddenly we had a premium spot with a bottle service attendant hovering nearby.


    "Jaxon Langley," a female voice cut through the din. "Finally found someone willing to pay your tab?"


    A striking woman with short ck hair and predatory eyes approached our table. She wore fitted leather pants and an expression of amused contempt.


    Jaxon''s face tightened. "Vivian. Lovely as always."


    "Who are your friends?" she asked, ignoring his sarcasm and examining our group with open curiosity.


    "Business associates," Jaxon answered vaguely, clearly ufortable.


    "They look too respectable for you," sheughed, her gaze lingering on me. "Especially this one. He doesn''t belong in a ce like this."


    Before Jaxon could respond, a muscr man appeared behind Vivian, draping an arm possessively around her shoulders. His knuckles were wrapped in bloodied tape – clearly one of the fighters.


    "Langley," he sneered. "Still pretending you matter?"


    Jaxon''s face reddened. "We''re just enjoying the fights, Decker."


    "With a couple corporate drones and..." Decker''s gaze shifted to Aurora, who shrank under his scrutiny. "A good girl? How cute."


    "Let''s just watch the fights," I suggested calmly, not wanting to escte the situation.


    Vivian''spanionughed roughly. "She doesn''t look like much of a good girl to me," he said, nodding toward Aurora. "Behind that innocent face, she''s probably been passed around more than—"


    My chair scraped back before I consciously decided to stand. The noise of the crowd suddenly seemed distant, my focus narrowing to the smirking face before me.


    Aurora''s soft gasp cut through my concentration. Her eyes were wide with humiliation, her cheeks burning red. Jaxon sat frozen, his earlier bravado evaporated.


    "Apologize," I said simply, my voice quiet but carrying an unmistakable edge.


    Decker stepped closer, towering over me. Blood still fresh on his knuckles, he radiated the confidence of someone unused to being challenged. "Or what, suit? You''ll file aint?"


    I felt the jade pendant warm against my chest, responding to my rising energy. Eamon tensed beside me, ready to intervene, but I subtly motioned for him to stand down.


    The crowd around us had begun to notice the confrontation, conversations dying as attention shifted our way. In the ring, the current fight continued, but here in our corner, a different kind of battle was brewing.


    Vivian watched with naked interest, her eyes calcting as she assessed me. "Careful, Decker," she murmured, though loud enough for me to hear. "This one''s not what he seems."


    Decker was unimpressed. "Look around you, corporate boy. You''re in The Ring now. Different rules apply here." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "So what''s it gonna be? Going to defend the honor of your little girlfriend?"


    The pendant grew hotter, my qi cirction responding automatically to the threat. I could end this in seconds – a flicker of my awakened power would be enough to put this man down. But that would reveal too much, draw too much attention.


    I was still deciding my approach when another woman sidled up behind Vivian, eyeing Aurora with open disdain. She was taller than Vivian, with borate tattoos snaking up her arms and a cruel twist to her lips.


    "A good girl?" she sneered, looking Aurora up and down. "She clearly pretends. Behind her back, she might have been yed out by others!"


    The insult hung in the air like a physical thing. The crowd around us fell silent, avid spectators waiting for what would happen next.