Faith in Power

By sunset,

What a busy day…

Bai Ci sighed.

After hours of wandering, he’d mapped out most of Sin City’s layout and structure.

I wonder how Xiya’s doing…

The thought made his head ache.

She was so well-behaved last night…

Just as he prepared to return to the inn for some rest,

a muffled thud echoed from a nearby alley—flesh hitting stone—followed by broken pleas.

What now?

Driven by curiosity, Bai Ci followed the sound—and caught sight of a familiar figure.

It was that youth from the inn this morning…

the strange one who had stared at him all afternoon.

What’s he doing here?

Bai Ci made no noise, hiding in the shadows to observe silently.

“Please, stop! I’ll repay your money in just a few days!
Just give me a little more time… only a few days!”
“It’s all because of those Holy Heaven Army guards at the gate—I was this close to slipping out!
If I could’ve gotten past Sin City, my goods would’ve sold for a fortune! Not only your fifty gold coins, but anything else you want—”

In the damp, dim alley, a middle-aged man clung desperately to the youth’s legs, his snot and tears smearing the edge of the black cloak.

Several hooded figures stood motionless around the youth like statues.

“…Enough.”

The youth gazed coldly at the pale, trembling man:

“More time?”
“Do you know I’ve spent days searching every casino and pleasure street in Sin City just to find you?”

“Sir, I’m truly desperate…”
“You know my cargo—top-grade spirit bones! The nobles in the capital would pay any price!”

The youth waved a hand, clearly impatient.

“I sympathize. Surviving here isn’t easy for anyone…”
“But…”
“As a member of my church—where did you get the nerve to steal that chest of gold?”

“I was wrong! I… it was just a moment of madness!”

“When you stole it, did you think about today?”

His voice was soft, yet the man on the ground trembled like a leaf in a storm.

“I gave you a chance—one week to repay it all, no consequences.”
“But you didn’t take it.”

“The capital has its laws. Sin City has its own rules.”

“I’ll let you live. But you need to learn your lesson.”

The man’s pupils shrank. He screamed:
“I’ll add twenty more gold! No—thirty!”
“Just let me leave the city…”

“You said… leave the city?”

“Yes, sir! I can get out! I bribed the Holy Heaven Army guards long ago.”

Realizing the youth showed interest, the man seized the lifeline:
“I’ve already arranged everything. Once I sell my goods, I’ll give you thirty percent of the profits…”

The youth suddenly smiled.

“Oh? The guards you bribed…” He gently patted the man’s cheek.
“They were killed a few days ago.”

The words drained the man’s strength. He slumped against the cold wall, lifeless.

Those Holy Heaven soldiers… could they have been the ones I killed when entering the city? Bai Ci wondered from the shadows.

Sorry, man… I got you into this beating…

The youth looked at the man like a wet stray dog—disgusted, indifferent.

“Did you know three new squads of Holy Heaven Army arrived recently?”

The man shook his head in terror—he already sensed his fate.

“Let me tell you—three squads!”
“And a new commander arrived too. A Fifth-Tier Sorcerer…”

Bai Ci recalled—the commander must be that woman named Qi Qiao.

“So why do you still cling to such delusions?”
“You’ll never leave this city. Your goods will never reach the outside.”
“Now that you know the truth—do you still believe you can repay the Church?”

The youth grinned—a smile so chilling it froze the air.

Despair filled the man’s heart. He knew the youth’s true identity:
He was Luo Yu—the heir of the Shiyu Church, the strongest power in Sin City.

“If there are no further issues, take him away. Lock him in the Church Prison for a few days. I’ll decide his punishment when I have time.”

Luo Yu glanced at the surrounding hooded figures.
“And remind the others—no more deaths in custody.”

“Prison?! No! I won’t go!”
The man broke down, screaming hysterically.
“There aren’t many alive left in this city—we should treat each other with kindness…”

Luo Yu ignored the pleas. He knew exactly how to deal with men like this.

“Yes, Lord Luo Yu,” the hooded figures replied respectfully.

Frowning in annoyance, Luo Yu waved a hand. They moved behind the man, dragging him away despite his frantic struggles.

“I don’t want to go! Spare me! Please… spare me…”
“Shut up, you worthless scum!”

The man’s hoarse cries faded as he was pulled deeper into the darkness.

Luo Yu turned, gazing at Sin City’s gray sky. His clenched fists slowly opened.

After a moment, a faint sigh escaped him—relief, or sorrow?
No one knew what thoughts stirred within.

Luo Yu knew—as heir of the Shiyu Church, he existed to enforce order through strength.

To rebuild a nation in this city of sin, mercy and leniency alone would not suffice.

In Sin City, scenes like this played out daily.
No one could change it. Those who could, had forgotten this place.

Here, power was the only law.

“Where does this hatred inside me come from?”

A gust blew back Luo Yu’s hood, revealing a sharp-featured face framed by messy ash-gray hair.

“Hmm? Who’s there?”

He didn’t turn, but he felt the presence behind him.

“Found out already…” Bai Ci sighed.

With no choice, he stepped out from the shadows, scratching his head.

“Who are you?”

“Just a passerby. Carry on.”

Bai Ci shrugged, making no effort to engage.
Then he turned to leave.

But as soon as he took a step forward, Luo Yu blocked his path.

They stood frozen for over thirty seconds.

“You’ve been here the whole time?”

Luo Yu finally broke the icy silence.

“No. Just passing by. Don’t mind me.”

“Oh?”

Luo Yu studied Bai Ci—someone roughly his age—with sudden interest.
“I’ve seen you before.”
“The Sorcerer from Lilith Inn… we meet again.”

“Sorry, it’s late. I need to rest.”

Bai Ci yawned, ignoring the youth.

Luo Yu was intrigued.
Who was this person—able to speak so calmly, so casually, to him?

What he didn’t know was that Bai Ci, an outsider to this world,
had no idea of Luo Yu’s authority in Sin City.

Luo Yu casually glanced aside, asking:
“What’s your name?”

“Bai Ci.”

“Bai Ci… interesting.”

Luo Yu repeated the name, tasting it. Then, in the next instant—

he lunged like a drawn blade,

a dagger flashing toward Bai Ci’s throat.