Then I'll Wait for You

Here he comes!

Lin Chen stepped onto the stage, gripping his Cloud-Splitting Staff.

Kim Jung-ho’s face lit up with triumph.

Ever since Lin Chen had burst onto the scene, he had been keeping an eye on him. Facing Lin Chen in battle had been his long-held desire. As a practitioner of staff techniques himself, he was eager to measure his skills against this warrior who had mastered the essence of the Great Xia’s diverse staff schools.

"Lin Chen!"

"Lin Chen!"

The women in the crowd erupted into screams, cheering him on—his presence alone had already won half the battle.

"Go, Jung-ho!"

"Invincible Lone Wolf!"

The assassins of Rakshasa also roared in support of Kim Jung-ho.

Of course, cheers aside, none of them actually believed Jung-ho stood a chance against Lin Chen. After all, this was the Grim Reaper who had taken down Raphael, Heaven’s strongest fighter!

"Thunderbird!"

Kim Jung-ho didn’t hold back, immediately unleashing his ultimate move. His figure blurred like lightning as he shot forward.

Lin Chen didn’t even flinch. His Cloud-Splitting Staff whistled through the air, striking back faster than Jung-ho’s attack.

Jung-ho reacted swiftly, raising his staff to block.

Clang!

The two staffs collided.

A numbing pain shot through Jung-ho’s arm.

His three-section staff clattered to the ground.

Before he could even process what had happened, Lin Chen’s staff was already pointed at his throat.

"This…"

Gene the Mechanical Hand and the other Rakshasa assassins exchanged stunned glances.

They knew Lin Chen was strong, but they hadn’t expected him to end the fight in a single exchange.

Kim Jung-ho was someone who could go toe-to-toe with Ariel, the leader of Heaven!

Yet Lin Chen’s strength was on an entirely different level.

Chen Bing sighed. "This guy… still doesn’t know how to hold back."

"Alright, I surrender."

Kim Jung-ho raised his hands in defeat, his voice tinged with frustration. "Your staff skills are superior. I concede."

"The Grim Reaper of Asura Gate truly lives up to his reputation."

The overwhelming gap in their abilities left him disheartened.

"You fought well," Lin Chen replied calmly, retracting his staff.

"Lin Chen! I love you!"

"My doors are always open for you!"

A chorus of cheers erupted as the women of the Rose Hall surged forward, nearly mobbing him.

Then—a sniper rifle clicked into place.

Silence fell instantly.

Su Xue’er adjusted her glasses, holstered the rifle, and smirked triumphantly before following Lin Chen.

"Ah, A-Chen… I came all the way from the capital. It’s been days since we last met, hasn’t it?"

"Mn."

"Did you notice? I got new glasses. Do they look good?"

Chen Bing pushed up his black-framed glasses and grinned at the dejected Kim Jung-ho. "You should’ve challenged him two months ago. His strength now is unfathomable."

Kim Jung-ho sighed. "He’s even stronger than I imagined."

"Ha! Serves you right, rookie," the assassins teased.

"Piss off!" Jung-ho snapped. "At least I had the guts to fight! Could any of you do better?"

"Come on, let’s toast to the Lone Wolf’s defeat!"

"Go to hell! I’m not drinking—glug glug!"

The atmosphere was electric, but soon, a question arose among the crowd.

"Where’s the Gate Lord, An Yi?"

"Friends, raise your glasses—drain them dry!"

An Yi, arriving fashionably late, extinguished the flames at his feet and materialized in the center of the gathering.

The crowd erupted.

"Bottoms up!"

In an instant, the grandest firework of the night exploded across the sky, illuminating all of Asura Island.

"Gate Lord! A toast from Wang Xuan of the Righteous Faction!"

"Boss, first time meeting you—I’ll drink first. You take your time!"

"Big bro…"

What followed was pure torture for An Yi.

Round after round of toasts, an endless cycle of drinking.

The members of Asura Gate seemed to have conspired—each faction took turns offering drinks. First the Rakshasa assassins, then the Rose Hall and 16K from Hong Kong, followed by the Underworld faction, and finally the Elephant Corps…

An Yi prided himself on his alcohol tolerance, but even he was soon reeling, utterly disoriented.

As the Gate Lord, he was the center of attention on this grand occasion—there was no refusing.

Then, the spotlight shifted.

The crowd hushed, turning their gazes toward the stage.

"F-Finally… I’m saved!" An Yi slurred, his face flushed with intoxication.

Shangguan Qianqian stepped into the light, breathtaking in her resplendent attire.

Normally cool and aloof, tonight she was a vision in a fiery red gown—an angel fallen into hell, perfectly balancing allure and elegance.

Her slender, curvaceous figure, porcelain skin beneath the crimson silk, and flawlessly sculpted features outshone even the most stunning women of the Rose Hall.

Yet, for some reason, she looked slightly weary, her complexion paler than usual.

"Shangguan Qianqian!"

"Qianqian!!!!"

The men below went wild, screaming her name.

Who was the most popular female singer in Great Xia right now?

Shangguan Qianqian—without question. Her fame extended internationally, and even the foreign assassins of Rakshasa roared for her.

The moment she lifted the microphone, her crystal-clear voice filled the air, and the crowd fell silent.

"How can I describe you most fittingly?"

"What can compare to you to make it special?"

"My feelings for you are intense,"

"Yet I don’t fully understand—just following intuition."

Thousands raised their hands, singing along.

The chorus of voices was awe-inspiring.

"You’re like the comfort of a quilt,"

"Yet elusive as the wind."

"Like the scent of perfume on a wrist,"

"Like the red high heels I can’t resist."

"You drank this much?"

Qin Yao snatched An Yi from Mikawa Nako’s grasp, supporting him as they staggered back to his room.

Seeing him barely able to walk, she sighed.

"I-I’m not drunk… pfft, I’m the Night Emperor…"

An Yi grinned, his face beet red, looking adorably silly.

"Sure, sure. You’re not drunk. You’re the strongest in the world," Qin Yao humored him, guiding him like a child.

Back in his room, she carefully wiped the spilled alcohol from his clothes and struggled to remove his jacket.

"W-Wait, why bother with all this?"

Still dazed, An Yi clenched his fists—and his upper garments exploded into shreds.

"Let’s keep going!"

He forced his eyes open, then tackled a stunned Qin Yao onto the bed.

As her clothes were tossed aside one by one, she panicked. "W-Wait! I’m not ready yet!"

"What’s there to prepare for?"

An Yi, still drunk, smirked before kissing her.

A jolt of electricity shot through her—her mind went blank.

Qin Yao’s eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings as she slowly closed her eyes, surrendering to the moment.

Her arms wrapped around An Yi’s neck.

Then, he moved from her lips, trailing kisses down her chin—

"Wait…"

Blushing furiously, Qin Yao didn’t resist. Finally, as if resigning herself, she shut her eyes.

But after a long pause… nothing happened.

"Hey?" she whispered.

Only the sound of An Yi’s soft snoring answered her.

He had fallen asleep on top of her.

"Idiot!"

Unsure whether to be disappointed or annoyed, Qin Yao rolled her eyes, gently shifting him onto the bed and tucking him in.

Her fingers brushed his cheek, and she smiled. "Jerk… even asleep, you’re infuriating."

After redressing, she turned to leave—

When An Yi suddenly grabbed her hand.

"Don’t go."

Qin Yao paused, let out a soft sigh, and lay back down by the bedside, gazing at him tenderly as she murmured, "Mm, I won’t leave."

An Yi pulled Qin Yao into his embrace, his voice slurred as he whispered, "I came to save you. Wait for me... you have to wait for me."

Her delicate frame trembled slightly. Qin Yao looked at An Yi, then relaxed as if resolved, replying gently, "Mm, then I’ll wait for you."