Not a Fox, But a Bear
In over ten years as a gatekeeper, this was the first time he'd witnessed such outrageous behavior. Once the shock faded, anger boiled up inside him. He absolutely could not tolerate this kind of disruption. Even if the intruders had brought two experts along, it wouldn't be a problem. The Tougi Association's backing was far too formidable to be shaken by something like that.
"Urgh... how dare you! Do you even know where you are?!"
The snake-masked man raised his voice and yanked hard at the hand gripping his collar. Thwack! Surprisingly, the collar came free with ease. The snake-masked man's expression shifted.
What the...? This guy's not all that tough after all?
The scary ones were just that bear and fox pair. If he could subdue this Golden Dragon punk who seemed to be the leader and use him as leverage...? Things might resolve themselves smoothly. A smirk crept back onto the snake-masked man's lips.
"You arrogant bastard. Time to learn your place."
Shiiik! Just as the snake-masked man's sharpened hand blade sliced toward the Golden Dragon man's throat—
"Enough."
A soft voice cut through the air. Yet the snake-masked man's hand jerked to a halt as if struck by lightning. It was an instinctive bodily reaction that overrode reason.
"L-Lord?!"
The man in the blue mask who had suddenly appeared and issued the command was clearly no ordinary figure. The snake-masked man couldn't even meet his gaze properly, immediately bowing his head low.
"Now, now, would you mind calling off your side as well?"
The blue-masked man addressed the spot where the bear and fox were mercilessly pummeling the cleaning martial artists. The Golden Dragon man tilted his head slightly.
"Stand down."
Only then did the bear and fox halt their assault. The Golden Dragon man turned his gaze to the blue-masked man.
"Hah, finally someone who can hold a conversation."
"Thank you for your understanding, sir."
The blue-masked man smiled warmly. The snake-masked man panicked.
"L-Lord! These fox scum rebelled against proper procedure and—"
Wham!
"Guhk!"
A ruthless kick from the blue-masked man sent the snake-masked one sprawling helplessly with a scream. Crunch! Crack! Thud! Thud! Thud! The blue-masked man stomped down mercilessly on the fallen man.
"You fucking idiot! Should I gouge out those worthless eyes that can't even recognize a VIP guest? You useless worm, can't even do your damn job!"
"Guh... guuuuh...!"
The snake-masked man let out a gurgling wail as blood sprayed from his mouth—internal injuries on top of broken bones. Anyone could see he was gravely wounded. And finally...
Thud.
He stopped twitching altogether and passed out cold. Only then did the blue-masked man turn back to the Golden Dragon man.
"I must apologize once more for my incompetent subordinate's rudeness."
"Hmph. Since you handled it swiftly and appropriately, we'll let it slide."
"Your magnanimity is appreciated, sir."
"That aside, I'm not pleased with how things have gone so far."
"I sensed you had some concerns, which is why I came right away."
"Ah, it's nothing major."
The Golden Dragon man pointed at the fox woman.
"That beady-eyed fool called my precious pet fox a human. Can you believe it? Naturally, as her owner, I'm quite displeased."
There was an old idiom: pointing at a deer and calling it a horse. But the Golden Dragon man's words went far beyond that. Calling a human a fox? Absurd.
Yet the blue-masked man nodded repeatedly with a smile.
"I understand completely. How offensive. Calling such a splendid pet fox a human? His eyes must be rotten beyond repair—I have no words for it."
"Hahaha! Now we're getting somewhere. Feels like a weight off my chest."
The Golden Dragon man burst into laughter, as if a grievance had been lifted. "Awooooo!" The fox woman howled in response, high and clear. It was a scene where the world's common sense seemed utterly upended.
Pfft.
The bear man finally couldn't hold back and snorted with laughter.
"Hey."
The Golden Dragon man shot him a sharp glare. "Ah, sorry, sorry. Something funny happened back home..." The bear man forcibly suppressed his laughter, staring up at the sky to avoid bursting out again.
"So, no more issues with us entering now?"
The Golden Dragon man asked.
"Of course not, sir. I'll open the door right away."
The blue-masked man nodded toward his rear. Rumble... Machinery whirred to life, and an entrance materialized from what had been blank wall—a staircase leading underground. That had to be the secret fighting pit.
"Alright, everyone, let's head in."
The bear man and fox woman moved forward. The fox woman, of course, on all fours. Snap. The Golden Dragon man grabbed the leash again. They started descending, but paused once more.
"Oh, and I was going to mention this inside, but you seem like a high-ranking fellow, so it might be quicker to tell you directly."
"By all means, sir."
"I heard spectators can enter as fighters."
"It depends on the circumstances—sometimes yes, sometimes no."
"I don't care about the details. I want to put one of my own in as a fighter this time. Can you accommodate? I figure it's good for your hype too."
Hype. That was crucial even in a secret fighting pit like this. Spectators didn't shell out fortunes for boring, tepid bouts. Brutality, ferocity, thrill, satisfaction, elegance... anything would do, as long as it entertained. Fighters capable of delivering that drew the crowds.
Such talents were rare. The Tougi Association treated them specially. No need to hesitate if one presented itself.
"Which one did you have in mind, sir?"
"The bear."
"Excellent."
A fox would have been a jackpot, no question. But the bear was a solid mid-tier prize. Swallowing a twinge of regret, the blue-masked man smiled.
"Of course—we'd be delighted. As expected of a VIP."
"Heh, works out for both of us. While we're at it, one more request."
"Yes?"
"Black Dream Butterfly. I'd like him matched against her, if possible."
Black Dream Butterfly. She too received special treatment—a fighter whose ruthless yet elegant style captivated audiences. Pitting her against the bear? It promised a compelling matchup.
"Done. We'll slot him into Group A."
Group A. Reserved for fighters with at least ten victories—the most popular bracket. But exceptions existed for true elites. First-rate or higher? Doors opened wide. First-rate mastery was qualification enough.
And to his eye, the bear looked a bit sloppy but definitely first-rate. Qualified.
"Pleasure doing business."
The Golden Dragon man grinned in satisfaction. The blue-masked man spoke up again.
"Just one thing."
"Hm?"
"He'll need to win all the way to face her. If he follows the usual pattern."
Black Dream Butterfly was undefeated. Reaching her meant claiming the top spot. Unless grouped together—and the blue-masked man had no intention of that. The real thrill belonged in the finals.
An established star was fine, but a fresh face like the bear in the finale? That could spice things up. If he made it. Either way, Black Dream Butterfly would win.
"Haha, no issue there. A scrub knocked out early doesn't deserve her anyway, right?"
"Thank you for understanding."
"Looks like I've said my piece. Time to head in."
"One moment, sir."
"Yes?"
"We'll escort you to the VIP seats. You deserve the best."
"Hahat, you know how to run a business. Sharp customer service is the key to prosperity."
"Wise words, like gold and jade. This way, please. An attendant with proper eyesight will guide you."
Once the Golden Dragon man's group descended and the secret entrance sealed shut, the blue-masked man finally let out an incredulous chuckle.
And then.
"You fucking moron."
Slash! A flash of blue sword light, and the snake-masked man's head rolled across the ground.
Those dog eyes deserved death. He hadn't even recognized such a very special VIP.
"One of a kind. A guest like that."
A man who stripped a woman naked, shoved a tail up her ass, and paraded her as a pet? Might exist somewhere. But if she was a female super peak expert? Impossible. Peak expert at that? Even more so.
Peak experts commanded utmost respect across the Central Plains, even from the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families. They were rare, revered. To strip one bare, plug a tail in her ass, and treat her like a pet? That man was no ordinary VIP. A very special one.
And the bear he unleashed as a fighter...
"This'll be fun."
The blue-masked man grinned slyly. Truth be told, even he couldn't quite gauge the bear. His fist packed serious internal energy, yet his movements felt clumsy. Mid first-rate? It fit, but not perfectly.
Whatever the case, if he climbed the bracket...
"He'll make a fine meal for Black Dream Butterfly."
A delightful image formed in the blue-masked man's mind.