World of Rules

4: Arrival in the City and Payment in Blood

"Di" finally reached the city after hours of traveling through the forest. Before him stood towering stone walls, adorned with banners bearing different symbols—marking the forces that ruled within. He didn’t need to ask; from the words of the man he had killed earlier, he already knew that this was the city controlled by three powerful families.

He approached the main gate, where armed guards monitored the incoming travelers. The city was bustling with life—merchants and travelers moving in and out under the watchful eyes of the guards.

Without hesitation, "Di" moved forward. As he neared, a tall guard holding a spear stopped him.

"Stop, stranger. What’s your name? And what is your purpose in entering the city?"

"Di" looked at the guard expressionlessly and replied in a calm voice, "Just a traveler."

The guard narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing him, but found nothing suspicious about his appearance—except for the strange aura he couldn't quite define. After a moment of hesitation, he gestured to the other guard. "Let him pass."

Without caring about the guard’s reaction, "Di" stepped into the city without looking back.

---

Upon entering, he found himself on a wide, stone-paved street lined with wooden and stone buildings. The marketplace was alive with people—vendors shouting their wares, the clashing of metal echoing from blacksmith shops. This was a real city, where both the strong and the weak coexisted.

But "Di" had no interest in the market or the crowds. He needed information about the three ruling families.

---

The Three Families

This city was ruled by three major families, each possessing a First-Class, Late-Rank Base Master, making them formidable forces in this region.

The city was like an unspoken battlefield, where the three families vied for absolute control, yet the balance between them remained intact—for now.

"Forbidden Maps of the Southern Barren Region"

Grabbing them all, he exited the shop silently, disappearing into a dark alleyway.

Sitting on a smooth rock, he opened one of the scrolls and began reading.

---

"This land belongs to no one, yet it is not without rulers. Three families stand atop the ruins of authority, controlling resources and deciding who lives and who vanishes into the shadows."

1. The Mo Family: Known for their brutality and control over mercenary forces. Their Base Master, Mo Ting, was a towering man with bulging muscles, rumored to be able to crush a man with a single hand.

2. The Lian Family: Dominating trade and the city's economy. Their Base Master, Lian Feng, had a calm demeanor but was dangerous—whispers claimed he could kill without anyone realizing how.

3. The Xu Family: Masters of intelligence and secret assassinations. Their Base Master, Xu Jian, was a mystery. Little was known about him, but it was said that he had never failed a single kill.

---

Closing the scroll, "Di’s" gaze grew colder.

"Three beasts fighting in a small cage..." he muttered.

Lifting his head, he stared at the gray sky above the city, where clouds drifted slowly, as if awaiting the coming storm.

"It’s time to play."

Then, he vanished into the darkness, leaving behind a torn page fluttering in the wind.