The King of Urban Mercenaries

Upon hearing his brother speak like that, claiming their father was in the City Lord Mansion, Gai Xiaolian found it odd. Really? She felt a bit skeptical, for after so many years, if he was truly in the City Lord Mansion, why hadn’t anyone discovered him? And why hadn’t he appeared?

Full of doubt, Gai Xiaolian entered the City Lord Mansion and went behind the City Lord’s chair. She stretched out her hand, infusing True Qi into the wall and simultaneously doing the same underfoot to detect any hidden mechanisms.

Finally, Gai Xiaolian was startled and delivered a swift palm strike, causing a large hole to open. Within the hole, there was still light, although extinguished by the blast, yet Luminous Pearls continued to illuminate the area, and light spilled in, brightening the space.

Gai Xiaolian approached the opening and entered the cave. She followed the path downward and eventually reached a vast space—like a small world!

In the miniature world, there were flowers, grass, water, mountains, bridges, houses, bird songs, and flower fragrances. Under the stone pavilion, a person sat, sipping tea and gazing at the chessboard before him.

His identity and appearance bore a resemblance to the City Lord outside, though the City Lord appeared younger, while this person seemed older. He turned around when he heard the sound and noticed a woman, familiar-looking, as he spoke, "Are you... Xiaolian?!"

"Father! Is it really you? Father!"

Gai Xiaolian rushed over and embraced her father. Seeing her father’s aged appearance, Gai Xiaolian felt a whirlwind of grievances in her heart but held them back, unwilling to speak them out since there was no point in discussing these matters with her father.

What concerned her more was why her brother captured and imprisoned her father here. The whole situation was filled with puzzles so difficult to answer.

After their emotions settled, City Lord Gai Hongtian finally revealed the reason.

It turned out that since his eldest son, Guba, was very young, Gai Hongtian had hoped his son would become the next City Lord, nurturing Guba’s growth according to this expectation.

During this development, Guba’s disposition gradually changed. He discovered his father’s affection for him was far less than for the people, so he harbored hatred.

Guba felt discontent and resented his father for treating him this way, for disregarding him, so he bore no gratitude towards the people, only hatred.

Upon coming of age, Guba had a confrontation with his father but was slapped into submission, reluctantly staying quiet for a couple of years. Nevertheless, his hatred toward the people only grew stronger. Ultimately, Guba escalated matters further, capturing his father and poisoning him in advance.

Like the incidents Gai Xiaolian faced today, after poisoning his father Gai Hongtian, Guba masqueraded as him, successfully deceiving everyone.

And Gai Hongtian?

He was confined by his son with the excuse of letting him enjoy peaceful days. Therefore, he was kept in this place, surrounded by powders that could trigger the poison, even in the water.

Now, finally freed, but the city was in ruins. The people he cared for had been devastated by his son—it was the consequence of the seeds he had sown, reaping the cycle of causality.

Over the years, Gai Hongtian began to see things differently, realizing that sometimes letting go is essential. Being overly concerned meant neglecting his son, originally vital; inverting priorities led to the hope of making him a good City Lord being reduced to transforming his son into a key figure in the city’s destruction.

It was like eagerly greeting a deity only to realize before them stood a colossal demon. How despairing it was, which led to their disappointment.

Yet fortunately, now the matter was resolved, they were grateful to Lin Fei. But what good was gratitude? Lin Fei had already vanished.

Gai Xiaolian supported her father as they exited the secret chamber. After spending so much time inside and suppressing his cultivation due to severe poisoning, upon stepping out, Gai Hongtian realized that even without poison, he remained deeply affected, unable to return to his former capabilities for years to come.

Outside, Gai Xiaolian supported her father before her brother, Guba. Guba saw his father looking at him and bitterly laughed, "Seems I’ve failed again."

Gai Hongtian sighed, gazing at the dilapidated City Lord Mansion, and looked toward the collapsed large building, with gold and jewels scattered, accompanied by the noise outside—the sounds of looting. Gai Hongtian exhaled deeply, "It’s my fault, my mistake as a father."

At this time, the guard, looking at the City Lord and the one collapsed in the pit, was unsure of the situation. But seeing the young lady, the guard understood. Since she was supporting the old man resembling the City Lord, it was clear this old man indeed was the City Lord, so they knelt.

"Greetings, City Lord!" The guard’s voice was loud, yet the former City Lord only sighed deeply, overwhelmed with emotion.

"Rise, all rise, summon the physician and treat him," Gai Hongtian instructed.

The physician soon arrived, discovering upon removing the mask that the figure they previously revered as City Lord was actually the son, Guba, resembling his father closely.

No wonder they hadn’t seen the eldest son’s presence for years; he had taken on his father’s likeness, disappearing from sight.

Eventually, Guba was taken to the palace to recover, as his injuries wouldn’t heal quickly. Over time, with the formerly grand and now desolate City Lord Mansion, Gai Hongtian sat in the hall and summoned numerous officers. Though their familiarity varied, he waited for recognizable or new faces.

Facing the gathered group, Gai Hongtian spoke, "You must have heard about my situation. Though being the City Lord, I have not managed the city for many years. Thus, I intend to pass the position of City Lord to my daughter, Gai Xiaolian. Does anyone here disagree? If there are other candidates, feel free to speak."