Chapter 52: The Golden Phoenix in the Henhouse

She gripped her scepter, gazing down at Lin Qiu with a look of haughty superiority. An aura of overwhelming nobility radiated from her, the unmistakable presence of a true sovereign. Since becoming master of this ancient city, she had inherited that regal air. Could a city that had survived the endless ages be anything less than extraordinary? Though the Nine Ancient Cities were mighty enough to dominate entire eras, these old cities were no less formidable in their own right. The peerless champions born within them were enough to make even the Nine Cities tread carefully. Even from the humblest nest, a golden phoenix might arise. That was why this woman, who had become the mistress of such an ancient city, was nothing less than an extraordinary phoenix herself.

Bi Qi, the mermaid ruler of the city, looked Lin Qiu over from head to toe, her sapphire eyes tinged with scrutiny and a hint of surprise. She had not expected that, in the depths of the sea, there could exist such a merman.

Bi Qi’s astonishment was only natural. The males of the aquatic clans simply had no sense of beauty; to them, appearance was meaningless—only constant self-improvement and growing stronger mattered. Even in ancient times, the greatest masters were never handsome, but rather strikingly unattractive.

As Bi Qi examined Lin Qiu, she felt a strange sense of familiarity. Gradually, her eyes widened in shock. “You... are you the Lord of the City of the Other Shore?”

“Oh? You know me?” Now it was Lin Qiu’s turn to be surprised. He hadn’t expected his reputation to have spread so far. How long had he been lord of the city, yet already the rulers of distant, unfamiliar sea realms had heard his name? Lin Qiu instantly felt a flush of pride and straightened his back. But the next words from Bi Qi struck him like a blow.

“You cannot be the Lord of the Other Shore. That venerable one is unparalleled—a supreme being among the Nine Ancient Cities. You are not him!”

“Me?” Lin Qiu deflated at once. He looked dispirited. “I am the lord of the City of the Other Shore—here is my proof!” He had no idea when he had become an ‘elderly venerable’ or a peerless master. Within his own city, such a title would have pleased him greatly, but outside its walls, he was no more than a lowly second-rank sea beast.

Confused, Lin Qiu opened his hand. In his palm, a miniature version of the ancient city slowly revolved. “The City of the Other Shore!” Bi Qi stared at the ghostly image in his hand, her eyes wide with disbelief.

This man, who looked exactly like the ancient Lord of the City of the Other Shore, was truly the master of that city? Now it was her turn to feel bewildered. Since when had the lord of that city become so weak? As a fifth-rank sea beast, she could sense at a glance that Lin Qiu’s life force barely surpassed the second rank—a mere morsel for her jeweled goblet. Yet how could the phantom of the ancient city be explained?

Bi Qi stared at Lin Qiu in a daze, while Sun Erniang was about to faint with happiness. She squinted in delight at the man standing protectively before her, suddenly finding him tall and striking. The sweet nothings Lin Qiu had whispered earlier made her heart tremble once more.

“You cannot be the Lord of the Other Shore,” Bi Qi insisted, shaking her head. “He was a peerless master of ancient times. You merely resemble him.” She glanced at the phantom city in his hand and, as if through mist, glimpsed the imposing figure of a man who once ruled the seas. Bi Qi recoiled in alarm, while Lin Qiu was left dumbfounded. The man she spoke of was not him—some ancient lord of the city, apparently his exact double. Was it possible that the ancient lord had been just as handsome as he was?

A wave of jealousy and, more than that, embarrassment swept over him. So, it was a case of mistaken identity all along, and his moment of peacockish pride had been for nothing.

Lin Qiu clenched his right fist, a cold smile flickering across his face. “Whether he is me or I am him, or whether we simply look alike, I don’t care. I only wish to leave this place—and you cannot stop me.”

“You’re right, I cannot stop you,” Bi Qi replied, breaking into a smile as she looked Lin Qiu up and down. The liquid light in her eyes made his heart race with unease.

“What are you planning?” Lin Qiu watched her warily.

“Lord of the City, with the City of the Other Shore in your possession, there is nothing I can do. Should I attack, you would summon the ancient city’s protection. To break through that defense would require a ninth-rank master at the very least. But with the ancient bloodlines still in their slumber, there is not a single ninth-rank being in all the oceans or the world. With the city’s protection, your defense is unmatched.”

“But what of it?” she said with a gentle smile. “Will I give you the chance to summon it?”

“Ah!” Lin Qiu cried out as his body suddenly collapsed to the ground.

At some point, Bi Qi’s flowing hair had begun to grow wildly, wrapping Lin Qiu tightly like a golden cocoon. “As long as I harbor no murderous intent, the ancient city cannot be summoned to your aid. That way, we can have a proper conversation.”

Her expression grew icy. She was a mermaid princess, her bloodline noble and pure. In ancient times, her ancestors were among the few true overlords of heaven and earth. Upon her bloodline’s awakening, she had instantly reached the fifth rank—a testament to her exalted lineage. This nobility brought with it inherited memories, knowledge others could only dream of, such as the secret of the ancient city’s protection. Only when the city lord’s life was truly in danger would the city cross time and space to save him. Knowing this, Bi Qi had chosen to restrain Lin Qiu rather than kill him.

“What striking features—the most handsome in all the aquatic tribes,” she mused, eyes glazed with fascination. “And to think you look exactly like the ancient Lord of the City of the Other Shore—it moves me all the more. It is a rare thing indeed to find such a handsome vessel. I, as city lord, wish to marry you!”

A dreamy look came into her eyes. Across countless ice ages, never had a merman so fair appeared. After billions of years, another lord of the Other Shore had emerged, identical in every way. Surely, this was a gift from the sea god—if she let this chance slip by, her only options would be to settle for an ugly companion or remain single for life.

“No…” Lin Qiu’s face went ashen. Just moments ago, he’d come to a realization. Since he had decided to give Erniang a future, he must be a worthy merman, not one to indulge in reckless dalliances. It was the bare minimum of integrity for a male fish. He had already parted ways with the likes of Xiaoze and Kitajo in his past life—he had learned his lesson and was ready to start anew.

“Lord of the City, do you have any choice in the matter? Am I not beautiful?”