The black city walls loomed high in the deep shadows, their skyward reach seeming to merge with the all-encompassing dark clouds.
A purple moon hung eerily, and decaying trees stubbornly rooted themselves in the city's corners, their withered branches like a host of ferocious, skeletal ghost hands, reaching for the lightless night sky.
Sunlight from the outside could not penetrate the thick crust of the earth.
Not a single star twinkled in the sky. The sun would never rise here; only the heavy, dark crimson that perpetually shrouded the capital, a mist of blood.
A nauseating stench of fresh blood permeated every corner of the City of Slaughter.
This was a paradise for sin, a living prison on earth.
The specially designed glass windows offered no glimpse from the outside, yet from within, one could overlook half the night view of the City of Slaughter.
The City of Slaughter was peculiar. Every member, while seemingly protected by it and free from external pursuit, found that many, once they stepped in, could never leave.
It was like a black dungeon, granting prisoners a certain scope of activity but never true freedom.
There was no official currency; only Yellow Springs Dew and blood served as necessities for trade and survival. Beyond that, all food and drink provided within the city were free, which for those of lower strength might be their only solace.
To leave the City of Slaughter, there was only one way: either become the champion of a hundred matches in the Hell Slaughter Arena, established within the City of Slaughter, to earn the right to challenge the Hell Road, and then break through the Hell Road to escape the City of Slaughter.
Tang Sui stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, her tender, fair hands raised, her palm pressed against the cool glass. Her clear blue eyes reflected the everyday scenes of murder and robbery unfolding on the streets and alleys.
The tattered clothes she had been wearing were replaced by a new dress made of light, soft fabric.
Embroidered with silver thread along the edges, it was pieced with black to create a mysterious black and silver hue. When she slightly lowered her head, her long, dense eyelashes resembled butterfly wings poised for flight. Her clear blue eyes, like gemstones, were veiled by the shadows, concealing all emotional fluctuations.
With her delicate features and an aura devoid of any murderous intent, Tang Sui appeared to others like a harmless doll, docile and prone to evoking dark emotions that craved destruction.
When Tang Chen explained the rules of this place to her, the most important words he imparted were that in the City of Slaughter, there were no failures, only success and death.
Even though he had granted her authority equal to his own, it did not mean Tang Sui did not have to abide by the inherent rules of the City of Slaughter.
Of course, in their life within the City of Slaughter, if one lacked the courage to complete a duel each month, they would have to find a way to obtain two cups of Yellow Springs Dew and hand them in to continue living in the City of Slaughter without being forcibly dealt with by the Enforcement Team. Those who didn't need to worry about such matters were entirely exempt.
What Tang Chen wanted Tang Sui to adhere to was the rule of the fittest in the City of Slaughter.
Even though cubs were rare and precious in this world, the growth of a demon was never smooth sailing.
Tang Sui, understanding this principle, slowly blinked her eyes and turned her gaze to the empty space behind her, murmuring, "What time is it now?"
Dark little bats flew into the room from somewhere and, under Tang Sui's gaze, transformed into a black-clad maiden wearing a black veil.
The maiden bowed respectfully to Tang Sui. Her pleasant voice shed the coldness it usually reserved for outsiders, exposing her vulnerable neck, her fatal weakness, to the little girl's sight. She said gently,
"Little Princess, there is still half an hour until the King's designated training time. The King has already given instructions that once today's training is completed, you may leave the main hall and wander around the City of Slaughter."
Even though the young girl before her was like an uncarved jade, untouched by the tempering of killing intent, the maiden dared not underestimate her.
Four days ago, her master, the King of Slaughter, had suddenly summoned all members affiliated with the City of Slaughter. This included all Enforcement Teams on patrol, and even the personnel managing the rules of the Hell Slaughter Arena were called back.
The Hell Slaughter Arena would temporarily suspend operations for half a day and reopen on a chosen date. This was an unprecedented event.
She immediately sensed that something unusual was afoot.
After summoning everyone and standing with the others in the spacious hall, she looked up to see a little girl being held in Tang Chen's arm, seated on his hand.
The little girl was exceptionally beautiful and adorable, with clear eyes, clearly a being who had never been tainted by darkness and had only lived under the sun.
They were all astonished that the King of Slaughter, who was always self-centered, would be so indulgent towards a small girl he could seemingly crush with one hand, even allowing her to sit in his arm.
However, they dared not speculate on their master's thoughts. After their initial surprise, they bowed respectfully, and then they heard Tang Chen announce in a calm yet irrefutable voice that the little girl sitting in his arm would henceforth be the second master of the City of Slaughter, their little mistress, who would possess the same authority as him, her status second only to his own.
Their expressions instantly became: (｡⊙.⊙｡)
Little mistress?
An illegitimate daughter!?
Which woman dared to do this and succeed?!
In an instant, they thought of many things, but dared not reveal them on their faces.
Tang Chen did not confirm what their relationship was, merely leaving everyone with the conjecture that "she is very important." Some even entertained conspiracy theories, wondering if this was bait thrown by Tang Chen for a sting operation.
Of course, if there was any dissatisfaction, it might be a sense of being unconvinced, a doubt regarding Tang Sui's strength.
But that dissatisfaction was definitely not directed at the King of Slaughter.
Having governed the City of Slaughter for so many years, Tang Chen naturally saw through his subordinates' lingering doubts. He indifferently twitched the corners of his mouth, looked down at the little girl seated in his arm, and said with a hint of amusement, "They don't quite believe you yet, what do you intend to do?"
The little girl's voice was calm, "Only for now."
Tang Chen chuckled, with a clear intention of watching the show and indulgence, "Then I shall wait and see."