Morning arrived with the sun already shining brightly, its light reflecting across the vast surface of the sea. A cool ocean breeze brushed against their skin.
"My children, if you wish, you can stay here a little longer," the old woman said as she stood by the doorway.
Yang Luoya and Yang Wei stood outside, as if preparing to leave. Above Yang Luoya's head, the Kirin hovered quietly, observing their conversation.
"Thank you for your kindness, but we still have matters to attend to before the tournament begins," Yang Luoya replied politely.
Yang Wei simply stood beside him with his arms crossed.
"You really intend to join the tournament? What about your injuries?" the old woman asked, glancing at where their wounds had been. However, to her surprise, there were no longer any visible bruises on their bodies.
Unlike ordinary people, Yang Luoya and Yang Wei healed much faster.
"Our injuries have already recovered," Yang Luoya explained.
The old woman looked at them in amazement.
"…You are welcome to return anytime. Having you here… it feels as if my grandchildren have come home again," she said softly. "Unfortunately, they haven't visited since they got married."
She let out a quiet sigh.
"You two are also at the right age to find a partner. Choose someone good, and don't forget your family."
Yang Luoya could only respond with an awkward smile, unsure of what to say.
"Yang Luo is already twenty, right? Are you planning to stay single forever?" the Kirin suddenly blurted out.
Behind him, Yang Wei immediately frowned and flicked the Kirin's forehead.
"Ouch! You rude human! @%&#^!" the Kirin complained angrily, but Yang Wei simply responded with a sharp glare.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they finally left.
The town was still relatively quiet in the early morning. A few people were already moving about—some fishermen preparing their boats, others arranging their goods for sale.
Yang Luoya and Yang Wei walked side by side.
"Where are we going?" Yang Wei suddenly asked.
Yang Luoya thought for a moment. "How about we look around first… maybe gather more information about the tournament… and the festival with that large statue in the plaza."
In the end, they spent their time walking around the town, asking people from all walks of life—young and old, merchants and workers alike.
"So… the cloth statue will be burned on the day the tournament winner is decided. And the tournament itself is a two-versus-two battle," Yang Luoya muttered to himself.
"And the legend about the horned creature matches what the old woman told us," he continued.
Seeing his brother lost in thought, Yang Wei handed him a sweet he had bought from a street vendor.
Yang Luoya, who had been deep in his thoughts, looked up at him and accepted it.
"Why do you look so troubled, big brother? Is it really that important for us to investigate a legend from a thousand years ago? This isn't the Yang Empire anymore," Yang Wei asked.
"Yang Wei, Yang Wei, I want sweets too," the Kirin suddenly chimed in.
"You don't get any," Yang Wei replied bluntly.
"Ahh, how stingy!"
Yang Luoya chuckled softly and split the sweet in half, giving one piece to the Kirin.
The sweet, shaped like a half-round bun covered in sugar, was almost a third of the Kirin's size. The Kirin hugged it and began nibbling on it little by little.
Yang Luoya found it rather adorable.
"I know… but something doesn't feel right. I have a bad feeling," Yang Luoya said while eating his portion.
"Let's go to the library next. I want to confirm whether the original manuscript is truly sealed," he added firmly.
They soon arrived at a tall building. Despite being a small town, the library towered high above the surroundings.
"The library… is this big?" Yang Luoya said in surprise.
"Yang Luo, Yang Luo… there's a strong protective force at the top floor," the Kirin whispered.
Both Yang Luoya and Yang Wei lifted their gaze toward the top of the tower. There was indeed an invisible barrier that ordinary people wouldn't notice.
"Could the original manuscript be stored there?" Yang Luoya wondered aloud.
They stepped inside.
Unlike the lively streets outside, the library was eerily quiet.
Suddenly, an elderly man carrying several scrolls approached them with a warm smile.
"Are you newcomers?" he asked.
Yang Luoya and Yang Wei greeted him politely.
"Yes, we're travelers. We came here to learn a few things," Yang Luoya said.
"Ah, is there a particular book you're looking for? I can help you find it. This library is rarely visited, so it's nice to see people come here to read," the old man said as he set the scrolls down.
"We're actually curious about the original manuscript of the legend from a thousand years ago," Yang Luoya said.
The old man's hands paused for a moment.
"That manuscript is not available to the public. Even I, as the sole caretaker of this library, do not have access to the room where it is kept. The room is protected by a barrier that prevents anyone from approaching," he sighed.
"Is the mayor difficult to persuade? We're very curious about that legend," Yang Luoya asked.
"Unfortunately, the mayor rarely appears in public. Very few people are allowed to meet him, except for official matters," the old man explained.
"But I heard the mayor will attend the tournament next week. He personally awards the prize to the winner… and also lights the fire for the burning ceremony."
Yang Luoya and Yang Wei exchanged glances.
"How do we register for the tournament?" Yang Wei suddenly asked.
"Ah… as for registration…"
.
.
.
The day of the tournament finally arrived.
The entire town gathered at the plaza. The massive cloth statue stood behind the arena.
The arena itself was a raised wooden platform.
"We're… first?" Yang Luoya said after returning with their draw slip.
"The sooner it's over, the better," Yang Wei replied calmly.
"Humans here aren't very strong. Just control your power and don't hurt them too much," the Kirin reminded.
Their names were soon called.
Yang Luoya and Yang Wei stepped onto the arena.
Their opponents were two large, muscular men—both even bigger than Yang Wei.
"Is it really okay to let an omega fight in the arena like that?" some people whispered.
"This will be a quick match," others added.
"Yang Luo, Yang Luo, even if they look big, they're just ordinary humans," the Kirin said as it hovered beside him.
"I'll be careful," Yang Luoya replied.
The two men stretched their muscles, preparing themselves.
There was only one rule in this tournament—no killing.
That alone made it quite dangerous.
The referee signaled the start of the match.
The moment it began—
Yang Wei suddenly dashed forward.
In a single motion, he struck the larger man with his fist, knocking him unconscious instantly. Blood flowed from the man's nose.
Without stopping, Yang Wei turned and kicked the second man in the head, sending him crashing down in the same manner.
The entire sequence took only a moment.
Yang Luoya hadn't even moved from his original position.
The audience fell silent.