Skinwalker Belle – Chapter 208 – Temporary City Lord

Upon the ruins, the golden morning light pierced through the smoke and dust, scattering across the devastated remains of the City Lord’s mansion.

Long Yan stood at the edge of a deep crater, looking down at the mangled pile of flesh and blood that no longer held a recognizable shape.

Hu Lie’s death brought him no pleasure, only a detached emptiness.

This was just an appetizer.

“Lord Long Yan.” Su Xiaoxiao’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.

The little fox wagged her tail, her amber eyes filled with worry. “Hu Lie is dead, and Azurewood City is now without a leader… Many factions are watching. If you don’t stabilize the situation soon, I’m afraid there will be trouble.”

Long Yan turned, his golden pupils sweeping over the remnants of the Tiger Clan, who were hiding behind the rubble, trembling.

“Tell them to get over here.”

Su Xiaoxiao paused for a moment, then understood his meaning and quickly shouted toward the ruins, “Captain Hu Ben, Lord Long Yan summons you!”

A moment later, Hu Ben emerged, leading a dozen blood-soaked Tiger Clan Guards. They walked out, trembling with fear.

They knelt before Long Yan, their foreheads pressed to the ground, not daring to look up.

Hu Ben’s voice trembled. “L-Lord Long Yan, we are willing to surrender!”

Long Yan looked down on them, his tone terrifyingly calm. “I’ll ask you this: how many men did Hu Lie have under his command?”

“R-Replying to you, my lord, the City Lord’s personal guard has three hundred men, the city defense army has two thousand, the Slave Market guards have five hundred… plus the garrisons stationed in various places…” Hu Ben didn’t dare to hide anything, reporting every last detail.

“Very good.” Long Yan nodded. “Now, gather all the leaders of level four and above at the City Lord’s mansion square. I want to see them within one hour.”

“Yes!”

As if granted a pardon, Hu Ben scrambled away with his men.

Seeing Long Yan’s unapproachable demeanor, Su Xiaoxiao asked cautiously, “Lord Long Yan, are you going to… take over Azurewood City?”

“Take over?” Long Yan sneered. “I have no interest in this position.”

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He turned to look at the Spatial Rift in the city center, which was emanating waves of energy.

“Ning Shuang wanted me to take control of Azurewood City. She must have had her reasons.”

Su Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up, and she quickly said, “Right, right! My sister has always been very concerned about the Otherworld Rift here!”

She moved closer and lowered her voice. “My sister told me before that this Rift connects to a world called ‘Blue Star,’ and she has very important plans there.”

“Blue Star?” Long Yan frowned.

“Mhm!” Su Xiaoxiao nodded emphatically. “My sister said she has her own people over there and needs this Rift as a channel to transport resources and intelligence. So… control over Azurewood City’s Rift absolutely cannot fall into anyone else’s hands!”

Long Yan was silent for a moment, a flicker of understanding in his eyes.

So that was it.

No wonder Ning Shuang wanted him to control Azurewood City.

She was playing a very big game.

“I understand.” Long Yan took a deep breath. “I will guard the Rift, but the daily affairs of Azurewood City… I don’t have time for that.”

He looked at Su Xiaoxiao. “You just said Ning Shuang has her own people in Azurewood City?”

“Yes, yes!” Su Xiaoxiao said hurriedly. “My sister built an intelligence network in Azurewood City. The person in charge is the proprietress of the Fox Beauty Tavern, Sister Su Yue! She’s incredibly capable. No news in all of Azurewood City, big or small, can escape her notice!”

“Su Yue…” Long Yan committed the name to memory. “Take me to her.”

Fox Beauty Tavern.

This tavern, located in the western part of the city, was quite famous in Azurewood City.

Not only because the liquor here was top-notch, but also because the proprietress, Su Yue, was a peerless beauty with a pair of foxy eyes that could steal one’s soul.

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But those who truly knew the inside story were well aware that this beautiful proprietress had quite a few tricks up her sleeve.

At this moment, in a private room on the second floor of the tavern.

Su Yue was elegantly sipping tea. She wore a light purple cheongsam that outlined her exquisite curves, her orange fox tail resting lazily on the arm of her chair.

“Sister Su Yue.” Su Xiaoxiao pushed the door open, followed by a man with a terrifying aura.

Su Yue raised her eyes. When she saw the pair of golden vertical pupils, her own pupils constricted slightly.

Long Yan.

She was already aware of the commotion at the City Lord’s mansion.

“Su Yue pays her respects to Lord Long Yan.” Su Yue stood up and bowed, neither servile nor overbearing.

Long Yan wasted no words, getting straight to the point. “Su Xiaoxiao said you’re one of Ning Shuang’s people.”

“I am.” Su Yue nodded. “Lady Ning Shuang has shown great kindness to the fox clan.”

“Good.” Long Yan sat down opposite her. “Hu Lie is dead. Azurewood City is mine now. But I have no interest or time to manage a city.”

He looked into Su Yue’s eyes. “Until Ning Shuang returns, you will be the acting city lord.”

Su Yue was stunned.

Her?

Acting city lord?

“Lord Long Yan, I’m just a tavern owner…”

“You are Ning Shuang’s person. That’s enough,” Long Yan cut her off, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I only ask for one thing: guard the Rift, maintain order, and wait for Ning Shuang’s return.”

“As for those who don’t have the sense to behave…” A murderous glint flashed in Long Yan’s eyes. “I will personally suppress them.”

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Su Yue looked at the man before her. In those golden eyes burned an obsessive and frenzied flame.

Everything he did was for one person only.

Long Ningshuang.

“I understand.” Su Yue took a deep breath and nodded solemnly. “I will manage Azurewood City well on Lady Ning Shuang’s behalf.”

“Mm.” Long Yan stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the distant Spatial Rift.

“Also, bring all the fox clan from Green Hill Village over to assist you with the intelligence network.”

“Yes.”

“One hour from now, at the City Lord’s mansion square, I will let everyone know that Azurewood City has a new master.”

As his voice fell, Long Yan’s figure vanished from the window.

Su Yue watched the direction he had left in and murmured to herself, “Lady Ning Shuang, what kind of madman have you found…”

Su Xiaoxiao sidled up and whispered, “Sister Su Yue, isn’t Brother Long Yan amazing?”

“Amazing?” Su Yue gave a bitter smile. “He’s more than amazing… He’s a madman who would destroy the entire world for one person.”

She paused, her expression turning grave. “But, that is also what Lady Ning Shuang needs most.”

One hour later.

The City Lord’s mansion square was filled with a dark mass of kneeling figures.

Tiger Clan, Leopard Clan, Wolf Clan, Bear Clan… all the leaders of level four and above in Azurewood City were present.

They looked at the slender figure standing on the ruins, feeling the terrifying pressure that made their very souls tremble. Not a single one dared to raise their head.

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Long Yan stood on high, looking down on them, his voice cold and majestic.

“From this day forward, Azurewood City belongs to me.”

“Those who object, step forward now.”

Silence.

A deathly silence.

Everyone kept their heads bowed, not even daring to breathe loudly.

It was a joke. Hu Lie, a veteran level-seven expert, had been smashed into a meat paste. Who would dare to object?

“Very good.” Long Yan nodded in satisfaction. “Su Yue, from today on, is the acting city lord of Azurewood City. Her orders are my orders.”

“Anyone who dares to disobey…”

He raised his head, and a wave of golden Dragon might swept over the crowd.

“You all saw what happened to Hu Lie.”

Everyone shouted in unison, “We shall obey Lord Long Yan’s command!”

Long Yan retracted his flames and looked toward the distant Border Dragon City, his gaze growing profound.

Ning Shuang, wait for me. I’m coming for you soon.

And at that moment, in the faraway Border Dragon City.

The situation in Azurewood City had already been transmitted to Lin Fan’s mind through Su Xiaoxiao.

Her lips curled into a strange arc.

The good show was just getting started.