The Only Rule: Survive!

Brockman, what a name indeed!

There was once a certain individual, whose unwavering courage, even after being repeatedly 'sold off' by Du Chen, proved the indomitable spirit embodied by this name! Whose enduring fortitude, even after being ravaged by three Dragon Tyrants, showcased the extraordinary talent and true essence of manhood that this name represented! Even when a man bearing this name was framed and pushed to the brink, he could still turn peril into safety, casually acquiring a Tyran Beast godson in the process… It’s clear how much this name is favored by that 'dame,' the Goddess of Fate!

Yet this fiercely masculine name now belonged to a woman!

Steve clapped his hands. “A splendid name!” he declared. “Your beauty, Miss, is matched only by the uniqueness of your appellation… Yet, as a nobleman, I confess myself perplexed! The name Brockman is rarely bestowed upon a lady of such exquisite charm!”

Du Chen, for his part, was utterly clueless about the intricacies of noble nomenclature. But Steve, having received the finest aristocratic education since childhood, spoke of it with effusive eloquence. “In the Einz language, which evolved from the ancient tongue of Zarilan, Brockman signifies the raging storms and tsunamis of the sea, thus implying a ‘tyrannical grace.’ This syllable is commonly used as a surname for great houses, or as a given name for the eldest sons in warrior lineages who carry immense expectations…”

Steve bowed slightly. “Therefore, I sense this is not your given name—would a lady of such unparalleled beauty truly bear a name signifying ‘tyranny’? Yet, you also stated you would not profane your ancestors with a false name. So, may I infer that Brockman is your family’s surname, and that your ancestral lineage boasts a peerless War God, renowned for magnificent military achievements and unparalleled valor?!”

A peculiar light flickered in the woman’s eyes. Who doesn’t relish hearing their ancestors extolled?

Du Chen inwardly admired him; Eldest Brother truly had a knack for this sort of thing! Was this what Eldest Brother always preached: to win a woman’s affection, one must first display profound erudition and subtly flatter her deepest interests? Only then would a beauty harbor even a sliver of curiosity and interest…

The woman said with a hint of self-satisfaction: “Indeed, my ancestors produced seven God-Generals, renowned for their martial prowess!”

Steve offered an elegant smile, incongruous with his current disheveled state, yet his words were certainly pleasing to the ear. “You request we address you by your family surname. It appears, firstly, that you are proud of your ancestral glory, and secondly, perhaps there is some unspoken difficulty, making it inconvenient to reveal your given name… To respect the privacy of a beautiful lady is a gentleman’s duty, so I shall address you as Miss Brockman.” He then added courteously, “In truth, my brother and I also hail from a warrior lineage, with our own past tales of hardship. We deeply understand your predicament!”

With a melancholic sigh, Steve concluded: “To be born into a warrior lineage often means one is not master of their own destiny!”

This was a vague platitude, yet Miss Brockman nodded in agreement, recalling why she had been buried alive!

Du Chen mused: *This was the second step—find common ground, evoke a sense of identification in the beauty…*

Striking while the iron was hot, Steve continued, “My beautiful Miss Brockman…” Even as he praised her beauty, he deliberately stared at her disfigured face!

As expected, Miss Brockman bristled with anger, glaring icily at Steve before turning to leave.

It was then that Steve, unhurried and unperturbed, delivered the latter half of his statement: “Hmm, about half a month should do it! My beautiful lady, please forgive my impudent gaze. On one hand, your beauty renders me helpless to resist; on the other, I possess knowledge of skin grafting techniques to restore one’s countenance. I’ve just calculated, and with proper treatment, you should recover that ethereal beauty within half a month!”

“You can help me restore my appearance!?” Miss Brockman’s gaze locked onto Steve.

Steve, with an air of gallantry, raised a hand. “My hands are at your service, and I can prove their efficacy at any moment!”

Du Chen sighed inwardly: *This was the third step—identify the woman’s deepest concern, then strike with a decisive trump card, instantly closing the distance between oneself and the beauty…*

True to form, after these three steps, the previously cold-blooded and ruthless Miss Brockman quietly studied Steve. Though she said nothing, her expression softened considerably. “What are your names!?” Only then did she remember to inquire about her benefactors. It seemed if Steve hadn’t possessed the ability to restore her looks, the lass would have likely turned and left.

Regardless, Steve’s initiative had secured the woman’s initial approval!

Steve stated solemnly, “My name is Bell Glynn. Those are my younger brother and sister-in-law, Alex and Xue Ji!”

Du Chen and Xue Ji exchanged an awkward glance. *Steve, would your fabrications never cease?* Yet, this was not the time to contradict him.

Steve was about to elaborate on their origins, “We are travelers from the Labyrinth of Life…” But before he could finish, Miss Brockman interrupted him. “Enough. In the City of Penance, there are only two kinds of people—friends and foes! You need not explain your past; just tell me, in this City of Penance, will you be my friends or my enemies!?”

Steve paused, taken aback. “Are our origins, our species—none of these important!?”

Miss Brockman scoffed, “Perhaps I can make it clearer with a different explanation: The City of Penance has no rulers, no order. Its only law is… survival!”

Du Chen nodded. “I understand. Species, origins—these truly hold no meaning. In this hellish place, the only distinctions among people are… those who help you survive, and those who will kill you!”

Xue Ji’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Why does such a place exist!?”

Miss Brockman clarified her query: “This is the Violet-Bloods’ Land of Exile. Look at the sky, then look at the ground. You should be able to imagine how much food can be produced here annually… For the sake of food, people will do anything!”

Steve gazed at this world devoid of sun, moon, or any natural weather, a realm of perpetual gloom, and nodded. “I understand now. So, Miss Brockman, we are the kind of people who can help you survive—we just saved you, didn’t we!?”

Brockman replied coldly, “Indeed, you interrupted Saint Tru’s Dark Execution, which sufficiently proves you are not minions of Kursk—the scoundrel who buried me alive. But do not expect me to remember your act of salvation. My sole concern is how long you can help me survive in the future!”

She paused, then added, “If you can help me restore my appearance, I can procure a month’s supply of food for you, but no more! If you desire more from me—even a lifetime’s worth of provisions—then you must offer me something greater!”

Du Chen smiled, gathering his fingers as if forming a sword—the Vanishing Snow Sword, however, had been lost during their journey. With a light stroke on the ground, sword-light flashed, and a crack several meters deep appeared!

Miss Brockman stared blankly for a moment, then nodded. “Follow me. Conceal your aura; this is Kursk family territory. And you may address me by my given name, Heidi! We are friends now!”

Following Heidi across the vast wasteland, the full scope of the City of Penance unfolded before Du Chen’s eyes through her explanations.

The City of Penance, the Violet-Bloods’ Land of Exile, was a Heavens Beyond Heavens connected to the Labyrinth of Life. The sole passage in and out was controlled by the Fiendkind’s Supreme Council. No one trapped within the City of Penance knew how to escape, and even if they did, who would dare venture out?

For outside lay the treacherous and enigmatic Labyrinth of Life!

The only clue regarding an exit was a central skywell in the City of Penance—for while all prisoners entered through it, none had ever departed by it!

Within the environment of the City of Penance, common earthly crops simply could not grow. The ‘food’ Heidi spoke of referred to a small, endemic animal known as the Huhuhu Beast—this being the City’s primary source of sustenance.

The history of the City of Penance was simple yet brutal. Initially, a small number of prisoners subsisted on Huhuhu Beasts, leading relatively tolerable lives. But as the prisoner population swelled, the Huhuhu Beast numbers couldn’t keep pace. Thus, for food, and to avoid starvation, the most brutal side of intelligent beings emerged… Alliance, slaughter, division, and alliance once more…

Over centuries, the prisoners within the City of Penance underwent many transformations, forming numerous factions. Most ludicrous, and most regrettable, was that the standard for judging a faction’s power in the City of Penance was surprisingly based on how many Huhuhu Beasts it bred, and the annual production of Huhuhu Beasts by its families…

Du Chen and his companions had appeared in the northwest corner of the City of Penance, where two major powers reigned: the Brockman family and the Kursk family. Heidi was the eldest daughter of the Brockman family.

However, not long ago, the environment of the City of Penance underwent a drastic change. The Huhuhu Beast population suddenly plummeted, with the Brockman family suffering the most grievous losses. To secure food for their clan, they arranged a marriage alliance with the Kursk family, offering Heidi as the price. But Heidi detested marrying a notorious scoundrel, and so…

On her wedding night, she castrated the groom!!!

The rest, as they say, was history. At this point, Heidi fixed her gaze on Steve’s paling face and scoffed, “If the Kursk family learns you saved me, they will unleash a massacre! While my own family stood by and allowed me to be executed to appease the Kursks, there are still those within who support me. Now, we are going to find them, understand!?”

Du Chen nodded, thinking to himself: *Eldest Brother, why aren’t you still trying to charm her? Why have you gone so quiet? A woman who dares to castrate her groom on their wedding night… she’s truly ruthless!*

Steve, somewhat wary of provoking her further, changed the subject. “Er, Miss Heidi, something has been bothering me… Do you perhaps have a sister named Helen? You bear a striking resemblance to her!”

Heidi abruptly halted, turning back to bark, “Helen? And Ted, Sulan… You know them!?”

Du Chen replied vaguely, “We know them, but aren’t very familiar!”

Heidi snorted coldly, “Then welcome to the home of my sister, Helen Brockman!”