In a high-level martial arts game, a wife is given to you at the start.

Chapter 962 Peaceful Coexistence

Lin Qiye did not answer.

He simply nodded, then opened the door, bent down, and walked into the narrow passageway.

The door closed behind them, its muffled sound echoing through the dark passageway.

Lin Qiye walked briskly along the passageway.

He had walked this passage many times, and each time he remembered it by heart. The structure of the arena was much more complex than he had imagined. In addition to the main fighting area, training area, and trading area, there were also some long-abandoned passages that connected to some ancient structures at the bottom of the arena.

These passageways are usually deserted—in some places the walls are cracked, the ground is uneven, and the rocks overhead could collapse at any moment. But for Lin Qiye, these abandoned passageways are the best route for him to avoid Lei Sha's spies.

He walked through the training area.

At this time, there weren't many people in the training area, only a few gladiators sparring on the arena. When they saw someone wearing a cloak walking by quickly, they didn't pay much attention—there were plenty of people in the arena who didn't want to be recognized.

Just as he was about to cross the training area, a deep voice slowly came from behind a stone pillar on the left.

"Oh, isn't this our newly promoted senior steward, Lin Qiye, Lord Lin?"

Lin Qiye suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He turned his head.

Behind the stone pillar on the left, a tall figure slowly emerged. The man was extremely tall, nearly a head taller than Lin Qiye, with a pale face and robes that almost touched the ground. A half-smile played on his lips, and his eyes held a condescending, scrutinizing gaze.

Lin Qiye did not answer, but just looked at him quietly.

Seeing that he didn't speak, the man didn't mind and continued to laugh, "My name is Mo Yuan, and I'm from the Arena's Supervisory Bureau. You may not have seen me before, but I've heard of you before. The rookie who can kill Butcher Bone."

Lin Qiye's gaze sharpened slightly.

People from the Control Yuan.

The true power behind the gladiator's upper echelons lies with the Overwatch Council. Previously, the Directorate General handled affairs, while the Overwatch Council almost never interfered in the daily management of the lower levels. They only intervened in cases of major upheaval or when they developed an interest in a particular gladiator.

Mo Yuan looked at him, his smile unwavering, and continued, "The aura emanating from you... is very strange. It doesn't resemble the ordinary source energy of our primordial universe; rather, it seems to carry a different flavor."

His gaze slowly swept over Lin Qiye, as if examining an interesting object.

"How exactly did you cultivate?"

Lin Qiye remained silent for a few moments before calmly replying, "If you need to practice, then practice."

Mo Yuan paused for a moment, then threw his head back and laughed. The laughter echoed in the empty training area, carrying an undisguised joy.

"Interesting." He stopped laughing, took two steps forward, stopped in front of Lin Qiye, and looked him directly in the eye. "I was sent here by my superiors to observe you for a while."

observe.

It's not surveillance. It's observation.

Lin Qiye heard the difference between the two words clearly.

Mo Yuan continued, "The Oversight Council keeps track of changes in the strength of all gladiators. As a newcomer, you killed Tu Gu and returned unharmed, so naturally some people will be interested in you."

"Just observation?" Lin Qiye asked.

"It's just observation." Mo Yuan shrugged. "Of course, if the results of the observation satisfy the higher-ups, some opportunities might come your way."

"I don't need any special opportunities, I just want to live a good life."

Mo Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly, as if he was quite surprised by the answer.

"Live a peaceful life? In the arena?"

"Is that not allowed?"

Mo Yuan paused for a moment, then smiled and shook his head.

"Alright, of course. Since Deacon Lin wants to live a peaceful life, I won't bother you any longer. However—" He paused, "if you ever come to a realization and want to learn more about what's behind the arena, you can come find me."

He gave Lin Qiye another deep look, his gaze filled with a hint of amusement, as if he were examining an object that was slowly changing.

"My name is Mo Yuan, the seventh deacon of the Oversight Council. Give me your name, and the people above will let you pass."

After saying that, he turned around, his cloak drawing a dark red arc in the air, and strode into a side corridor deep in the training area, his figure quickly disappearing into the shadows.

Lin Qiye stood in the corridor, looking in the direction where Mo Yuan had disappeared, and clenched his fist.

Observation. To put it nicely, it's observation; to put it bluntly, it's probing his weaknesses. He hadn't even dealt with Lei Sha's people when another deacon from the Overwatch Council arrived. He was now like prey roasting on a fire, surrounded by eyes on all sides.

……

Lei Sha's private hall.

Dark red crystals were embedded in the walls, emitting a dim light that enveloped the entire hall in a somber hue. Lei Sha sat in the large black iron chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrests, producing a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound.

Opposite him, Mo Yuan was leaning back on a soft couch, holding a glass of dark red wine in his hand, looking as relaxed as if he were at home.

"Lord Lei Sha, it's been a long time." Mo Yuan raised his wine cup and gestured to Lei Sha. "You look... quite well."

Lei Sha's eyes narrowed slightly behind his mask: "Steward Mo, what brings you here?"

"Nothing serious, just passing by and popping in to see an old friend." Mo Yuan took a sip of wine, smiling broadly. "I heard you recently had a bit of a falling out with a rookie gladiator?"

Lei Sha's fingers paused for a moment.

"Deacon Mo's information network is quite impressive."

"How can we get by in this line of work if we're not well-informed?" Mo Yuan put down his wine cup, sat up straight, and his smile faded slightly. "Lei Sha, I'm here today to give you a heads-up."

Lei Sha remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

"That Lin Qiye, someone above has taken notice." Mo Yuan's tone was casual, as if he were talking about a trivial matter. "Such a newcomer is rare these days. The higher-ups think he has potential."

Lei Sha's gaze darkened slightly.

"so what?"

"So—" Mo Yuan stood up, walked to Lei Sha, and looked down at him, "the higher-ups hope you can get along peacefully. You're both talented individuals from the arena, why must you fight to the death?"

The hall was quiet for a moment.

Lei Sha remained silent, simply looking at Mo Yuan, his eyes behind the mask revealing no emotional fluctuation.

Mo Yuan waited a few moments, and seeing that he didn't speak, he chuckled and his tone returned to its previous relaxed state: "Of course, this is just a suggestion."

He turned around, sat back on the soft couch, picked up his wine cup, and resumed his nonchalant demeanor: "The higher-ups just sent me to deliver a message. How to do it is up to you, Lord Lei Sha."

Lei Sha remained silent.

He sat in the black iron chair, his fingers beginning to tap the armrests again, one tap at a time, the rhythm steady.

Mo Yuan didn't bring up the matter again, instead discussing the recent tournament schedule at the arena, the condition of several veteran gladiators, and the quality of the new lesser cosmic ascendants arriving from the border. Lei Sha occasionally responded with a few words, but he didn't express any dissatisfaction.

The two chatted casually, as if nothing had happened.