The lead vehicle braked so abruptly that the following trucks were caught off guard, nearly colliding with one another. The mercenaries inside, who had been drowsy, were jolted out of the vehicles, tumbling to the ground.
A middle-aged man in a manager’s attire leaped from one of the rear vehicles, his face red with anger. He shouted at the driver of the lead truck, “What are you doing? Have you gone mad?”
The driver of the lead truck stuck his head out of the window, his face pale, unable to speak. He simply pointed forward.
The middle-aged manager rushed to the front, and upon seeing the scene, he gasped in shock.
Standing in the middle of the road was a young man with his hands clasped behind his back, blocking the entire convoy’s path.
The manager rubbed his eyes, confirming he wasn’t hallucinating, and immediately plastered a smile on his face, bowing repeatedly. “Lord Qian Ye! Oh, what good fortune to see you, my lord! Why are you here, my lord?”
Qian Ye ignored the question and asked, “Where are you headed?”
Sweat instantly broke out on the manager’s forehead as he carefully replied, “We are going to Guanlan City. We are mainly transporting these men there to guard the shops and deliver some goods. They are not valuable, not valuable at all!”
Qian Ye made a sound of understanding. “Since they are not valuable, leave the goods here. Keep five people to drive the trucks, and send the rest back.”
The manager was shocked. “Lord Qian Ye, why? You are… robbing—”
He struggled to swallow the word ‘robbery.’
Qian Ye ignored him and said calmly, “Go back and tell Ji Rui to send my goods over. Until I receive them, Nanqing City will have no goods entering or leaving.”
“But we have nothing to do with the city lord…” The manager tried to argue, but one icy glance from Qian Ye silenced him.
Moments later, a dispirited group of mercenaries returned to Nanqing City. A nosy onlooker recognized them and asked, “Why are you back so soon? Where are the trucks and the goods?”
A mercenary snapped, “Qian Ye is outside the city. What do you think?”
The onlooker, who knew some gossip, was startled. “Qian Ye?! The Wolf King couldn’t kill him?”
The mercenary growled, “I’m not blind! Can’t you recognize him?”
The onlooker retreated, mumbling. He then dashed into a tavern to spread the news, hoping to trade it for a few drinks.
Shortly after, Ji Rui sat in his reception hall, facing a despondent merchant. This merchant was significant in Nanqing City, so Ji Rui had to meet him personally.
Through the window, he saw the ruins left by the Wolf King’s previous attack. Ji Rui was in no mood to repair them, especially since half the city lord’s mansion lay in ruin. It would take more than a few days to fix it.
Seeing the destruction outside and the merchant’s worried face, Ji Rui felt a heavy cloud of gloom. However, these merchants and mercenaries were the lifeblood of Nanqing City, so he had to put on a smile and be kind.
“City Lord Ji, Qian Ye has taken our most valuable goods. Without them, how can our merchant guild survive?”
Ji Rui felt a surge of anger. The merchant was clearly trying to move their inventory due to the precarious situation in Nanqing City, and Qian Ye had caught them in the act. How dare he complain?
Yet, Ji Rui, being a seasoned fox, still managed to soothe the merchant.
The merchant, noticing Ji Rui’s demeanor, cautiously asked, “City Lord, you have dealt with Qian Ye before. Can he really stand up to the Wolf King? Is there any power backing him?”
Ji Rui’s smile turned bitter. “He hasn’t defeated the Wolf King, but the Wolf King did not catch him. As for me, I have no power to capture him either.”
“Then, what should we do? Should we really hand over those goods?”
This was the merchant’s real concern. Though he spoke for himself, Ji Rui knew this was a question for all the merchants in Nanqing City.
Blocking the city like this meant no business for anyone. Though Qian Ye was just one person, the merchants, fearing the worst, were unwilling to risk losing everything.
Ji Rui was hard-pressed to answer. Handing over the ballistae would greatly diminish his wealth. The merchants couldn’t bear the loss, and neither could he.
Yet, ignoring Qian Ye would destroy Ji Rui’s reputation, which was the foundation of Nanqing City’s prosperity.
After much deliberation, Ji Rui said, “Inform the Wolf King first. See what he decides.”
The merchant, seeing the logic, left without further argument. Ji Rui called for Steward Liu and instructed him to inform the Wolf King about Qian Ye’s appearance in Nanqing City.
Soon, a sleek, high-speed airship rose from Nanqing City, heading for the ancient Totem Fortress. Qian Ye, sitting atop an ancient pillar, watched the airship depart with a sneer.
Such airships were rare in the Eastern Sea. This must be Ji Rui’s personal ship, seeking aid from the Wolf King. In the neutral zone, maintaining such ships was expensive, and long-distance, high-speed flights were even more costly. Ji Rui must be desperate.
If he used the Temple of Sages, Qian Ye could easily shoot down the airship. But scaring Ji Rui was just a means to an end. His real goal was to draw out the Wolf King. A major sacrifice would pain the Wolf King, but not fatally.
That night, the Wolf King sat on his throne, frowning at Steward Liu from Nanqing City.
Under the Wolf King’s intense gaze, Steward Liu sweated profusely, his face turning green, almost unable to stand. The Wolf King’s fury was unbearable. Seeing someone from Nanqing City only worsened his mood.
Steward Liu’s words were cut short as the Wolf King stood, his iron chair twisting under his grip, showing his rage.
“What did you say?! Qian Ye appeared in Nanqing City, yesterday?!”
“Yes, yes.” Steward Liu expected anger but not this level.
The Wolf King laughed wildly, grabbing Steward Liu by the neck.
Nose-to-nose, the Wolf King growled, “Are you sure it was Qian Ye? You know what happens to liars.”
Though trembling, Steward Liu managed to reply, “I didn’t see it myself, but the City Lord said so. It must be true.”
The Wolf King’s anger cooled. Ji Rui, close to divine rank, wouldn’t misidentify Qian Ye.
In the fortress, several wolf warriors exchanged glances, surprised. They had witnessed Qian Ye’s fall into the sea. How could he reappear so quickly in Nanqing City, miles away? Even they couldn’t reach it in such a short time.
The Wolf King released Steward Liu, turning to a red-haired wolf warrior. “Bloodmane, go check with your guards.”
“Very well, Great Chieftain.”
Bloodmane, proud, merely half-bowed to the Wolf King. The latter’s eyes flashed with a hint of coldness but let it pass.
While the Wolf King didn’t go himself, Bloodmane, a powerful marquis, was a formidable opponent. Steward Liu, anxious, urged Bloodmane to leave. Bloodmane, eager for a fight, took fifty guards and boarded the airship for Nanqing City.
Meanwhile, Qian Ye remained atop the pillar. Eleven trucks now waited below, the second convoy intercepted. No more trucks dared to enter or leave Nanqing City.
For a day, the city was silent, many businesses closing. Qian Ye was patient, waiting to see if Ji Rui would reveal his trump card, likely involving the Wolf King.
The effects of the Origin Gun on a divine-rank foe were unknown, but the gun, entrusted by Andur, was surely formidable.
As Qian Ye practiced, Ji Rui’s patience wore thin. Every day, the city suffered losses, both in money and reputation.
Finally, an airship approached, landing in the city lord’s mansion. Qian Ye, having finished his practice, leaped down, heading for the city.
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