Chapter 64: Sudden Upheaval (Part I)

Qian Ye and Ye Tong found a large inn at random and settled down. The peculiar architectural style of Lingang City made the so-called large inn appear grand but not refined, occupying a considerable amount of land.

The facilities inside the inn were quite rudimentary, with no attention to detail. From the walls to the floorboards, and even the furniture, most were wooden with minimal decoration, though they were clean. Qian Ye was worried that Ye Tong might be uncomfortable as vampires were known for their love of luxury. But Ye Tong said nothing, put down her luggage, and calmly stayed.

Qian Ye found the extraordinary simplicity of the inn somewhat strange. He walked around the room, touched the wall, and knocked on it. The hollow echo suggested that the wall was indeed hollow.

“Odd,” he muttered. With the vibrations from his knocks, Qian Ye faintly sensed four pillars hidden in the corners of the room, giving off a metallic feel. He went to the corner and poked the wooden panel, which broke with a clink, revealing a metallic sound.

Sure enough, the room was supported by a metal frame, which was quite rare in the neutral lands. This meant the construction cost of the entire inn was considerably high. Even in the technologically advanced Empire, metal frames were often used in military buildings, rarely in residential ones. The inn’s use of such an expensive structure yet such simple decor was indeed perplexing.

Just as Qian Ye was about to knock again, a loud shout came from the next room: “What are you knocking for? Don’t you let people nap?”

Startled, Qian Ye hadn’t expected the sound insulation to be so poor. Hollow walls wouldn’t provide much soundproofing, he thought. He was about to apologize when a series of profanities followed, instantly darkening his expression.

Not content with just cursing, a loud thud sounded, and the door to Qian Ye’s room was kicked open. A man with a bare, hairy chest stormed in, bellowing, “You disturbed my nap! I’ll see how you die!”

His first glance fell on Ye Tong’s blood-sucking blade placed on the table. Though the blade was sheathed, the ornate patterns on the scabbard alone made him stare in awe. Even the untrained eye could tell it was valuable. Even if it were a kitchen knife inside, the craftsmanship of the scabbard was worth at least a thousand gold coins.

The man’s breathing grew heavy.

He turned his eyes and suddenly shouted, “Isn’t that my blade? How did it end up here? You have the nerve to steal from me! I’ll see you rot in the black prison. Hand over the blade and apologize, and maybe I’ll forgive you…”

While speaking, he couldn’t resist and reached for the blade.

Qian Ye and Ye Tong exchanged glances. This man had never given them a chance to speak, ranting all along. Looking at this mere fourth-level powerhouse, Qian Ye wondered where his confidence came from. For this trip to Lingang City, to avoid trouble, Qian Ye and Ye Tong had partially concealed their aura, showing only a fifth or sixth-level strength.

In the neutral lands, a fifth or sixth level was considered mid-tier, capable of holding a position like squad leader in a major faction. It was also a target for recruitment by various forces. At such a level, they could live comfortably anywhere, even as mercenaries. However, this man clearly didn’t belong to that group.

Qian Ye was too lazy to waste time on a fourth-level opponent. He grabbed the man’s hand and squeezed.

The man felt his hand encased in iron, and in moments, his bones groaned in pain, making him scream like a pig being slaughtered.

Qian Ye showed no mercy, adding more pressure and crushing his hand before kicking him out of the room. The man crashed into a pillar outside, causing the entire inn to shake.

This commotion attracted onlookers. Seeing the man sprawled on the ground, someone murmured, “Finally, someone even more unreasonable.”

A companion quickly hushed him, “Be quiet. Haven’t we caused enough trouble already?”

The innkeeper, accompanied by burly guards, rushed over. Seeing the man on the ground, he coldly asked Qian Ye, “Why are you causing trouble in my inn?”

“Trouble? I didn’t know this place was a den of bandits.”

The innkeeper’s face darkened, but before he could react, the man, still in pain, stood up and yelled, “Dare to hit me? Wait and see! My brother is the deputy captain of the Enforcement Team, you’re dead!”

Many people weren’t surprised, knowing the man’s identity, and their looks towards Qian Ye mixed sympathy and schadenfreude.

Lingang City’s power structure was similar to other independent cities. The city lord was akin to a local emperor, the city defense army was responsible for external defense, and the Enforcement Team handled internal security. In a city of tens of thousands, a deputy captain of the Enforcement Team had to be at least eighth level. A captain needed to be a warrior. In terms of strength, a deputy captain could serve as a guard captain or vice-town chief in a smaller town.

Clearly, the man was relying on his brother’s status to act recklessly.

Ignoring him, Qian Ye fixed his gaze on the innkeeper and calmly said, “How do you plan to compensate for my loss?”

The innkeeper was taken aback and sneered, “Wait until Deputy Captain Ding arrives. Whatever he decides, I’ll follow.”

“Don’t wait, I’m already here,” a tall, lean man entered the inn, followed by several enforcement warriors. Beside him, a waiter, eager to please, pointed at Qian Ye, explaining something. Clearly, the waiter was quick to inform the higher-ups.

The tall, lean man’s eyes flashed coldly as he strode to Qian Ye, scrutinizing him, and said, “I am Ding Shiheng. I don’t know how you offended my brother to hurt him like this.”

The man beside him shouted, “Big brother, they stole my blade, injured me, and didn’t respect you. They said even if you were the team captain, it wouldn’t matter!”

Ding Shiheng glared at him and snapped, “Shut up! You useless piece, you’ve embarrassed me. Go get treated!”

He then scanned the crowd, his sharp gaze dispersing them. The deputy captain’s reputation was well-known, and few dared to provoke him. Although many were curious about the blade, curiosity didn’t outweigh the risk of offending him.

After scolding his brother and dismissing the onlookers, Ding Shiheng said to Qian Ye, “Let’s talk inside?”

It seemed the deputy captain wanted to maintain some decorum. Qian Ye agreed, “I was thinking the same.”

As Ding Shiheng entered, Qian Ye closed the door, cutting off the view of the innkeeper and guards.

Ding Shiheng’s eyes first landed on Ye Tong, then shifted to the blood-sucking blade. Both Qian Ye and Ye Tong had altered their appearances, with Ye Tong now resembling a common woman. But her elegance was unmistakable, exuding a serene and fresh air even when sitting quietly.

While Ye Tong’s presence was refined, the blade was a stark allure. Ding Shiheng, in his position, recognized its value. The craftsmanship of the dagger alone made him gasp. If the patterns were merely decorative, they were impressive. If they were part of an origin force array, it would be…

Ding Shiheng’s greed made his breath hot. He blurted, “This blade is of unknown origin, possibly stolen. I must take it for investigation. You two come with me!”

These words, he’d said countless times, even in his sleep. He reached for the blade, assuming it would stay in his hands once he took it.

But Qian Ye, undisturbed, said coolly, “No matter its origin, can you handle it?”

Enraged, Ding Shiheng slapped the table, ready to explode. Suddenly, a terrifying surge of origin force emanated from Qian Ye, pressing down on him, making his knees buckle. The pressure intensified, forcing him to the ground, his bones creaking. He knew if he fully collapsed, his bones would shatter without origin force protection. He struggled to stay up, begging for mercy.

When he felt he might burst a blood vessel, the pressure slowly dissipated, just as his origin force ran out.

He looked up, seeing Qian Ye seated calmly, and was shocked. He noticed the room remained undamaged, even the floor under him. The crushing pressure had been almost surreal.

Realizing Qian Ye’s power, Ding Shiheng abandoned any thoughts of bringing in the Enforcement Team. Even the team’s commander couldn’t match Qian Ye. Provoking such an enemy for personal gain would bring severe consequences.

He knelt, saying, “It’s my foolish brother’s fault. I’ll break his other hand and bring him to you to apologize.”

Qian Ye smiled, “You’d bring the Enforcement Team instead, right?”

Sweating, Ding Shiheng said, “My men are outside, but bringing more won’t change anything.”

“No need to apologize. I need your help with something.”

“Please, sir, instruct me.”

“Help me find an old man, Cui Yuanhai. He arrived in Lingang City recently.”

Relieved, Ding Shiheng said, “Leave it to me.” His network was perfect for such a task.

As Qian Ye was about to describe Cui Yuanhai, the room suddenly shook!