Chapter 71: A Man of His Word
Fresh blood splattered onto Rong Wanlin’s loose white hair. His eyes widened in fury, blood vessels clearly visible as a nameless rage erupted within him.
Someone actually dared attack him in broad daylight, in front of everyone.
If not for his profound cultivation and a crisis sense far keener than commoners, that arrow would have pierced his forehead just now—but his instinctive dodge ended up costing the life of a First Grade expert of the Rong Family!
"Who was it?"
Rong Wanlin let out a hysterical roar, drawing the long sword at his waist in an instant. At the same time, everyone from the Rong Family and the East City Embroidered Uniform Guard unsheathed their weapons.
All present turned to look in the direction the feathered arrow had come from.
At that moment, the countless Martial World men crowding the street consciously made way to open a path.
At the far end of the long street,
Gu Zhan stood holding a bow and arrow, which he casually tossed to a subordinate at his side, looking utterly calm. He was completely unfazed by the suffocating atmosphere, instead picking up a steamed bun from a streetside bun shop, eating as he strolled forward.
At this crossroads,
over a thousand Martial World men were packed tightly together, yet not a single sound could be heard. Only Gu Zhan’s footsteps echoed out.
He chewed on the bun,
walking calmly through the crowded street, as everyone parted to let him pass.
Arriving at the middle of the street,
Gu Zhan glanced at the Rong Family and the East City Embroidered Uniform Guard, all tense as if facing a great enemy. He stretched lazily and said, "I made the move. Anyone have a problem with that?"
Rong Wanlin roared in fury, "Gu Zhan, what’s the meaning of this? Do you think you can trample lives just because you’re with the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"
Gu Zhan took a bite of his bun, pointed at the Five Stone Powder on the ground, and said, "Are you fucking blind? Can’t you see all this contraband? I got a tip-off from a public-spirited citizen that someone’s peddling Five Stone Powder out in the open. Special investigation. All of you, every last one, come with me to the Hundred Households Office for questioning!"
"Gu Zhan!" Rong Hao roared, "Cut the crap! In front of everyone, you’re still going to frame us? You call this evidence—?"
"Pa!"
Gu Zhan snatched up a packet of Five Stone Powder and slapped it onto Rong Hao’s face, saying, "Is this enough evidence? No? How about I give you a few more bags?"
Rong Hao shouted angrily, "Gu Zhan, quit being disgusting! In front of everyone? You won’t frame me that easily. I have dozens of Embroidered Uniform Guards to testify for me..."
"Who?"
Gu Zhan snorted, pointing at the Embroidered Uniform Guards behind Rong Hao. "Which of you saw it? Hmm? You... you... or you?"
Being called out by Gu Zhan, those Embroidered Uniform Guards involuntarily retreated in fear.
Rong Hao’s face turned ashen in an instant.
Just then, an Embroidered Uniform Guard beside Rong Hao said loudly, "I—"
In a flash, a blade gleamed,
Gu Zhan struck like lightning—one head flew skyward.
"Anyone else?" Gu Zhan said coldly.
Blood splashed across his face. Rong Hao was so enraged he nearly exploded, growling, "Gu Zhan, you want a fight to the death?!"
"Oh..."
Gu Zhan chuckled softly, then drawled in mockery, "Hey, everyone heard it! Our East City Embroidered Uniform Guard, Hundred Households Officer Lord Rong Hao, has been caught using his position to help smuggle Five Stone Powder! Now he’s outright threatening me. You all heard it! There’ll be a public trial at the Prefecture Government. You can all testify for me!"
"We heard it!"
"Ha, that’s some official airs!"
"East City Embroidered Uniform Guard doesn’t follow the law at all!"
"..."
At once, teasing and mocking laughter rippled among the Martial World men on the street, ridicule and jests erupting one after another.
"Gu Zhan!"
Rong Hao gritted his teeth, producing Wan Yan’s identity token, and barked, "I’m here on Lord Wan’s orders to arrest these people. You openly blocked me—are you defying a superior’s command?"
Gu Zhan sneered and said, "Did I stop you from making an arrest? Did I not cooperate? I’m very cooperative, right? They’re all already in your hands, aren’t they?"
"So why did you block me on the street?" Rong Hao demanded angrily.
Gu Zhan stuffed the last bite of bun in his mouth, chewed a few times, and pointed at the Five Stone Powder on the ground, "Didn’t you see it’s contraband..."
"You..."
"Men—" Gu Zhan stepped back slightly, calling out loud, "All those suspected of smuggling Five Stone Powder, bring them all back to the Hundred Households Office for strict questioning. If anyone resists... kill without mercy!"
"Gu Zhan, you’ve got guts..."
Furious, Rong Hao drew his blade—but before he could fully unsheathe it, the disheveled Rong Wanlin held him down and murmured, "Gu Zhan is trying to provoke you on purpose. You’re with the Embroidered Uniform Guard—without solid evidence, he can’t act. But if you strike first and injure someone, then he’ll have his excuse to act!"
Rong Hao snarled, "Am I supposed to be afraid of him..."
"This is South City. We underestimated Gu Zhan’s roots and influence. Who knows how many more of his men are beyond this street, how many South City Embroidered Uniform Guards still here? How many can you kill?" Rong Wanlin pressed Rong Hao down tightly.
"So what now?" Rong Hao said unwillingly.
Rong Wanlin replied in a low voice, "Let him be smug for now. The Rong Family has plenty of official support too. In time, he’ll pay for his arrogance!"
Rong Hao drew a deep breath, forcibly swallowing his rage. He slowly sheathed his blade and said coldly, "Gu Zhan, I’ll hand the men back to you. But don’t push your luck!"
Gu Zhan sneered dismissively, motioning with his hand.
A squad of Embroidered Uniform Guards behind him stepped forward, unlocking and retrieving Chen Fei, Ma Lang, and the others detained by the East City Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Then Gu Zhan swaggered off with his men.
Watching Gu Zhan act so arrogantly,
Rong Hao was furious, clenching his fists tightly. But he also knew there was nothing more he could do in this situation. He shook his hand angrily and left with his people.
Yet just then,
the situation suddenly changed,
The Martial World men encircling the area quickly withdrew,
In an instant, a wide clearing was left—only the East City Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Rong Family martial artists remained.
The crowds on all sides parted, and from every alley and street corner rushed sturdy men. These men had rough cloth belts at their waists, each belt holding four small axes. They already held two little axes in their hands, ready to throw!
"Embroidered Uniform Guard Hundred Households Rong Hao, conspiring with the Rong Family to smuggle Five Stone Powder, violently resisting arrest—kill without mercy!"
Gu Zhan’s fierce shout echoed through the surrounding alleys and streets.
In that instant, hundreds of flying axes rained down on Rong Hao’s people.
"Gu Zhan, fuck you! Are you insane?!"
Axes fell in a frenzy, screams erupting all around.
Rong Hao’s men drew their swords and fought back with all their might.
Gu Zhan seized a hardwood bow, loosing three feathered arrows in a flash, instantly piercing the throats of three experts.
"Madman, you lunatic!"
Rong Hao cursed furiously, charging and hacking madly through the melee.
He’d never imagined Gu Zhan would go so far as to ambush and massacre dozens of Embroidered Uniform Guards. This was beyond arrogance—this was madness.
Right then, Gu Zhan melted into the throng, a feathered arrow aimed straight at Rong Hao, his face calm as he softly intoned, "I, Gu Zhan, am a man of my word. I said you wouldn’t leave South City alive, and you absolutely will not leave South City!"