Chapter 182: Lifted the Siege
Chapter 182: Lifted the Siege
More than ten warriors surrounded Gao Jing tightly.
They wore identical leather armor. Everyone held long swords, had daggers at their belts, and carried throwing axes on their backs. All their weapons were metal, and each warrior gave off an air of elite fierceness.
The warrior facing Gao Jing head-on was exceptionally tall and burly. He had a broad nose, a large mouth, and an ugly face. A vicious glint flickered in his triangular eyes.
The weapon in his hand was a Dual-Bladed Battle Axe!
Outside the circle of warriors, a sly-looking man pointed at Gao Jing and shouted, “That’s him! He killed our boss and Little Wolf!”
The ugly warrior said darkly, “Killing is a grave crime. I advise you not to resist, or else…”
“Gao Jing!”
Ling Ling heard the commotion inside the hall and came running out. Seeing the scene, her face instantly paled: “Get back inside!”
She hadn’t expected the Enforcement Guard to send elites to arrest Gao Jing. The one leading them was particularly notorious in Blackwater City.
Not only were they a pack of wolves, but savage wolves at that.
From this archer girl’s perspective, Gao Jing’s only chance was to break through immediately and retreat into the Alliance Branch.
According to the agreement between the Alliance and the Steward Hall of Blackwater City, regardless of what crimes Alliance members committed, the Enforcement Guard could not enter the branch premises to arrest them. They had to negotiate with the higher-ups.
It was the Alliance Branch that decided the member’s fate.
Therefore, as long as Gao Jing wasn’t captured by the Enforcement Guard, there might still be room to turn things around or even reverse the situation.
Otherwise, it was all over!
But the ugly warrior was prepared. He suddenly raised his left hand into a fist.
Five or six warriors immediately moved to Gao Jing’s rear, forming a defensive battle formation.
Completely cutting off his escape route.
“Surrender now,” the ugly warrior said arrogantly. “You have no chance.”
Ling Ling stamped her foot in distress: “Gao Jing was defending himself! They tried to steal his things first! You…”
The ugly warrior let out a cold sneer.
He completely ignored Ling Ling’s protest. Slowly, he raised his Dual-Bladed Battle Axe.
A clear, luminous light radiated from the axe blade, as if surrounded by a swift wind. A low, chilling howl emanated from it.
Totem Combat Art!
This ugly warrior was unmistakably an Advanced-rank Totem Warrior too!
The other warriors raised their weapons, pointing their longswords at Gao Jing.
A single command from the ugly warrior, and they would unleash their fiercest attack!
The tension in the air was palpable; a fight was about to erupt at any moment.
Facing this tight encirclement and the threat of a strong enemy, Gao Jing stood unafraid. He instantly ignited his totemic energy, materializing a blazing Flame Blade.
The intense heat caused the surrounding temperature to spike abruptly, making the air waver visibly!
The ugly warrior’s gaze hardened, his pupils contracting slightly.
He already knew Gao Jing was an Advanced-rank Totem Warrior who had killed two using Totem Combat Art.
But the Blackwater City Enforcement Guard had captured Advanced-rank Totem Warriors before.
The ugly warrior had been confident he could subdue Gao Jing.
Yet now, sensing the aura and combat intent radiating from Gao Jing, he felt a flicker of apprehension.
“Gao Jing, hold on!” Ling Ling yelled.
She turned and sprinted towards the hall: “I’ll get help!”
This clever archer knew her own strength wasn’t enough to aid Gao Jing. She needed to fetch reinforcements immediately.
There were powerful figures inside the Alliance Branch.
Gao Jing, having just joined the Alliance, being cornered and arrested by the Enforcement Guard right outside—surely the upper ranks wouldn’t ignore this?
The ugly warrior realized this too.
A vicious light flashed in his eyes.
He prepared to strike!
“Your Honor Gao Jing?”
At this critical juncture, a surprised voice suddenly sounded from the side: “What are you doing here?”
Everyone, including Gao Jing, turned their heads towards the voice.
Standing about ten meters away was an extremely obese man sitting in a wheelchair.
He wore a look of astonishment.
Two beautiful maids attended his left and right. Behind him stood a bald, one-eyed man of imposing stature!
Seeing the man, Gao Jing was also startled: “Your Honor Zhiqi?”
Gao Jing knew Zhiqi was one of Blackwater City’s seven stewards.
But he hadn’t expected to run into him right at this moment.
What a coincidence.
The ugly warrior’s expression changed drastically.
He never imagined the man he was ordered to arrest, Gao Jing, actually knew Zhiqi.
This complicated things enormously!
“Deputy Commander Wan…” Zhiqi smiled gently. “Has Your Honor Gao Jing here had some kind of misunderstanding with you? To warrant such a large-scale mobilization?”
The ugly warrior was Wan Ge, the deputy commander of Blackwater City’s Enforcement Guard.
Though Zhiqi’s tone was soft and his smile benign, Wan Ge felt a shiver of cold fear in his heart.
It was like being watched by a poisonous snake.
His eyelid twitched. He replied firmly, “Steward Zhiqi, this man, Gao Jing, just killed two people in the Lower District. By Steward Yu Wen’s orders, I’m arresting him for interrogation to uncover the truth of the matter.”
Though his reply was respectful, Wan Ge’s heart was filled with bitterness.
Among the seven stewards of Blackwater City’s Steward Hall, Steward Yu Wen ranked higher than Steward Zhiqi.
But everyone knew such rankings were meaningless. Even the highest-ranking steward treated Zhiqi with great deference.
Wan Ge could not afford to offend him.
“It must be a misunderstanding,” Zhiqi declared without hesitation. “Consider who His Honor Gao Jing is. The lowlifes definitely provoked him first. They deserved to die. Report that back to Steward Yu Wen.”
Wan Ge showed a conflicted expression: “B-but…”
“Get lost!” the one-eyed man behind Zhiqi suddenly boomed.
Wan Ge shuddered violently, almost dropping his battle axe.
Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Gritting his teeth, he bowed his head respectfully to Zhiqi. Then, crestfallen, he led his men away.
And just like that, the storm passed.
Gao Jing smiled slightly. “Your Honor Zhiqi, thank you.”
Even without Zhiqi’s intervention, he could have handled Wan Ge and his men.
But if conflict erupted causing casualties, he would never be able to return to Blackwater City.
“Don’t mention it,” Zhiqi shook his head. Then, he complained, “Your Honor Gao Jing, you came to Blackwater City and didn’t even inform me? That’s hardly friendly!”
Gao Jing sighed in a bit of frustration. “I only learned you were a steward here today.”
Right then, Ling Ling rushed out again, accompanied by the middle-aged man who had registered Gao Jing earlier.
Seeing Gao Jing standing at the entrance, calmly chatting and laughing with Zhiqi,
Ling Ling froze.
“The matter’s settled,” Gao Jing said to her. “I happened upon Steward Zhiqi. His Honor Zhiqi lifted the siege for me.”
Ling Ling nodded numbly.
Remembering the bad things she’d said about Zhiqi in front of Gao Jing, this archer girl felt like crying.
Who knew they were acquainted?! They seemed like old friends!
Actually, Ling Ling misjudged. Despite how lively their conversation seemed,
they weren’t exactly friends.
Zhiqi warmly invited Gao Jing to stay for a meal.
But Gao Jing, thinking Shan Tai might be back at the inn, politely declined.
They agreed to meet again the next day.