Chapter 61: Bloody Escape

The middle-aged man was, after all, a Knight at the Peak of Status. Even though a huge hole had been torn in his chest and both his arms were blown off at the shoulders, a last breath still lingered in him. He lay sprawled on the ground in a wretched state, barely lifting his head. While spitting blood, he hoarsely screamed, “My Lady, escape!”

With such a large hole in his chest and his lungs severely injured, the breathless middle-aged man finally spat out pink, frothy blood. His voice grew weaker with each cry. In just a few breaths, his head heavily hit the ground, and he stopped breathing completely.

Dozens of tall, shadowy figures wielding broadswords and battle-axes quickly closed in on the carriage.

Several dozen houses along Seafront Avenue lit up, but their windows were quickly shattered by stones, and about half the lights inside went out. However, the sound of barking dogs rose one after another, soon becoming a chorus. From some houses came the sound of swords being drawn from their sheaths, and rough-voiced men shouted something loudly, as if preparing to lead people out to see what was happening.

Dun Er Ke bordered the North Sea. During the Hundred-Year Land-Island War, this area was often harassed by the Alien Race from the Five Great Archipelagos, so the local customs were extremely fierce. Moreover, located in the northern part of the Continent, Dun Er Ke had many ferocious wild beasts. The people’s bodies were as exceptionally tall and robust as these northern beasts, and their temper was much fiercer than people from other places.

So, despite the warnings from the thugs Lin Qi had summoned, there were still fearless people in those houses who called their servants and gathered the commonly kept swords, bows, arrows, and other weapons in every Dun Er Ke household. Holding torches and leading fierce hunting dogs, they swarmed out in a grand manner, wanting to see what was going on.

Just as those curious people stepped out of their gates, shadowy figures of suspicious appearance approached them. Those people muttered a few quiet words to them. Immediately, the bright torches were extinguished, the masters loudly scolded their hunting dogs to silence them, swords were sheathed, and bowstrings were loosened. The curious masters, along with their servants, returned to their warm bedrooms and fell fast asleep.

The dozens of shadowy figures ignored the commotion nearby. They quickly approached the carriage, getting within less than ten meters.

Lin Qi stood on the watchtower of the fishing boat and sneered at Bar, “Uncle Bar, those merchants from Viyas are really rich. Two delicate young ladies actually have a Knight at the Peak of Status protecting them, and it’s even a Knight who might step into the Celestial Knight rank at any moment! How much do you think his yearly salary would be?”

Bar simply gave a few dark, eerie chuckles in response. That question was truly hard to answer.

Even in the Empire, a Celestial Knight usually held a rank equivalent to a Legion Commander of the Imperial Guard. Even without actual command authority, their honorary title was absolutely terrifyingly high. Moreover, any Celestial Knight in the Empire could receive the title of Honorary Earl. Once they performed meritorious service for the Empire, the Honorary Earl would immediately be converted to a hereditary Earl. This showed just how precious Celestial Knights were.

That these two noble young ladies from Viyas had a master who could break through to the Celestial Knight rank at any moment protecting them was completely beyond Bar’s expectations. Narrowing his eyes and pondering for a moment, Bar transformed into a shadow and leaped down from the watchtower. Like a ghost, he glided over the ships and swiftly headed towards the overturned carriage.

Since these two women had such a master protecting them, their status was truly extraordinary. After all, even an imperial princess, if she was not particularly favored, would not have such a master by her side. These two women had to die, killed as quickly as possible, then their bodies destroyed and all traces that might link back to Lin Qi erased.

The Black Tiger Family was not afraid of trouble, but there was no need to actively invite trouble, right?

Especially now, when their leader Blackbeard was at a critical moment in the mayor election. Could you expect the honorable prospective mayor of Dun Er Ke to take to the streets with a greatsword and start hacking people?

Lin Qi also figured out the complicated cause and effect. He frowned, took out the conch shell whistle, and blew it again. He sounded the family’s second-level alarm signal and simultaneously requested expert assistance from the Ancestral Residence. No matter what, Ya and Ling must be kept here.

Bar should be enough to deal with those two women. Lin Qi was calling for new reinforcements to prevent anyone from causing trouble—for example, that ‘elder brother’ he wished he could stab to death. Lin Qi really didn’t want to see him at this time.

Bar, soaring through the air, quickly rushed along the breakwater onto Seafront Avenue. He sharply whispered, “No captives, kill them!”

At his command, the dozens of shadowy figures approaching the carriage quickly retreated. They put down their weapons and pulled out palm-sized double-edged battle-axes from their belts. A shout went up, and dozens of pure steel double-edged battle-axes, each weighing ten pounds, whistled through the air. They whipped up violent whirlwinds and slammed towards the overturned carriage.

This was a technique the Black Tiger Family learned from the Beastfolk of the Five Great Archipelagos. Those tall and strong Beastfolk could easily kill a heavily armored infantryman within a hundred paces using these small double-edged axes! Although the Black Tiger Family’s thugs were not as strong as those Beastfolk, within thirty paces, their lethality was still terrifying.

Just as the dozens of axes were about to chop into the carriage, two sweet, delicate, and indistinguishable female voices suddenly rang out.

“God says, all evil shall perish. God’s glory reigns over all things in the world!”

A chilling blast of flame erupted from inside the carriage. The carriage instantly turned into blue smoke. Standing shoulder to shoulder, Ya and Ling hovered three feet above the ground, their eyes blazing with a heart-palpitating fury. A strange fire flickered between their brows; within that flickering fire, a golden Rune occasionally flashed past.

The dozens of axes rapidly closed in on the two women’s bodies, but soon their flying speed grew slower and slower. By the time they were about a meter away from their bodies, the force of the flying axes was completely neutralized by an invisible power, and they helplessly fell to the ground.

The pure steel axes had become red-hot. As they hit the ground, they made the bricks of Seafront Avenue crackle.

“You sinners, how dare you attack God’s servants! Your crimes must be met with Divine Punishment!”

Ya and Ling simultaneously raised their right hands and swiftly traced strange Runes in the air. In the blink of an eye, two crimson Runes, each the size of a human head, were nearly complete.

Bar let out a clear whistle. He drew the long scythe from his back, and his body swayed, creating over a dozen afterimages. Like a nightmare, he swept past the two women. The huge scythe fiercely slashed through the air behind them. A crisp sound was heard as, less than a meter behind the two women, a red curtain of light suddenly shattered.

The scythe dragged across the women’s backs. Blood splattered. Their backs were slashed open with a horrific wound, deep enough to see bone, running across their entire backs.

The two women screamed in unison. Their faces showed panic, and they hurriedly transformed into two balls of fire, fleeing into the distance.