The guards who accompanied Wu Ziyue were used to flaunting their authority, so when they saw someone causing trouble, they didnât bother with pleasantries and took action directly.
These individuals were quite skilled, all were Second-level Sword Masters, and their attacks were merciless, aimed directly at vital points. From their demeanor, even if they werenât trying to cripple Han Yan and the othersâ cultivation, they were intent on breaking limbs and teaching a harsh lesson.
No past grievances nor recent animosities, and without even asking about identities, they resorted to such vicious tactics! Han Yanâs eyebrows slightly furrowed; earlier she had heard from Zhu Xiuqing that Wu Ziyue was greedy and tyrannical, and she thought seeing is believing since she wouldnât trust entirely in the words of that young playboy prince. But now, seeing the actions of his guards, itâs easy to imagine his usual arrogance.
"Clang!" The Cold Sky Sword leapt from the sheath, carving a bright flash in the air.
The guards grunted in unison, staggering backward several steps from the force of the sword and spat out blood.
Han Yan resented their cruel attacks and wielded her sword without reservation. Though no limbs were broken, the internal injuries they suffered werenât light; it would take a year or two of recuperation for them to recover. Even after recovery, their future cultivation progress would be severely hindered. For Second-level cultivators, such punishment is quite severe.
The power of Han Yanâs sword left a hushed silence around her.
The city folk were familiar with the prowess of Wu Ziyueâs guards, knowing well their abuses in Dingbian City. No one expected that this stunningly beautiful girl could seriously wound them with just one sword stroke?
Looking at Han Yan, everyone showed expressions of awe.
Wu Ziyue was momentarily surprised, and then he gazed at the Cold Sky Sword in Han Yanâs hand, a greedy glint in his eyes.
"So, there are accomplices! A few days ago, an ancient divine sword was lost from the City Lordâs Mansion. Iâve been searching openly and secretly for days without success, but it seems it was stolen by you." Wu Ziyue said with a cold laugh.
Han Yan was about to exclaim; again with losing things from the City Lordâs Mansion? Is that place made of paper, how can it be so easy to lose things?
The surrounding citizens also smiled bitterly to themselves; another valuable item has caught the greedy eye of Lord City Master, these people are in trouble now.
"Seize these Anyun spies!" Wu Ziyue pointed at Doctor Sun and then Han Yan, shouting harshly.
Behind him, about a hundred guards clad in black armor began to surround them.
Of course, on an inspection, the City Lord wouldnât only bring a few guards; thereâs a large contingent of city guards with him too.
Given Dingbian Cityâs strategic location and Wu Ziyueâs status as the Shoulder-to-shoulder Kingâs only son, his guards are not only well-equipped but also mostly highly skilled. The strongest among them are Third Stage Sword Masters and the weakest are Ninth Rank Swordsmen, far surpassing the Imperial City Guard led by Li Dingfeng in strength.
Huayue and others grabbed their sword hilts; if it came to a one-on-one duel, even if the opponent was somewhat stronger, they wouldnât be overly concerned. But dueling among swordsmen is entirely different from the chaos of battlefield fighting.
Dueling requires higher cultivation realm and more refined sword techniques, whereas battlefield combat relies more on teamwork and superior equipment. Their seemingly simple martial arts are honed from thousands of years of war, designed for efficiency, with greater power when combined.
Donât underestimate the bulky appearance of these heavily armored guards; their armor provides formidable defense. If surrounded by them, even with Han Yanâs skill, it wouldnât be easy to escape.
Invisible killing intent approached, causing heavy pressure on all present.
The crowd stepped back, their gazes filled with sympathy for Han Yan and the others.
"Is this how Shangyue Country treats envoys from neighboring countries?" Han Yan remained calm and composed.
"Envoys?" Wu Ziyue hesitated, and the crowd watching also paused in disbelief.
"I am Han Yan, envoy of Anyun Country, authorized to visit Shangyue. Here are the embassy documents." Han Yan presented the papers.
Having heard Old City Lordâs heartfelt words in Hanshan Town, Han Yan felt deeply moved. Although she found Wu Ziyue utterly distasteful, for the sake of the greater good she refrained from acting impulsively, avoiding unnecessary conflict.
Wu Ziyue took the documents and examined them, his expression shifting unpredictably.
"Finished reading? Can we leave now?" Han Yan said impatiently.
"Wait," Wu Ziyue replied.
"What, is there any doubt about the documents?" Han Yan mocked, curious to see what tricks he had up his sleeve.
"Thereâs no falsity in the documents, but I havenât received any word of Anyun Country sending envoys to Shangyue. Thereâs something strange about this; perhaps itâs a precaution youâve taken to cover your tracks in case you were exposed.
Alright then, please stay at the City Lordâs Mansion for a few days while I report this matter to the court and verify your identity. After that, Iâll personally escort you to the Capital.
But until then, I ask you to hand over all your belongings, and if your identity checks out, Iâll return them untouched," Wu Ziyue pondered before responding.
"Your name is Wu Ziyue, correct? Could you possibly be more shameless?" Han Yanâs eyes showed disdain, her smile filled with sarcasm.
The surrounding citizens continuously shook their heads.
From Wu Ziyueâs words, they understood the documents were genuine, and Han Yan and her companions could not possibly be spies. The dispatch of envoys between nations is a significant matter, not childâs play. The Anyun Royal Family would never provide embassy documents to protect mere spies; for the high and mighty Royal Family, a few spies are merely ants. Who would care for their lives?
The reason Wu Ziyue insisted on detaining Han Yan and her companions essentially stemmed from his desire for the Profound Sun Phoenix Feather Grass and the unusual treasure sword in Han Yanâs hand. Should they be foolish enough to believe him and enter the City Lordâs Mansion, itâs likely their belongings would vanish long before they left; losing a few more items from the frequently misplacing City Lordâs Mansion wouldnât be considered strange.
Due to Wu Ziyueâs frequent injustices, the cityâs citizens detested him profoundly. Furthermore, since Doctor Sun frequently performed charitable acts upon entering the city, many citizens had benefited from his kindness. Hence, despite knowing Han Yan and her companionsâ identities, the people of Dingbian City held little hostility towards them, feeling rather sympathetic instead.
In reality, they had heard rumors from the Shangyue Royal Family suggesting a possible restoration of diplomatic relations between Shangyue and Anyun. Having lived generations in this border town, they better understood the terror and brutality of war compared to other Shangyue people, longing for peace and exhibiting lesser enmity towards Han Yan and her companions.
"How dare you show disrespect to the City Lord!" Hearing Han Yanâs merciless sarcasm, Wu Ziyue turned furious.
The surrounding guards drew their swords, the atmosphere becoming even more intense.