Chapter 2630

The merchants, men and women alike, all clutched their heads.

Zhao Chi laughed and said, "This time it's straightforward. Tang Ruan, Qi Yue—take them down!"

"Yes!"

Yuan Ze turned pale with shock and shouted, "Stop!! Wait a moment! Don't act rashly!!"

"Captain Qian! Don't act rashly!"

"Brother Zhao Chi, hold on too—the two heroines, wait a moment!"

Then he said to Qian Kuan's soldiers, "You lot don't move either!"

Those soldiers naturally recognized Yuan Ze and knew he was a subordinate lord under Qian Kuan.

Seeing Yuan Ze stop them so directly and urgently, they unanimously halted and looked toward Qian Kuan.

Once those soldiers had all stopped, Tang Ruan and Qi Yue's attacks didn't go out either.

The two of them nearly couldn't brake in time, but luckily twisted their bodies to shed the force, then also looked toward Zhao Chi.

Although the two of them obeyed Zhao Chi without question, they weren't stone statues who only knew how to follow orders without adapting.

If this were a real battlefield, the two of them would absolutely show no mercy and would definitely kill in one strike.

But right now, this wasn't a battlefield.

Both sides were actually still fairly restrained.

Of course they had to confirm again.

Sure enough, Zhao Chi nodded: "Come back."

The two women immediately returned to behind Zhao Chi.

Qian Kuan, on the other hand, was extremely surprised.

He looked at Yuan Ze with considerable anger: "What are you doing? Why did you stop me?"

Yuan Ze said urgently, "Captain Qian, think twice. This Zhao Chi... shouldn't be that simple. Her relationship with Captain Biyu should be closer than we imagined."

"I know that, but so what? A mere squad captain, and a woman at that."

Yuan Ze pointed at himself: "We've already had a taste of it just now... the disparity in strength is huge."

"He beat you?" Qian Kuan turned his head in astonishment and looked at the twenty-plus soldiers Yuan Ze had led.

Those soldiers were all dejected, with severe dents in their chests or abdomens, like marks left after being brutally hammered by a giant mallet.

Yuan Ze himself looked fairly all right, his armor showing little wear.

But his morale was already gone—dejected, truly looking like he'd been beaten into submission.

Yuan Ze said softly, "Captain Qian, I thought you would bring Captain Qianfu, but if he hasn't come, and it's only you and these soldiers..."

Yuan Ze didn't finish his sentence.

But Qian Kuan understood.

It meant he wasn't a match either.

Qian Kuan had also experienced Zhao Chi's strength and knew he wasn't a match, but the soldiers behind him were a different story.

These soldiers were all battle-hardened elites. Zhao Chi might be able to handle ten of them, but fifty was absolutely impossible.

They could absolutely beat Zhao Chi until even his own mother wouldn't recognize him.

Yuan Ze says they can't beat Zhao Chi? Isn't that bullshit?

Qian Kuan simply didn't believe it.

As for those two women...

Delicate and dainty, and dressed in fashion to boot—probably a single soldier could cut them both down, right?

But Yuan Ze was also at the squad-captain level and was a fairly professional lord when it came to combat.

Since even he said so...

Qian Kuan was also a little hesitant.

Yuan Ze said quietly, "Captain Qianfu... will he be coming later?"

Qian Kuan shook his head: "My brother's gone to the front line, he won't be back tonight."

At this moment, Zhao Chi suddenly interjected.

He said to Yuan Ze, "Oh~ I get it now. You called Qian Kuan here, didn't you? Figured Qian Kuan would summon Captain Qianfu and then teach me a lesson? Have him avenge you and vent your hatred?"

Yuan Ze panicked at once: "No, no, really not?"

Qian Kuan stared at Yuan Ze with disgust: "Look at your cowardly look! What the hell are you afraid of!"

Then he said to Zhao Chi, "Zhao Chi, I already have evidence that your hands aren't clean. You've been stirring up the market these past few days, making a complete mess of it. You're taking advantage of the war to disrupt the market! And where did you get all that capital? From the werewolves?"

Zhao Chi had long anticipated that his massive procurement of supplies and his posting of extremely high bounties would attract attention.

But there was no choice.

He really didn't have time to waste.

The amount of ordinary bounties was hard to draw attention, and he had no idea how long it would take to gather all the supplies he wanted.

Since he had the money, he could spend it however he wanted.

And within this, no one suffered a loss.

Sellers all hoped to sell their goods as early as possible.

Zhao Chi's massive procurement allowed transactions to be completed quickly, and the exchange could also collect hefty fees.

The extremely high bounties let sellers make a killing, and the task hall would likewise make a killing in fees thanks to the enormous bounty amounts.

Although Zhao Chi spent a lot more money, the things he wanted could be obtained quickly.

There were no losers in this.

It was a win-win-win outcome.

Moreover, his source of money was clean, and the source of the goods he sold was also clean.

Besides, such things were private matters; no one had the right to investigate unless absolutely necessary.

Qian Kuan made up a reason out of thin air and haphazardly pinned it on Zhao Chi.

This was pure frame-up.

Zhao Chi laughed and said: "Qian Kuan, weren't you about to fight just now? Why are you suddenly chatting again? Trying to get close to me? If you want to fight, be quick about it, or I'll strike first."

Qian Kuan snorted and laughed: "Ha! Did I hear that right? What are you gonna do, you little punk? Strike first? Surrender first?"

Zhao Chi did not answer him.

Instead, he turned back and said: "This time, beat all fifty new soldiers the same way. Also, try not to kill them if possible, but don't feel pressured if you do. Leave Qian Kuan for me to deal with."

"Yes, my lord."

Qian Kuan couldn't believe his ears: "What the hell are you doing? You really dare to strike first? Attacking a superior officer unprovoked — that's an added offense, understand?"

Zhao Chi continued: "If Yuan Ze and his soldiers dare to move, do it again. I refuse to believe they won't learn their lesson."

"Yes, my lord."

Yuan Ze hurriedly said: "No, no, no, we won't… we we we…"

He wanted to say they absolutely would not move.

But Qian Kuan was still beside him, and he didn't dare say it, so he could only stammer.

Zhao Chi activated two points of energy.

The light once again burrowed into Tang Ruan and Qi Yue's bodies. The two women let out another long breath, their cheeks becoming even rosier and more beautiful.

"Go!"

"Yes!" Two fierce shouts rang out at the same time.

Immediately after came two more thunderous crashes of high heels.

Boom! Boom!

The wooden floor was once again stomped into holes.

The two women's figures blurred into streaks.

In an instant, the sounds of metal clashing and screams came from all around.

The soldiers Qian Kuan brought were indeed a bit stronger — after the first few were sent flying, the ones behind could hold out for two moves before being sent flying.

But in the end, they all flew too.

"Holy shit…"

Qian Kuan realized he had completely misjudged the situation.

He had assumed the strongest fighter was Zhao Chi, but it turned out to be those two petite, slender women?

What was going on?