Chapter 704

We have received orders; before we clarify the cause and effect of the incident, we must temporarily detain your cargo for inspection. Once all parties complete the necessary procedures afterward, we will release both the cargo and the personnel.

A company employee shouted angrily, 'This shipment isn't even headed for Luofu—it's our proprietary technology! On what grounds do you inspect it?'

'According to procedure, any cargo arriving at Luofu must undergo inspection.'

'We're not even entering the port! We were attacked by the Bu Li people and had no choice but to take refuge in Luofu's harbor.'

Looking around, the dock was in utter chaos, with similar arguments everywhere. Yan Qing didn't want to get involved and instead asked the nearby duty Cloud Cavalry: 'Who is the officer in charge of this unit? I need an explanation.'

The questioned Cloud Cavalry captain stammered, 'It's me… sorry, we momentarily lapsed in our guard; it's all my fault.'

'Come on, speak up—the martial demonstration ceremony is about to begin, and Luofu's top priority is safety and stability. Why have Bu Li prisoners appeared in the Xingcha Sea? According to procedure, dangerous major criminals should be detained in Xingcha and transported straight to the Youqiu Prison without landing. Who allowed the prisoner escort ship to dock at the passenger pier?!'

A Cloud Cavalry with fox ears standing nearby spoke up to defuse the situation for that captain: 'No wonder this captain—it's because the Zhu Ming envoy ship was overly enthusiastic.'

Yan Qing turned to look at him and asked, 'Who are you again?'

'I am Lujun, the duty martial officer of the Patrol Defense Brigade. Thank you, Yan Qing Xiaowei, for lending a hand. The incident arose suddenly; it is certainly not this captain's fault. The company's transfer ship en route to Luofu was attacked by the Bu Li people just as it was about to arrive. The Zhu Ming envoy ship intervened, crushed this band of Bu Li brigands, and confined them in the ship's hold.'

'In the waters where Luofu sails, the company's ships were robbed by the Bu Li people, yet the Zhu Ming envoy came to their rescue? This case sounds really complicated…'

——

Death God.

'So this pack of wolf-headed monsters is called the Bu Li people…… They look quite savage, yet they dare to attack the company's merchant ships—do they not fear offending the company?'

'Offend the company? But they don't seem intelligent; more likely they're just acting on hunting instinct,' Jingle Chunshui clicked his tongue, lifted his cup and took a light sip, 'Besides, hearing that the Bu Li people have long been hostile to Luofu, I'm more inclined to think they are the arch-enemies of the Divine Vessel.'

Rifangu Dongshilang calmly shook his head, his tone hinting at a hint of disdain: 'Just a few monsters…… they can't yet be called arch-enemies; the arch-enemy of the Divine Vessel is the Abundance Folk, and these monsters show no relation to 【Abundance】 at all. That girl wielding the giant sword smashed them to death with a single blow, leaving no sign of revival.'

'Hey hey, that strike alone would probably leave even a demonic shade owing her two lives. 【Abundance】 mainly manifests in longevity and regenerative power; if you really want to kill, you need to kill them dead.' Jingle Chunshui picked up the wine jug and refilled his cup.

'Not necessarily…… The 【Abundance】 we see now is still quite limited—only the longevity of the Divine Vessel's people and the power manifested in the Jianmu's body show 【Abundance】's force; truly immortal beings blessed by Abundance, living forever, might not yet have been seen by us.'

——

Yan Qing intended to report this matter to the Public Security Bureau of the Bureau of Land Balance, so they could assist with the aftermath. The Cloud Cavalry then also pacified the crowd, soon dispersed, and the long street regained its calm.

San Yue Qi couldn't help but ask curiously, 'Um, what exactly is the origin of those… uh, those guys we just dealt with?'

'You call them Bu Li people?'

Yan Qing nodded: 'These wolf-headed monsters are called the Bu Li people; they are Abomination of Abundance that have long been enemies of the Divine Vessel. For ages, the Bu Li have been numerous, carrying out bloody plunder and enslavement across many worlds, their havoc no less than that of the universal insect plague. Thirty years ago, the alliance even fought a major war against them. In recent years, their activity has gradually ceased to be as rampant as before. Who would have thought…'

Dan Heng: 'According to what that martial officer said, they attacked the company's vessels in the vicinity of Luofu? Such blatant aggression is really strange.'

'I also find it strange; it seems the company has a considerable grudge against them.' Yan Qing paused, then said, 'All right, enough small talk—it's time for business. The general wants me to take you all to the Palace of Heavenly Governance. Yan Qing had wanted to chat more with you few, but sigh, some things constantly weigh on one's mind…'

'Unable to rest easy? Could it be that pursuing the Bu Li people… requires our help?'

'No need, no need, just a trifle.' Yan Qing rested his hand on his forehead, sighed deeply, and said, 'That… the girl who just appeared… took my sword. I intend to go to the Bureau of Land Balance to file a lost-and-found report, see if I can retrieve it…'

——

Original God.

'Interesting, truly interesting~'

Lu Ye Yuan Pingzang narrowed his eyes and smiled, 'It's really something to snatch someone else's flying sword right in front of them—how should this be judged? Is it robbery? But that lass doesn't seem wholly a bandit; she also helped Yan Qing wipe out the Bu Li people, yet to call it theft… there doesn't seem to be any upfront way to steal like that.'

'Unclear, but judging from the girl's attire, she probably isn't from a poor family.' Jiu Tiao Sha Luo crossed her arms, pondered slightly, and said, 'Being able to wield such a huge sword, possessing innate monstrous strength and superb martial skill… she's likely a lady from a noble household.'

'Would a young lady from a noble family really have such a quirk of "making off with someone else's sword"?' Lu Ye Yuan Pingzang stroked his chin, 'That makes it even more interesting—I see she's about the same age as Yan Qing, both skilled; this time the Divine Vessel's martial sword tournament champion will surely come from either of them, what do you think, Lord Jiu Tiao?'

However, Jiu Tiao Sha Luo did not reply, instead gazing blankly at the sky canopy.

'Oh dear? What is Lord Jiu Tiao thinking about?'

'Nothing.' Jiu Tiao Sha Luo only then realized her thoughts had wandered; she lifted her gaze to the distant keep, a hint of longing in her voice: 'Just curious—if the general himself could display his martial prowess on the stage at the Divine Vessel Luofu's martial sword tournament ceremony… what a magnificent sight that would be.'

——

'Does the Cloud Cavalry also need to report to the police if something happens?'

Yan Qing lowered his head embarrassedly: 'Please don't say that—it was my momentary lapse. Let's hurry, we shouldn't keep the general waiting.'

Until seeing off the four as they headed toward the Palace of Heavenly Governance, that fox-person Cloud Cavalry Lu Jun finally lowered his eyelids slowly, a faint, hard-to-detect gloom flashing in his pupils.

'There really aren't a lot of folks who would bring trouble…'