Chapter 1403

For equipment, the "portable integrated mechanical arm" activated, and Lin Cheng leapt from another window on the second floor, shooting upward into the sky.

Mid-flight, he locked eyes with Prince Li Jian, pointed at himself, then pointed far away.

Li Jian pondered for a moment, then quickly understood.

At that moment, a pair of city guards were rapidly approaching from the northeast.

Lin Cheng dove downward and flew straight toward them.

As he neared, he slowed gradually, glanced at the city guards, and feigned ignorance: "Aren't you the captain of the city guards who arrested me last time? Trouble—I'm flying." As he spoke, he pretended to be terrified, swiftly flying away from the battle between Bai Susu and Adian.

He openly violated the city's flight ban right before the city guards' eyes; Captain 17 declared he had never seen a forger as brazen as Lin Cheng.

But after arresting that group of forgers last time, General Wu Hongtian scolded him severely.

Furious—could he really just watch Lin Cheng do as he pleased?

Yes—he really could only watch helplessly as Lin Cheng did as he pleased.

Because General Wu Hongtian had sternly warned him: don't provoke Lin Cheng again, don't arrest any forgers from the Zaoshigong Society; if the Huoerde Society's chairman files one more complaint against him, he can go home and raise pigs.

Junior forgers aren't crucial, but they're not negligible either—they're merely responsible for maintaining all machinery within the Stone Fortress city.

Last time, when the city guard captain arrested all the forgers and even Chairman Huoerde, the Zaoshigong Society became deeply dissatisfied; several special machinery projects at the Lord's mansion slowed to a crawl, leaving Wu Hongtian utterly exasperated—with no solution in sight.

If this happened again, the city's machinery wouldn't even need maintenance this year—they could just write them off.

The General's warning still rang fresh in his ears; watching Lin Cheng fly off without restraint, the city guard captain finally clenched his teeth and submitted to reality—choosing not to send anyone after Lin Cheng.

"Captain, are we really just letting Lin Cheng go?" one city guard asked anxiously.

He wasn't upset by Lin Cheng's actions—he feared the captain might lose his mind again and chase Lin Cheng, dragging them all down with him.

Last time, the city guard who kicked Chairman Huoerde was fired the next day for stepping into the Lord's mansion with his left foot first; the others were utterly terrified.

In all their years alive, they'd never heard of such a reason for dismissal.

It made these lowly men realize: even as city guards, they weren't as powerful as they seemed—they still couldn't afford to offend any major figure.

Like the big shots in the Forge Guild.

They'd assumed their status as city guards should surpass that of forgers—but they were wrong; they were only slightly above ordinary civilians.

"What else can we do? Forget it—call the team back."

"What? Captain, civilians reported a brawl at Flying Fox Tavern—aren't we going there?"

"No. Definitely related to that plague-bringer—otherwise he wouldn't have broken the flight ban right in front of us." The city guard captain wasn't stupid; anyone who reached this position, besides having connections, was sharp—those who weren't had already been fired.

A moment's thought revealed Lin Cheng was merely drawing their attention.

Since they couldn't afford to offend him, better to turn a blind eye—avoiding trouble for themselves.

Lin Cheng had expected the city guards to chase him; when he turned back, he saw—holy hell—they were already retreating.

What's going on?

Has the city guard captain changed his nature?

Or did he instantly see through Lin Cheng's scheme? Was his acting really that bad?

Still, city guards were the Empire's direct municipal security force, having arrested countless criminals and thieves over the years—their sharp eyes were forged through relentless practice.

Lin Cheng's acting was barely better than just holding up a sign.

Better to turn away than invite humiliation.

Among the shattered ruins of the house, Bai Susu sat slumped amid the rubble; outwardly unharmed, only a blood trail from her forehead trickled steadily down her cheek—but only she knew how grave her internal injuries were.

"Am I going to lose?"

Gazing at the empty sky, every bone in her body felt shattered; excruciating pain constantly disrupted her mind—even moving a single finger triggered agonizing spasms.

She didn't want to surrender—but her heart already understood the outcome.

Maybe… just give up. She'd already lost; surrendering now might let her live—if she kept fighting, she'd likely die.

Fear, once born, took root like a sprout, firmly gripping her heart; her body grew weaker by the second. Even as her will struggled, her failing body betrayed her with cruel honesty.

Hum…

The spirit blade, Crescent Moon, resting in Bai Susu's hand, suddenly trembled violently; she instinctively gripped it tighter, aggravating her internal wounds and drawing a soft moan—but the blade's trembling intensified, growing hot, as if rejecting her.