Chapter 424: Gathering the People Outside the City

Not long after Lu Yu left Yongan City, an aura of restlessness began to permeate the entire city.

People in the two camps outside the city began to stir, gathering in groups and forming more than ten streams of people, surging toward the city gates in a mighty procession.

As it turned out, they had all received a notice issued by their camp leaders last night.

The notice explicitly required that early the next morning, no one was allowed to go out hunting, nor were they allowed to stay at home; everyone had to rush to the city gates to assemble, saying that the Awakened adults in the city had important matters to announce.

The notice also specifically emphasized that if anyone disobeyed, they would bear the consequences themselves.

In the hearts of these ordinary people, the orders of the Awakened adults in the city were like golden rules and precious laws; who would dare to disobey?

So much so that many people did not sleep soundly all night because of this, and when they got up early in the morning, each of them had two large dark circles under their eyes, their expressions full of exhaustion and doubt.

"Brother, what do you think happened? What important matter could the Awakened adults possibly have to announce?"

In the crowd, someone could not help but whisper.

"How would I know? We'll find out once we get there."

"I specifically went to ask our camp leader last night, and he was also clueless; he only knew that his superiors told him to ensure everyone was notified, and if even one household was missed, he would be held accountable."

"Goodness, making such a big fuss, could it be that some earth-shattering event has occurred?"

"Recently in the city, it seems, it really seems like something incredible has happened."

"What big event? Tell us quickly!"

At these words, the people around suddenly perked up, leaning in one after another and surrounding the man in the middle.

The man was startled by everyone's enthusiasm and hurriedly waved his hands, saying, "Nothing, nothing, I was just talking nonsense, don't take it seriously."

"Brother, that's not very friendly of you! You've already said it, and now you won't continue; that won't do."

"Exactly, exactly, we are all brothers in misfortune living outside the city, and now we are all going to the city gate together; we are all grasshoppers on the same rope, what is there that can't be said?"

"Brother, I beg you, just say it quickly! If you ever need my help in the future, I will definitely not say a word and will be duty-bound!"

"That's right, brother, just tell us, we promise not to spread it around."

It was mainly because, in everyone's impression, such a thing as being summoned to the city gate early in the morning had never happened before.

"Fine, since we are all brothers, I will tell you." The man pondered for a moment, gritted his teeth, and said as if he had made a great decision, "However, what I am about to say is all hearsay, and I cannot guarantee its truth. But after you hear it later, remember, do not make too much noise, otherwise, it is very likely to bring unnecessary trouble upon yourselves."

"Fine, brother, don't worry, we promise not to make a sound."

The man first carefully looked around to make sure there were no suspicious people, then lowered his voice and whispered mysteriously, "I heard that the City Lord and the others have met with an accident."

"What! The City—" Someone was just about to exclaim, but was quickly covered by the large hand of the person beside him.

Although the others around did not lose their composure like that, they all widened their eyes, showing expressions of having seen a ghost, as if they had heard something unbelievable.

Someone asked with a trembling voice, "Brother, what exactly do you mean by the City Lord and the others meeting with an accident?"

"That's right." The man nodded, sighed softly, and said, "It is just as you think."

"This..." The crowd looked at each other, and a thought arose in their hearts simultaneously: Could it be that the City Lord and the others are dead?

But the City Lord is such a powerful figure, how could he possibly die?

And who could possibly have such great ability to kill the City Lord and the others?

You must know that the several Beast Tides that broke out in the past were all repelled by the City Lord and the others leading everyone.

"Brother, what exactly is going on? You should explain it more clearly."

"Yes, how exactly did the City Lord and the others meet with an accident? What is their situation now?"

"Brother, you've left us hanging, you're killing me with anxiety."

"I don't know the specifics either; how would I dare to ask about such things?" The man shook his head helplessly and said, "Anyway, I've told you everything I know. If you ask me again, I won't be able to answer. Sigh, if something bad really happens in the future, everyone just pray for their own luck."

Hearing his words, the mood of the people around became increasingly heavy, and an ominous premonition spread through the crowd.

At this time, Liu Yong and others from the Martial Arts Association were also mixed in the crowd.

Unlike the panicked expressions of the people around them, their faces were filled more with doubt.

"Brother Liu, what exactly happened? Why do we have to gather at the city gate so early in the morning?"

"Yes, Brother Liu, what kind of medicine is that bunch from the Awakened Association selling in their gourd?"

"Is there any news from the President?"

"I asked." Liu Yong heard everyone's inquiries, shook his head with a solemn expression, and said, "The President said he doesn't know what happened either. We people outside the city all received the notice, but there is no movement inside the city at all; not a single whisper has leaked out."

"What, the President means that only we people outside the city received the Association's order to come here and gather?"

"That's right." Liu Yong nodded with a gloomy expression.

At this, the faces of everyone in the Martial Arts Association became very ugly.

Most of them were Martial Artists in the Refining Flesh Realm or Body Tempering Realm; even as members of the Martial Arts Association, they did not have the authorization to live inside the city.

Now that the Awakened Association had only notified them, the people outside the city, this could not help but make them suspicious: could it be that they wanted to do something unfavorable to them?

For example, thinking that their living outside the city affected the city's appearance and wanting to drive them away?

But thinking about it carefully, it seemed unlikely.

They had been living peacefully outside the city all these years, being honest and never daring to enter the city to cause trouble.

Furthermore, they were members of the Martial Arts Association; even if the Awakened Association in the city looked down on them, out of respect for the Martial Arts Association, they shouldn't go too far, right?

Liu Yong looked toward the city gate and saw that it was already a sea of people, a dark mass of heads, with noisy discussions rising one after another, never-ending.

"If it's a blessing, it's not a disaster; if it's a disaster, it cannot be avoided." Liu Yong sighed secretly in his heart.

In fact, he knew much more information than the others around him.

For example, the news of the death of Yan Luo and the others. To avoid causing unnecessary panic, he had never told anyone else this news.

But last night, he suddenly received a notice to have everyone gather at the city gate early the next morning, which could not help but make him deeply worried.

Could it be that those people in the Awakened Association thought the murderer who killed Yan Luo and the others was hiding among them, the people outside the city?

And they wanted to find the murderer by gathering everyone? After all, the abilities awakened by those Awakened are strange and varied; perhaps they really have such means.

Sigh, I just hope this matter can subside as soon as possible, and please don't implicate these innocent ordinary people.

At the same time, the people inside the city naturally also noticed the unusual movements outside the city.

They gathered together in twos and threes, whispering and discussing it.