Chapter 158

Sunlight City Survival Rule No. 3: No matter when or where, don't stand in front of Ke Li Si Ting.

Counting on the noble Tax Minister to yield to pedestrians is unrealistic, unless you think you can withstand the trampling of a level‑40 professional.

So Ji Ming and AdaiEr had just dodged off the road when a whooshing gust and heavy hoofbeats came from behind.

Ordinary centaurs don't have that presence; if you had to pick a biological prototype for her, it would be the two‑meter‑tall, over‑ton‑weigh Xia Er Ma.

Moreover, after being reinforced by another realm and clad entirely in armor, all its stats are at least doubled again.

Amid the relentless drumming, her blood‑Qi was drawn by the battle markings, gradually forming a transparent red energy shield, like a steel plate on a war chariot, ready to smash any obstacle in its path.

But zombies know no fear; the Bull‑Head Chieftain on the other side not only didn't retreat, but let out a hoarse roar and brandished a stone slab to meet her.

Ke Li Si Ting wore an iron mask, obscuring her expression, and silently raised the Ma Mao in her hand.

The Bull‑Head Chieftain also roared, hoisting a massive stone as if to uproot a mountain, ready for a solid head‑on clash with her.

Even if she merely stood there, the surrounding temperature would drop, and when she cast magic it would automatically carry ice‑and‑snow effects.

"The children are all fine; it's just that Mo Dun suffered serious injuries…"

At Bei Li's pleading, Ji Ming opened the medicine box for a glance, but could only shake his head.

"Where are you planning to go?"

Si Tong had sighed countless times along the way; he turned his head to look around, and after confirming no outsiders were nearby…

【Alright, it should be fine now】

Only then did he coldly sneer twice and explain.

Because Ke Li Si Ting was pondering, she eventually slowly opened her mouth.

"Minister Sir."

"Doctor, how did you end up here?"

"Doctor, we plan to leave Sunlight City."

Amid the smoke and dust, Ke Li Si Ting's movements were also jolted into a brief pause, but it was only for an instant.

From a high perch looking down at her opponent, Ke Li Si Ting let out a cold snort and made this assessment.

After placing Ji Ming back on the ground, Ke Li Si Ting extended a finger and poked his head.

In a chaotic corner inside the house, the bearded blacksmith was weakly sitting on the floor.

Even more complicated, especially regarding the viscera, when one knows nothing at all, how could one possibly become proficient?

Instead, the body was continuously suppressed downward, and amid the teeth‑aching creaking, even the bones began to fracture.

Leaving Sunlight City still required much preparation, so Si Tong and the others agreed to Ji Ming's suggestion and, with worry clouding their faces, left the Wai Shu Clinic.

Guided by Si Tong, Ji Ming hurriedly grabbed the medicine box and walked inside.

Ke Li Si Ting apparently hadn't expected Ji Ming to say that, let out a "ha" laugh, and slowly walked over.

"What, these beasts are still raising prices?"

The zombie tried to struggle, but could not at all resist her power.

"Let's go, first to my Clinic!"

"Minister Sir, I'm curious: that doctor was so rude, why did you let him go so easily?"

Then his figure jolted, and upon seeing Ji Ming's expression change, he brazenly burst into loud laughter.

"Doctor, the hospital prices have risen again, we truly can't afford them…"

But healing and saving lives is already a race against Death God; even a strong Mo Dun is just an ordinary person—how could he endure that long?

Following the alley, on the other side of this row of buildings, the main road of East Street was already littered with shattered zombie fragments.

Crossing a field of muddy blood, the two finally reached the lane where the blacksmith's shop stood.

A colossal beast over three meters tall approached, its oppressive presence speaking for itself, and Ji Ming's fingers hidden behind his back gradually clenched.

So, the only question now is…

Because many organs were damaged, and some were outright shredded.

But he was still forming his words when Si Tong, with a solemn expression, spoke.

"Doctor, doctor, are you alright!"

Yet seeing Si Tong alone, standing dejected beside the shattered shop door, Ji Ming's heart immediately sank.

I can only admit I'm still a bit of a dragon‑loving hypocrite; I claim to like big things and iron, yet just now, with such a massive face plate looming before me…

But when I looked up and around, I saw no hint of surprise on anyone's face.

Ji Ming had specifically studied why, despite treating so many patients, his "External Injury Treatment Technique" remained only at a basic level.

Especially since Ji Ming's limitless magical power serves as a backup, casting such spells is even more effortless.

"Doctor, we know you aren't doing well in Inner City either; being able to look after AdaiEr is already quite difficult."

Amid a wave of sorrow, Ji Ming closed his eyes and briefly repented for his damned luck.

He halted AdaiEr's further questioning and swiftly changed the subject.

Speaking, she arrived at a ruin beside the road and abruptly pried open a collapsed wall.

"Remember, we are the Violence Department; we only handle violent issues, everything else is none of our business."

Ke Li Si Ting remained silent until the giant folded its body and obediently lowered its head.

"Now that things have come to this, moving Mo Dun's corpse back and forth is too troublesome; it will only cause unnecessary trouble."

Under the wall slab lay a man whose leg was being crushed.

Yet a building fragment that had been torn down could hardly withstand such a violent impact.

But the question raised was about something else.

"If it were an ordinary person, they should now humbly kneel before my hooves and respectfully bow three times, but you…"

Ignoring the zombie's angry howl, Ke Li Si Ting shifted her stance, and immediately delivered another smash.

Uh…

She planted the Ma Mao she was holding into the ground, and Ke Li Si Ting actually reached out, grabbed the back of Ji Ming's collar, and lifted him up as if bullying a child.

"It's still better than staying in the Outer City waiting to die!"

"Ridiculous."

He placed Mo Dun's corpse into the storage room, covered it with a white cloth, and Ji Ming gave Charlie and Bei Li a bit of privacy.

"Doctor, I beg you, save my father, save him…"

If there were no second way, Ji Ming would certainly try to persuade again, but…

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to question your decision…"

Although it sounds irresponsible, Ke Li Si Ting is absolute authority in front of the royal guard—literally a fist of force,

so no one dares to object, even those who are close to her, like the servant‑like Shuang Ju Ren, are the same.

A few days later, Si Tong also leveled up again; he sensed Ji Ming's presence, his face filled with disbelief.

"An Na and I see our ranks climbing, but every day we walk on a knife's edge, never knowing when death will strike; when that happens, it's truly over."

He rubbed his cheeks, which had gone a bit stiff from trying to make a sorrowful expression, and Ji Ming brought Mo Dun's corpse to the underground city.

If he were an ordinary mage, only a freshly deceased body could successfully trigger a resurrection spell.

Thus, after repositioning and suturing, Mo Dun's body became whole again, his heartbeat gradually returned, and finally…

"So we plan to take Charlie and Bei Li, and also call Lao Bo Er to head north, to see if we can earn a meal in the Hui Guang Kingdom."

"You, though small, actually look rather cute."

Having said that, she fastened her helmet, drew her Ma Mao, turned around, and left.

Then the spear blade swept, easily chopping off its head.

"Since that's the case, we can declare the mission complete."

Pleasant words without paying are common; the strategy of courtesy before force is often the best.

"It's dangerous; Sunlight City is sealed off, lately bandits have swarmed outside, and you know nothing about that area…"

He sent a message to Xi Er Wei Ya indicating the crisis was resolved, and Ji Ming tapped his temple.

But.

Even the lowest‑level ones are formal professionals above level twenty, and there are plenty of powerful races above bronze as well.

"Ah, I'm not blaming you; I'm just wondering how to answer."

Silently closing the box beside him, Ji Ming walked out of the ruins alone and opened his mouth with a string of words:

"I've long heard Minister Ke Li Si Ting is peerless in valor, supremely fierce, possessing courage that ten thousand men cannot match; seeing you today, it truly lives up to the legend."

But after a moment's hesitation, she lowered her voice.

He struggled to explain, but was pierced in the heart by a spear.

A ferocious zombie that can be chased down by a horde of debt collectors is, in her hands, merely a toy that can't survive three rounds before being brutally played with to death.

Breaking through the obstacle, her Ma Mao continued its unstoppable descent, striking the Bull‑Head Chief hard.

"It wasn't until we joined the handlers that we realized the Outer City's growing chaos is also partly linked to the Inner City."

Ji Ming's fists hardened from listening, yet he could only close the medicine box.

That works too; after they leave the city, he'll lead people to escort them to the underground city.

"Minister, all the zombies on East Street have been cleared; the outbreak point should be here, there is one…"

However, Ke Li Si Ting didn't rush to sheath her weapon; instead, she gradually increased her force.

But just as Ji Ming wondered if she intended to devour him alive, Ke Li Si Ting's mouth corner rose, turning into a smile.

Looking at the two boys crying nearby yet unharmed, there's no need to say more about what happened here.

For example, one of the female guards was especially massive, only a head shorter than Ke Li Si Ting.

She drew a moon‑shaped arc, the Ma Mao slashing down before contact; the stone slab raised by the zombie shattered on touch, collapsing into a cloud of dust.

…She really should have smiled.

Ji Ming dragged his stiff leg and turned.

The aura of the handlers here is peculiar, and they all wear strange black badges.

Until his knee twisted and fractured completely, forcing his heavy body to kneel.

She shook the blood off the spear tip, not even turning her head.

"What, you take the benefit and want to leave, not coming out to thank your rescuer?"

"I recognize you; you are Ji Ming."

"It's fine, how could I possibly have a problem?"

Ke Li Si Ting ripped off her helmet in one motion, revealing the face hidden beneath.

???

"Never mind, I'll pay! Let's head to Inner City right now!"

Even a little leftover strength can still smash its shoulder!

After flipping through some professional books, he arrived at a possible answer:

Three seconds later.

"I can't treat internal injuries; let's go straight to a hospital in Inner City."

So before reaching the hospital, his breathing, while unconscious, gradually slowed until it ceased completely.

The ailments I usually handle, whether fractures or sutures, are merely the simpler parts of surgery.

Thus, the chief's other hand, just as it clenched into a fist to counterattack, could only hang limp.

Alright, be gentler to Mouse Kid from now on; being tossed around by a huge monster is truly terrifying!

He quickly came to Ke Li Si Ting's side, and the Shuang Ju Ren reported in a low voice.

If it were normal, Ji Ming would surely examine it carefully, but now he only felt a chill.

But it was all right; the other party had no intention of stepping on him to death, and instead stopped when there were still two meters between them.

——It was just another innocent matter in this filthy world.

Anna beside him also spoke, life was hard, her previously shiny brownish short hair had now become dull like Si Tong's.

After a while, everyone only thought the Iron Chain Squad had left on their own, and no one would suspect it was their own doing.

"Er..."

"Eavesdropping?"

Unlike the giant-blooded Kupei, who only had numbers but no talent, she was a true Shuang Ju Ren.

Just like now……

Ji Ming pondered for a moment.

Ji Ming was not a necromancer, so no one thought he would do anything to a corpse.

Surely it wasn't that simple……

Since even the leader in charge of handling people has come here, the so-called living corpse is nothing but a grasshopper after autumn.

The scarlet mouth, the snow-white teeth, and the deeper darkness……

"Like this, let's temporarily leave him in the clinic; I'll help you cremate him, and then bring him over when we say goodbye tomorrow."

Because they do not belong to any system of taxation or debt, they are Ke Li Si Ting's exclusive personal guard.

However, money is ultimately not omnipotent; from calling a carriage to entering the Inner City, winding around, making connections, another half hour or more passed.

"This isn't important; let's hurry to the blacksmith shop to take a look!"

"Hahaha, you're a doctor, as a professional, how can I bully a doctor?"

"I'm copying, don't!"

His belly was cut open, and his internal organs were obviously displaced.

"Yes, we'll handle our own affairs; you don't need to worry!"

However, the living corpse cannot be judged by common sense; even if it loses both arms, it still tilts its head and struggles incessantly.

Under the influence of its bloodthirsty instinct, it even kept stretching its neck, repeatedly opening and closing its mouth, as if trying to find a chance to bite the metal can in front of it.

"No, I……"

He used both hands to gesture the shape of a city, then waved above it.

Because it was only a little off, Sylvia, hidden in midair, was about to throw her greatsword, transforming into a shining cannonball that would strike down.

"As for the reason to let him go, it's simple: he's a good person who sacrifices himself for others, and at any time, such a person is a scarce resource."

In the end, Anna still spoke.

"If there were a few more of these idiots, my life could be a bit easier; if they all died out…… wouldn't this world be full of scum everywhere?"

"I heard something happened on East Street, so I rushed over to see how everyone is doing."

He threw the Ma Mao to the Shuang Ju Ren to wipe clean, and Ke Li Si Ting patted the dust off her iron gauntlet.

"Ah…… this is not good; if the world were full of scum, then someone as kind as me wouldn't just become a good person?"

He poured a cup of water each for Si Tong and Anna, and Ji Ming prepared to tell them about 'I have a way out.'

Ke Li Si Ting, however, directly interrupted her words.

Her appearance could not be called beautiful, but her silver-white hair mixed with sweat clung to her majestic and imposing face, giving her a unique beauty.

But for someone as great as Sylvia, as long as treatment isn't delayed until decay sets in, she can basically be saved.

"Er…… run fast, be careful……"

Looking at the six-winged angel before him, he fainted outright.

Preparing to start the third volume's plot, so I switched to writing a few days ahead, polishing the sequel, and also stockpiling a day or two's manuscript; this month has been writing and posting the same day, feeling too rushed……