Chapter 263

Traveling merchants, caravans from surrounding villages, fugitives and bandits trying to sneak into the city...

Under the dim, overcast sky, a crowd had gathered before the majestic dome at the city gate, and at this moment they were lining up to enter the city under the inspection of the guards.

As expected of the squad leader's family, who runs an inn, he talked nonstop along the way like a tour guide, enthusiastically introducing things.

Don't worry, everyone—Yangguang City, as a commercial city, actually sees plenty of outsiders coming and going on ordinary days, so nobody will be made things difficult for because of this.

But these words, landing in the ears of the team members, sounded like: "We'll be made things difficult for because of other stuff, right?"...

As expected, while they were still waiting quietly in the line, a few players who had already arrived came up to the guards.

The arrogant guard had just taken advantage of a female adventurer with his words, and was still laughing and showing off with his companions, but when he looked up he was startled by this neat row of foreign faces.

Though saying he was startled, because a certain well-known doctor was of Eastern descent, he also wasn't overly surprised.

He furtively felt his waist to make sure his sword was still there, then habitually switched to an imperious tone to interrogate.

"Take a look at you all…… are you coming from the east?"

The east?

The puzzled players thought it over carefully and discovered that, geographically speaking, the exit of the Underground World really is in the northeast direction of Yangguang City.

Eh, looks like the officials have already pre-entered our background info for us—how thoughtful!

So one of the closed-beta players, bearing the title "Guardian of Dog Village," stepped forward and, using his everyday experience dealing with customers, struck up a conversation with the guard.

This is a top-notch tongue that could become a sales champion at an insurance company; with just a few words, mixing flattery and praise, he lifted these rough guys up to the heavens.

"Haha, turns out you're adventurers who came from far away, and indeed, our Yangguang City is the brightest pearl in the southern part of the Hui Guang Kingdom—who wouldn't want to come?!"

Although they are just low-level lackeys who have rarely even entered the Inner City, when they mention Yangguang City their faces still show a pride of sharing in its glory.

And just as the sales guru was thinking, "My moves this round are off the charts, this city entry must be a sure thing," the guard wiped his smile and extended his hand toward him.

"Alright, there are still lots of people waiting behind, you guys have."

Holy shit, is your city gate made of gold or are the floor tiles made of gold?

As a few unknown little players, they also just happened to decide on a whim to run to Yangguang City, hoping to strike it lucky and maybe overtake on a curve.

But the Underground World has no currency system, only the most basic primitive barter and zero‑cost acquisition; although the players had looted something from mercenaries, they normally had no use for it, so naturally few carried it on them.

Therefore, although they remembered, under the discussion of the public‑screen big shot, to keep a little gear for a safe adventure, they completely forgot to bring money when they went out.

But… they had clearly inquired ahead of time and even seen with their own eyes the entrance fee—it should be at most a few copper coins, impossible for it to be this high.

Anyway, this is a game, not reality; the players, full of indignation, decided to still argue the point.

Friend, your calculation of the coin value is off, huh, the entrance fee how could it possibly be that expensive…

But that fat guard, who had just been laughing, suddenly glared and turned hostile on the spot.

"Expensive? Where is it expensive?!"

Then he raised his voice and roared.

"Our Yangguang City's entrance fee has always been this price; maintaining town security is hard, do you know how much money we spend each day? This is already just the cost!"

The sales guru was stunned for a moment, and anger gradually appeared on his face.

Now even that scrawny manager doesn't dare to raise his voice at me, you little lackey…… your mercenary boss has been completely crushed by us, yet you still dare to show off here!

But he isn't unreasonable, so he still suppressed his anger and asked another question.

"Looking at what you're saying, the price really can't be negotiated?"

At this moment, all the surrounding eyes had been drawn to the guard's shouting, and everyone was gathered watching this dispute.

Seeing this scene, the guard felt he could not retreat any further, so he lifted his head high and spat to the side.

"I'll tell you, don't you dare be dissatisfied? The master of Yangguang City is……"

"Damn it, if you keep showing off I'll make you fly!"

The guy next to him who works as a fitness trainer couldn't take it anymore, lifted his leg and kicked the guard in the belly.

Being able to snag the cushy job of city gate guard, this guy actually does have some background.

But if he really had talent, he'd have gone to the Inner City to be an OldMoney, eating, drinking, and having fun every day, with nothing else to do—why would he need to personally come to this kind of place to wrangle with mud‑legs?

Therefore he had absolutely no ability to dodge that kick; he was literally kicked flying away.

His bulky body, like a flesh‑filled projectile, slammed into and knocked down several guards, falling to the ground and vomiting blood.

Even the fitness trainer who produced such a linked effect was dazed; although he's not small‑built, he himself isn't much of a martial arts expert.

He had thought the opponent, to be able to become a guard, must have a couple of tricks up his sleeve, but who knew that the 'trick' was just a toothbrush, and a casual kick sent him rolling like a gourd.

But this can't be blamed on the guard being weak; after all, this is a world twisted in every way, a fake game where only grinding monsters lets you level up.

Not everyone can have an infinite‑spawn monster training camp, nor a player arena where completing a series of quests and succeeding in the challenge lets you advance smoothly.

Compared to that bunch of cheaters who can just follow the normal process and easily break through to apprentice level, being low‑level, or even unable to become a professional, is the reality for most of the Yangyue World.

So when these few guards, who are no different from street thugs, face off against the players head‑on, even just a few ordinary people who don't even know their names can abuse them to the point of losing bladder and bowel control, with no power to fight back.

Leave the newbie village (×)

Leave Ten‑Li Slope (×)

Eight billion mad dogs unleashed (√).

"Ay yo yo…… please, heroes, stop fighting, stop fighting, heroes!"

In the midst of extreme misery's howls, the guard who had just been showing off his might now lay sprawled all over the ground.

However, the players ultimately come from a peaceful society, thinking to leave a line of retreat, they did not use weapons, but merely beat them with fists and feet in a cruel, inhuman manner.

Moreover, this is the gate of Yangguang City—that's their face; causing trouble here inevitably means beating the small and inviting the old, impossible to just let it go.

Therefore, before reinforcements arrived, these few players called it quits, snatched two guards' money bags, and swaggered off, blending into the crowd and disappearing without a trace.

The later‑arriving debt‑handler Ji Ming didn't know them, but from his appearance and bearing he was probably a gang member recruited during the turbulent period, full of bandit air,

He used shouting and kicking to suppress the disturbance near the city gate, then brought over a chair, intending to sit personally to one side and oversee the guards collecting money in the posture of an eagle perched on a mountain.

Furthermore, to suppress any improper thoughts, and because the money they had just collected was all snatched away by those few people, the subsequent entrance fees were all raised another twenty percent on top of the already high rate.

Who wants to suffer this loss in silence? Someone tried to haggle, only to get punched and kicked by the guards.

The players have no ties; if they dislike someone, they beat them up, and at worst they just run away.

But the townsfolk still have families and worries; helpless, they could only obediently pay the money.

However, just as the turmoil was about to subside and the city gate was to return to normal order, a few Easterners arrived before the guards.

Although the promotion guru isn't exactly a top-tier figure among players, the public channel isn't locked, so anyone can post.

After posting his experience at the Sunshine City gate and related screenshots, a righteous big brother immediately declared that this matter couldn't just be left like that!

Therefore, this batch of players came from the Legend Guild; the leading big brother straightened his coat and spoke out frankly.

"Three silver coins? Sure, but that's not according to the rules, friend—charge what you should, and today we can still let this slide."

Before the guard could even speak, the debt handler beside him jumped up.

"Damn, you beggars! What's wrong with you Easterners? Why do you keep coming to our Sunshine City today? Can't you just get lost..."

As soon as the word "get lost" left his mouth, another kick came, sending him rolling like a bowling ball, dragging the chair behind him and knocking over a group of guards.

Background guard: so?

"Ow..."

The debt handler grimaced in pain, about to shout angrily, when he saw a large foot in a forty-five-size boot studded with iron plates appear before him.

"You dare talk to your father like that—was your mother mass-produced?"

The heroes didn't hold back either, grabbing them, raising their fists, and clanging away with another brutal beating.

After beating them until no guard dared get up, they snatched the debt handler's bulging wallet and fled decisively.

In just ten minutes they took two beatings worthy of a father‑son showdown; even iron‑blooded tough guys would have been broken, so the guards stood silent, hands bound, tears of humiliation on their faces.

The debt handler, having just taken a beating, was still unwilling, gritting his teeth and waving his fists.

"Just wait, I'm going to call my big brother—I don't believe today's matter can't be settled!"

While he was away, the townsfolk waiting in line were worried, anxious, or secretly amused, delighted to see these lackeys get their comeuppance.

The players mingling in the crowd to watch the show were all intrigued, wanting to see what kind of deity this "big brother" the debt handler spoke of would turn out to be.

—Could it be the "tax handler" from the Commercial Union that Bars mentioned?

This is one of Sunshine City's three major violent departments; we don't know how capable they really are—why don't we brothers test the waters today?

But they overthought it; the elders of the Inner City wouldn't have time to manage such petty affairs.

Strutting out from the city gate under the praise of the tax handler was merely a thin, wealthy‑looking young man.

... Actually, he's exactly the kind of relative mentioned before—someone whose family has a slight connection to Suo La.

Too bad the connection exists but isn't strong, so he could only latch onto a guard squad leader's position; though he lacks for food and drink, he can only stir up trouble in the outer city.

Moreover, there's plenty of shady business behind him; this kid also has a bit of grit—upon appearing, before saying a word, he drew his waist sword and stabbed it into a nearby chair.

"I heard someone's causing trouble here today—tell you all, no matter who you are, the entry fee will be collected today, and nobody is allowed to haggle!"

But can this be settled just with grit? Out here you need background and strength—your little connection under the skirt is worthless.

Anger the heavenly disaster grandfathers, and you might blow up along with your old man's gold coins!

Therefore, seeing this scoundrel still trying to overcharge and swindle people, the players showed no mercy; faced with such nonsense, they had no choice but to hit him with an electric cannon.

The one who struck first was none other than the Lost Wanderer of the Justice Guild.

Before the little brother's laughable boast could finish its first sentence, an old punch slammed into his eye socket.

Seeing their leader already unleashing fury, the other guild members shouted and rushed forward en masse.

In an instant, iron fists rose like dragons, burly men leapt like tigers, and under the crackling barrage of attacks came continual wails.

The guards' reinforcements arrived then—a full battalion of guards and debt handlers, enough to flatten a surrounding village.

Yet the players felt no fear; instead they called in friends and summoned even more powerful beings to join the fray.

—What a joke, even if your reinforcements arrive, what can they do? If you think you have numbers, just swarm in and beat us together!

Thus the captain, little brother, who thought heavenly troops would arrive to free him from misery, fell into despair—these puzzling Easterners were just too strong; no side could find a match for them, and they could only be pressed down and beaten.

Listening to the endless sounds of flesh splitting and painful cries nearby, he could only be glad that these odd folks were somewhat reasonable, not using lethal weapons, merely venting anger with pure beatings.

Otherwise, given their attack speed, they'd likely have broken through the gate and stormed into Sunshine City already, forcing even a lucky survivor to be rushed to the gallows this afternoon to atone with death.

"Next time, don't let me see you randomly charging fees again, or I'll beat you every time I see you—got it?"

Only after kicking the near‑unconscious squad leader out with a grunt did the Lost Wanderer lead the players, who had fought to their heart's content, away from the gate, victorious.

Meanwhile, the spectators who had watched the martial bout in silence all along burst forth with a sound like a gasp, like a cheer—a mountain‑shaking, sea‑roaring outcry.

Ji Ming still thought the players, no matter how wild, would have to enter the city before acting, but he didn't expect them to straighten out the fee chaos even before stepping through the gate.

Afterwards, the other managers who rushed over, seeing the scene of bruised and swollen faces, were so frightened they dared not approach; after hesitating a long time, they finally began "collecting the bodies" and cleared the gate at the normal rate.

And when they saw one after another group of Easterners in the crowd, those who should have refused entry decisively chose to preserve their lives instead.

"Oh, sir, it's only ten copper coins—this is the cheapest possible entry fee."

Not only did they let everyone pass, but their attitude became extremely good; if it weren't required by procedure, they'd probably dare not take any money at all.

Seeing these smiling, soft‑spoken, stubbled big men, Ji Ming, covered in goosebumps, followed the crowd into Sunshine City.