Chapter 638: Putting On an Act (10/10, Autumn Subscription)

When everyone in the Fox Merchant Caravan was still rejoicing at having escaped safely, the person at the front suddenly stopped.

What's going on?

Startled, the group looked ahead and immediately saw a figure wrapped entirely in black mist, mounted on a 【Liehong Horse】 at the head of the Official Road, waiting for them to come.

Every member of the Fox Merchant Caravan instantly widened their eyes, trembling all over; the whole column froze at the gate, unable to advance or retreat.

"Members of the Fox Merchant Caravan, after parting yesterday, I didn't expect we'd meet again so soon. The young lady sent me to see you off."

See us off? More like send us straight to the netherworld!

The group stared at Fang Yue in terror, not daring to move rashly.

"Are you leaving the city or not? Don't block the gate like that and hold up everyone else!"

Under the guards' scolding, the Short-Tailed Tribe members shook their heads like rattles.

Are you kidding! That guy up ahead is the Supreme Guest of Dayang Fu! Last night he was like a war god incarnate!

Damn it, if they leave the city now, won't he just cut off all their heads in one slash and kick them around like balls?

Terrified, the group retreated back into Chunuan City. The guards cursed under their breath, and the other travelers blocked behind them also muttered a few choice words.

But compared to cursing, their lives mattered more.

However, no sooner had they stepped back inside than a horrifying scene unfolded.

They discovered... Fang Yue had actually followed them in through the gate.

"Listen, if any of you dare scatter and run..."

Before Fang Yue could finish, one member of the Fox Merchant Caravan roared "Split up and run!" and tried to flee.

A black blade flashed; man and horse alike were cleaved clean in two by Fang Yue's single slash. Rider and mount tumbled, bodies crashing to the ground, blood staining the street red.

"Aaaaaah!!"

"Murder! Murder in broad daylight!"

Panic-stricken, the onlookers scattered in all directions as the gate guards rushed over.

"What's going on? Private fighting is forbidden within 【Chunuan City】! Dismount and explain!"

Fang Yue swept them a cold glance, raised the White-Clothed Token high, and barked: "【Green Division】 on official business — get lost!"

The guards examined it closely, immediately recognized the White-Clothed Token was genuine, their expressions shifted, and they all stopped in unison, bowing respectfully.

"So it's a White-Clothed Lord. May we ask which lord is on duty? This commotion is rather serious — please leave your name so we may..."

"Are you telling me how to do my job?"

"I wouldn't dare..."

"The Fox Merchant Caravan is deeply implicated in the 【Jingli Gui】 case involving the Dayang Merchant Caravan two days ago. Detain every one of them, lock them in the Green Division cells, and await trial!"

"... Yes!"

If the White-Clothed Token was genuine, then the identity was genuine too. Even if it was investigated later, the blame would fall on this White-Clothed Lord's head.

So the guards obediently followed the order and moved in on the Fox Merchant Caravan.

He can do that?!

The Fox Merchant Caravan stared at the scene in disbelief, utterly dumbfounded.

The Supreme Guest of the Dayang Merchant Caravan is actually a 【Green Division】 White-Clothed officer, and can even command the guards?!

Their faces changed, and the Fox Merchant Caravan immediately erupted into chaos, scattering in all directions.

Some charged toward the city gates, others darted into the side alleys.

Fang Yue slashed repeatedly, but only managed to cut down the majority — he couldn't kill them all. He roared: "The Fox Merchant Caravan is the mastermind behind the 【Jingli Gui】 case. By order of 【Lang Qingyi】, from this moment forth, arrest every member of theirs — dead or alive!"

Mid-roar, Fang Yue's explosive blade transformed into Flying Feather, and he cut down another batch of Short-Tailed Tribe members. Only a dozen or so escaped; they had scattered too widely through the maze of streets, and he couldn't catch them, so he had to let it go.

The others, hearing the order, gave chase one after another.

Fang Yue, meanwhile, took the supplies left behind by the Fox Merchant Caravan and hauled them back to the Dayang Merchant Caravan, cartload by cartload.

Without those supplies, the Fox Merchant Caravan existed in name only. As a foreign race, if the Short-Tailed Tribe couldn't huddle together for warmth, they would only be exploited and discriminated against out there.

If memory served, the black market was still very interested in trafficking foreign-race populations.

Fang Yue fell into thought.

"Lord Ye, back so soon?"

Mang Liuzi sensed Fang Yue's return, was briefly startled, and catching the blood on Fang Yue's scent, figured the matter was mostly settled.

"Is the young lady awake?"

"Not yet."

"Then let her keep resting."

After a moment's thought, Fang Yue called over a servant.

"Go invite Lang Qingyi."

The servant nodded and quickly ran off.

But before long, that same servant came rushing back in a panic.

"What is it?"

"L-Lang Qingyi is already outside the door."

Indeed outside — she was already walking in. Fang Yue looked up and saw Lang Qingyi arrive alone, her face dark with fury.

"Lang Qingyi!"

Fang Yue went up with a smile to clasp her hand, then whispered in her ear: "I am an informant under Lord Taurus of the Phoenix Organization. Keep my identity covered."

Wha...

Lang Qingyi froze on the spot.

He just exposed his Phoenix Organization identity outright?

"He's really someone from the Phoenix Organization?"

"Moreover, he's both a Green Division White Coat and an informant under Lord Ox Seat — just who is he…"

【Lang Qingyi】 stared at Fang Yue in shock and uncertainty, only to see Fang Yue make an inviting gesture: "Let's go inside to talk in detail."

"Alright."

Once inside the room, 【Lang Qingyi】 could not help but ask: "Are you really someone from the Phoenix Organization?"

"Yes."

"Aren't you afraid I'll arrest you?"

"Where is the logic of one of our own arresting another? Besides, if you arrest me today, I'll be released by tomorrow."

"…Just what does Lord Ox Seat mean? I've heard you saved Yang Hongxia, and even hunted down Lord Rat Seat."

Fang Yue stared at him with a smile but said nothing: "Are you really going to get to the bottom of this? This matter involves an internal power shift within the Phoenix Organization. If nothing had gone wrong last night, by now you should have been calling me… Lord Rat Seat!"

Hiss—

Lang Qingyi shot to his feet, his mind in turmoil — for a moment he couldn't see through whether Fang Yue was real or fake.

"Go back and stay put. The minor scuffles below don't require you to step in. Yang Hongxia, from start to finish, has always been within the grasp of our Phoenix Organization!"

So that was how it was?!

Bang—

The two had just gotten to this point when a teacup suddenly shattered on the ground outside the door.

His face changing, Lang Qingyi rushed out and immediately saw the broken ceramic teacup on the floor, along with a puddle of tea water mixed with tea leaves.

"No need to mind it, I'll handle it. Dayang Fu has long been under my control!"

Fang Yue said lightly.

Lang Qingyi was stunned for a moment, then only then returned to the room.

He still wanted to ask more questions, but was silenced by a look from Fang Yue.

"Some things, the more you know the worse off you are. Once I ascend to the position of Rat Seat, you'll be my trusted confidant. Go back first, help me keep my identity covered — I don't want this matter to cause too much of a stir."

"…Yes!"

Lang Qingyi nodded and took his leave, his heart filled with a thousand doubts.

Leaving Dayang Fu and returning to the Green Division, he immediately contacted someone above, wanting to arrange a meeting.

(End of this chapter)