Chapter 443 - 265: Shock! (2)

Chapter 443: Chapter 265: Shock! (2)

’Therefore, as long as I reveal my identity, the City Guard Army wouldn’t dare do a thing to me.’

With that thought, Fang Yue felt reassured. He turned and walked toward the courtyard gate, preparing to reveal his identity and show the City Guard Army just who they had surrounded.

However, just as he reached the gate, a cold light flashed. It was immediately followed by a WHOOSH as hundreds of sharp arrows cut through the air, flying straight for his face.

The City Guard Army hadn’t even entered the courtyard; they had just started shooting at him.

"Hmph! How dare you be so insolent!"

Fang Yue snorted coldly. With a wave of his right hand, a powerful surge of Primordial Qi erupted, blasting all the incoming arrows away.

Then, his figure flickered, and he shot out of the courtyard like an afterimage.

"He’s violently resisting arrest! This man must be a traitor! Kill him on sight!" Seeing Fang Yue charge out, the junior officer in command immediately shouted the order, attempting to brand Fang Yue a traitor so they would have a legitimate reason to kill him.

However, they had no idea that they were facing the Director of the Gongzhou Prefecture Observatory—Fang Yue.

Fang Yue moved like lightning, instantly appearing before the junior officer. An immense pressure enveloped the man, making it difficult for him to even breathe.

"Wh-what are you trying to do?" the junior officer asked, looking at Fang Yue in terror, his voice trembling.

"What am I trying to do? I’m teaching you that this isn’t a place for you to run wild!" Fang Yue said coldly.

As he spoke, he waved his right hand. A vast surge of Primordial Qi gushed out, forming a giant palm that slapped toward the junior officer.

"N-no!" the junior officer shrieked in terror, but it was too late.

BANG!

With a loud crash, the junior officer was sent flying by Fang Yue’s palm strike. He slammed heavily onto the ground, his condition unknown.

Seeing this, the surrounding soldiers were scared out of their wits and scrambled backward.

Though numerous, they stood no chance against someone as powerful as Fang Yue.

"Y-you dare kill a court official!" one soldier yelled, mustering his courage.

"Court officials? You think you’re worthy of the title?"

Fang Yue sneered. "I am Fang Yue, Director of the Gongzhou Prefecture Observatory. What crime have you all committed by besieging a court official without cause?"

As he spoke, he once again released his immense pressure, blanketing the entire area.

Feeling this pressure, the soldiers all dropped to their knees, not daring to even lift their heads.

They knew they had truly messed with the wrong person this time.

The seemingly young man before them was actually the Director of the Gongzhou Prefecture Observatory!

That was a position a full rank higher than the Mansion Master!

"Spare us, Lord Director! Spare our lives!" the soldiers cried, kowtowing and begging for mercy. "We were only following orders! We didn’t know you were here, my lord!"

"Following orders? Whose orders?" Fang Yue asked coldly.

"It... it was the Mansion Master!" a soldier stammered. "The Mansion Master ordered us to capture a fugitive! We didn’t know you were the Director of the Observatory, my lord!"

"The Mansion Master?" Fang Yue’s brow furrowed. ’I had a feeling,’ he thought, but his expression remained impassive. "Show me your written orders."

Upon hearing his command, the soldiers quickly handed their written orders to Fang Yue.

Fang Yue took the document and saw that it did indeed bear the seal and signature of the Gongzhou Prefecture’s Mansion Master.

However, the order didn’t specify who was to be arrested, only that they were to apprehend an important fugitive.

’This is clearly a trap aimed at me!’

’The person pulling the strings wants to use the Mansion Master to get rid of me!’

Fang Yue sneered inwardly at the thought. He put the written order away and said, "Alright, I understand. You are dismissed. There is nothing for you to do here."

Hearing this, the soldiers felt as if they had been granted a full pardon. They turned and fled, terrified that if they were too slow, Fang Yue would hold them accountable.

Their hearts were filled with fear and reverence for Fang Yue; they would never again dare to show him the slightest disrespect.

Watching their retreating figures, Fang Yue sneered to himself.

’This conspiracy against me isn’t over,’ he knew. ’Whoever is behind this will definitely try again.’

But he wasn’t afraid. In fact, he was rather looking forward to it.

’I haven’t had a decent opponent in a long time. I hope this gives me a chance to really stretch my legs.’

’At the same time, I’ll let whoever is pulling the strings know the consequences of provoking Fang Yue!’

’Who exactly is pulling the strings?’

Fang Yue thought to himself. He knew this mastermind must have an incredibly powerful background and strength; otherwise, they couldn’t possibly have mobilized both Black Wind Hall and the City Guard Army against him.

Moreover, he had a nagging feeling that all of this was connected to that mysterious organization.

’That organization has probably been waiting for a chance to strike, waiting for me to show a weakness so they can deliver a fatal blow.’

At this thought, Fang Yue couldn’t help but clench his fists, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

’I can’t just sit here and wait to be attacked,’ he thought. ’I have to take the initiative, find the mastermind, and crush this conspiracy completely.’

~~~~~~

"Heh, they even mobilized the City Guard Army. It seems this new Director has some skill after all. Even the Hall Master of Black Wind Hall was no match for him."

In the tavern, Wang Tong gently set down his wine cup, a playful smile touching his lips.

"This Fang Yue is certainly an interesting character. But he’s stirred up quite a bit of trouble. He’s offended both the City Lord’s Mansion and the local powers-that-be this time. Heh heh, I don’t think he’ll be holding on to that Director’s seat for long."

Beside him, Li Xi chimed in, his tone laced with schadenfreude.

Wang Tong just smiled faintly and didn’t respond.

He raised his cup, took a light sip, and gazed thoughtfully out the window.

Just then, a figure he had glimpsed a moment ago came into sharper focus.

"Hm? It’s him! What is he doing here?"

A flash of surprise crossed Wang Tong’s eyes. He hadn’t expected to see that person here.

"What is it, Wang? Did you see something?" Li Xi asked quickly, noticing his companion’s strange expression.

"Fang Yue is here," Wang Tong said, pulling his gaze back inside. His tone was grave.

Li Xi was startled and followed Wang’s previous line of sight, but he couldn’t see Fang Yue anywhere.

Although he was doubtful, he knew Wang wasn’t one to lose his composure easily, so he quickly asked, "Wang, are you sure you saw him correctly? Shouldn’t Fang Yue be tied up with the City Guard Army right now?"

Wang Tong didn’t answer immediately. He glanced out the window again, confirming that he hadn’t been mistaken.

He took a deep breath and said slowly, "I didn’t make a mistake. That’s definitely Fang Yue. And I think... he’s coming for us!"

"Coming for us? How is that possible?"

Li Xi’s expression changed drastically. "We have nothing to do with what happened," he said in disbelief. "Why would he come looking for trouble with us?"

Wang Tong didn’t answer right away. His brow furrowed as he tried to figure out how Fang Yue could have known they were here and why he would seek them out.

But no matter how he racked his brain, he couldn’t come up with an answer.

Wang Tong couldn’t help but start to worry.

While he wasn’t afraid of Fang Yue, he had no desire to be dragged into this conflict for no reason.

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from the stairwell. A moment later, a figure appeared in their line of sight.

It was Fang Yue.

He walked up the stairs step-by-step, his piercing gaze locked directly onto Wang Tong and Li Xi.

"Gentlemen, what a refined way to pass the time—sipping wine and enjoying the view," Fang Yue said flatly, his tone unreadable.

Wang Tong and Li Xi exchanged a look, each seeing the wariness in the other’s eyes.

They didn’t know the purpose of Fang Yue’s visit, but they both prepared for the worst.

"Heh, if it isn’t Lord Director Fang himself. Please forgive our poor welcome."

Wang Tong rose to his feet, a smile that didn’t reach his eyes on his face. "To what do we owe the honor of this visit, Lord Director?"