Guarding the City Gate!

The next day!

Zhang Qing woke up.

With 9 Attribute Points in hand,

he felt refreshed and clear-headed.

The main family, Razor Hall—all those worries were tossed aside.

Going to work and killing Specters was the proper path.

After washing up and eating breakfast at Chuan Prefecture, Zhang Qing headed to Razor Hall.

Guan Yutian spotted Zhang Qing right away and waved him over.

"You brat, not bad. You really made it to Glimmer Level Two!"

"At this speed, you're not even slower than those guys in the inner hall."

Guan Yutian said with a smile.

His attitude toward Zhang Qing had now completely changed.

"It's all thanks to the captain's guidance!" Zhang Qing replied with a smile.

He also greeted Pusan, Feng Ze, and the others.

In short,

Zhang Qing was becoming more and more like a Razor Hall member.

"No patrol today." Guan Yutian narrowed his eyes as he spoke.

"According to the rotation system, it's our turn to guard the city gate."

"By the rules, we can let around two hundred people in."

"So, you understand."

Zhang Qing and the others nodded.

Guarding the city gate and inspecting those entering the city were also Razor Hall duties.

And it was a lucrative assignment.

These days, did anyone think they could enter the city without paying?

Dream on!

Whether someone got in depended entirely on what the Razor Hall members guarding the gate said.

As for how many people could be let in,

there were regulations.

Every month, the City Lord Mansion counted how many people had died the previous month, then decided how many people could be admitted each day the following month.

That way,

the city would never run short of people.

Otherwise, with the way Razor Hall killed, they would sooner or later wipe out everyone in the city.

Before long, the team arrived at the city gate.

They prepared to open it.

"Captain, what about the tea money...?"

Pusan knew the business. He came to Guan Yutian's side and asked quietly.

"Hmm... fifty copper coins. That's everyone's price. We can't go breaking the rules."

"Understood!"

Then,

the gate was opened.

Creak, creak...

The city gate, forged from bronze and steel, was slowly pushed open.

Through the gateway,

Zhang Qing saw the view beyond the city.

There were...

refugees as far as the eye could see!

"Get the fuck out! What are you all crowding around here for? You stink!"

Pusan immediately rushed over.

His long blade swung.

He drove the refugees away from the gateway.

Some who moved too slowly were even slashed across the back.

Blood splattered.

The refugees recoiled in fright.

Then,

Guan Yutian walked over.

Standing on the other side of the gateway, he shouted at the refugees.

"Those who want to enter the city and know the rules, come forward!"

After a while,

not a single person stepped up.

Because

they had no money.

"A bunch of poor bastards!"

Pusan spat and said,

"If they weren't relying on the city walls, how could they have survived until this morning?"

"I think every one of them should pay protection money."

"Otherwise, drive them into the wilderness. Fuck, don't even let them stay by the trade route!"

This was normal in the Dark Realm.

The refugees came from every race. Outside the city, they were meat rations, livestock, things.

In his previous life, countless players had bitterly complained about it.

Once they spawned with an identity in the wilderness,

the game was practically over.

Those who managed to slip into the city had all relied on real-world money to exchange for Silver Coins and buy their way in.

Otherwise, they could only prepare to wait for their next death!

Zhang Qing walked to the front of the city gate.

As he watched the refugees hiding far away, he also noticed their health bars.

Tiger Two: 12/16!

Gouqu: 13/17!

Bihu: 8/15!

Guo Qi: 1200/1200!

...

Almost none of them were at full health.

There were even Specter souls among them.

Naturally.

Some Specters mingled among them to eat at the buffet, while others wanted to sneak into the city.

They all had different purposes.

But for the most part, they would hold back and not transform beside the city walls.

Because

the city walls were guarded even at night.

From above, anyone who transformed could be spotted at a glance.

Those here to eat at the buffet did not want to be shot into a honeycomb.

After a while,

some refugees cautiously came forward.

They were mostly women.

And somewhat good-looking...

Well, there were Ratfolk, Rabbitfolk, and members of the Horse Clan. Everyone was humanoid, so their standards of beauty should be roughly similar, right?

They tried to approach the team members.

However,

they were shouted at and driven away.

"Zhang Qing, these are women looking to attach themselves to someone."

"If you see one you like, you can pick one. Different races can't have children together, but they're fine for a bit of fun."

"But you need to keep your eyes open."

"The wear and tear in the wilderness can be quite outrageous!"

Guan Yutian said with a loud laugh.

Zhang Qing smiled as well.

Women would only hinder the speed at which he drew his blade.

Besides,

humans were premium meat rations in the wilderness. Specters would never give humans the chance to reach the city walls alive.

There were not many humans in the city. Most had been transported here by slave traders.

And anyone noticed by slave traders had some distinguishing quality.

Men were tall, handsome, or came with a generous base price.

Women... were pretty, with little wear and tear!

Mm... that was how it was.

In any case,

Zhang Qing had no intention of finding a woman in the Dark Realm.

With that time, he might as well kill a few more Specters.

Looking at that health bar with over a thousand health,

what Zhang Qing needed now was an opportunity to lure out the Specter's true form.

As time slowly passed,

people gradually began entering the city.

They were either merchant caravans

or small family teams training in the wilderness.

And whether they were merchants or training teams,

they were led by Starflash Realm experts.

These people did not need to pay an entry fee.

But...

they all paid anyway.

It was never wrong to build ties with Razor Hall.

Guan Yutian greeted them warmly and accepted their money.

Guarding the city gate was a lucrative assignment, no joke.

Aside from merchants and training teams,

the rest were lone wanderers.

They were mostly martial artists from other cities who, for one reason or another, could no longer survive there.

They could only wander along the trade routes.

Those who could make it here alive all had some real skills.

Zhang Qing watched every one of them.

Little Seven: 562/572!

Mo Li: 703/733!

Beiju: 134/145!

Li Ya: 1954/1954!

...

Over a thousand health!

And at full health!

At the same time, there was no Candlelight Realm aura around them.

This was a Specter!

Zhang Qing instantly drew his blade.

He chopped down with a single slash.

As his combat strength grew,

Zhang Qing was no longer so timid and hesitant.

Swish!

The blade flashed.

The head hit the ground.

-199!

"Zhang Qing!" Guan Yutian froze for a moment, then ran over and shouted.

"How did you..."

"Something's wrong with his clothes!" Zhang Qing said in a low voice.

"He came in from the wilderness without a single trace on him? I don't buy it!"

Guan Yutian froze.

With a signal.

The squad members all drew their blades.

The people awaiting inspection immediately scattered.

They looked ready to watch the show.

Sure enough.

The next second.

Bang.

Blood burst forth.

The Specter transformed!

Bewitching Ghoul; 1755/1954!

The humanoid Specter had roughly the same figure as a human, even with a curvy silhouette.

But its skin was blood-red and covered in countless patterns.

It looked utterly horrifying at a glance.

Stare at it for too long, and your vision would even start to blur.