Raid on Black Seal City

The flying vessel landed in a dense forest thirty miles south of Black Seal City.

Lu Heng put away the flying vessel and took four conical hats from his Storage Ring.

"Put them on."

Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin each took one without asking any questions.

Zi Yan turned the hat over in her hands twice, wrinkling her nose.

"Why do we have to wear these? They're ugly."

"If I stroll around Black Seal City with one great beauty and two little beauties, some blind fool will definitely come bothering us."

Lu Heng plopped the hat onto Zi Yan's head. "I can't be bothered killing people all the way through town. It's a waste of time."

Xiao Yi Xian turned her face aside, the corners of her lips tightening beneath her veil.

Qing Lin lowered her head to tie the hat's straps, her ears turning red.

Zi Yan pushed the hat upward, exposing half her face, and nodded solemnly.

"You're right. I really am pretty."

Lu Heng was helpless. Zi Yan's dazed little manner was genuinely adorable, and genuinely exasperating.

Xiao Yi Xian finally could not hold it in any longer and laughed softly.

Qing Lin laughed along with her, her shoulders trembling faintly.

Zi Yan tilted her head at them. "What are you laughing at? Did I say something wrong?"

But neither of them answered her.

The four entered the city on foot.

Black Seal City was more rundown than they had imagined.

Many buildings lining the streets bore scorch marks, while cracks left behind by clashes of Dou Qi remained on the walls. There were quite a few pedestrians, but the atmosphere was clearly oppressive. Everyone kept close to the walls as they walked, and whenever they encountered mercenaries carrying blades, they instinctively stepped aside.

Lu Heng