The Farce Ends

Just as Datou led Luo Yi out through the city gates, the situation at the entrance of the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group had only just reached its boiling point.

Seeing that things were about to spiral out of control, the guard who had called for help charged out with a squad of men, looking fierce and aggressive.

At their head was a burly, sinister-looking middle-aged man. He wore a fine set of leather armor and carried a heavy-backed saber at his waist. He was Captain Yu of the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group.

"Captain Yu! You've finally come!" Seeing his savior, the guard immediately seemed to find his backbone again. Pointing at Li Hu and the other two rolling around on the ground, he said,

"It was these few causing trouble here for no reason! Not only did they slander the reputation of our Poison Dragon Mercenary Group, they even tried to force their way into our grounds! When I reached out to stop them, they took the opportunity to fall down and falsely accuse me of hitting them! It's utterly outrageous!"

Captain Yu swept his gaze over the three wailing men on the ground, then looked at the indignant crowd around them, who were pointing and whispering. His expression turned extremely grim.

He looked at Li Hu and the other two with disgust and shouted, "This is the territory of the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group! It is not a place for you to run wild! I'll count to three. Get the hell out of here immediately! Otherwise, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"

The dozen or so mercenaries behind him also drew their weapons in unison, and a chilling killing intent instantly filled the air.

But Li Hu was completely unafraid. He sprang to his feet and pointed at Captain Yu's nose.

"What? You can't argue your way out of this, so now you want to beat people up? Come on, then! Everyone, come and take a look! This is the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group, one of Stone Desert City's three great mercenary groups! They break their promises, cause the deaths of those who saved them, and now they want to silence us by killing us!"

His shout was like a ladle of water poured into boiling oil, instantly igniting the fury of the onlooking crowd.

"Using power to bully others! Is there no justice left?"

"Is this how a major mercenary group behaves? What an impressive display of might! Do us small mercenaries have to take a detour whenever we see them from now on?"

"How shameless! They only came to seek an explanation for their dead brothers, and the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group wants to draw blades against them? Their brothers died saving the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group!"

There were not only ordinary civilians in the crowd, but also quite a few capable independent mercenaries and members of small mercenary groups.

They had long been dissatisfied with the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group's arrogant and domineering conduct, but because the other side was powerful, they had only dared to be angry in silence.

Now that the Desert Iron Mercenary Group had taken the lead in challenging them and held the moral high ground, they all began speaking up from within the crowd, fanning the flames.

For a time, condemnation rang out from every side.

Captain Yu looked at the enraged crowd and began to panic as well.

He had not expected things to escalate this far. If they truly made a move today, then regardless of whether they won or lost, the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group's reputation in Stone Desert City would be utterly ruined beyond repair.

"Shut up, all of you!" he roared with a fierce but hollow bluster, trying to suppress them through sheer force of presence. "Li Hu! My patience is limited! I'm warning you one last time: if you refuse to leave, don't blame me for being rude!"

"And what if I don't leave?" Li Hu refused to yield an inch. He straightened his chest, looking as though he was prepared to die. "I'll make this clear today! If you want us to leave, fine! Either step over the corpses of the three of us right now, or have those two cowardly turtles, Luo Tai and Lin Qi, get out here and kneel before my dead brothers to apologize!"

"That's right! Make them come out and apologize!"

"Otherwise, even if we die, we will never leave!"

The other two companions spoke as well, their expressions resolute.

Looking at the three of them acting like shameless scoundrels who feared nothing, Captain Yu felt his head throb.

They absolutely could not fight. With so many eyes watching, they were already in the wrong. If they beat these men too, the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group could forget about surviving in Stone Desert City.

But if they did not fight, these three stubborn pests would keep camping here and allow the matter to keep fermenting, which would be just as devastating to the mercenary group's reputation.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, his eyes flickered as he came up with an idea.

He turned sideways and quietly instructed a trusted subordinate behind him, "Go! Head to the City Guard's barracks immediately. Tell them that people are gathering here to cause trouble and disturb public order. Ask Commander Wang to send men over and drive them away!"

"Yes, Captain Yu!" The subordinate acknowledged the order and immediately squeezed out through a gap in the crowd.

The City Guard was highly efficient. In less than a quarter of an hour, a squad of more than ten City Guard soldiers appeared at the scene.

They wore standard-issue armor and carried refined steel spears. Under the leadership of a middle-aged commander, they cleared out an isolated area.

"What is going on? Why are you all gathered here?" Commander Wang's voice boomed like a great bell. Though he was not angry, he carried an imposing authority as his gaze swept over the scene.

The moment Captain Yu saw the City Guard arrive, he hurried forward and pointed at Li Hu and the other two.

"Commander Wang, you came at just the right time! These men are making trouble at the entrance of our mercenary group, seriously disrupting our normal operations. Please uphold justice for us and drive them away!"

Naturally, Li Hu refused to accept this. He immediately stepped forward and recounted the entire course of events, along with their demand for an explanation, his voice full of grief and indignation.

"Alright, alright. I already understand what happened."

After hearing both sides, Commander Wang furrowed his brow.

He knew perfectly well that the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group was at fault, but his duty was to maintain order in Stone Desert City, not to judge grudges between mercenary groups.

"Right and wrong will be judged by public opinion. But their brothers died fighting to save members of your Poison Dragon Mercenary Group. By both reason and sentiment, you ought to give them an explanation. Why not have your group leader come out, apologize face-to-face, and make things clear?"

"Commander Wang, you don't understand!" Captain Yu spread his hands with a helpless expression. "Our group leader and deputy group leader were invited away by the Mercenary Association early this morning. They aren't in the group at all right now!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Commander Wang turned to Li Hu and said gravely, "Li Hu, you heard him. Their group leader truly is not here.

How about this? Give me some face for now, and let this matter end here today. Don't make things any bigger.

Once their group leader returns, I'll personally step in to mediate. I guarantee that you and your dead brothers will receive a satisfactory explanation. Alright?"

At those words, Li Hu showed an indignant expression and seemed about to say something more, but then he saw one of his companions discreetly give him a look.

Li Hu nodded without changing his expression.

"Hmph! For Commander Wang's sake, we can leave for now! But let me make this clear: Luo Tai and Lin Qi must give my dead brothers an explanation! Otherwise, our Desert Iron Mercenary Group and your Poison Dragon Mercenary Group will fight to the death!"

With that, he turned and left with his other two companions.

Watching the three figures depart, Captain Yu's face turned livid. Yet an indescribable sense of stifled frustration and unease rose within him. He could not shake the feeling that Li Hu and the others had come looking for trouble on purpose today.