Everyone's fists immediately itched again when they heard that.
If they couldn't find the old one, beating up the young one first wasn't going too far, was it?
Just as everyone was about to go looking for someone to beat up...
The Outer City gate opened.
A figure quickly glided out from inside.
It was Kang Yixiang.
The young woman wore an anxious expression, her forehead covered in sweat. Clearly, she had only just heard the news and had hurried toward the Barbican.
Yang Yong looked at Kang Yixiang and snapped irritably, "You're late."
Kang Yixiang's face instantly turned deathly pale.
She knew that the Second Elder had struck a deal with Yang Yong.
Mechanical City still needed Yang Yong to craft curios. If they offended him beyond repair...
That would be disastrous.
A lowly Mechanic like her couldn't withstand the Second Elder's wrath.
Kang Yixiang immediately explained, "I'm sorry, everyone. I only just heard the news..."
"You only just heard?" Yang Yong snapped irritably. "If you'd come any later, we would've been expelled from Mechanical City."
Kang Yixiang kept saying, "I'm sorry," like a broken record.
She lowered her head, her voice growing quieter and quieter, her shoulders trembling slightly.
After a few more sharp remarks, Yang Yong lost interest.
Cao Xianming, however, suddenly stood up and said to Kang Yixiang, "Yang Yong, stop snapping at her."
"Even if she'd rushed over, she couldn't have done anything."
"She doesn't have the power to stop an elder's orders. Everyone who can override those orders is in the Core Area."
Kang Yixiang nodded. "Yes, exactly..."
Cao Xianming continued, "But... she can lead us to the gunman who took that sneak shot."
Kang Yixiang was still nodding reflexively. "Yes, yes..."
Then she registered what he had said.
She shook her head fiercely.