Gu Bei wasn't the only one with this strange feeling; the others also had a sense of unease, as if the wolf heads on the city gate were scrutinizing them as soon as they approached.
This feeling sounds rather eerie, but for some reason, I don't feel nervous at all. On the contrary, under that scrutiny, I feel a sense of security, especially the crew members who know there is a water ghost in the group. Their uneasy feelings have actually turned into a sense of calm.
Conversely, some of the darker figures in the group were different. The moment they were met by the wolf's gaze, their bodies tensed up, as if a great calamity was about to befall them!
"The city gate is just ahead..."
A carriage slowly followed behind Gu Bei's caravan. It was Wei Gongcheng and his group, who had just arrived in Liuzhou. Seeing that there were a few caravans entering the city, Wei Gongcheng and the others became curious.
Especially the white-clad female sorcerer, she had dealt with many supernatural events with her master. Based on her experience, whenever such a thing happened, the people found it extremely difficult to accept. Those who knew the inside story would move away one after another. When the incident escalated, several counties in the north even became ghost towns because of it, and there are still no people living there. The imperial court has been unable to do anything about it for several years.
The incident in Liuzhou has escalated to such a huge extent that the imperial court couldn't contain it. How could this man surnamed Chen, who has only been in office for a few days, achieve such results?
Upon inquiring, he learned that Liuzhou had already announced tax exemption, Wei Gongcheng nodded in satisfaction upon hearing the news.
Even the white-robed sorcerer, after a moment of stunned silence, unusually praised him, saying, "He does have some guts."
"Is this what the city gates of Liuzhou look like?"
As the caravan ahead was being inspected, Wei Gongcheng stopped their carriage. Lifting the curtain, the three of them were all taken aback when they saw the city gate. It was Thousand-Faced Fox A Li who first murmured curiously.
Could it be that her memory was failing her? She didn't seem to recall Liuzhou having such an imposing city gate.
Wei Gongcheng was also stunned. After all, he had only been away from Liuzhou for half a month. Had the city gate changed too much?
Wasn't it said that all the tax revenue and account books in Liuzhou had been seized? Where did Chen Qing get the money to build such a flashy city gate?
Moreover, judging by the specifications of this city gate, it must have taken at least six months to build, right?
"There's a monster!"
The woman in white glanced at the caravan ahead, a cold glint in her eyes.
"Don't make a move in public..." Wei Gongcheng frowned. "Don't scare away the caravan they've worked so hard to attract."
The woman in white nodded upon hearing this. Although she disliked the man surnamed Chen, she would not interfere, as that would violate the principles taught by her master.
But she didn't make a move; instead, something on the door did!
"What kind of demon dares to invade my Liuzhou?!"
The voice was majestic and solemn; even Wei Gongcheng and the others, who were a hundred meters away, could feel its profound authority!
At the city gate, three metal wolf heads seemed to come alive, their golden eyes fixed on the lurking figures hidden within the caravan!
The next instant, a phantom of a white wolf, at least ten meters tall, appeared floating above the city gate, its imposing presence leaving everyone below stunned in place.
What... what is this?
Despite its enormous size and imposing presence, the giant wolf did not evoke any sense of danger. Instead, it gave one a feeling of being protected. Even the white-clad sorceress in the distance was initially shocked, but inexplicably, she did not feel any hostility.
But those water ghosts hidden in the crowd were different.
They felt an extremely uncomfortable sense of oppression, as if they were being roasted on a flame!
Within moments, they all knelt on the ground, drenched in cold sweat, their muscles bulging, and the outer skin of their bodies tearing apart.
Only then did everyone realize that there were actually so many water ghosts hidden in the group, at least a dozen of them!
Gu Bei was startled!
He originally thought that at most three or four had infiltrated, but he didn't expect there to be so many. One of them was even from his hometown. If they infiltrated his hometown and harmed his fellow villagers, he would truly become a sinner!
Heh heh!
Seeing that it could no longer hide, the leading monster let out a strange laugh and tore off its own human skin, revealing a body covered in sharp, fish-like scales!
Seeing this, the other monsters no longer hid; they tore off their human skin and stood up, glaring fiercely at the people around them!
There aren't many soldiers here, so breaking through shouldn't be a problem!
"Mermaid!"
A cold glint flashed in the eyes of the white-robed sorcerer in the distance. These demons were not very powerful, but they were the most troublesome. They often disguised themselves as humans to commit murder. Many cities with docks had encountered these monsters the most. They were numerous and scattered. Any merchant ship could have a few of them sneaking in, making them impossible to guard against!
However, she didn't act immediately because she was very curious about what was on the city gate that could recognize these merfolk.
Demons disguised in human skin are very difficult to recognize unless a sorcerer keeps their Spirit Eye open at the entrance. But that's impossible. First, there aren't that many sorcerers, and second, no sorcerer can keep their Spirit Eye open all day long. Even a great sorcerer like my master would be worn out if he kept his eyes open all day...
The thing on the city gate was clearly not a sorcerer!
"Retreat!!" Gu Bei quickly covered the shopkeeper next to him as they retreated.
Seeing this, the water ghost was about to grab a few hostages, but just as it was about to make its move, the white wolf in the sky let out another fierce shout!
"This monster dares to commit violence? Where is the goalkeeper? Execute him on the spot!!"
"I obey!"
On the city gate, seven or eight armored soldiers leaped directly down from the city wall!
Wei Gongcheng, watching from afar, almost bit his tongue.
What are those soldiers doing?
Jumping off a city wall over ten meters high, just like that? And wearing armor no less? Does he not want to live anymore?
But a strange scene unfolded: the soldiers who leaped down all had a bluish glint in their eyes. Though their leaps were powerful, their landings were incredibly light, without even a sound...
Before the group of water ghosts could react, their heads were chopped off!
"Impressive skills!!" Wei Gongcheng couldn't help but exclaim.
These soldiers were truly skilled; their sword angles and power were even more precise than those of the personal guards of the northern aristocratic families. Crucially, their strength was remarkable. Although merfolk were not powerful demons, their physique far surpassed that of ordinary people, protected by natural scales. Even if a weaker soldier managed to cut their tiger's mouth open, they might not be able to injure their opponent.
But these soldiers were capable of beheading with their swords, and in terms of sheer strength, even the personal guards of the Yuchi Household with some bloodline might not be able to match them.
Whose elite troops are these?
At this moment, Chen Qing on the city gate saw this scene and barely managed to show a look of satisfaction.
The hunters brought by Ma Erniang were physically fit; they had achieved such results after only one day of training, which was indeed better than that of ordinary people.
As for the power that shocked Wei Gongcheng, he was naturally not surprised; it was simply the door god's innate talent.
There are two differences between the existence of gods and ordinary demons. First, gods can become stronger through faith. Second, gods can transmit power to believers!
The gatekeepers belong to the half- War God System, capable of transmitting combat power. They can leap from the city gates wearing heavy armor without injury, thanks to the wind control ability in the Demon Wolf's talent. They can also decapitate the strong-boned merfolk with each strike, thanks to the physical power transmitted by the Demon Wolf.
The attributes of the door gods are just like this: they can identify any disguised demons or ghosts that are lower than themselves, and they can grant the door gods divine power. These are just two simple functions, but at the moment, they are the most suitable gods for Chen Qing to deal with the situation in Liuzhou!
"The demon has been beheaded!" One of the tallest soldiers in the ranks turned and saluted, saying, "Please return the door gods to their positions!"
"Please return the door gods to their positions!" the other soldiers shouted in unison.
"Alright!" The white wolf in mid-air nodded slightly, then turned into specks of blue light and disappeared into the air. The three metal wolf heads on the city gate also returned to normal, and the golden light in their eyes no longer shone.
Everyone stared in stunned silence, the thick stench of blood on the ground a constant reminder that what had just happened... was not an illusion.
"Alright, alright!" The soldiers, who had just been covering their noses in disgust, exclaimed, "Get ready, let's hurry into the city and not block the way for the others!"
The merchants nodded in agreement and hurried to clean up the goods they had dropped in their haste.
"This... General?" Gu Bei quickly stepped forward, politely bowed, and asked, "What was that just now?"
"I'm not worthy of the title of general..." The soldier chuckled, "I'm just a lowly soldier on the city wall..." He paused, then laughed, "Oh, isn't this Gu Bei?"
" Maozi?" Gu Bei was stunned, completely dumbfounded.
Was that Maozi from my village, the one who jumped down from the city gate wearing dozens of kilograms of armor and killing more than a dozen water ghosts with a few swift strokes, like a war god?
What's going on?
"Hehe!" Seeing the other person's shocked expression, Maozi chuckled smugly, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Let's hurry into town. I'll be off work tonight, let's grab a drink, it's been so long!"
"Okay, okay!" Gu Bei nodded repeatedly, his heart pounding with desire. He wished he could grab the other person right now and make him explain, but it was clearly not the right time now. He could only wait until tonight.
"Don't panic, everyone!" After exchanging a few words with Gu Bei, Maozi turned to reassure the people behind him. "The white wolf you just saw is our Liuzhou's guardian deity. It's a consecrated sacred object that Lord Chen obtained from a master in the capital. With it here, no Magic City can hide. As you all saw, those demons couldn't even get close to the city gate!"
"There's... there's something like that?" It was Shopkeeper He who asked the question. He was the first to react, and his eyes lit up after he figured out the details.
If such a thing existed... then Liuzhou...
"So everyone can enter the city without worry!!" Maozi laughed, "With the door god here, no evil spirits can afford to invade my Liuzhou City again!"
Everyone was stunned for a moment, Gu Bei was the first to react, immediately kneeling down. "This humble subject pays respects to the door gods!"
"This humble commoner bows to the door god!!" The other merchants also knelt down in unison.
These maritime merchants feared nothing more than returning home from dangerous waters only to be persecuted by demons. The thought of all those water ghosts disguised as humans around them sent shivers down their spines.
The more frightened I am now, the more grateful I feel.
If what the officer said is true, and these door gods can keep all evil spirits out of the city gates, then they are truly the most deities worthy of worship!
"This person is quite sensible..." Chen Qing, standing on the city gate, looked at Gu Bei, the first to kneel and bow, and his eyes flashed with admiration. At this moment, as hundreds of people knelt on the ground, a little bit of weak Power of Faith turned into white light and entered the three wolf heads. Chen Qing looked at his palm. At this moment, a blue light flashed on his palm, and a wisp of wind swirled around it. His power became more and more refined, and the smile on his face grew wider and wider.
All my hard work these past few days has paid off; I've finally gained my first wave of faith.
"A warlock?" Just as he was getting excited, a white figure suddenly appeared on the city gate, staring intently at Chen Qing.
Chen Qing was taken aback and took a wary step back. Who was this woman?
"Door gods?" The woman stared intently at the faint breeze emanating from Chen Qing's hand, frowning as she asked, "What exactly is that?"
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