189: Sword City Luo Clan

Let's talk about two different things.

The battle in Lingchuan Region was essentially over, and Zhang Lei's iron torrent was once again ready to depart. Tang Qi, leading the Red Alert First Mixed Brigade, acted as the vanguard, with their forces pointed directly at the next strategic location — Jiancheng County.

Sword City, located in the central Xijiang Province, was a super county directly under the provincial government's jurisdiction, covering an area of over 3,000 square kilometers. Before the apocalypse, its resident population once approached 2.4 million, and its economic output and urban scale were almost equivalent to one-third of Lingchuan Region! It had a strong heavy industrial base, particularly famous nationwide for its mineral and rare metal industries, making it an economic powerhouse in Xijiang Province.

Furthermore, Sword City was even more famous for its dominant local power — the Luo Clan of Sword City.

According to family records, the Luo Clan lineage descended from Luo Cheng, a famous general in the late Sui Dynasty. The family has thrived for a thousand years, with a flourishing legacy, strict family rules, and strong cohesion. In modern times, a founding general even emerged from the family, bringing them immense renown.

Even though the Luo Clan's core has gradually withdrawn from the power center of the capital, there is still an active major general serving in an important position in the Southern Military Region. In Sword City, the Luo Clan is undoubtedly the local emperor, the entrenched power, with deeply rooted influence.

As soon as the Lingchuan battle concluded, Tang Qi was ordered to lead the First Mixed Brigade along the Chuanhong Expressway, advancing towards Jiancheng County.

A force of over four thousand people, well-equipped, high-spirited, marched majestically. The convoy of armored personnel carriers and military trucks kicked up dust into the sky, and the scattered zombies along the way posed no threat to this large army, often being easily dealt with by the forward scouts before they could even get close.

Tang Qi was no longer the inexperienced individual he once was. With the Red Alert Legion's resources and his own efforts, he had successfully advanced to a Third-Tier Lightning-type Evolver! Although the number of Third-Tier Experts nationwide was no longer as rare as a month ago, the total number definitely wouldn't exceed a hundred. Tang Qi's strength, nationwide, was absolutely among the top experts at the pinnacle of the pyramid.

As the troops approached the Sword City exit on the expressway, the vanguard suddenly stopped, and there was no movement for a long time.

"What's going on? Why have they stopped ahead? Communicator, contact the vanguard battalion immediately!" Tang Qi frowned in the command vehicle, asking over the radio.

Soon, a young messenger ran back, breathless, to report: "Reporting, Brigade Commander! Ahead... ahead, the highway exit has been blocked! There are roadblocks! And over a hundred people guarding it, they don't look like ordinary bandits, and... they have dozens of guns!"

"What?!" Hearing this, a surge of anger instantly welled up in Tang Qi's heart. Someone actually dared to block his thousands of fully armed regular soldiers? They truly had some nerve!

He immediately got out of the vehicle and quickly rushed to the front of the column with his guard platoon. At the expressway exit, several heavy large trucks had been deliberately positioned horizontally, completely blocking the passage, making it impossible to pass.

Tang Qi snorted coldly, his body moving as he easily flipped over the blocking trucks. Below, his vanguard was in a tense standoff with a group of people in mixed attire but with wary expressions. Both sides were still relatively restrained, not raising their weapons, but the atmosphere was already extremely tense.

Tang Qi didn't bother with pleasantries. The immense lightning Superpower within him subtly erupted, and fine blue electric arcs instantly swirled around his body. A heart-stopping pressure and a faint smell of ozone permeated the air, causing the hundred-plus people opposite to gasp for breath and turn pale.

"Send someone in charge! Speak!" Tang Qi's voice boomed like a bell, carrying an unquestionable authority, as his gaze swept across the crowd like electricity.

There was a stir in the opposing crowd, and they pushed forward a person who looked like a leader. This person's energy fluctuation was roughly at the First-Tier. At this moment, under Tang Qi's pressure, his face was ashen, and his legs trembled slightly, but he still braced himself and spoke: "Who... who are you?"

"We are the official Red Alert Legion! Why have you set up a blockade here? Who gave you the authority?!" Tang Qi strode up to the man, looking down at him, his powerful aura forcing the man to retreat repeatedly, almost unable to stand steady.

"You... even if you are the official army... to enter Sword City, you... you still need our permission..." The man stiffened his neck, answering defiantly but inwardly fearful, attempting to invoke local rules.

"Answer my question! Who exactly are you people? Where did these guns come from?!" Tang Qi took another step forward, his voice cold and imbued with mental pressure.

"We... we... are the Luo Clan's defense force of Sword City... You... you shouldn't push us too far... Our Young Master Luo Chen... is a Third-Tier Expert..." The man was terrified out of his wits and finally stammered out their origin, bringing up their backer.

"The Luo Clan of Sword City?" Tang Qi's heart stirred. He had done his homework before coming and knew about this ancient family that had occupied Sword City for a thousand years. Sword City itself had large military industrial enterprises, so it wasn't surprising that the Luo Clan could acquire some firearms.

"Hmph! I don't care about any Luo Clan or Zhang Clan! Who allowed you to occupy this land, set up private checkpoints, and obstruct the national army? We are the Red Alert Legion's First Mixed Brigade, acting under military orders! Clear the road immediately, or you will be treated as traitors!" Tang Qi roared again, his voice filled with rolling thunderous power, making the opponent's eardrums buzz. The First-Tier Evolver finally couldn't hold on and collapsed onto the ground.

The Luo Clan defense team members behind him immediately became tense at the sight, and with a "clack," they all chambered rounds in their rifles, instinctively aiming their muzzles at Tang Qi!

"Don't slander us!" Several armed team members bravely stepped forward, helping their collapsed comrade up, and shouted at Tang Qi, "Our Luo Clan is a highly reputable heroic family in Sword City! We gathered survivors, established a base, and protected everyone! Even if you are the regular army, you can't just casually defame us and tarnish the reputation of our Luo Clan!"

Tang Qi's gaze swept over these people. Although they were nervous, their eyes indeed showed a sense of family loyalty and pride, not like pure bandits. He suppressed his anger and said coldly, "I don't care how great the Luo Clan's reputation is! Our army is ordered to enter Sword City, clear out zombies, and reclaim lost territory. This is a matter of national importance! If you delay this important mission, your entire Luo Clan will not be able to bear the consequences!"

"Then... then wait... I'll contact our Young Master..." The leading Evolver tremblingly pulled out an old-fashioned walkie-talkie and began to call.

Tang Qi didn't stop him. He also wanted to see what this legendary Luo Clan was really like. From the other party's words, he gathered that Sword City had indeed established a considerable survivor base under the Luo Clan's leadership. If they could get the cooperation of this local power, it would undoubtedly make subsequent management and reclamation of Sword City much easier.