161: Chapter 162 Draw the sword?

His voice was not loud, but it carried steadily up.

Several delegations behind also stopped in succession, indicating their identities and purpose.

On the city wall, Lei Lie's brows twitched.

Delegations from five cities.

And the City Lord of Heyang—he came personally?

A City Lord of a small city, daring to appear in front of the gate of a strange city in this manner.

Regardless of what the true purpose is, this kind of spirit is not ordinary.

Even though they are in a weak position right now, they still dare to display such an open and honest posture. If he were too cautious, he would instead be inferior...

Thinking this, Lei Lie raised his hand and ordered:

"Open the city gate."

"Creak—"

The heavy city gate slowly opened inward.

The group of envoys did not feel the slightest bit relieved; instead, they felt even more tense.

Once the gate opened, they truly saw clearly inside.

It was not an empty passageway, not a dilapidated city gate tunnel, but guards standing in neat rows, Professionals in orderly armor, a sense of order that made one's scalp tingle.

Lei Lie came down from the city wall, stood at the entrance personally, and his gaze swept over everyone.

"Since you all are here to visit, you are guests. After entering the city, do not wander around, and do not cause trouble."

"I will personally take you to the City Lord's Mansion."

City Lord Qin Fang nodded slightly.

"Sorry to trouble you."

The team slowly entered the city.

As soon as they crossed that threshold, several envoys subconsciously held their breath.

Inside the city, it was even more different than they had imagined.

...

The first thing that caught their eyes was the people.

There were many people.

But it was not chaotic.

The roads were spacious, pedestrians were coming and going, some carrying animal skins on their shoulders, some pushing wooden carts, some carrying weapons, some holding grain bags, each busy with their own affairs, and there was not a hint of the Death Qi common in small cities.

What made their hearts jump even more was that those people's necks were surprisingly empty.

No metal collars.

Not a single one.

Behind, an envoy was stunned for a moment and subconsciously asked: "Where are their metal rings?"

Lei Lie was walking in front, and hearing this, he did not stop his pace, only calmly replied with one sentence.

"Flower City has no execution line."

When these words fell, the steps of several envoys were chaotic for a moment.

No execution line?

How is that possible?

They almost instinctively lowered their heads and touched the metal collars on their own necks. The cold touch against their skin made their hearts sink.

When they looked up again, Lei Lie had already turned his face to the side, his gaze sweeping over them. That look had no aggression, and was even very calm, but within that calmness, it carried an indescribable pride.

The envoys' throats were dry, and no one asked again.

But the spirit in their hearts had already unknowingly lowered a notch.

Walking further, the second breath was also gone.

Because they discovered again that the Flower City citizens on the street had an outrageously strong aura.

Not just one or two.

It was group after group.

Some carried long swords on their backs, some wore short bows, some wore light armor, some wore leather armor; picking any one out, they actually all carried the fluctuations of a Professional.

Even more terrifying was that their equipment, looking across the board, was not a single piece inferior.

Black Iron Rank.

The lowest was Black Iron Rank!

Several Bronze Rank guards from the outer cities had their faces tightened.

Originally, they were considered top-tier strength in their respective cities, and usually when entering or leaving city gates, others had to give way just by looking at them. But arriving here, having only walked such a short distance, that bit of arrogance was like being crushed by someone's hand, shattered completely.

Because they could feel it.

Among these people passing by, picking a few out at random, the aura on their bodies was not much weaker than their own.

Even stronger.

A guard's shoulders tightened, and his fingers had already quietly pressed onto the hilt of his sword.

But after pressing it, he himself felt it was a bit absurd.

Drawing the sword?

Towards whom should he draw it?

Towards those Flower City people on the street who were pushing carts, laughing and talking, or buying things?

Or towards those few Mercenarys not far away who were carrying large bags of beast meat, cursing while walking about how little prey there was today?

His throat moved, and his hand slowly let go again.

City Lord Qin Fang saw all of this, did not speak, but his expression was a few points more serious than before.

This was not an ordinary small city.

It was not even just "strong."

It was too complete in its strength.

It was not strength supported by some expert, not strength gathered temporarily, but an entire city, from inside to outside, that was moving upwards.

The team continued forward.

The Flower City people on the street also noticed them.

"From the outer cities?"

"Someone actually came."

"The one in the middle isn't wearing a collar on his neck! Could it be a City Lord from another city?"

"Hey! Our Flower City actually has guests!"

"I'll go say hello!"

"Don't be presumptuous! Don't you see Lei Lie is there?"

...

Some people discussed in hushed voices, and others simply stopped their work and stood on the side of the road watching curiously. That gaze had no malice, but it made the group of envoys increasingly uncomfortable.

They had come all this way, originally thinking it should be the citizens who feared them.

As a result, entering Flower City was like a group of country folk entering a big market, even their breathing carried restraint.

Just at this moment, a burst of rapid footsteps suddenly came from ahead.

"Da da da da—"

Immediately after, a white shadow suddenly darted across the middle of the road.

"Desolate Beast!"

Someone gasped in a low voice, and several guards changed color almost simultaneously, reflexively wanting to form a formation.

Swords were drawn half an inch, and spiritual power was raised.

Lei Lie did not even turn his head, calmly saying: "No need to be afraid, that is a Flower City citizen, it will not hurt you."

Citizen?

Everyone was stunned.

The next moment, they saw clearly.

That was simply not a person.

That was a white tiger!

Its fur was snow-white, its build robust, and with a flick of its tail, it leaped lightly across the middle of the road.

It was clearly a Desolate Beast, yet there was not a hint of ferocity in its movements; instead, it exuded an indescribable leisure, running two steps and then stopping, as if it were deliberately waiting for someone.

Following closely, the panting shouts of two children sounded from behind.

"Furry! Wait for me!"

"You are not allowed to run so fast!"

A boy and a girl, two children, stumbled as they chased up, their little faces flushed red from running, and their shoes were covered in dust.

That white tiger turned its head to look at them, and it actually slowed down a bit, its tail swaying as if it were teasing them.

This scene crashed into everyone's eyes, genuinely stunning them.

Desolate Beast...

Playing with children?

One of the envoys moved his lips, but couldn't make a sound for a long time.

In their cognition, a Desolate Beast is a Desolate Beast, it is humanity's deadly enemy!

Even taming one is a delusion, let alone coexisting peacefully.

Yet this scene before their eyes was undeniably real!

That Little Boy chased two steps, then suddenly noticed the team here, his eyes lit up, and he immediately stopped chasing, instead running towards them.

He was not shy at all, looking up and asking: "Uncle, are you from outside?"

No one answered.

Because everyone's gaze had fallen onto his hands.

...