"If you’re done, get lost! Stop blocking my view!" Ian Song waved impatiently, shooing the crowd away.
The crowd was shocked and angry. When had they ever been humiliated by an outsider before? But this one was different—most outer-domain folks would just swallow their grievances, but this guy acted like he owned the place.
"Let’s not make trouble for ourselves. We’ll step aside and let the authorities deal with them!"
"Yeah, he’s just a grasshopper after autumn—won’t last long. Once the officials show up, he’s doomed!"
……
Grumbling and cursing, the mob filed out of the inn. Even the middle-aged innkeeper didn’t dare linger and slunk out with the rest, looking thoroughly humiliated.
"You’re not leaving?"
Ian Song glanced at the few outer-domain martial artists.
"Sir, you really should go!" urged the Sigilforge martial artist who’d tried to warn Ian earlier. "The authorities always side with the locals. Plus, you just beat up an inn waiter—this could get you killed!"
A female outer-domain martial artist joined in, her tone helpless. "He’s right, sir. You can’t fight city hall. To these locals, we’re just low-class outsiders, and they really are strong. There’ve been uprisings before, but the results were always tragic."
"I appreciate your concern, but backing down just isn’t my style." Ian Song smiled and shook his head.
Just then, the trembling inn waiter crept over with a teapot and cups, nervously pouring tea for Ian and his group.
"Well then, we’ll take our leave."
Seeing Ian Song wouldn’t budge, the outer-domain martial artists had no choice but to leave the inn. They’d worked hard to reach the Central Domain and didn’t dare offend the authorities—staying here meant risking disaster for nothing.
About fifteen minutes passed.
A squad of constables in dark uniforms, broad sabers at their waists, marched in. At the front was a middle-aged constable with two small cauldrons embroidered on his chest—marking him as a Two-Cauldron Catcher King.
In the Central Empire, constables are ranked from One-Star to Nine-Star, with Nine-Star being the strongest.
Catcher Kings are ranked from One-Cauldron up to Six-Cauldron. A Six-Cauldron Catcher King has the power of a ninth-tier War General—there are only 108 of them in the entire Central Empire.
A One-Cauldron Catcher King can serve as chief constable of a small city. In big cities like Skywind, only a Two-Cauldron Catcher King is qualified—and every Two-Cauldron Catcher King is at least Law-Phase Realm.
"That’s Catcher King Murong! Those outer-domain guys are finished now!"
As soon as the Two-Cauldron Catcher King appeared, the crowd Ian Song had chased out of the inn got excited.
"Catcher King Murong is a Law-Phase powerhouse! Crushing those outer-domain guys will be a breeze!"
"Haha, let’s see how arrogant those outsiders act now!"
Right then, the middle-aged innkeeper rushed over, dropped to his knees in front of Catcher King Murong, and wailed, "Catcher King Murong, you have to stand up for us! Those outer-domain people were outrageous—they slapped me and broke every bone in Niu Wu’s body!"
Frank Murong helped the innkeeper up and announced loudly, "No need to kneel, innkeeper. As Skywind City’s chief Catcher King, it’s my duty to stand up for everyone. Any outsider who wants to cause trouble here has to get my permission first!"
"Well said, Catcher King Murong!"
"Catcher King Murong is unmatched!"
The crowd roared their approval, while Frank Murong’s eyes flashed with pride. Imperial authority was so overwhelming that few dared commit crimes, so he rarely had a chance to make a name for himself. Hearing about troublemakers from the outer domains, he’d rushed straight over, determined to punish them harshly—right or wrong didn’t matter. He wanted to build his reputation.
With that thought, Frank Murong led his constables into the inn.
He swept his gaze over Ian Song’s group, a cruel grin spreading across his face. "Arrest those outer-domain troublemakers!"
"Yes, sir!"
Clang! Clang!
The constables drew their broad sabers and charged at Ian Song’s group like ravenous wolves.
The broad saber was the standard weapon for imperial constables, just like the famed Embroidered Spring Blade of the Jinyiwei.
"Beat them back!"
Ian Song flicked his teacup, sending it flying into the leading Eight-Star Constable and knocking him aside. Then he gave a crisp order.
"Yes, sir!"
Yanna Zhou, Wes Wei, Holly Hong, Rosie Ning, and Conrad Wu blurred into motion, diving straight into the ranks of twenty-plus constables.
The strongest constable was only at early Sigilforge; most were just peak Origin Core. They were no match at all. In barely a dozen breaths, every one of them was knocked flat.
"You’ve got guts, trying to arrest us!"
Frank Murong stepped forward, unleashing a surge of aura that pressed down on everyone.
Everyone except Yanna Zhou felt their breath catch and faces pale.
"Scram!"
Before Frank Murong could finish his dramatic entrance, Ian Song snapped, and with a single slap sent him flying out of the inn.
Boom!
Frank Murong crashed hard onto the street outside, the ground beneath him cracking in a spiderweb pattern. The sight was terrifying.
Everyone who thought Ian Song’s group was doomed was left speechless.
"No way! Catcher King Murong is a Law-Phase martial artist—how could he lose to those outer-domain people?"
In a corner of the crowd, the outer-domain martial artists murmured, "No wonder he was so confident—his strength is unreal!"
Still, they weren’t optimistic for Ian Song’s group. Beating Frank Murong was one thing, but Skywind City had plenty of Demigod experts. If the authorities called them in, there’d be no way out.
Just then—
Constables came flying out of the inn, landing all around Frank Murong.
Cough, cough!
Frank Murong slowly got up, his face dark with humiliation.
"Chief, what do we do? These outsiders are way too strong. We can’t handle them with just constables!" an Eight-Star Constable said gravely.
Frank Murong sneered, "So what if they’re strong? They’re not stronger than the Empire. Go report to the prefect and have him send real experts to help us catch these criminals!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Eight-Star Constable hurried off, while Frank Murong ordered the entire inn surrounded so Ian Song’s group couldn’t escape.
Meanwhile, more and more people crowded in to watch the spectacle—including spies from all the major city powers.
Time passed. About fifteen minutes later, two streaks of light shot in from afar, landing beside Frank Murong and revealing two middle-aged men.
"Greetings, Mister Qi and Mister Zhang!"
Seeing the two men’s faces, Frank Murong quickly greeted them politely.
Both were the prefect’s personal bodyguards, each at the Saint Sea Realm.