Chapter 446: A Good Official

The air was thick with the stench of blood as severed heads and lifeless bodies were strewn across the ground.

In moments, the arrogant and overbearing elites, along with Kong Xuanzhong, the Kong family’s appointed leader, had all been reduced to lifeless corpses. No one could have foreseen this outcome.

Huang Fulai’s expression shifted repeatedly, his mind heavy with mounting dread and frustration. The young man in black had slain so many in front of so many witnesses. They were not just ordinary people either, they were influential elites. Even if Huang Fulai wished to protect him, it now seemed nearly impossible.

The greater concern was the sheer ruthlessness of the young man. His propensity for decisive killing and his demonstrated strength, which was likely at the level of the Five Spirits Realm, meant that if pressured further, he could unleash a massacre, leading to even more unnecessary deaths.

"City leader Huang, are you perhaps worried that I’ll lose control and start killing again?" The young man in black suddenly smiled faintly, breaking the tense silence.

Huang Fulai stiffened, his expression turning solemn. "Indeed, your murderous aura is so overwhelming that I cannot help but be cautious."

The young man extended his hand, his tone calm and unwavering. "Go ahead."

"What do you mean by that?" Huang Fulai was momentarily taken aback.

"My sword only kills those who deserve to die." The young man said with composure. "It has never harmed the innocent. City leader, you can rest assured—I won’t make things difficult for an upright official like yourself. Arrest me. I won’t resist."

Huang Fulai froze, caught off guard by the young man’s response.

Chivalry often violates the law. Huang Fulai had encountered ancient martial artists who would draw their blades in a fit of rage and kill without hesitation. Most of them, once blinded by fury, lost all sense of reason, making them impossible to negotiate with.

This was especially true in this chaotic world. Many skilled ancient martial artists disregarded national laws, roaming as they pleased, acting recklessly and without constraint. When he saw the astonishing strength of this young man in black, combined with his youth, Huang Fulai had assumed his temperament would be unruly and defiant. Yet, the boy’s calm honesty surprised him.

Moreover, the simple phrase from the stranger—“an upright official who works for the people”—struck a chord deep in Huang Fulai’s heart.

Everyone called him a good official. Even this young man, a complete stranger who had simply passed through his city, recognized him as such. But there were others who didn’t acknowledge it, or worse, those who did but simply didn’t care.

The world was chaotic, disordered, and full of hardship. The once-proud land of Great Xia was now veiled in dust. Huang Fulai’s only wish was to fight for the rights and safety of the tens of millions who couldn’t defend themselves. Yet, why was this so difficult?

Deep down, he was fully aware of what awaited him upon their return to Haijing City. His fate was sealed. But he had no regrets. Even if it meant bleeding out every last drop of his blood, he was determined to ensure that these more than 300,000 refugees reached Haijing City safely. As for what came after? He would leave it to the will of heaven.

At this thought, Huang Fulai’s resolve grew even stronger. Even if it meant breaking his own long-held principles, he was determined to protect this young man in black. Such a talented youth could not be allowed to perish prematurely. If given enough room to grow, this young man might one day become a saint-like figure for Great Xia.

"Men," he commanded with a wave of his hand, "put him in shackles and take him into custody."

The necessary steps had to be followed. Only by doing this could Huang Fulai protect the young man more effectively and ensure that he would not fall victim to the Kong family’s vengeful madness upon reaching Haijing City.

"No, don’t shackle him!"

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"My lord, this young man... he’s a good person!"

"Uncle Huang, don’t take Big Brother away!"

The crowd grew agitated. Mengmeng, tears streaming down her face, cried out in panic.

City leader is a good man. Big Brother is also a good man. Why would a good man arrest another good man?

She couldn’t understand.

The young man in black knelt gently to wipe away Mengmeng’s tears, his smile soft and reassuring. "Don’t worry. Big Brother will be fine and will come back safely. Mengmeng, don’t cry. Be good and take care of Grandma, alright?"

Mengmeng wiped her tears, nodding earnestly as she choked back her sobs. In the end, under the anxious and worried gazes of the crowd, the young man was shackled with specially crafted restraints and escorted away by a squad of soldiers. The refugee camp resumed its rest.

Huang Fulai returned to his tent and immediately summoned his trusted aides, An Xiaohu, Chu Liuguang, Guo Zhipeng, Sun Lei, and others for a secret discussion.

The next day, the convoy continued its journey.

"Sir, this is the sixth time," reported Captain Feng as he led the way.

The group arrived at a desolate riverside crossing. There, in the shallow waters and the distant river, floated hundreds of Thorn-Armored Giant Rhinos, their blood staining the river red and filling the air with a pungent metallic scent.

The Thorn-Armored Giant Rhino was a fearsome freshwater star beast. Their natural black thorn armor could withstand the impact of low-grade power weapons. Thick-skinned and immensely tough, they were undisputed rulers of aquatic domains.

According to records, a massive herd of these creatures had made this riverside their territory and dominated the area. Originally, the refugee convoy had planned to bypass the river entirely, traveling sixty miles further to a safer crossing point.

However, due to the presence of the mysterious Sword Immortal, Captain Feng had decided to take a chance and investigate the riverside crossing. What they found left them both stunned and ecstatic. The shocking part was the sheer number of Thorn-Armored Giant Rhinos lying dead in the water, turning the area into a death zone.

The joy came from realizing that the Sword Immortal had not abandoned them after all. Huang Fulai’s heart leapt with joy as well. He turned to look at the nearby ruined bridge at the riverside crossing. It was an ancient structure from five centuries ago, once used by a form of public transport called high-speed trains. Constructed entirely of concrete and steel, it was a pinnacle of technological civilization from its era.

Centuries had passed, and the bridge had been long abandoned. Though weathered by the ravages of time, and now overgrown with plants that obscured its former grandeur, it still stood stubbornly upright, spanning the great river without collapse.

"Quickly, Captain Feng," Huang Fulai ordered. "Take a team to clear the vegetation from the bridge, reinforce and secure it. Once it’s deemed safe, have everyone cross over."

Feng Ning immediately gathered his men and began the task. Since the threat of the Thorn-Armored Giant Rhinos had been eliminated, crossing the river via the ancient bridge would save an entire day’s journey. This meant the convoy could reach the outskirts of Haijing City by nightfall. By then, everyone would finally be safe.

The news filled the entire group with excitement and relief. Huang Fulai stood silently, gazing at the thousands of rhino corpses scattered in the water. The suspicion that had lingered in his mind the night before now dissipated completely.

The previous night, he had briefly entertained the thought that the young man in black might have been concealing his true strength was perhaps even the mysterious Sword Immortal.

But now, it was clear that this was not the case. The young man had been under constant surveillance, shackled and detained. He had not had an opportunity to slip away and slay these creatures.

"Xiaohu."

"Yes, my lord, I am here," An Xiaohu responded promptly.

"Bring him to me. And make sure no one else notices."

"Understood."

A short while later, the young man in black, still bound by hand and leg shackles, was quietly brought to a secluded spot by the riverside, hidden from prying eyes.

Huang Fulai looked at him, a wave of mixed emotions surging in his heart. There was relief, admiration, and a trace of sadness. Today, he was about to do something that violated his principles as an official. But he had no regrets.

"My lord, why have you brought me here?" The young man asked calmly, his tone steady.

Huang Fulai smiled faintly. "To send you on your way."

"On my way?"

"Yes, today you will die by this riverbank."

"You intend to kill me?"

"Correct. From this moment forward, the world will no longer know of your existence."