After completing their mission, the caravan safely delivered the goods to the Fang family auction house. The drivers and travelers who had accompanied them spoke highly of the four friends and the Iron Guard members—they had managed the journey flawlessly, protecting both the people and the goods. The fact that they had defeated nine powerful soul masters along the way only added to their reputation, a feat rarely seen among cultivators their age.
The Fang family was pleased as well. Their goods had arrived intact, without a single loss or mishap, and the professionalism of Wang Yan and his companions left a strong impression on the auction house staff.
Word of their success spread quickly throughout Green Pearl City. Their names rose again in the city, drawing admiration from merchants and cultivators alike. But not everyone was pleased.
The City Lord, who had previously underestimated them, was furious. The people he had sent had been defeated—and by cultivators far younger than he had expected. He realized that these young fighters were not just talented, but capable of handling even soul ancestor-level power. If left unchecked, they could cause him serious trouble in the future.
A cold, furious smile crossed City Lord He Yunlong's face as he surveyed Green Pearl City from his tower. The Iron Guard had grown far too famous, their recent successes drawing both admiration and envy. The longer their reputation remained unchecked, the more dangerous they would become. Now, it was time to strike decisively.
He Yunlong's mind worked with ruthless precision. He would distract Wang Yan and the rest of his team, pulling them away from the Iron Guard base in the city, and ensure that Teacher Qiu was away at the same time. Then, he would orchestrate events to destroy their reputation.
A distant shipment was arranged to be sent from another city to Green Pearl City. The Iron Guard team sent to retrieve it would find nothing—only hidden dangers waiting to make them vanish. When Wang Yan and his companions went themselves, the trap would spring.
Meanwhile, merchants and protective guilds, carefully prompted and subtly guided by He Yunlong, would begin spreading whispers—doubt, negligence, failure—ensuring the Iron Guard's spotless image began to crumble even before any direct strike.
The plan moved into action. The first Iron Guard team departed promptly. Days passed with no word. The merchant grew anxious and sent repeated inquiries, but none received an answer.
A second team was dispatched to locate the first, only to vanish as well. By the fifth day, murmurs and doubt had begun to spread throughout the city. Traders and travelers whispered among themselves, questioning the Iron Guard's reliability. The jealous guilds quietly added fuel to the fire, further tarnishing the once-impeccable reputation of the city's famed protectors.
Inside the Iron Guard base, Wang Yan, Zhao Qing, Chen Yu, and Liu Ming exchanged tense glances. Days had passed with no word from the two teams. Every inquiry to the merchant had gone unanswered, and the murmurs spreading through the city only added to their unease.
Liu Ming was the first to speak, voice calm but firm. "Two teams missing. The merchant is spreading complaints, and the guilds are following suit. We can't wait for reports anymore. We need to see this for ourselves."
Wang Yan nodded, his expression resolute. "Agreed. We move together—and fast."
Without hesitation, the four friends left the city. They traveled toward the pickup location, a remote clearing deep within the forest, far from homes or settlements. The forest pressed close around them, the air heavy and silent, each step measured and alert.
When they reached the clearing, the sight that greeted them froze their blood. The bodies of their Iron Guards lay scattered across the ground, lifeless. Some were slumped against trees, others face down in the dirt. Blood darkened the soil, and the forest seemed to hold its breath.
"They… didn't make it," Zhao Qing murmured, his voice tight with disbelief.
Chen Yu's jaw clenched. "Both teams gone. This wasn't random. Someone planned this."
Liu Ming's gaze swept the area sharply. "They drew us here. The merchants, the guilds… all of this was deliberate. They wanted to damage our image and lure us away."
Wang Yan's eyes narrowed. "No time to linger. We return—immediately."
They turned back, moving swiftly through the forest, senses alert to every sound. The calm of the woods pressed down like a warning, urging caution with every step.
When they reached the city, the scene before them confirmed their worst fears. The Iron Guard base was under attack. City guards, aligned with the merchant and several allied guilds, swarmed the courtyard. Dozens of Iron Guards lay dead, and dozens more were injured, desperately defending the remaining walls. Smoke rose from broken structures, and the shouts of battle echoed through the air.
Wang Yan assessed the situation quickly, his mind already calculating the defense. "They've taken advantage of our absence. Protect the survivors first. Stabilize the front, then counterattack."
Without hesitation, the four friends leapt into action, joining their comrades to defend the base. The clash of martial spirits and combat cries filled the courtyard as the battle intensified, each side striking with lethal precision.
Wang Yan leapt forward, his iron sword martial spirit flashing as it cut through the front line. City guards and merchant fighters fell almost instantly, their formation breaking apart. Zhao Qing followed, the thunder beast erupting with a deafening roar as arcs of lightning tore across the courtyard, forcing the attackers back in disarray.
Chen Yu moved like a gust of wind, his wind wolf slipping through gaps in the enemy ranks, striking precisely and knocking guild fighters off their feet before they could regroup. At the same time, Liu Ming took control of the battlefield, directing the remaining Iron Guards, reinforcing weak points, and turning scattered resistance into a coordinated counterattack.
The situation reversed in moments. What had been an assault became a rout. City guards fell in groups, guild members and merchant fighters were cut down, their courage shattered along with their formation. The attackers had been bold—but they had gravely underestimated Wang Yan and his companions.
When Wang Yan finally took stock of the courtyard, dozens of attackers lay dead—city guards, guild members, and merchant fighters alike. Blood soaked the ground, and the surviving enemies hesitated, fear evident in their eyes.
Then a voice rang out, calm yet commanding, cutting through the chaos.
"Stop."
City guards immediately moved, forming a tight cordon around Wang Yan and the others, sealing off every route of retreat. At their center stood He Yunlong with his two deputy, his gaze cold and measuring as it swept over Wang Yan, Zhao Qing, Chen Yu, and Liu Ming, like a predator assessing trapped prey.
A merchant stepped forward, his voice trembling but loud enough for all to hear. "My lord… the Iron Guards were hired to escort a shipment from another city. They delayed the delivery for four days. When we sent men to inquire, the Iron Guards attacked them—and even the city guards who accompanied us. Dozens were slaughtered!"
A ripple of murmurs spread through the remaining guards and guild members. The accusation, carefully framed, painted the Iron Guards as violent and untrustworthy.
He Yunlong's voice rang out, sharp and authoritative. "Is this true? You were entrusted to protect and serve, yet you failed to deliver the merchant's goods—and slaughtered the innocents sent to assist you?"
Wang Yan and the others remained silent for a heartbeat, exchanging brief glances. They all understood—the story had been prepared long before this moment.
He Yunlong's expression hardened. "Green Pearl City will not tolerate such crimes. You have committed grave offenses. Surrender yourselves now—or face the full authority of the city."
Wang Yan's expression hardened.
End of chapter.