Chapter 72: Emergency Escort Mission

Chapter 72: The Urgent Escort Mission

At dawn, Li Wei had just emerged from the realm of dreams.

Outside on the streets, the horn blaring for an emergency assembly resounded.

He pushed open the window and looked out, watching crowds of soldiers rushing toward the City Lord’s manor.

"What has happened?"

Curiosity flickered in Li Wei's eyes as he gazed in the direction of the City Lord’s estate.

Ever since the Maple Leaf City army arrived in Winter Sand City, high-ranking commanders like Oates and Owen had taken up residence in the manor.

The original city lord of Winter Sand City had abdicated his position to a more capable leader, becoming Oates's deputy.

Li Wei stepped out of his door and saw Gu Ze, Rota, and the others running out in a great hurry.

"What's going on? Why are they blowing the emergency assembly horn?"

Gu Ze asked, thoroughly bewildered.

Li Wei replied, "I’m not entirely sure either. Perhaps something occurred over at the City Lord’s manor? I saw a great number of soldiers rushing that way."

"Come, let us go and see."

The group hurriedly made their way toward the City Lord’s manor.

Upon arriving outside the estate, they found it besieged three layers deep by armored soldiers, completely impenetrable.

"What on earth happened?"

The crowd stood outside, craning their necks and peering about, hoping to catch a glimpse of the scene inside the manor.

Unfortunately, the heavy gates of the manor were tightly shut, and the surrounding soldiers permitted no one to draw near.

Not even the mages were allowed close.

A moment later, the manor gates creaked open, and Mage Alan stepped out.

He projected his voice, "Who here knows the Hydrotherapy spell?"

No one answered; Hydrotherapy was merely a first-tier water-element healing spell.

Its therapeutic effects fell far short of a priest's Heal spell.

Generally, very few people bothered to learn it.

Martin emerged shortly after, saying to Alan, "Marina knows Hydrotherapy, but she is currently stationed at the front lines."

The two exchanged a grim look, retreated back into the manor, and shut the doors.

"I fear even Hydrotherapy would do little to cure the City Lord’s injuries; we must find a priest."

"We shall use life restoration potions to sustain him for a few days, and dispatch men to invite a priest to Winter Sand City."

Priests were men of the cloth, spending the vast majority of their time in prayer within the holy temples.

Winter Sand City was too small to possess a temple of its own.

The Kingdom of Maqir was situated in a remote territory, and the number of noble clergy members was exceedingly scarce.

It was nothing like the Central Plains, where temples sustaining holy officials could be seen everywhere.

Within the borders of the Kingdom of Maqir, only a handful of cities housed temples.

Alan spoke up, "The nearest temple is in Flowing Wind City, seventy kilometers away from Winter Sand City. A round trip of two days should suffice."

Martin countered, "The City Lord might not hold out for that long."

"Furthermore, you are well aware of the arrogance of those clergymen; they may not be willing to leave their temple and come here for the sake of the City Lord."

Owen walked out with a calm countenance and commanded, "Have an escort convey the City Lord to the temple in Flowing Wind City for treatment."

Hearing this, the two men exchanged another look.

Alan voiced his concern, "But would the risk not be far too great?"

"Two of the assassins who attacked the City Lord managed to escape. If they carry this news back to the beastmen, the beastmen will undoubtedly try every means possible to intercept and slaughter the escort party. It would be far more dangerous then."

Owen stated coldly, "I shall arrange this matter, you need not worry."

"Assemble the professionals," Owen ordered.

The professionals standing outside the City Lord’s manor were finally granted entry, and the crowd gathered in the main courtyard of the estate.

Li Wei surveyed his surroundings and noticed the unmistakable scars of combat left upon the walls.

Connecting this with Mage Alan's earlier inquiry about who knew Hydrotherapy.

Without a doubt, assassins had infiltrated the City Lord’s manor, and someone had been grievously wounded.

Owen stepped forward, swept his gaze across the crowd, and said, "There is currently a highly critical mission to be entrusted to you. You are to escort an important figure to Flowing Wind City."

Upon hearing these words, the crowd stared at him, burning with curiosity as to who it was they were escorting to Flowing Wind City.

Subsequently, Owen produced a list and began to announce the escort personnel. "Blaise, Jonard, Jack, Nya, and Golem shall form one escort squad."

...

"Lan Ya, Kunan, Lisha, Dias, and Li Wei shall form one escort squad."

...

In a single breath, Owen called out fifty names, assembling ten escort squads in total.

Li Wei felt a tinge of surprise, not expecting himself to be chosen.

He sensed someone looking at him, turned his head, and spotted Lan Ya and her companions.

Lan Ya and Lisha waved their hands at him, offering a brief greeting.

Both sides were somewhat surprised, not anticipating that they would be formed into a squad together once more under such circumstances.

The roster in Owen's hand had originated from the Professionals Association.

"Shortly, each of your ten squads will escort a carriage out of the city and head toward Flowing Wind City."

"The rest of you shall form five-man squads of your own volition and depart Winter Sand City entirely to conduct a massive sweep of the beastmen in the vicinity, thereby providing cover for the escort squads."

Witnessing this grand arrangement, the crowd realized that the individual to be sent to Flowing Wind City possessed an exceptionally high status.

The clever individuals among them had already discerned the truth of the matter.

"Those whose names have been called, step to the rear."

Having spoken, Owen turned and walked into the backyard.

Seeing Owen depart, Gu Ze hurriedly leaned toward Li Wei and whispered, "Be careful, this mission is likely to be fraught with extreme danger."

He lowered his voice further, "If you feel you are facing an irresistible peril, flee immediately. Do not hesitate."

"The one being escorted inside the carriage is highly likely to be City Lord Oates, and heading to Flowing Wind City is mostly to seek salvation from the temple priests there."

"To require the aid of a priest means the City Lord's injuries must be severe in the extreme."

"Under these circumstances, the beastmen will surely stop at nothing to eliminate the heavily wounded and dying City Lord. You will encounter immense obstruction along the way."

"Should you encounter danger, prioritize saving your own skin! Do not worry about whoever is inside the carriage!"

Li Wei saw the anxious look on Gu Ze’s face and nodded, replying softly, “Yes, I understand.”

He patted the invisibility cloak draped over his shoulders and said, “With this cloak, even in the worst situation, I can still escape.”

Gu Ze warned him, “Don’t rely too much on the cloak. Beastmen with keen senses of smell can track your position by scent.”

“Li Wei.”

Allen called from the doorway.

“Master, I’m off now.”

Li Wei hurried into the backyard, where Lanya and the others stood waiting in the corner.

Lisa exclaimed, her voice trembling with excitement, “Mage Li Wei!”

“Hmm, be careful—this mission is dangerous,” Li Wei cautioned.

Lanya nodded solemnly, her expression grave.

In the courtyard, ten carriages lined up in a single file, each one occupied.

Each escort team led away one carriage, yet none knew whether they were guarding the true target.

Soon, the ten carriages arrived at the city gate.

Owen stood atop the wall, gazing toward the distant beastman encampment.

At his command, numerous pre-positioned squads of adventurers poured out of the city, scattering in all directions.

Kunan drove the carriage, with Li Wei seated beside him.

Others clung to the sides—Dias on the left, Lisa on the right, and Lanya at the rear.

After a tense wait, Owen gave the order to leave the city.

One by one, the ten carriages galloped out.

They rode side by side for a time, then split apart, vanishing down ten separate roads.

Owen watched them fade into the distance, his face calm and unreadable, showing no concern for the lord’s safety.

Allen stood beside him, sighed deeply, and whispered, “May the winds protect our lord and bring him safely to Liufeng City.”

Puzzled, he glanced at Owen and asked, “Why make such a spectacle of the lord’s departure? Wouldn’t it have been safer to quietly send him away in secret?”

Owen didn’t turn to look at him, but answered calmly, “You’ll understand soon enough.”

(End of Chapter)