119 Page 18: Warned

"So where is the problem you are talking about?" One of the guard asked. It seemed that this guard is not in the mood today as his voice gave off a slightly discernable irritation.

"Senior, please look at the price written on this paper. It says 1 silver coin for each crystal. Isn't this a bogus? There's no way a person with the right mind will buy a single essence crystal for the worth of two. We believe that the person who wrote this is his accomplice." the person near the guard replied.

Seeing that everyone agrees to the speculation, the leader of the squad of guards looked down on the paper attached to the item. Looking at the price list, he saw what they are talking about. However for him, this kind of ruckus is not something worth his time.

"And so? This is the Bidding Alley. If you don't want what is displayed, don't take it. It is as simple as that. Everyone, disperse!"

The guard yelled at the cluster of crowd that was making a scene at the area. As the crowd starred to disperse, one of the guards took a glance at the weapon on Long Bai's display.

"Huh? Lad, can you tell me about this sword?" the guard pointed out at the grade 2 weapon.

Long Bai looked at the guard and scrutinized him with a poker face. With how the guard is not making any reaction about a grade 2 weapon, it seems that the man doesn't know about weapon grades but still have some discerning eyes.

"Senior, if you end up being the buyer of the item, I'll tell you about it. Will senior put his price on the paper?"

The guard looked surprised at the calm attitude the young lad was putting just now. This was something new for him since most of the time, he can see the fear from anyone whom he speaks with.

"May I take a look at it?"

"Suite yourself senior."

The guard took the grade 2 weapon and tried to see how it felt on his hands. He even tried swinging it around with some basic stances. After the testing, he gave out a surprised look.

"Lad, this is a very good weapon. The balance between the handle and the blade is superb. This doesn't look like an ordinary weapon. May I atleast know what kind of metal is used here?"

Long Bai looked at the guard and paused for a moment. After a few seconds, he answered with something that he didn't expect would attract even more attention.

"Senior, the metal used is forged steel with 10% purple iron. Does senior know this weapon's grade by any chance?"

"What?! There's a purple iron in this sword?"

The guard's loud voice was heard by the other guards and the people who was still around the area. Just by hearing the word "purple iron", everyone started to react frantically.

"Young lad! I'll buy this sword! Name your price!"

Long Bai can see that this place knows purple iron and values it so much. However, he still want to raise a competition since he might be able to make more money that way.

"Senior, why don't you put a price? If no one scrapes yours, you can have it."

"Young lad, I am a peace officer of this place. If you'll do this on my favor, I'll make sure no one will dare to disturb your business here from now on."

The people who heard this became silent. They know that this kind of treatment is wrong but they can't do anything about it especially that they are just ordinary citizens or low leveled cultivators. On the other hand, many felt jealous of such treatment especially from the others who are putting up their own items. Long Bai on the other hand was indifferent about it.

"With no intention to disrespect senior but I believe this place gives equal opportunity to everyone. I was taught to be partial with my ways so I must sincerely decline your offer."

Those words that came out from Long Bai was like a strong explosion. Everyone including the guards were speechless at the response. After a few seconds, people around started to make a fuss out of it.

"Is he crazy? Did he just turned down an offer from a peace officer? This young man is doomed. Let's move away a bit. There might be a some fight that would take place."

The people who are around sounded the same as they are talking about the same thing. On the other hand, the guard who was still holding the sword became pissed from the rejection. This was the first time he ever did experience such event. The peace officers are regarded as the hands of the council and whoever shows disrespect towards them are punished severely.

"Brat! If I tell you to do something, you should do it. Do you know the punishment for defying an officer? If you don't want to have this trouble any longer, just be quiet about it. Here, take this!"

The guard tossed two silver coins on the ground as a payment.

"That's already enough for this sword. You should be thankful for those coins for someone who is trying to have a business in this place where I watch over. Everyone, there's nothing special going on here! Disperse immediately!" the guard commanded.

The guard started to walk back towards the opposite direction when he heard Long Bai calling.

"Wait! Officer, I don't want to sell that sword to you. According to the rules of this place, if the owner of the item is not satisfied with the price, he can decline to sell it. Kindly hand over the sword."

The guard heard this and began to laugh out loud. He can't just believe a brat said such words to him.

"What? This place's rules? Brat, I am the officer responsible for this place so I am also the law. Are you an idiot or just plain stupid? No matter, it is all the same. Fellow guards, beat this brat until he learns his lesson."

The guard ordered his companion to move and beat Long Bai. The four guards took out their weapons and pointed it at the young man. Long Bai on the other hand gave out a sigh of disappointment towards the so called peace officers. Before the guards started attacking, he carefully wrapped back the items with the cloth and left it on the side.

"Officers or not, the fact that you started it makes the consequences of this event your fault. Don't blame me for what I'll do next."

Long Bai stood straight in front of the guards and an instant, he activated his movement skill <mirage skill> and positioned himself behind the guard who holds the sword he owns. Within a fraction of a second, his right hand was already on the dominant hand of the guard that holds the sword. Long Bai's strong grip secured the hand and immediately twisted it towards the back of the guard causing the sword to be released. With his other hand, he took the sword and put it on the neck of the surprised guard. All of that happened not more than two seconds. Just after he did that, the mirage image that was left on the original spot disappeared. The people who saw Long Bai holding the sword at the guard's neck just after the image disappearance let out a shocked sound.

"What happened?"

Everyone can't just believe in what they are seeing. A sword is threatening guard's neck and the one responsible for it is a young man. In addition, they don't even know how it happened.

"I told you didn't I? Now how should I deal with you? Hm? You're resisting. Aren't you afraid that you'll cut your neck if you make a wrong move?"

"Brat! I am an officer. If you kill one in a broad daylight, you'll be making the entire city your own enemy. Ha! Go on! Let's see if you have the guts. Guards, don't mind me and just come and apprehend this man. He won't do anything stupid anyway since we are the guards of the city."

The guards who were previously being hindered by hesitation have now gained the confidence because of what their companion said. With one of the guard's signal, the four of them went to surround Long Bai who's still holding the perpetrator of this event.

"I see. You think you can just do this to me without facing any consequences? I'm starting to get tired of this kind of people, really now. How about I teach you a lesson?"

Long Bai partially released the man from his clutches but the moment the guards started their assault, an undecernable sword slash came out of nowhere and severed the right hand of the guard. The arm that was separated from the body fell heavily in the ground while blood just keeps on squirting out from it. The guard who had his arm chopped off screamed loudly while falling on the ground due to losing his balance.

"Ahhh! My arm! Kill him! Kill him!"

The guards that were supposed to attack suddenly stopped from their tracks. The horror of seeing an arm being chopped of for the first time got their nerves and made their knees weak.

"What are you doing? Kill him for me!"

The guard who had his arm chopped of keep on screaming but no one dared to make a move. The people were thinking that with such skill, how could they even make a difference when they are even weaker than the person who was made as an example? Everyone is frozen to their spots as they just helplessly watch the bloody event.

"Senior..." Long Bai interrupted his screams. "Shouldn't you be asking someone to help you instead of telling them to kill me? Ah, if only you have not threaten me with my life, this could have gone in a better way."

The man who just keep screaming started to lose his energy until he lost his consciousness. The people also started screaming from the shock which called for more attention. Not long after, the man who put a bid on the crystals came back with an old man and another pretty girl. The old man was bearing a classic atmosphere of an old senior but with an aura saying that he's someone influential. The lady on the other hand had an arrogant look that made her seem tough.

The man came closer and was a bit taken aback by the scene.

"What happened here? Can someone explain?" The man looked at the guard who's beside the bloody body.

"Y...young ma...master Hao?"

"Are you deaf? Brother Guo asked you to answer his question. Why are you Why are you replying with a question?" The lady beside him interrupted.

"Forgive this ignorant one. I'll tell. I'll tell what happened."

The guard narrated everything that he knows, starting from when they received a complaint from someone else to the part where their companion's hand was severed. Hao Guo looked at the guard intently and then when he saw that the guard seemed to be honest, he looked at Long Bai.

"I don't know how to address you, how should I call you"

"Call be just by my name Bai."

"Alright owner Bai, do you have anything against this guard's narration? Did he omit something or did he added something you don't agree with?"

"Not in particular. It's just that he forgot to tell that I warned them before this happened." Long Bai replied.

While Hao Guo was contemplating, the lady beside him started to talk with some careless words.

"Brother Guo. This man killed a peace officer of the city. This man should be punished according to the by laws set by the council. Don't you think so elder Qing?"

The old man just looked at the lady and reverted back his eyes on the youth. After that, he replied.

"Little Ya, although that is the case, it is all up to little Guo. He is right here so he needs to handle this himself. However, something feels off."

"What is it elder Qing?"

"That man looks like he is just at the core foundation layer but I feel something different about it. If he's the same cultivation as the guards, how can he do this when there are five of them?"

The lady and the young master heard the elder and immediately put their eyes on the young man in front of them. While the lady became suspicious of Long Bai, Hao Guo felt different. It was as if he met the person he was searching for a long time.