The Cheng family guards arrived one after another, lining up in squads.
When the beastmen behind them finished dealing with the ferocious beasts and caught up, they saw the orderly Cheng family guards.
Seeing this, those beastmen immediately turned to flee but were surrounded by Cheng Li's men.
Cheng Li stepped forward and said, "Capture them alive and take them back."
"Yes," the beastmen acknowledged the order and closed in on those beastmen.
Although the Cheng family guards weren't as formidable as those beastmen, they had an overwhelming advantage in numbers. In no time, the beastmen, tired from resisting, were captured.
Cheng Li, seeing the situation was under control, said, "I'll send someone to take you back first. I need to go assist the city lord."
"What's wrong with the city lord? What... happened in the city?" Cheng Bai asked.
Wang Jin was startled, only now noticing that everyone present looked very solemn.
Had something major happened in the city?
Cheng Li said, "The Zhao family has rebelled."
"What?!" Cheng Bai was shocked. Wang Jin was also somewhat surprised.
Xi Ning had just told him about planning to reclaim the Zhao family's authority, and now they rebelled just like that?
Could it be that the Zhao family found out about Xi Ning's plans and struck first?
But if Xi Ning was confident he could ensure Zhao Yu's removal from his position, he should have been fully prepared to prevent Zhao Yu from causing trouble, right?
"Originally, Zhao Yu and his men weren't much of a concern, but I brought beastmen out here, so I need to hurry back." Perhaps sensing Wang Jin's confusion, Cheng Li explained.
Wang Jin then understood and said, "Then Brother Cheng, you should go quickly."
"Wait until I've sent you to a safe place first," Cheng Li said.
Cheng Bai was silent for a moment and then said, "Elder Brother, I'll go with the little delicate one."
Cheng Li was about to refuse when Cheng Bai said, "Right now, besides by the city lord's side and yours, nowhere in the city is safe."
Cheng Li paused, seemingly finding this reasonable. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Then don't participate in the fighting later. Just protect the young master."
Cheng Li took out a porcelain bottle from his robe and gave it to Cheng Bai. Cheng Bai poured out and swallowed two pills, replying, "Understood."
With that, he transformed into a white fox and said to Wang Jin, "Little delicate one, get on."
Wang Jin was taken aback. "Can you still run?"
"Of course," Cheng Bai said. "I'm a beastman. I'm much stronger than you."
Even when trying to do something good, this man still couldn't resist getting a dig in. Really...
How could there be such an annoying person?
Wang Jin pursed his lips but didn't hesitate further, nimbly climbing onto Cheng Bai's back.
Following the crowd all the way to Xi Ning's residence, they found the place in complete disarray, with dead bodies littering the ground.
Cheng Li and the others grew more and more alarmed the more they saw. Finally finding one survivor, that person said Xi Ning had gone to the elders' residence.
The group hurried non-stop towards the elders' residence. Upon arrival, they saw Xi Ning with his few remaining guards and some ferocious beasts firmly guarding the elders' courtyard, while the perimeter was full of Zhao Yu's guards.
Cheng Li instantly ordered his men to charge forward. With their arrival, Xi Ning and his remaining forces gained a brief moment to catch their breath. The two sides stood facing each other in a tense, temporary standoff.
Cheng Li quickly scanned the opposing forces, frowned, and moved closer to Xi Ning to ask, "City Lord, why are some outsider beastmen here as well? Where is Pan Yue?"
Xi Ning's expression appeared very grim. "Captured."
Cheng Li was stunned, then saw Zhao Qi step forward from behind and explain in a low voice, "Brother Cheng, Zhao Yu and his brother used Pan Shulin as bait to trap Pan Yue. Pan Yue was captured. The Pan family beastman guards were almost all killed. The outsider beastmen from Keyuan Residence are in collusion with Zhao Yu and his men. Now they've joined forces to force the city lord to abdicate."
Cheng Li’s brow was deeply furrowed, his face as dark as the bottom of a pot.
Wang Jin looked around everywhere and stepped forward to ask, "Where is Brother Heng?"
Everyone was taken aback. Zhao Qi said with a bitter smile, "Your Brother Heng, how would we know?"
Wang Jin's heart was in a panic. That man had said he was going to Keyuan Residence to find an old friend... But if the people from Keyuan Residence were all gathered here now, then where was he? Was he safe?
Wang Jin desperately wanted to rush off and search for him immediately, but he also understood that now was not the time to cause a distraction. So he swallowed his anxiety and forced himself to stay silent.
At that moment, Zhao Yu stepped forward. Looking at the people gathered in the courtyard, he showed contempt. "What? City Lord, you plan to use these people to stop us? Aren't you looking down on us a bit too much?"
Xi Ning remained silent, his expression dark.
Pan Yue, tied up and bound, was brought before Xi Ning by Zhao Yu's men. The man was covered in wounds, his face so swollen it was barely recognizable as Pan Yue. Seeing this, everyone's expressions turned cold, and Xi Ning clenched his knuckles tightly.
Seeing Xi Ning, Pan Yue's face was full of guilt, and he was even more furious at Zhao Yu and Zhao Shan: "Despicable villains! Have the guts to fight a fair match! You actually used Pan Shulin against me, against the Pan family guards! Shameless! If the Pan family guards were still here, you'd already be stray dogs with no home to return to!"
"Too bad the Pan family beastman guards are all dead. Now you are the stray dog with no home to return to!" Zhao Shan coldly mocked.
Pan Yue's eyes reddened with anger. Struggling, he lunged at Zhao Shan: "Despicable! Shameless!"
Zhao Shan frowned and slapped him backhandedly: "I advise you to talk less, or I'll kill you!"
Pan Shulin, mixed in with the crowd, hurried forward and said, "You promised. My brother and the others are for me to deal with."
Hearing this, Zhao Shan gave Pan Shulin a faint glance, his eyes filled with extreme disdain. "You're in no position to set conditions."
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