Ye Chui and his two companions arrived at the Coldstone Magic Guild, where they faced provocations from other guilds and mercenary groups. They engaged in a duel, winning all three battles flawlessly, teaching their opponents a lesson. The final wedding invitation was within their grasp, and it was conceivable that their Random Magic Guild would gain significant prestige in Windrock City, securing a place among the numerous magic guilds and mercenary groups. The title of a three-star guild would truly be well-deserved.
Everything was unfolding according to Ye Chui’s plan.
However, he hadn’t anticipated that the punch from his heroic spirit was so powerful that it accidentally shattered the invitation in the guild leader’s hand into pieces.
After a series of exasperated exclamations, Ye Chui approached the guild leader with a friendly smile. “Since the invitation now belongs to us but has been damaged, is it possible to request a new one?”
“That’s impossible. There’s no precedent for this,” the guild leader replied, trembling as he warily observed Ye Chui’s face. “Moreover, destroying the invitation is an insult to the lord. Let alone replacing it, if he hears about this, he’ll be furious.”
Ye Chui continued with more exasperated exclamations.
“Oh no, all that effort for nothing,” Debbie said, rushing over. She picked up the two remaining pieces of the invitation from the guild leader’s hand, turning to Ye Chui with a helpless expression. “I told you not to go overboard. These people aren’t apostles. Their strength is too weak to withstand a single punch from your Bald One.”
Ye Chui sighed, admitting his oversight.
Panal and the others looked extremely grim. Their strength was deemed too weak, a humiliating assessment from a three-star guild.
Many of them were still groaning on the floor, being helped up by trembling companions. The once elegantly decorated hall was now in ruins, with the ceiling teetering as if it might collapse at any moment. The entire building, the Coldstone Magic Guild’s stronghold built with great effort, was destroyed, causing Panal’s heart to ache.
Yet, facing the three formidable figures before him, he could only suppress his anger, his eyes instinctively showing awe.
At that moment, through a collapsed wall, a group of guards in uniform iron helmets charged in from the street. Their steps were orderly, producing a resounding march. Leading them was a tall, fat man in his twenties, his armour adorned with extra patterns indicating he was no ordinary guard.
“What happened here? Mr. Panal, you sent for me saying someone was causing trouble. What exactly occurred?” the fat guard asked, agilely navigating the rubble, his small eyes vigilantly scanning the crowd before questioning Panal.
At his words, Panal’s body trembled violently, nearly collapsing to his knees.
Indeed, he had summoned this fat guard.
After Debbie’s summoned heroic spirit defeated Gastin, Panal had sent for the guards, hoping Windrock City’s forces would arrest Ye Chui and his companions for causing trouble. As outsiders, their three-star guild’s reputation, though somewhat respected, couldn’t rival the guards. Local forces often held hostility toward foreign guilds. Panal planned to use connections to detain them for a month or two, ensuring they couldn’t compete for the invitation.
His challenge to Ye Chui for a third match was merely to buy time.
But he hadn’t expected Ye Chui’s strength to exceed his imagination, nor that the invitation would be destroyed. Now, he had no desire to provoke Ye Chui further. The fat guard’s arrival filled him with fear, his face paling as he looked at Ye Chui.
Ye Chui paused, sneering at Panal. “Oh, so you called them.”
“It’s a misunderstanding, Mr. Ye Chui, a misunderstanding,” Panal said hastily, forcing a smile laced with awe.
“Misunderstanding?” The fat guard, displeased, raised his double chin, looking at Panal. “Mr. Panal, I’m Godo, captain of the third guard squad. I’m busy, and you called me to arrest someone, yet now you say it’s a misunderstanding?” He surveyed the chaotic surroundings, frowning. “With my keen judgment, I can tell something significant just happened here.”
“Isn’t that obvious?” Debbie blurted out, still toying with the two invitation fragments in her hand.
Godo’s eyes immediately locked onto Debbie, quickly noticing the invitation fragments. His brows furrowed as he realised the situation was complex. “Young lady, I recognise the pattern on those pieces. Only the lord uses it. Those look like Miss Windsor’s wedding invitation fragments, don’t they?”
Debbie froze, quickly hiding the pieces. “You’re mistaken. There are no invitation fragments.”
Godo sneered, scanning the crowd and sniffing the air dramatically before adopting an expression of having uncovered the truth. Spotting the guild leader nearby, he said, “I recall the final wedding invitation was entrusted to you, to be awarded to the Coldstone Magic Guild, the Scorchwood Mercenary Group, or other two-star guilds and mercenaries. Since you’re all here, you must be fighting over that last invitation, right?”
“Yes, we were discussing the ownership of the final invitation,” the guild leader confirmed.
“Exactly as I thought,” Godo nodded, eyeing Ye Chui and his companions warily.
“Captain Godo, what have you deduced?” a guard asked quietly, approaching him.
“I’ve figured out what happened. Panal and the others were negotiating the invitation’s ownership, likely during a banquet with a cheerful atmosphere,” Godo said, taking a deep breath. “Smell that? There’s still the scent of roasted pork from the banquet, spicy too, just my taste.”
Ye Chui, Debbie, Green, and Jirga exchanged bewildered glances. That was the smell of burning pig fat, not a banquet.
Godo’s chubby face briefly showed delight, but he quickly grew serious. “However, this pleasant atmosphere was disrupted by these intruders, here for the last invitation. Panal secretly called me, but he didn’t expect their overwhelming strength and recklessness. They demolished this place to seize the invitation and, in their frustration, destroyed it.”
The guard immediately flattered him. “Captain Godo, your reasoning is flawless. This must be the truth.”
“Actually, you’re wrong,” Ye Chui said, sweating, trying to explain to Godo.
“No need to justify your barbaric actions. I’m Godo, trained to be infallible. Causing chaos in Windrock City and destroying the lord’s daughter’s wedding invitation is a serious crime. I’m arresting you now,” Godo declared righteously, waving his chubby hand to order his men to apprehend them.
“Mr. Godo, that’s not what happened,” Panal interjected urgently, desperate not to offend Ye Chui further.
“Panal, say no more,” Godo interrupted. “I know you’re scared of their retaliation, but rest assured, with me here, I’ll ensure your safety. It’s my duty as captain of the third guard squad.”
With a clanging sound, the guards swiftly entered the hall, attempting to surround Ye Chui and his companions.
“Mr. Godo, they didn’t come to steal the invitation,” the guild leader also pleaded.
But Godo remained resolute. “Hmph, regardless of the truth, I’ll take them in for questioning.”
“Hey, fatso, are you being reasonable?” Debbie demanded angrily.
“You lot, stop trying to argue. I’ll lock you up for ten days or so, and we’ll see if you’re still defiant,” Godo said righteously. “Don’t resist our lawful enforcement, or you’ll be wanted by Windrock City’s guard force.”
“President, what do we do?” Green asked Ye Chui, worried.
“We can’t get caught. We don’t have time to waste ten days,” Ye Chui replied, stunned by the absurdity of this guard captain’s intellect.
Their actions were entirely legal, but explaining that to this fat guard now seemed impossible. If they were jailed, Panal might turn against them, claiming they were here to steal the invitation, especially since Ye Chui had indeed damaged it. After a moment’s hesitation, Ye Chui made a decision, subtly winking at Jirga.
Jirga nodded slightly, understanding. The golden female swordsman swiftly drew her sword, positioning herself in front of several guards.
Ye Chui cast the [Windwalk] spell, grabbing Debbie with one hand and Green with the other, rushing toward the guild’s entrance like the wind. He pushed the door, only to find it was just a frame, the surrounding walls having collapsed.
“They’re escaping. Stop them!” Godo shouted, startled, drawing his sword to intercept. But a flash of golden light appeared as Jirga blocked him, sending his bulky figure tumbling back with a thud.
As Godo scrambled to his feet, he saw Ye Chui and his companions leap onto a carriage parked by the road.
The golden female swordsman stood firm, sword in hand, blocking their path.
“Sorry, until Miss Debbie is safely away, no one moves,” Jirga said coldly, her body radiating sharp golden sword energy.
Feeling her aura, everyone froze in place.
Minutes later, when Debbie was far enough away, beyond the summoning range, Jirga sheathed her golden sword and vanished in a burst of golden light.
Godo took a deep breath, his chubby face contorted with anger. “Chase them. Don’t let them escape!”
Despite his questionable intellect, the fat guard’s sense of duty was undeniable.
…
On the wide streets of Windrock City.
“Check out my new carriage. The wheels are made of fine steel, with bearings packed with steel balls, the latest technology for faster travel. This carriage cost me hundreds of gold coins,” a richly dressed young noble boasted to his companions.
Though a magical world, some aspects mirrored Ye Chui’s own, with nobles sharing a deep passion for luxurious carriages, competing over prized horses, magical beasts, and extravagant vehicles.
“This carriage must be fast, right?” someone asked enviously.
“Of course. My carriage, pulled by just three horses, matches the speed of a typical five-horse carriage,” the noble replied proudly.
But at that moment, a commotion of startled cries and rearing horses echoed from afar. They turned, shocked to see a bizarre carriage speeding toward them. It was strange because it was moving backwards, with the front at the rear and the tail leading. Three illusory blue horses, conjured from light, pulled the carriage’s rear, while a strangely dressed bald figure stood atop it.
Behind the carriage, two horses were being dragged along, struggling to keep up.
In a flash, the odd carriage sped past the noble, the gust of wind forcing him to squint.
“What’s with that carriage? It’s faster than mine!” he exclaimed.
Inside the backwards-moving carriage were Ye Chui, Green, and Debbie. After fleeing the Coldstone Magic Guild, they jumped into their carriage, leading to this high-speed chase. Their carriage was hitched to two horses, but with no time to untie them, Ye Chui summoned his Bald Two heroic spirit to pull the carriage backwards at a frantic pace, leaving the two horses struggling behind.
About half an hour later, the carriage, driven by the heroic spirit Don Boss, reached a desolate area in Windrock City’s east district. A ditch lay ahead, and no one was around. When the carriage stopped and Don Boss vanished, it collapsed with a crash, the two horses collapsing exhausted, panting heavily. Ye Chui, Debbie, and Green lay by the ditch, catching their breath and retching.
“What a miscalculation, ugh. I didn’t expect this. We’re probably, ugh, wanted now,” Ye Chui said.
“The invitation, ugh, is useless now. To sneak into the wedding, ugh, we’ll have to go through the kitchen,” Debbie added.
“President, ugh, are you really going to compete, ugh, as a chef?” Green asked.
“Yep, looks like, ugh, it’s time for Stephen Chow to make an appearance,” Ye Chui replied.
