Chapter 1541 - 7: Pursuit

Chapter 1541: Chapter 7: Pursuit

The rain had just stopped, and the moon was still hidden behind dark clouds, making the wilderness almost pitch-black.

A splash echoed as several figures sprinted across the wilderness.

"Woof."

Leading the charge was Bubu Wang, who barked. When tracking enemies, Bubu Wang’s goofy nature was nowhere to be seen. It was identifying every scent on the grasslands, and in its own words: "The witch’s scent is very unique, like roasted coconut."

Su Xiao didn’t know what roasted coconut smelled like, but he had already picked up the witch’s trail.

Stamping down a patch of waist-high wild grass, Su Xiao spotted two claw marks in the mud, and two more not far away. Based on the distance and size of the prints, he deduced it was a creature around 3 to 5 meters long, weighing at least over 400 pounds.

Catching up to the witch named Isa in a short time was nearly impossible. Su Xiao had been held up by Joan Aissiya for at least 20 minutes. How far a witch could escape in 20 minutes was unknown, especially since she had a mount.

Bubu Wang excelled at tracking scents and could communicate with the relatively mild creatures in the grasslands. Su Xiao, on the other hand, was adept at tracking traces. When the scent was lost, he could follow Isa’s tracks until Bubu Wang could pick up the scent in the air again. As for A Mu, its specialty was... eating.

Time swiftly passed in the chase. As dawn approached, Su Xiao had left the grassland, and after another three hours of tracking, a towering city wall appeared before him.

The city gate beneath the wall was wide open, with a team of soldiers at the front. Large crossbows were set up atop the walls. As shotguns were rare resources, their production clearly couldn’t be used for city defense. Soldiers in this world mostly relied on cold weapons.

Civilians entered and exited the city gates occasionally. Although their clothing was simple, their expressions were normal, and most headed out for hunting and fishing.

Su Xiao didn’t enter the city immediately but scoured the perimeter of the city walls with Bubu Wang and A Mu. According to Bubu Wang’s investigation, Isa’s scent ended here; there was no trace of her at the edge of the wilderness. It was highly probable that the witch had entered the city.

If a witch deliberately hid her identity, ordinary soldiers would be unlikely to notice. They differed little from regular women, as long as they weren’t engaging in combat.

If the witch entered the city, the multitude of scents would obviously conceal her trail. Thinking from Isa’s perspective, she might hide in the city for a while before finding a chance to leave, completely shaking off Su Xiao.

Su Xiao approached the city gates, spotting an emblem resembling a wolf’s head on the walls, likely representing a kingdom.

Based on Su Xiao’s conjecture, if Aissiya and Isa were collaborating in slave trafficking, the surrounding kingdoms might be implicated, possibly even partners with them, profiting from the slave trade.

Considering this, Isa might even seek refuge with the city’s royal family. Regardless of Isa’s relations with the city’s lord, Su Xiao needed to enter the city.

According to Bubu Wang’s close observation, entering the city wasn’t difficult; one just needed to pay with a copper coin bearing a wolf’s head.

Su Xiao produced gold coins and iron blocks. He poured a transparent liquid on them and applied force, molding them into spheres. He segmented these low-purity gold pieces into hundreds of chunks. Gold, diamond, and grain were hard currency in this world.

In the queue before the city gates, Su Xiao didn’t bother to change his appearance. Having tracked for miles, he naturally appeared dusty and weary, resembling a traveler. Moreover, entering the city using gold particles matched the traveler persona.

Soon, Su Xiao reached the city gates. When he handed over a small piece of low-purity gold, the Captain of the Guard accepted it without changing his expression. Yet upon seeing A Mu, he blocked their path.

"Three people, entry fee is triple,"

The Guard Captain gestured toward A Mu.

Su Xiao didn’t want to waste time. He tossed another gold particle, and the Captain of the Guard caught it with a smile, indifferent to whether Su Xiao’s group seemed suspicious. This city even dared to let witches inside.

Entering the city with a dozen civilians, Su Xiao immediately noticed the difference; its streets were clean. Though trash heaps occasionally appeared by the roadside, they were within acceptable limits.

Solders patrolled the streets occasionally. This was the kind of scene a human city should exhibit.

Su Xiao’s goal wasn’t to admire this thriving city but to find the witch named Isa.

"Seems... I was correct before."

Standing on the street, Su Xiao’s gaze scanned the surroundings, his hand idly brushing the handle of Dragon Slash. The sheathed Dragon Slash was stored in his storage space. Based on his observation, at least a dozen hidden individuals were watching him. Being monitored as soon as he entered confirmed Isa’s connection with the city’s lord.

"Don’t hide; try to capture him alive."

The lazy voice came from a rooftop on a two-story building. It belonged to a man draped in bear skin with a bushy beard, exuding the aura of a wild beast.

As the man spoke, over a dozen black-clad figures emerged from hiding, donning metal head covers, surrounding Su Xiao.

Rapid footsteps followed, armor clashing as at least hundreds of soldiers sealed off surrounding streets, causing nearby civilians to hastily flee.

"Should we attack, or will you surrender willingly? Lord Lundorf and Lady Isa wish to meet you. Such an honor doesn’t need to end in bloodshed."

The bearded man on the two-story building chuckled, his demeanor rough, with a shotgun—or rather a large-caliber flintlock gun—stashed at his waist.

Su Xiao surveyed the soldiers and the bearded man. Although not weak, if fought, Su Xiao could decapitate the man in ten seconds.

One sentence from the bearded man saved his own life: ’Lord Lundorf and Lady Isa wish to meet you.’

Su Xiao had been searching for Isa worldwide without success; he wouldn’t miss such a great opportunity. Most likely, A Mu exposed their identities.

Su Xiao raised his hands, and a dozen black-clad men and women rushed forward.

Click, click...

A series of shackles clasped onto Su Xiao’s hands and feet. These shackles were black-blue. Even with brute force, Su Xiao couldn’t break free, but he could slice them open. The Sword Grandmaster title wasn’t just for show.

After Su Xiao was shackled with black-blue chains, the surrounding soldiers began to retreat.

A Mu naturally didn’t have it easy either; first tied up due to its appearance, then carried by several black-clad men.

"Quite sensible, let’s secure it."

The bearded man’s words had barely fallen when a black-clad woman beside Su Xiao drew a steel needle, its surface laced with some unknown poison.

"Pity."

Su Xiao spoke softly.

"What?"

The bearded man afar looked at Su Xiao in confusion, and in the next moment, Dragon Slash appeared in Su Xiao’s hand.

Swish!

Blood splattered, limbs flew!