Zhen Gui Pass, a southern border city of the Jia Ma Empire.
"We are a caravan from the Miteer Family. We have already submitted the jade pass according to the rules. What do you mean by this?"
The leader of the caravan was a young woman of extraordinary elegance, with a seductive and voluptuous figure that sparked wild fantasies.
"Sorry, the Empire has issued an order. From now on, all merchant guilds are prohibited from leaving the country!"
The middle-aged man in the yellow robe and armor was named Mu Tie, the highest commander of Zhen Gui Pass.
"Senior Mu Tie, you are deliberately making things difficult for Ya Fei!"
Ya Fei bit her silver teeth, her face full of indignation. She pointed to the dozens of fully loaded horse-drawn carts behind her, "These goods must be transported to Southport within the specified time, otherwise, we will breach the contract, and our Miteer Family will face huge penalties for breach of contract."
"This has nothing to do with me. I am just following the orders of the Empire."
Mu Tie's face was expressionless, his condescending gaze carrying a hint of contempt and mockery.
"You!"
Ya Fei, skilled at reading people, quickly understood the contempt in his eyes, and her tone turned cold. "Ya Fei is speaking to you as the next head of the Miteer Family. Is Senior Mu Tie openly declaring enmity with the Miteer Family?"
"Little girl, do you know who you are talking to?"
Mu Tie's eyes narrowed, releasing a powerful aura.
"Protect the lady!"
A team of black-robed guards suddenly appeared behind Ya Fei, their combined Dou Qi actually withstanding Mu Tie's Dou Qi assault.
"Oh? So these are the hidden Shadow Guards of the Miteer Family? Impressive."
Mu Tie snorted coldly.
"This aura... could it be a Dou Emperor? How is this possible?"
Ya Fei's expression changed.
The Shadow Guards were the Miteer Family's most powerful force, cultivated over generations with great effort and expense. Their strength ranged from high-level Dou Spirit to mid-level Dou King, and they were the core strength supporting the Miteer Family's nationwide commerce.
Mu Tie was one of the elders of the Mu family, with strength around a 3-star Dou King. He hadn't made it into the top ten strongest of the Jia Ma Empire, yet this marginal figure had suddenly become a Dou Emperor, which was quite extraordinary.
"Hmph! If it were Tengshan or Ice Emperor Hai Bo Dong, perhaps this general would show some courtesy. Do you think a little girl like you is worthy of speaking to me?"
Mu Tie's eyes widened as he released even stronger Dou Qi. The Shadow Guards were forced back several steps, each of them on high alert.
Ya Fei bit her lip, her reason telling her to endure. Her expression fluctuated before returning to her usual smiling demeanor. She bowed respectfully, making a junior's salute, and said in a low voice, "Please forgive my rudeness, Senior Mu Tie. Ya Fei will have the caravan return the way it came."
Mu Tie looked at her deeply, thinking to himself: This little girl has an excellent temperament, remaining calm and composed under pressure, making it hard for me to find an excuse to trouble her.
Since there's no excuse, let's just openly rob them!
"Who allowed you to leave?"
"This general suspects that your caravan is hiding contraband. Unload everything immediately for inspection!"
"Oh, and that includes everyone's Spatial Rings!"
Mu Tie's attitude was firm, making it clear that even if there was nothing wrong, he would find something.
"How can you do this!"
"This is robbery!"
"Openly seizing the Miteer Family's goods, is the Mu family ready to tear faces with us?"
The members of the Miteer Family caravan were all outraged, ready to roll up their sleeves and fight, but they could only endure it in the face of Mu Tie and his fully armed soldiers.
"Let them inspect."
Ya Fei took a deep breath and ordered expressionlessly.
"Miss?"
The members of the Miteer Family were taken aback, looking at Ya Fei in disbelief.
Normally, Ya Fei was always smiling and easy to get along with, but when it came to the family's interests, she would argue tenaciously and staunchly defend the family's benefits. Why had she suddenly become so weak today?
"Didn't you hear what I said?"
Ya Fei glared at them, cursing inwardly: A bunch of slow-witted fools, can't you see? The Mu family is clearly provoking us, trying to incite the Miteer Family to resist so they have an excuse to act.
The group had no choice but to comply, watching helplessly as the valuable goods were completely emptied by Mu Tie's soldiers.
"The inspection will take three days," Mu Tie said coldly.
"Alright, General Mu Tie. Take your time."
"If there's nothing else, Ya Fei will take her leave."
With her hands behind her back, Ya Fei made a covert signal to the Shadow Guards behind her. They immediately understood, using Dou Qi to protect her as they slowly retreated.
"Green Wood Thorn!"
Without warning, Mu Tie attacked, shooting sharp wooden spikes from his palm towards Ya Fei!
"Bang!"
The prepared Shadow Guards simultaneously formed a Dou Qi shield, blocking Mu Tie's sudden assault.
"Mu Tie! Are you really declaring war on the Miteer Family?"
Ya Fei gritted her teeth, already preparing for the worst.
"No choice, you're too smart. So smart that this general couldn't find a proper excuse to take you down. I have to preemptively declare war on the Miteer Family!"
Mu Tie grinned menacingly.
Ya Fei's face darkened as she suddenly thought of something and coldly asked, "Is this the Mu family's decision or the Jia Ma royal family's?"
"That's why being too smart isn't a good thing!"
Mu Tie's eyes flickered, avoiding a direct answer, while his attacks became even more ferocious!
"Shadow Four, stay behind to cover us. The rest of you, escort the young lady out!"
The four Shadow Guards attacked Mu Tie with all their might.
"Your loyalty is commendable, but thinking you can stop this general with just two 1-star Dou Kings and two 8 to 9-star Dou Spirits is naive!"
Mu Tie, a 3-star Dou Emperor, unleashed his full aura, a strange red gleam flashing in his eyes.
"For the Miteer Family, let's fight him to the end!"
With the Shadow Guards' relentless and sacrificial assault, they finally escorted Ya Fei to the city gate.
"Stop them!"
The guards at Zhen Gui Pass, with strengths ranging from Dou Master to Dou Grandmaster, were numerous and each armed with military-grade Qi-breaking arrows capable of easily piercing Dou Qi Armor.
After a fierce battle, only one Shadow Guard remained by Ya Fei's side.
"Old Chen, you..."
"Run, Miss!"
Old Chen, a 4-star Dou King and the strongest among the Shadow Guards, shielded Ya Fei from a barrage of Air-breaking arrows, breaking through the encirclement. He spread his Dou Qi Wings, ready to fly over the city wall.
But then, something unexpected happened.
"Thud!"
A green wooden spike pierced through Old Chen's chest, causing Ya Fei to fall from the air, immediately entangled by a vine.
"You... you are Mu Zhan?"
Ya Fei instinctively looked up, seeing a young figure floating in the sky with green Dou Qi Wings and eyes glowing with a strange red light.
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