Billy swiftly ended the call, instructing the brothers, “Hold off direct clashes, stall for two minutes, I’m on my way!” He hung up and hurried toward the courtyard gate.
Scarletwind Cohen, wasting no time, declared, “Commander Gardner, count me in!” and trailed closely behind.
Meanwhile, outside the town’s east gate, Brigham Bush led a SHADOW squad assaulting a middle-aged, bearded man. The air around him hinted at his War Emperor status. Despite injuries, Brigham and his comrades stood resolute, armed with curved sabers, glaring at the intruder.
Several injured brothers lay on the ground, blood staining the dirt beneath them.
“I don’t want trouble with your SHADOW, but move, and I won’t hold back!” the bearded man warned Brigham Bush with a steely gaze.
“To pass through, ask our blades if they agree!” Brigham retorted, unwavering.
“Do you crave death?” The bearded man’s voice darkened. “If so, don’t blame me!”
In an instant, his aura surged, revealing War Emperor might.
“Die!” The bearded man roared, launching an attack.
“Inspector Bush, watch out!” The warning echoed.
A hundred Crescent Moon Sabers sliced through the air, creating a sharp, whistling symphony. The bearded man, sensing the formidable attack, hastily evaded, erecting a defensive barrier with his Chi energy.
The sabers clashed against the barrier, producing crisp sounds. Though unscathed, the bearded man was forced to step back. Yet, as the first wave subsided, a second wave of a hundred Crescent Moon Sabers followed relentlessly.
“Insolent!” The bearded man dodged and fortified his defenses. He was well aware that the news here must have reached Commander Gardner’s ears. If it dragged on any longer, he wouldn’t be able to leave!”
With a few violent gusts of wind, dozens of SHADOW guards were sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground, spitting out large mouthfuls of blood, their breath extremely weak, clearly seriously injured. Immediately after, the man with the stubble beard rushed out without any hesitation towards the gap, his speed astonishing. “Stop him, don’t let him escape!” Brigham Bush shouted loudly.
“Got it!” The crowd shouted again and chased after him.
Those with a machete in hand flipped their wrists, and the machetes flew out one after another, shooting towards the man’s back.
“Your overreached!” The stubble-bearded man spoke in a deep voice, turned around, and swept out a powerful palm wind, knocking the first wave of machetes to the ground. Then, he rushed forward again.
Just then, a blood-red blade aura slashed like lightning from the direction of the main gate, unstoppable and powerful.
“Huh?!” The stubble-bearded man felt the imminent danger behind him, and his pupils shrank suddenly. Without much thought, he quickly dodged to the side. However, with his strength, he failed to avoid Billy’s sword.
In mid-air, the blade aura flashed past his right leg knee, and a section of his lower leg fell to the ground, blood gushing out wildly.
“Ah…” The man let out a miserable scream after falling to the ground, then rolled on the ground. “Commander!” Brigham Bush and the others turned to look at the entrance, simultaneously bowing.
“Bush, let the injured brothers rest in place. We’ll check their injuries later.” After giving instructions, Billy walked towards the stubble-bearded man.
“Understood!” Brigham Bush nodded in response.
“You dare to harm SHADOW, you’ve got some nerve!” Soon, Billy approached the stubble-bearded man and spoke coldly.
“D-Don’t… don’t kill me.” The man spoke with difficulty, “I beg… I beg Commander Gardner to spare my life…”
“Do you know who he is?” Billy turned to Brigham Bush, who had caught up quickly, and asked.
“Yes, Commander, he’s called Aubrey Snyder, a S-level wanted criminal,” Brigham Bush responded. “He committed a major crime three years ago, with dozens of lives on his hands. SHADOW has been looking for him for a long time, and unexpectedly, he came to Heartbreak Valley!”
“Then cut him down!” Billy waved his hand.
“Understood!” Brigham Bush nodded again, then raised his hand to deliver a fatal blow.
“No…” Aubrey Snyder’s terrified voice echoed, “Commander Gardner, please don’t kill me. I have important information to tell you…”
“What information?” Billy paused.
“It’s directly related to you, Commander Gardner, and is very important! I… I’ll tell you, only asking Commander Gardner to spare my life…”
“Do you think you have the right to bargain?” Brigham Bush said in a cold voice, pointing Crescent Moon Saber at him. “Ten seconds for you. If you don’t speak, I’ll let you taste the feeling of being drawn and quartered!”
“If Commander Gardner doesn’t agree, I’d rather die…” Aubrey Snyder spoke again.
“Bush, sever one of his arms!” Billy interrupted him with a stern voice. Faced with a ruthless villain with dozens of lives on his hands, Billy wouldn’t let him manipulate the situation.
“Yes,” Brigham Bush responded and raised his hand to strike down.
“No!” Aubrey Snyder screamed again. Before his words could fall, the blade aura had flashed past his shoulder. Immediately, an arm rolled away from his body, blood gushing out.
“Ah…” Aubrey Snyder screamed again, intense pain distorting his face.
“Still not talking?” Brigham continued to ask.
“Sever his other leg!” Billy ordered.
“Yes!” Brigham responded with a stern voice and raised his blade to strike again.
“Don’t! I’ll talk… I’ll talk…” Aubrey Snyder screamed hysterically. After a brief pause, he spoke with difficulty. “Two days ago, I went outside for something and accidentally heard some news about Blade Sect…”
“In half a month… someone from the ancient martial arts world is planning to… attack them.”
“Huh?!” A chilling murderous intent emanated from Billy, “Who are they?”
“I… I don’t know the specific people, I just heard about it.” Aubrey Snyder responded. “They… they want to attack Blade Sect not only to subdue it, but also because of you, Commander Gardner.”
“What do you mean?” Billy frowned.