Online: I Can See Health Bars Chapter 1225 - 541: Foothold

Fang Yu gripped the reins tightly, his gaze locked straight ahead as he steered the carriage.

A massive line snaked its way at Thunder City’s grand gates.

Within that line, raggedly dressed folks mingled with those flanked by guards and attendants, clearly from wealthy or noble backgrounds.

Yet, one and all, they queued up obediently, waiting their turn at the city entrance.

Fang Yu took a quick scan and saw the line actually progressed at a decent clip—the inspection guards worked swiftly—but the flood of people eager to enter Thunder City made it look barely budging.

He glanced first at Ding Hui, and with her faint nod, guided the carriage to the queue’s rear.

Skipping ahead wasn’t out of reach; Fang Yu’s present power and fortune gave him ample leverage for a bold cut-in.

But Thunder City being a sprawling metropolis, and them fresh arrivals, it was smarter for the pair to lay low and sidestep needless headaches.

Beneath the blistering sun, the endless queue crept forward bit by bit, the dragging wait stirring boredom in everyone, so as Fang Yu—this obvious outsider—pulled up at the tail, several eyes already flicked his way.

"This newcomer doesn’t seem to be doing well."

"From the carriage and cargo, it looks like small-scale trading compared to those prior caravans."

"So gutsy, venturing the wilds in these times... Oh! Here comes another squad!"

Fang Yu twisted around for a peek too, spotting a caravan closing in from afar—roughly seven or eight strong, all female.

Armed to the teeth, swords sheathed at hips and longbows slung across backs, they screamed tough customers.

[Ye Danshan: 52/500.]

[Fu Yansi: 721/1500.]

[Xue Yunting: 1681/2000.]

[...]

A closer look revealed injuries on most in the group, who subtly shielded a woman called Ye Danshan at their core.

Ye Danshan appeared ghostly pale, her wrist wrapped in a blood-soaked bandage, on the verge of crumbling any second.

Maybe sensing Thunder City’s nearness, the squad’s tense faces eased slightly, yet they hustled Ye Danshan to tack onto Fang Yu’s position, merging into the line.

Fang Yu hadn’t dwelled on it and was pulling his eyes away when a sudden ’-1!’ damage popped over Ye Danshan’s head—he jolted, then understood.

This woman’s hurt bad.

But it wasn’t his affair, so Fang Yu shrugged it off—until a figure from that rear group dashed up to him fast.

"What’s the matter?"

Fang Yu eyed the approacher coolly.

[Xue Yunting: 1681/2000.]

Injured hand notwithstanding, Xue Yunting gave a courteous fist salute to Fang Yu and inquired, "Brother, are you selling medicines?"

Eh?

Fang Yu shot a look back at Ding Hui, noting the heaps of spare herbs stacked on their carriage, even after burning through most.

He gave a small nod after a moment’s thought, and Xue Yunting’s face lit up, pressing urgently.

"Does brother have any [Condensed Smoke Grass] or [Sun Essence Pill]? We need them desperately!"

Sharp question.

Fang Yu checked Ding Hui again, but she wouldn’t even bother raising her lids.

Fine enough.

The message rang clear.

Fang Yu shook his head once more at the woman.

Not ready to quit, Xue Yunting probed further.

"What about blood-coagulating pills, hemostatics, or snake venom antidotes?"

As she spoke, her eyes swept Fang Yu’s cart—scattered wares, a seated woman—it screamed robbery aftermath, slim pickings left.

She was grasping at straws.

And with Ding Hui silent, Fang Yu kept shaking his head.

"No."

Xue Yunting’s shoulders slumped in letdown.

"I see... apologies for the intrusion."

She retreated to her crew to tend Ye Danshan, dabbing sweat, murmurs of ’miss’ and ’hang in there just longer’ drifting over, though Fang Yu tuned it out.

At Ye Danshan’s trickle of blood loss, she’d surely enter the city fine—no fatal risk.

Now, fresh arrivals swelled the queue’s end, all enduring patiently.

Just as Fang Yu neared the line’s middle... chaos erupted upfront.

"... What’s happening! What’s happening! Back off there!"

"Step forward and lose your head!"

"Foolish Underworld scum, follow orders—nab them all, let none slip away!"

The uproar exploded out of nowhere; by Fang Yu’s notice, figures were already bursting from the gates.

Indeed, fleeing outward.

Five or six wounded souls broke the guard encirclement at the gate, sprinting into the wilds.

"Escaped! They escaped!"

"Run for it, run, run! Ditch this damned hellhole!!"

"Split up and flee! Save your hides!"

"Stay out of the city! Don’t..."

Sizzle!!

The final escapee yelling warnings got his head severed clean off.

The decapitated corpse thudded down, sparking screams and pandemonium in the queue.

The other runners had scattered every which way by then.

"Captain Yi, quit dozing! Prisoners bolted outside!"

"Captain Yi, snap to it—major incident!!"

"Captain Yi, unauthorized exit from the city—give chase?"

Guards bellowed, their cries aimed at a snoring slacker with a sketchbook draped over his face, slumped in a chair, boots propped on the desk.