It wasn't until the situation at the city gates escalated to an unmanageable level that the stationed guards of the Floating City bothered to descend.
Compared to the Floating City, the area below was like a slum. Those who had stayed in the city for a long time, even the lowliest of soldiers, considered themselves citizens of the upper city, and none were willing to venture into the impoverished lower districts to stir up trouble.
"What a bother."
"We were just drinking up in the city, and they're already causing us trouble."
The Black Radiance realm cultivator from the upper city cursed inwardly, feeling wronged that this troublesome affair had fallen upon him. By rights, his workday should have been over by now. He was only here because of orders from above. While the others remained in the city enjoying themselves, these thankless, difficult tasks fell to those like them at the lower ranks. Yet, they didn't dare refuse and could only agree with a plastered smile.
"It's him!"
"It's definitely him!"
The guards below continued to shout incessantly. Hearing their clamor, the Black Radiance realm cultivator, who had come from the upper city with extreme reluctance, felt an overwhelming sense of irritation.
"Stop shouting!"
Overwhelmed by annoyance, the Black Radiance realm cultivator narrowed his eyes and rebuked them sternly.
Instantly—
The guards below quickly shut their mouths.
"What exactly happened?" the Black Radiance realm expert frowned. Before the guards could speak, those who had suffered losses began to crowd around. "Sir, you must deliver justice for us."
The commoners and merchants who had come to the Floating City to conduct business wept and recounted their grievances. The personnel from the upper city patiently listened to their pleas.
"Everyone, the staff of the Floating City also have their work and rest hours. You can't expect them to be on duty 24 hours a day after their work time is over, can you?"
"While your tickets cannot be refunded, why not return tomorrow when the relevant specialist is on duty?"
"We can't wait that long!" A burly merchant stepped out from the crowd and retorted, "I must close this deal tonight. First thing tomorrow morning, I have to head to Linhua City to discuss other matters. If you delay this, how am I supposed to do business?"
"You're right!"
The crowd continued to clamor, and a woman with narrow eyes chimed in.
"You think this is just about the tickets? Your guards below just drew their swords on us and physically assaulted us. Is this the attitude of public officials? Are these the people we raise taxes for year after year? To put it bluntly, even if I raised a dog, after feeding it for so long, it would wag its tail when it sees me."
"How dare you speak like that?" the Black Radiance realm cultivator frowned.
"The words are harsh, but the principle is sound," voices from the crowd echoed. "You had better resolve this matter for us. If you can't, we certainly won't let it go. We don't believe that in this vast Tartarus Kingdom, there isn't any law!"
The Black Radiance realm cultivator listened, his brows furrowed, and his anger growing. He knew coming here would be troublesome; if it were simple, the higher-ups wouldn't have sent them, the cannon fodder, to resolve it. By solving the problem and gaining the people's affection, they would build their image. No one would pass up such a favorable opportunity.
After a long period of contemplation, the Black Radiance realm cultivator's attendant, with a tight frown, thought of the guards who had been shouting earlier. He walked up and lowered his voice.
"You were shouting earlier, saying who was inciting the people?"
Kill the chicken to scare the monkeys! They were all taxpayers of the kingdom. No matter what dirty business they conducted in private, their public image had to be positive. Taxpayers had their legitimate demands, and they couldn't be arbitrarily arrested. But— they absolutely could not let them continue this unreasonable fuss. They needed to instill some deterrence. Arresting the instigator would make the taxpayers more compliant.
"It's him!" The guard below perked up instantly, pointing an accusing finger at Chen Yu and shouting angrily, "It's this kid who's been causing trouble. If it weren't for him, things wouldn't have escalated to this point."
"They're looking at you."
The little devil nudged him slightly. Chen Yu smiled faintly and nodded.
"Indeed, they are looking at me. They probably want to make an example of me, to shake the trees to make the monkeys jump, and to quiet down those causing trouble."
"Then why are you so calm?"
Seeing Chen Yu's composed demeanor, the little devil smiled faintly.
"We're in the Tartarus Kingdom, and the undercurrents run deep. Perhaps these people were dispatched by the royal family. Once you're arrested and thrown into the Tartarus Kingdom's prison, the situation will be reversed, and the royal family will become the ones in charge."
"Hiss!"
Hearing the little devil's whisper, Chen Yu raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Not bad. It seems that by following me, Sister Ba has improved quite a bit. You can think so deeply about things. Not bad."
"Get lost!"
The little devil glared at Chen Yu with annoyance, but Chen Yu grinned cheerfully.
"It's true that things are as you say, and your thinking is correct. But, do you believe me? When those people come to me later, they won't arrest me. Instead, they'll slap that guard and bow to me with a fawning greeting."
"You're shameless," the little devil pouted.
Even though she said that, having been with Chen Yu for a while, the little devil understood his temperament to some extent. He wasn't the type to speak without basis. Since he could say such a thing, he must have confidence. The question was— why would the guards of the Floating City be polite to him? Could it be that he had already grasped the royal family's attitude and intentions towards him, and was so brazen because he was certain that the Tartarus Kingdom's royal family wouldn't dare to cross him? That shouldn't be the case! After all, the Tartarus Kingdom was a kingdom. No matter how dire the kingdom's situation, it wouldn't easily bow down to Chen Yu. If they bowed down now, it would be difficult to stand tall again. The royal family of the Tartarus Kingdom would at least conduct some preliminary tests on Chen Yu, roughly gauging the strength of the forces behind him before making further decisions.
The little devil, her brows tightly knit, glanced at Chen Yu, who was full of confidence. Then, her gaze shifted to the guards walking towards them. The guard beside the Black Radiance realm expert, puffing out his chest and displaying his arrogance to the fullest, strode up to Chen Yu with raised eyebrows, looking down at him contemptuously.
"Kid, you're in for it."
From the very beginning, this guard had taken a dislike to Chen Yu. Among so many people, Chen Yu had caused the most trouble, one thing after another, and had even incited others to cause trouble for them. Now, with the adults from the upper city here, this brat was surely going to face prison.
"Oh really?"
Chen Yu, however, looked at the guard with a smile and then gestured towards the Black Radiance realm cultivator beside him.
"Are you sure it's me who's in for it? Look at the expression on the face of the adult next to you?"
"If it's not you who's suffering, then who else could it be?" The guard below sneered. Just as he was about to turn sideways to curry favor with the Black Radiance realm expert, before he could even see the adult's face clearly, his own face was met with a resounding slap. The immense force sent him flying, his ears ringing.