The six Wolf Guards all narrowed their eyes slightly. One of them squatted down, pinched a bit, and examined it:

"It's salt, no need to panic."

Henry Carter's expression changed imperceptibly. With his hands behind his back, he looked around:

"Seize him."

"Yes, sir!"

Two skilled Imperial Guards immediately stepped forward with their blades, while the others moved in from the sides with lassos, fishing nets, and the like.

Edward Clark frowned slightly, planted his longsword on the ground, rested both hands on the hilt, and looked at Henry Carter behind the crowd:

"Aren't you going to ask where this salt came from before you act?"

"It's just a restaurant, just a bag of salt—what's so strange about that? Seize him. If he dares resist, kill him without mercy."

With a wave of Henry Carter's large hand, the Imperial Guards pressed in with their blades.

Edward Clark nodded, leaned his sword against a corridor pillar, and walked down the steps empty-handed.

Seeing this, the Imperial Guards breathed a sigh of relief and were about to put down their blades to tie him up, but the Wolf Guards from the Tianzi Battalion at the back suddenly looked alarmed:

"Careful—"

Before the words were finished.

Edward Clark's white robe fluttered as he pounced like a leopard, taking a big stride to reach the two Imperial Guards. His elbows suddenly powered up, smashing into the fish-scale armor at their waists.

Bang—

The armor plates shattered.

The two Imperial Guards had no time to react before they were sent flying, crashing into their companions behind them.

The three Wolf Guards from the Tianzi Battalion immediately tensed as if facing a formidable enemy. Weapons in hand, they stepped forward to replace the Imperial Guards who couldn't fight.

The three Wolf Guards flanked him from both sides—shield and saber, hook-sickle spear, and wild goose-feather saber—cooperating seamlessly as they pressed in.

After knocking back the two men, Edward Clark didn't stop. He bent his legs and stomped hard, propelling himself forward.

Bang—

A knee strike landed squarely on the round shield.

The Wolf Guard with the shield and saber didn't have time to slash before the shield was rammed into his chest. He grunted, staggered back, and only managed to stop himself by bracing his saber against the ground.

The Wolf Guard with the spear seized the chance to thrust straight at the center, but Edward Clark grabbed the spear shaft with one hand, making it impossible to advance.

The spearman tried to pull back, but unexpectedly, a great force yanked him forward, man and spear together, followed by a ferocious "Mountain Lean" strike to the chest.

The Bajiquan killing move "Mountain Lean" is famous for its tremendous power—those hit are either dead or crippled.

Caught off guard, the spearman was sent flying more than twenty feet like a sandbag, crashing through the window of a brothel, causing screams inside.

Edward Clark seized the spear, used it to flick aside the wild goose-feather saber, and pointed the tip at the last Wolf Guard's throat.

The spear tip stopped abruptly.

The Wolf Guard holding the wild goose-feather saber turned pale, frozen with his saber raised.

He had expected this bandit's martial skills to be impressive, but not to this extent.

The Wolf Guards of the Tianzi Battalion were the best of the best—ordinary martial artists couldn't escape a three-man encirclement.

Yet this white-robed young man fought them barehanded. If he had a weapon, the three would probably be dead already.

His martial prowess was simply unbelievable!

The Wolf Guard glanced down at the spear tip at his throat, cautiously stepped back, put down his saber, and retreated to the side:

"Impressive skills."

The Wolf Guards of the Tianzi Battalion were wiped out in the blink of an eye. The others, needless to say, retreated cautiously.

Henry Carter was on high alert.

Edward Clark planted the hook-sickle spear in the ground, his gaze calm, and tilted his head to point at the ground:

"There's a warehouse of illicit salt in the back. Take your men and seal it up."

Henry Carter's face darkened slightly. He frowned at Edward Clark, his grip on his saber tightening and loosening.

The three Wolf Guards from the Tianzi Battalion frowned at this—selling illicit salt was a serious crime, and a whole warehouse of it...

The Wolf Guards exchanged glances, and one headed into the restaurant.

Seeing this, Henry Carter's eyes darkened and he spoke urgently:

"He's trying to escape—don't fall for it..."

Slap—

Before he could finish, a loud slap landed on Henry Carter's face.

Henry Carter instinctively reached for his saber, but Edward Clark kicked the hilt, sending the official saber flying and pinning it into the courtyard wall behind.

The slap sent Henry Carter staggering, his jade hairpin flying off and his long hair tumbling down.

The Imperial Guards were stunned, wanting to rush forward to help but not daring to throw their lives away.

A conspicuous handprint appeared on Henry Carter's face, his eyes blazing with fury. He threw a punch, but Edward Clark caught his wrist and slapped him again.

Henry Carter spat out a mouthful of blood, his face livid, glaring at the man before him:

"How dare you hit me! Do you know who my father is? My father—"

Edward Clark slapped him again:

"Do you know who my father is?"

After three slaps, Henry Carter's cheeks were swollen, his eyes bloodshot, breathing rapid. He stared at Edward Clark, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, but forced himself to swallow his words, not daring to speak again.

The Wolf Guards and Imperial Guards surrounded them, at a loss—now that their commander was captured, they couldn't threaten, only encircle.

The standoff lasted a moment.

Footsteps echoed in the alley. Henry Carter turned his head to see his father, the Capital Assistant Commandant Charles Carter, arriving with many Imperial Guards armed with bows and crossbows.

Henry Carter breathed a little easier, a hint of arrogance in his eyes, and said coldly:

"You've got some nerve—"

Slap—