Trapped Inside the Beta Test World for 1000 Years-Chapter 71

As the sky darkened once more, the outline of Astan City's walls appeared in the distance.
Ever since hearing Xia Ya's second piece of "bad news," Andrew had been deeply troubled.
He couldn't believe it was true, so he had to see it with his own eyes to be convinced.
"Is it really as serious as you say?" he asked skeptically.
"If you don't believe me, you can let your two guards try it out," Xia Ya suggested, nodding towards Andrew's guards. "Have them wear your clothes, carry the Soulbinding Grass, and try to walk through the security check."
Hearing this, Andrew thought it made some sense. He took off his coat and dressed one of the guards as a merchant, with another accompanying him.
He hadn't brought much Soulbinding Grass this time, just a full bucket of it ground into powder after drying. Considering its purity and the consumption rate of the goblins, this would be enough to get him killed a thousand times over in the Celestial Empire.
He scooped a bowlful into a cloth bag and let the guard carry it.
A traveling merchant carrying something that looked like spices was reasonable enough, as it was only addictive to goblins.
Xia Ya had told him that security checks in Astan City had become stricter, and that addictive substances like Soulbinding Grass had been added to the list of prohibited items. So, it was completely useless to him now. He couldn't even sell it to the Mushroom People, let alone ordinary people. And Astan City was separated from the goblin-inhabited Treasure Plains by the entire Elvenheim.
Watching the two guards walk further away, Andrew suddenly asked uncertainly, "They... won't get into trouble, will they?"
"You didn't believe it, so naturally nothing will happen."
"I..."
The round-faced merchant was at a loss for words.
The guards were indeed stopped at the city gate, where they negotiated and then presented their goods for inspection, bag by bag.
Andrew watched nervously from a distance, as if he were the one negotiating.
When the cloth bag containing the Soulbinding Grass powder was opened, someone said something, and the guards immediately surrounded them, causing Andrew's heart to tighten.
"No, it can't be, right?"
"Don't worry, there's more to come..."
The leading soldier asked a couple of questions, then waved his hand, having the two guards taken away. The stern expression on his face made it seem like he had just dealt with two corrupted zombies rather than merchants from Allendale.
"Now do you believe me?" Xia Ya asked.
Andrew furrowed his brow and remained silent for a while.
"I believe you... So what do you suggest we do?"
"Good that you believe," Xia Ya smiled. "You've seen me take things out of thin air, right? You know about the Chosen Ones?"
"I know, they're all in that village (Starter Village)."
Andrew's tone was complicated. He had seen those Chosen Ones, like newborn monkeys, curiously looking at this world, leaving him at a loss for words.
He had always thought Apulu Pie was one of the best among them until he met Xia Ya.
Perhaps this was what a true Chosen One was like.
"Yes, we were summoned here, so the Sacred Spirits granted us storage space that no one can inspect. I can smuggle it in for you."
Andrew hesitated for a few seconds, glanced at Apulu Pie, then at Xia Ya.
The former had summoned Skadi, which to him meant she was favored by the gods.
And the latter had survived under Skadi's hand...
"Alright!"
Andrew gritted his teeth and handed the bucket of goods to Xia Ya.
He didn't forget to set a rental contract, stingily limiting it to ten minutes.
As a devout follower of the gods, Andrew was very reluctant to borrow the power of the Seven Sacred Spirits, which was why he had been hesitant to make a decision. But now, he had no choice but to set aside his religious scruples.
With the goods in hand, Xia Ya patted him with satisfaction.
"Let's go!"
...
As they passed through the city gate, Andrew was stopped because of his distinctive northern appearance.
The perpetual ice and snow of the north reflected strong light all day, every day, so Andrew's eyes were small. Combined with his broad face and wide nose, it was hard for anyone to believe he was a local of the Lugor Kingdom.
"What do they mean, why are they stopping me before even checking?" Andrew asked Xia Ya anxiously.
"Standard security check, just a standard security check..."
Xia Ya reassured him, glancing at the officer who was quickly descending from the city gate.
Unlike typical Astanians, the officer, Macha, looked more like Andrew's relative, at least sharing the same broad nose, round face, and rosy cheeks.
Macha was also a northerner, but he was a Barbarian.
The Red Earth Prairie stretched across the entire northern part of the game map, touching both poles and lying north of the Lugor Kingdom. The Barbarians who roamed this prairie inevitably came into contact with the Allendale people who lived in the northern corner.
Though not outright enemies, both sides often looked down on each other.
So, seeing a merchant who practically had "I'm from Allendale" written on his face trying to enter the city, how could Macha let him through easily?
In fact, Astan City didn't have any real contraband checks. Andrew's guards were searched because they looked like visitors from Ice City, and upon inspecting their luggage, they found the distinctive Soulbinding Grass powder, which led to their detention.
Macha walked straight up to Andrew, who tensed up upon seeing the Barbarian features.
But remembering that the contraband was in Xia Ya's package, he relaxed a little.
Then he saw Xia Ya frantically winking at him.
What does that mean?
Andrew didn't understand, and then he heard Macha say, "These people are from Allendale. I suspect they're blasphemers. Arrest them."
"Yes, sir!"
The guards swarmed in, disarming Andrew and surrounding Xia Ya and the others.
"S-sir! There must be some mistake! Sir, I-I may be from Allendale, but I'm not a blasphemer, I'm not..."
Andrew's words were ignored by Macha.
In these times, with monsters rampant, even though the United Holy Nation's forces were constantly fighting them, they couldn't always be everywhere. So the statues of the Seven Sacred Spirits outside Astan City were often vandalized by bandits who had lost everything. They hated the world and everything in it.
Since these were unsolved cases, Macha found it convenient to pin the blame on Andrew. If Andrew had been thinking clearly, he should have quickly claimed to be from the Lugor Kingdom and offered money to smooth things over. But his mind was preoccupied with the thought of the contraband being discovered, and he was at a loss, allowing the soldiers to push him around.
Suddenly, he seemed to realize what Xia Ya had meant earlier and hurriedly canceled the contract, fearing that if they were captured and the contract expired, the contraband would automatically appear.
His action seemed to signal Xia Ya. As soon as the contract was canceled, Xia Ya began to move.
He deftly broke free from the two soldiers restraining him, and the Frost Longsword appeared in his hand, slicing upwards lightly.
Clang, clang.
The swords of the two soldiers were cut in half.
"Catch him!"
"Seize him!"
The soldiers surrounded Xia Ya.
Macha, who had started to walk away, turned back at the commotion and witnessed the scene.
The Barbarian officer didn't feel offended or challenged; instead, his eyes lit up. He casually drew a sword from a soldier's waist and strode forward.
"Everyone stand back, I'll handle this!"
The soldiers surrounding Xia Ya quickly formed a semicircle, enclosing the two of them.
Xia Ya turned to face Macha's eager eyes. Before the other could get within five meters, he raised his hand and shouted:
"Wait!"
Then, with a clang.
He threw down his sword.