Heartless

It was clear that this hunting party consisted of seasoned veterans. Whether treating wounds or dissecting demon beasts, they displayed experience in every aspect.

Moreover, they were not overly saddened by their companions' deaths. Calmly, they placed the bodies one by one into specialized Storage Cards.

Perhaps they had not known one another for very long.

Or perhaps they had already grown accustomed to life and death.

Under the blades' careful work, the Jade Bone Beast's bones were extracted one by one. Ignoring the blood and flesh clinging to them, the bones themselves looked like exquisite jade carvings.

Fan Lang was drawn in by the dissector's technique and watched for a while.

Qiu Shuiqing, the younger of the Qiu Sisters, noticed this. Mistaking Fan Lang for someone coveting those precious jade bones, she curled her lips and let out a strange, mocking laugh.

Qiu Shuiqing walked over to the extracted jade bones, bent down to pick up one of moderate size, then went to Fan Lang and casually tossed it onto the ground, as if tossing a bone to a stray dog.

"I can see it now. You weren't here to help at all. You just wanted a share of the spoils. That battle mainly relied on the Silver Moon Merchant Guild. You two barely did anything. Take this jade bone as your payment and leave. Don't think it's too little; this is already more than enough." Qiu Shuiqing's tone was icy, without the slightest gratitude and even carrying a hint of contempt.

Fan Lang froze at first, then understood what she meant. Fury immediately surged through him!

He had helped them out of kindness, only to be treated as a greedy little man. It would have been one thing if they had not appreciated it, but she had even said something so hurtful!

He truly was greedy by nature, but this time he had acted purely to save people. He had never considered taking a share of those jade bones. Besides, with his standards, he had not cared about them in the first place.

Qiu Shuiqing's words were utterly disgusting. Fan Lang's mood plummeted, and his expression instantly turned cold.

"You truly judge a gentleman by a petty mind. In your eyes, these jade bones are all treasures. In mine, they're no different from roadside stones," Fan Lang said coldly.

"Hehe, if you really look down on these jade bones, then don't take even a single piece. That would prove your words are true." Qiu Shuiqing deliberately provoked him, hoping Fan Lang would leave empty-handed so they could save themselves some money.

"Only dogs pick up bones that have fallen to the ground. You really underestimate me. There's a saying: dogs look down on people. I suggest you stop looking down on others like that."

"How dare you! You actually called me a dog! I'm a core member of the Silver Moon Merchant Guild. Don't think that helping us a little gives you the right to act so recklessly. You'd better watch your mouth!"

Qiu Shuiqing's willow brows shot up as she sternly rebuked him. The atmosphere between the two sides grew increasingly tense.

Fan Lang had originally helped them out of goodwill, yet things had developed to this point.

The people from the Silver Moon Merchant Guild stopped what they were doing and turned their attention toward Fan Lang and Li Yunyan. Their gazes were filled with wariness, clearly afraid that Fan Lang would attack and hurt someone.

It seemed Qiu Shuiqing was not the only heartless one. The rest of them were not much better.

Clang, clang.

The two sounds of metal scraping against metal tore through the stillness of the night. They came from the twin blades in Li Yunyan's hands.

Hostility shone in the gazes directed at them. Having fought countless battles, Li Yunyan instinctively drew her blades and prepared for combat.

Fan Lang was so enraged that he laughed instead, his laughter carrying a touch of madness. "I'm such a fucking idiot. I actually helped you people. Help a dog, and it might wag its tail. Help you people, and you turn around and bite me instead. Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. Are you planning to swarm us next and fight the two of us to the death? Come on, then. Don't hold back. My hands have been itching for a fight!"

Fan Lang abruptly rose to his feet and gripped the Flame Blaze Sword. If anyone from the Silver Moon Merchant Guild dared to make a move, he would begin a slaughter and kill every last one of these heartless people!

The conflict grew increasingly heated. At the critical moment, the elder Qiu sister hurriedly stepped forward to mediate. She was more tactful than her younger sister, and at least understood how to deal with people.

"Shuiqing, shut your mouth and say less! They helped us out of sincere goodwill. How can you maliciously speculate about their intentions?" Qiu Shuihan said sharply.

Qiu Shuiqing snorted and turned away. She did not argue with her sister, but neither did she show the slightest remorse.

Qiu Shuihan walked up to Fan Lang and apologized, "Perhaps my sister's mood is poor because several of our companions died. Her words just now offended you both. Let me apologize on her behalf. Please don't take it to heart."

"A slap followed by a sweet date? Hehe, it's too late for that now." Fan Lang's mood did not improve. He was not some child who could be led around by the nose.

"Please don't be angry, you two. On behalf of the Silver Moon Merchant Guild, I apologize to you. If there are any conditions that would ease your anger, feel free to name them."

"Those who follow different paths cannot work together. I can't be bothered wasting words on you, and I don't care for your scraps. Let's each go our own way."

Fan Lang lowered the Flame Blaze Sword and gave Li Yunyan a look. The two left triumphantly, no longer paying any attention to the people of the Silver Moon Merchant Guild.

After Fan Lang and Li Yunyan had gone far away, Qiu Shuihan lectured her younger sister for a while.

Qiu Shuiqing did not care in the slightest. She even said happily, "It's good that they left. Now there are two fewer people to split the benefits with us. The remaining jade bones are all ours. We won't have to give them even one."

"One must not be too greedy. Sometimes, too much greed makes you lose more than you gain," Qiu Shuihan said with a stern face.

"Enough already. You just keep going on and on." Qiu Shuiqing suddenly turned around, too impatient to listen to her sister's nagging any longer.

Qiu Shuihan shook her head, completely helpless when it came to her unreasonable younger sister.

The place where they had set up their tent remained the same and had not been disturbed by demon beasts. The bonfire on the ground blazed fiercely, illuminating the surrounding area.

Fan Lang returned with a belly full of anger and barely spoke along the way. Several times, he nearly decided to go back and kill them.

If Qiu Shuihan had not said a few words of apology, Fan Lang might not have been able to suppress his anger earlier.

"Fuck, if I'd known, I never would've helped those people. The Jade Bone Beast should've killed them. Would I care about a few lousy bones?" Fan Lang said furiously.

"Should we go back and teach them a lesson?" Li Yunyan asked coldly.

"Forget it. That Qiu Shuihan at least said a few decent words. I'm not some Great Devil who kills people over a disagreement." Fan Lang shook his head.

"Then forget about them."

"Yeah. Go back to sleep. I'll sleep after a while."

Li Yunyan crawled into the tent, while Fan Lang continued keeping watch, pretending nothing had happened.

At dawn the next day, the two set out again in search of demon beasts and demons. Along the way, they fought through thorns and brambles, killing several demon beasts and a few Earth Demon Claws, earning quite a lot of Experience Points.

Halfway through the journey, Fan Lang suddenly discovered a strange set of footprints. He stopped and lowered his head to inspect them.

The footprints were enormous, each thirty centimeters wide, and their shape was highly unusual.

"These are demon footprints. I've finally found my target!" Fan Lang's eyes gleamed.