Opportunity

"Ding-dong!"

"Master, aren't you going to go over and greet her?" the system suddenly asked.

"Better not." Xiao Han paused. He did not act impulsively and make the same mistake he had made with Yao Lao.

In front of Yao Lao, Xiao Han had displayed an unbelievably prescient understanding, seeming to know everything about Yao Lao. It was precisely because of this that Xiao Han's attempt to win him over had failed.

Sometimes, when one person knew too much about another—perhaps even better than they knew themselves—it instead stirred fear in their hearts. Out of self-preservation, they could even become hostile in the end.

This was an important reason why Xiao Han had failed to win over Yao Lao in the Back Mountain of the Xiao Clan. If Xiao Han had taken a gradual approach from the beginning, perhaps he might truly have succeeded in winning Yao Lao over.

The same was true of Little Fairy Doctor now.

Little Fairy Doctor was currently only a physician at Ten Thousand Medicines Hall, yet she seemed to have already learned of her Woeful Poison Body constitution. If Xiao Han rashly went up to strike up a conversation with her, there was a ninety-percent chance that Yao Lao's incident would repeat itself. He would provoke Little Fairy Doctor's hostility and ultimately lose more than he gained. That was not what Xiao Han wanted.

Knowing the storyline of Battle Through the Heavens well, Xiao Han naturally knew that Little Fairy Doctor would make an excellent friend—the kind who would take a blade to the ribs for you and become a life-and-death comrade.

While Xiao Han was talking with the system, Little Fairy Doctor had already passed the doorway. Her gaze swept over Xiao Han's face without lingering at all. Only the faint fragrance lingering in the air proved that a uniquely gifted person had just walked past Xiao Han's side.

After leaving Ten Thousand Medicines Hall, Xiao Han rented a room at an upscale inn.

Although he was now bound to the Top-Up System, Xiao Han still wanted to treat himself a little better.

The next day, Xiao Han rose early. After washing up and eating, he arrived at the entrance of Ten Thousand Medicines Hall bright and early. There were only two ways to get close to Little Fairy Doctor: first, wait for Ten Thousand Medicines Hall to enter the Demon Beast Forest to gather herbs; second, get injured and hope Little Fairy Doctor happened to pass by.

Of the two methods, Xiao Han naturally chose the former.

Although Ten Thousand Medicines Hall had quite a reputation in Green Mountain Town, Monster Beast Mountain Range was filled with demon beasts and dangers at every turn. Unless one was exceptionally capable, everyone traveled in groups.

The little town was anything but quiet in the morning, brimming with life everywhere. Hawkers' cries rang out without end.

Mercenaries could generally be divided into three types. The first consisted of mercenary groups that had already formed tightly organized structures, similar in nature to gangs.

The second type consisted of temporarily assembled teams. Trust between members of such teams was generally very low, and they lacked coordination. If they encountered danger, their combat strength was far inferior to that of the first type.

The third type consisted of solo mercenaries, who called themselves lone wanderers. Each of them had more or less a few trump cards to preserve their lives.

Those shouting along the streets at this moment belonged to the second type. As for Xiao Han, he counted as the last type.

"It seems this world doesn't have a mercenary guild yet?"

A thought suddenly surfaced in Xiao Han's mind.

"Young man, I can tell at a glance that your bones are extraordinary and your talent exceptional. Want to join us? The resources we obtain in the end will be divided equally!"

As he waited, several ill-intentioned mercenaries approached Xiao Han with invitations.

Extraordinary bones? Exceptional talent?

Xiao Han clicked his tongue inwardly, then shook his head slightly and rejected the mercenary's invitation.

Among mercenaries entering the Demon Beast Forest, whenever they encountered something unknown, they would send some inexperienced fool ahead to scout it out. Xiao Han was clearly young and appeared to lack experience. That mercenary had obviously been after exactly that.

"Ten Thousand Medicines Hall is heading into the Monster Beast Mountain Range to gather herbs! Little Fairy Doctor will be going too! There are only fifty spots, and you must be at least a Two Star Dou Zhe! Everyone, hurry up!"

Xiao Han had barely had time to settle down when a middle-aged man finally emerged from Ten Thousand Medicines Hall and shouted into the street at the top of his lungs.

With the man's shout, the entire street erupted. The mercenaries shoved forward desperately, as though their lives depended on it.

Xiao Han blinked. After giving it some thought, he understood.

The reason Ten Thousand Medicines Hall's mission was so attractive was that Little Fairy Doctor was a physician. Upon entering the Monster Beast Mountain Range, they would have to face demon beast attacks at any moment. With a physician at their side, their lives would gain several more layers of security.

The fifty spots had everyone fighting desperately. Xiao Han was unlucky; just as he reached the front, someone else sprang out at the same time as him.

"There's only one spot left." The middle-aged man smiled as he waved the parchment scroll in his hand at Xiao Han and the other person.

"Me!"

"Me!"

Xiao Han and the other man raised their hands at the same time.

Xiao Han looked at the man. He was not particularly old, merely middle-aged. A scar on his face added a hint of viciousness to his bearing.

The middle-aged man looked troubled. Looking at the two before him, he said, "My apologies, gentlemen, but there's only one spot left. Why don't you discuss it among yourselves?"

"Discuss?"

The Scarred Man looked Xiao Han up and down with obvious disdain, mocking, "Where did this little brat come from? You're not even fully grown, yet you're wandering around outside. Scram to the side. This spot belongs to me."

"Hm?"

Xiao Han narrowed his eyes and stared at him. It did not seem like he had offended the man.

"What are you looking at? Are you deaf?"

The Scarred Man glared at Xiao Han and snapped, "Didn't you hear him? He only wants Dou Zhes above Two Star. Hurry up and go home to drink milk!"

Xiao Han's heart stirred, but he smiled instead. "So, you possess cultivation above Two Star Dou Zhe?"

"That's right."

The Scarred Man looked proud. Pointing at the badge on his chest, he said smugly, "Not long ago, I advanced to Two Star Dou Zhe. Look, this is the Dou Zhe Badge I received. Damn it, why am I wasting words on a little brat like you? Go on, get lost. Stay wherever it's cool. The last spot is mine."

Immense Strength

Xiao Han abruptly shot out both hands and swiftly grabbed the man by the front of his clothes. Then, before the Scarred Man could react, he lifted him into the air.

Damn!

The Scarred Man was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, powerfully built and quite tall, weighing at least over two hundred jin. Yet the young man before him had actually lifted the Scarred Man up.

The entire street was stunned by the sight.

Bang!

Xiao Han then exerted force with both hands and viciously hurled him away. He flew more than a hundred meters before crashing heavily into a wall.

Pfft!

The Scarred Man spat out two mouthfuls of blood in succession. He looked at Xiao Han in terror, then collapsed unconscious onto the ground.

"I think this is enough to prove that I'm qualified, right?"

Xiao Han's voice broke the street's silence. Countless impressed gazes focused on him. Who could have imagined that a mere youth possessed Heavenly Strength?