Night Raid

Several days later, standing outside Green Mountain Town, I looked into the distance. To one side stretched a majestic mountain range with no end in sight; ahead stood an ordinary little town.

I remained silent for a long while before waving my hand, signaling the convoy to set off again. This time, I did not enter with great fanfare, but quietly. Neither the carriages nor the shop guards bore the Nalan Family crest.

Sitting inside the carriage, I lifted the curtain and looked out. This little town had not changed much from a year ago. The streets were still full of mercenaries, still full of scantily dressed women selling smiles, still full of filthy language.

But perhaps it had changed greatly after all. Who knew how many batches of mercenaries had already been replaced on these streets?

No one knew, because no one cared.

The Monster Mountain Range was a vast land of wealth. Along its outskirts were countless small towns like Green Mountain Town, and the blood-soaked mercenaries within them were even more numerous.

Every year, who knew how many mercenaries left their bones in the Monster Mountain Range, and how many lost hands or feet and were crippled for life? Yet these towns never grew desolate, because more mercenaries filled with dreams of getting rich overnight would keep pouring in to fill them...

The next morning, after breakfast, I set off alone for the Monster Mountain Range. I sent the shop guards back to Wu Si City. This trip was unusual, and it would not do to have anyone accompany me.

Besides, I was well prepared this time. A few Dou Zhe and one Dou Shi were nowhere near as important to me as they had been over a year ago.

I put away my Ring of Holding and looked up at the Monster Mountain Range filling my entire field of vision. The mountains were lush and verdant, with ancient trees towering overhead. Every so often, a soul-shaking roar sounded out—it was the magical beasts of the mountains!

I felt not the slightest fear. Instead, a touch of heroic spirit rose within me. I laughed heartily and strode forward. "Monster Mountain Range, I, Nalan Ye, have returned!"

The ground was overgrown with weeds, insects and venomous snakes slithering among them. Above, the canopy spread like a cover, blocking out the sunlight. Between them lay tangled branches and vines, from which the occasional small beast darted out.

The high spirits I had possessed when setting out were long gone. My clothes were a complete mess, and the sword in my hand had become a walking stick. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and could not help cursing. The deeper one went into the Monster Mountain Range, the less fit it was for human habitation!

Especially since the magical beasts had become more numerous. I had already suffered three attacks. Fortunately, only Rank 1 Magical Beasts appeared here, so I had escaped without injury.

Seeing that night was approaching, I looked around and chose a spot. It was a valley where broad swathes of rock lay exposed, with only scattered weeds growing about and no trees.

After entering the valley, I gathered dry wood and lit a campfire. Then I took out some dried meat, warmed it slightly, and began eating.

I had carried this dried meat all the way from Nalan Residence. I did not know how the cook had made it, but it smelled delicious and tasted good too.

As I ate, I began to think. My destination this time was naturally the area near the Amethyst Winged Lion King's lair. I would wait there for Yun Yun, the Yun Lan Sect Leader, to arrive.

But as a Rank 6 Magical Beast, the Amethyst Winged Lion King was comparable to a human Dou Emperor. Naturally, its lair was deep within the Monster Mountain Range.

Lowering my head, I examined the map by the dim, flickering firelight. I placed a finger on the location of the Amethyst Winged Lion King's lair.

Studying the map, I pondered for a long time. Then my fingertip slowly began to move, tracing a winding line until it overlapped with my current position.

"Ah, it seems this route is the safest after all..."

I sighed. This route was indeed the safest, avoiding the territories of several Rank 4 Magical Beasts along the way. But Rank 3 Magical Beasts, comparable to human Da Dou Shi... were not marked on the map!

That made sense. Rank 4 Magical Beasts were rarer, but Rank 3 Magical Beasts were much more numerous. The Monster Mountain Range was incredibly dangerous—who could draw such a detailed map?

But that also meant I would very likely encounter Rank 3 Magical Beasts on the way!

Rank 3 Magical Beasts, Rank 3 Magical Beasts...

I was frowning as I considered how to deal with one when a sound suddenly came from nearby!

"Humans... mercenaries?"

I rose to my feet and looked toward the sound. Very quickly, I determined that the newcomers were not magical beasts, but humans—probably mercenaries.

Soon, several people emerged from the forest one after another. I counted three men and two women, five mercenaries in all. They noticed me as well. The five became wary and slowly approached me.

I curled my lip. Although I did not think much of these low-level mercenaries, I did not dare let down my guard. My hand moved to my sword hilt. If these people are stupid enough to cause trouble, then I'll kill them.

Fortunately, they were smart—perhaps I had frightened them? They stopped fifteen paces away. A middle-aged man who appeared to be the leader stepped forward alone by a few more paces and called out in a lowered voice.

"Little brother, my name is Ka Gang. I'm from the Blood Battle Mercenary Group. Our squad happened to be hunting magical beasts nearby, and since it's about to get dark, could we camp here too?"

I swept my gaze over them, remained silent for a moment, then asked in a deep voice, "Are you... bad people?"

Ka Gang froze for a moment and scratched his head, just about to speak when a rather young girl behind him unexpectedly spoke first.

She shouted angrily, "We're from the Blood Battle Mercenary Group! How could we be bad people? Do you even know how to talk?"

"Ling Er, don't talk nonsense."

Ka Gang came back to his senses, turned and lightly scolded the girl, then turned back to me with a smile. "Little brother, Ling Er has been spoiled. Don't take her words to heart; she means no harm. Um..."

I nodded, sat back down beside the campfire, and pointed to the other side. "Fine. Set up camp over there. Just don't disturb me."

Upon hearing that, the petite girl became angry again, pointing at me and shouting—who knew if she was in heat or something, but she was far too energetic...

Ka Gang clasped his fists toward me, turned around, and lightly scolded and comforted the girl for a while before setting up camp on the other side.

Watching this, I secretly nodded. It seemed these five mercenaries truly were not bad people... With that little girl's temper, if they were really a band of villains, how could they possibly let her make such a fuss? She would have died long ago.

Heh, five extra people to keep watch for free!

I let out a raspy laugh, but they were not my own guards after all, so I could not fully trust them. I draped a coat over myself, closed my eyes, and rested lightly, not daring to fall into a deep sleep.

Tonight was only a half moon, and the moonlight was dim. The forests in all directions were pitch-black, impossible to see clearly.

Suddenly, I snapped my eyes open. With one hand on my sword hilt, I flipped to my feet and focused my gaze. More than a dozen figures had rushed out from all around, encircling the valley!

My heart lurched. I had not noticed the enemies until they were already right before me. It seemed I truly was not cut out for fighting...

On the other side, the five mercenaries noticed them as well and cried out in alarm, instinctively moving closer to me. The mercenaries gripped their weapons, while the petite girl began cursing again, shouting at the figures surrounding the valley.

"We're from the Blood Battle Mercenary Group! Who are you? You dare surround us? Do you want to start a war with the Blood Battle Mercenary Group?!"

I curled my lip, too lazy to stop the girl's foolish behavior. What if the other side answered? Then I would know who they were.

"The Blood Battle Mercenary Group?"

A derisive snort came from the darkness, and a figure stepped forward. By the moonlight, I could vaguely make out a young man around twenty-five or twenty-six. His build and appearance were both utterly ordinary.

He sneered. "You aren't my target, but since you were unlucky enough to come here seeking death yourselves, you can't blame me."

"Li Wuchen?!"

Just as I was wondering who this man was, the five mercenaries beside me all cried out in shock, their faces filled with disbelief.

I frowned and looked at Ka Gang in confusion. He gave me a complicated look. Having heard Li Wuchen's words, he had already realized that Li Wuchen had come for me. Opening his mouth, he muttered, "Li Wuchen is the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's Second Regiment Leader... and a One-Star Dou Shi!"

The Wolf Head Mercenary Group? My brows furrowed slightly. After thinking for a moment, I barely recalled that the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, like the Blood Battle Mercenary Group, seemed to be one of Green Mountain Town's three great mercenary groups?

I turned and looked Li Wuchen over twice, then called out in a deep voice, "Li Wuchen, since you intend to kill me, you must know who I am. Aren't you... afraid of the Nalan Family's retaliation?"

"Nalan Ye!"

A shrill cry suddenly rang out. I focused my eyes and saw a person slowly walk out from behind Li Wuchen. She wore a black dress, her long hair reaching her waist. She was a young woman in her early twenties.

Her features were delicate but not beautiful, and her willow-leaf eyes were filled with hatred. Staring fixedly at me, she gritted her teeth and said hatefully, "Nalan Ye, you killed my brother back then. Today, I'll avenge him and kill you!"

I was utterly confused. How had a feud over killing someone's brother appeared out of nowhere?

I raised an eyebrow and asked in a deep voice, "Who are you? And who... is your brother?"

The Black Dress Woman let out a strange laugh and said hoarsely, "My name is A Li. My brother was He Meng... You remember now, don't you? Hahahaha, I had already given up on revenge, but—haha—you actually came back to Green Mountain Town. And you even dared enter the Monster Mountain Range alone. This is an opportunity Heaven has given me!"

The Black Dress Woman's expression turned crazed. Pointing at me, she laughed madly. "Nalan Ye, a man as wicked as you has made even Heaven unable to bear watching! Haha, hahahaha! Today, you will undoubtedly die!"

I fell silent for a moment, then turned to Ka Gang and asked in a deep voice, "What is going on with them?"

Ka Gang did not answer, because he was staring at me in shock. The other four were the same. The petite girl covered her little mouth, staring at me in astonishment as she cried out, "You... you're that... that young master of the Nalan Family who came to Green Mountain Town over a year ago?!"

As one of the Gamma Empire's Three Great Families, the Nalan Family even possessed a Dou Wang. To the mercenaries of these small towns, they were undoubtedly something incredibly distant.

And in their eyes, a direct descendant of the Nalan Family was not much different from an imperial prince. No wonder they were so shocked.

I glanced at the girl and saw a trace of admiration in her eyes? I ignored her and shifted my gaze back to Ka Gang.

Ka Gang recovered and hurriedly said, "Young Master Nalan, He Meng was formerly the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's Third Regiment Leader. When you entered the Monster Mountain Range over a year ago, he went in with you. Later..."

He paused, cautiously glanced at me, and only then continued, "Later, you killed him... After word spread, his younger sister, A Li, came to Green Mountain Town. That Li Wuchen is A Li's husband."

"They knew you had killed He Meng, but they did not dare seek revenge and could only remain in Green Mountain Town. Who would have thought... who would have thought you would come back to Green Mountain Town and be discovered by them..."