Luo Bu

I raised a hand and touched my back. Even through the leather armor, I could feel that it had already been soaked through with sweat. At last, I understood why this battle had happened today, and why Xun Er had looked at me like that just now.

I gave a bitter smile. Given Xun Er's status and background, she definitely had ways of learning that the operation in Stone Desert City—was not being led by the Mo Family at all!

It was my Nalan Family, operating in secret under the Mo Family's name.

But as I swept my gaze over the mercenaries around me, I truly had not expected this operation to trigger such a chain reaction and drag in the Desert Iron Mercenary Group founded by the Xiao brothers.

And I had written to invite Xiao Yan, Xun Er, Xiao Meier, and the others to Stone Desert City, getting them caught up in this as well.

Luckily, luckily we had run into them today. Otherwise, if Xun Er had misunderstood something, the trouble would have been enormous!

At this moment, the Sand Mercenary Group finally approached. Nearly a hundred people came in a grand procession and stopped twenty paces away from the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. With swords drawn and tensions high, it seemed as though slaughter could break out at any moment.

Yet nothing happened, because the Sand Mercenary Group's goal was not to wipe out the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, but to annex it.

Luo Bu, the captain of the Sand Mercenary Group, stood at the very front. He glanced over at us, laughed heartily, and called out, "Captain Xiao, who are those two people who arrived just now?"

Xiao Li snorted coldly and answered curtly, "What the hell is it to you?"

Luo Bu's expression stiffened, then darkened. "Xiao Li, do you still think reinforcements are coming? I already sent men to stop the people you left behind in Stone Desert City!"

"Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, I've said enough to you two already. Have you made up your minds?"

Xiao Ding shook his head. "The Desert Iron Mercenary Group is the life's work of my second brother and me. I will never merge it into the Sand Mercenary Group!"

After saying that, Xiao Ding turned around and looked over the more than thirty Desert Iron mercenaries before him. After a pause, he said gravely:

"Brothers and sisters, I won't waste words on empty sentiments. Today, the Desert Iron Mercenary Group was ambushed by the Sand Mercenary Group. Those willing to stay and fight beside me—I, Xiao Ding, will never betray them in the future!"

"Those unwilling to stay may leave on their own. I will not utter a single word of resentment..."

The Desert Iron mercenaries immediately erupted, shouting all sorts of things. Some spoke of the kindness Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had shown them in the past, while others declared that they would fight the Sand Mercenary Group to the death.

Every mercenary, male or female, strong or weak, wore an indignant expression. Though they were at a disadvantage, not a single person hesitated or shrank back, and no one left.

Watching from the side, I clicked my tongue in amazement. On one hand, I silently marveled at the abilities of Xiao Ding and Xiao Li. On the other, I thought, this really is standard protagonist-party equipment...

If this were a villain group, being at such a disadvantage would surely make them fall apart. There would be plenty fleeing, surrendering, and leading the enemy in.

But if it was the protagonist's group, every one of them would surely be a hero who treated life and death as nothing, following the protagonist to their deaths without even blinking. As for deserters and traitors, they simply could not exist.

At that thought, I could not help bursting into laughter. "First Brother Xiao Ding, it's still too early to say such things. With me, Nalan Ye, here, why should we fear a mere Sand Mercenary Group?"

My hearty laugh drowned out the clamor of the thirty-odd Desert Iron mercenaries, and the surrounding area fell silent. The Desert Iron mercenaries all looked at me, as did the members of the Xiao Family.

Xiao Meier was also staring at me in astonishment, her gaze shifting. I turned my head toward her and winked. This time, she did not turn away, only flushed slightly and lowered her head to avoid my eyes.

A lazy smile appeared at the corner of my lips. I walked to the front, casually straightened my armor, then looked at Luo Bu and asked arrogantly, "Luo Bu, do you... know who I am?"

Luo Bu narrowed his eyes slightly and studied me carefully. He shook his head. "I've never seen you before. You must be one of the two who came earlier. May I ask who you are, sir?"

I laughed loudly, raised my head high, nearly pointing my nostrils at the sky, and declared spiritedly, "My name is Nalan Ye—the Nalan of Nalan Jie!"

Luo Bu's pupils suddenly contracted. A flicker of shock crossed his face as he blurted out, "The Nalan Family, one of the Gamma Empire's Three Great Families?!"

I nodded, acknowledging it. I looked at him teasingly, a half-smile on my lips, and continued, "Luo Bu, do you know... what my fiancée is called?"

Luo Bu's expression had already turned extremely ugly. He probably could not understand why a tiny Desert Iron Mercenary Group had become connected to a giant like the Nalan Family.

Hearing me ask again, he kept a dark face, stared fixedly at mine, and silently shook his head without saying a word.

I did not mind. I merely laughed heartily, then said loudly with pride and smugness, "My fiancée is called Xiao Meier—the Xiao of Xiao Ding, the Xiao of Xiao Li... the Xiao of Xiao Yan! Now—do you understand what this means?"

As soon as I finished speaking, my expression suddenly sank, becoming somewhat fierce and terrifying. I stared hard at Luo Bu, and Luo Bu stared back at me. Our gazes met in midair.

Of course, no sparks or lightning flew, because Luo Bu simply could not withstand my stare.

That made sense. How could a mere Da Dou Shi have the confidence to go against the Nalan Family? Luo Bu lacked confidence deep down. How could he possibly compete with me in a contest of stares?

Before long, his gaze weakened. He began furtively glancing around, no longer daring to meet my eyes.

I laughed aloud, knowing that I had already won. At once, I took a swaggering stride forward, head held high, and slowly pressed toward Luo Bu with a smug air.

As I walked, I shouted sternly, "Luo Bu, you've got some nerve! You dared set your sights on the in-laws of my Nalan Family! Heh, do you know how to write the word 'death'?"

The color drained from Luo Bu's face. Several drops of cold sweat trickled down his cheeks, while sweat also seeped across his chest and back, soaking his armor.

He took a deep breath, raised a hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, and barely managed to calm himself. His lips moved as he said, "Young Master Nalan, Young Master Nalan! I was wrong about what happened today. Please, Young Master Nalan, be magnanimous."

"I'll leave right now, and I absolutely won't dare set my sights on the Desert Iron Mercenary Group again. No, no—starting today, the Desert Iron Mercenary Group will be my, Luo Bu's, brothers. If the Desert Iron Mercenary Group ever needs anything, I, Luo Bu, will provide men if they need men, and money if they need money!"

I sneered, looked coldly at Luo Bu, and barked, "Who the hell do you think you are? You think you're worthy of being brothers with the Xiao Family?"

"Now, this young master is giving you two paths. Either die here, or—the Sand Mercenary Group merges into the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, and from now on, you obediently follow the orders of the Xiao brothers!"

Luo Bu's expression changed. A hint of anger appeared in his eyes, and his face reddened considerably. The Desert Iron Mercenary Group was the life's work of the Xiao brothers, but was the Sand Mercenary Group not also his life's work?!

He had already backed down, yet I was still pushing my luck? With a few words from me, he was supposed to hand over the Sand Mercenary Group?

"Hehehehe..."