Monster Mountain Range

"Ha ha, look at me. Seeing Brother Gu rushing toward the Monster Mountain Range, I got so anxious trying to talk you out of it that I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Sun Yi. I'm currently at Fighter Nine Stars, and I've been in the Monster Mountain Range for two years. I make a living here with the others." Sun Yi scratched his head and spoke with an apparently honest look.

"But what I said is true. Even on the outskirts of the Monster Mountain Range, dangerous magical beasts appear from time to time. Some dangerous animals are even more dangerous than First Tier Magical Beasts. So once you enter the Monster Mountain Range, you cannot let your guard down. Otherwise, what you may lose is your life."

Seeing that he was gradually getting into character and truly appeared to be considering his welfare, Gu He decided to treat him as a diversion during the tedious journey. Watching someone put on such a wholehearted performance without realizing he had already been seen through was quite entertaining. Besides, if he really harbored malicious intentions, Gu He would have no psychological burden in killing him. And with a seasoned hand whose life was in his grasp, finding that Small Valley would be much faster.

Thus, Gu He pretended to think for a few minutes before agreeing to hire him as both bodyguard and guide for this trip into the Monster Mountain Range: one thousand gold coins for three days, with an additional two hundred gold coins for each day thereafter.

"In the Monster Mountain Range, the most dangerous things are not actually magical beasts, but humans who are also mercenaries. The moment you see a magical beast, you identify it as an enemy and stay on guard against it. But when you see a person, you cannot tell whether they are friend or foe. Many mercenaries make a living by hunting other mercenaries. They are usually extremely cruel. To keep word from getting out, they normally rob you of everything valuable before killing you. Every trip into the Monster Mountain Range is no different from walking through the gates of hell."

"And you must be especially careful of people calling for help inside. They deliberately make themselves look pitiful to arouse your sympathy, making you lower your guard and approach them before they knock you down."

"So, the Monster Mountain Range is far from as simple as you imagine. Time will prove how worthwhile it was to spend money hiring me." Like a devoted guide, Sun Yi explained the terrain of the Monster Mountain Range, the distribution of beast herds, and the customs among mercenaries there as he walked beside Gu He.

At this point, even Gu He had to admire his scheming. By seeming to confide these experiences, he made Gu He wary of everyone else in the Monster Mountain Range. But would someone who truly took his words to heart also be wary of the very man telling them such things? That was highly doubtful. Without spending a single coin, he gained his employer's gratitude and lowered his employer's guard. Once they reached the Monster Mountain Range, where Sun Yi knew the terrain, wouldn't he be free to lead his employer wherever he pleased? As long as he lured Gu He to a place frequently visited by magical beasts, ambushed and killed him, he could obtain all of Gu He's possessions without arousing suspicion.

Gu He gave him an indifferent glance and pretended to be grateful. "Then I'll have to trouble Brother Sun to teach me more about surviving here."

Sun Yi waved a hand magnanimously. "When entrusted by someone, one must be loyal to the task. This is what I should do. There's no need to thank me."

After entering the forest, Sun Yi's entire body tensed, and he lowered his voice considerably. Gu He expanded his Soul Power to sense the surroundings. Once he determined there was no one nearby, he directly knocked Sun Yi unconscious.

After casually finding a cave, Gu He scorched the area around himself with flames. Once the plants around them had all been burned to ash, he spread a layer of clean cloth on the ground, then used a medicinal ingredient containing ice-attributed spirit spring water to force-feed Sun Yi.

Sun Yi shuddered and woke up. Seeing Gu He sitting nearby, he refused to believe that this newcomer had seen through his plan and demanded, "Brother Gu, what does this mean?"

Gu He gave him an indifferent glance. The Soul Power contained within his eyes immediately made Sun Yi shut his mouth as if someone had seized him by the throat.

"I ask, you answer. If you cannot answer, you die." Gu He had never had much interest in talking to people with malicious intentions.

Sun Yi nodded in terror. He had yet to recover from the shock of confronting Gu He's soul, and his entire body was still dazed.

"After entering the forest, where were you planning to take me? And how did you intend to deal with me in the end?" Gu He asked, trying to keep all emotion out of his voice.

"I planned to take you near a cave in the forest, take the valuables on you, and as for what happened after that, it would depend on your luck." In such a state, Sun Yi revealed his truest thoughts to Gu He.

Gu He sneered faintly. Sun Yi came slightly more to his senses, and when he realized what he had said, his face turned deathly pale.

"Brother Gu, I was just talking nonsense. You can't take it seriously. How could I possibly do something like that?" Sun Yi forced out a dry laugh as he tried desperately to hide his panic.

"Brother Sun, to be honest, I rather admire your mental fortitude. You're already at death's door, yet you still want to argue. Just now, I used Soul Power to strike your soul, leaving you unable to think for a period of time. You could only act according to your true nature. When someone asked you a question, you would reveal the truest thoughts in your heart. Tell me, should I believe you or believe myself?" Seeing Sun Yi still trying to deny it at a time like this, Gu He simply told him what had happened so he could die understanding why.

"Soul Power... You're an alchemist."

"How could you be an alchemist? Aren't alchemists protected by groups of people? Isn't it an extremely safe profession? Why would an alchemist need to come to the Monster Mountain Range alone?" Sun Yi suddenly cried out excitedly upon hearing the words Soul Power.

"I am indeed an alchemist, but it seems you have some misconceptions about alchemists. Alchemists are not people powerless enough to truss a chicken. Highly skilled alchemists possess extremely formidable combat strength as well." Thinking of how Xiao Yan was not only an alchemist but also outrageously powerful in battle, often fighting opponents an entire major realm above him, Gu He could not help sighing.

"As for why I came to the Monster Mountain Range, no one forced me. The reason I gave you in town was true. I really came here to find medicinal ingredients."

"Is that so? So being an alchemist is such a wonderful profession!" After hearing Gu He's explanation, Sun Yi spoke as if a great weight had been lifted from him.

"It seems someone close to you wants to become an alchemist," Gu He stated his guess directly.

"Yes! As long as I can gather enough money for apprenticeship, my daughter can become Master Nigu's disciple. Then she can become an alchemist in the future." Sun Yi spoke with longing in his eyes.

"Since there is a reason behind it, I will spare your life for now as long as you lead me to a very large basin filled with medicinal ingredients rarely seen in the outside world." After hearing him out, Gu He thought for a while before speaking.