Joining Hands in the Monster Mountain Range! Xiao Yi Xian's Panic!

The next morning.

Early in the morning, Ten Thousand Medicines Shop began recruiting mercenaries in Green Mountain Town to head up the mountain with them.

Ten Thousand Medicines Shop had never been stingy when it came to compensation.

They promised quite a few benefits, including medical treatment for the mercenaries.

As a result, many mercenaries came to sign up.

After hesitating for a moment, Boss Yao took the initiative to step back and looked at Gu Fei.

"Why don't you choose the mercenaries?"

Gu Fei gave him a faintly amused look and shook his head.

Boss Yao could only select people according to the usual rules, all while furtively and nervously watching Gu Fei's expression.

Gu Fei's terrifying presence yesterday had simply left too deep an impression on him.

At the thought of yesterday, Boss Yao's entire body twitched.

"Are you... satisfied with these mercenaries?"

Boss Yao felt fear. Emotion Value +10

Gu Fei gave a mild acknowledgment, and the matter of recruiting mercenaries was considered settled.

Ten Thousand Medicines Shop was busy during the day, so Boss Yao did not see them off.

Xiao Yi Xian followed behind Gu Fei, with a vast group of mercenaries trailing after them.

Among the mercenaries heading to the Monster Mountain Range with Gu Fei was, just as in the original story, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group.

Moreover, among the Three Great Mercenary Groups of Green Mountain Town, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group was the strongest.

Thus, they were the backbone of this group of mercenaries.

However, Gu Fei narrowed his eyes and casually glanced back at the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's leader, who walked at the rear with his head lowered and an unreadable expression.

That was their young leader, Mu Li.

He clearly had ulterior motives.

Xiao Yi Xian introduced Gu Fei to everyone. When she revealed that he was an alchemist, the mercenaries' eyes filled with respect and longing.

Mu Chuan felt respect. Emotion Value +0.1

Qin Zheng felt admiration. Emotion Value +0.1

Most of these mercenaries, who lived with their lives on the line, had once dreamed of becoming legendary alchemists capable of stirring up the world.

Yet most were held back by a lack of talent and poverty, leaving them no choice but to become mercenaries.

Now that a young alchemist had appeared before them, they naturally yearned for such a path.

But Gu Fei soon frowned slightly.

Mu Li felt concern. Emotion Value +10

In an instant, Gu Fei looked up at a tall, powerfully built mercenary.

That mercenary was the leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group and their young leader. Gu Fei remembered his name.

Mu Li.

The very Mu Li who, in the original story, had wanted to plot against Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yan for profit.

Gu Fei did not believe that the concern of such a vicious man was for the safety of a frail alchemist like him.

Judging by the timeline, the person who should have entered the Monster Mountain Range with Xiao Yi Xian at this point in the original story was Xiao Yan.

After giving it some thought, Gu Fei suddenly understood.

Back then, Xiao Yan had merely been someone of average strength, so Mu Li had naturally acted without restraint.

But now, he had been replaced by an alchemist like Gu Fei...

Could it be that Mu Li thought he was in the way and would interfere with his plans this time?

Thus, according to the original arrangement, the strongest Wolf Head Mercenary Group should have taken the lead, while Gu Fei and Xiao Yi Xian walked in the safest position at the center of the group.

Yet from the very beginning, Gu Fei walked at the front. Mu Li also tacitly allowed this practically suicidal behavior, even secretly giving his entire mercenary group a strict order not to warn Gu Fei.

Still, he had accepted Boss Yao's commission to escort Gu Fei and Xiao Yi Xian, so when they encountered magical beasts, he had to at least put on an act.

What was more, Mu Li was practically grinding his teeth in fury at Gu Fei by now.

When the first wave of magical beasts suddenly attacked, Mu Li deliberately slowed his attacks, intending to wait until their attacks fell upon Gu Fei before making his move.

Yet who would have thought that this man, who had put on such a brave front by taking the lead up the mountain, would shrink back with Xiao Yi Xian and hide behind him the moment magical beasts attacked?!

The first time, Mu Li thought it was an accident. But several times afterward, Gu Fei would suddenly grab Xiao Yi Xian and dart behind him, followed immediately by vicious attacks—

Mu Li felt anger. Emotion Value +10

Seeing Mu Li deal with them in such a bedraggled state, Gu Fei's lips curled upward.

Since Mu Li wanted to scheme against him, then let's see whether he could withstand the gift Gu Fei had prepared for him.

Xiao Yi Xian obediently followed Gu Fei, her vigilant gaze sweeping the surroundings.

She offered no comment on Gu Fei's seemingly playful behavior.

After fending off several waves of magical beast attacks along the way, the group finally arrived at an area of the Monster Mountain Range where medicinal herbs grew in abundance.

Xiao Yi Xian felt excited. Emotion Value +80

Xiao Yi Xian's eyes sparkled, and she looked extremely happy.

Gu Fei laughed. This girl was utterly obsessed with medicinal herbs. In her eyes, even a priceless treasure probably could not compare to this herb-rich land before her.

Xiao Yi Xian hurriedly gave everyone a few instructions, telling them to rest where they were and begin gathering herbs once they had recovered.

Gu Fei said nothing. He stood with his arms folded, leaning against a tree as he quietly watched her.

He had chosen his spot cleverly. From here, he could both see the herb-gathering area and keep nearly every mercenary's movements within view.

That included Mu Li, who had clearly begun harboring thoughts after hearing Xiao Yi Xian's words.

Mu Li felt malicious intent. Emotion Value +10

Xiao Yi Xian hesitated as she glanced at Gu Fei, then walked over.

"I'll go take a look first and see what medicinal herbs the pharmacy needs to restock. Once you've rested enough, Young Master, you can come down on your own."

"The herbs here are extremely plentiful. There are even quite a few that I can't name. I hope there will be something you need."

She looked up at Gu Fei, then waved goodbye with smiling eyes.

Gu Fei remained where he was and watched Xiao Yi Xian leave the camp alone, heading toward the surrounding forest.

She did not know that, in the next moment, Mu Li—who had been pretending to have nothing to do—rose to his feet and quietly followed after her.

Gu Fei frowned and considered things for a moment.

He knew Mu Li harbored ill intentions, and he was worried that Xiao Yi Xian would not be able to defeat him.

So Gu Fei chose to follow behind Mu Li as well, quietly trailing after him.

Gu Fei was already skilled at concealing his aura. Moreover, Mu Li's strength was nowhere close to his. Throughout the entire pursuit, Mu Li failed to notice anything amiss.

After passing through the dense forest, a cliff appeared in Gu Fei's sight.

Mu Li hid in the shadows and watched Xiao Yi Xian. Gu Fei stood behind Mu Li, while Xiao Yi Xian had just climbed up from beneath the cliff with great difficulty.

"Mu Li, why are you skulking around behind Xiao Yi Xian?"

Seeing the malice filling Mu Li's eyes, Gu Fei struck first.

He infused his voice with Dou Qi and shouted loudly in Mu Li's direction not far away.

"What?"

Mu Li panicked when he heard this and abruptly turned around.

He had not expected someone to be following him, much less that he had failed to notice them entirely.

Xiao Yi Xian, who was walking ahead, also turned pale. She was somewhat flustered, never expecting Mu Li, the young leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, to have secretly followed her.