Xiao Yi Xian is my friend, I'm taking charge of this matter!

Xiao Yi Xian's pretty face turned pale. She first looked at Mu Li with a hint of panic, then turned those violet eyes toward Gu Fei.

Her eyes were filled with surprise, along with a trace of barely perceptible panic.

Xiao Yi Xian felt panic. Emotion Value +100

She stood there, completely at a loss.

With two people suddenly appearing one after another, Xiao Yi Xian did not know what to do.

After all, Gu Fei felt more reliable to her. Xiao Yi Xian looked at him helplessly, as though hoping he could offer an explanation.

Otherwise, why had both of them suddenly appeared after following her?

"Xiao Yi Xian, I saw this man sneaking around behind you just now. I was worried he had ill intentions, so I followed him here."

Naturally, Gu Fei did not feel guilty. After all, he had done nothing shameful. Instead, he struck first and pinned the label of malicious intent on Mu Li.

Mu Li felt anger. Emotion Value +10

Mu Li, who had originally wanted to argue, shot Gu Fei a shocked and furious glare.

Yet he did not dare to openly fall out with Gu Fei now.

After all, Mu Li was no fool to have become the young leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group.

He had naturally noticed something when Boss Yao selected the mercenaries earlier. This alchemist's identity was likely far from simple.

Moreover, after working as a mercenary for years, the most basic and necessary skill was to remain alert to his surroundings at all times.

Although all his attention had been on following Xiao Yi Xian just now, staying vigilant had long become his body's instinctive response.

If Gu Fei had truly followed him all the way, there was no way he would not have noticed!

Thus, this meant that Gu Fei was either exceptionally powerful or possessed an extremely formidable method of concealing his aura.

That was why he could only glare at Gu Fei in anger and did not dare make a move immediately.

Xiao Yi Xian was full of trust in Gu Fei. After all, how could such an impressive alchemist possibly deceive her?

Xiao Yi Xian felt gratitude. Emotion Value +100

Her heart was filled with gratitude toward Gu Fei, while her guard against Mu Li grew even stronger.

Mu Li had suddenly followed her for no reason and had not wanted her to discover him...

Could it be that her secret had been exposed?

Xiao Yi Xian shook her head. She had hidden it so well, and no one around her had discovered anything. How could someone like Mu Li possibly know?

To confirm the suspicion in her heart, Xiao Yi Xian was unwilling to simply let the matter go and pretend it had never happened.

"Mu Li, why were you following me?"

Xiao Yi Xian looked at Mu Li and demanded loudly.

The forest was densely packed and stifling. Sunlight could not penetrate it, and Xiao Yi Xian could not make out the expression on Mu Li's face.

He gave a sinister chuckle, then spoke unhurriedly.

"Hehe, I'll be direct. There should be treasure down there, shouldn't there?"

Seeing that Xiao Yi Xian would not let the matter rest, Mu Li decided to stop pretending now that things had come to this and directly revealed the truth.

Xiao Yi Xian swayed slightly, utterly incredulous. Her beautiful eyes were filled with obvious shock and confusion.

"I only told my assistant, Li Fei, about this."

Then anger and sorrow at being betrayed surged into her beautiful violet eyes.

"You... you bribed her?"

Even someone as gentle and kind as Xiao Yi Xian did not lack a temper entirely.

Li Fei was not only her friend; Xiao Yi Xian had long regarded her as a confidante. She had shared many thoughts and secrets with Li Fei.

Yet she had never expected that something known only to heaven, earth, herself, and Li Fei would be discovered by Mu Li.

Who else could it have been besides Li Fei?

Mu Li laughed loudly several times and nodded in admission.

What he loved most was seeing the stunned and furious expressions of those who learned they had been betrayed by their closest friends.

Xiao Yi Xian's emotions were in great turmoil, and neither her talent nor strength lay in combat, so she posed no threat.

As for the remaining one—

Mu Li turned to look at Gu Fei.

He smiled. "Sir, why not explore the treasure with my Wolf Head Mercenary Group?"

Staring at Gu Fei's still calm and composed face, he said meaningfully, word by word, "When the time comes, we split the treasure fifty-fifty."

If it had been anyone else who had come out with Xiao Yi Xian—whether an alchemist, a servant from the Ten Thousand Medicines Shop, or even Boss Yao—they would probably have agreed without hesitation.

After all, this was a wonderful opportunity to cooperate with Green Mountain Town's strongest mercenary group and divide the treasure, and Mu Li was even willing to yield a share.

Given his personality, it would already have been decent of him not to kill someone and take everything for himself. For him to willingly give half to Gu Fei now was simply a windfall.

Mu Li unhurriedly picked at his ear, then lightly blew on his fingertip.

"How about it?"

Faced with Mu Li's invitation, Gu Fei first pretended to be tempted.

He deliberately revealed a hesitant expression, and sure enough, Mu Li unconsciously sneered.

Mu Li felt smug. Emotion Value +10

Gu Fei raised an eyebrow.

This was probably a trap.

He did not believe Mu Li was such a generous person. Most likely, after they found the treasure together, Mu Li would kill him, dump his body down below, and climb back out alone.

Facing Mu Li's invitation and his extremely confident gaze, Gu Fei put on a show as if he were about to nod in agreement.

But just as the corners of Mu Li's lips were about to curl up off his face, Gu Fei's expression changed.

He rejected him decisively. "Someone like you thinks you deserve to work with me?"

Mu Li felt anger. Emotion Value +10

"What did you say?"

Fury ignited in Mu Li's eyes as he began moving his body, the sound of bones grinding occasionally ringing out.

Seeing Gu Fei's resolute attitude, Xiao Yi Xian stared at him without blinking, her emotions exceedingly complicated.

Xiao Yi Xian felt touched. Emotion Value +80

Xiao Yi Xian felt dependent. Emotion Value +80

Seeing that Gu Fei was unwilling to cooperate, Mu Li could not be bothered to waste any more time.

He gave a savage grin, revealing his true, filthy face. "Since you refuse to cooperate, then I ask that you refrain from interfering..."

His gloomy gaze fell upon Xiao Yi Xian, carrying a faint killing intent.

Yet he was caught off guard by Gu Fei's ill-timed words.

"Xiao Yi Xian is my friend. I'm getting involved in this!"

Gu Fei said.

Xiao Yi Xian felt touched. Emotion Value +80

Mu Li looked at him in considerable surprise, unable to tell whether this kid truly feared death or merely pretended not to.

He simply stopped wasting words and directly threatened Gu Fei, while his hands also began to move.

"Then don't blame me. Even if you have a powerful background, if you die without a sound in the Monster Mountain Range, no one will suspect my Wolf Head Mercenary Group!"

A dark glint flashed through Mu Li's eyes as he quietly watched Gu Fei, who did not know his own limits. Killing intent arose in his heart.

Gu Fei was in no rush to leave. With his current strength, let alone all of Green Mountain Town, he doubted there was anyone in the entire Jia Ma Empire who could stand against him.

Xiao Yi Xian had long since hidden behind him.

He stood before Xiao Yi Xian, his tall figure seeming ready to shield her from all harm.

Xiao Yi Xian could not help but feel dazed.

Under Mu Li's sinister gaze, more than a dozen mercenaries soon surged out of the dense forest. Gu Fei had noticed them long ago.