Rob Comes Knocking—No Scaring People!

Above the desert, the Snake People Tribe's experts looked at one another, not having left yet.

Everything that had just happened felt dreamlike to them.

Queen Medusa, who had always struck fear into people's hearts, had been flirted with by a human male today!

Had they not seen it with their own eyes, Hua She'er, Yue Mei, Mo Basi, and the others simply would not have believed it was real.

"Queen, what should we do now?" Hua She'er asked, looking at Queen Medusa, who seemed somewhat distracted.

They had received word that the Queen needed assistance and rushed over at top speed.

Yet they had never expected the other side to have a Dou Zong expert backing him. All the Snake People Tribe's experts had nearly been wiped out.

Queen Medusa's face returned to its usual coldness as she ordered, "Return to the tribe first."

Just as she finished speaking, Queen Medusa turned her back to the group and added, "If anyone dares spread word of what happened today, pray that I do not find you. Otherwise, you know full well what awaits you."

"We wouldn't dare."

"I didn't see anything."

"Did something happen?"

"..."

The Snake People Tribe's experts hurriedly declared their stance.

Queen Medusa relaxed slightly. The Dou Qi wings on her back beat, propelling her swiftly forward.

Meanwhile.

Stone Desert City.

After Hun Cang left, the others gradually climbed out of the sandpit and returned to the city.

City Lord Xu Guang instructed his men to register the mercenaries who had participated in the mission and inform them that, once the medicine's effects wore off in seven days, they could return to drink more from him until the medicine packets were used up.

As soon as the news spread, it felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from the participating mercenaries' hearts.

After all, if the City Lord's Manor truly intended to swallow up the medicine packets bestowed by that lord, there was nothing they could do but accept it silently.

Who could blame them? This world respected only the strong.

Elsewhere, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li led their men back to their base. Amid the crowd, the two protected the young girl Qing Lin very carefully.

"Commander, Vice Commander, will that lord come back?" Qing Lin asked softly. That lord had promised her something before—surely he had not forgotten?

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were both slightly startled.

How could people like us possibly fathom the affairs of a Dou Huang expert?

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Ding asked, "Qing Lin, what did that lord say to you before?"

Qing Lin was very obedient and told them everything Hun Cang had said to her.

When they learned that Qing Lin had actually gained his favor, a trace of envy flashed through the brothers' eyes.

A Dou Huang-level expert was a top-tier powerhouse even in the entire Jia Ma Empire, someone one could count on one hand.

To be noticed by such a person—wasn't her future rise already assured?

Xiao Ding pondered for a while before saying, "Since that lord made a promise, I don't think he will go back on his word. He may have been delayed while pursuing Queen Medusa."

Xiao Li nodded. "Yes. Great figures like them usually take their promises seriously. Qing Lin, stay with our mercenary group for now. You won't have to do those odd jobs anymore. Just enjoy your life."

"Thank you, Commander. Thank you, Vice Commander." Qing Lin looked both flattered and overwhelmed, her heart filled with surprise. When she learned that a great figure was looking for her, she had felt both curious and uneasy.

She had never expected that, in the span of a single trip, her life would undergo such earth-shaking changes.

Sure enough, only the strong could truly live well...

Not long after returning to the base, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li began discussing changing Qing Lin's room when noisy voices came from outside.

"Qing Lin, wait here for a moment." Xiao Ding reassured her, then gave his younger brother Xiao Li a look.

The two walked outside and found Rob arriving with several men.

Rob wore a sinister smile, making it obvious that he had come with ill intent.

Without saying a word, Xiao Li's expression quickly turned cold. He gripped a long spear in his hand, faint sparks of lightning flickering along its shaft.

"Rob, the Desert Iron Mercenary Group does not welcome you." Xiao Ding spoke coldly, pointing outside. "Please leave."

Rob swept his eyes over them disdainfully. "What a joke. Is there any mercenary group in all of Stone Desert City that I, Rob, need to accommodate?"

He paused, then looked at Xiao Li and snorted. "Kid, you were laughing quite happily earlier, weren't you? Come on, let's exchange a few moves. Fight me, and I'll pretend nothing happened. Otherwise, your mercenary group had better not leave the city. If some accident happens, that would be unfortunate."

Rob remembered being laughed at earlier very clearly. After all, it had been the most humiliating moment of his years in Stone Desert City.

City Lord Xu Guang had broken through, so Rob could not bully him. Thus, he set his sights on the Xiao Family brothers.

The Desert Iron Mercenary Group also happened to be one of Stone Desert City's top three mercenary groups. Using them to make an example of others and recover his dignity was a fine choice.

Xiao Ding had always been known as an old fox, and he understood Rob's intentions at once. Raising a hand to stop Xiao Li, he said grimly, "Rob, don't go too far. Don't think that just because you're a Da Dou Shi, we'll be afraid of you! If we really fight, you might not come out ahead."

Behind Xiao Ding, every member of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group burned with indignation, clutching their weapons tightly. At a single word from their commander, they would attack.

"Come on, then! Do you think I, Rob, was raised to be scared?" Rob roared. The mercenaries behind him also revealed fierce expressions.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's expressions shifted, hesitation flashing in their eyes. If they truly fought, the Desert Iron Mercenary Group would certainly suffer grievous losses.

But their enemies had already come to their doorstep. If they did not fight, how could they continue to show their faces in Stone Desert City?

Just then, the ground began to tremble. Before anyone could understand what was happening, a massive magical beast burst out of the earth. Its striking two-headed form caused everyone's faces to change dramatically.

Rob instantly retreated to the entrance, then revealed a gloating expression. A magical beast like this was surely stronger than a Da Dou Shi.

"Haha, it seems the Desert Iron Mercenary Group doesn't even need me to act. Your doom has already arrived," Rob laughed loudly.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's faces stiffened slightly as they stared at the magical beast, not daring to move recklessly. They had seen it submit obediently to that lord before, but that had been because he was powerful enough.

When the four diamond-shaped eyes swept toward them, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li stiffened, looking as though they might flee at any moment.

"Don't scare people!" At that moment, a crisp, slightly childish girl's voice rang out. Qing Lin walked out of the house, puffed out her cheeks, and glared at the Fire Spirit Snake. It immediately curled into a ball and stretched out its head for Qing Lin to pet.

Everyone was dumbfounded by this sight.

When Qing Lin noticed everyone staring at her, a blush appeared on her face. She said softly, "Commander, Vice Commander, don't worry. Little Fire is my pet. It's very well-behaved and won't hurt people casually."

Xiao Ding froze for a moment before asking, "Did that lord give this to you too?"

Give it to her? Qing Lin thought for a moment, then nodded.

Probably. Back then, she had merely followed that lord's instructions, and somehow she had become able to control Little Fire.

After getting his answer, Xiao Ding had not yet reacted when Xiao Li began laughing first. He looked toward the entrance, ready to speak, but then froze.

Damn, Rob had actually run off with his men??