As Expected

"Uncle Ka Gang, do you live near the Monster Beast Mountain Range too?"

"Yes, in Qingshan Town."

Ka Gang smiled. "But I doubt little brother Yao Yan has heard of it. It's just an ordinary small town on the edge of the Monster Beast Mountain Range."

"I really haven't. Is it far from here?"

Hearing this unfamiliar name, Xiao Yan did not pay it much mind, treating it as casual conversation.

"Very far. We only came all the way from Qingshan Town because we happened to land a big job a few days ago."

After spending the past two days together, Ka Gang had developed a favorable impression of this modest yet unyielding youth. Coupled with his own forthright nature, the two had gotten along quite well.

"If there's a chance in the future, little brother Yao Yan can come to Qingshan Town and rest for a while."

Xiao Yan nodded and accepted with a smile.

Though he had given Ka Gang due courtesy, the youth knew that after this journey, they would likely never meet again.

The Monster Beast Mountain Range was boundless, yet he was destined not to remain here for long.

Soon, noon arrived. Xiao Yan, carrying the Mysterious Black Ruler on his back, walked heavily to the front of the Merchant Caravan and delivered the tea and other items prepared by its members into the Sedan Chair.

Having spent over two days with the Merchant Caravan, Xiao Yan believed that even a meal and a night's lodging were favors worth repaying, so he wanted to find something to do.

Unfortunately, the journey had been smooth sailing. Not even the shadow of a Magical Beast could be seen. It was not his place to take over Ka Gang and the others' sentry duties, so he had instead been assigned the task of serving tea and water.

Xiao Yan found it somewhat amusing, but he felt no dissatisfaction. Since it allowed him to avoid exposing his strength, he was happy to take it easy.

The only thing that bothered him was how Scar would always give him a teasing, amused look whenever he saw him. Combined with the man's viciously scarred face, it was indescribably strange.

"Yo, kid, serving tea and water to that young lady again?"

Scar grinned mockingly. "You seem pretty good at this. Why not just travel with their Merchant Caravan? Become that young lady's guard. Wouldn't that be much better than the wild man life you used to live?"

"No need. I have my own matters to attend to. After today, I won't trouble you any longer."

Xiao Yan's gaze did not linger on him for even a moment. He casually brushed him off and turned to leave.

Watching the somewhat thin figure in overly loose clothing, the bald man's eyes revealed a barely noticeable viciousness. He cursed under his breath, then quickly ran into the nearby woods to continue his sentry duty.

Night quietly descended, making the already desolate border region seem even more silent. Dark clouds obscured part of the bright moonlight, dimming the surroundings considerably.

As the night deepened, Ka Gang and the others on watch gradually began to feel tired. As Dou Zhe, if they could not meditate and cultivate, they still could not resist the exhaustion brought by their bodies.

Ka Gang yawned and whispered to a mercenary nearby, "Old Sha, time to switch shifts."

"Old Sha!"

The snoring abruptly stopped. Old Sha jolted awake, and upon seeing Ka Gang before him, immediately cursed, "Ka Gang, does this place look like it has any living people around? It's been days already. Even if we slack off a little, those Merchant Caravan people won't notice."

Though he said that, Old Sha knew Ka Gang's personality and did not argue further. He stood up, steadied himself, then walked toward the edge of the woods.

"Find somewhere to rest. I'll wake you in the second half of the night."

"Haha, alright," Ka Gang said with a laugh.

Old Sha slowly walked to the side of the woods and casually surveyed the surrounding area. He was about to find a spot to continue resting when a faintly sweet fragrance gradually spread through the air.

Under the dim moonlight, Old Sha could vaguely see that the air around him seemed a little murkier. He instinctively became alert, Dou Qi surging through his body as he was about to raise his arm and shout a warning.

The next moment, a large hand that had long been prepared, carrying powerful Dou Qi, brutally pierced through Old Sha's chest.

He turned back in disbelief and looked at the familiar bald brute. His voice sounded like a broken bellows. "You... Scar!"

"Hehe, Old Sha, you're really unlucky. I originally planned to save this move for Ka Gang." Scar gave a sinister grin, his eyes filled with something eerie.

Old Sha was enraged and roared, "A mere Four-star Dou Practitioner like you dares to kill Ka Gang?"

"Urgh!"

Old Sha's eyes widened. His chest had been completely pierced through, and together with the faint poison in the air, this dignified Three-star Dou Practitioner died without even being able to use his Dou Qi.

Shaking the blood from his large hand, Scar playfully revealed a small crimson pill in his mouth and said mockingly, "Since we were making a move, there was no way I came alone."

The next moment, a dense mass of Bandits emerged from the woods in a steady stream, their figures concealed. While the Merchant Caravan's people were still asleep, they began wildly looting its resources.

Very quickly, the Bandits had completely surrounded the entire Merchant Caravan. The strongest among them possessed cultivation nearly approaching that of a Six-star Dou Practitioner; even Ka Gang was no match for him.

Caught in a sudden attack while asleep, Ka Gang could not even bring out seventy percent of his strength. Seeing that the situation was dire, he could not help shouting to Xiao Yan, who carried the heavy ruler on his back, "Little brother Yao Yan, there's no need for us to fight them to the death. If things get worse, prepare to withdraw!"

"Withdraw?"

Scar's voice rang out as he slowly emerged from the woods, the blood splashed across his facial scar making him look especially ferocious.

"If we let you escape and word gets out, we won't be able to bear the Chamber of Commerce's wrath."

Ka Gang was greatly shocked. Even the circulation of Dou Qi through his body slowed somewhat as he angrily shouted, "Scar, you actually betrayed the Merchant Caravan! Aren't you afraid of retaliation from the Mercenary Association?!"

"Haha. Ka Gang, I was never a mercenary in the first place. How can this be called betrayal?"

Scar's face was filled with smugness as he laughed wildly.

"You still can't see the situation for what it is. You really are stupid enough."

"You!"

At those words, Ka Gang's expression darkened. He had clearly realized that Scar and these Bandits had been in the same group all along.

Now that things had come to this, even with the strength of a Five-star Dou Practitioner, he was struggling to cope. His chances of surviving were exceedingly slim.

Suddenly, the previously silent Xiao Yan asked, "So all that time, you were trying to persuade me to stay with the Merchant Caravan because you were afraid I would leak word of this?"

Scar grinned without confirming or denying it. "Little brat, if you hadn't been so eager to leave, I was going to let you die comfortably in your sleep. Too bad you didn't appreciate the favor."

"Hehe, then I really was in the wrong."

Xiao Yan suddenly revealed a harmless smile.

"However, since I disrupted your plans, I'm afraid you won't be able to keep Uncle Ka Gang here."

"This kid is so calm. Could he have noticed it long ago?"

A dark glint flashed through Scar's eyes. Just as he was about to say something, the Five-star Dou Practitioner battling Ka Gang nearby immediately cursed at him, "Scar, why the hell are you wasting words with him? Hurry up and kill this kid, then come help! We absolutely cannot let Ka Gang escape!"

As he spoke, dark yellow Dou Qi coated his hands as he continued charging fiercely at Ka Gang.

After being berated, Scar's expression turned somewhat ugly. His gaze brimming with killing intent, he stared at the calm youth before him and roared, "Little brat, I'd like to see whether your cultivation can match that sharp tongue of yours."

Before his words had even faded, he fully unleashed the strength of a Four-star Dou Practitioner and launched a vicious attack at Xiao Yan from a tricky angle.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan's gaze narrowed. Dou Qi surged into the Mysterious Black Ruler as he swung it out with a thunderous roar!