Ambush Midway

Looking at Liu Xi, Xiao Tian curled his lips, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth as he said with a sinister smile, "Mr. Liu Xi, I can't believe I happened to interrupt such elegant entertainment. My apologies!"

With that, Xiao Tian walked to the bedside and looked down at Liu Xi, who was sitting half-upright on the bed, trembling violently. He asked mildly, "But speaking of which, I'm curious. Those men in black outside weren't Oba Family covert guards. So where exactly did they come from?"

In truth, Xiao Tian had been suspicious the instant those men in black appeared. Given Oba Pa's way of handling things, he definitely would not dare openly tear things apart with the Xiao Family and draw blades against them now. Yet this group had charged straight in without hesitation, fearless of death and decisive in killing. Clearly, someone else was pulling the strings behind them.

Hearing Xiao Tian's interrogation, Liu Xi's eyelids twitched. His entire body shuddered as he hurriedly explained, "Th-their origins? How would I know that?!"

"Oh~" Xiao Tian drew out the word, saying meaningfully, "It seems Mr. Liu Xi is quite the actor."

Before Liu Xi could speak, Xiao Tian suddenly swung the Zhanmadao in his hand.

Pfft—

The sharp blade slashed down fiercely. A severed little thing fell onto the bed, and bright-red blood immediately gushed out.

"Ahh~!" The intense pain twisted Liu Xi's face as he let out a miserable, shrill howl.

Looking at the chunk of flesh that had fallen by the foot of the bed, Liu Xi's face turned deathly pale. Beads of sweat the size of soybeans poured from his forehead, while his eyes brimmed with terror and despair.

"This slash was for all the innocent girls you ruined in Wutan City." As he spoke, Xiao Tian raised his hand and smacked the bloodstained blade against Liu Xi's cheek, saying calmly, "If you still refuse to tell me where they came from, the next slash may land on your neck."

At those words, Liu Xi shuddered. Suppressing the metallic sweetness rising in his throat, he pleaded in a trembling, terrified voice, "Don't... don't cut me. I'll talk. They were all helpers Gale Nu found. I think they were called the Wolf Head Mercenary Group!"

"Gale Nu?" Xiao Tian raised a brow and murmured in slight confusion.

When he had massacred the Gale Family last night, he had noticed that the Gale Family's Second Elder was absent. Presumably, he had gone out to carry out some task.

But Xiao Tian had not expected that the men in black who appeared earlier would actually be connected to Gale Nu.

These people killed without hesitation, carrying an iron-blooded, murderous aura. One look was enough to tell they were no good. Yet they were a mercenary group hired by Gale Nu.

At the foot of the mountains near Qingshan Town, many mercenary groups usually made their living hunting magical beasts. But there were also some utterly wicked mercenary groups that robbed merchant caravans and did dirty work for others.

These people were ruthless and cruel, willing to use any means to achieve their goals. They were no less vicious than executioners who killed without batting an eye.

"I... I've told you everything. Can I leave now?" Liu Xi said weakly, clutching his wound, his eyes filled with pleading and panic.

He gripped the severed little thing tightly in his hand. With his master's abilities, perhaps it could still be reattached if he brought it back.

Yet in the face of Liu Xi's humble, pleading gaze, Xiao Tian's expression remained as calm as still water. He shook his head indifferently.

"You... you..." Seeing Xiao Tian's response, Liu Xi felt a choking pressure in his chest. His eyes reddened as he glared at Xiao Tian with resentment.

"Xiao Tian, my master is a Fourth-grade Alchemist! If anything happens to me, he will never let you off! And the entire Xiao Family will be buried with me!" Gritting his teeth, Liu Xi continued threateningly.

Hearing this, Xiao Tian's lips curled slightly as he sneered, "A Fourth-grade Alchemist is indeed impressive. But if he dares come, I won't mind slaughtering him too!"

"You..." Faced with Xiao Tian's arrogant attitude, Liu Xi completely broke down. His face was so pale it was bloodless, the terror in his eyes growing ever more apparent as his entire body trembled uncontrollably.

Xiao Tian glanced at him expressionlessly. The Zhanmadao in his hand swung out once more as he said calmly, "You dared set your sights on Xun'er. You deserve to die. Go down and keep Gale Ao company!"

Swish—

The blade flashed, and a streak of cold light suddenly bloomed.

Pfft!

In an instant, a spray of hot blood shot from his neck. A head flew into the air, then rolled across the ground with a gurgle, gurgle. Its eyes, still wide with horror and venom, showed the unwillingness and regret he felt before death.

Xiao Tian casually wiped the blood from the Zhanmadao, cast an indifferent glance at the girl on the bed, whose face had long since gone pale with fright, then turned and left.

Night quietly descended, stars dotting the sky.

The moon was especially round tonight, its silvery glow reflecting amid the countless stars. The tranquil, leisurely scene was intoxicating.

Beside a winding, rugged trail, several dozen burly men roasted meat over a bonfire. An enticing fragrance filled the air.

All of these burly men wore uniform clothing bearing the Wolf Head insignia, their rough, scarred abdominal muscles exposed. Broad-shouldered and powerfully built, each radiated a dense murderous aura and a bloodthirsty, savage brutality.

"Yawn~!"

A refreshing cool breeze swept past, and one of the burly men yawned, rubbing his bleary eyes.

Yet in the next instant, his pupils abruptly shrank. At some point, a figure in a black robe had appeared in front of him.

"Who's there?!"

Sensing the man's reaction, everyone else sprang to their feet. They held their curved blades horizontally before them, staring solemnly at the dark figure ahead.

The black-robed figure slowly stepped forward and raised his head. His indifferent gaze swept over the crowd, revealing a young, handsome face with a wicked charm.

"It's actually you!" Upon seeing the newcomer's face clearly, an elderly man in blue robes among the crowd suddenly cried out in shock, his eyes filled with intense disbelief.

This man was none other than the Gale Family's Second Elder, Gale Nu.

Looking at Gale Nu, Xiao Tian's lips curved into an amused smile, as though he had long anticipated this scene. He said with a faint smile, "Elder Gale, you were lucky enough to escape with your life from the Gale Family last night. Who would have thought we'd meet again here today?"

Hearing this, Gale Nu's expression changed several times. In the end, the gloom on his face gradually turned to terror as he spoke in a trembling voice:

"Were you behind the Gale Family's massacre?"

Xiao Tian shrugged and smiled calmly. "As expected of the Gale Family's Second Elder. You catch on fast!"

Hearing this, Gale Nu's face turned ashen, and a towering wave of shock surged through his heart.

The Gale Family massacre from last night had already spread throughout Wutan City. Gale Nu, who had been out escorting medicinal ingredients, learned of it early that morning.

But he simply could not figure out who in Wutan City possessed the strength to wipe out the Gale Family—and even kill Clan Leader Gale Bi!

Today, he had paid a high price to hire the Wolf Head Mercenary Group to enter Wutan City and secretly gather information, while also passing a message to the alchemist Liu Xi.

Yet unexpectedly, the mercenaries sent to gather intelligence had still not returned.

Gale Nu probably still did not know that those mercenaries had long since been bought off and used by Liu Xi, only to be slaughtered by Xiao Tian afterward.

"Gale old man, why waste words with a brat?"

At that moment, a burly man stepped out from the crowd impatiently. He fixed Xiao Tian with a grim gaze and shouted:

"Brat, you've got some nerve acting tough in front of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group! Since you came here to die, I'll grant your wish. Brothers, grab your weapons and get him! Kill this little bastard!"

At the burly man's command, dozens of muscular men around him simultaneously drew sharp weapons from their robes and charged at Xiao Tian.