The Tusk Mercenary Group

Zhao Xin and Hu Long hurried into the grass and surrounded Mu Yu Die.

Mu Yu Die, who had been hiding in the grass, stood up sheepishly. Her cheeks flushed as she stole a distant glance at Shi Yan, thinking, This is so embarrassing.

But Mu Yu Die soon realized her concern was unnecessary. After taking one look, she saw that Shi Yan wasn't paying any attention to her at all. His dark eyes were fixed on the direction Luo Hao had rushed off in, like a beast lying in wait.

A Greater Celestial Circuit quickly completed a cycle through Shi Yan's body. The numbness and soreness gradually eased. With a grim expression, he silently recovered his strength while keeping watch on the area where Luo Hao had gone.

"Keep after it! The Fire Cloud Yao Python is almost done for. Stay close, and don't let it escape!"

"Loose! Hurry, loose!"

"Whoosh! Whoosh-whoosh!"

Shouts came from the woods not far away. Arrows shot swiftly through the air in pursuit of their quarry.

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly, a blaze erupted in the woods, swallowing the entire area. Thick smoke curled upward through the trees, choking people until they coughed.

"Crack! Boom! Thud-thud-thud!"

The sounds of ancient trees splintering, arrows streaking through the air, and a running battle rang out in quick succession. A fierce fight was unfolding in the woods nearby.

"Someone's there!" a voice suddenly cried out from the woods, its tone hostile. "Are you trying to steal our kill?"

"Don't misunderstand. I only stopped the Fire Cloud Yao Python from escaping that way so it wouldn't hurt my people." Luo Hao's voice came from the woods. It sounded as though he had gotten into an argument with someone.

"Hmph! Our Tusk Mercenary Group has been tracking that Fire Cloud Yao Python for half a month. You'd better not stick your nose into this."

"I told you, I'm not interested in this level-four yao beast," Luo Hao explained.

"Uncle Luo seems to have gotten into an argument with someone. Let's go take a look." Mu Yu Die frowned and craned her neck from the grass, but she couldn't see what was happening. Anxiety rose in her heart.

"Let's go see!" Hu Long snorted. "I've heard of the Tusk Mercenary Group. They don't have a good reputation. Uncle Luo had better not get himself hurt."

"Then let's hurry over." Mu Yu Die grew even more anxious at his words.

"All right."

Zhao Xin nodded and said to Hu Long and Di Ya Lan, "When we go over, we still need to keep Miss Mu surrounded. Even if a fight breaks out, her safety comes first."

"Don't be ridiculous. Do you really need to tell me that?" Di Ya Lan said impatiently.

The four of them whispered among themselves, then quietly slipped out of the grass and headed toward Luo Hao.

Shi Yan didn't hurry. He waited a while before slowly getting to his feet.

Feeling the vitality in his meridians stirring, he first moved his hands and feet a little, making sure fatigue hadn't dulled his reflexes too much. Only then did he unhurriedly head in the direction the four had gone.

"Hey!" someone cried out in delight. "Beauties! Heh, there are two beauties here! I've been hanging around this place for two months and haven't seen beauties of this caliber before."

"Captain, you promised we could satisfy our needs while we were here. You can't go back on your word!"

"Shut up. Can't you see they're already spoken for?"

Shi Yan sauntered over, frowning as he surveyed the area.

On the ground lay a huge python, seven or eight meters long, its body covered in flame-shaped markings. Firelight glimmered along its tail, and arrows bristled from its body. A bloody hole between its eyes was still gurgling blood.

Eight mercenaries in identical martial artist uniforms surrounded the Fire Cloud Yao Python. Each had a tusk tattoo on the exposed part of his left arm. They were all tall, brawny men with rough features, and even the weakest had reached the Innate Realm.

Their leader had short brown hair that stood up like steel needles. A long scar ran down the left side of his face and continued to his neck, making him look especially savage.

As Shi Yan approached, he saw the Tusk Mercenary Group members rubbing their hands together, their eyes gleaming as they looked Mu Yu Die and Di Ya Lan up and down. The lewd intent in their eyes was plain to see.

Only the captain didn't look at Mu Yu Die and Di Ya Lan. He stood with a grim expression, facing Luo Hao. His right hand was tucked into his sleeve, where flashes of silver light appeared from time to time, as though he were ready to strike at any moment.

"Go home and look at your mother!" Under the mercenaries' lecherous gazes, Di Ya Lan was the first to lose her temper and curse them out.

"Haha, this girl's got fire! Just my type!" A coarse mercenary with a bare chest and a thick mat of hair laughed loudly, slapping his thigh. "Captain, I want this one!"

"Come and get me!" Di Ya Lan drew the short sword at her waist and took up a fighting stance. "Come on! Let's see if you've got the guts!"

"Haha, here I come!" The burly man was thrilled and started to charge.

"Tu Mu!" Barnard gave a quiet warning, then said evenly, "Anything can be discussed. Don't act rashly."

"Got it, Captain." The hairy-chested man named Tu Mu grinned. He thrust his hips toward Di Ya Lan and leered. "Babe, in a bit, we'll strip and wrestle flesh to flesh. Now that's the good stuff. Then you'll learn just how powerful I am!"

"I'll cut off that little piece of yours," Di Ya Lan replied with a fearless sneer.

Mu Yu Die's delicate brows knit together, disgust plain on her pretty face, but she said nothing, as if she were already used to this.

"Who told you to come over?" Luo Hao's heart skipped a beat. This is bad. He knew these mercenaries' habits well. The mercenaries who hunted yao beasts in this region lived with their lives hanging by a thread; any day, a beast might tear them apart.

Under that constant pressure, people who roamed this area cared nothing for morality or the law. They often resorted to burning, killing, looting, and pillaging.

Mu Yu Die and Di Ya Lan were both beauties, and beauties were scarce commodities here. Their tender bodies were the best way to relieve the pressure. So the moment Luo Hao saw them come out, he knew trouble was brewing.

Shi Yan silently walked over and stood beside Luo Hao, discreetly sizing up the Tusk Mercenary Group.

"Tu Mu!" the Tusk Mercenary Group's captain, Barnard, barked. The scar on his face twitched, and his expression turned savage. "Strip it!" As he spoke, his cold gaze swept over Luo Hao, Shi Yan, and the others. Silver light gleamed inside his sleeve.

"Yes!" Tu Mu stopped teasing Di Ya Lan and waved. Three more mercenaries came forward with daggers. The four of them, covered in blood, set to work on the Fire Cloud Yao Python. They expertly skinned it and pulled out its tendons, gouged out its eyes, and carefully pried out its fangs one by one.

Barnard and the three mercenaries remaining at his side kept their cold eyes on Luo Hao and the others. If Luo Hao's group made even the slightest move, they would attack at once.

Luo Hao's face darkened. His broad sword glimmered faintly in his hand. "We have no interest in the Fire Cloud Yao Python. Carry on. We'll leave now." He could tell Barnard was no pushover and didn't want to invite trouble. He just wanted to get Mu Yu Die somewhere safe as soon as possible.

When Barnard saw that Luo Hao and the others were really about to leave, he paused in surprise, then suddenly called out, "Wait."

Luo Hao turned around, his expression suddenly turning cold. He snorted. "We don't want any trouble with you, but don't push us too far."

"Heh." Barnard smiled, his expression softening. "You've got the wrong idea, friend. I meant no offense. I just want to make a deal with you."

"What deal?" Luo Hao asked, taken aback.

"One eye, three fangs, and two meters of python hide in exchange for the two women." Barnard pointed at Mu Yu Die and Di Ya Lan, smiling. "My brothers have been pent up for a long time and need some relief. Women around here all have a price. I think this is a fair one. What do you say?"

"Damn it!" Hu Long's eyes were practically spitting fire.

Zhao Xin gave a cold snort. Mu Yu Die gritted her teeth lightly, while Di Ya Lan waved her short sword and shouted, "Come and take us if you dare!"

Only Shi Yan narrowed his eyes and said nothing.

Luo Hao restrained Di Ya Lan from acting rashly, then gently shook his head at her. Turning around, he said calmly, "Sorry. They're my companions, not my property. I wouldn't trade them for anything."

"Oh, then forget it." Barnard nodded casually. "Until we meet again."

"Until we meet again." Luo Hao gave him a long look, then called out, "Let's go!"

Luo Hao glared at Di Ya Lan, telling her not to say anything, and motioned for her to leave quickly.

Zhao Xin and Hu Long were seething, but under Luo Hao's gaze, they didn't dare to act. They could only obediently surround Mu Yu Die and leave. Shi Yan rubbed his nose, offered no opinion, and followed them.

"Captain, are we doing it the usual way this time?" After Luo Hao's group disappeared into the woods, Tu Mu grinned wickedly. "We know your tastes, Captain, and won't fight you for the little girl. But you'll have to let us get a taste of that fiery woman."

Barnard's eyes grew colder and colder. He nodded lightly. "First collect the materials from the python. Then we'll do things the usual way."

"Understood." Tu Mu gave a cruel sneer. "That bitch wants to cut off my manhood. I'm going to fuck her to death later!"

"She's a thorny flower. She's a little weaker than you, but she's still at the Innate Third Heaven Realm. Be careful, or you might capsize in the gutter," Barnard said with a snort. "Remember to kill the men first. Don't get so busy with the women that you forget yourselves. No one gets away!"

"Yes!"