The Wanted Duo

Xiao Yi Xian's heart felt a warmth it had never known before. Seeing the breakfast Li Xingluo had prepared for her, she recalled the difficult years she had spent struggling alone, without even a single friend to call her own.

The man before her had spared no cost to protect her yesterday. He must have known the consequences, yet he had done it anyway. Xiao Yi Xian's beautiful eyes misted over. A friend? She truly hoped this was real.

Seeing Xiao Yi Xian standing there blankly, making no move to eat, Li Xingluo teased, "What, are you afraid I poisoned it?"

He chuckled after saying it. In truth, Li Xingluo knew that Xiao Yi Xian was a living poison body herself; what poison could possibly fell her? But this gesture of his had amused her nonetheless.

She sat down slowly, picked up the breakfast prepared for her, and took a gentle bite. A sense of warmth welled up in her heart.

"I forgot to tell you, I'm a master of poison. Be careful."

Xiao Yi Xian waved her hand, her eyes as pure as snow, accompanied by a healing smile that left Li Xingluo momentarily dazed.

He pulled his gaze away and returned to his cultivation. The rising sun was neither as scorching as the midday heat nor as gloomy as the dusk; it brought with it a sense of new life and intense warmth.

Xiao Yi Xian did not forget to lick the food residue from her fingers.

"Finished eating?"

"Mm!"

"I'll see you back to the Herb Gathering Group!"

"Okay." It was a simple exchange, yet she dared not hope for such a friend.

With few words spoken, Li Xingluo led the way along the path provided by Xiao Yi Xian.

She followed closely, watching his back. Perhaps... At this thought, her face, previously full of smiles, darkened. Perhaps this is just wishful thinking.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice Li Xingluo stop. She bumped straight into him and nearly cried out, but Li Xingluo made a shushing gesture.

Xiao Yi Xian didn't understand why, until Li Xingluo pointed toward the patrolling Wolf Head Mercenary Group ahead.

Their conversation drifted clearly into their ears.

"This Li Xingluo is truly bold, daring to kill members of the mercenary group."

"Indeed. I heard this Li Xingluo was part of that small squad."

"It seems it was all for a woman."

The leader of the patrol couldn't stand it any longer; he stopped and turned to bark at his men.

"Open your eyes and look clearly! The Young Master has issued a kill order: dead or alive. Five thousand gold coins for his corpse, ten thousand for him alive!"

Hearing the bounty, everyone's eyes lit up. It was certainly a significant sum.

At least in Green Mountain Town, it was a fortune. As expected, the moment the leader finished speaking, the squad members shouted in unison, "Yes, Captain!"

The captain nodded in satisfaction and led his squad away to continue searching for Li Xingluo's tracks. He noticed the captain holding a portrait; although they were some distance away, he could vaguely distinguish that the person in the drawing was himself.

Watching the patrol disappear into the distance, Li Xingluo finally let out a sigh of relief.

Seeing Li Xingluo like this, Xiao Yi Xian couldn't help but feel a surge of guilt.

"I... you... I'm sorry, this is all because of me."

Li Xingluo simply laughed. Some things could not be done, and some things must be done.

"I haven't wanted to stay in that mercenary group for a long time anyway; this has nothing to do with you. I would have helped anyone else in the same situation. Those people aren't fit to be called human."

"But..."

"I understand what you mean, but don't worry. They won't succeed in catching or killing me. Let's get you back to the Herb Gathering Group first. As for my affairs, rest assured, I will be fine."

Li Xingluo comforted Xiao Yi Xian, seeing the worry in her eyes.

Li Xingluo was well aware of his current predicament, but he didn't want this simple-hearted girl to worry about him.

He kept a smile on his face, acting as if he didn't take the Wolf Head Mercenary Group seriously at all. They encountered a few more patrols along the way, but the two of them skillfully avoided them.

"Since when was a checkpoint set up here?"

They were only a short distance from the Herb Gathering Group camp when they found their path blocked by a blockade.

"What should we do?"

"I'll go out and draw them away; you slip past while you have the chance."

"No!" Xiao Yi Xian saw that there were eight men at the checkpoint and grew anxious for Li Xingluo's safety.

"There is no 'no' about it. If I'm not mistaken, your portrait is likely being circulated now as well. Only by showing myself and drawing them away can you escape this crisis. Don't worry, I'm not that easy to kill."

Li Xingluo cast a reassuring smile at Xiao Yi Xian, and before she could react, he had already darted out of the bushes.

The Wolf Head Mercenary Group members at the checkpoint saw someone emerge from the brush.

"Who are you?"

"Why does he look familiar?"

"Indeed."

"Right! That's Li Xingluo, the one the Young Master has a bounty on! Men, seize him!"

In the eyes of these men, Li Xingluo was nothing but cold, hard cash. At the captain's command, his subordinates rushed forward eagerly.

One man ran the fastest, swinging his blade toward Li Xingluo. Li Xingluo remained calm, disarming the man with his bare hands before turning the blade back to kill him.

Looking at the corpse lying on the ground, the few who had just charged forward came to a sudden halt; they had not expected this Li Xingluo to be so formidable.

"What are you all standing there for? He's just one person, get him!"

The squad leader's words took effect, and the remaining six men raised their blades and charged toward Li Xingluo.

Hiding in the shrubbery, Xiao Yi Xian nearly cried out at the sight, but she managed to cover her mouth just in time; she was worried for him.

Unexpectedly, seeing the six men rushing at him together, Li Xingluo turned on his heels and ran, leaving the six of them momentarily stunned.

"What are you dazed for? He's just one man and we are seven. He clearly saw he couldn't beat us and ran away. Hurry up and chase him! This is money we're talking about—don't you want it?"

The squad leader was truly worthy of his position; with just a few words, he ignited the fighting spirit of his subordinates, who all chased after him as if they had been injected with adrenaline.

Seeing that the group had moved far away, Xiao Yi Xian crawled out of the bushes. Gazing in the direction where Li Xingluo had disappeared, her beautiful eyes dimmed, and her complexion turned ghastly pale.

Li Xingluo, I will remember you. We will certainly meet again. With a sorrowful expression, Xiao Yi Xian turned and passed through the checkpoint.

Li Xingluo ran to the edge of a pool, and seeing that everyone from the checkpoint had caught up, he let out a long sigh of relief.

The seven men who had pursued him all the way saw Li Xingluo stop running and assumed he was afraid.

"Kid, why aren't you running anymore? Keep running! But even if you run, you can't outrun us. You'd better just obediently come back with us; that way, you might at least live a little longer."

The squad leader's gaze was filled with contempt, and his tone was dripping with disdain.

Li Xingluo smiled. He hadn't been running away; if he hadn't left to make it easier for Xiao Yi Xian to escape, a fight might have drawn others and put her in danger. Now that he was alone, he could finally let loose.

"You, or are you going to come first?"

Li Xingluo pointed at the seven men opposite him, using the same arrogant, triumphant gesture the squad leader had used, his attitude extremely insolent.

"Get him! Dead or alive!"

At the squad leader's command, the six men lunged at Li Xingluo in unison, but instead of retreating, Li Xingluo advanced toward them.

In just a few simple exchanges, the six men lay on the ground forever, their blood staining the grass red.

Dragging his blood-slicked blade, Li Xingluo fixed his fierce gaze firmly on the squad leader.

"Have you decided how you want to die?"

"Kid, don't get cocky. You're just a two-star Dou Practitioner, while I am a six-star Dou Practitioner."

With that, the squad leader drew his long blade, gathering his strength to deliver a fatal blow to Li Xingluo.

"I'll use you to test out my new Dou Technique!"

"Earth-Splitting Slash!"

Li Xingluo raised the blade in his hand, pouring his Dou Qi into it, his eyes flickering with light.

Seeing the squad leader charge forward, Li Xingluo did not hesitate. He swung his blade, the shadow of the steel slicing through the air, carrying a massive surge of energy as it slammed into the squad leader.