Those Who Recognize the Times Are Heroes

"Make way! Make way!"

Several fierce-looking mercenaries shoved their way into the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion and lined up in formation.

Then, a fairly handsome young man swaggered in and headed straight toward Xiao Yan.

"He's Mu Li, the son of Mu She, vice leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, one of Green Mountain Town's three major mercenary groups. He's quite infatuated with Xiao Yi Xian and often buys Healing Medicine here. Since you're standing here, he'll definitely know you bought the last few bottles. He probably won't let this go. Little brother, leave quickly. I'll try to cover for you."

Seeing the young man approaching, the one-armed shop clerk hurriedly spoke.

"What's your name?"

Xiao Yan smiled noncommittally at his words and looked at the one-armed clerk.

"Lin Xiao."

After saying that, Lin Xiao stepped past Xiao Yan and went to greet Mu Li.

"Young Master Mu Li, are you here to buy Healing Medicine again? Unfortunately, it sold out earlier today. That little brother wanted to buy some too, but he couldn't get any either."

As Lin Xiao spoke, he glanced at Xiao Yan and gave him a meaningful look.

"Mm, I didn't bring much Healing Medicine when I left home, so I was planning to replenish my supply. Too bad I came too late."

After saying that, Xiao Yan headed directly for the door.

"Hey, wait!"

Mu Li raised a hand at those words, and the mercenaries lined up by the entrance immediately blocked Xiao Yan's path.

"You said the Healing Medicine had sold out long ago?"

Mu Li then turned to another young clerk and asked with a smile.

The young clerk became somewhat flustered.

Though Mu Li looked rather handsome, he was truly rotten to the core. Previously, a mercenary had disliked the sight of him and merely mocked him a few times. Within a day, that person had vanished from Green Mountain Town. Later, Mu Li discovered the corpse in the Monster Mountain Range.

Anyone with eyes knew that mercenary had been taken out by men Mu Li had sent.

"I'm talking to you!"

Mu Li's expression suddenly darkened.

How could the young clerk withstand such intimidation? He immediately pointed at Xiao Yan.

"There were five bottles left. He bought them all."

After saying that, he lowered his head in shame, not daring to look at Xiao Yan.

As soon as those words came out, Lin Xiao's expression changed. He quickly shielded Xiao Yan behind him.

"Heh heh, you said they sold out long ago, while he said they were just sold out. Who do you think I should believe?"

An amused smile appeared on Mu Li's face. Though he was asking Lin Xiao, his eyes were fixed on Xiao Yan.

"Is it really worth making such a fuss over five bottles of Healing Medicine?"

Xiao Yan looked troubled, sighed, and spoke.

"Then give me the medicine."

Thinking Xiao Yan had chickened out, Mu Li replied blandly.

"You're in such a rush to get it. What, are you sick?"

Xiao Yan's shocking words startled Lin Xiao. Whose kid was this? He was far too hot-blooded!

"Kid, it seems you won't drink a toast until you're forced to drink a forfeit!"

Rather than getting angry, Mu Li revealed an unrestrained smile.

Quite a few people nearby showed sympathetic expressions. This young man carrying a huge ruler was in deep trouble after provoking Mu Li!

"Don't say this young master didn't give you a chance. If you can last ten exchanges against me, I'll let you leave. If you can't, then prepare to leave something behind!"

A cruel smile appeared on Mu Li's face. He then took a Black Iron Broadsword from his Storage Ring and assumed an opening combat stance.

He could not discern Xiao Yan's cultivation, but judging by his age, he was most likely one of those people at the fourth or fifth stage of Dou Qi, whose aura was so weak it could barely be sensed. With his strength at the ninth stage of Dou Qi, dealing with such a brat would take more than three exchanges, let alone ten!

"?"

Xiao Yan frowned slightly.

What the hell was he babbling about?

He hadn't even cultivated Dou Qi yet, and he wanted to fight me?

Xiao Yan reached out with an empty grasp toward Mu Li. A powerful suction force burst forth, dragging him over and seizing him by the throat.

"An exchange requires both sides to trade blows. Against you, I won't even need one exchange."

Xiao Yan clenched Mu Li's neck tightly, precisely exerting force through the muscles in his palm to compress his two carotid arteries. Deprived of blood flow to the brain, Mu Li was forcibly knocked unconscious.

"Young Master!"

Seeing Mu She assume a stance only to be seized through the air by Xiao Yan and squeezed unconscious in less than three seconds, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's mercenaries were struck dumb with horror.

They were all old members of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, so they naturally understood what kind of person Vice Leader Mu She was.

If they simply watched Xiao Yan leave safely, then within a month, the few of them would likely die in all manner of accidents.

That man would truly do anything for his son!

"Release the young master!"

Six mercenaries, their faces fierce, charged at Xiao Yan with weapons in hand.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan remained unhurried. Like a little adult, he reached out and patted Lin Xiao on the shoulder, saying calmly,

"Sorry, but you won't be able to stay here from today onward. Find somewhere else to hide for a while. Come back in a year."

As his words fell, Xiao Yan's foot stomped fiercely against the ground.

Explosive Step!

As he shouted inwardly, an explosive boom rang out within the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion. Then, before the eyes of several bystanders gathered at the entrance, two figures flew backward from inside and crashed into an open patch of ground that had just appeared in the crowd, vomiting blood.

Xiao Yan, meanwhile, leaped out of the shop while carrying Mu Li and landed on the stone-paved ground, leaving behind two deep footprints.

Though the Heavy Profound Ruler suppressed him and only allowed him to deal with three-star Dou Zhe, that was assuming his opponents were geniuses like him who had mastered several Mystic Tier Dou Techniques and Earth Tier cultivation methods.

Against ordinary Dou Zhe who cultivated Yellow Tier methods and Yellow Tier Dou Techniques, Xiao Yan would be difficult to injure, let alone kill, unless they exhausted all of his Dou Qi.

Xiao Yan did not even need to use a Dou Technique. Relying solely on the fire-attributed Dou Qi amplified by the Heavenly Flames, he kicked twice and directly crippled those two men on the spot.

As for the remaining four...

After chasing outside and seeing their two four-star Dou Zhe companions severely wounded and unconscious on the ground, their eyes filled with apprehension.

Even though the four of them were six-star Dou Zhe, they could not possibly defeat two four-star Dou Zhe who had lived by the blade in a single move.

Could this youth, who looked no older than sixteen or seventeen, truly possess such strength?

Could he be a genius young man from some great clan or powerful faction, out here gaining experience?

If that was the case, they would rather flee Green Mountain Town than provoke such a troublesome enemy!

At that thought, the four exchanged glances. Without caring about Mu Li in Xiao Yan's hand or their two mercenary brothers lying on the ground, they turned and fled toward the outskirts of Green Mountain Town. Only a somewhat panicked voice drifted back on the wind from afar.

"Little brother, your strength is formidable. We admit defeat. Mu Li's father is Mu She, vice leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. He has already reached the peak of Dou Zhe and is a man who never forgives a slight. You injured his son today, so you'd better be careful in the future!"