A Dark, Windy Night Is Perfect for Murder and Arson

When Xiao Yan dawdled back to the group, he found that the mercenaries resting in place had already finished recuperating.

"Brother Xiao Yan, that sure was a long piss!"

Several mercenaries who had spoken with Xiao Yan earlier laughed and teased him.

"Oh, I ran into a magical beast and killed it while I was at it."

As Xiao Yan spoke, he opened his palm to reveal a bloodstained green Magical Core.

"Whoa, it's actually the Magical Core of a first-tier Swift Wind Wolf! Those beasts are incredibly fast and cunning. The moment they can't win, they immediately run away. Brother Xiao Yan, you killed one by yourself?"

At those words, the surrounding mercenaries looked at him with respect.

"Chasing that thing took some time."

Xiao Yan smiled and explained.

"Then that makes sense!"

Everyone nodded, clearly agreeing with Xiao Yan's explanation.

But in truth, Xiao Yan had merely removed the Heavy Profound Ruler for a moment, pulled the wolf over with the Sucking Palm, then smashed its internal organs to pieces with a single Eight Extremities Collapse.

Had he not been lucky enough to obtain the Magical Core, he would have had to bring the wolf's corpse back as well to cover his tracks.

Otherwise, people might notice that there was some sort of connection between him and Xiao Yi Xian.

After all, although Xiao Yi Xian had probably been reborn and those Dou Zhes could not harm her with her poison techniques, her own strength was not particularly formidable. If something unexpected happened, it would be troublesome.

"Young Brother Xiao Yan, you must be the talented youngster who had a little misunderstanding with my son Mu Li yesterday, right? I am Mu She, deputy commander of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. What happened last night was my son's immaturity. Young Brother Xiao Yan, please don't take it to heart. I wonder if you have any intention of joining a mercenary group? Our Wolf Head Mercenary Group would be delighted to have you!"

Mu She suddenly parted the crowd and walked over, his face full of smiles as he voiced his intention to recruit him.

Xiao Yan truly had not expected Mu She to be leading the Wolf Head Mercenary Group on this mission into the Monster Mountain Range.

However, judging by his aura, he indeed had yet to reach the Dou Master realm.

"There was no misunderstanding. Deputy Commander Mu's family discipline is truly lacking. You tried to forcibly snatch something someone else had already bought. It is only because I am kindhearted that I let it go. If it had been anyone else, a Ninth-Stage Dou Qi cultivator taking the initiative to attack a Dou Zhe would have died who knew how many times already. Now you want to brush the matter aside with a few casual words? That is hardly sincere."

Xiao Yan shook his head and spoke indifferently.

If Mu She were a Dou Master, Xiao Yan might have been wary of him. But he was merely a nine-star Dou Zhe—Xiao Yan was not incapable of fighting him!

Besides, Mu She could not truly be inviting him into the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. Along the way, several members of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group had always been mixed in among the mercenaries around him. It was clearly surveillance.

"Hehe, in that case, I shall prepare sufficient sincerity before coming to recruit you again, Young Brother Xiao Yan. I also hope you will give it some thought. The high positions of our Wolf Head Mercenary Group are always open to people with potential."

Despite Xiao Yan's utterly disrespectful reply, Mu She merely waved his hand unconcernedly and smiled.

Xiao Yan neither agreed nor disagreed, turning and walking into the crowd.

As he watched Xiao Yan disappear into the crowd, Mu She slowly narrowed his eyes. The smile on his face gradually faded, and a faint chill flashed deep within his pupils.

Before long, the group set out once more. After a stretch of uneventful travel, they finally reached their destination—a sunken basin blanketed in medicinal herbs.

All kinds of medicinal herbs grew within the basin, and their distinctive fragrant aroma was refreshing and soothing.

"Everyone, set up camp here. Be careful not to damage the medicinal herbs around us."

Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Xiao Yi Xian turned around and smiled gently at the group.

At Xiao Yi Xian's words, the surrounding mercenaries immediately answered loudly, then eagerly began setting up their tents.

Xiao Yan had no intention of helping with the work. He wandered through the basin on his own and, while no one was paying attention, secretly harvested medicinal herbs.

Old Yao needed several herbs to concoct a spirit liquid called Blood Burning. This liquid could speed up the cultivation of fire-attribute techniques. Xiao Yan possessed most of the required ingredients, but not in great quantities. There happened to be some here, so taking them now would save him the trouble of worrying about medicinal herbs later.

The basin was enormous, and even the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion had not fully explored its interior terrain. Their current location was merely the outer edge of this vast basin.

Only after he had gathered enough herbs did Xiao Yan return to camp. After chatting with the mercenaries for a while and finishing dinner, he entered his tent early to cultivate.

It was not until midnight, when the moon was dark, the wind was high, and the camp had fallen completely silent, that Xiao Yan quietly slipped from his tent and stealthily made his way out of camp.

Xiao Yi Xian was already waiting outside the camp. When she saw Xiao Yan emerge, she smiled and nodded.

"Let's go. I have everything prepared. No one will disturb us."

"Alright."

Xiao Yan froze for a moment before realizing that Xiao Yi Xian had probably drugged the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's people with sleeping poison.

After all, she had once experienced being followed and surrounded by the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. Even if she was certain their destination would not be exposed, she would still cautiously maximize the safety of this trip.

Thus, the two traveled side by side toward the cave.

Inside the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's tent.

Mu She's face was ashen. He could not say a single word, and his body was limp and powerless, unable to move.

His Dou Qi would not circulate, his life force was slowly yet clearly draining away, and his eyes were filled with despair.

Originally, he had intended to secretly eliminate Xiao Yan tonight.

But now, he could do nothing.

He had been poisoned.

Moreover, the poison was extremely strange, leaving him with no chance to detoxify himself or struggle.

But he could not understand how he had been poisoned!

And who had done this?

Throughout the day, aside from eating dinner with his subordinates, he had only drunk a cup of tea Xiao Yi Xian handed him. He had not touched anything else. How could he have been poisoned?

Wait, the tea?

Could it have been Xiao Yi Xian?

He had never heard that she knew how to concoct poison.

Besides, why would she make a move against him? There was no reason!

Could it have been because of that brat Xiao Yan?

They had merely been involved in buying some medicine. Logically, it should not have come to this.

Then... could it have been one of his own men?

As Mu She thought in terror, he discovered that the poison in his body seemed to be weakening. His Dou Qi gradually became active again, and strength returned to his limp body. Yet he failed to notice that his eyes had already turned an eerie purple.

"Big Brother?"

Seeing Mu She suddenly rise, Gan Mu, who had been awakened by the commotion nearby, asked in confusion.

Splat!

In the next instant, a long spear pierced through Gan Mu's heart!

Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. As he looked at Mu She's ghostly purple eyes, Gan Mu's gaze was filled with incomprehension. But at this moment, Mu She clearly had no intention of giving anyone an explanation.

He wanted to kill everyone present!