Shimo City

"Wujiu, where are we going next?"

Xiao Yi Xian was still somewhat shaken by what had just happened. One of the Ice Emperor, one of the Empire's ten greatest experts, had actually secluded himself in a map shop in Mo City, drawing maps.

It seemed that as long as she followed Xiao Wujiu, she would always encounter all sorts of strange and novel things. She found it especially fascinating.

"This time, we're going to Shimo City to visit my two cousins. You can stay there for a while," Xiao Wujiu said as he took her to buy some necessities. "The desert is simply too dangerous. There's a good chance I'll run into some of its inhabitants, so I may not be able to look after you. Just wait for me there."

He turned and rubbed her head. "Focus on training there and try to break through to Dou Master as soon as possible. Once this is over, I'll take you home."

Xiao Yi Xian had originally been a little unhappy, feeling that she could not help Xiao Wujiu. But upon hearing the words "take you home," her attention was diverted once more.

"Who wants to go home with you..."

"Alright, alright. Then we won't go home."

"How dare you!"

Shimo City.

This was a border city of the Jia Ma Empire, bordering the Snake-People Empire, with powerful experts stationed here year-round.

At the same time, it was also a place where countless mercenaries gathered.

There were three major mercenary groups here: the Mo Tie Mercenary Group, the Storm Mercenary Group, and the Sand Mercenary Group.

These three groups represented the strongest mercenary forces in Shimo City.

Among them, the Mo Tie Mercenary Group had been founded by the two Xiao Clan brothers, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.

Xiao Wujiu brought Xiao Yi Xian across the desert and, following the map Hai Bodong had given him, soon arrived at this enormous city.

Security here was equally strict, and fully armed soldiers on patrol could be seen everywhere throughout the city.

After arriving in Shimo City, he led Xiao Yi Xian toward the southern part of the city, where the Mo Tie Mercenary Group was located.

Mo Tie Mercenary Group.

This mercenary group occupied an area comparable to the Xiao Clan compound. Deep within it, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were discussing how the mercenary group should develop in the future.

At that moment, a knock sounded from outside.

"Captains, someone at the gate claims to be Xiao Wujiu. He has also brought a young woman and says he has come to see you. Shall we let him in?"

"Xiao Wujiu?!"

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged glances, both seeing delight in the other's eyes. They hurriedly rose and headed for the gate.

After passing down a small path and through several courtyard gates, they arrived at the entrance to the mercenary group and saw that familiar figure.

"Wujiu, it really is you!"

Xiao Li looked overjoyed. He strode quickly to Xiao Wujiu, gave him a fierce hug, and only then released him.

Only now did Xiao Wujiu have the chance to study Xiao Li carefully. Dressed in mercenary attire, he stood tall and straight, with a sincere smile in his dark eyes. Behind him stood Xiao Ding in white robes, his eyes brighter than most and carrying traces of wisdom and a hidden, deep cunning. He, too, was smiling.

"Cousins, it's been a long time."

There was warmth in his eyes, and no trace of unfamiliarity in his tone.

"I never expected your travels would bring you all the way here."

Xiao Ding patted Xiao Wujiu on the shoulder and spoke with some emotion.

In truth, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had never been distant from Xiao Wujiu. It could even be said that they had been quite close since childhood.

Unlike the affection they showed Xiao Yan, the two of them had placed great importance on this younger cousin. During Xiao Yan's proudest years, they had even used Xiao Wujiu as the "other family's child" to lecture Xiao Yan.

They would say that Xiao Wujiu was low-key, humble, and courteous, and tell Xiao Yan to learn from him.

However, Xiao Yan had never thought much of Xiao Wujiu, who was weaker than him yet known alongside him as one of the Twin Stars.

After Xiao Ding and Xiao Li kept saying such things, it became even more impossible for them to be close. This was also one of the reasons Xiao Yan believed he knew Xiao Wujiu so well.

More importantly, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li would sometimes bring Xiao Wujiu cultivation resources and took rather good care of him.

That was also why his sense of belonging to the Xiao Clan was still fairly strong. People were not made of stone; who could truly be without feeling?

So when Xiao Wujiu came here, the two of them were naturally very pleasantly surprised.

"Aren't you going to introduce this young lady?"

Xiao Ding looked at Xiao Yi Xian standing beside them, his eyes teasing as he glanced at Xiao Wujiu.

Xiao Li also noticed the person standing nearby and raised his brows suggestively at Xiao Wujiu.

"This is Xiao Yi Xian, a companion I met during my travels."

As he spoke, he took Xiao Yi Xian's soft hand and drew her to his side. He was open and composed, making their relationship self-evident.

Since their relationship had already been established to a certain extent, he had no intention of hiding it. He would own up to it and take responsibility!

"You're something else, kid. It hasn't been long, and you've already coaxed her into following you everywhere?"

Xiao Li lightly punched Xiao Wujiu in the chest, his voice full of emotion. Without realizing it, Xiao Wujiu, who had once devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation, had grown up so much!

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian also became shy. After all, as Xiao Wujiu had put it, how was this any different from meeting his family?

"Enough. You're the leader of a mercenary group now, yet you still have no proper bearing."

"They're family..."

Xiao Ding was attentive by nature. He noticed Xiao Yi Xian's shy appearance and formed a rough guess about the relationship between the two. Smiling, he spoke to Xiao Li.

"Xiao Yi Xian, right? I'm Xiao Ding, and this is my younger brother, Xiao Li. He's rather boisterous, but he isn't wrong. We'll all be family from now on, so there's no need to be nervous."

"If Wujiu ever treats you badly, tell me. I'll give him a talking-to for you."

Xiao Ding was skilled at dealing with people. With just a few words, he made the atmosphere much more harmonious. While easing the tension, he also drew Xiao Yi Xian into the conversation.

Hearing that, Xiao Wujiu silently gave Xiao Ding a thumbs-up. What a perfect assist!

"Come on. You must be tired after coming all this way. Let's go inside and talk."

With that, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li led the two of them into the Mo Tie Mercenary Group. This scene was also witnessed by a small figure secretly watching from nearby.

"You're saying you came here to search for Heavenly Flames?"

After Xiao Ding and Xiao Wujiu finished catching up, they turned to business.

"That's right. For this operation, I intend to have Mo Tie take the lead and mobilize the forces of Shimo City to investigate the abnormalities in the surrounding area."

After downing a large bowl of wine, Xiao Wujiu gave an affirmative reply.

"That won't be easy. Leaving aside whether we can persuade the other two mercenary groups, it would already be fortunate if news about the Heavenly Flames doesn't leak out."

Xiao Li sighed and went straight to the heart of the matter.

"What if it were the order of a Dou Wang expert?"