"Mu Li!"
When she saw the young man leading the group, a flash of disgust crossed Xiao Yi Xian's eyes. Beneath her long sleeves, her fists clenched tight.
A first-tier magical beast like the Stone-Skin Lizard wouldn't normally roam this area.
Which meant someone had deliberately driven it here.
Who that was went without saying.
Yet Mu Li approached as though nothing had happened, greeting them with practiced ease.
"What a coincidence, Xiao Yi Xian, and everyone from the Blood Battle Mercenary Group."
Mu Li wore his usual fake smile. When he spotted Xiao Yuan among them, a playful, predatory killing intent surfaced in his eyes.
Perhaps he hadn't even meant to hide it; everyone caught it clearly.
But Mu Li's father was the head of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, a two-star Dou Shi whom they couldn't afford to offend. So they could only swallow their anger and say nothing.
They could only pretend they hadn't seen it.
Xiao Yuan could only sigh inwardly, feeling rather helpless.
Ugh, I'd already forgotten about you. Then you came right to my doorstep and even picked yourself a grave with such fine feng shui.
Was being alive really so bad?
Xiao Yuan slowly tightened his grip on the shaft of the Heaven-Slaughter Halberd.
The Ten Thousand Soul Banner inside him was stirring restlessly, too. The evil souls within it howled and wailed, seeming to hunger for the chance to devour and refine these people's filthy souls, granting them salvation.
But at that moment, Xiao Yuan was also stricken with indecision.
He didn't know whether to go through the motions or strike directly.
Just then, that familiar white figure stepped in front of him.
"Deputy Commander Mu Li, what are you doing here?"
Xiao Yi Xian looked at the Wolf Head Mercenary Group across from them, her gaze turning hostile.
Like an older sister protecting her younger brother, she spread her arms and shielded Xiao Yuan.
She knew Xiao Yuan was indeed very strong, strong enough to impress even hardened mercenaries.
But the other side had far more people, and their deputy commander, Mu Li, was a Seven-Star Dou Zhe!
Xiao Yi Xian didn't think Xiao Yuan could beat Mu Li, and she didn't want her little brother getting hurt because of her.
Honestly, when this happened and Xiao Yuan saw Xiao Yi Xian shield him without hesitation,
his feelings grew complicated beyond measure.
Could someone in this world really be so kind?
We'd only met yesterday. I'd merely stayed one night at the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.
Was it really worth offending the Wolf Head Mercenary Group for my sake?
Xiao Yi Xian wanted to answer Xiao Yuan right then.
It wasn't about whether it was worth it. It was about whether you did it or not!
Seeing Xiao Yi Xian step forward to protect that brat, Mu Li was taken aback—and jealous.
But in the blink of an eye, he put on that nauseatingly false smile again.
Mu Li cupped his hands toward Xiao Yi Xian.
"Don't misunderstand, Xiao Yi Xian. The group happened to receive a commission, and my brothers and I are escorting a shipment. We just happened to run into you here."
As he spoke, Mu Li deliberately showed off the old Storage Ring on his fingertip.
The message was clear: the shipment was right here.
Disdain flashed through the eyes of the Blood Battle Mercenary Group members.
Did he really think he could feed them that kind of nonsense?
Sheesh, does this guy have a transformation disorder? Or did he study in Sichuan? How can he change faces faster than turning a page?
Xiao Yuan grumbled inwardly, while Xiao Yi Xian pressed her cherry-red lips into a thin line.
That was the only thing keeping her from laughing.
But her heart sank to the bottom.
There wasn't a single word of truth in Mu Li's explanation. The route they'd taken wasn't the usual way through the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
And only Mr. Yao, his assistant Lifei, and the captain of this team knew the route they'd taken to gather herbs.
Which meant someone really had leaked their route.
But why?
Why had Lifei betrayed her?
Xiao Yi Xian couldn't understand it.
She'd treated Lifei so well. She'd even taken her in years ago and cared for her ever since. And now Lifei had sold her out just like that?
Seeing the worry flicker in Xiao Yi Xian's eyes and her expression darken, Mu Li's smile grew wider.
He said smugly, "Everyone, meeting is fate. Since we've run into each other in a place like the Magical Beast Mountain Range, why don't we travel together from here on? It would make us a lot safer. You wouldn't want Xiao Yi Xian getting hurt by a magical beast, would you?"
As he spoke, the men behind Mu Li deliberately flashed the gleaming weapons at their waists.
If they'd still been concerned about appearances and making a show of civility, that was over now. They'd dropped the pretense and made a naked threat!
But there was nothing they could do about it.
Every one of their opponents was at least a Three-Star Dou Zhe.
And Mu Li himself was a Seven-Star Dou Zhe.
Meanwhile, the weakest among them was a One-Star Dou Zhe, and their strongest—the captain—was only a Six-Star Dou Zhe.
Not to mention, the other side had them outnumbered.
"Miss Xiao Yi Xian, what should we do now?"
The captain stepped forward and asked quietly.
The situation was beyond his control now.
Xiao Yi Xian looked troubled, her lips pressed tightly together.
At that moment, Xiao Yuan stepped closer and whispered in her ear:
"Big sister, don't worry. I can help you get rid of them."
"Xiao Yuan, don't do anything reckless!"
Xiao Yi Xian quickly turned and grabbed him, whispering urgently.
She was too worried to even call him little brother, afraid Xiao Yuan might do something rash.
Mu Li saw their intimate little exchange, and his teeth nearly ground to dust.
He'd considered Xiao Yi Xian his prize for a long time.
Her reputation in Qingshan Town was too great. If anything happened to her, he'd be making enemies of half the mercenaries in town, so he'd held himself back all this time.
He hadn't expected some brat to snatch her away from him!
For a moment, Mu Li felt as if his head had turned green.
By then, Xiao Yi Xian had made her decision.
"Since Deputy Commander Mu Li has put it that way, it would be rude of me to keep refusing. I'll be counting on everyone from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group from here on."
"Heh, good. You've made the right choice."
Mu Li smiled faintly, then swept his hand through the air and shouted, "Brothers of Wolf Head, make sure you protect Xiao Yi Xian and our brothers from the Blood Battle Mercenary Group from now on. Understand?!"
"Yes, Deputy Commander!"
Dozens of burly men answered in unison. Their shouts rang through the mountain forest and echoed in the secluded valley.
Xiao Yi Xian didn't even look at them again. She simply took Xiao Yuan by the hand and led the Blood Battle Mercenary Group forward.
Watching the alluring white figure sway as she walked ahead, Mu Li's eyes flashed with lechery and rage.
"Heh, you filthy bitch. Just wait until tonight. Let's see what tricks you can pull then!"
Mu Li had already made up his mind.
Once he had Xiao Yi Xian in his hands that night, he would humiliate her in front of that brat, then pass her around to his brothers for their pleasure!
Then he'd chop the pair of scum into pieces and toss them to the magical beasts!
Without even realizing it, Mu Li had already sealed his own fate.