Is This What They Call "Telepathy"?

"Everyone, we've reached the herb-gathering zone. Let's rest here for the night. We've been walking for a long time, and everyone must be tired."

As night approached, the herb-gathering team finally came to a halt.

The mercenaries collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

They were indeed exhausted.

Throughout the day, they had been attacked by no fewer than five waves of magical beasts.

These beasts acted as if they were being drawn by something, always managing to pinpoint the team's location for an ambush.

Several people had already sustained minor injuries because of it.

However, the mercenaries of the Blood Battle team never let their guard down.

Their gazes still drifted from time to time toward the pups of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group.

Today's events were, in all likelihood, the handiwork of that bastard Mu Li.

But what surprised them even more was the strength of Xiao Yuan.

"Little brother, you're truly remarkable. To think you're so powerful that you could kill a Stone-Skin Lizard in one strike."

"Indeed, that wretched thing, the Stone-Skin Lizard, might only be a Rank 1 beast, but it's the most troublesome of its kind."

"Tsk tsk, to be so formidable at such a young age—what will you be like in the future?"

"Haha, little brother, tell your big brother in secret: what is your actual cultivation level?"

Although Xiao Yuan had only struck once along the way, spending the rest of the time accompanying Little Doctor Fairy to gather herbs, it had been more than enough to stun them.

"If I told you I was a Dou Ling, would you believe me?"

As the words fell, the air went silent for a fleeting moment, followed immediately by a burst of unrestrained laughter.

"Don't joke around, little brother. Looking at your age, you can't be more than fourteen or fifteen. How could you possibly be a Dou Ling!"

"Exactly, exactly. Don't tease your big brothers like that, little brother."

"Little brother, if you're a Dou Ling, then wouldn't that make me a Dou Wang?"

The last sentence came from the captain of the Blood Battle team.

Not a single person present believed him; they all took it as a joke.

And rightly so.

A fourteen-year-old Dou Ling—you probably couldn't find one in the entire Northwest Region.

Let alone in this tiny Qingshan Town.

A Dou Shi was already an existence beyond their reach.

To this, Xiao Yuan could only shrug helplessly.

See, sometimes when you tell the truth, nobody believes you.

Simply put, Xiao Yuan couldn't be bothered to say anything more and instead quietly ate his dry rations.

It had to be said, the things Ya Fei had prepared for him were quite good; at the very least, the taste suited him perfectly.

Not far away, where the Wolf Head Mercenary Group was huddled together, Mu Li sat by the campfire, chewing on roasted magical beast meat, but his eyes were filled with greed as he looked at Xiao Yuan.

"This brat has quite a lot of good things on him. Once it hits the second half of the night, it will all be mine!"

"Little Doctor Fairy, too!"

Like a ravenous wolf, Mu Li tore off a piece of meat from the leg and chewed it slowly and forcefully.

The full moon rose.

Gradually, the night curtain shrouded the entire Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Most of the mercenaries had gone to rest, leaving only a few people on rotation to keep watch.

But at this moment, Xiao Yuan couldn't sleep, so he sat outside by himself.

Watching the flickering firelight and the campfire that popped with the sound of burning wood from time to time, his thoughts drifted away, recalling Little Doctor Fairy's unwavering resolve during the day.

The corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl into a smile.

He wanted to compensate Little Doctor Fairy, who was like an older sister to him.

But he found himself in a bit of a dilemma.

Sigh, that cave should be somewhere around here, right?

If I remember correctly, that should be Little Doctor Fairy's first stroke of fortune.

But how should I ask her to go out for a stroll?

After all, it's already so late...

He looked up at the sky, seeing the bright moon hanging in the boundless night, adorned by a scattering of stars through the dense foliage.

It was at this moment that movement came from the tent where Little Doctor Fairy resided.

Clad in the same white dress she had worn during the day, she walked slowly out from within.

The air inside the tent was too stifling, and with Mu Li lurking about like a tiger, she couldn't sleep, so she came out for a stroll.

Yet, she hadn't expected to hear Xiao Yuan's inner thoughts the moment she stepped out.

"My... opportunity?"

Watching the youth sitting alone by the campfire, a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. With her hands behind her back, she lightened her footsteps and crept up behind him.

Bending down, she spoke suddenly.

"Ah!"

"Ah! Sister Little Doctor Fairy... you nearly scared me to death."

Xiao Yuan had noticed Little Doctor Fairy's movements early on, but he played along, putting on a startled expression.

Though it was an act, Little Doctor Fairy found it quite satisfying.

She sat down directly beside him and said softly:

"Little Brother Xiao Yuan, why are you out here instead of sleeping in the middle of the night?"

"I couldn't sleep, of course."

Xiao Yuan replied instinctively.

At the same time, it dawned on him—

[Isn't this the perfect chance to ask Little Doctor Fairy to go for a walk?]

However, before he could speak, Little Doctor Fairy's voice reached him.

"Can't sleep, huh... coincidentally, neither can I. In that case, would Little Brother Xiao Yuan be willing to accompany me for a walk in the woods and act as my protector?"

"Huh?"

Xiao Yuan was stunned and quite surprised.

He hadn't expected Little Doctor Fairy to take the initiative to suggest a walk nearby, let alone ask for his company!

[Could this be what they call a meeting of minds?]

Hearing his inner voice, Little Doctor Fairy smiled even more gently, though she sighed deliberately:

"Could it be... that Little Brother Xiao Yuan is unwilling? Very well, I won't force you. I'll just go back to sleep..."

As she finished speaking, Little Doctor Fairy stood up slowly, pretending to turn back toward her tent.

In the next second, however, her hand was caught by Xiao Yuan, forcing her to stay put.

"Don't go, I didn't say I wouldn't go!"

"Then let's go."

Little Doctor Fairy gave a playful smile and pulled him up from the ground with a slight tug.

The two bypassed the campfire, greeted the night watchman, and left the camp side by side, disappearing into the pitch-black forest.

However, not long after they left, Mu Li emerged from his tent. He sniffed the faint scent of blood lingering in the air, then looked in the direction Xiao Yuan and Little Doctor Fairy had gone, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

"Young Master, it's done. The people from Blood Battle have been drugged and are asleep, the night watchmen have been taken care of, and we've sent men to tail Little Doctor Fairy."

Several members of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group approached and said respectfully.

They held blades that were still dripping with blood.

Seeing this, Mu Li nodded in approval.

"Good, well done. I'll let you take the lead later."

"Thank you, Young Master!"

The men were overjoyed.

"Alright, go notify the brothers; it's time to work!"

"Understood, Young Master. But what should we do with the people from Blood Battle?"

"Them?"

Looking at the mercenaries sleeping like mud inside the tent, a flash of disdain crossed Mu Li's eyes, but then he thought of a good idea.

"Tie them up. How can you have a grand performance without an audience?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the Wolf Head mercenaries who had emerged from the tents broke into lewd grins.

Little Doctor Fairy.

She was the goddess of Qingshan Town; who wouldn't want to get a taste of her beauty?

They had been coveting her for a long time!