Chen... Qiye

Chen... Qiye

Green Mountain Town, Wolf Head Mercenary Group headquarters, inside the main hall.

Mu She, the leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, sat in the central seat. Below him to the left sat the second-in-command, Gan Mu, and his son, Mu Li. Aside from the third-in-command who was tracking Xiao Yi Xian, these three were the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's true core.

Ever since returning from Wutan City, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group had known no peace. Now, another distinguished guest had come calling.

"I never expected Captain Mu to be this sort of man—taking money without doing the job?" The black-robed middle-aged man seated opposite Gan Mu took a sip of tea and sneered. The mockery in his words was undisguised. "Ao Ba Clan's money is not so easily pocketed..."

Gan Mu raised his somewhat sinister eyes toward the man. But when his gaze landed on the embroidered star emblem on the man's black robe, he immediately wilted.

A seven-star Dou Zhe!

"Elder Ao Ba, we did what you asked of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, and I was seriously injured for it." Suppressing the resentment in his heart, Mu She forced out a smile and slowly explained, "If Xiao Yan's master had not suddenly appeared, the Xiao Clan would certainly have paid one hundred thousand gold coins in compensation..."

"Hehe, Captain Mu, what is the point of 'if'?"

Elder Ao Ba sneered. "The result is that your Wolf Head Mercenary Group fled with your tails between your legs. Do you know how much effort we put into holding back the Xiao Clan's Da Dou Shi? Most importantly, the Wind Roll Technique still ended up in the Xiao Clan's hands. Do you know what rank technique that is?"

"A high-tier Xuan-rank technique!"

The moment those four words were spoken, Mu She and the other two men's expressions changed drastically.

Ao Baluo slammed his palm onto the table. With a bang that rang through the hall, the entire tea table was blasted into powder by Dou Qi.

After that strike, the atmosphere in the hall instantly became tense and frozen.

Mu She drew two deep breaths through his nostrils, his face flushing slightly. He was clearly angered.

"This cannot be blamed on us, can it?"

Gan Mu cautiously asked from the side, "At most, we can return the payment to you..." The Ao Ba Clan alone was already beyond their ability to resist, much less with the Jia Lie Clan involved as well. To the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, they were fearsome beasts beyond comparison.

"Elder Ao Ba, let us consider the Wolf Head Mercenary Group to have broken our promise this time. Mu Li, have someone bring ten thousand gold coins..."

After a brief moment of thought, Mu She decisively backed down.

"Father..." Mu Li shuddered upon hearing this, unwilling to accept it. "That's ten thousand gold coins!"

"Go when I tell you to go!" Mu She was indeed a formidable man. When it was time to be decisive, he did not hesitate.

"Yes..." Mu Li's eyes reddened. Making him spit out the ten thousand gold coins he had swallowed was no different from killing him. Though he answered, his body did not move at all. He remained seated, reaching out to nudge Gan Mu.

"Enough, enough. Captain Mu, there is no need to rush to return the gold coins. The Ao Ba Clan still values the Wolf Head Mercenary Group as an ally." Seeing that the moment was right, Ao Baluo slowly rose to his feet and stepped forward. "I did not come today to reclaim a mere ten thousand gold coins. I have another matter to entrust to Captain Mu She."

"What does Elder Ao Ba mean?" Mu She asked with a frown.

Upon hearing that they would not need to return the money, Mu Li immediately smiled in delight. "We have always greatly admired the Ao Ba Clan. If there is anything you need our help with, Elder Ao Ba, just say the word."

Ao Baluo nodded at Mu Li, then turned his gaze to Mu She. "In two days, we will take action against the Xiao Clan. Would Captain Mu be interested in expanding into Wutan City?"

"What?" Gan Mu was the first to cry out, a blazing light erupting in his eyes. The Wolf Head Mercenary Group might be doing well in Green Mountain Town, but it was still a small place. Its prosperity was not even one-tenth that of Wutan City.

"Father, what are you still thinking about? Hurry and agree to Elder Ao Ba!" Mu Li was utterly exhilarated.

"It is not that I, Mu She, doubt the Ao Ba and Jia Lie Clans. The Xiao Clan has dominated Wutan City for so many years; there is no way your two clans can destroy them so easily."

After pondering for a moment, Mu She looked solemnly at Ao Baluo. "Wutan City may be good, but the Wolf Head Mercenary Group does not yet have the strength to establish ourselves there. Elder Ao Ba, forgive me, but Mu She cannot agree."

"Captain Mu is truly farsighted. No wonder you were able to develop the Wolf Head Mercenary Group to its current state." Ao Baluo chuckled, then clapped his hands. "However, if Captain Mu rejects the Ao Ba Clan's goodwill, you may miss an opportunity to soar to great heights."

His tone shifted as a trace of disdain appeared in his eyes. "The Xiao Clan may be strong, but only in your eyes. What if they faced the Misty Cloud Sect?"

"The... Misty Cloud Sect?" Mu She's expression changed dramatically, and his voice began to tremble.

Gan Mu and Mu Li stood rooted to the spot in stunned silence.

The corners of Ao Baluo's lips lifted slightly, apparently satisfied with their reactions. He sneered, "That Xiao Yan could have simply accepted the broken engagement obediently. Unfortunately, his teacher, Chen Qiye, insisted on repeatedly humiliating the Misty Cloud Sect, even making wild claims and setting a half-year appointment..."

"This matter has already spread throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire. The Misty Cloud Sect is the foremost sect in the land—how could they possibly swallow such an insult?" Ao Baluo flicked his sleeve, his face full of arrogance. "How to choose, I need not remind Captain Mu again, do I?"

"Haha, with the Misty Cloud Sect backing us, what the hell is the Xiao Clan?" Gan Mu sneered disdainfully. "Captain, let's do it!"

"Father, what are you still thinking about?" Mu Li was bursting with excitement, and even his form of address became more respectful. "If we follow Lord Ao Ba, perhaps your son might even have a chance to enter the Misty Cloud Sect and study there!"

"The Xiao Clan is naturally no match for the Misty Cloud Sect." Mu She still hesitated. "But Chen Qiye possesses the strength of a Dou Zhe at such a young age. I fear his background..."

"If Chen Qiye knows what is good for him, he should tuck his tail between his legs and get lost. Beneath the heavenly might of the Misty Cloud Sect, even the Jia Ma imperial family would be ground to dust!" Ao Baluo said with a sinister grin. "Besides, he is merely a wandering poet from the imperial capital. Even I could kill him on the spot!"

Mu She nodded at those words and was just about to speak.

Suddenly, a guard rushed in and respectfully reported, "Captain, Xiao Yi Xian of Green Mountain Town requests an audience."

"Xiao Yi Xian is here?" Mu Li's eyes immediately lit up as he gave a lecherous grin. Seeing the displeasure on Ao Baluo's face, Gan Mu promptly explained, "Lord Ao Ba, this Xiao Yi Xian is extremely famous in Green Mountain Town. She is from the Myriad Medicine House."

Mu She waved a hand. "Take her to wait in the side courtyard. Also, pass down the order that no one is to enter."

"Yes, Captain!" The guard acknowledged, then thought for a moment before adding,

"There is also a young man accompanying Xiao Yi Xian. He says his surname is Chen, and that he is an old friend of yours, Captain."

"Surname Chen?" Mu She's expression shifted slightly.

Then, a voice like rolling thunder came from outside. "Chen Qiye and his disciple have come to pay a visit to the leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group!"

Bang! Every pane of glass around the hall exploded. The might of that Dou Qi was terrifying beyond measure. The members of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group stood dumbstruck, utterly at a loss.