Herb-Gathering Team

There were four people following Xiao Yun: one Six-Star Dou Practitioner and three Four-Star Dou Practitioners. In Green Mountain Town, they were already considered experts.

Because the four of them often acted together, few people in Green Mountain Town dared to provoke them.

Following Xiao Yun, the four soon arrived at a secluded grove and immediately stepped forward to surround him.

"Kid, hand over everything valuable on you." The leader threatened Xiao Yun. "Otherwise, my brothers and I will make sure you die here today."

Xiao Yun glanced at the leader and asked, "If I hand over my valuables, will you let me go?"

The lackeys chuckled upon hearing this. "This young master is really naive. Does he think we'll let him go so he can return and find someone to take revenge on us?"

"That's right, kid. You're dead today."

The leader stared at Xiao Yun with a vicious gaze and laughed. "Kid, since we've made it clear, I won't waste words with you. Hand over your valuables, and we can give you a quick death."

The men rubbed their fists and cracked their knuckles, looking ready for a fierce fight as they skillfully blocked off all of Xiao Yun's escape routes.

"Come on, let's see what valuable things this young master has on him."

One man reached for Xiao Yun, but just as his hand was about to grab him, a sharp pain suddenly shot from his hand straight to his skull.

At some unknown moment, the man's right hand had already been severed and fallen to the ground.

The sound of blood dripping was almost imperceptible, yet everyone heard it clearly.

"What happened?! Third Brother's hand was cut off!"

"Third Brother, are you all right?!"

The bizarre scene gave them all a fright, and they hurriedly looked around with guarded expressions.

"Don't panic! Don't panic!"

Only after the leader shouted several times did the panicked men settle down.

He looked at Xiao Yun, his expression grave.

"Looks like we've run into a tough one."

The man whose arm Xiao Yun had severed looked at him and shouted, "You cut off my arm?"

Xiao Yun nodded and chuckled. "Obviously."

The leader said, "Everyone, attack together and avenge Third Brother."

The men immediately rushed forward, intending to kill Xiao Yun.

"Yellow Tier High-Level Battle Skill, Hard Wood Palm!"

The leader opened with a killing move. He had once used this technique to ambush and kill an Eight-Star Dou Practitioner, so his record was fairly impressive.

Facing their attacks, Xiao Yun did not even blink as he casually waved a hand.

A sudden change occurred before him, and a pitch-black rift appeared.

The rift instantly swept across the men charging straight at him. Like a blade cutting through flesh, it split them all in two.

The leader's two halves fell to the ground. Even when his head hit the earth, madness still lingered on his face.

The only survivor, the one with the severed arm, stared at Xiao Yun with terrified eyes.

"Spare... spare me, sir! Please spare me!"

He looked at Xiao Yun in terror. Xiao Yun had killed several of his brothers so effortlessly; killing him would naturally take no effort at all.

"Sir, I'm begging you. Please spare my life!"

The one-armed man kowtowed humbly, his heart icy cold. He did not want to die. His brothers had robbed so much money, yet they had not even had the chance to spend it. To die like this—he could not accept it!

In order to survive, he kowtowed as he said, "Sir, I have money, lots of money. Let me go, and I'll take you to get it."

Xiao Yun looked at him coldly and said blandly, "I'm not interested in money."

As soon as he spoke, he struck out with his palm. A powerful gust of wind blasted forth, smashing the one-armed man into pulp. Blood splattered everywhere, but not a single drop stained Xiao Yun's clothes.

As though nothing had happened, Xiao Yun returned to Green Mountain Town and continued waiting for a chance to naturally come into contact with Little Doctor Fairy.

Before long, that opportunity finally came.

There were many precious medicinal herbs in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, but it was also filled with powerful Magical Beasts and countless dangers. Without sufficient strength, anyone entering alone would inevitably leave only bones behind. Thus, weaker people generally entered in groups.

One day, while Xiao Yun was strolling around, he suddenly heard an excited shout beside him. "Ten Thousand Medicines Hall is heading into the Magical Beast Mountain Range to gather herbs! Guards are being recruited now, and spaces are limited, so hurry!"

As soon as those words were spoken, many people rushed over anxiously to register, afraid they would be too late.

Every so often, Ten Thousand Medicines Hall organized groups to enter the Magical Beast Mountain Range to gather herbs, and Little Doctor Fairy would certainly be among them.

With Little Doctor Fairy's reputation in Green Mountain Town, the registration area was soon packed solid with people.

Before long, the middle-aged man in charge of registration announced again, "There is only one spot left! Hurry up, everyone!"

"Me." Xiao Yun appeared before the middle-aged man at some point and spoke.

The middle-aged man glanced at Xiao Yun and smiled. "Friend, the minimum requirement for registration is Two-Star Dou Practitioner. Could you demonstrate your strength?"

Xiao Yun said nothing. He looked around, then picked up a small stone from the ground and flicked it toward a large tree in the distance.

The small stone was wrapped in a faint layer of Dou Qi as it slammed fiercely into the tree trunk.

Crack!

A crisp sound rang out, and before everyone's astonished eyes, the thick tree trunk was pierced straight through.

"How about that?" Xiao Yun asked the middle-aged man with a smile.

The strength Xiao Yun displayed surpassed that of most people present. At the very least, even some Five-Star Dou Practitioners could not accomplish what he had just done.

The middle-aged man smiled at Xiao Yun. "Excellent strength, friend. The final spot is yours."

"The pay for this job is four hundred gold coins. You'll be responsible for protecting Ten Thousand Medicines Hall's herb-gathering team on the journey there and back. We'll pay you one hundred coins in advance later, while the rest will be paid after we return. How does that sound?"

"Fine." Xiao Yun nodded with a smile. He did not care about the payment. All he needed was to join the team and find an opportunity to approach Little Doctor Fairy.

Seeing that the last spot had been taken, the onlookers could only leave in disappointment.

Several fairly capable people who had failed to secure the final spot could only curse their bad luck before leaving while grumbling.

Ten Thousand Medicines Hall recruited people for the herb-gathering team in the morning, and it set out not long after noon.

Green Mountain Town lay at the eastern foot of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Not long after leaving town, they entered the mountain range.

The moment they entered the mountains, the previously lively crowd immediately fell silent. Here, even the slightest sound could draw powerful Magical Beasts to the group. To avoid that, everyone chose not to speak and focused on traveling.

Several dozen people walked silently through the mountains, their wary gazes constantly sweeping through the shadows around them. Their hands gripped the weapons at their waists tightly, ready to deal with any sudden danger.

Xiao Yun, on the other hand, felt no pressure at all. He blended casually into the group and even took the time to glance behind him.

Ten Thousand Medicines Hall's herb-gathering team was heavily guarded at the rear of the formation.

Among them, a woman in a white dress who was surrounded like the moon among stars was the most eye-catching.

How should I approach Little Doctor Fairy? I can't exactly walk up and say, "Want to come hang out with me?"

As Xiao Yun considered ways to get close to Little Doctor Fairy, he continued following the group.