Xue Lan

"It was him... this man."

Qing Lin clutched Qing Mo's sleeve tightly, her pale green eyes fixed fiercely on Luo Yi. Her body trembled slightly with rage.

He had killed her mother. Qing Lin would never forget that face, even in death!

"Oh? A fiery little beauty. That's exactly the kind I like."

Rather than getting angry when he saw Qing Lin glaring at him, Luo Yi grew even more excited. He looked at Qing Lin as though he were inspecting a product he fancied.

Seeing how lively and adorable Qing Lin was, Luo Yi could not resist reaching out to touch her little face, but a figure stepped in front of her.

"Name your price. Sell this little girl to me, and I guarantee you'll live high on the hog." Luo Yi spoke loftily, as if he were bestowing some enormous favor.

In his eyes, what sort of background could an inconspicuous youth traveling with a little girl possibly have?

He, Luo Yi, was a Fighter and the young leader of the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group. Very few things he set his sights on ever escaped his grasp.

Qing Mo took Qing Lin's small hand in his palm, feeling her tremble. He said nothing, merely pulling her farther behind him and completely blocking her from the others' sight.

He had long regarded Qing Lin as family. This man had offended her so brazenly that he had earned a death sentence!

"Get lost!"

Luo Yi's expression immediately turned ugly. He had not expected this harmless-looking brat to dare speak to him so rudely.

"Brat, are you looking to die? Do you know who our young leader is?"

"If you know what's good for you, hand over the girl! Save yourself some pain!"

Before Luo Yi could say a word, the lackeys beside him eagerly began making their presence known.

A trace of killing intent flashed through Qing Mo's eyes. He ignored those noisy lackeys and merely looked coldly at Luo Yi.

"What, you want to make a move against me?"

Luo Yi spoke disdainfully. He was a Fighter-level expert. This little brat was only fifteen or sixteen at most, and he dared attack him?

He walked up to Qing Mo and thrust his head in front of him. His face was full of contempt as he continued taunting him.

"Come on, hit me right here!"

Luo Yi shouted at the top of his lungs. He was certain this guy would never dare lay a hand on him. He had always been the one bullying others—who would actually dare fight back?

The bystanders nearby had clearly recognized Luo Yi as well.

"This young man is in for it... Of all people to provoke, he had to provoke Luo Yi, that spoiled brat."

"Sigh, Luo Yi relies on his father's influence to stir up trouble all day. What a curse..."

Hearing the crowd's murmurs, Luo Yi felt no shame whatsoever. Instead, he became even more smug.

"Hit me! I'm giving you the chance, you... Ah!!"

Before Luo Yi could finish speaking, a resounding slap landed squarely on his face.

The tremendous force snapped Luo Yi's head to the side, throwing him completely off balance. Stars burst before his eyes as he staggered backward. Fortunately, his lackeys caught him quickly, or he would have embarrassed himself even more.

"You..." Luo Yi clutched his face and stared at Qing Mo in disbelief. This man had actually dared to hit him. How could he dare?!

"You what? Who do you think you are, acting tough in front of me?"

Qing Mo said disdainfully.

"You, you... What are you standing around for? Get him!"

Luo Yi's face turned green with fury. His cheek burned with pain. After being slapped in public, where was he supposed to put his pride?

Watching the lackeys rush toward him, Qing Mo narrowed his eyes. Since they had delivered themselves to his doorstep, he might as well kill them.

Just as Qing Mo was about to act, a crisp voice rang out from the side.

"Stop!"

A young, sexy woman walked over. She was only eighteen or nineteen, yet she possessed a mature charm absent from others her age.

She wore mercenary attire that perfectly accentuated her curvaceous figure.

Her long black hair was tied high, neat and efficient, while a fairly strong fluctuation of battle qi radiated from her body.

"She's from the Desert Iron Mercenary Group." Someone sharp-eyed recognized her identity.

"You! Xue Lan!"

Luo Yi seemed quite wary when he saw Xue Lan.

"It's me. What, is your hide itching? Do you want me to teach you another lesson?"

Xue Lan looked at Luo Yi with disgust. Such a waste of decent talent.

"Hmph! Brat, remember this."

Luo Yi's face shifted like a chameleon. In the end, he only left behind that threat before leading his lackeys away in a sorry state.

"Are you all right?"

After Luo Yi left, Xue Lan turned to Qing Mo, a hint of admiration in her eyes.

"Thank you."

Though he did not need anyone's help, it was still a kind gesture, so he had to offer some polite thanks. As for Luo Yi, he could let him live a few more days.

Qing Mo sized up the woman named Xue Lan before him. He vaguely remembered such a character from the original story, though unfortunately she had not triggered a system reward. She was probably just a supporting character with too little presence.

The Desert Iron Mercenary Group had been founded by Xiao Ding and Xiao Li over the past six months. They had approached him before and invited him to join, but he had politely declined.

"You've got guts, kid. That man is the young leader of the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group, and you still dared to hit him."

Xue Lan looked at the youth before her in surprise. He appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen, with a tall, slender build, delicate features, and a trace of calmness and composure between his brows.

"He insulted my family. I had to hit him."

Qing Mo spoke. Let alone a mere Luo Yi, even if his father had come, that slap would still have been unavoidable.

"You've got backbone!"

"My name is Xue Lan. And yours?"

"Just call me Qing Mo."

Xue Lan looked at Qing Lin behind him. The little girl kept her head lowered as she leaned against Qing Mo's back, seemingly lost in thought.

"Her name is Qing Lin," Qing Mo introduced.

"Standing up for your family—I admire that fire in you."

Xue Lan gave Qing Mo's shoulder a firm pat, her face full of appreciation.

"However..."

Xue Lan changed her tone and said seriously, "Luo Yi is greedy, lustful, and vindictive. You humiliated him this time, so I'm afraid he won't let this go."

"You needn't worry about that, Miss Xue Lan." Qing Mo smiled. He did not take a mere Luo Yi seriously.

He had never forgotten Qing Lin's vengeance.

"Oh?" Xue Lan looked at him with slight surprise. Could it be that he did not know Luo Yi's identity?

"You should know that his father is a Battle Master-level expert. It won't be good if he sets his sights on you. Why not join our Desert Iron Mercenary Group?" Xue Lan invited him sincerely.

She had only recently become a squad leader, and she was desperately short on people. Qing Mo also suited her temperament quite well.

"Our Desert Iron Mercenary Group may have only been established recently, but we already have some reputation in Stone Desert City. Our chief leader is also a Battle Master-level expert. Even the Poison Dragon Mercenary Group wouldn't dare act recklessly."

Xue Lan spoke with anticipation.

"Joining a mercenary group..."

Qing Mo stroked his chin and considered it. He had not agreed to Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's invitation before because he had needed to teach Qing Lin how to cultivate. But although Qing Lin had failed her breakthrough, he had taught her nearly everything she needed to know. It was time for him to go out and gain some experience. He also wanted to know what level his strength had reached.

Besides, with a team, he would not need to keep watching the marketplace every day, and finding wood-element magic cores would be much easier.