Hao Meng Was Utterly Bewildered

Deep in the mountains, Xiao Fan warily watched a first-rank Magic Wolf.

The most frightening thing about Magic Wolves was neither their speed nor their sharp claws and fangs.

It was that they usually lived in packs.

At that moment, Xiao Fan was lying in ambush for just such a Magic Wolf.

The Magic Wolf seemed to have smelled danger as well. It paced restlessly, occasionally baring its teeth and snarling at the surrounding brush.

Xiao Fan waited patiently, waiting for the chance to deliver a fatal strike.

After remaining on guard for so long, the Magic Wolf began to wonder whether it had imagined the danger. It approached the dinner lying ahead of it: the corpse of a first-rank elk, which was also the trap Xiao Fan had prepared.

The instant the Magic Wolf let its guard down-

Xiao Fan suddenly shot out from his hiding place.

Whoosh!

He moved so fast that even the surrounding flowers and grass had no time to react.

The spear in his hand pierced the Magic Wolf's skull with perfect accuracy. Unable to react, the wolf merely twitched twice after the strike before collapsing to the ground.

Two days had passed since he parted ways with Xiao Yi Xian.

Over those two days, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group outside had used the pretext that he had stolen their secrets to hunt him everywhere.

He had no way to return to Qingshan Town to replenish his supplies. In fact, he was receiving the same treatment Xiao Yan once had: they had trapped him inside the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Fortunately, his strength as a Seven-Star Dou Zhe allowed him to roam freely here, provided he did not fall into their encirclement.

Xiao Fan also intended to use the Wolf Head Mercenary Group to hone his combat experience.

Taking out a knife, he dug the magic core from the Magic Wolf's skull, then cut off some edible portions of its flesh before leaving the spot.

Not long afterward, several Mercenaries arrived where the Magic Wolf's corpse lay.

"The wolf's body is still warm. He can't have gone far."

One of them stepped forward to inspect it, then turned and spoke to the other two.

The mercenary in the middle frowned and complained, "These mountains are so huge. How are we supposed to find him? They keep sending us out to search while the third commander stays in the back, feasting and drinking. I heard he even brought the Fragrant Pavilion's star courtesan with him."

"Tell me about it. The commander's back there playing with women, while we're the ones licking knife edges out here."

The man inspecting the Magic Wolf's corpse stood and said, "All right, all right, keep your voices down. If someone hears us, we'll all be punished."

"I heard that fellow's a Six-Star Dou Zhe. Since they've sent us out, we should just go through the motions. Take this seriously, and we won't even know how we died."

As they talked, the men gradually disappeared into the distance.

A long while later, a rustling came from the treetop.

A dark figure jumped down. Who else could it have been but Xiao Fan?

He recalled the conversation he had just overheard. According to the information he knew, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's third commander seemed to be an Eight-Star Dou Zhe.

I'm already a Seven-Star Dou Zhe, and these two days of fighting have given me full command of my strength. Maybe I can pull off a decapitation strike this time.

Xiao Fan surveyed his surroundings, then followed the direction the mercenaries had taken.

Soon, he discovered the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's camp.

Sentries seemed to be stationed everywhere around it, leaving no openings.

Yet Xiao Fan noticed that most of the mercenaries on watch were slacking off, occasionally turning to glance at the central tent.

Even from far away, he could hear the singing and dancing coming from within.

It seemed the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's third commander really was a lecher.

He had even brought a woman along on a trip into the mountains.

Xiao Fan looked the place over. This was not the best time to act, so he hid himself for the moment.

Night soon enveloped the mountains, and most of the mercenaries returned to their tents to rest.

Only a handful of sentries remained on the perimeter. Calling it standing guard was generous; they were merely keeping an eye out for attacks by magical beasts.

They did not believe anyone around Qingshan Town would dare attack a camp flying the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's banner. Besides, their third commander was in the camp. With his strength as an Eight-Star Dou Zhe, he ranked among the notable fighters of Qingshan Town.

Thanks to that mindset, Xiao Fan slipped into their camp with ease.

Quietly creeping behind a sentry, Xiao Fan seized his chance and restrained him before he could speak.

The dagger in his hand pressed against the mercenary's neck, its icy touch making the man's eyes widen.

A chilling voice sounded beside the mercenary's ear.

"I ask, you answer. If you dare cry out, you die. Understand?"

The mercenary nodded frantically. Xiao Fan loosened the hand covering his mouth a little, but pressed the dagger even closer to his neck to prevent any tricks.

"Who else is in your camp besides the third commander?"

"The third commander led us out this time. The first and second commanders are still in town. There's no one else."

Hearing his answer, Xiao Fan narrowed his eyes and continued, "What's your third commander's cultivation level?"

As he asked this, Xiao Fan shifted the dagger slightly against the mercenary's neck. Feeling its bone-chilling edge, the mercenary broke down. "Spare me, brave sir! Our third commander is said to be an Eight-Star Dou Zhe. I swear I'm not lying! Please, spare my life..."

Finding that the mercenary's answers matched what he already knew, Xiao Fan knocked him unconscious to prevent him from raising the alarm once released.

He slowly crept toward the tent belonging to the third commander, Hao Meng, only to hear a man and woman panting inside.

Xiao Fan truly had not expected this commander to be such a lecher.

He had thought the commander would settle for enjoying some singing and dancing, but the man had actually thrown all restraint aside right here in the mountains.

Still, this gave Xiao Fan an excellent opportunity to assassinate him.

Listening to the man and woman's panting, Xiao Fan quietly skirted the tent and crept around to the back of their sleeping quarters.

He had to admit that the journey severely tested his willpower. There was no helping it; she certainly lived up to her reputation as the Fragrant Pavilion's star courtesan.

Just as Xiao Fan's face and ears grew red from listening, he noticed the commotion inside growing louder. He steadied his breathing and tightened his grip on his dagger. He was not using his spear because only a fool would attempt an assassination with one.

The man and woman's panting rose ever higher, and even outside the tent, creaking noises could seemingly be heard. Then, with a roar from the man, everything gradually quieted.

At that instant, Xiao Fan gripped his dagger tightly and lunged toward the position he had determined from the sounds.

Hao Meng certainly lived up to his position as the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's third commander. The moment he sensed danger, he hurled the woman he had just been holding straight at Xiao Fan, hoping to buy himself a little time.

Xiao Fan frowned, but it was already too late to adjust. He struck the woman with his left palm, yet her obstruction still delayed him for a brief moment.

The strike that should have pierced Hao Meng's neck instead stabbed into his right shoulder thanks to his quick reaction.

Hao Meng rolled off the bed and roared, still shaken, "Who are you? I'll tear you into ten thousand pieces!"