Missed encounter

Meanwhile, as Xiao Fan stayed with the members of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group...

Xiao Yan and Yao Lao had also arrived at an inn in Qingshan Town.

"Teacher, we haven't heard anything from Senior Brother in a month."

On the crude bed, Xiao Fan frowned and spoke to Yao Lao with concern.

The two had arrived in Qingshan Town half a month ago. Upon arriving, they had heard that the Wolf Head Mercenary Group was hunting Xiao Fan. At first, they had thought it was merely a coincidence, but after investigating, they discovered that the man the Wolf Head Mercenary Group wanted really was Xiao Fan.

They were somewhat curious about Xiao Fan killing the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's Third Regiment Leader, but they also trusted his character.

Later, when they heard that the Wolf Head Mercenary Group had forced Xiao Fan to hide in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, they decided to wait in Qingshan Town for his return and then help him fight the group.

They had never expected that their wait would last half a month without a single word of Xiao Fan.

Danger lurked everywhere in the Magical Beast Mountain Range-not only vicious magical beasts, but also the unfathomable hearts of men. Now, neither of them could wait any longer.

"Pack your things. We'll enter the Magical Beast Mountain Range tonight."

Yao Lao was equally worried, but seemed far more at ease than Xiao Yan. He smiled at him. "Don't worry! Your senior brother is a clever man. Since he dared to enter the Magical Beast Mountain Range, he must have something to rely on. He'll be fine."

Xiao Fan carried Shi Wan to a secluded patch of grass in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

He threw Shi Wan onto the ground. Seeing him lying there playing dead, Xiao Fan gave him a vicious kick and said flatly, "Stop playing dead, or I'll make it real."

At Xiao Fan's words, Shi Wan opened his eyes, a trace of malice flashing through them. Looking at Xiao Yan before him, he dropped to his knees and begged for mercy in terror.

"Spare me, great hero! Let me go, and I'll give you anything!"

Xiao Fan raised a hand to interrupt Shi Wan's pleas, watching him with interest as he sneered.

"I'm not interested in hearing you beg. Give me a reason not to kill you."

Shi Wan's face lit up at Xiao Fan's words. "I have money! Lots of money! My uncle is the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's Second Regiment Leader. I can buy my life!"

"Oh? How much do you have?"

Now that the system had introduced source coins, it had piled snow upon the frost of Xiao Fan's already meager finances.

Xiao Fan was very attached to money.

Seeing Xiao Fan's reaction, Shi Wan thought he had found a path to survival and said to him,

"This... this is my money. Everything I own."

As he spoke, Shi Wan took out his Storage Ring and handed it to Xiao Fan.

Xiao Fan accepted Shi Wan's Storage Ring and sank his consciousness into it. A quick inspection revealed only a little over a hundred thousand gold coins.

He frowned and spoke to Shi Wan with disdain.

"You're the nephew of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's illustrious Second Regiment Leader, and this paltry junk is all you have?"

Shi Wan nearly spat blood at Xiao Fan's words. Was over a hundred thousand gold coins really so little? He had only managed to skim that much over the years because his uncle was Gan Mu.

One gold coin alone could cover an entire year's expenses for a low-income commoner's family.

A large portion of the hundred thousand gold coins he carried was actually money for the supplies he was supposed to purchase on this trip. The matter with the Fire Wolf Mercenary Group had delayed him, so he had yet to buy them.

Even if he escaped, he would still have to find a way to fill that hole.

But looking at Xiao Fan's "fierce" face, Shi Wan wailed, "I... I also know where my uncle hides his money! If you don't kill me, I can tell you!"

At Shi Wan's words, Xiao Fan raised his eyebrows in interest.

"Where your uncle hides his money? How do you know? I don't believe your uncle would tell you where he keeps his wealth."

Seeing Xiao Fan's interest, Shi Wan hurriedly explained.

"I discovered it by chance. Whenever he hides his money, he sneaks over there alone. It's in a dry well in a secluded courtyard in Qingshan Town."

Xiao Fan forced Shi Wan to reveal the exact location of Gan Mu's hidden money. As for whether the information was true, he would decide whether to verify it depending on the circumstances.

In any case, gaining it would be his good fortune; losing it would be his fate.

Xiao Fan had no intention of putting himself in danger for a mere handful of money.

Xiao Fan put away Shi Wan's Storage Ring, then looked at him and said, "Tell me about the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, and I might consider letting you go."

Shi Wan's face filled with delight at Xiao Fan's words, and he told him everything about the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's current situation without hesitation.

Because Xiao Fan had killed the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's Third Regiment Leader, Mu She had long since announced that he would kill Xiao Fan for revenge. It would also serve as a warning to the other mercenary groups in Qingshan Town.

He wanted to show them that not just anyone could provoke the Wolf Head Mercenary Group.

After all, although the Wolf Head Mercenary Group was one of Qingshan Town's Three Great Mercenary Groups, it was not the town's absolute overlord.

Any hint of weakness might stir ambitions the other mercenary groups should not have. As the leader of a large mercenary group, Mu She understood that well.

Thus, as far as the Wolf Head Mercenary Group was concerned, Xiao Fan had to die.

Moreover, he had to die before everyone in Qingshan Town, to serve as a warning.

In Qingshan Town, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group was still a top power.

Since they had been unable to find Xiao Fan, Mu She had come up with a plan.

He would thrust Xiao Yi Xian, who had entered the Mountain Cave with Xiao Fan, into the spotlight.

They spread word everywhere that Xiao Yi Xian had obtained a Black Tier cultivation method. No matter how well-liked she was in Qingshan Town, there would always be greedy people who could not resist making a move.

The Myriad Medicine Pavilion's current actions were the clearest reflection of that.

Now, Xiao Yi Xian could not even freely enter or leave the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.

The Myriad Medicine Pavilion had stationed many people around Xiao Yi Xian, nominally to protect her. In truth, they too coveted the supposed Black Tier cultivation method she possessed.

As a result, Xiao Yi Xian's days in Qingshan Town had become very difficult.

Furthermore, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group had already decided to act tomorrow and force the Myriad Medicine Pavilion to hand over Xiao Yi Xian, claiming that the ruins were the burial site of one of their predecessors.

They believed that if they pressured Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Fan, who had accompanied her, would surely appear. Even if he did not, they would merely be using a different target to establish their might. Their goal would still be achieved.

A cold gleam flashed through Xiao Fan's eyes as he listened to Shi Wan.

When they parted, Xiao Fan had already anticipated Xiao Yi Xian's predicament, which was why he had warned her to be wary of the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.

Now, it seemed the people of the Myriad Medicine Pavilion had failed to restrain themselves and placed Xiao Yi Xian under house arrest. However, they were still uncertain whether the information was true and did not want to tear away all pretense of civility with her.

"Tell me, are any of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's higher-ups still outside town?"

Xiao Fan questioned Shi Wan fiercely.

"N-no."

Because a major operation was coming, almost all of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's higher-ups had returned to Qingshan Town.

"What about Mu She and Gan Mu?"

Still unwilling to give up, Xiao Fan pressed further.

"My uncle and the regiment leader are both in Qingshan Town now, overseeing things at the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's headquarters."

Not getting the answer he wanted, Xiao Fan frowned.

He had intended to defeat Mu She and Gan Mu one at a time while they were apart.

But it seemed there would be no opportunity.

Kneeling on the ground, Shi Wan watched Xiao Fan sink into thought. A cold gleam flashed through his eyes as he secretly drew a short sword from his sleeve and thrust it straight at Xiao Fan's face.

"Die!"

Watching Shi Wan move to kill him, Xiao Fan's eyes flickered with amusement.

With a light strike of his right hand, he knocked Shi Wan's short sword away, then seized him by the throat and smiled. "I had intended to spare your life..."

Without waiting for Shi Wan to react, he kicked him deep into the woods, where a sharp tree branch pierced through his body.

After dealing with Shi Wan, Xiao Fan headed toward Qingshan Town, deep in thought.

He was already a Two-Star Dou Shi and had nothing to fear from Mu She in a fight. But with Gan Mu, a Nine-Star Dou Zhe, beside him, Xiao Fan was worried that something unexpected might happen.

Since there was no opportunity to defeat them one by one, he could only enter town now and make more preparations.

Just as he approached the town gate, Xiao Fan suddenly felt a surge of delight from the Bone Spirit Cold Flame within him.

"Hm?"

Sensing the Heavenly Flame's strange behavior, Xiao Fan hurriedly concealed his aura.

Afraid that might not be enough, he also took out the Shadowless Mask and put it on.

Xiao Fan's aura vanished instantly, as though no living person had ever been there.

Meanwhile, in the shadows by the town gate not far from Xiao Fan, Xiao Yan asked in surprise, "Teacher, what's wrong?"

Yao Lao frowned and said in puzzlement, "Just as we reached this spot, the Bone Age Cold Flame suddenly stirred beyond my control."

"The Heavenly Flame stirred?"

Xiao Yan sounded astonished.

Yao Lao took the opportunity to explain to Xiao Yan, "Generally speaking, there is more than one Heavenly Flame in this world. When Heavenly Flames get too close, they attract one another and vie for supremacy."

"So there's a Heavenly Flame nearby?" Xiao Fan pressed.

"Probably not." Yao Lao shook his head.

"We've been in Qingshan Town for half a month. If there were a Heavenly Flame nearby, I wouldn't only be sensing it now. Besides, this area doesn't have the conditions needed for a Heavenly Flame to form."

"Most likely, some powerful expert carrying a Heavenly Flame passed by."

At Yao Lao's words, Xiao Fan hung his head. "All right. I thought we'd found a Heavenly Flame so soon."

Yao Lao smiled. "Every Heavenly Flame is a divine treasure of heaven and earth. How could they be so easy to find? There should be one in the Tagor Desert, where we're headed. I obtained that information a few years ago."

Hearing Yao Lao's words, Xiao Yan perked up again.

"Yes, Teacher, you're right. Even if we encountered a Heavenly Flame now, we wouldn't be completely confident of subduing it."

"Let's go. Our top priority is to enter the Magical Beast Mountain Range and inquire about your senior brother. You can also cultivate in the mountains for a while."

Xiao Fan waited where he was for a long time, but sensed no further unusual movements from his Heavenly Flame.

He frowned in thought.

What exactly was going on?

Unable to figure it out, he stopped dwelling on it. His Bone Spirit Cold Flame had been refined by the system, after all, so it would be normal for it to have some flaws.

Still wearing the Shadowless Mask and concealing his aura, Xiao Fan quietly entered Qingshan Town.

Recalling the Myriad Medicine Pavilion's location, Xiao Fan cautiously made his way toward it.

Along the way, however, he discovered numerous watchers both in the open and in hiding around the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.

With the Shadowless Mask concealing his aura, and his own strength as a Two-Star Dou Shi, he finally entered the Myriad Medicine Pavilion after a tense but uneventful approach.