Qingshan Town's largest tavern drew a motley crowd of dragons and fish. It was the best place to hear news, and the easiest place for rumors to breed.
A wiry man ordered a pot of the cheapest rotgut, then sat in a corner and drank in silence.
Only when the tavern was at its liveliest did he feign drunkenness and address the mercenaries at the next table, his tongue thick as he sighed.
"If you ask me, here in Qingshan Town, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group is powerful, sure, but... heh, they haven't won people's hearts!
"Miss Xiao Yi Xian is different. Beautiful, kindhearted, saving lives and tending the wounded-who doesn't have a good word for her?"
If Miss Xiao Yi Xian raised her arm and called for support, founding some 'Medicine Fairy Mercenary Group,' I reckon more than half the mercenaries in town would follow her!
"When that happens, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group will have to step aside!"
With that, he slumped over the table, seemingly dead drunk.
The mercenaries at the next table froze at his words, then burst into laughter, dismissing them as drunken rambling.
Over the next few days, however, other drinkers began voicing similar support for Xiao Yi Xian founding a mercenary group.
Xiao Yi Xian was already popular in Qingshan Town. Slowly, the talk gathered momentum, and the calls grew louder!
Everyone hoped Xiao Yi Xian would establish a mercenary group with reliable logistical support, one that was less exploitative and less overbearing.
Naturally, Xiao Yan had hired people to spread this talk.
Having done that, Xiao Yan did not stop. He headed to the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's headquarters.
He took out a bow and arrow, tied a note to the arrow, and shot it into the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's headquarters.
Soon, someone picked up the note and presented it to the leader.
"Xiao Yi Xian of the Myriad Medicine Pavilion possesses a secret ancestral treasure containing an Earth Tier Cultivation Method and untold riches!"
At the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's headquarters, its leader, Mu She, and his son, Mu Li, studied the note, greed mingling with doubt in their expressions.
Mu She looked at his son.
"This Xiao Yi Xian is gaining more and more influence! She might really become a threat to the Wolf Head Mercenary Group someday!
"Haven't you been saying you want to take her to bed? How far have you gotten?
"Once you've taken her, we won't have all these problems!"
Mu Li hurriedly bowed and answered:
"Father, Xiao Yi Xian is too popular in Qingshan Town for me to use force, so I've only been trying to win her over gently.
"But that damned woman doesn't seem to give me the time of day. I haven't won her over yet.
"Rest assured, Father. I've already bought off her maid, Li Fei, and she'll send me news whenever I need it.
"Taking Xiao Yi Xian is only a matter of time."
Mu She ground the note to ash with Dou Qi and said viciously, "I'm sick of waiting for you to sweet-talk her!
"She's just a woman. Within the next two days, capture her and consummate things!
"After you've slept with her, force her to tell you about her ancestral treasure!
"At worst, our reputation takes a little damage. If we really let her establish some mercenary group, our future losses will only be greater!"
Seeing his father's anger, Mu Li broke into a light cold sweat and hurriedly agreed:
"Yes, Father."
After finishing these little schemes, Xiao Yan quietly made his way to Xiao Yi Xian's residence and began watching and waiting in secret.
Within his sea of consciousness, Yao Lao laughed. "Boy, you really do have a few tricks! Planting false evidence and killing with a borrowed blade-you've played that hand with absolute mastery!
"It's hard to believe you'd never even left Wutan City before."
Xiao Yan smiled without answering.
I've never left Wutan City in this life, but in my previous life, I saw-and used-plenty of these dirty tricks!
A day later, on the road Xiao Yi Xian had to take home after gathering herbs.
Mu Li, the young leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, had brought more than a dozen men and surrounded Xiao Yi Xian.
"Xiao Yi Xian, come with us."
Mu Li licked his lips, undisguised greed and lust filling his eyes.
Xiao Yi Xian's pretty face turned deathly pale.
She did not understand why Mu Li, who had always bent over backward to please her, had suddenly turned against her.
"Young Leader Mu Li, what is the meaning of this?"
"The meaning?" Mu Li gave a savage laugh. "You bitch, I've coaxed you with kind words every single day, and you never once gave me a pleasant look!
"Now you know to call me Young Leader? Too late!
"I'll at least let you know why you're doomed. Someone said you wanted to form a mercenary group and challenge our Wolf Head.
"Someone also said you had a treasure map leading to an Earth Tier Cultivation Method!
"I thought it was just some idle tavern rumor, but then your maid, Li Fei, told me you really were searching for some treasure outside town!
"Xiao Yi Xian, in these circumstances, do you think I'll keep slowly sweet-talking you, or drag you back, have my fun with you first, and then force you to tell me about the treasure?"
Xiao Yi Xian's heart sank. She had never imagined Li Fei would betray her!
"Get her! Take her alive! Don't harm a single hair on her head!"
At Mu Li's command, his men lunged like ravenous wolves.
Xiao Yi Xian was only a One-Star Dou Zhe. How could she possibly fight off more than a dozen Dou Zhe of three stars or higher?
Just as Xiao Yi Xian closed her eyes in despair, a calm voice suddenly rang out.
"In broad daylight, beneath a clear and open sky, you gang up on a helpless woman? Your Wolf Head Mercenary Group really has made something of itself!"
Everyone immediately stopped and turned toward the voice. A masked man in black robes was walking slowly toward them.
The black-robed man was Xiao Yan.
Mu Li frowned. "Kid, who are you? You dare meddle in the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's business?"
Xiao Yan glanced at Xiao Yi Xian, whose face had regained a look of hope at his appearance, and smiled.
"I'm just a passerby who saw injustice on the road and drew his blade to help."
"Since you're looking for death, I'll oblige! Get him! Kill him!"
Mu Li snorted coldly and gave the order.
Despite his loud words, however, the men only closed in with great caution.
After all, they each had only one life. Who knew how strong this mysterious man who had suddenly appeared might be?
Since he had seen their dozen-odd men and still dared step forward, he surely could not be weak!
The two sides faced off tensely, while Xiao Yi Xian watched Xiao Yan with both anticipation and worry.
Suddenly, Xiao Yan moved!
Mu Li and his men shuddered in fright and hurriedly stepped back!
But the next moment, all they saw was a cloud of white mist suddenly billowing up!
A large handful of powdered lime had been scattered into the air!
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Blinded by the lime, Mu Li and his men grew intensely nervous. Standing in the white cloud, they focused entirely on guarding against a sneak attack.
Beyond the white cloud, Xiao Yan had already taken advantage of their blindness to whisk Xiao Yi Xian away with ease.
When the lime dispersed and Mu Li's men regained their sight, they stared at the empty clearing and could not help cursing aloud.
"Fuck, we've been played! He was just some little punk!"
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian ran several kilometers without stopping. At last, Xiao Yi Xian could run no farther and stopped, gasping for breath.
She collapsed onto the ground and looked at Xiao Yan, who appeared just as breathless. She could not help sighing.
"Hero, I thought you were a master. I never expected you to be only a One-Star Dou Zhe, just like me.
"To think you dared leap out to save me with that strength. I truly admire your courage, and I'm deeply grateful for your kindness."
Xiao Yan smiled. "Seeing injustice on the road and drawing a blade to help-that's only human nature."
After exchanging pleasantries, Xiao Yi Xian bowed gracefully to Xiao Yan and spoke softly.
"Thank you for saving my life, hero. My name is Xiao Yi Xian. May I ask your honorable name?"
"My name is Xiao Yan."
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