A predicament

Soon, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian were locked inside a specially made iron cage and loaded onto a cart. This kind of cage was designed to imprison magical beasts, making it far sturdier than the massive net used to ambush them earlier. Not only that, their hands had also been bound with hemp rope. What these men did not know, of course, was that the restraints they considered impossible to escape were nothing in Xiao Yan's eyes.

Xiao Yan studied the iron cage before him, his mind racing. It seemed they were being transported back to the Snake Nest Mercenary Group's headquarters. His Soul Force could sense the strength of the mercenaries around them; the strongest was merely a one-star Dou Shi. With his strength, using Black Flame to break open the cage and then killing these men would be child's play.

However... before entering the Magical Beast Mountain Range, he had heard of young boys disappearing from nearby villages and towns. Coupled with what these men had said about their leader's peculiar tastes, those disappearances might have something to do with the Snake Nest Mercenary Group. If he could slip into their headquarters, perhaps he could find some relevant clues.

Xiao Yan was not one to meddle in other people's affairs, so he had originally had no intention of intervening. This time, however, these men had gone out of their way to provoke him. He would not mind doing a good deed along the way while wiping them out.

Seeing Xiao Yan deep in thought, Xiao Yi Xian assumed he was frightened of what awaited him. She patted his shoulder and consoled him. "Oh, cheer up. Everyone has to grow up sometime. Besides, it'll only hurt for a little while. It won't be that big a deal."

"Easy for you to say. You're not the one who'll suffer." Xiao Yan rolled his eyes. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have fallen into their hands, and now you're making snide remarks?"

"What's that supposed to mean? They're the ones who took a fancy to you. What does that have to do with me?" Xiao Yi Xian protested indignantly.

"Enough, stop arguing. You'll have plenty of time for that later." Just then, the mercenaries escorting them let them out of the cage and marched them into a courtyard about the same size as the Xiao Clan's compound. A flag stood at the entrance, its design almost identical to the badges these mercenaries wore on their chests.

"Looks like this is the Snake Nest Mercenary Group's headquarters." As he was escorted toward the main hall, Xiao Yan surveyed his surroundings while using his Soul Force to scan the entire courtyard. Soon, he discovered a small room beneath it containing more than a dozen extremely weak auras.

When Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian were brought into the hall, Xiao Yan swiftly swept his Soul Force over the men seated inside who appeared to be leaders. Yet the information that came back surprised him somewhat. One Dou Ling, three Da Dou Shi, plus over twenty Dou Shi outside. This Mercenary Corps seems a little too powerful...

Given Xiao Yan's experience, it was naturally not their individual strength that surprised him. Rather, a force of this caliber clearly exceeded an ordinary Mercenary Corps and could even rule a city. Yet they were huddled away in a place like this. That was decidedly abnormal.

"Leader, these two children fell into our trap outside. What do you want us to do with them?"

The middle-aged man seated at the head of the hall had fixed his gaze on Xiao Yan the moment the two were escorted inside. From the way the others addressed him, it was clear that this man was She Mo, leader of the Snake Nest Mercenary Group and its only Dou Ling expert.

"This boy's not bad. Keep him and send him to my room later." She Mo looked Xiao Yan over and licked the corner of his mouth.

At She Mo's nauseating gesture, Xiao Yan put on a suitably frightened expression. In truth, however, the Black Flame Dou Qi within him was circulating rapidly, ready for him to strike at any moment.

"By the way, what about this little girl?" Just as Xiao Yan was about to act, the mercenary who had brought them in asked another question. Xiao Yan's eyes flickered at those words. The room was rather cramped, and Xiao Yi Xian's presence would hamper him to some extent. If she could be taken outside, that would be ideal.

"Do you think I don't know what's on your minds?" She Mo glanced at Xiao Yi Xian, a teasing smile appearing on his face. "You can have the girl as a reward. Play with her however you like. Just remember to dispose of her afterward."

"Thank you, Leader!" The others were overjoyed at She Mo's words. Xiao Yi Xian immediately began to struggle, but with her strength, how could she possibly break free of ropes that could restrain even magical beasts?

Just as the men closed in on Xiao Yi Xian and were about to drag her away, Xiao Yan, who had been wearing a frightened expression, suddenly opened his hand. In the next instant, a massive jet-black ruler flashed out of his Storage Ring. With a single sweep, he cleaved the men approaching Xiao Yi Xian in half at the waist. The ropes binding his hands had already been burned through without anyone noticing!

The sudden turn of events startled She Mo and the others. When they saw the Dou Qi Battle Robe manifest around Xiao Yan, the shock on their faces deepened. "A Dou Shi! How is that possible?"

A mere Dou Shi would naturally never have shocked them so much. The problem was that this Dou Shi was only around ten years old!

"Xiao Yan!" Seeing that he had broken free of his restraints, Xiao Yi Xian was delighted at first. Then she quickly recalled how powerful the Snake Nest Mercenary Group was, and worry filled her face. Xiao Yan, however, had regained his earlier calm. With a casual sweep of his ruler, he cut the ropes around her wrists and said mildly, "That's what you get for teasing me earlier. Serves you right, doesn't it?"

After his initial shock, She Mo quickly regained his composure. Not only that, murderous intent welled up within him. This boy was barely ten, yet he had already reached the Dou Shi level. With such terrifying talent, if he were allowed to grow, the entire Snake Nest Mercenary Group-and even the power backing them-would surely be reduced to ashes and scattered smoke!

Since we've already made an enemy of him, we absolutely cannot let this brat go! So what if he's a Dou Shi? Our strength far surpasses his. No matter how outstanding his talent or how formidable his background, once he's dead, he'll no longer pose any threat!

She Mo waved his hand, and the doors of the hall closed on their own. With a single glance, Xiao Yan could tell that the material those doors were made from was far from ordinary. Even a Da Dou Shi might not be able to break them open. It seemed this man intended to cut off his retreat.

"Although I don't know where you came from, now that you've entered our Snake Nest Mercenary Group, the only road left to you is death!"