After killing She Mo, Xiao Yan released all the little boys they had captured. Of course, he merely let them go. How they were supposed to get home was beyond his concern, and he had no time to worry about so much. Xiao Yi Xian, however, came up with a solution: have the mercenaries from the Snake Nest Mercenary Group escort them back together.
Xiao Yan merely sneered at the suggestion and offered no comment. Before they left, he only reminded the children that they could let the mercenaries leave once they reached somewhere safe, take a few extra detours before going home, and keep an eye out for anyone following them. As for the rest, it would depend on their luck.
However, Xiao Yan also learned something else from the children: far more children had been abducted than just those present. Most had been taken somewhere else, but none of them knew where that other place was.
Xiao Yan had intended to interrogate the remaining mercenaries, but after some thought, he decided there was no need. This matter had little to do with him in the first place, and he was not one to meddle in other people's business. Besides, the remaining men probably lacked the authority to know anything about it, so interrogating them would likely be useless.
"All right, it's all over. The mercenaries and children have gone home. What else do you want to do?" Xiao Yan asked flatly, leaning against the doorway with his arms folded. Perhaps it was the pill taking effect, or perhaps the period of weakness caused by his secret technique had passed; either way, a healthy flush had returned to his face.
He had just disposed of the bodies of She Mo and the others while he was at it. Naturally, he had also collected their Storage Rings. Their possessions were of no use to him, but he could leave them for the Xiao Clan.
"Didn't you want me to invite you back for a meal earlier? Let's go." Xiao Yi Xian's eyes darted, and she spoke with a grin.
"Invite me back for a meal? I think you're just afraid a magical beast will eat you on the way." Xiao Yan toyed with the Storage Rings in his hand, then smiled. "Come on. I did promise you, after all. I don't have many good qualities, but my greatest virtue is keeping my word. For example, if I say I'll slaughter someone's entire family, then I'll slaughter their entire family."
"I know what you're trying to say, but could you use a different example?" Xiao Yi Xian was left speechless. She had already decided Xiao Yan was the sort who only pretended to be ruthless, so naturally, she did not believe what he said.
The village where Xiao Yi Xian lived was not far from the Snake Nest Mercenary Group's base, but it still took them nearly an hour to reach it. The reason, naturally, was the endless stream of magical beasts along the way. Having just fought a bitter battle, Xiao Yan found dealing with these beasts somewhat taxing. Yet it was precisely these frequent battles that allowed him to break through from the peak of two stars to the realm of a three-star Dou Shi.
By the time Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian reached the peaceful little village she had described, the sun had already set. Before they even approached the village entrance, Xiao Yan sensed killing intent washing over him. He looked up and saw thick smoke rising from the center of the village, with flickers of fire faintly visible through it.
"What happened?" Xiao Yi Xian also noticed something was wrong. Before Xiao Yan could stop her, she rushed ahead, only to witness a bloody scene she would never forget.
The once peaceful, tranquil village had become a blood-drenched slaughterhouse. Flames burned unchecked through the streets, and decapitated bodies lay scattered across the ground, their flesh left to the ravages of the searing fire.
In the square where they usually gathered, the surviving villagers had been herded together. These villagers, who were not even Dou Zhe, had been bound tightly and forced to their knees. They dared not struggle, for blades hovered at their necks. The men holding those swords and sabers on them were none other than the mercenaries Xiao Yi Xian had released earlier.
Before them stood an old man with an exceedingly grim expression, coldly surveying the villagers. Hearing Xiao Yi Xian's frightened cry, he turned to look. Someone soon recognized them and hurriedly shouted, "Family Head! They're the ones who killed the commander!"
"Oh?" The old man looked at the two of them before finally settling his gaze on Xiao Yan. "To accomplish such a thing at your age... heroes truly do rise from the young."
"Indeed. Unlike certain people, who are already so old and still come out to stay up late. Careful you don't suddenly drop dead." Xiao Yan answered him indifferently. He glanced at the mercenaries and sneered. "Just as I thought. I should have slaughtered all of you back then."
With only a glance at the bodies on the ground, he recognized several of the children he had released earlier. Clearly, they had still failed to escape the Snake Nest Mercenary Group's murderous clutches. Though he had already anticipated that something like this might happen, Xiao Yan still frowned and reached out to shield Xiao Yi Xian behind him.
Xiao Yan also knew that the scene before them was far too bloody for a girl of only eleven or twelve. Still, this was the choice she herself had made, and she could blame no one else. The bound villagers seemed to have realized that Xiao Yi Xian had brought this disaster upon them as well, and they all stared at her with venomous resentment and hatred.
"Although I don't know how a mere Dou Shi like you managed it, you killed my son-in-law. You'll have to pay a price for that." The old man fixed his eyes on Xiao Yan and spoke coldly.
"Oh, so that old pervert was your son-in-law. I really do feel sorry for your daughter." Xiao Yan shook his head with a sigh. "Or is 'son-in-law' just a cover, and he actually had another identity? For example... your lover? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Just imagining that scene burns my eyes."
"Insolent brat!" The killing intent in the old man's eyes deepened. Naturally, he knew something of his son-in-law's sordid deeds, but he had always kept one eye open and the other shut. He had never expected the boy before him to use that to slander him. "Seeing how young you are, I had some appreciation for your talent. I never imagined you would be so ignorant of the heights of heaven and the depths of earth! Then don't blame me for killing you!"
"Enough, enough. What I hate most is your kind-already selling yourself, yet still erecting a monument to your chastity. If you want to fight, then fight. Why waste so many words? Do you really think I don't know what you abducted all those children for?" Xiao Yan smiled contemptuously. Although the old man did not recognize him, Xiao Yan had met him in his previous life.
If he remembered correctly, this old man was named He Qian, the head of the He Family. The He Family was a considerable force in the Jia Ma Empire. Although it could not compare to the imperial capital's three great families, having a Dou Wang overseeing the clan alone put it leagues above a backwater like Wutan City.
In his previous life, this family had provoked Xiao Yan, so he had wiped it out in passing. He had not expected to encounter them again this time. Xiao Yan could not help but marvel at how unlucky this old man truly was. Being wiped out once had not been enough; he had actually delivered himself to Xiao Yan's doorstep to be wiped out a second time.
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