Ling'er?

"This is only the outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Shall we go deeper and take a look?"

Medusa stretched, her supple waist sending Long Xiao's thoughts swinging like a restless monkey.

Still, he suppressed the desire in his heart and glanced at the sky. "It's getting late. Let's spend the night here. I'll make you something delicious."

Medusa nodded. "All right."

The two came to a stream, found a clearing, and lit a campfire.

Then Long Xiao went off to find ingredients.

Watching him hurry away, Medusa shook her head, then sat cross-legged and closed her eyes to rest.

"Twenty years have slipped by since I left Blue Star. It's been ages since I had hot pot. I'll let Shasha try it."

Long Xiao appeared on the trunk of a towering tree, intending to find a bovine magical beast. Beef was the best choice for hot pot.

He roamed among the branches for a while. He found no cattle, but spotted a group of people ahead.

"Ling'er, watch out!"

The sounds of a fierce fight came from ahead.

Long Xiao immediately leaped over and landed beside the battlefield.

It seemed to be a clash between two mercenary groups.

"Uncle Ka Gang, let's give them the Blood Bull. Staying alive matters most."

A young girl spoke to the middle-aged man standing protectively in front of her.

The middle-aged man she called Uncle Ka Gang glared furiously at the enemies ahead, a spear in his hand. "No, Ling'er! This Blood Bull's blood core is a treasure that can heal our leader's injuries. How can we give it to someone else?"

Just then, a man stepped out from the vicious-looking crowd opposite Ka Gang. His face was full of mockery as he stared at Ka Gang and Ling'er, his gaze especially lecherous when it fell on her.

"Heh, Ka Gang, stop struggling. The Wolf Head Mercenary Group might be gone, but we of the Snake Nest Mercenary Group are no pushovers either. It's not your Blood Battle Mercenary Group's turn to rule Qingshan Town!"

"If you don't hand over the Blood Bull, don't blame me for showing no mercy! Bring them out."

Hidden nearby, Long Xiao raised an eyebrow at the mention of Qingshan Town. Wasn't that the place Xiao Yi Xian had mentioned?

Fate truly worked in wondrous ways.

At the leader's command, his men pushed forward several bound captives covered in wounds. There were men and women among them, and their clothes matched Ka Gang's. They should all belong to the Blood Battle Mercenary Group.

"What are you going to do?!"

At the sight of them, Ka Gang roared, his eyes turning bloodshot.

"Hand over the Blood Bull and Ling'er, and I'll let them go. How about it?" A chilling gleam flashed in the eyes of the Snake Nest Mercenary Group's leader.

Ka Gang glared at him through gritted teeth. "Your Snake Nest Mercenary Group has gone too far! Do you think having the He Family behind you means you can do whatever you please in Qingshan Town?!"

Behind Ka Gang, tears spilled from Ling'er's eyes at the mention of the He Family. They were an enemy her group could not resist. The head of the He Family was a Dou Wang expert, and the leader of the Snake Nest Mercenary Group was his son-in-law.

That was why the Snake Nest Mercenary Group had always run rampant in Qingshan Town.

"If only Brother Xiao Huohuo were here."

Ling'er lowered her head and murmured.

Half a year ago, when the Wolf Head Mercenary Group had attacked them, a black-robed young man carrying a huge ruler on his back had saved them.

Now, facing the same situation again, she once more thought of the man in her heart.

"Hmph."

The leader smiled disdainfully. "Our Snake Nest Mercenary Group ranks among the notable forces in the Jia Ma Empire. Your puny Blood Battle Mercenary Group thinks it can threaten us?"

"Pah! Your Snake Nest Mercenary Group dares claim it ranks among the notable forces? You only dare throw your weight around against our Blood Battle Mercenary Group because the He Family backs you!"

Ka Gang spat on the leader.

"Since you refuse to appreciate my generosity, none of you will leave this place. Kill them! Keep the women alive!"

Enraged, the leader waved his hand, and the men behind him immediately lunged at Ka Gang.

"Ah, my heart is still too soft."

A detached voice suddenly came from the tree, and Long Xiao jumped down.

The instant the leader saw Long Xiao, his pupils contracted sharply. The men behind him were startled too and backed away.

Who on earth was this man?!

Why hadn't they noticed him hiding nearby all this time?

Ka Gang and Ling'er also looked at the man before them. Neither recognized his youthful face. Was he here to save them?

Whether he was or not, there was something unfathomably mysterious about him.

Last time, a young man named Xiao Huohuo had saved them. Now, another young man had appeared.

As though clutching at a lifesaving straw, Ka Gang dropped to his knees before Long Xiao. "Thank you, sir! Could you take Ling'er back to Qingshan Town? Our Blood Battle Mercenary Group will reward you generously afterward. I beg you!"

"Uncle Ka Gang..."

Seeing Ka Gang's reaction, Ling'er's tears fell, her sobs heartbreaking.

"Brat, you dare meddle in the Snake Nest Mercenary Group's business?"

Seeing that the newcomer was merely a greenhorn, the leader sneered. "I thought some expert had shown up. A brat like you thinks he can save them? What a fool's dream! Have you even grown all your hair yet?"

"Sir, please take Ling'er back to the Blood Battle Mercenary Group in Qingshan Town! I'll hold them off!" Ka Gang pleaded loudly.

"Hmph!" The leader snorted coldly. "You think you alone can stop us?"

With that, he gave the men behind him a look.

"Attack!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the men behind him drew their weapons and charged at Ka Gang and the others.

These mercenaries were all Dou Shi, while Ka Gang was only a Dou Shi himself. He was no match for them.

Ling'er's eyes brimmed with tears. She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her flesh. "Don't... don't hurt Uncle Ka Gang... Young master, please save Uncle Ka Gang."

"He'll live."

As his words fell, the heads of everyone charging at Ka Gang inexplicably burst apart. Blood splattered everywhere, and a bloody mist settled on Ka Gang's face.

What had happened?!

Ling'er's mouth fell open in astonishment. She could not believe what had just unfolded before her. Had he wiped out all those men in the blink of an eye?

Ling'er wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and stared at Long Xiao beside her.

"Benefactor! Thank you, benefactor!"

By now, Ka Gang had come back to his senses. The young man before him was definitely an expert, even more terrifying than Xiao Huohuo had been back then!

He had instantly killed so many Dou Shi.

"No need to thank me. I was just passing by. Really, it was because of your name." Long Xiao glanced at the dazed Ling'er.

Those two syllables brought a graceful, white-clad figure to his mind. He had no idea where that girl was on the Dou* Continent. They had agreed to roam to the ends of the earth together, swords in hand, but plans could never keep pace with change.

My name?

Ling'er looked at Long Xiao, a trace of hesitation in her heart. "Young master, could you tell me your name?"