"Watch out!"
Xiao Feng's brow twitched as he reached out and tapped the air beside Xiao Linger.
How could a lazy fish who had only been Cultivating for two months be a match for a Dou Master? And right now, who could stop Han Wen's movements?
This was exactly what Han Wen had in mind.
Seeing the beasts centered around Xiao Linger, he instantly thought of taking her hostage to escape. He hadn't expected the other party to be so cooperative, and with his plan succeeding, he couldn't help but curl his lips upward.
Unfortunately, he forgot one person—Xiao Feng.
Technically, Han Wen hadn't completely ignored Xiao Feng; in fact, he valued him so highly that he chose to strike when Xiao Linger was far away from him.
But he still underestimated Xiao Feng.
Just as he rose and reached out to grab Xiao Linger, a sword shadow pierced through his right palm, crushed his arm, and then vanished into the distance.
Even now, Han Wen hadn't given up. While his right hand throbbed with pain, he raised his left hand. As long as he caught Xiao Linger, Xiao Feng would be wary of causing her harm!
But a second sword shadow completely shattered the hope in his heart.
With both hands hanging limp and blood dripping, Han Wen looked desperate. He glanced left and right at Tieshan and Manni, shouting, "What are you waiting for? Waiting for him to pick us off one by one?"
Manni only gave Han Wen a glance before looking away. Tieshan opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.
Han Wen laughed crazily and looked at Xiao Feng, "History is written by the victors. Do it."
Xiao Linger, having regained her senses, had already retreated far away. She stared fixedly at Han Wen, her gaze filled with fury.
Xiao Feng still didn't approach. "Han Wen, do you know where you actually went wrong?"
Han Wen was equally puzzled. "Where exactly did I go wrong?"
Manni suddenly spoke, "Han Wen, are you going to keep pretending? Didn't you say you never obtained that book?"
Han Wen's expression froze, then he looked as if he had a sudden realization. "Hahaha, so that's it! So that's how it is!"
Finishing his sentence, his expression turned fierce. "In that case, no one's going to have a good time!"
As his voice fell, endless black insects crawled out of his body, vibrating their wings and flying high. Like a dark cloud, they drifted out in all directions.
Han Wen activated an evil technique with a heart set on death, leaving no path for survival. Within moments, only a ravaged husk remained, but his Soul did not dissipate; instead, it attached itself to the black insects flying all over the sky.
Xiao Feng's face darkened. He had asked Manni and Tieshan earlier, but he still hadn't expected this kind of evil technique to be so... disgusting.
Fortunately, Manni and Tieshan were prepared. The two each threw out a specially made wire net while simultaneously scattering white powder into the air. In less than five minutes, Han Wen completely vanished from this world.
Xiao Feng walked over and looked at the two, whispering, "Keep those of Han Wen's subordinates who can be controlled. For those who can't, show no mercy. These Demonic Beasts will help you. Settle everything within half an hour."
After saying that, Xiao Feng turned and walked toward Xiao Linger.
Xiao Linger was still staring blankly at Han Wen's remains until Xiao Feng patted her head, bringing her back to her senses.
She said nothing and turned to walk away.
Xiao Feng didn't mind. Listening to the occasional cries of death behind him, his expression remained calm.
When no more sound came for a long time, Xiao Feng turned and walked back. The ground was stained with blood, but he acted as if he didn't see it. His demeanor and voice were the same as before as he pointed behind him, "Follow the wolf pack. Let's set up the camp today."
Manni pounded her chest with her head held high. "Yes!"
The wolf pack began to head back, with Manni and Tieshan leading a group of dozens following behind.
"Tieshan, what are you thinking?" Manni suddenly asked.
Tieshan was silent for a moment. "I feel like you've suddenly become a different person."
Manni smiled bitterly. "Become someone who flatters and follows the wind?"
Tieshan didn't speak; he tacitly agreed.
"Yeah, back then I founded the mercenary group because I hated that look of being a sycophant to the powerful." Manni sighed. "But how many years have I been this captain? Fighting in the mountains with the members every day for so many years, what has changed?"
At this point, Manni lowered her voice. "Whether you believe it or not, I think that man is the benefactor of my destiny. He can lead me to higher and further places. I don't want to waste my life like this anymore. No matter what you think, as long as he needs me, I will put in twelve-tenths of my effort to do my best!"
Tieshan gave a bitter smile. "You're right, and we don't have a choice anymore."
...The moonlight gradually rose, its pale light shining on the dark red bloodstains, making one's skin crawl. Aside from foraging Demonic Beasts, no one wanted to be near here.
However, a black long spear suddenly appeared, slicing through the night sky and pinning an unranked Demonic Beast to the ground.
Under the moonlight, the spear shaft shimmered with an eerie luster.
The other Demonic Beasts fled one after another.
Then, two figures walked out from the darkness.
The armored man pulled out the long spear, looked at the scattered corpses around, and said regretfully, "Too few died."
The man with the common face shook his head. "They haven't entered the central region yet. There's no need to worry about that at all."
"It's your turn to be my Protector this time." The armored man wiped the blood off the spear blade and spoke to the common-faced man.
"Fine, fine, you start then." The common-faced man looked helpless, feeling a headache over this companion who had a unique obsession with certain things.
Suddenly, both of them looked up at a certain spot in the darkness at the same time.
A sigh came from the darkness, followed by the sound of footsteps.
"Sorry for disturbing you."
A dark figure stepped out, slowly emerging from the darkness. Xiao Feng's face was revealed under the moonlight.
The long spear that had been put away was held in hand again, the armored man's eyes flashing with cold light.
In contrast, the common-faced man still maintained a casual posture, but his tone was clearly more solemn. "You were waiting for us?"
Xiao Feng carefully observed the common-faced man and finally found the trace of a broken eyebrow at his right brow.
"I was just passing by." Xiao Feng spread his hands. "I'm quite curious about you two. Shall we sit down and chat?"
The armored man snorted coldly, turned around, and left.
The common-faced man gave an apologetic smile and turned to chase after him.
Xiao Feng watched their retreating backs, his brow furrowing tighter... The camp had been set up. As for whether these people could sleep, that was hard to say.
At this time, Xiao Linger's small wooden hut was packed with people.
"Why come to my room! It's crowded to death!" Xiao Linger was full of unhappiness.
Four people sat in the tiny room; it could almost be described as a full house.
"Then go to bed and Cultivate." Xiao Feng glanced at her and ignored her.
Beside them, Manni and Tieshan kept their eyes downcast and remained motionless, pretending not to see or hear anything.
Xiao Feng smiled. "Regarding the issue of the central region, I'm not clear on your previous arrangements, but I want to remind you of one thing. At the end of this forest lives a Rank 4 Demonic Beast. Its temper is relatively mild, but not mild enough to let you bring dozens of people through."
As his voice fell, Manni and Tieshan indeed frowned. They looked at each other, and Manni spoke, "We rely entirely on Your Excellency for this matter. Our two groups are at Your Excellency's disposal."
Xiao Feng was startled. He put away his conversational posture and began to scrutinize the two. "I don't like forcing people to do things. You..."
Before he could finish...
"You're lying!" Xiao Linger shouted.
"Shut up!" Xiao Feng barked.
"I won't! Hypocritical man!" Xiao Linger sneered. "You two are really blind, actually thinking of following him?"
Xiao Feng rolled up his sleeves. "I'll count to three. If you don't start Cultivating, I'll beat you until dawn!"
Three!
"See, his true nature is exposed!" Xiao Linger laughed.
Two!
"Follow Xiao Feng, and get beaten twice every three days!" Xiao Linger prattled on.
One!
Instantly, the wooden hut went silent.
Xiao Linger closed her eyes with a look of triumph and began to Cultivate. Xiao Feng's fingers were twitching, and his teeth were grinding audibly.
Manni and Tieshan lowered their heads, biting their lips hard, wanting to laugh but not daring to.
After more than a minute, Xiao Feng finally turned back. "Now that you know my name, you have no choice."
Manni and Tieshan looked at each other. "We will follow Young Master Xiao Feng to the death!"
Xiao Feng shook his head. "Anyone can say an oath, but since you've said it, I'll take it seriously. I'll say the ugly words first: if you betray me, here's a word of advice—you'd better end yourselves before I find out."
Manni laughed, carrying a valiant aura. "For those of us who live a life on the edge of a blade, our lives are the least valuable thing. The only thing we value is our oath."
Xiao Feng remained noncommittal. "Tell me about your goal for this trip."
Manni poked Tieshan and whispered, "You tell him."
This was an opportunity to show loyalty. Tieshan had a straightforward personality; such people find it easiest to make friends but also easiest to offend leaders. Manni didn't want to see Tieshan fall into a miserable state, so she wanted to give this opportunity to him.
Tieshan shook his head. Although he lowered his voice, it was still clearly audible. "I'm clumsy with words. You'd better say it."
Xiao Feng waved his hand. "Tieshan, you speak. Manni can supplement if anything is missed."
And so, the two of them took half an hour, back and forth, to explain the matter clearly.
After listening, Xiao Feng paused for a moment. "In other words, you don't know the exact location either, and you intended to fill the gap with human lives?"
The two smiled bitterly. Although that was their intention, having it said so bluntly made them somewhat uncomfortable.
"What attributes?" Xiao Feng asked.
"Huh?" Tieshan was stunned for a moment.
Manni reacted faster and hurriedly said, "I am Wind attribute, and Tieshan is Earth attribute."
"Wind and Earth..." Xiao Feng pondered for a moment, then turned and shouted at Xiao Linger, "Stop pretending! Bring over one Wind attribute and one Earth attribute Monster Core!"
Xiao Linger stopped playing dumb. She turned over and rummaged around the corner of the bed, finally handing over two Monster Cores.
"A general doesn't send hungry soldiers; take these first." Xiao Feng smiled. "The path for you two has widened, but how far you can go depends on yourselves."
Manni and Tieshan were both excited as they looked at the handed-over Monster Cores. What they valued was not just the Monster Cores themselves, but more so this person who could nonchalantly hand out two Rank 3 Monster Cores.
"Alright, go back and rest first. Tomorrow the three of us will go take a look at the situation first."
"Yes!"
After the two left, Xiao Feng glanced at Xiao Linger, said "Cultivate well," and went back.
Because he had left in a hurry before, he hadn't had time to clean up the bath barrel in the room. Looking at the clear bathwater, a fervent heart emerged in the depths of Xiao Feng's eyes.
He was not an Alchemist, but his understanding of medicinal herbs and pharmacology from his previous life was no shallower than those Alchemists. After deconstructing and analyzing medical prescriptions, Xiao Feng had gained a further understanding of the medicinal herbs in this world. Although he couldn't refine Medicinal Pills, preparing some medicinal liquids for strengthening the body was not a big problem.
"Once this matter is over, I can try to prepare some Marrow-Washing Liquid." Xiao Feng muttered to himself, then closed his eyes and carefully controlled his Dou Qi to wash through his Meridians and Acupoints... Contracted, from now on it's two chapters a day. Salted fish rolls over, salted fish gives up rolling over, salted fish doesn't want to move.