Chapter 40

Qinglin Town, located less than two hundred kilometers west of Liuyun City, is a rather remote place, but it is not sparsely populated, and passersby occasionally pass through. It is also a necessary route from Liuyun City to Crescent Moon City.

Under the scorching sun, the ground was cracked, and people's moods tended to become irritable. At this moment, six people walked down the town's street. The one in front was a towering figure, clad in silver-white light armor, carrying a bronze greatsword nearly one and a half meters long on his shoulder. He had a fierce appearance and a menacing gaze. The two people behind him wore animal skin clothes and held various weapons such as knives, swords, and hammers.

Their appearance immediately made the atmosphere on the town's street tense. Passersby hurried to the side of the road, their steps becoming cautious, and their faces showing fear... until the six people entered the small tavern in town, they finally breathed a sigh of relief and quickly left.

Bang!!

The greatsword, almost as tall as an adult, was slammed onto the largest table in the center of the tavern by the heavily armored man. He then roared, "This table is mine! If you don't want to die, get lost!"

The four people who were drinking at the table were about to get angry, but their faces changed instantly when they saw the man's face. They dared not say a word and left meekly. The man extended his thick arm and swept the table, and in the grating sound of shattered cups and plates, he growled, "Bring me the best wine and dishes in the shop!"

The innkeeper had already come forward personally. Looking at the broken cups and plates on the ground, he was heartbroken, but he forced a smile, "Sirs of the Silver Dragon, please rest for a moment. The wine and dishes will be ready soon, very soon."

These six people belonged to the famous Silver Dragon Mercenary Group in Qinglin Town. The man with the huge silver greatsword was the leader of the Silver Dragon Mercenary Group, Yin Long, who called himself "Silver Dragon." He was in his early forties, and his玄力 (Xuanli, spiritual power) had already reached the True Xuan realm, second level. In Qinglin Town, where anyone above the fourth level of the Xuan realm was considered an expert, he was undoubtedly invincible. The Silver Dragon Mercenary Group thus became the strongest mercenary group in Qinglin Town, acting with impunity, and no one dared to provoke them.

When the six people sat down, the five members began to flatter each other. Their voices, laughter, and curses filled the entire tavern. Such bullying behavior was already commonplace for them. The people around, out of fear of the Silver Dragon's reputation, did not dare to say a word.

At this moment, another group of five people appeared at the tavern's entrance. The leader was a young man, around twenty years old, of medium build, with an ordinary appearance, but his clothing was extremely luxurious. Anyone in the town who saw his clothes would be envious and unable to look away for a long time.

He stood at the tavern's entrance, glanced at the people inside, and his gaze was extremely arrogant, as if looking at a group of unworthy, lowly beings. Then, he frowned and snorted disdainfully.

A handsome young man, about seventeen or eighteen years old, quickly stepped forward, bowing and smiling, "Young Master Xiao, taverns in such small places are all like this. I doubt you can find anything decent within a hundred miles. Just make do for now."

These five people were Xiao Kuangyun, Xiao Moshan, Xiao Ba, Xiao Jiu, and Xiao Chengzhi, who had just returned to the Xiao Clan from Liuyun City.

Xiao Chengzhi had been overjoyed throughout the journey. Thinking about being taken back to the Xiao Clan, he even laughed in his sleep. In front of Xiao Kuangyun, he was extremely humble, flattering and pleasing, not daring to be the slightest bit negligent... If he could serve this young master of the Xiao Clan well, a few good words from him would ensure a smooth life in the Xiao Clan.

"Hmph!" Xiao Kuangyun snorted, glanced at the place with disdain, and walked in.

Xiao Chengzhi hurried to the front, took the best seat, and quickly wiped the wooden stool with his sleeve. He then looked at Xiao Kuangyun with a fawning smile and shouted, "Waiter, bring the best wine and dishes... the best ones!"

As soon as Xiao Kuangyun and his group entered, the six people from the Silver Dragon Mercenary Group fixed their eyes on them. One of them laughed disdainfully, "Hey! That kid is really arrogant. Look at how he looked at us just now, tsk tsk."

"Probably a young master from a noble family out for a leisurely trip. Look at his delicate skin, it probably oozes water when pinched. But to be so arrogant in our territory, he really doesn't know what 'death' means."

"Boss, should I go and teach them who's in charge? No matter which noble family's young master they are, they have to learn to behave in our territory."

"Slap!"

Yin Long slammed the half-eaten chicken leg on the table and picked up the greatsword at his feet: "I'll handle it myself. I like that kid's clothes. I'll take them for my son; he'll be delighted, hahaha..."

Saying that, he picked up the greatsword and swaggered towards Xiao Kuangyun's table. Three steps away, he slashed the table, his face menacing, "Kid! Your clothes are nice, but you're a scrawny thing. Wearing them is a waste. Take them off quickly!"

"Take them off! Hurry up! Did you hear me?"

"If you don't want to, we can help you take them off."

"If our boss does it himself, it won't be so gentle, hahaha!"

The Silver Dragon Mercenary Group's subordinates cheered. The tavern's guests all avoided them, looking at Xiao Kuangyun and his group with pity. The innkeeper and the waiters hid far away, not daring to intervene.

To everyone's surprise, Xiao Kuangyun and his group remained unusually calm in the face of the notorious Silver Dragon Mercenary Group. Xiao Kuangyun reached out, brushed off the wine stains on his clothes with disgust, and said coldly, "Waste them all!"

"Huh? Waste? What did he say?"

"He said to waste us all! Hahaha... Ah!!!"

The laughter of the Silver Dragon Mercenary Group turned into deafening screams. Xiao Ba's body shot out like lightning, smashing the three loudest people away, accompanied by the sound of bones breaking.

Yin Long's laughter disappeared. He took a hasty step back, his face showing fear, "S-Spirit Xuan realm!!"

The words "Spirit Xuan realm" were like a thunderclap in the small tavern, shocking everyone to the core, leaving them speechless! Such super experts were only found in sects and big cities, a realm they had never seen in their lives in this small Qinglin Town, let alone dared to dream of!

Before Yin Long finished speaking, his other two subordinates were slapped away by Xiao Ba, landing unconscious on the ground. Yin Long's body trembled, and he fell to his knees, kowtowing desperately, "S-Sorry... I am blind... I failed to recognize a great person... I... I deserve to die... I deserve to die!"

If he had known the other party was a Spirit Xuan realm expert, he would never have dared to provoke them.

"Waste them." Xiao Kuangyun said coldly.

As soon as the words were spoken, Xiao Ba's hand swept down, and with Yin Long's screams, his two arms were violently shattered.

At this moment, a young man's figure appeared at the tavern's entrance.

After leaving Liuyun City, Yun Che had no specific destination. Thinking of the wooden token given to him by Xiao Lie, he inquired along the way and headed towards Crescent Moon City. He also needed to go to a larger place, as such places were more likely to have something that could restore his Xuan veins.

His body was too weak, and he was reluctant to spend his limited Xuan coins on a horse, so he had to walk, which was very slow. By the time he reached Qinglin Town, he was exhausted and hungry. Seeing the small tavern by the roadside, he flipped through the remaining Xuan coins in his pocket, smiled bitterly, and walked over.

Just as he stood at the entrance, he heard a pig-like scream. Following the sound, he saw Xiao Kuangyun and Xiao Moshan sitting together, and Xiao Chengzhi standing on the other side... His steps paused, and he quickly turned to leave. At the moment he turned, Xiao Ba, who had just shattered Yin Long's arms, happened to look towards the entrance, and his face changed.

"Waiter, clear these eyesores out!!" Xiao Kuangyun shouted coldly. A group of trash, not even as significant as ants, had ruined his appetite.

"Ah... Yes, yes, yes!" The innkeeper trembled and nodded hurriedly, and the waiter timidly carried the Silver Dragon Mercenary Group members out... Yin Long, a True Xuan realm second-level expert, was feared in Qinglin Town, and this young man's subordinate was a Spirit Xuan realm expert. They dared not resist in the slightest.

"Master." Xiao Ba walked to Xiao Kuangyun's side and whispered a few words in his ear.

"Hmm? You mean the waste expelled from the Xiao Clan?" Hearing Xiao Ba's words, Xiao Kuangyun's eyes narrowed, and he laughed coldly, "Very good, I almost forgot about such a person. Since heaven has brought him to us... Xiao Ba, go and disfigure his face."

"The Clan Master said not to bully others outside." Xiao Moshan said expressionlessly.

"Hmph! That waste from the Xiao Clan made me lose face in public that day. It was already merciful of me not to let him die in Liuyun City. Xiao Ba, after disfiguring his face, cut out his tongue. He talks too much; I want to see how he will speak then!" Xiao Kuangyun said in a low voice.

That day at the Xiao Clan, Yun Che exposed his false accusation in public, making every word he said a slap in the face. How could he not bear a grudge? As for disfiguring Yun Che's face, it was out of jealousy... more jealousy that this waste had married Xia Qingyue, whom he could not obtain!

Xiao Moshan said nothing more, and Xiao Ba nodded silently, walking out of the tavern and heading straight for Yun Che.