Chapter 7

Having separated from the group, Gong Sun Murong pushed the Star Moon Pursuit Flash to its limit, his figure flashing as he headed towards the direction of the small town.

When he gave six hundred gold coins, he was very angry, but he was unwilling to expose his strength and even less willing to escalate the situation, so as not to let more people spread his affairs.

Selling water in the desert is a beautiful story, but killing the three leaders and their subordinates in front of many people is information that other forces are willing to pay attention to.

Gong Sun Murong always remembered the words of the smart butler. 'Those who completely show their strength to others are never the last victors. No one knows how much strength the Gong Sun and Murong families have hidden, just as you don't know how far the way home is. That's why these two families have their place among the eight major families. Young Master, seek success, but don't make a fuss!'

So Gong Sun Murong endured at that time, but the money couldn't be given for nothing. Now he should take back what belonged to him and fulfill Nalasha's wish, gaining more extra income.

An hour later, in the quiet and peaceful Sasa Town, the three leaders of the major forces, Tom Harvey, Aladdin Hogan, and Jacob Jack, all died within their respective territories.

The three died in different places. Tom Harvey died at a banquet with his subordinates, all of whom died from poisoning.

Aladdin Hogan died in bed, his throat slit in his sleep.

Jacob Jack died in the training room, his head cut off, his eyes wide open with a look of confusion.

Half an hour later, the peace of the small town was first broken by Tom Harvey's death. His subordinates found the bodies at the banquet, each with pale faces, bleeding noses and mouths, and red eyes, similar to the appearance of adventurers who had been poisoned in the ruins.

Then Aladdin Hogan and Jacob Jack were also discovered by their subordinates who came to report the situation.

The town was in chaos. People who were sleeping were woken up, and adventurers in the taverns rushed to investigate.

As the captain of the town's guard, Sandy led his men to the place where Tom Harvey held the banquet. Looking at the bodies on the ground, he instructed his men to start looking for clues.

When no one was around, he sighed and muttered to himself, "If I hadn't given them the burlap, would Harvey and the others not have died? Someone might have picked up the young cubs of the Blazing Wind Golden Tiger, but it takes strength to make the little tiger so obedient."

Sandy thought about what had happened at the town gate earlier and shook his head. "Did I harm Harvey and the others? Who knows! Greedy enough to rob even a child, they might have tried to take the little tiger even without the burlap. By the God of War, has a stable life made Harvey and the others lose the vigilance of adventurers?"

Speaking of vigilance, Sandy nervously observed his surroundings. Seeing no one paying attention to him, he sighed in relief and smiled, looking at the bodies being carried away in the distance.

His smile was mocking. "Wearing a spotless and beautiful white dress, looking like a little princess, Nalasha is so cute and happy. I don't believe it's the result of the Goddess of Fortune always watching over her. Has every adventurer who bought water become kind? I..."

"Sandy, Captain, Harvey is dead. His subordinates and servants, a total of forty-nine, are also dead. Do you think it's revenge? Like at the mercenary guild yesterday..." A guard came to report the situation and make a guess.

"Sakshi, yesterday we were drinking in the tavern, invited by Moses and the others. The kind and lovely Nalasha lost six hundred gold coins, and we didn't dare to stand up. Then, out of fear, Nalasha hired people to protect her and left, and she has been gone for a long time. Along with her, there are Kellis and twenty-nine other adventurers who are afraid of retaliation. Isn't that right?"

Sandy asked his subordinate with a serious expression.

"Yes, yes, but... then there must be a reason. Who is the murderer? Our responsibility..."

"Our responsibility is to protect the safety of the civilians in Sasa Town. They are the ones paying us, not Harvey and the others. I won't ask how much you took from them privately, but I know that if you keep纠缠 this matter, what happened to Harvey and the others might happen to you. I believe a smart person won't get involved with the dead."

"No, no, Captain, don't shout so loud. I haven't gotten involved with anyone, no, I will handle the bodies well, Captain, please don't mention who took money from whom. I'll invite you to drink at Old Motti's tavern later." Sakshi was scared away.

Sandy chuckled, shook his head, and said, "Young man, you have a lot to learn. How can the lovely Nalasha be suspected? Forget this thought, and you will be favored by the Goddess of Fortune. Although I have already determined that Harvey and the others' deaths are..."

A sound came from beside Sandy's feet. Sandy looked down by the light of the fire and the moon, his eyes suddenly widening. Then he quickly squatted down and picked up the object.

It was a small cloth bag embroidered with beautiful patterns, and a slight metallic sound was heard when it was picked up.

Sandy covered it with his arm, peeked inside, and felt its weight. Finding a corner, he whispered, "Exactly fifty gold coins. I never misjudge the weight, just as I accurately judged that Harvey and the others died because of someone they offended four months ago. They stole that person's sand camel and killed them in the wild, so that person's family came for revenge. As for which family it is, please listen to the voice of the God of War."

After saying these words, Sandy listened carefully to the surroundings, seeing no danger, he smiled again and put the heavy cloth bag in his chest. "The Goddess of Fortune is on my side again. The lovely Nalasha will become more beautiful, and the handsome Young Master Murong."

******

The person who gave money to Sandy was Gong Sun Murong. He came back to confirm how the town's guards viewed the incident.

He had been conflicted, wanting to kill Sandy but afraid of leaving more clues. Since he had invited the hired guards and Sandy to drink yesterday, if Sandy had told his family about entering the town, would his family reveal the news if Sandy died?

When he heard Sandy's words, he chose to silence him rather than kill him, believing that the smart and kind Sandy would make the right choice.

After finishing his business, Gong Sun Murong caught up with the group. He obtained some items and uncounted gold, silver, and copper coins.

He only did a simple search, not forcing the killed people to reveal where they had hidden more money, fearing unexpected situations. No one had seen his face when he acted.

What Gong Sun Murong didn't expect was that when he caught up with the group, they were not moving forward but had stopped, and the sound of battle was heard.

Taking advantage of the chaos, he returned to his sand camel and turned to look with his eyes.

Nalasha had known her brother Murong was back, even when he was a few miles away.

"Brother Murong, look, the group encountered a lot of bone-eating rats. Six sand camels were bitten, and some people are injured," Nalasha said as if it were someone else's problem, showing no urgency.

"Oh," Gong Sun Murong was not in a hurry either.

"Brother Murong, how much money did you get back?" Nalasha was more concerned about this.

"Didn't count, we'll talk later," Gong Sun Murong observed the battle.

Ten sand camels gathered around the one Nalasha was riding, with no more bone-eating rats coming to bite. Moses and the seven others stood close to the sand camels, holding weapons in readiness.

The other thirty adventurers were fighting the bone-eating rats on the outskirts.

Gong Sun Murong had just come through the ranks of the bone-eating rats. Now, looking closely, he saw that they were not just a few but a vast number.

More bone-eating rats appeared in the distance under the moonlight and firelight, joining the battle.

Kellis was supporting the fight everywhere. He was very powerful, killing one or two bone-eating rats with each strike. Second-level, second-grade bone-eating rats were no match for his fifth-level, fifth-grade strength.

However, the sheer number of bone-eating rats and their desperate fighting spirit were overwhelming.

Gong Sun Murong frowned and looked at the little tiger in Nalasha's arms.

Nalasha blinked and asked softly, "Should we take off the sealing spell cloth?"

Gong Sun Murong did not answer immediately but thought about it. The thirty hired adventurers did not know about the little tiger. To prevent the sand beasts from fleeing prematurely and arousing suspicion, Moses had found a spell cloth among their past spoils that could hide the scent of sand beasts.

Its true purpose was to steal good young sand beasts and take them away without the adult sand beasts finding them.

Now, with the hired people fighting, should they use the little tiger to scare away the bone-eating rats and let the adventurers know, or should they watch the adventurers in danger and do nothing?

"Moses, kill eight sand camels. You take Nalasha and Young Master Murong and run. Damn bone-eating rats, they must have gathered because they couldn't find food. Moses, run fast. I, Kellis, swear by the God of War to fight to the end to complete the sacred mercenary mission. Ah, brothers, let's fight!"

Kellis roared, his large sword swinging even more densely.

Moses paused and turned to look at his young master and young miss.

"Brother Murong, Nalasha knows," Nalasha made her decision, quickly removing the spell cloth and saying to the Blazing Wind Golden Tiger, "Little Jin, roar once."

"Ao~~~!" A long roar echoed under the twin moons, the Blazing Wind Golden Tiger's body glowing with golden light, as if the world paused for a moment.

The adventurers and bone-eating rats in the battle were stunned. Then the bone-eating rats retreated like a tide, making fearful cries. The class suppression was too great, and they lacked the courage to fight to the end.

Kellis and the other adventurers looked at the glowing little tiger in Nalasha's arms with complex expressions.

"That... actually..." Nalasha looked embarrassed, sitting on the sand camel and stammering.

"Kellis didn't swear by the God of War before," Gong Sun Murong said, his eyes sweeping over the adventurers, meeting their gazes without hesitation.

"Yes, what Young Master said is correct. The value of a young Blazing Wind Golden Tiger, I believe everyone understands well from their long years of adventuring. To put it bluntly, I, Moses, have always thought that Young Master and Young Miss are not qualified leaders. Their hearts are softer than the moonlight. Who knows why I chose them as my masters."

Moses shrugged and said to the surrounding adventurers.

"Moses, you're right. I fully agree. A Blazing Wind Golden Tiger can be sold for an unimaginable price, especially if Miss Nalasha is the one selling it. Who could resist? Guys, if Miss Nalasha had shouted, 'Selling Blazing Wind Golden Tigers, come and see the Blazing Wind Golden Tigers, anyone want to buy?' wouldn't that have been more attractive than selling water?"

Kellis shook the blood off his sword and said in agreement.

The adventurers around them laughed, feeling relieved. They understood their employers' actions. Selling water was already dangerous for two children, so what about a Blazing Wind Golden Tiger? Would they still have a fair transaction?

If they had a little tiger themselves, they probably wouldn't reveal it easily either. Only when the strength difference was not too great would people be willing to reason.

After the battle, the adventurers drank a few sips of water and, unwilling to waste more time, raised their torches and set off again.

The moonlight was as gentle as water!