Chapter 23: The Fangs Mercenary Group

Zhao Xin and Hu Long hurriedly ran to the grass, surrounding Mu Yedi in the center.

Mu Yedi, who had been hiding in the grass, stood up embarrassedly, her face blushing as she glanced at Shi Yan from a distance, thinking to herself that she had lost face this time.

But Mu Yedi soon realized her worries were unnecessary. After a glance, she noticed that Shi Yan was not paying any attention to her at all. His dark eyes were tightly focused on the direction where Luo Hao had rushed off, like a fierce beast waiting for the right moment to strike.

A full cycle of qi circulation quickly ran through his body, gradually reducing the soreness and numbness. Shi Yan's face was solemn as he silently recovered his strength while keeping an eye on Luo Hao.

"Go after him! The 'Fire Cloud Demon Python' is almost done for. Follow closely, don't let it escape!"

"Fire the arrows! Fire the arrows quickly!"

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Not far away in the forest, shouts and the rapid flight of arrows could be heard, chasing the prey.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Suddenly, a large fire broke out in the forest, the raging flames covering the entire area. Thick smoke rose, swirling in the woods, making people cough continuously.

"Crack! Boom! Thud!"

The sounds of ancient tree branches breaking, arrows flying, and the sounds of running and fighting came one after another. Not far away in the forest, a fierce battle was taking place.

"Someone!" A cry of alarm suddenly came from the forest, the tone unfriendly, "Do you want to snatch the spoils of war?"

"Don't misunderstand, I just don't want the 'Fire Cloud Demon Python' to hurt my people, so I stopped it from escaping in that direction," Luo Hao's voice suddenly came from the forest, as if he was having an argument with someone.

"Hmph! We, the Fangs Mercenary Group, have been tracking this 'Fire Cloud Demon Python' for half a month. I hope you don't interfere."

"I said, I have no interest in this fourth-level demon beast," Luo Hao explained.

"Uncle Luo seems to be having an argument with someone. Let's go see what's happening," Mu Yedi frowned, looking up from the grass but unable to see clearly, feeling anxious.

"Let's go check it out!" Hu Long grunted, "I've heard of the Fangs Mercenary Group, and their reputation is not good. I hope Uncle Luo doesn't get into trouble."

"Then let's go quickly," Mu Yedi became even more anxious after hearing this.

"Alright."

Zhao Xin nodded and said to Hu Long and Di Yalan, "When we go over, we still need to protect Miss Mu. Even if a fight breaks out, her safety must be the priority."

"Shut up, do you need to tell us this?" Di Yalan said impatiently.

The four of them muttered and quietly left the grass, heading towards where Luo Hao was.

Shi Yan did not rush. He waited for a while before slowly standing up.

Feeling the active essence in his tendons and meridians, he first moved his limbs slightly to ensure they were still agile despite the fatigue. Then, he walked unhurriedly in the direction where Mu Yedi and the others had gone.

"Hey!" someone called out in surprise, "Beautiful women, hehe, there are actually two beautiful women here. I've been wandering around for two months and haven't seen such beautiful women."

"Leader, you promised us that you would satisfy our needs here. You can't go back on your word."

"Shut up, can't you see they are already taken?"

...

Shi Yan walked slowly over, frowning as he looked around.

On the ground lay a huge python, about seven to eight meters long, with fiery patterns all over its body. Its tail glowed with fire, and its body was pierced with arrows. There was a bloody hole between its eyes, from which blood was gushing out.

Beside the "Fire Cloud Demon Python," eight mercenaries wearing the same warrior uniforms were gathered. They all had a fang tattoo on their left arm, and each of them was tall and muscular, with rough features. The weakest among them had the cultivation of the innate realm.

The leader, with short brown hair like steel needles, had a long scar on his left face that extended to his neck, making him look extremely fierce.

When Shi Yan arrived, he saw the Fangs Mercenary Group members rubbing their hands and looking at Mu Yedi and Di Yalan with lustful eyes, the meaning in their eyes obvious.

Only the leader did not look at Mu Yedi and Di Yalan. Instead, he had a stern face and was staring at Luo Hao, his right hand hidden in his sleeve, which occasionally flashed with silver light, ready to attack at any moment.

"Go home and see your mother!" Under the lustful gazes of the mercenaries, Di Yalan could no longer hold back and started cursing.

"Haha, this woman is fierce! I like her type!" A wild mercenary with a bare chest and thick chest hair laughed, slapping his thigh and shouting, "Leader, I want this woman!"

"Come on, then!" Di Yalan pulled out a short sword from her waist, assuming a fighting stance, "Come on, let's see if you have the guts!"

"Haha, I'm coming!" The big man was excited and about to charge over.

"Tu Mu!" Bernard lightly called out, "Everything can be negotiated, don't act rashly."

"Understood, Leader." The chest-haired man named Tu Mu grinned, pointing at Di Yalan and leering, "Woman, we'll strip and have a good fight later. That will be more exciting, and you'll see how powerful I am!"

"I'll cut off your few ounces of meat," Di Yalan retorted with a cold smile.

Mu Yedi frowned, her face full of disgust, but she did not say much, as if she was already used to it.

"Who told you to come here?" Luo Hao's heart skipped a beat, thinking it was not good. He was very familiar with the habits of these mercenaries. Mercenaries hunting demon beasts in this area lived a life on the edge, always at risk of being torn apart by demon beasts.

Due to this constant pressure, people in this area did not care about morality or law, often committing acts of arson, murder, and rape.

Mu Yedi and Di Yalan were both beautiful women, and beauty was a scarce resource here. The delicate bodies of beautiful women were the best way to relieve stress, so Luo Hao knew something bad was about to happen as soon as he saw them come out.

Shi Yan quietly walked over and stood beside Luo Hao, secretly observing the Fangs Mercenary Group members.

"Tu Mu!" The leader of the Fangs Mercenary Group, Bernard, shouted, his scar twitching, his expression fierce. "Collect the materials!" As he spoke, his cold eyes scanned over Luo Hao, Shi Yan, and the others, and his sleeve flashed with silver light.

"Yes!" Tu Mu stopped teasing Di Yalan, waved his hand, and three more mercenaries stepped forward, holding daggers. The four of them, covered in blood, skillfully skinned the "Fire Cloud Demon Python," extracted its tendons, dug out its eyes, and carefully pulled out its fangs.

Bernard and the remaining three mercenaries kept a cold eye on Luo Hao, Shi Yan, and the others, ready to attack if they made any sudden moves.

Luo Hao's face was stern, and the broadsword in his hand glowed faintly. "We have no interest in the 'Fire Cloud Demon Python.' You can continue, and we'll leave." Luo Hao saw that Bernard was not someone to be trifled with and did not want to cause any trouble, only wanting to get Mu Yedi to a safe place as soon as possible.

When Bernard saw that Luo Hao and the others were really leaving, he was slightly taken aback and suddenly said, "Wait a moment."

Luo Hao turned around, his face suddenly cold, and he grunted, "We don't want any trouble with you, but don't go too far."

"Hehe." Bernard smiled, his expression softening, "You misunderstood. I have no other intentions, I just want to make a deal with you."

"What kind of deal?" Luo Hao was taken aback.

"I'll trade one eye, three fangs, and two meters of python skin from the 'Fire Cloud Demon Python' for those two women." Bernard pointed at Mu Yedi and Di Yalan and smiled, "My brothers have been holding back for a long time and need to be satisfied. Women here have a price, and I think this price is fair. What do you think?"

"Damn it!" Hu Long's eyes were almost on fire.

Zhao Xin grunted, Mu Yedi bit her lip, and Di Yalan swung her short sword, shouting, "Come and try!"

Only Shi Yan squinted his eyes and remained silent.

Luo Hao stopped Di Yalan from acting rashly, shook his head at her, and turned to say calmly, "Sorry, they are my companions, not my private property. I won't trade them for anything."

"Oh, then forget it." Bernard nodded casually, "See you later."

"See you later." Luo Hao gave him a deep look and shouted, "Let's go!"

Luo Hao glared at Di Yalan, telling her not to speak and to leave quickly.

Zhao Xin and Hu Long were full of anger, but under Luo Hao's gaze, they did not dare to act out. They obediently surrounded Mu Yedi and left. Shi Yan touched his nose, did not comment, and followed them.

...

"Leader, are we going to do the same thing this time?" After Luo Hao and the others disappeared into the forest, Tu Mu grinned, "We know your preferences, we won't compete with you for the little girl, but we want to taste the fiery woman."

Bernard's eyes grew colder, and he nodded lightly, "First, collect the materials from the python, then follow the usual procedure."

"Understood." Tu Mu grinned, "That woman even threatened to cut off my manhood. I'll make her pay for it!"

"She's a thorny flower, a bit weaker than you, but still at the third level of the innate realm. Be careful, don't mess up," Bernard grunted, "Remember to kill the men first, don't get too distracted by the women. No one is to be let go!"

"Understood!"

---

"Leader, are we going to do the same thing this time?" After Luo Hao and the others disappeared into the forest, Tu Mu grinned, "We know your preferences, we won't compete with you for the little girl, but we want to taste the fiery woman."

Bernard's eyes grew colder, and he nodded lightly, "First, collect the materials from the python, then follow the usual procedure."

"Understood." Tu Mu grinned, "That woman even threatened to cut off my manhood. I'll make her pay for it!"

"She's a thorny flower, a bit weaker than you, but still at the third level of the innate realm. Be careful, don't mess up," Bernard grunted, "Remember to kill the men first, don't get too distracted by the women. No one is to be let go!"

"Understood!"