Chapter 24: Trouble

"Uncle Luo, why are we leaving?" As they moved, Diyalan slashed at the branches with her short sword, angrily saying, "That bastard actually dared to flirt with me and Miss Mu. I really want to stab him to death! It's infuriating!"

"If you two hadn't shown up, nothing would have happened. Now we're in trouble, sigh..." Luo Hao sighed, helplessly saying, "Stop complaining and move faster. Let's hope we can avoid them."

"Uncle Luo, we're already leaving, what more trouble could there be?" Mu Yudie was surprised.

"It's not as simple as you think."

Luo Hao shook his head, "None of these mercenaries are good people. When that captain looked at you, his eyes were full of lust. He clearly won't let this go. When we left, the four mercenaries who were dealing with the demon python seemed indifferent, but they showed a strong interest in you two earlier. This is unusual. They must know the captain's temperament, which is why they didn't care."

Mu Yudie's face changed slightly, "Uncle Luo, you suspect they will come after us?"

"Not suspect, they will definitely come after us!"

Luo Hao sighed inwardly, "They didn't act immediately because they were concerned about the materials on the demon python. They are worried that other mercenaries and warriors might come and snatch their loot while they deal with us. Once they collect the materials, they will definitely come after us."

"The Fangtooth Mercenary Group has a bad reputation. I've heard they often engage in burning, killing, and looting. Uncle Luo's judgment is definitely correct," Hu Long agreed.

"Uncle Luo, ... I'm sorry, we were just worried about you," Mu Yudie said softly.

"I understand." Luo Hao said a few words, then his body, which had been moving quickly through the forest, suddenly stopped. He slowly let go of Mu Yudie and put her down.

Shi Yan also stopped, frowning, "What's wrong? Have they already caught up?"

Luo Hao nodded, looking at Shi Yan approvingly, and said solemnly, "They should be here."

"Uncle Luo, what do we do?" Hu Long snorted, angrily shouting, "They're too overbearing. Let's fight them!"

Luo Hao's thick brows furrowed as he thought quickly, then suddenly said, "Diyalan, you carry Little Butterfly and go first. Leave signals along the way. Young brother, you go with them. Be cautious and choose areas with few people. Always be aware of not entering the territory of high-level demon beasts."

"What about you?" Shi Yan asked calmly.

"We three will stay behind. Without Little Butterfly, we can split up and ambush them. As long as we hold them off for a while, we will catch up. Those guys won't fight to the death without the women; they will give up quickly," Luo Hao said quickly.

"Understood." Shi Yan nodded and smiled, "Uncle, don't worry. Wherever these two beauties are, I will be there."

"Go!" Luo Hao lightly shouted.

Diyalan wanted to stay and fight, but under Luo Hao's gaze, she relented.

She stomped her foot in anger, squatted down, and quickly picked up Mu Yudie, then ran straight into the densest part of the forest without another word.

Shi Yan hesitated for a moment, then took a small paper packet from his backpack and forced it into Luo Hao's hand, saying, "This is a poison powder I obtained by chance, called 'Seven Snake Saliva.' It's made from the venom of seven poisonous snakes. It's easy to use; just apply the powder to your weapon. As long as you make a small cut and draw a drop of blood, it will work..."

Before Luo Hao could speak, Shi Yan chuckled and ran after Diyalan.

"Uncle Luo, isn't this a bit too vicious? Warriors have their dignity. Using poison to fight is not honorable," Zhao Xin frowned, looking at the poison powder in Luo Hao's hand with disgust, and muttered, "That guy's background is unknown, and he carries all sorts of vicious and cruel things. I can't feel at ease with him being with Miss Mu."

"Zhao Xin, here there are no such rigid rules. If it weren't for his bone-eroding powder earlier, we would already be dead, and you wouldn't have the chance to talk about honor here," Luo Hao scolded, frowning, and added, "Keep some of this powder, but don't use it for now. Don't provoke them. If things get to a point of no return, don't hesitate. Apply it to your weapons immediately. Only by surviving can you continue to criticize that guy's despicable actions in front of Little Butterfly, understand?"

"Understood."

...

In the forest.

Bernard and seven members of the Fangtooth Mercenary Group were moving quickly, their expressions cold and their mouths twisted with lecherous smiles.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Arrows suddenly shot out from the forest, fast and fierce, forcing the Fangtooth mercenaries to stop and deal with them.

Bernard stopped abruptly, chuckled, and his right hand, hidden in his sleeve, finally emerged. It was a shiny silver iron hand. As soon as the iron hand appeared, a burst of silver light shot out, splitting into seven crescent-shaped blades in the air, which flew toward Luo Hao's hiding place.

"Crack, crack, crack!"

As the blades passed, branches in the forest shattered and fell. The blades' momentum remained strong, their silver light flashing as they struck Luo Hao's position.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

An ancient tree was cut down and crashed to the ground. Luo Hao's figure flashed and disappeared into the forest again.

"Tu Mu, you and Jin Mo chase after them. We'll handle this side," Bernard said with a cold smile, instructing, "The experts are here. Only two women and a boy left first. Remember, I want the women alive. If you kill them, you won't get a single crystal coin!"

"Captain, don't worry. I'll make sure the little woman is clean and ready for you to serve her harshly," Tu Mu laughed, "Jin Mo, let's go! Ha, that fiery woman, I'll go first, and you'll get the second taste this time."

"Hehe, I can't wait," another ugly mercenary with a pockmarked face also laughed, following Tu Mu.

"Trouble!" Luo Hao was startled and was about to send a signal to chase after them.

He hadn't expected Bernard to be so experienced in such matters. The guy had seen through his plan and dispatched people to chase after Diyalan.

"Stay here." Bernard sneered, charging toward Luo Hao, "Friend, you wanted to hold us back, right? Now, I'm not leaving. You don't need to rush off. Let's have a little sparring to loosen up."

As Bernard moved, the other mercenaries also spread out, searching for Hu Long and Zhao Xin.

...

Diyalan carried Mu Yudie, darting through the forest. With each step, her agile legs pushed off the ground, and her athletic, fiery body shot forward several meters, like a female leopard chasing prey.

As she ran, the short skirt under her waist armor fluttered in the wind, and her firm, shapely buttocks moved with a mesmerizing curve, full of incredible elasticity.

Shi Yan admired her from behind, secretly praising her fiery figure, no wonder those mercenaries were so captivated by her.

"Brat, stop staring at my ass. Pay more attention to the surroundings and look for signs of demon beasts," Diyalan suddenly shouted, as if she had eyes on her back.

"It won't distract me," Shi Yan grinned, "There are no signs of demon beasts nearby, but it seems someone is chasing us. I can hear faint footsteps."

"Someone is chasing us?" Diyalan was startled, "No way! Uncle Luo and the others are behind us. They shouldn't have failed to hold off those wild dogs, right?"

Shi Yan stopped abruptly, lay down, and pressed his ear to the ground, then said with a grim face, "Uncle Luo didn't stop all the wild dogs. Two of them are almost catching up."

Diyalan paused, her expression heavy, "Boy, you carry Miss Mu and keep going. I'll stay and deal with them."

"No, I'll stay."

Shi Yan shook his head, took a deep breath, and said solemnly, "I want to test my recent training. You keep going, and I'll catch up. I'll leave some marks so Uncle and the others can find us if they break free."

"You..." Mu Yudie turned her head on Diyalan's back, her eyes shimmering, her expression complex, "This wasn't your problem to begin with."

"I know." Shi Yan smiled, "Because of you, it is now. I still owe you, and I haven't repaid it yet. When I feel I've repaid it, even if you want to keep me, I'll leave firmly." Waving his hand, Shi Yan urged Diyalan, "Sister, what are you waiting for?"

Diyalan felt a pang of sympathy, turned her head away, and said softly, "Brat, stay alive. If you can catch up again, I, I'll let you touch my... butt." With that, Diyalan stomped her foot and rushed forward.

"Hehe, I'll be waiting for you to wash up." Shi Yan grinned and shouted in her direction, "I'll be there soon."

Diyalan's body trembled, almost tripping, her face red as she gritted her teeth and cursed, "That damn little rascal!"