The Blood Battle Mercenary Corps has long been a renowned and formidable force in the vicinity of Qingshan Town, and even in a radius of a hundred miles. Despite being close to the perilous borders of the Magic Beast Mountains, they have maintained their standing, attesting to their strength. However, this status began to shift drastically a year ago, when the so-called Serpent Nest Mercenary Corps entered Qingshan Town.
The Serpent Nest Mercenary Corps is another powerful mercenary group around the Magic Beast Mountains, quite evenly matched with the Blood Battle Mercenary Corps. Normally, an encounter between the two would result in a stalemate, but the Blood Battle Mercenary Corps lacked strong backing. The Serpent Nest Mercenary Corps, on the other hand, was well-supported. It was known that they were backed by the He Family from Black Rock City, a prominent family in the northeastern region of the empire. Although not as illustrious as the three great families of the empire, the He Family was still a force to be reckoned with, primarily due to their patriarch, a mighty Dou Wang (Battle King) of the fourth star. A Dou Wang, a rank of great weight within the Gama Empire, could instill both fear and respect. The gap between Dou Ling (Battle Spirit) and Dou Wang (Battle King) was immense; while Dou Lings were numerous in the vast Gama Empire, Dou Wangs were scarce, numbering less than a hundred.
The leader of the Blood Battle Mercenary Corps was a seventh-star Dou Ling, and the leader of the Serpent Nest Mercenary Corps, an eighth-star Dou Ling. Despite their near-equal strength, the Serpent Nest repeatedly gained the upper hand in multiple confrontations. This was because the Serpent Nest Mercenary Corps could call upon the formidable members of the He Family to aid them. The leader of the Serpent Nest Mercenary Corps, the son-in-law of the He Family, was also favored by the patriarch, who readily lent his support. For the He Family, eliminating a small mercenary corps was a trivial matter.
During the critical moment for the Blood Battle Mercenary Corps, Xuanran, the leader of the Serpent Nest, had brought in two sixth-star Dou Lings from the He Family. This tipped the scales, leading to the imminent defeat of the Blood Battle Mercenary Corps. The sudden appearance of Xiao Yan, however, changed the course of events, preventing the complete annihilation of the Blood Battle Mercenary Corps. After saving Kangan and Ling’er, Xiao Yan provided Kangan with five homemade “Fire Lotus Bottles.” Armed with these, Kangan managed to turn the tide, severely wounding the leader of the Serpent Nest and two He Family warriors. This significant blow led to the collapse of the Serpent Nest Mercenary Corps, and the Blood Battle Mercenary Corps gained considerable prestige, driving the remnants of the Serpent Nest out of Qingshan Town.
However, the aftermath of this victory was not without its consequences. The Blood Battle Mercenary Corps knew that the He Family would be enraged, especially since the He Family had lost two Dou Lings and their son-in-law. The internal debate within the mercenary corps was intense, but before they could reach a decision, the He Family’s warriors arrived in Qingshan Town, including the patriarch, a Dou Wang of incredible power.
Under the threat of the He Family, the entire Blood Battle Mercenary Corps was gathered in the training square. The ominous presence of the He Family’s guards silenced even the children. The square was filled with fear and desperation, as the bodies of executed mercenaries lay in the open, a grim warning.
On the elevated platform, a large chair covered in soft fur was occupied by the He Family patriarch, clad in elaborate robes. His somber expression was focused on a jade bottle in his hand, which he examined with a snake-like gaze. “Is this the weapon that grievously injured my son-in-law and killed two of our family’s warriors?”
The crowd stirred. Kangan, at the forefront, spoke up, his voice hoarse. “This jade bottle is mine. If you wish to punish someone, let it be me. But please, spare the women and children. They know nothing.”
Behind him, a pale-faced middle-aged man, apparently of high rank within the corps, could only smile bitterly. He, too, was a Dou Ling, but stood no chance against the patriarch. Ling’er, at his side, supported him, her eyes filled with determination. “Uncle, are you alright? As long as Mister Xiao Yan comes, we will be safe.”
The middle-aged man shook his head, scoffing at the idea. “Xiao Yan? The name is the same as the leader of the Flame Alliance, but how could we possibly know such a powerful figure?”
Ling’er remained hopeful, but the reality was bleak. The He Family patriarch, intrigued by the destructive power of the “Fire Lotus Bottle,” sought to find its origin. Kangan, despite the torture, insisted it was a chance discovery in the mountains, but the old, cunning patriarch saw through his lie. As the patriarch’s foot descended to crush Kangan, a calm voice interrupted, “If your foot falls, I’ll see if your head can withstand it instead…”
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