Chapter 741: Greenmount Mountain

Xiao Yan, this time, did not dawdle at all. After briefly explaining the matter to Xiao Ding and the others, he found Zi Yan in the residence and then quietly left with her. With Zi Yan in tow, they just left the capital when Xiao Yan was about to use his Dou Qi wings to travel. However, Zi Yan tugged at his sleeve, pointing her little finger forward, and said in a clear, ringing voice, “Sister Cai Lin is over there.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yan was startled and quickly cast his gaze in that direction, indeed seeing the enchanting figure of Medusa, lazily leaning against a tree trunk, her beautiful eyes staring at the two of them.

“Why are you here?” Xiao Yan asked, bewildered.

“Don’t think you can take Zi Yan away alone. I’m not comfortable with her following you,” Medusa said coolly, then walked over, ignoring Xiao Yan’s stunned expression, and pulled Zi Yan up.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly and could only say, “Alright, alright. You can come along too. I’m going into seclusion, not for pleasure. Bringing Zi Yan is because she needs vast amounts of energy for her ascension, and the place I’m going is suitable for her.”

With these words, Xiao Yan’s shoulders trembled, and a pair of emerald green fire wings slowly extended from his back, finally forming into resplendent wings nearly ten feet wide.

“Follow me with Zi Yan,” Xiao Yan said to Medusa, then flapped his wings, ascending into the sky, and headed towards the distant Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Behind him, Medusa watched Xiao Yan’s helpless figure, her cold and beautiful face faintly curving into an undetectable smile. Then, she pulled Zi Yan, and in a flash, appeared in the sky, gently tapping the air with the tip of her foot to follow Xiao Yan swiftly.

When leaving, Xiao Yan also took a map of the Jia Ma Empire. Following the route he remembered from years ago, he flew swiftly towards the northeastern region of the empire. The small valley he had been in before was deep within the mountains of the Northeastern Magical Beast Mountain Range, far from the capital. If one used a normal flying beast or carriage, it would take at least five or six days to reach there. But now, Xiao Yan was no longer the small Fighter he once was. At his current speed, even traversing the entire Jia Ma Empire back and forth would only take less than a day.

Following the route on the map, the trio rushed without stopping for half a day, finally appearing atop a mountain peak near the Magical Beast Mountain Range as the sun began to set. Xiao Yan’s figure slowly descended from mid-air, standing on the peak. His gaze, with a touch of nostalgia, swept over the familiar place. He clearly remembered that years ago, he had been pursued by a mercenary group called Wolf Head into the depths of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. There, he first met Yunyun, who was under the alias of Yun Zhi…

Immersed in his memories, after a long while, Xiao Yan let out a light sigh. Truly, things had changed…

His gaze moved down the mountain peak, finally resting on the small town at the foot of the mountain. Xiao Yan vaguely remembered that this town was called Qingshan Town. It was the first place he had trained after leaving Uton City, and it was here that he made his first friend, a kind girl named Little Healer Immortal…

Recalling the girl in a white dress who sat gracefully in the pharmacy, treating the injured mercenaries, Xiao Yan felt a pang of regret. Nearly six or seven years had passed, and he didn’t know how she was now. Had her Cursed Poison Body, which even the old alchemist was wary of, acted up?

Thinking of that kind-hearted girl, who needed to consume poisons daily to maintain her body, Xiao Yan felt a twinge of pain.

Various thoughts flashed through his mind, and after a moment, they turned into a light sigh escaping from his lips. Turning to look at the two by his side, he smiled, “Let’s go. We’ll first head to the town…”

With that, he moved, and like a leaf in the wind, he glided lightly down towards the foot of the mountain. Behind him, Medusa and Zi Yan followed closely.

With their speed, they arrived at the entrance of the town in just a few breaths. Looking at the somewhat rustic sign above the town gate, Xiao Yan’s expression became slightly dazed as he muttered, “Qingshan Town, it’s been a long time…”

Several years ago, the young man, carrying a large black ruler, had arrived here, drenched in sweat, and looked at the small town with a smile of relief, still somewhat immature…

“This is where I first trained. Back then, I was just a small guy who had just entered the Fighter class…” Xiao Yan said with a light smile to the two beside him.

Hearing this, Zi Yan and Medusa were both taken aback. Zi Yan then chuckled, “I didn’t expect that the little Fighter from back then has become so strong. Doesn’t it make you feel like things have changed?”

Xiao Yan laughed and patted Zi Yan’s head, then looked around. The scale of Qingshan Town was clearly much larger than it was back then, and the crowd was many times more substantial. The town entrance was constantly bustling with people and some mercenaries preparing to hunt beasts in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. When these people passed by Xiao Yan and the two girls, they all paused involuntarily. Of course, the main reason for their pause was not Xiao Yan but Medusa and Zi Yan by his side.

Medusa’s beauty was unparalleled among the women Xiao Yan had met, especially with her icy and enchanting aura, making people unable to resist looking at her. And because of her nature, her entire being exuded an allure that made people irresistibly drawn to her, even though they knew she was a venomous and dangerous woman.

Zi Yan, though still a little girl, was incredibly cute with her delicate features. Her sparkling gem-like eyes made her almost irresistible, and this could be clearly seen from Medusa’s fondness for her.

Of course, after a moment, the gazes of those looking at the two girls still turned to the black-robed young man standing between them. Some muscular mercenaries, upon seeing his slender build, smirked and murmured that such a weak-looking guy couldn’t possibly have such good fortune.

Although Medusa’s cold beauty drew many looks, perhaps because of her often dangerous lifestyle, the mercenaries, though their eyes showed interest, instinctively felt that this woman was a bit scary…

Their instincts were correct. Under the watchful eyes, Medusa’s eyebrows had already slightly furrowed, and the multi-colored energy in her sleeve was flickering.

“Forget it…” Feeling the subtle energy fluctuations by his side, Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly. This woman was too bloodthirsty.

Hearing Xiao Yan’s words, Medusa hesitated for a moment, though she didn’t speak, the energy in her palm gradually weakened.

Feeling the waning energy, Xiao Yan cast a brief glance at the surrounding pedestrians, then slowly walked towards the town, leaving behind the gazes of those who had narrowly escaped a brush with death.

Walking into the town, the paved cobblestone roads made Xiao Yan’s heart relax. This feeling, he hadn’t experienced for a long time. After leaving the Jia Ma Empire, he had always been in a race against time, training day and night.

After walking through a street, Xiao Yan turned again and, after a while, stopped in front of a large pharmacy. His gaze, dazed, gazed at the somewhat familiar scene.

Back then, he and Little Healer Immortal had first met here. The current pharmacy, though larger, lacked the gentle and kind smile of the past.

Xiao Yan let out a soft sigh, suddenly feeling a bit lackluster. He waved his hand and turned to the two beside him, “Forget it, let’s go. Today, we will enter the Magical Beast Mountain Range.”

Medusa and Zi Yan had no objections, and they nodded.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan did not delay further. He turned and was about to head down the street leading to the Magical Beast Mountain Range. However, just as he turned, a nearby street suddenly erupted in chaos. Two figures burst through the crowd, fleeing in panic. Just as they rushed across the street, several shadows leaped down from a building, intercepting them.

“Ha ha, try to run? Today, no one from the Bloodfight Mercenary Group will escape!” A middle-aged man with a scar on his face stepped forward, grinning maliciously at the trapped male and female.

The trapped two, a man and a woman, the man a robust middle-ager, his face calm but with a bitter look. The woman, quite young, with a graceful figure and lovely appearance, though her beautiful face was unusually pale.

“You, go quickly! I’ll hold them off!” The middle-aged man fixed his eyes on the scarred man, shouting fiercely, “Zaore, my Bloodfight Mercenary Group has already relinquished most of our territory in Qingshan Town. Why do you, the Snake Nest Mercenary Group, want to wipe us out? Even if you have the support of the Hel family, isn’t this too arrogant?”

“Arrogant? What can you do about it? Our boss said, no one from the Bloodfight Mercenary Group will be spared! If you’re smart, hand over the girl. Our boss plans to have her body tonight.”

“Not in your dreams!” The middle-aged man roared, turning and striking the woman, pushing her back several meters, “Ling’er, run! Into the Magical Beast Mountain Range!”

Coldly watching the middle-aged man’s actions, the scarred man smirked, waving his hand, “Kill them!”

Hearing the command, several figures immediately responded, brandishing weapons and rushing at the middle-aged man. The scarred man, with a lecherous grin, strode towards the pale-faced woman.

At the street entrance, Xiao Yan watched this sudden turn of events. Though he had no interest in such vendettas, the Bloodfight Mercenary Group mentioned by the scarred man stirred some memories. His gaze turned to the middle-aged man and the woman, frowning. Ling’er?

While Xiao Yan was musing, the already injured middle-aged man was unable to withstand the fierce attacks, and was finally knocked back, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He turned to look at the lecherous scarred man approaching the woman, and let out a tragic laugh, despair in his eyes.

“Uncle Kagan!” The woman, called Ling’er, finally couldn’t hold back and cried out.

Hearing her cry, Xiao Yan, at the end of the street, let out a light sigh, recalling the encounter in the Magical Beast Forest from years ago.

Though many people were watching the scene, no one dared to intervene, clearly fearing the background of the scarred man. The scarred man, aware of this, acted even more recklessly.

The loud, raucous laughter made many people wrinkle their brows.

“Heh heh, calling out is useless, Miss Ling’er. Come with me nicely. After our boss is done with you, I’ll take good care of you too…” The scarred man grinned lecherously, reaching out to grab the woman. The woman, seemingly powerless, could only watch the approaching hand with despair in her eyes.

“Monster!” The middle-aged man, called Kagan, saw the scarred man’s action and roared. As soon as he finished, another figure kicked him in the chest, sending him sprawling and spitting more blood.

The scarred man sneered at Kagan, and reached out his arm, ready to grab the woman.

But just as his hand was a few inches away from her, his body suddenly froze. A powerful force cut through the air, slamming into his chest with great force.

“Arggh!” The sudden impact made the scarred man’s face turn ashen, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, falling to the ground like a dead dog, skidding several meters before coming to a stop.

This sudden turn of events made the street instantly quiet, many people staring in shock at the scarred man now sprawled on the ground, their minds reeling.

The pretty woman, called Ling’er, also stared with her mouth slightly open at the screaming scarred man on the ground. After a moment, she seemed to sense something and turned sharply, a black-robed figure slowly coming into view.