Deep within the dense forest, members of two mercenary groups were locked in a fierce battle.
There were no dazzling sword energies or flashy techniques, just straightforward attacks, using fists, feet, blades, or staffs... Their moves were simple and aimed directly at vital points, clearly the work of seasoned veterans.
As time passed, the fight continued. Lang Youqin glanced around, seeing the stalemate with casualties on both sides. He frowned, thinking to himself, "It looks like I won't be able to take down Qie Youyi anytime soon. Dragging this out will be extremely disadvantageous for me. I need to think of another way."
Lang Youqin's eyes darted around, seemingly having come up with a plan. He channeled his Dou Qi and spoke loudly towards Qie Youyi.
"Brother Qie, fighting like this is just causing our brothers to sacrifice themselves for nothing. How about we have our men temporarily cease fighting and hear me out?"
Although Qie Youyi didn't know what Lang Youqin was up to, since the other party was willing to stop, he naturally had no objections. The longer it dragged on, the more it favored his side.
"Alright! Have your men stand down first," Qie Youyi nodded and replied.
"Brothers, I'm sure you all heard what we said. Let's stop fighting. Don't waste your Dou Qi for nothing; otherwise, you won't even be able to get out of the Myriad Beast Mountain Range," Lang Youqin spoke again.
Mercenaries were in the Myriad Beast Mountain Range to seek wealth and were already unwilling to engage in these meaningless battles. Hearing this, they gradually withdrew their attacks.
Soon, the fighting stopped. They each retrieved their fallen comrades, their hearts heavy.
"Brother Lang, you've sent the signal, but it will still be some time before your men arrive. I believe you're not naive enough to think that we are the only two mercenary groups in the mountain range, are you?"
Seeing the situation, Lang Youqin spoke.
Qie Youyi heard this but didn't seem to care, replying proudly.
"I naturally know what you're saying. It's just, in this area, how many people are bold enough to make an enemy of my Tiger Wolf Mercenary Group?"
"Men die for wealth, just as birds die for food. I wonder, if I were to run off now and sell the secret you discovered, how many people do you think would target you?"
Lang Youqin said, crossing his arms, his words seemingly casual but with intent.
Qie Youyi's face changed drastically, but he forced himself to remain calm. "You wouldn't."
"Guess if the wealth from that ruin is enough for me to do that. I also know it's unrealistic to ask you to tell me outright, but how about we go together?"
Lang Youqin stopped being aggressive, making a concession and proposing a condition.
Qie Youyi naturally didn't want the treasure to be shared for nothing. However, he couldn't think of a way to keep Lang Youqin there, so he could only nod in agreement, feigning compliance.
"Alright. We'll discuss the specifics when we get back."
He agreed readily, but his heart felt like he had swallowed a fly. He could only pray that the Black Panther Mercenary Group would all be buried in the bellies of beasts.
...
"A treasure? I wonder what it is. Anyway, there's still plenty of time before the deadline my master gave me, so exploring for treasure might be a good idea."
Zhao Li's technique for concealing his presence was so effective that even Dou Sect experts couldn't detect it. After finding a place to hide in the dense forest, these mercenaries, the strongest of whom were merely Dou Masters, naturally couldn't discover him.
When Zhao Li arrived, the two groups were already fighting. Although he didn't know why, the conflicts between mercenary groups were usually either due to grudges formed over resources or because of wealth driving them to kill.
Zhao Li saw that the two leaders seemed to have reached an agreement. Compensation was paid, apologies were given, and the scene became harmonious, with no trace of the earlier fierce battle. He just didn't know when these schemers would turn on their 'allies'.
"They're all veteran actors of the highest caliber. This is good too. I'll follow them first and see if I can get more information."
Putting away his thoughts, Zhao Li trailed far behind the group.
Night fell, covering the mountains and forests like a curtain, obscuring the peaks, hills, and valleys.
Zhao Li followed them for a day and found that they seemed to be heading towards the location of a Tier 4 Magical Beast. Before entering the mountain, Lin Lan had given Zhao Li a map of the mountain range, marking the locations of some known Magical Beasts above Tier 4.
Zhao Li didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble and decided to personally ask what was going on.
Casually taking down a few guards, Zhao Li entered a tent and saw Lang Youqin alone, his eyes darting around, clearly lost in thought.
To be safe, Zhao Li knocked him unconscious and took him out. He found a secluded spot and woke him up.
"May I ask who Senior is, and why have you brought this junior here?"
Lang Youqin woke up, not in the tent, and didn't know where he had been taken. He was inwardly surprised. With his Dou Master strength, he was already quite strong in these mountains, yet he had been taken down without a sound. He didn't know who he had provoked.
"Tell me, what's this about the treasure you mentioned during the day? Don't try to play smart. If I can take you down without a sound, I believe taking down your 'Brother Qie' won't be difficult either. Whether what you say is true or false, I'll know by asking him."
Zhao Li didn't want to waste too much time and got straight to the point.
Although Lang Youqin had some guesses, his heart still skipped a beat when he heard Zhao Li's words. His mind raced, thinking of a countermeasure. He didn't dare to delay his answer and began to feign ignorance.
"Senior, you may not know, but I don't know the specifics. I just know that their Tiger Wolf Mercenary Group seems to have obtained some treasure clue and is preparing to enter the mountain to search for treasure, which is why I followed them in, hoping to reap the benefits."
"Don't test my patience. With your personality, you wouldn't fight them over a vague treasure unless you were certain. Tell me the truth."
Zhao Li looked impatient. He waved his hand and condensed an Ice Cone, shooting it towards Lang Youqin, stopping it right before his eyebrows.
"Guess, if I take your corpse to the leader of the Tiger Wolf Mercenary Group, will he tell me, or will he end up as a corpse like you?"
"Senior, spare me, I'll talk. The person I planted in the Tiger Wolf Mercenary Group said that two months ago, they entered the mountain and luckily obtained a partial map from a Tier 4 Magical Beast. It seems to be a Treasure Map. After two months of rest, they entered the mountain to search for treasure. I really did want to reap the benefits, but somehow, the Magical Beasts in this mountain were extremely agitated. I was exposed when I was attacked by a Magical Beast, which is why I fought with them."
Seeing the Ice Cone just a hair's breadth away from his eyebrows, Lang Youqin felt his scalp tingle. He didn't dare to hide anything and briefly explained the situation. However, he didn't know what the treasure was.
"Anything else?" Zhao Li nodded and continued to ask.
"I don't know anything else, ah. Oh, right, that Magical Beast is a Tier 4 Black Demonic Bear, it's in the mountain ahead."
Lang Youqin was almost in tears. Then he remembered some information and pointed out a location to Zhao Li, perhaps with the intention of having Zhao Li fight the Black Demonic Bear.
"Since that's the case, you can continue sleeping then."
Seeing that he indeed didn't know much, Zhao Li didn't ask further. He knocked him out again and threw him back into the tent.
"I still need to bring the leader of the Tiger Wolf Mercenary Group over and ask him. Hmm, something's not right with this picture. Why do I look like a villain? Heh heh~"
Zhao Li thought for a moment, let out a couple of strange laughs, and walked towards the Tiger Wolf Mercenary Group's encampment.
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