Soon after, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian were locked into a specially reinforced iron cage, then loaded onto a cart. This cage wasn't an ordinary one—it was designed specifically to imprison magical beasts and was much sturdier than the net that had ensnared them earlier. On top of that, their hands were bound with thick hemp rope. Of course, what the mercenaries didn't know was that these restraints they believed to be unbreakable were, in Xiao Yan's eyes, nothing more than a mild inconvenience.
Gazing at the bars of the cage, Xiao Yan's mind churned with possibilities. Judging by the current situation, they were being transported back to the headquarters of the Snake Nest Mercenary Group. His soul power extended outward, quickly scanning the group escorting them. The strongest among them was only a one-star Dou Practitioner. If he were to unleash the black flame within him, breaking free of the cage and dealing with these people would be laughably easy.
However... Before entering the Magical Beast Mountain Range, he'd heard rumors from nearby villages and towns about young boys mysteriously disappearing. Considering what these mercenaries had said about their leader's... peculiar tastes, Xiao Yan suspected there might be a connection between these abductions and this mercenary group. If he could get inside their headquarters, he might uncover something important.
Xiao Yan wasn't someone who enjoyed meddling in others' affairs. Ordinarily, he wouldn't bother with something like this. But since these fools had provoked him first, he didn't mind doing a good deed while exacting his revenge.
Xiao Yixian glanced over at Xiao Yan, who looked deep in thought, and assumed he was scared of what was about to happen. She patted his shoulder and tried to comfort him. "Come on, don't overthink it. Everyone has to grow up at some point. Besides, it'll hurt for a bit, but you'll survive."
"You sure are talking easy for someone not about to suffer." Xiao Yan rolled his eyes. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have ended up in this mess. And now you're cracking jokes?"
"Hey! That's not fair! It's not my fault their captain likes boys. What does that have to do with me?" Xiao Yixian replied indignantly.
"Alright, enough from the both of you. You'll have plenty of time to argue later." One of the mercenaries interrupted, pulling them out of the cage and escorting them into a courtyard about the same size as the Xiao Family estate. At the entrance stood a flag bearing the same serpent insignia they'd seen on the mercenaries' uniforms.
"So this is the Snake Nest Mercenary Group's base," Xiao Yan thought. As they were marched through the courtyard, he activated his soul power, scanning the compound. Before long, he detected a small room underground with more than a dozen incredibly weak life forces within it.
Upon being dragged into the hall, Xiao Yan also swept his soul power over the men inside, especially the ones who seemed like leaders. What he sensed surprised him. 'One Dou Spirit, three peak Dou Practitioners, and at least twenty Dou Practitioners outside... That's too strong for a typical mercenary group.'
It wasn't their strength that puzzled him—he'd seen plenty of strong people in his previous life—but their composition. This kind of setup could easily seize control of an entire city. So why were they hiding away in the wilderness like rats? Something didn't add up.
"Captain, these two kids walked right into our trap. What do you want us to do with them?"
The man seated at the head of the hall raised his head when Xiao Yan was brought in. Judging from how the others addressed him, he was clearly the mercenary captain, She Mo—the only Dou Spirit expert in the entire Snake Nest Mercenary Group.
"This boy's not bad. Keep him. Send him to my room later," She Mo licked his lips as he looked at Xiao Yan, a disgusting gleam in his eye.
Xiao Yan put on a terrified expression, but inside, black flame Dou Qi surged silently through his meridians. He could strike at any time.
"Captain, what about the girl?" one of the mercenaries asked.
Xiao Yan's eyes flickered. With Xiao Yixian present, he'd be limited in how freely he could fight. If she could be sent away, things would go smoother.
"You think I don't know what you're all thinking?" She Mo smirked and gave Xiao Yixian a mocking glance. "That girl's yours. Do whatever you want—but clean up after yourselves."
"Thank you, Captain!" The others cheered, eyes gleaming with excitement. Xiao Yixian immediately began struggling, but how could she possibly break ropes strong enough to bind magical beasts?
As the mercenaries moved in to drag her away, Xiao Yan—who had been playing the role of helpless victim—suddenly extended his hand. In the blink of an eye, the massive black ruler flashed out from his storage ring and swept horizontally in a vicious arc. With a single strike, he cleaved through the bodies of the men reaching for Xiao Yixian. The ropes on his hands had somehow been burned away without anyone noticing.
The sudden eruption of violence stunned everyone in the hall. And when they saw the Dou Qi cloak form around Xiao Yan—its surface flickering with shadowy black flame—their shock deepened.
"A Dou Practitioner? How is that possible?"
It wasn't the cultivation level that frightened them—it was the fact that he was barely ten years old.
"Xiao Yan!" Xiao Yixian cried out in joy when she saw him break free, but worry quickly clouded her face. She remembered the terrifying strength of the Snake Nest group. "Be careful..."
Xiao Yan returned to his usual calm demeanor, stepping forward and slicing the ropes off her wrists. "Serves you right for teasing me earlier."
After the initial panic, She Mo's expression grew dark and cold. The boy's potential was terrifying. A Dou Practitioner at ten years old? If left alive, he would become a disaster for their group—and for the power backing them.
'No matter how gifted you are, or who's behind you... once you're dead, you're no longer a threat!'
She Mo waved his hand, and the large doors of the hall slammed shut. Xiao Yan glanced back. Judging by their material, even a peak Dou Practitioner might not be able to force them open. This man clearly intended to leave him no escape route.
"I don't care where you came from," She Mo sneered, rising to his feet. "But since you've entered the Snake Nest Mercenary Group... your only path now leads to death."
(End of Chapter)
---
Read 100+ Chapters on Patreon of This Fanfiction.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.