Time passed quickly, like water slipping through fingers. In the blink of an eye, the routine bi-monthly herb-gathering mission of Wanyaozhai had arrived once again.
As always, the apothecary had to spend a fortune to hire mercenaries to escort the team into the Magic Beast Mountains. But something was off today. Not a single mercenary group had shown up at the gates to register. A rare occurrence indeed. Clearly, this had been arranged in advance.
In the rear hall of Wanyaozhai, a middle-aged man in luxurious robes sat across from a rather handsome young man. Both of them wore sly smiles, murmuring about some unspeakable scheme.
"... Then it's settled. Once it's done, the Wolfhead Mercenary Group will make sure you're handsomely rewarded, Shopkeeper Yao," Mu Li whispered, his voice low as he leaned close.
"Ha! You can rest easy, Young Commander. I won't disappoint you," Shopkeeper Yao replied, bowing with a grin.
Mu Li, the young commander of the Wolfhead Mercenaries, was a man known for his cruelty and lust. He delighted in abducting women and abusing them without restraint. He was already a six-star Dou Practitioner.
Shopkeeper Yao, the foster father of Xiao Yixian, was no better. Greedy, lecherous, and now eyeing Xiao Yixian's blossoming beauty with predatory interest.
At fifteen or sixteen, Xiao Yixian had developed striking curves, her figure graceful and mature beyond her years. She had grown tall and elegant, a jewel in the apothecary.
"Boss, when are we setting out today?" Xiao Yixian pushed open the inner hall door, interrupting the two men mid-whisper.
Mu Li's eyes lit up instantly. His gaze ran along the arc of her figure, lingering with a hunger that made his intentions all too clear.
"My, my... I didn't know Wanyaozhai was hiding such a little beauty," Mu Li said with a smirk, his voice dripping with insinuation.
"Haha... Well..." Shopkeeper Yao chuckled awkwardly, then quickly turned to Xiao Yixian with a serious face.
"We're departing soon. Go outside and double-check the supplies. Make sure we didn't miss anything."
He gestured her away with a dismissive wave.
As soon as she left, Mu Li's eyes retracted their predatory glint. He turned back to Yao with a crooked smile.
"Everything's set. I'll return to the Wolfhead base now to prepare the rest."
With that, he left the apothecary's rear hall in a hurry.
Not long after, Mu Li returned, flanked by more than fifty armed Wolfhead mercenaries. They lined up in front of Wanyaozhai in perfect formation. The pressure they exuded made nearby pedestrians instinctively steer clear.
"No wonder no other mercenary groups came today. That old snake Yao already cut a deal with these vultures," Mu Chengfeng muttered from where he stood by the apothecary gate, chewing a stalk of grass, his voice thick with disdain.
He had shown up early. It had become tradition for him to accompany Xiao Yixian on every herb-gathering trip into the mountains. Today was no exception.
Nearby, Xiao Yixian was organizing supplies beside the caravan. But the moment she spotted Mu Li approaching, a trace of displeasure flickered across her face.
She slipped beside Mu Chengfeng and whispered, "See that man at the front? That's Mu Li, the young commander of the Wolfhead Mercenaries. He uses his group's strength to bully the girls in town. Everyone is afraid of him."
Mu Chengfeng's gaze narrowed.
"Afraid he'll try something? Don't worry. I'm here."
The tone in Xiao Yixian's voice made her feelings clear. She loathed the man, feared him even.
"I saw him last week dragging a girl off the street... That man is worse than a beast."
Her loathing had turned into hatred. She clenched her fists, fighting back the urge to act on it.
"Mu Li... Right. I remember him now," Mu Chengfeng said coldly.
This man, like Xiao Yixian and Yao, was a character from the original story. A stepping stone villain, destined to be crushed.
Mu Li stepped forward, pushing past his own men, and stood before the caravan with a smug grin.
"Today's herb-gathering escort will be led by the Wolfhead Mercenary Group. I trust no one doubts our strength," he announced loudly.
Neither Mu Chengfeng nor Xiao Yixian responded. One of the older physicians in the group hurried forward instead, bowing slightly.
"Of course not. We are honored by your presence, Commander Mu. We trust the Wolfhead Mercenaries completely."
Pleased by the flattery, Mu Li nodded.
"Then let's move out!"
"Hyah!" With the crack of reins, the herb-gathering convoy began to roll forward.
From the doorway of the apothecary, Shopkeeper Yao watched them depart. He stroked his chin, a twisted smile creeping across his face.
…
Inside the Wolfhead command tent, the atmosphere was heavy.
Mu She, the leader of the Wolfhead Mercenaries, sat at the head of the room. Beside him were the second commander, Gan Mu, and the hulking brute of a third commander, He Meng.
"We just received word. Young Commander Mu Li has led the herb convoy into the ambush zone," Gan Mu whispered beside him.
Mu She's face cracked into a dark grin. He stood, grabbed his hooked saber, and growled.
"Prepare to move out."
…
The forest was dense and quiet, save for the occasional rustle of a low-tier beast dashing through the underbrush.
But the calm did not last.
Out of nowhere, an arrow whistled through the air and pierced a physician's chest. Without Dou Qi to protect him, he dropped dead instantly.
Mu Chengfeng didn't hesitate. He surged his Dou Qi and threw himself in front of Xiao Yixian, shielding her.
His eyes darted into the shadows. With a sweep of his powerful spiritual perception, he scanned the entire area.
"This is bad," he muttered. "There are a lot of them. At least a hundred. The strongest is around Dou Master level."
From the shadows of the forest, dozens upon dozens of figures emerged, surrounding the convoy from all sides.
One man stepped into view.
The setting sun lit up his face. Mu She.
Mu Chengfeng's eyes flicked to the emblems on their chests, identical to Mu Li's. His expression darkened.
"You're all from the Wolfhead Mercenary Group?"
Before he could react, Mu Li unsheathed his blade and, without warning, cleaved off the head of the old physician who had praised him earlier.
The shock froze the entire convoy. People trembled where they stood.
"Leave no one alive except the two on the cart," Mu She ordered coldly, pointing toward Mu Chengfeng and Xiao Yixian.
He couldn't afford loose ends. If word of this ambush reached Mu Yang, a verified Dou Master, open war between the two groups could erupt.
Mu She wasn't ready for that. He wanted to devour the Qingshan Mercenaries slowly.
With his signal, the Wolfhead mercenaries lunged forward. Their boots thundered across the earth, blades drawn, as they charged toward the cart