114: Desert Iron Mercenary Group

Seven or eight burly men, dressed in the uniform yellow mercenary attire, were cornered against a dilapidated mud wall, engaged in a desperate struggle.

Most of them were wounded, their clothes stained red with blood, yet their eyes were ferociously determined.

Attacking them were over a dozen Snake-People Tribe warriors, human from the waist up and snake-tailed below. Leading them was a Snake-People Tribe leader with dark gold markings, a Dou Shi (Fighting Master) level expert.

These Snake-People had grayish-green skin covered in fine scales, wielded poisoned scimitars or spears, and emitted hissing cries. Their movements were as swift as lightning, their attacks cunning and ruthless, and their coordination seamless, clearly indicating they were an elite squad.

Several bodies of mercenaries and Snake-People already lay on the ground, and the air was thick with the heavy scent of blood and the uniquefishy smell of the Snake-People.

The mercenary defense line was on the verge of collapse.

The bearded, burly man leading them, who appeared to be the captain, swung a heavy mountain-cleaving blade. His Dou Qi (Fighting Energy) erupted to the Dou Zhe level, allowing him to barely fend off the combined attacks of two Snake-People warriors. However, he had also sustained several deep, bone-visible wounds, bleeding profusely.

Another young mercenary was pierced through the calf by a Snake-Person's spear, screaming as he fell. Another Snake-Person grinned, raising a poisoned scimitar, ready to strike him down.

“Xiao Wu! No!”

The bearded captain's eyes were bloodshot with fury, but he was unable to break free!

It was at this critical moment.

A cyan figure, like Gui Mei, cut into the battlefield, moving so fast that it left a blurry afterimage in the scorching air.

Clang!

A clear, ringing sword hum suddenly resounded. The gleaming sword light, like lightning tearing through the gloom, precisely struck the side of the poisoned scimitar that was about to cleave down on the young mercenary's head.

Ding!

Sparks flew.

The Snake-Person warrior felt a huge and pure force transmit from the blade, numbing his arm, and the scimitar was forcefully knocked aside.

He looked up in astonishment, only to see an incredibly young face.

Mo Yuhan didn't hesitate. After deflecting the fatal attack with one sword strike, he flicked his wrist, and the Flowing Wind Sword Art instantly unfolded.

The longsword, like a spiritual snake flicking its tongue, carried a piercing whistle as it tore through the air. With an extremely cunning angle, it instantly pierced through the Snake-Person warrior's throat, which was exposed due to his surprise.

Pfft!

Blood splattered.

The Snake-Person warrior clutched his gushing throat in disbelief, his eyes filled with shock and bewilderment, and his massive snake body crashed to the ground.

This sudden turn of events brought the entire battlefield to a standstill.

Whether it was the struggling mercenaries or the ferociously attacking Snake-People, all eyes instantly focused on the young man in cyan robes standing with a sword.

He looked around ten years old, his physique not yet fully developed, but the speed, power, and precision of that single sword strike, as well as the Dou Shi (Fighting Master) level aura that erupted instantly, resonated like thunder in the hearts of everyone (and every snake) present!

“Dou… Dou Shi (Fighting Master)?!”

The bearded captain forced back the Snake-Person in front of him with a single slash, his eyes nearly popping out as he looked at the solid Dou Qi (Fighting Energy) veil around Mo Yuhan’s body. His voice was distorted by extreme shock.

A ten-year-old Dou Shi (Fighting Master)?! This completely overturned his understanding!

Among the Snake-People squad, the leader with noticeably stronger aura and dark gold scales in his eyes flared with murderous intent, emitting urgent hissing sounds.

The remaining Snake-People warriors immediately abandoned their assault on the mercenaries. Like sharks smelling blood, seven or eight figures, carrying intense killing intent and afishy wind, fearlessly lunged towards Mo Yuhan! Their poisoned weapons gleamed with a faint blue light.

“Be careful!” the bearded captain exclaimed.

Facing the encirclement, Mo Yuhan's eyes were as calm as still water.

He unleashed the Flowing Wind Sword Art with full power.

His figure became elusive, like a falling leaf dancing in a gale.

Mo Yuhan's speed reached its limit. His Flowing Wind Movement Technique carved an afterimage in the scorching desert air, mercilessly reaping the lives of all the Snake-People.

Before long, seven or eight Snake-People Tribe warriors were instantly killed by him.

Silence! A deathly silence!

Whether it was the remaining Snake-People warriors or the despairing Desert Iron Mercenary Group members, everyone was dumbfounded by this lightning-fast, explosively powerful display.

And soon, Ruo Lin also made her move, instantly activating the dense water vapor in the air.

Several deep blue streams of water, like agile ropes, appeared out of nowhere, instantly Binding the bodies and snake tails of those Snake-People warriors.

The water streams seemed gentle, yet they contained powerful Binding force.

The Snake-People warriors were caught off guard, their movements instantly becoming incredibly sluggish, as if they had fallen into viscous mercury.

The dark-gold scaled Snake-Person leader saw the unfavorable situation, a flicker of fear and venom flashing in his eyes. With a hiss, he turned without hesitation, flicked his snake tail, and fled with astonishing speed towards the depths of the desert.

“Trying to escape?” Ruo Lin’s beautiful eyes moved, and her jade finger pointed into the air in the direction the Snake-Person leader was fleeing.

“Water Arrow: Break!”

A dark blue water arrow, condensed to the extreme and only thumb-thick, silently tore through the air with extreme speed.

Pfft! It precisely pierced through the Snake-Person leader's back.

His massive body suddenly stiffened. He looked down in disbelief at the bowl-sized blood hole in his chest, then crashed onto the sand, twitching a few times before falling still.

The battle, after Mo Yuhan and Instructor Ruo Lin joined, ended instantly.

The few surviving members of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, including the bearded captain, all stared blankly at the scene before them.

Looking at the young man standing with a sword, his eyes sharp, and then at the exquisitely beautiful woman with a gentle demeanor like water but a decisive attack like ice, the immense shock left them speechless for a moment.

A ten-year-old Dou Shi (Fighting Master)? A Dou Ling (Fighting Spirit) expert who instantly killed a Snake-Person leader? This… where did these divine figures come from?

The bearded captain was the first to react. Enduring his injuries, he struggled forward and bowed deeply to Mo Yuhan and Instructor Ruo Lin, his voice excited and hoarse: “Leile, captain of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group’s Third Squad! Thank you both, sirs, for saving our lives! May I ask your esteemed names? For this life-saving grace, the entire Desert Iron Mercenary Group is eternally grateful!”

Mo Yuhan sheathed his longsword, wiped the sweat and blood from his face, and slightly panted as he cupped his fist in return to Leile: “Captain Leile, there’s no need to be so polite. I am Mo Yuhan, and this is my mentor, Instructor Ruo Lin of Canaan Academy. May I ask, is your group’s leader Xiao Ding and Xiao Li?”

“Mo… Mo Yuhan?”

Leile was startled, then his eyes widened suddenly, as if he had seen a ghost, and he exclaimed, “You… you are Great Master Mo Yuhan from Wutan City?! The distinguished guest Lord Xiao Zhan, our leader’s father, has mentioned many times?”

The other surviving mercenaries also instantly erupted in murmurs, looking at Mo Yuhan with expressions of disbelief and immense reverence.

Great Master Mo Yuhan, the Second-Rank Alchemist mentioned in Lord Xiao Zhan’s letter, is actually this young?

No, this isn't just young; this is simply a prodigy!

“That’s right.” Mo Yuhan nodded.

“Oh my! So it’s Great Master Mo and Instructor Ruo Lin! I apologize for the oversight! I apologize!”

Leile was so excited he was incoherent, forgetting his wounds. “Quick! Please, quickly follow us back to the mercenary group’s base! The leader will be so happy to know you’ve arrived. Brothers, quickly! Escort Great Master Mo and Instructor Ruo Lin back to the group!”

It just so happened that Mo Yuhan and Instructor Ruo Lin also needed specific information about the Tagor Desert, as venturing rashly into this boundless desert was not a wise move.

And clearly, the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, under the years of diligent operation by Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, should possess some intelligence.

This was also one of the reasons Mo Yuhan decided to intervene.