Zhao Xin and Hu Long rushed into the thicket, forming a protective ring around Mu Yudie in the center.

Mu Yudie, who had been hiding among the undergrowth, rose with an embarrassed flush spreading across her cheeks. She darted a shy glance at Shi Yan, thinking how utterly mortifying this was. However, Mu Yudie quickly realized her apprehension was unnecessary. A quick look confirmed that Shi Yan hadn't spared her a second glance; his obsidian eyes were locked onto the direction Luo Hao had sprinted, resembling a predator poised to strike.

A full Great Zhou Cycle spun rapidly through his body, and the aching numbness began to recede bit by bit. Shi Yan kept his expression grim, silently regaining his strength while keeping a sharp watch on Luo Hao's vicinity.

"Chase after it! The 'Fire Cloud Demon Python' won't hold out much longer! Keep up, don't let it escape!" "Loose the arrows! Quickly!" "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

From the nearby woods came shouts and commotion as arrows sliced rapidly through the air, pursuing their quarry.

"Whoosh, whoosh."

Suddenly, a great fire erupted in the woods, a fierce blaze engulfing the entire area. Thick smoke curled upwards, swirling through the trees, causing relentless coughing fits.

"Crack, crack, crack—boom, bang, bang!"

The sounds of ancient tree limbs shattering, arrows flying, and the thud of running and fighting mingled ceaselessly. Not far off in the forest, a fierce battle was raging.

"Someone's here!" a startled voice cried out from the woods, laced with hostility. "Are you trying to steal our spoils?" "Don't misunderstand; I simply didn't want the 'Fire Cloud Demon Python' to injure my people, so I stopped it from fleeing in that direction," Luo Hao's voice suddenly cut through from the trees, suggesting an argument was underway. "Hmph. Our Fang Mercenary Group has been tracking this 'Fire Cloud Demon Python' for half a month. You had best not interfere." "I said, I have no interest in that Rank Four demonic beast," Luo Hao clarified.

"Uncle Luo seems to be arguing with someone. Should we go take a look?" Mu Yudie frowned, craning her neck in the undergrowth but unable to see clearly, a flicker of anxiety in her heart. "Go see," Hu Long grunted. "I've heard of the Fang Mercenary Group; their reputation isn't good. Uncle Luo might be getting the worst of it." "Then let's hurry over," Mu Yudie grew more anxious upon hearing that. "Alright."

Zhao Xin nodded, turning to Hu Long and Di Yalan. "When we approach, we must keep Miss Mu surrounded. Even if a fight breaks out, Miss Mu's safety must remain the top priority." "Nonsense, do we need you to spell that out?" Di Yalan retorted impatiently.

The four of them muttered amongst themselves and quietly slipped away from the bushes, heading in Luo Hao's direction.

Shi Yan did not rush. After waiting a short while, he slowly rose. Sensing the vitality of the Essence Qi coursing through his meridians, he first executed small movements with his limbs, ensuring his agility wasn't too heavily compromised by fatigue, before leisurely starting toward the direction Mu Yudie and the other three had gone.

"Hey!" A delighted shout rang out. "Beauty! Heh heh, look at two beauties here! I've been roaming this area for two months and haven't seen beauties of this caliber!" "Chief, you promised us you'd satisfy our needs in this department while we're here. You can't go back on your word!" "Shut up! Can't you see they're already taken?" ...

Shi Yan walked over slowly, knitting his brow as he surveyed the scene. On the ground lay a massive python, seven or eight meters long, covered in fiery scale patterns. Its tail glowed with an incandescent light, and its body was riddled with arrows. A bloody hole pulsed between the eyes on its head, slowly oozing blood.

Surrounding the 'Fire Cloud Demon Python' were eight mercenaries, all clad in identical martial attire. On the portion of their left arms that were bare, each bore a fang tattoo. These mercenaries were uniformly tall and powerfully built, with rough visages; the weakest among them possessed at least the cultivation of the Innate Realm.

Their leader had short, brown hair that stood up like steel needles. A long scar bisected his left cheek, extending down to his neck, giving his face a particularly ferocious look.

As Shi Yan approached, he caught the members of the Fang Mercenary Group rubbing their hands together, their eyes gleaming as they swept over Mu Yudie and Di Yalan. The lewdness in their gazes was unmistakable.

Only the leader avoided looking at Mu Yudie and Di Yalan. Instead, he faced Luo Hao with a grim expression. His right hand remained tucked inside his sleeve, from which a faint silver light occasionally flashed, suggesting he was prepared to draw a weapon and kill at any moment.

"Go back and see your mother!" Under the mercenaries' obscene scrutiny, Di Yalan was the first to lose her temper and let loose a string of curses. "Hahahaha! This chick has spirit! She's my type!" A burly mercenary, chest hair thick and chest bare, roared with laughter, slapping his thigh. "Chief, I'm taking this one!" "Have the guts to come over!" Di Yalan drew the short sword at her waist and assumed a fighting stance. "Come on! Let's see if you actually have the guts!" "Hahaha, then here I come!" The big man advanced cheerfully, about to charge over. "Tu Mu," Barnard called out lightly. "Everything can be discussed. Don't act rashly." "Understood, Chief." The hairy-chested man named Tu Mu chuckled, thrusting his lower body slightly toward Di Yalan with a lewd grin. "Little lady, later we'll strip down and have some bare-knuckle action; that's where the real fun is. Then you'll learn how powerful your uncle is!" "I'll chop off those few ounces of flesh you have," Di Yalan retorted with an equally cold sneer, showing no weakness.

Mu Yudie's delicate eyebrows furrowed, her pretty face etched with disgust, but she remained silent, as if long accustomed to such displays.

"Who let you people over here?" Luo Hao’s heart clenched; he knew this was bad. He was intimately familiar with the habits of these mercenaries. Those who hunted demonic beasts in this area lived lives where they constantly courted death, one day perhaps being torn apart by a beast. Because of this ever-present pressure, people operating in this region rarely adhered to morality or law, frequently engaging in arson, murder, rape, and plunder. Mu Yudie and Di Yalan were both beautiful women—a scarce resource here. The delicate bodies of beautiful women were the best remedy for relieving stress. Thus, the moment Luo Hao saw them emerge, he knew trouble was brewing.

Shi Yan walked over silently, standing beside Luo Hao as he quietly assessed the men of the Fang Mercenary Group.

"Tu Mu!" Barnard, the leader of the Fang Mercenary Group, snapped. The scar on his face twitched, his expression turning savage. "Gather the materials." As he spoke, his cold gaze swept over Luo Hao, Shi Yan, and the others. Silver light shimmered within his sleeve. "Yes." Tu Mu stopped teasing Di Yalan and waved, sending three other mercenaries forward. Wielding daggers, the four of them moved over the 'Fire Cloud Demon Python,' their bodies smeared with blood. With practiced ease, they began skinning the beast, stripping its tendons, gouging out its eyes, and carefully extracting its fangs one by one.

Barnard and the remaining three mercenaries watched Luo Hao and Shi Yan’s group with icy eyes. The moment Luo Hao’s party showed any sign of movement, they were prepared to strike and injure them immediately.

Luo Hao kept his face stern; the light on his broadsword also faintly flickered. "We have no interest in the 'Fire Cloud Demon Python.' You carry on; we will leave now." Luo Hao recognized that Barnard was not someone to trifle with and wished to avoid further complications, wanting only to get Mu Yudie to safety as quickly as possible.

Seeing that Luo Hao's group was truly preparing to leave, Barnard paused slightly, then suddenly said, "Wait a moment."

Luo Hao turned, his expression instantly turning cold, and he scoffed, "Gentlemen, we do not wish to have any disputes with you, but please do not overstep your bounds." "Heh heh." Barnard smiled, his face softening. "My friend, you misunderstand. I have no other intentions; I just want to make a trade with you." "What trade?" Luo Hao was momentarily stunned. "One of the 'Fire Cloud Demon Python's' eyes, three fangs, and two meters of its hide, in exchange for those two women," Barnard gestured toward Mu Yudie and Di Yalan, smiling faintly. "My brothers have been holding out for a long time and need to relieve themselves. Women here are all marketable, and I think this price is quite fair. What do you say?"

"Damn it!" Hu Long’s eyes looked ready to spew fire. Zhao Xin snorted coldly. Mu Yudie lightly clenched her teeth. Di Yalan swung her short sword, crying out, "Come and try to snatch them if you dare!" Only Shi Yan narrowed his eyes, silent.

Luo Hao reached out to restrain Di Yalan from acting rashly, shaking his head gently at her. He turned back, his voice calm and even. "My apologies, they are my companions, not my private property. I would exchange them for nothing." "Oh, never mind then," Barnard nodded, nonchalantly. "We'll meet again." "We'll meet again." Luo Hao gave him a deep look, then lowered his voice. "Let's go."

Luo Hao glared at Di Yalan, signaling her to keep quiet, and urged her to leave quickly. Zhao Xin and Hu Long were boiling with suppressed anger, but under Luo Hao's gaze, they dared not act out, quietly forming a circle around Mu Yudie as they departed. Shi Yan rubbed his nose, offering no comment, and left with them. ...

"Chief, are we doing it the same way as last time?" After Luo Hao's group vanished into the woods, Tu Mu grinned wickedly. "We know the Chief's preference, so we won't fight him for that little girl. But as for that fiery broad, the Chief has to let us have a taste." Barnard’s eyes grew colder, and he nodded lightly. "First, collect all the materials from the demon python. Then, we'll proceed with the usual routine." "Understood." Tu Mu smirked coldly. "That broad threatened to chop off my root; I'm going to f**k her later!" "She's a rose with thorns. Although she's slightly below you [in power], she's still at the peak of the third level of the Innate Realm. Be careful, don't capsize the boat in a shallow ditch," Barnard grunted. "Remember to kill the men first later. Don't get distracted by just the women. Keep your heads straight—don't let a single one escape!" "Yes!"