An Hour Ago;
Outside the forest's shadow, a town pulsed with life.
People moved along the stone roads in an endless flow—boots striking the ground, voices overlapping, steel clinking against leather. Most were mercenaries. Their rough armour, bloodstained blades, and predatory gazes made them easy to identify even from afar. They gathered in noisy clusters, laughed too loudly, and carried the stench of danger wherever they went.
Among them walked merchants pushing loaded carts, calling out prices with practiced smiles. Townsfolk hurried to their daily work, lifting wooden shutters, arranging wares, and sweeping dust from doorsteps as the sun climbed higher. This was Qing Shan Town—alive, chaotic, and enduring. Such scenes were its everyday rhythm.
Yet today, something felt different.
The road leading toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range was unusually quiet. Far fewer mercenaries passed through the town gates. The crowds were thinner, the tension in the air noticeably lighter.
No one complained.
Instead, a sense of relief spread quietly through the streets.
Those mercenaries were never protectors in the eyes of the townspeople. They brought trouble as often as they brought coin. Fights erupted without warning, taverns were smashed, stalls overturned, and innocent people paid the price for reckless tempers and sharpened egos. For Qing Shan Town, their presence was a daily gamble with misfortune.
So today, as the streets grew calmer and the shouting faded, the townspeople breathed a little easier. For once, the town felt less like a battlefield and more like a place meant for living.
And in that rare calm, Qing Shan Town stood quietly—grateful for the peace, however temporary it might be.
…
…
…
Within the vast courtyard of a grand manor, a formidable force lay in wait.
Mercenaries and soldiers stood side by side, filling the space with an oppressive aura. Cold weapons gleamed under the light—mercenaries gripping sharp blades worn by countless battles, soldiers holding long spears and sturdy shields in disciplined ranks. Their killing intent was undisguised, as if they were on the brink of marching into war, ready to drown their enemies in blood.
At the edge of the mercenary formation, three figures stood apart from the rest.
At the centre was a young man with a slightly handsome face, his brows knit with impatience and pride. This was Mu Li. Standing beside him were his two close companions, their expressions far less restrained.
One of them cast a disdainful glance toward the soldiers and sneered.
"Young Master Mu Li, why are we working with those dogs?"
Mu Li's eyes flickered with irritation. His jaw tightened as he replied coldly,
"How would I know? It's my father's order. Do you want to disobey him?"
The words fell like ice, instantly silencing his companion.
"Gang Leader's order?" the man stammered, disbelief clear in his voice.
Mu Li shot him a look filled with undisguised disdain and said nothing more. Instead, his thoughts continued to churn beneath his calm exterior.
These two wastes…
Do they really think I'm that foolish?
His gaze swept briefly across the soldiers standing in formation. Their breathing was steady, their stances flawless, weapons held with lethal precision. These were elite troops—nothing like the poorly trained guards of the City Lord's mansion. The realization made his expression darken.
Something serious is happening, he concluded. Either war has broken out with the Snake-People… or a beast wave has erupted.
Mu Li let out a low sigh.
Just this morning, he had been in an excellent mood. By chance, he had met the Little Fairy Doctor. As always, her presence stirred his heart, and as always, he had tried once more to express his affection—only to be rejected again.
The rejection still burned.
How could he, the young master of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, tolerate such humiliation?
Yet he had no choice but to swallow it. The Little Fairy Doctor was the savior of Qing Shan Town. To the townspeople and mercenaries alike, she was a saint, a fairy beyond reproach. Any harm directed at her would provoke the fury of the entire town—a consequence even he could not bear.
Humiliated and furious, he had decided to vent his anger elsewhere.
He ordered his men to bring another girl to him.
But before they could return, a sudden summons arrived. His father had called for him, his tone grave, insisting it was of utmost importance.
And so, the anger remained unspent.
Standing now within the manor, surrounded by soldiers and mercenaries poised for bloodshed, Mu Li clenched his fist slightly.
Whatever had dragged him here had better been worth interrupting his plans—
because once this matter was settled, his resentment would not fade so easily.
…
…
Inside the manor's main hall, the atmosphere was tense and heavy.
Four figures sat facing one another, seated around a long table. Spread across it was a detailed map of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, its parchment surface covered in circles, lines, and ominous markings that highlighted several dangerous regions.
A burly middle-aged man spoke first. Two deep scars ran from his cheeks down toward his chest, giving him a ferocious appearance.
"Commander Mo, as you requested, we've already gathered our mercenary brothers. They're ready to fight."
Before the words had fully settled, another middle-aged man let out a cold snort. A prominent scar split the bridge of his nose, adding sharpness to his expression.
"Hmph! Xue Zhan, do you think you're the only one who's gathered mercenaries? We've done the same—and our numbers exceed yours."
"You—Mu She!" Xue Zhan shot to his feet, pointing furiously across the table.
"Enough!" the other two men barked at once, forcefully pulling him back.
"Control yourselves. Commander Mo is still present."
Silence fell.
Clad in neat military attire, Commander Mo sat upright, his expression calm yet oppressive.
"Thank you, both of you, for gathering your men," he said evenly. "Your cooperation is appreciated."
His gaze then shifted to the last person at the table.
"What about you, Mister Yao? Have you prepared what I requested?"
Mister Yao chuckled softly, his lips curved into a practiced, merchant's smile.
"Rest assured, Commander Mo. We've prepared ample medicine for emergencies. The supplies are more than sufficient. Moreover…" his eyes gleamed slightly, "…the Little Fairy Doctor has also been stationed nearby, should her presence be required."
He paused, then added with a hint of cunning,
"However, Commander Mo, I trust you will fulfil your promise once this matter concludes? Hehe."
Commander Mo's eyes turned cold.
"Of course. The royal family will reward you generously for your assistance."
Commander Mo's cold words lingered in the hall.
The three men exchanged glances, their eyes flickering with unspoken calculations. None of them voiced their thoughts, yet the meaning behind those looks was clear—trust was not given freely, only weighed against profit and survival.
"Since Commander Mo has said so, we will naturally believe him," Xue Zhan said at last, rising slightly and cupping his hands in a formal gesture. "Now, all that remains is the signal."
As a mercenary leader and a merchant, they understood one truth better than anyone else: lives were not risked, and precious medicine was not wasted, without sufficient reward. Their cooperation had never been born of loyalty, but of benefit. That was why they needed a clear assurance from the one commanding the operation.
Commander Mo was well aware of this.
Without hesitation, he had given his promise.
With interests aligned and words settled, the discussion came to an end. No further plans were spoken aloud. There was no need.
Now, they could only wait.
Wait for the signal—
the moment that would set everything in motion and plunge the Magical Beast Mountain Range into chaos.