After the initial wave of joy slowly faded, the captain stepped forward and raised his voice, carrying authority and calm resolve.
"Everyone," he said loudly, "now that reinforcements have arrived, why don't we join them and suppress the beast tide together?"
The words immediately stirred discussion among the group. Whispers spread from one person to another. Suppressing a beast tide was no small matter—it was dangerous, unpredictable, and the rewards were uncertain at best.
Seeing the hesitation in their eyes, the captain spoke again, his tone firm yet reassuring.
"You don't need to worry about fighting on the front lines," he said. "Your task will only be to assist in the cleanup afterward. Anything you obtain during the process will be yours to keep. On top of that, the Imperial Army will reward those who lend their strength."
The murmurs died down.
"Is that really true, Captain?" one of the mercenaries asked, disbelief clear on his face.
"It is," the captain replied with a faint, confident smile.
"In that case, I'm with you, Captain," the mercenary said without hesitation.
"Me too."
"I'll go as well."
One after another, voices rose in agreement. Encouraged by the promise and reassured by the captain's words, more than half of the group chose to follow him and aid in suppressing the beast tide.
Naturally, not everyone agreed.
Xiao Hai stood among the silent minority.
The captain's gaze swept over those who remained behind, his expression turning cold and stern.
"Since you've chosen not to join us," he said slowly, "you may return to the town. But remember this—do not venture into the mountains before the beast tide has completely dispersed. If you ignore this warning and lose your life, you will have no one to blame but yourselves."
The atmosphere grew heavy as his words sank in.
"Lao San," the captain added, turning to his subordinate, "escort them back. And make sure you handle the matter I mentioned earlier."
"Yes, Captain," Lao San replied, stepping forward.
With that, the paths of the two groups were set—one toward danger and uncertain glory, the other toward uneasy safety, while the distant roars of the beast tide echoed ominously in the mountains ahead.
"Now, everyone, follow me," the captain said, having finished his instructions to Lao San. His voice was steady, leaving no room for doubt.
"Alright! Let's go, brothers!" one of the mercenaries shouted excitedly. "Together, we'll slaughter every last one of those beasts!"
"Yes!"
"Yeah!"
"Hurray!"
Cheers erupted as weapons were raised high, adrenaline burning through the crowd. The promise of battle and reward filled their hearts, momentarily drowning out fear.
The captain merely spared them a brief glance. He neither joined their shouting nor slowed his pace. Turning around, he began walking toward the distant sound of galloping hooves, where his own men were already assembling.
Those who had chosen to help quickly fell in behind him.
Soon, their figures disappeared down the road, swallowed by dust and fading echoes.
Left behind were only those who had chosen to return to the town—standing quietly beside Lao San… and Xiao Hai.
"Well… looks like we're the only ones left," Lao San muttered softly.
He turned to the remaining group and raised his voice just enough to be heard. "Everyone, follow me. Don't wander off in any other direction."
With that, he started walking toward Qingshan Town.
The group quietly followed behind him.
As Xiao Hai walked, his mind was in turmoil.
Hah… my tempering plan will have to be postponed for now, he thought. Once the beast tide disperses, I can continue my training in another part of the Magical Beast Mountain.
Lost in thought, he didn't notice Lao San slowing down until the man appeared beside him once more.
"Yo, brother," Lao San greeted him with a faint smile. "We meet again."
"Oh. It's you," Xiao Hai replied calmly, his tone indifferent.
"Uh… ha-ha," Lao San let out an awkward laugh, clearly sensing the distance.
After hesitating for a moment, he spoke again. "I just wanted to ask—why didn't you join them in suppressing the beast tide?"
"What do you mean?" Xiao Hai asked coldly.
He didn't want them to suspect anything. Acting aloof was the easiest way to keep his identity hidden.
"I mean," Lao San explained, "you're clearly strong. You could've helped them, earned rewards, maybe even gained merit with the Imperial Army. So why didn't you?"
Xiao Hai didn't answer immediately.
He stopped walking and looked at Lao San carefully, his gaze sharp and unreadable. After a brief pause, he spoke in an icy tone.
"None of your business."
Lao San was taken aback.
"Tch… alright," he muttered, shaking his head with a helpless smile. "Forget I asked."
Without another word, Lao San walked ahead once more, leading the group back toward Qingshan Town.
The remainder of the journey passed without incident. No beasts emerged from the shadows, and no danger revealed itself. Within minutes, the outline of Qingshan Town appeared at the edge of the road.
Xiao Hai slowed his steps.
Before him stood the town gate—crude and weathered, built from rough timber. A simple wooden board hung above it, bearing the town's name, its edges worn by time and wind.
For a moment, Xiao Hai was stunned.
Looking closer, he realized that beyond the gate there was nothing more than a wooden fence encircling the settlement.
Only then did he truly understand why suppressing the beast tide was so critical.
This town couldn't defend itself.
Against even a moderate beast assault, these fragile defences would crumble in moments. There were no walls, no formations, no fallback positions. To protect Qingshan Town, the only real option was to strike at the source—to thin the tide before it ever reached the gates.
So that's how it is… Xiao Hai thought quietly. This place survives only because it serves as a mercenary hub. Otherwise, it would have been erased by magical beasts long ago.
Yet the others saw the scene very differently.
"Ah… we finally made it back."
"Yeah, escaped death at last. Now I can sleep without fear."
"My wife must've been worried sick. I'll buy some meat tonight—put her mind at ease."
Laughter and relief filled the air as the group talked among themselves, their tension dissolving the moment safety came into view.
Among them all, only Xiao Hai remained silent.
Standing slightly apart, eyes fixed on the fragile town ahead, he felt like an outsider—one who saw not safety, but how close this place was to destruction.
But he also knew that such worries were unnecessary.
If his memories were correct, then this town would continue to exist even after Xiao Yan became a Dou Di—and that would only happen decades into the future.
That alone proved there would be no calamity great enough to truly destroy this place.
With that realization, Xiao Hai finally set aside his concerns about Qingshan Town.
He had come here to temper himself—but tempering was never limited to strength alone.
True tempering meant refining the body…
sharpening the mind…
and steadying the spirit.
It was about enduring danger, understanding people, and learning restraint as much as it was about cultivation.
Experiencing unfamiliar things and traveling to new places were also forms of tempering.
After all, even in the original records, the Mittel family had once sent Ya Fei to Wu Tan City—not to cultivate her strength, but to temper herself through the trials of business and human interaction.
Thinking this, Xiao Hai's heart gradually calmed.
His path did not demand haste. Every step—no matter how ordinary it seemed—was part of his refinement.
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Readers can suggest the title for this chapter!