The group of people didn't encounter any high-Tier Demonic Beasts on their way while they avoided the low-Tier Demonic Beasts with Ye Qing Han's warnings.
Around half a day later, they arrived at the periphery area of the Blazing Mountain Range.
Before them, there was a dense forest, and after walking only for a short while, they heard the sounds of a battle. Ye Qing Han and his party immediately started being vigilant.
"Young Lord, should we go over?" Old Lu looked to the distance and asked Ye Qing Han cautiously.
Ye Qing Han's eyes were deep and serene, mused for a bit, then said: "Go. Let's go and have a look."
At the drop of his word, they immediately sped up towards the direction of the fight. Past the dense forest was a clearing and there were currently three people surrounded by a group of Tier 2 and 3 Fur Crimson Boar Demonic Beasts. On the ground there laid two bloodied people, weak with heavy injuries.
"We trouble you to please save us. We promise a rich gift of gratitude." A burly man amongst the group yelled for help upon seeing Ye Qing Han and the others.
Seeing this, Ye Qing Han turned to the four people on the side: "You guys go."
"Yes, Young Lord."
The three men and one woman flew directly towards the surrounded, drew their swords and fought with the Fur Crimson Boars. Using only an incense stick of time, they successfully rescued the men from more than ten Fur Crimson Boars.
Throughout the battle, Lou Mu Yan leaned against a tree with folded arms. Right now, she couldn't participate in such battles at all. Even though the fighting spirit within her was aroused, she was still burdened by her Terminal Meridians trash constitution, so she could only watch. She discovered that Ye Qing Han's subordinates had good combat power, probably because they often honed their fighting skills at close quarters.
"Thank you for your help. I have five Tier 3 Demonic Beast Cores here, which are the most expensive items on us." The big man took out five Crystal Cores from his pocket and handed it to Ye Qing Han to express his gratitude for saving their lives.
Ye Qing Han didn't reach for the Demonic Beast Cores, and said instead: "No need, it was just on the way." It wasn't easy for these Mercenaries to come to the Blazing Mountain Range for their missions, and even if he took these Tier 3 Demonic Beast Cores, it wasn't useful to him.
"Then thank you very much. If in the future you require our help, please let us know. My name is Jiang Dong, and they are members of my small Mercenary Party." Jiang Dong placed the slightly bloodied Crystal Cores back into his pockets. He also knew that these people who wore expensive clothes wouldn't care for his Crystal Cores, but he was still very grateful to them for their life-saving grace.
"Why were you guys being surrounded by Fur Crimson Boars?" Based on what he knew, Fur Crimson Boars moved in groups. These types of Demonic Beasts usually wouldn't leave their territory easily. He was rather curious—how did this group of Mercenaries offend this group of boars?
Jiang Dong and the other two squatted and helped lift the two injured from the ground, fed them a medicinal pill, then raised their heads and explained: "We were chasing after a Tier 3 Striped Leopard and accidentally entered the edge of the outer ring, but we also discovered a Flame Fruit. Originally we wanted to pick it, yet who knew that a Tier 4 Fur Crimson Boar King would be guarding it and commanded this group of Tier 2 and 3 Fur Crimson Boars to besiege and kill us. Luckily we ran fast, then encountered Sir, otherwise we would've really died in the hands of these Demonic Beasts."
Lou Mu Yan's eyes lit up. She sought for it fruitlessly until her iron shoes were broken, only to find it by chance without even looking3—she hadn't even been in the Blazing Mountain Range for long and she already received news of the Flame Fruit. "What you found was really the Flame Fruit?"
"Yes, and based on its appearance, it should've just bore fruit. It still had a bit of green, and the Fur Crimson Boar King should be waiting for it to mature, otherwise it would've already eaten it." Jiang Dong answered honestly with his guess.
"Where is the location of that Flame Fruit you discovered?" Lou Mu Yan was delighted—as long as she could find the Flame Fruit, she could refine the Marrow Cleansing Pill and improve her Terminal Meridian constitution.
Jiang Dong mused, then pointed to a direction in the southeast and said: "We discovered it there, it's about an hour away."
"Young Lord Ye, I'm going to find that Flame Fruit, are you going to come with me or stay here to wait for me?" Lou Mu Yan suppressed the emotions in her eyes and smiled softly as she asked Ye Qing Han.
Ye Qing Han's eyes revealed slight surprise—even if they already cleaned up this group of Fur Crimson Boars, but with Lou Mu Yan as a low-level Sword Master, how could her abilities rival a Tier 4 Fur Crimson Boar King and compete for the Flame Fruit? But seeing that Lou Mu Yan's eyes were clear and without calculations, it appeared that regardless of whether they went with her or not, it wouldn't make a huge difference. Curiosity rose in his heart with the desire to know just how she'd deal with the Fur Crimson Boar King.
"We'll go with you."
Lou Mu Yan nodded. She didn't care if Ye Qing Han and his party followed or not. Although she was unable to confront Tier 4 Demonic Beasts directly, she had other life-saving trump cards, so she didn't need to fear the Fur Crimson Boar King at all. Otherwise she wouldn't dare come to such a dangerous place like the Blazing Mountain Range to search for the Flame Fruit.
Ye Jing sneered disdainfully—what did she mean by go together or stay here? She was probably thinking of grasping onto their Young Lord for help either way. She felt unpleasant again. Who knew what their Young Lord saw in her to actually acknowledge and admire this trash to the point of helping her obtain the Flame Fruit? She didn't want to tag along at all.
"If you don't want to follow, then don't." Lou Mu Yan naturally heard the sneer of the disgusting woman who despised and belittled her. Her cold gaze swept to Ye Jing, then turned to Jiang Dong and said, 'thank you!', before rushing over to the direction he pointed.
Ye Jing flushed red with anger—this trash dared to speak to her like this. But when she was about to start cursing, Ye Qing Han cast a cold glance at her, filled with warning, so she just stomped her foot, unwilling. She cursed Lou Mu Yan inwardly and decided that she'd definitely teach the trash a lesson in the future.
Ye Qing Han looked at the beautiful silhouette in front of him, and interest rose in his eyes. His lips curled up and he quickly followed.
After travelling for around an hour, Lou Mu Yan felt wave after wave of heat coming from ahead that spread to her surroundings. A hint of joy rose in her crystal-clear eyes—the Flame Fruit. This was the heat emitted by the Flame Fruit.
She quickened her pace, and in a few moments, she saw a jewel-like crystal-clear red plant growing beside a grey boulder. Hanging from it were three delicate red fruits.
Maybe it was because of Jiang Dong's unintentional arrival, the Fur Crimson Boar King was now alert. It was lying lazily on the boulder for a rest, but he always kept his attention on the bright red plant.
"You guys wait here for me." Lou Mu Yan whispered to Ye Qing Han and his group after she assessed the Fur Crimson Boar King's strength.
Ye Qing Han raised his eyebrows and frowned slightly, with a look of disapproval in his eyes. He whispered: "Don't belittle this Tier 4 Fur Crimson Boar, its defence and attack are both very strong, you're not its opponent."
"Relax, I know I can handle it." Lou Mu Yan waved her hand. Even though she didn't have the confidence to kill this Boar King, she at least had enough confidence to obtain the Flame Plant.
Ye Qing Han saw that Lou Mu Yan emitted a light of confidence and wasn't joking around, so he nodded and said: "Be careful. If there's any danger, I'll take action."
"Sure. Then I'm going."