It wasn't that Orion was distracted by the woman's beauty or lost in lust. Rather, he saw instantly that this woman was no ordinary person. Capturing her alive might prove useful—though exactly how remained to be seen.
At that moment, Xu San charged forward with his Dragon Cavalry, clashing violently with the disciples of Medicine King Valley.
Under the sheer force of the cavalry's might, it didn't take long for the battle to be decided. In mere moments, the disciples were trampled beneath the iron hooves of the Dragon Cavalry.
Orion looked over the battlefield, corpses strewn everywhere, and sneered.
"If these were seventh or eighth-grade alchemists, I might have spared them," he muttered. "But second- and third-rate alchemists? They're hardly worth keeping alive."
As the battle unfolded, Uncle He, sensing things were going badly, retreated to the young woman's side. His eyes darted around, searching for an escape route.
"Haha! Little girl, I'm coming for you!" Xu San shouted, blood splattered across his armor, his voice menacing like a demon from the depths. The young woman's face paled in terror.
As the daughter of the Medicine King Valley's master, she had been protected her whole life. She had never even witnessed the slaughter of livestock, let alone a brutal battlefield like this. The sight of blood, death, and destruction had left her frozen with fear.
No one noticed, however, that she discreetly pinned a small token to her waist. A subtle flash of light passed over it.
Yuan Zuozong and Li Sandao, two of Orion's generals, exchanged a glance, both sensing the shift. They nodded to each other in silent understanding.
Deep within the Medicine King Valley, a middle-aged man sat meditating before an alchemy furnace. His eyes suddenly snapped open, a violent aura radiating from him. The furnace in front of him exploded, the rare eighth-grade elixir inside destroyed.
"Who dares attack my daughter, Xi'er!?" he roared, fury in his voice. Without a second glance at the ruined elixir, worth hundreds of millions in spiritual stones, the man vanished from the chamber.
Back at the entrance of the valley, many senior alchemists in the valley paused their work, startled by the sudden disruption.
"What happened? Why did the Valley Master abandon his elixir refinement?"
"He was making an eighth-grade pill! Something serious must've happened for him to leave!"
"Quickly, let's head to the valley entrance!"
Back at the valley entrance, Uncle He, seeing Xu San approaching, panicked. Without a second thought, he shoved the stunned young woman toward Xu San to buy himself time.
In a cruel demonstration of cowardice, he sacrificed the girl to save his own skin.
The woman barely had time to react before Xu San grabbed her with ease, like a hawk seizing its prey.
Just then, the elders of Medicine King Valley arrived, their faces turning grim at the sight of the blood-soaked battlefield. The young woman's father, Yao Qianming, stepped forward, his expression darkening when he saw his daughter in Xu San's grasp.
Yao Qianming's gaze locked on Orion, the young man clearly leading the invaders. His eyes burned with hatred, but he kept his composure.
"Who are you? Why have you slaughtered my disciples?" Yao Qianming's voice was like thunder, demanding an answer.
Before Orion could respond, Uncle He rushed forward, sobbing dramatically.
"Valley Master! These people attacked us without provocation! They've taken the Young Valley Master hostage! You must avenge us!"
Yao Qianming glanced coldly at Uncle He. Though he hadn't seen what transpired, the fact that every disciple lay dead while Uncle He stood unharmed was telling.
"Hmph! As the deacon of Medicine King Valley, you failed to protect my daughter. Instead of leading, you hid. What use do I have for you?" Yao Qianming's voice dripped with disdain.
With a casual wave of his hand, he sent Uncle He flying backward, blood spilling from his mouth in mid-air. Though Yao Qianming spared his life, the message was clear: Uncle He had failed, and there was no place for him in the valley any longer.
Orion, observing this, chuckled.
"Ah, the true master of the valley, I presume," Orion said calmly. "I'm here to ask for medicine. Your disciples, however, chose to respond with violence. I defended myself, nothing more."
"You have my daughter!" Yao Qianming growled, ignoring Orion's explanation. "Let her go, and then we'll talk."
Orion raised an eyebrow. "You're in no position to negotiate. I'm still waiting for those pills I asked for."