"Mu Li, you're making me so sad," Gu Changqing said with a pitiful look, watching Mu Li constantly pat himself. "As comrades who have gone through hardships together, do you really despise me this much just because I touched you?"
He paused before adding, "Or is it that a small young master like me isn't even qualified to be friends with someone like you, Mu Li?"
Mu Li forced a smile. "Oh no, you've misunderstood, Young Master Gu. I just... I'm not used to strangers touching me, yes, that's it. I break out in hives when anyone unfamiliar gets too close. I hope you understand."
Mu Li was seething inside. His perfect scheme to trap Gu Changqing had backfired, and now the Blood Soul Incense was smeared all over him. All he could think of now was running off to find some magical beast blood to wash it off before he got attacked.
ROAR!
Before Mu Li could continue his excuses, a spotted leopard leaped from behind, jaws wide open, aiming straight for him.
"Watch out!"
Gu Changqing's expression changed. He rushed to Mu Li's side, seemingly trying to help, while pulling out a blanket. In one swift motion, he threw it over Mu Li.
Mu Li, who was frantically dodging the leopard, didn't even notice what Gu Changqing was doing until it was too late. By the time he realized, he was already wrapped tightly in the blanket and dragged out of the leopard's reach. Gu Changqing even thoughtfully rolled him across the ground a few times, ensuring he evaded the leopard's attacks.
"Quick, take it down!"
The Wolfhead Mercenary group, startled at first, quickly regained their composure and began to hunt the spotted leopard.
Screech!
Out of nowhere, a Gale Eagle dove from the sky, aiming directly at Mu Li.
The eagle's eyes blazed with fury. It could smell the strong scent of its offspring on these humans—particularly on the one wrapped in a blanket.
Without question, these people had slaughtered its young. Today, it would have its revenge.
Screech! Screech! Screech!
Several more Gale Eagles descended from the sky, ferociously diving toward Gu Changqing and Mu Li.
"Changqing, be careful!" Nalan Yanran shouted from the other side, wanting to rush over to help.
Gu Changqing, still running while dodging, yelled back, "Don't come over! I can handle this!"
Then he turned toward Mu Li with a devilish grin. "Let me help you!"
Gu Changqing dashed over to Mu Li, securely wrapping the Blood Soul Incense-soaked blanket even tighter around him. With a swift push, he sent Mu Li rolling in every direction.
"Gu Changqing! Let me go! You bastard, I'll kill you!"
It finally dawned on Mu Li that Gu Changqing had figured out his scheme. Otherwise, why else would he single-handedly rush into the Wolfhead Mercenary group, and now, wrap him up in this cursed blanket?
"Mu Li, why such harsh words? I'm only trying to save you from the beasts, and you want to kill me..." Gu Changqing sighed, carrying Mu Li around the forest like a sack of flour.
"Gu Changqing! You dog! Release me! If I die to these beasts, the Wolfhead Mercenaries will never forgive you!"
Mu Li was starting to panic. With his Four-Star Dou Fighter strength, he should've been able to break free from the blanket's hold, but he couldn't. All he could do was helplessly get swung around, feeling more and more dizzy.
"Mu Li, I'm hurt by your threats. I saved you, yet you repay me with this?" Gu Changqing sighed dramatically and, as if hurt, hurled Mu Li onto a nearby tree branch.
With the Blood Soul Incense still clinging to the blanket, Mu Li got stuck in the branches, flailing helplessly.
"Damn it, Gu Changqing! Let me down! Wolfhead Mercenaries, get over here and save me!" Mu Li screamed as more magical beasts began closing in from every direction.
"Young master Mu!"
"Damn it! So many beasts! Why are there so many all of a sudden?"
The Wolfhead Mercenaries, confused by the sudden swarm of beasts, were panicking. Some tried to help Mu Li, but the beasts blocked their path.
"Gu Changqing! I swear, I won't let you off for this!" Mu Li's desperate cries rang through the forest. A Gale Eagle swooped down, tearing into his face with its claws.
"Damn, that's brutal," Gu Changqing muttered, shrinking back a little as he bolted away from the scene. As he ran, he cast several purification spells on himself, removing the Blood Soul Incense from his body.
Handling these low-tier magical beasts was child's play for someone of his level. But since Mu Li had dared to scheme against him, Gu Changqing decided to let him taste his own medicine. Not only did he coat Mu Li with the incense, but he also spread its scent across the rest of the Wolfhead Mercenary group.
Surrounded by magical beasts and covered in the Blood Soul Incense, there was no way Mu Li and his group would make it out of the forest alive.
Some nearby mercenaries, unaware of what had just transpired, rushed forward to help.
"Stop," Gu Changqing called out, casting purification spells on them one by one, ensuring no trace of the Blood Soul Incense lingered on them.
Once freed of the incense's scent, the magical beasts ignored them and focused solely on the unfortunate Wolfhead Mercenaries.
The forest was soon filled with the agonizing cries of Mu Li's group as the beasts attacked them relentlessly. Even Mu Li, still stuck in the tree, had his head crushed by a Gale Eagle, dying a miserable death.
Gu Changqing ignored the tragic scene, turning to Xiao Yi Xian. "Yi Xian, Yanran and I are planning to enter the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Have you made up your mind? Will you join us?"
Xiao Yi Xian hesitated, glancing toward the mercenaries still under attack. Her expression was conflicted.
Even if she wasn't sure of the details, it was clear to her that Mu Li and the others had tried to plot against Gu Changqing. Now, they were paying the price for their actions. The magical beasts had clearly targeted him first, but somehow, he'd managed to escape, leaving the Wolfhead Mercenaries to their fate.
"They brought this upon themselves. Those who harm others often face retribution," Gu Changqing said coldly. "Now, are you coming with us or not? If not, we're leaving."
He wrapped an arm around Nalan Yanran's waist, preparing to leave.
"Wait!" Xiao Yi Xian called out, biting her lip. "I'll go with you."
She paused for a moment. "But let me say a few words to them first."
Xiao Yi Xian couldn't just leave without addressing the members of the Clinic group she was in charge of. As the leader of this herb-gathering expedition, she had a responsibility.
Gu Changqing didn't stop her. He stood back as Xiao Yi Xian spoke to her people, asking the remaining mercenaries to escort the Clinic members back. She handed out tens of thousands of gold coins as a reward for their safe return.
Once everything was settled, Xiao Yi Xian returned to Gu Changqing's side. "I'm ready. Let's go."
Gu Changqing nodded, pulling her close and laughing as he glanced at the remaining mercenaries. "Gentlemen, until we meet again."
With that, he leaped into the air, carrying Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yi Xian with him as they vanished into the dense forest.