Chapter 18: Xiao Yixian is my friend, I

Xiao Yixian's pretty face was pale; she first looked at Muli with a hint of panic, then cast her purple eyes toward Gu Fei.

Her eyes were filled with surprise and a trace of imperceptible nervousness.

【Xiao Yixian experiences nervousness, Emotion Value +100】

She stood there, quite at a loss for what to do.

Suddenly, two people appeared, and Xiao Yixian did not know how to handle it.

After all, Gu Fei gave her a more reliable feeling; Xiao Yixian looked at him helplessly, seemingly hoping that Gu Fei could provide an explanation.

Otherwise, why would both of them suddenly appear behind her?

"Xiao Yixian, just now I saw this person sneaking behind you and worried that he had some ulterior motives, so I followed."

Gu Fei naturally felt no guilt, as he had not done anything shameful; instead, he took the initiative to strike first, pinning the label of having malicious intentions on Muli.

【Muli experiences anger, Emotion Value +10】

Muli, who had originally intended to quibble, glared at Gu Fei with a mix of shock and rage.

But he dared not fall out with Gu Fei right now.

After all, Muli was no fool to be able to sit in the position of the young leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group.

He could certainly see the clues from when Yao Laoban was selecting mercenaries earlier; this Alchemist's identity was likely not simple.

Moreover, having been a mercenary for many years, his most basic and necessary skill was to be vigilant of his surroundings at all times.

Although his entire focus had just been on tracking Xiao Yixian, staying alert was already a physical instinct.

If Gu Fei had truly followed him the whole way, it would have been impossible for him not to notice!

Therefore, this meant that either Gu Fei's strength was extremely profound, or he possessed a very formidable method for concealing his presence.

That was why he could only glare at Gu Fei in anger, but dared not attack immediately.

Xiao Yixian was full of trust for Gu Fei in her heart; after all, how could such a powerful Alchemist deceive her?

【Xiao Yixian experiences gratitude, Emotion Value +100】

Her heart was filled with gratitude toward Gu Fei, and at the same time, her guard against Muli became even heavier.

Muli had suddenly followed her for no reason, and he didn't want to be discovered by her...

Could it be that her secret had been exposed?

Xiao Yixian shook her head; she had hidden it so well that no one around had discovered it, so how could a mere Muli possibly know?

In order to confirm her suspicions, Xiao Yixian was unwilling to let the matter rest and pretend it had never happened.

"Muli, why are you following me?"

Xiao Yixian looked at Muli and questioned him loudly.

The woods were airtight and oppressive, with no sunlight penetrating through, so Xiao Yixian could not clearly see the expression on Muli's face.

He gave two sinister laughs and said unhurriedly.

"Hehe, I'll just be blunt: there should be treasure down here, right!"

Seeing Xiao Yixian's persistent attitude, since things had reached this point, Muli simply stopped pretending and stated the situation directly.

Xiao Yixian's figure swayed, feeling completely incredulous, her beautiful eyes filled with obvious shock and doubt.

"I only told my assistant Lifei about this matter."

In her beautiful purple eyes, anger and sadness at being betrayed surged immediately after.

"You... you bribed her?"

Even someone as gentle and kind-hearted as Xiao Yixian was not entirely without a temper.

Lifei was not just her friend, but had long been treated by her as a confidante; Xiao Yixian had shared many thoughts and secrets with Lifei.

Yet she had not expected that something known only to heaven, earth, herself, and Lifei would be known to Muli.

Besides Lifei, who else could it be?

Muli laughed a few times and nodded in admission.

He loved seeing the look of shock and anger on people after they learned they had been betrayed by their best friends.

Xiao Yixian's emotional fluctuations were too great, and her talent and strength were not in combat, so she was not to be feared.

As for the remaining one—

Muli turned his head to look at Gu Fei.

He smiled and said: "This young master, why not join my Wolf Head Mercenary Group to explore the treasure together?"

He stared at Gu Fei's still calm and composed face, saying meaningfully, word by word: "When the time comes, the treasure, we split, five, five."

If it were anyone else who had come out with Xiao Yixian, whether it was an Alchemist, a servant from Wanyao Pavilion, or even Yao Laoban, they would likely have agreed without hesitation.

After all, this was a great opportunity to cooperate with the strongest mercenary group in Qingshan Town to split treasure, and Muli was even willing to concede profit.

Given his personality, it would be good if he didn't kill people to keep it all for himself; at this moment, being willing to give up half to Gu Fei was like a pie falling from the sky.

Muli unhurriedly picked his ear and blew lightly on his fingertip.

"How about it?"

Facing Muli's invitation, Gu Fei first pretended to be tempted.

He deliberately revealed a hesitant expression, and sure enough, he saw Muli's unconscious, ferocious grin.

【Muli experiences smugness, Emotion Value +10】

Gu Fei raised an eyebrow.

There was likely a trap.

He did not believe Muli was such a generous person; it was likely that after they cooperated to find the treasure, Muli would kill him, dump his body down there, and come back up alone.

Facing Muli's invitation and his extremely confident gaze, Gu Fei put on a show of being about to nod in agreement.

But just as the corners of Muli's mouth were about to stretch off his cheeks, he changed his expression.

He refused as decisively as could be: "A person like you, are you even worthy of cooperating with me?"

【Muli experiences anger, Emotion Value +10】

"What did you say?"

Anger ignited in Muli's eyes, and he began to limber up his body, the sound of bones rubbing together ringing out from time to time.

Seeing Gu Fei's resolute attitude, Xiao Yixian stared at him without blinking, her emotions extremely complex.

【Xiao Yixian experiences being moved, Emotion Value +80】

【Xiao Yixian experiences reliance, Emotion Value +80】

Seeing that Gu Fei was unwilling to cooperate, Muli could not be bothered to waste any more time.

He gave a hideous smile, revealing his true, filthy face: "Since you are unwilling to cooperate, then I ask that you do not stand in my way..."

His gloomy gaze fell upon Xiao Yixian, carrying a faint intent to kill.

Yet, he caught off guard heard Gu Fei's tactless words.

"Xiao Yixian is my friend; this matter, I am determined to handle!"

Gu Fei said.

【Xiao Yixian experiences being moved, Emotion Value +80】

Muli looked at him with quite a bit of surprise, not knowing if this kid was truly afraid of death or just pretending.

He simply stopped talking nonsense and directly began to threaten Gu Fei, his hands also moving.

"Since that is the case, then don't blame me. Even if you have a powerful background, if you die silently in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, no one will suspect my Wolf Head Mercenary Group!"

A dark glint flashed in Muli's eyes as he quietly watched the oblivious Gu Fei, his heart stirred with murderous intent.

Gu Fei was in no rush to leave; after all, with his current strength, not to mention the entirety of Qingshan Town, he likely could not find an opponent even in the entire Jia Ma Empire.

Xiao Yixian had already hidden behind him.

He stood in front of Xiao Yixian, his tall figure appearing as if it would help her block all harm.

Xiao Yixian could not help but feel a bit dazed.

Under Muli's sinister gaze, before long, more than a dozen mercenaries surged out from the dense forest, all of whom Gu Fei had already discovered.

(End of this chapter)