Chapter 3513: Being Watched

"Your strength is so weak, yet you still dare to scheme?"

Ye Liuyun, seeing that the Martial Cultivators ambushing him were of low level, immediately grew suspicious, walking while carefully scrutinizing the people.

They also had a companion dressed like a wealthy young master, holding a folding fan. Earlier he had been winking at those people, and now he was slowly walking straight toward them.

Ye Liuyun glanced at the folding fan, then used Transmission Voice to tell Luo Yu and Chen Yueying to return to Space World and hide for a while. He had already seen that the fan concealed a powdery substance, but could not yet determine its purpose. He only thought these people were weak and worried they might resort to some despicable means.

After Chen Yueying clarified the situation, she wanted to stay and help Ye Liuyun. Luo Yu, on the other hand, voluntarily went back, to avoid having Ye Liuyun have to look after her if a fight broke out later.

"Alright, you may stay, but be sure not to inhale that powder or let it touch your body! It could be some kind of hallucinogenic drug, and there's no antidote for that," Ye Liuyun warned Chen Yueying.

"These damned Mercenaries, using such vile methods to harm people!" Chen Yueying also used Transmission Voice to curse.

"Don't get worked up, or they'll notice and hesitate to act!" Ye Liuyun immediately reminded her, calming her emotions so the Mercenaries wouldn't detect it.

However, Luo Yu's sudden disappearance still put the Mercenaries on alert; the one dressed as a wealthy young master and the others all stopped in place. Yet they didn't withdraw immediately, as if they were still unwilling to give up.

Ye Liuyun continued strolling back at the same pace with Chen Yueying, and chatted with her about attending the auction.

"We can first go to the Trade Association, exchange any surplus resources for Crystal Stone, then head to the auction for some excitement. You said the Southern Region has plenty of high‑end resources, so we can broaden our horizons and see what good stuff there is," Ye Liuyun suggested to Chen Yueying.

"Sure!" Chen Yueying tried to cooperate with the act, but she lacked experience and mental fortitude, making her seem unnatural.

Ye Liuyun had no choice but to make small talk, coaxing her to speak more. Yet she only responded with "mm, ah, okay," leaving Ye Liuyun at a loss for what to discuss. In the end, the two could only silently

walk back in silence.

The stalker bandit observed them for a while, perhaps deeming the situation unsafe, and immediately produced a Transmission Talisman, signaling his companions to withdraw.

"Alas! They caught on and withdrew!" Ye Liuyun sighed, feeling a bit regretful.

But since he had already encountered these people, he wouldn't let them go easily. If they didn't make the first move, Ye Liuyun would go find them himself.

With that in mind, he first used his powerful Divine Sense to keep an eye on them, and after they dispersed and regrouped, Ye Liuyun immediately followed, bringing Chen Yueying along.

"I'm really sorry, it's my inexperience, I was too nervous and ruined your plan!"

Chen Yueying also realized her own nervous performance had aroused the Mercenaries' suspicion, ruining Ye Liuyun's scheme.

"It's fine, they can't escape either!"

Ye Liuyun didn't mind. He simply knew Chen Yueying couldn't act, so he'd just stop having her cooperate in the future; he didn't blame her, and instead led her to chase after those Mercenaries.

"Looks like they're leaving the city, nine of them, all at the Third to Fourth Realm. Don't forget anti‑poison measures in battle."

Ye Liuyun kept walking, informing her of the opponents' strength and reminding her to watch out for poisoning.

Chen Yueying felt even worse inside; her Divine Sense couldn't probe that far, so she didn't know the situation. Everything required Ye Liuyun's handling, and she couldn't be of any help.

"Sigh, why am I so stupid!"

She blamed herself in her heart, fearing Ye Liuyun thought she was a useless burden.

Ye Liuyun saw she didn't answer his words and, judging by her expression, knew she was absent‑minded. Worried that Chen Yueying might fall for the opponent's trick during combat, he decided to first pull her into Space World, which would be safer.

"They're leaving the city, I must chase them quickly! You go back into Space World to calm down before coming out!"

Ye Liuyun, eager to pursue the Mercenaries, said that and immediately pulled Chen Yueying into Space World. This action made Chen Yueying misunderstand, thinking Ye Liuyun was rejecting her.

"What's wrong now?" Lei Ming and Long Nv, seeing her return in a dazed state, immediately began to inquire.

Chen Yueying explained the situation: "

Am I too stupid? I can't do anything right, always making him take care of me. The longer it goes on, the more he'll resent me!

Lei Ming was unconcerned: "So what? Long Nv sister is even less able to act, isn't she also just a guy's woman? Don't worry, the little brother said everyone has things they're suited for and not suited for, he won't mind it.

He's definitely in a hurry to chase those Mercenaries, which is why he didn't explain to you. Besides, he's a famously dense wood, he couldn't think of those little considerations of looking after you!"

"Hmm, Lei Ming is right, you don't need to dwell on this!" Long Nv also comforted her.

But Chen Yueying felt that staying with Ye Liuyun was a burden to him. Letting herself go out on her own, she still lacked the courage. Though her realm wasn't low, after spending time with Ye Liuyun she realized her experience was too limited.

Ye Liuyun indeed didn't think much. After chasing the Mercenaries out of the city, he immediately unleashed the sixth‑rank short sword to slay them.

"What are you doing? We're members of the Huo Hu Mercenary Corps..."

The Martial Cultivator who had been tracking Ye Liuyun earlier immediately revealed his own strength.

Yet Ye Liuyun kept striking without pause. Not that he didn't know about the Huo Hu Mercenary Corps; even if he did, he wouldn't care about a mere mercenary group.

"Puff, puff"—a few light sounds; these Third‑ to Fourth‑Realm Mercenaries couldn't withstand the sixth‑rank short sword's slashes, each having their chests pierced.

"Spiritual Soul Attack!" The Martial Cultivator monitoring Ye Liuyun, realizing he couldn't match Ye Liuyun's treasure, shouted and, together with the remaining Mercenaries, released his Divine Sense into Ye Liuyun's Sea of Consciousness.

"Hehe, I was waiting for you to use a Spiritual Soul Attack!"

The Mercenaries' souls were weak to begin with, and Ye Liuyun immediately began a Soul Search on them.

He quickly learned that the Mercenaries intended to capture Chen Yueying and present her to their leader, Cheng Huofeng. Cheng Huofeng routinely engages in robbery, murder, and forcibly taking local women.

However, they act cleanly and efficiently, so few have traced anything back to them. Moreover, they know the local situation well and avoid confronting untouchable forces, so they've never drawn attention.