Chapter 183: Blood Person in the Snow

Thanks, senior, for showing the way.

Gu Han had long decided to temporarily join their team, and he immediately clasped his hands and smiled.

The burly middle-aged man laughed heartily and said,

Little brother, you don't need to be so polite; if you don't mind, just call me Xiao Ershu.

While chatting idly with the burly middle-aged man,

Gu Han learned that his name was Xiao Qing, the second-in-command of the Iron Blood Mercenary Group.

In Jiannan Prefecture, mercenary groups like theirs are quite numerous.

This time, the Iron Blood Mercenary Group took on a mission to come to the Thousand Year Cold Valley to retrieve something.

It was only by chance that they encountered Gu Han and his companion, prompting them to invite the two to join them.

Gu Han, while interacting with the members of the Iron Blood Mercenary Group, discovered that many of them were not good with words.

But they did not appear to be the sort who are greedy for money and will stop at nothing for profit.

Of course, Gu Han would not trust these people just because of this brief contact.

As the group continued forward, Gu Han actually noticed that the wind and snow seemed to be gradually lessening.

Seeing the surprise in Gu Han's eyes, Xiao Qing laughed heartily and said,

Little friend, you surely aren't from Han Shan Cheng, are you?

Gu Han was taken aback, not expecting Xiao Qing's observation to be so keen.

This is the place with the least wind and snow before entering the interior of the Thousand Year Cold Valley.

Many mercenary groups and residents who frequently travel to the Thousand Year Cold Valley have built a temporary settlement called Han Valley Town here, to serve as a temporary rest stop.

As they talked, the settlement Xiao Qing mentioned gradually appeared before them.

Calling this cluster of buildings a small town would not be an exaggeration.

Many people, clad in silver-white, went in and out of the town.

Just a rough glance suggests there are no fewer than a hundred people.

This was still after stepping into this snowy land; it was the first time Gu Han had seen so many people.

I had heard that the Thousand Year Cold Valley sees hardly any human traffic, almost no one comes and goes, but now it seems not entirely so.

Hearing Gu Han's sigh, Xiao Qing chuckled and said,

For you outsiders, calling the Thousand Year Cold Valley a forbidden zone is not an exaggeration.

But for us mercenary groups that regularly venture into various dangerous places, this natural environment is at most merely an obstacle.

Gu Han had long noticed that Xiao Qing and the others seemed to possess treasures capable of resisting the cold.

The overall strength of the Iron Blood Mercenary Group is not bad; those who come to the Thousand Year Cold Valley are surely its elites.

Even the weakest mercenary possesses the strength of a Great Martial Master.

But this strength is not enough for them to ignore the bitter cold of the Thousand Year Cold Valley.

There must be something else they rely on.

After all, we are merely passing acquaintances; they could not possibly ask about such secrets.

And seeing that Gu Han and his companion did not seem particularly afraid of the cold, Xiao Qing and the others did not bring up the matter.

Approaching Han Valley Town.

The members of the Iron Blood Mercenary Group stepped forward, greeted the guard at the town gate, and handed over a bag.

The guard weighed it, then allowed the Iron Blood Mercenary Group members to enter the town.

But they stopped Gu Han and his companion,

Deputy Regiment Commander, these two are not members of your mercenary group, are they?

Xiao Qing furrowed his brows, glancing at the person who had just handed over the bag,

You didn't give these two young brothers any payment, did you?

That person inwardly cried out in injustice,

I gave origin stones this time, fully twenty percent more than before; that should be enough!

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qing had no choice but to step forward himself to negotiate with the guard.

However, the guard had no intention of giving Xiao Qing any face.

I don't know how much your people just handed over, and those things will never end up in my hands anyway.

The guard's icy gaze fell upon Gu Han and his companion,

My duty is to ensure that everyone entering the town must hand over sufficient origin stones to maintain the normal operation of Han Valley Town.

Gu Han understood this was the rule of Han Valley Town, had no intention of breaking it, and prepared to comply.

However, Xiao Qing's speed was faster than Gu Han's.

He had already prepared an extra small bag to hand to the guard, and then, chatting and laughing, he brought Gu Han into the town.

Xiao Ershu, how can I let you bear the expense?

Gu Han has always adhered to the principle of not receiving rewards without merit.

Although it's unclear exactly how much Xiao Qing handed over,

he took the storage ring he had just prepared and shoved it into Xiao Qing's hand.

Xiao Qing merely smiled and pushed the storage ring back,

Meeting is fate; encountering each other in this icy snow is not easy, so don't stand on ceremony with me.

At the same time, Xiao Qing's heart was filled with alarm!

He had just almost failed to move Gu Han's hand?

You should know that although he didn't exert his full strength, he is the second-in-command of the Iron Blood Mercenary Group.

At least he's also a Martial Sect master!

In terms of age, he's old enough to be Gu Han's father!

Gu Han's strength probably far exceeds what he initially imagined.

No wonder just the two of them dare to enter the Thousand Year Cold Valley.

"Two young brothers, our mercenary group needs to rest a bit before continuing deeper into the Thousand Year Cold Valley; what are your plans?"

Gu Han thought for a moment,

"Thanks for all your help along the way, Xiao Uncle, but my brother and I have other matters, so we won't disturb you."

After all, their goal is high-grade heavenly materials and earthly treasures.

As the saying goes, wealth moves people's hearts.

For martial practitioners, the value of heavenly materials and earthly treasures goes without saying.

If we were to act together with the Iron Blood Mercenary Group, finding heavenly materials and earthly treasures would very likely turn us into enemies.

Rather than that, it's better to part ways early.

"If that's the case, then I wish you young brothers get what you wish for."

Xiao Qing didn't think much of it and gave Gu Han a hehe laugh.

After Gu Han nodded at Xiao Qing as a signal, he left together with Gu Chen.

Only after Xiao Qing found a place to temporarily sit and rest did he discover that an extra ring had appeared in his pocket.

It turned out to be the ring Gu Han had just been holding.

Xiao Qing held the ring and couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh,

"These youngsters these days..."

……

"According to Xiao Uncle, the heavenly materials and earthly treasures on the outskirts of the Thousand Year Cold Valley have probably been completely cleaned out."

Gu Han came to the liveliest part of the town and said in a low voice,

"But the interior of the Thousand Year Cold Valley is vast; we can't just run around like headless flies."

Just then, a figure covered in blood and flesh appeared.

Trailing a long bloodstain, he stumbled toward the entrance where Gu Han and the others were.

A warm-hearted middle-aged man immediately rushed out of the town, wanting to support that bloody figure.

However, at that moment, a white shadow flashed past not far from them.

Gu Han furrowed his brows, and the Silver Dragon Spear appeared in his hand.

He exerted force with his arm, throwing the Silver Dragon Spear like a javelin.

The javelin tore through the air and instantly arrived beside the two people.

"Damn it!"

"Stop!"

"What are you doing?!"

The few people around the gate suddenly shouted in unison, their expressions turning hostile as they surrounded Gu Han.

If Gu Han said anything wrong, they would likely attack.

"Whether you believe it or not, I'm doing this to save people."