Nalan Ping

On the journey ahead, within a distance of several dozen miles, the team encountered several attacks from Naga Wolves. Each time, the Naga Wolves left behind hundreds of corpses before being forced to retreat. However, as time passed, the mercenary group also suffered casualties, with more than a dozen people falling into dire situations under the siege of the Naga Wolves, ultimately meeting their deaths. Yet, their fellow mercenaries seemed indifferent to their demise, only bothering to loot the gold coins and demon cores from their bodies after they died. This sight made Li Yi inwardly solemn; he wasn't desperate for money, and when fighting, his aim was not to excel but to avoid mistakes.

After careful observation, he noticed that those who met with misfortune were usually lone mercenaries, while those in small teams or pairs managed to survive with the help of their companions. However, what amused Li Yi was the talkative mercenary who, despite being alone, seemed exceptionally strong, remaining unscathed through several waves of Naga Wolf attacks. As for the guards of the Nalan Merchant Group, they hadn't lifted a finger from the beginning, only occasionally killing any Naga Wolves that slipped through to the middle of the caravan.

As they continued their journey, by sunset, the team had reached a valley. The terrain was relatively flat, with a high cliff on one side and a small waterfall cascading down. Below the cliff was a high ground, spacious enough for hundreds of people to camp. It was a great spot, easy to defend and hard to attack, making it an excellent military stronghold. Li Yi squinted at the high ground and could vaguely see traces of human occupation. It seemed the Naga Merchant Group intended to rest here for the night.

Indeed, as the merchant group slowed down, the young Nalan master seemed to give a low command. Soon after, several guards began to shout, "Everyone! It's getting late, and you've all worked hard today! Our young master appreciates your efforts and has decided to rest here tonight!" The entire team gradually came to a halt, weary from the day's battles. The mercenaries had no objections to resting as per the boss's orders.

Once they reached the high ground, the mercenaries, familiar with the terrain of the Naga Mountains, started setting up camp, lighting fires, and some went hunting in the nearby forests for the night's meal. Li Yi followed suit and set up his own tent, but for safety, he placed it on the outskirts. It seemed like a vulnerable spot for an attack, but Li Yi was confident in his abilities; he knew he could escape anytime if not caught in the midst of battle. To the other mercenaries, his choice seemed somewhat amusing, but since he voluntarily chose the outer perimeter, no one dissuaded him.

Unlike during the day, the mercenaries had to take turns keeping watch at night, and even the guards of the Naga Merchant Group joined in, showing increased vigilance. Li Yi was slightly surprised by this and inquired about it during his watch shift. A fellow mercenary then explained that after tomorrow, they would enter the deep mountains, where the terrain was treacherous. Aside from the cleared mountain paths, the rest of the area was fraught with danger. Therefore, if anyone wanted to target the Nalan Merchant Group, this place would be their best opportunity. Although easy to defend and hard to attack, many merchant groups had met their demise here. Mercenaries, after all, could turn into bandits when not on duty.

Li Yi further inquired why they didn't camp elsewhere. The mercenary pointed to the waterfall behind them. Li Yi then understood – without a water source, how would this large group eat and drink? Moreover, being besieged without water, how could they fight after just a few days? So, despite the danger, this place at least offered a water source and a strategic advantage. If they could withstand an attack and rest well, continuing into the deep mountains wouldn't be too difficult.

After his watch, Li Yi returned to his tent to meditate. After an indeterminate amount of time, he suddenly opened his eyes, a slight twitch in the corner of his eye, and murmured, "What I feared has come to pass, hasn't it? Old Coot? From the east?"

The Serpent Venerable's voice floated softly, "There are many people in the east, and quite a few in the west... Kid, it seems you're still not up to snuff."

Li Yi nodded slightly, listening carefully for a moment. Under the cover of night, two groups of people were approaching from two different directions. After a brief calculation, he whispered, "I estimate close to five hundred people... I didn't expect such a force within the Naga Mountains."

The Serpent Venerable said indifferently, "The groups from the two directions may not be together, but their goal is likely the same... Kid, if things get too dangerous tonight, let's leave. There's still time to escape now."

Li Yi shook his head, "No rush. The young Nalan master of the Nalan Merchant Group has some connection with the Nalan family; he's a useful person. Let's see if we can establish a connection with him tonight. If not, we'll consider other options."

The Serpent Venerable chuckled, "As you wish. Just remember, I can't help you freely right now. Everything depends on you."

Immediately, The Serpent Venerable's voice fell silent. In such a situation, Li Yi dared not be careless. He rummaged through his Storage Ring for a moment and pulled out a long spear of around third-grade quality, strapping it to his back before stepping out of the tent. As soon as he stepped outside, he heard shouts: "A cavalry is approaching!" Then, with a "buzz," the shouting man only had time to scream before collapsing to the ground. Li Yi quickly leaped atop the tent to get a better view and saw a man nailed to a tree by an arrow through his throat, blood flowing profusely. The mercenaries and guards were already alerted by the single scream. As they gathered together following shouts, a calm voice commanded from a distance, "Everyone, stay alert and be ready at all times! Don't panic! Gather here!"

Looking in the direction of the voice, Li Yi saw it was the young Nalan master, who, unlike his frail daytime appearance, stood confidently, commanding from a higher position. Fortunately, the experienced mercenaries didn't panic and quickly gathered in the middle, forming a circle with the carriages of the Nalan Merchant Group, leaving only a small gap for combat.

In the distance, several fires lit up, signaling the attackers were no longer hiding. The sound of hooves gradually faded. Li Yi, observing the approaching row of fires, quickly deduced their strategy: the attackers, having exposed themselves, were likely regrouping before a full assault. These bandits were skilled, circling the high ground a few times and launching a volley of arrows, causing several unprepared mercenaries to fall.

Li Yi cautiously dodged the arrows and made his way to the center of the camp. Examining an arrow he caught, he broke into a cold sweat. The arrow, shaped like a top and made of fine iron, was a type known as "Armor-Piercing Arrow," capable of penetrating even a Warrior's Qi armor if not careful. It was evident the attackers were well-equipped. Initially, the merchants had the advantage of higher ground, but now they were exposed to the incoming arrows.

Fortunately, the merchant group was prepared. In the blink of an eye, someone dragged a large chest from a carriage, revealing a pile of shields. The young Nalan master, identified as Nalan Ping, ordered, "Everyone, grab a shield. Those below Fighter level, take care of the horses at the back!" Following another volley, the camp was now better protected by the shields, which were covered in thick beast fur and soaked in oil, capable of blocking the Armor-Piercing Arrows – a sign that the Nalan Merchant Group had faced such situations before.

Seeing their arrow attack fail, the attackers realized the camp had adapted. They retracted slightly, preparing for a direct assault. Li Yi, squeezing through to the front, saw the bandits drawing their weapons, their blades glinting menacingly in the firelight. Nalan Ping, now wearing an exquisite Qi armor, took his place at the forefront, seemingly surprised by the number of bandits. After a moment's hesitation, he spoke diplomatically, offering a bounty for safe passage and throwing a heavy purse towards the bandits.

At that moment, the bandit leader scoffed and, with a swing of his sword, sent a blade of Qi slicing through the air, bursting the purse open and scattering gold coins across the ground like snowflakes...