At the northern entrance of Qing Shan Town, a group of uniformly dressed mercenaries covered in blood entered. Each one radiated a fierce killing intent with savage, predatory eyes, clearly veterans of numerous life-and-death battles.
Among the rear ranks of these mercenaries walked a woman in pale white robes, an exceptionally beautiful woman with delicate features. Her cool, ethereal face bore a serene smile that gave her a refreshing, otherworldly aura, possessing a charm entirely different from ordinary women. Her slender willow-like waist, tied with a green sash, was so delicate it drew immediate attention.
Gu Han swiftly moved to the roof of a building, watching as the woman stopped before the Ten-Thousand Herb Hall directly opposite the Miteer Trading Company's relay station under the mercenaries' escort.
"My thanks to everyone from the Blood Battle Mercenary Group for the escort. In seven days, I need to gather a batch of herbs reaching maturity in the Southern Mountain Range. Would you be available?"
The Little Fairy Doctor's lively, beautiful eyes sparkled as her gaze fell upon the man leading the mercenary group.
This man was named Yan Cheng, the leader of the Blood Battle Mercenary Group.
Qing Shan Town had three major mercenary groups: the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, the Blood Battle Mercenary Group, and the Snake Nest Mercenary Group.
Among them, the Snake Nest Mercenary Group was the weakest, but backed by the He family from Black Rock City - which had a Dou Spirit expert and a second-grade Alchemist - they were actually the least provoked.
The Wolf Head and Blood Battle Mercenary Groups were roughly equal in strength, but as their names suggested, the Wolf Head group was excessively wolf-like and aggressive, while the Blood Battle group was steady and reliable in their work.
Additionally, since the Wolf Head group had a noisy young leader who persistently pursued her, the Little Fairy Doctor avoided traveling with them whenever possible.
"Seven days from now?" Yan Cheng thought briefly before nodding with a smile. "No problem. Same arrangement as usual - we'll handle protection and security. If any mercenaries get injured, we'll rely on your healing skills, Miss Little Fairy Doctor."
In Qing Shan Town, the Little Fairy Doctor frequently entered the mountains with mercenary groups or large teams of independent mercenaries. When mercenaries were injured, she would provide immediate treatment, significantly reducing casualties.
Over time, her position in Qing Shan Town became transcendent. Many mercenaries would inquire whether the Little Fairy Doctor planned to enter the mountains before making their own trips.
Seven days was enough time for the Blood Battle Mercenary Group to rest and reorganize. Yan Cheng naturally wouldn't pass up an opportunity to travel with the Little Fairy Doctor.
"Agreed then."
The Little Fairy Doctor smiled and nodded before turning to enter the Ten-Thousand Herb Hall, her steps light and graceful.
Behind her, two maids arranged by the hall's owner carried a large chest containing the herbs she had collected these past days.
Although the Little Fairy Doctor held a transcendent position in Qing Shan Town, she was actually just a physician, not even an Alchemist Apprentice.
The medicines she could prepare weren't graded, yet they were highly favored by the mercenaries.
This revealed the hardships of life for those at the bottom.
"Entering the mountains again in seven days - that should be timely enough."
"I just wonder if she's found that cave on the cliff yet."
According to the timeline, the Little Fairy Doctor wouldn't explore that cave for at least another year.
She must have discovered it earlier, but certainly not a full year in advance.
"But it doesn't matter. I have the Black Tortoise Shell."
Gu Han wasn't in a hurry to approach the Little Fairy Doctor. The timing wasn't right yet.
Now that he had met the person, Gu Han stopped going out and returned to his room at the post station to cultivate.
"Young friend Gu Han is truly diligent," Ling Ying remarked in secret admiration.
Over the next few days, Gu Han lived a highly disciplined life.
He cultivated in the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm, practiced the newly acquired Dou Skills, and sought out opportunities.
First Day
[A batch of ordinary second-grade Sky Flame Grass being transported to the Miteer Auction House in Black Flame City contains a single third-grade Flame Spirit Grass—an auxiliary ingredient for refining various Fourth-Grade Pills.]
Gu Han: Mine now.
[Young Master Mu Li of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group has successfully bribed the Little Fairy Doctor's maid. This woman, known as the Little Fairy Doctor, possesses the Woeful Poison Body. The Woeful Poison Body is...]
Gu Han: Telling me things I already know again.
Second Day
[Yao Lao has the ability to resolve the issue of the Woeful Poison Body's eventual explosive demise. You can use this to win over the Little Fairy Doctor.]
Gu Han: Not only do I know that a Medicine Spirit can solve the Little Fairy Doctor's Poison Pill problem, I also know the method is called the Poison Pill Method. It requires a pill refined with three types of Heavenly Flames, the Magic Core of a seventh-grade Sky Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast, and Bodhi Transformation Saliva.
If only it could give me a simpler and more convenient method.
[The head of the He Family in Heiyan City was one of those who ambushed the Xiao Family back then.]
Gu Han: "..."
Third Day, Fourth Day...
For six full days, Gu Han acquired or scavenged quite a few valuable items in and around Qing Shan Town.
Accumulating these useful resources would allow him to exchange them for money in larger cities later, enabling him to compete for better items at auction houses.
[After 9–11 AM tomorrow, the Little Fairy Doctor will enter the mountains with over a hundred mercenaries led by the Blood Battle Mercenary Group to gather herbs. During this trip, she accidentally discovers what appears to be a cave beneath a cliff and decides to return with proper equipment to explore it on her next outing. This cave indeed contains numerous relics left by a peak Dou King from the Chu Yun Empire, specializing in poison. The specific location is...]
"What a coincidence—the trail of the cave under the cliff is discovered this time."
"But it's mine now."
Gu Han left the Black Tortoise Mystic Realm, got out of bed, and headed for the door.
[The overlord of the Magical Beast Mountain Range nearest to Qing Shan Town is the sixth-grade Magical Beast, the Amethyst Winged Lion King. She recently gave birth, and her lair contains rare Symbiotic Amethyst Source. Deep within the cave lies a hidden passage left by the previous occupant, a fifth-grade Azure Nether Serpent, leading to the bottom of a lake. If you go at 11:45 AM tomorrow, you can successfully steal it.]
"Do I look like someone who steals?"
Gu Han felt the information provided by the Black Tortoise Shell was somewhat excessive.
He was merely borrowing some natural treasures—how could that be called stealing?
"Whoosh!"
Gu Han reached the window, leaped high into the air, and blue-white wings materialized on his back.
He had no intention of leaving the cave's opportunity to explore with the Little Fairy Doctor, nor did he feel it should be reserved for Xiao Yan.
Besides, Xiao Yan hadn't made the three-year promise and had received the Jade Spirit Fruit from him—the future was bound to change.
Since he knew about it in advance and could make use of the resources, they naturally belonged to him.
"South Mountain Ridge—this is the direction."
The guidance from the opportunity specified the cave's exact location by the cliff, but it didn't indicate where the cliff was.
The Magical Beast Mountain Range was vast, teeming with Magical Beasts both openly and covertly. Pinpointing the cliff's location was like finding a needle in a haystack, fraught with danger.
But by closely following the Little Fairy Doctor's group, tracking down the cliffside cave would be no problem.
However, Gu Han remembered that Little Fairy Doctor had mentioned their destination this time was "Southern Mountain Range."
With the detailed map of the Jia Ma Empire produced by the Cloud Mist Sect, finding the location wasn't difficult.
"This is the Southern Mountain Range."
After just fifteen minutes of flight, Gu Han arrived at a basin surrounded by several tall mountains where the Heaven and Earth Energy was noticeably denser than the surrounding areas.
The southern mountain in this basin was the highest, hence the name Southern Mountain Range, and the medicinal herbs Little Fairy Doctor wanted to gather were located on this very mountain.
Gu Han first explored this mountain and soon pinpointed a cliff, discovering it matched the Black Tortoise Shell's prediction exactly.
With a flutter of his wings, he immediately followed the detailed route outlined in his opportunity, effortlessly flying to a cave entrance concealed by vines and weeds.
He couldn't help but wonder how Little Fairy Doctor, who wasn't even a Dou Fighter, had been lucky enough to discover this place.
"All the treasures here will fall into my hands now."
Gu Han drew his longsword and swung it once, using Sword Qi to clear away the weeds before diving straight into the cave.
Ling Ying, who had been secretly observing everything: "..."
Isn't this somewhat inappropriate!?
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