It wasn't long before the four of them followed Ming Qi to the summit of Langya Mountain.
"Why are we here?"
Mo Changli couldn't help but ask, gazing at the dark mass of mountains and land around them.
"My employer is being hunted, and he's here to avoid being discovered. Otherwise, he wouldn't have paid us so much for his escort."
Ming Qi briefly explained to Mo Changli and then walked to the edge of the mountain. He looked around. It was completely silent, devoid of any human presence, but he knew the little boy must be nearby, and most likely watching him from somewhere.
"Come out! If I wanted to sell you out, I wouldn't have to go through so much trouble."
After calling out twice, Ming Qi felt a faint presence circling around him.
"Are these your people?"
The voice came from behind him. Ming Qi turned and immediately saw the little boy standing not far away, but only a faint shadow, almost blending into the darkness. It was hard to imagine how cautious he was.
"Yes."
Ming Qi nodded. Mo Changli, Wei Silong, and Dabai were all his partners. As for the new member, Su Yuan, although he didn't know her background well, Ming Qi judged that this woman, who spent her days in a barrel, wouldn't have many thoughts. This was evident from the fact that Su Yuan had no recollection of the drinking incident that day.
"Okay, then, let's go. You decide the route. Once we enter the Jinchuan Bai Mansion, I'll pay you the full fee in one lump sum."
"That doesn't seem to be in accordance with the rules."
Hearing the little boy's words, Wei Silong suddenly spoke up.
According to mercenary group custom, a certain amount of fee is usually paid upfront as a deposit, which helps to motivate these mercenaries, who are always on the edge of life.
"Then, according to your rules, what should we do?"
The little boy looked at Wei Silong.
"Half upfront, and the other half upon reaching our destination."
Wei Silong's answer was straightforward, purely following past practice.
"That's fine."
The little boy seemed to have no intention of arguing about the reward and simply handed a small storage bag to Wei Silong.
"Here are ten royal crystals."
After a quick glance, the group set off.
The moonlit night was light and the breeze was gentle. No one spoke, and no one controlled their flying magic weapons. They all moved silently along the route designated by Ming Qi.
There were five people in the group, and Dabai kept a distance from Ming Qi in the mountains and forests.
Shaxing City was quite far from the Jinchuan Bai Mansion. Ming Qi and Mo Changli had taken a long time to get there that day. Although their current speed was faster than the previous journey, the journey was fraught with danger and would likely take even longer.
The night was unusually quiet; no one spoke. However, Su Yuan tried to speak several times, but Ming Qi quickly stopped him and prevented him from saying anything.
The night was remarkably peaceful, and everyone felt a sense of luck.
However, Ming Qi never let his guard down. He knew the enemy was a powerful mercenary group from Star City, and a single moment of carelessness could land them in dire straits.
Thus, Ming Qi constantly spread his spiritual awareness and activated the amplifying effect of the Supreme Diagram, closely monitoring any movement within a ten-mile radius.
At dawn, Ming Qi keenly sensed a gust of wind rising above the previously silent wilderness.
Normally, there had been only a gentle breeze all night; there was no reason for such a strong wind at dawn. Furthermore, the sound seemed strange, as if it weren't naturally occurring.
"Everyone, be careful!"
Ming Qi knew that any sudden change could bring danger, and he immediately alerted everyone at the slightest sign of anomaly.
After a short while, the gusts of air from the strong wind became distinct within Ming Qi's aura, and Ming Qi was now completely certain that this was no ordinary wind!
"Dabai, is anyone approaching?"
Although he could sense the wind, Ming Qi still couldn't tell if anyone was approaching. Dabai was in the nearby Three Forests, only five or six miles away. Ming Qi then sent a message.
"No, it's just the wind's a bit strong."
Dabai quickly sent back a message. As expected, Dabai had found no sign of any cultivators.
No one appeared, which Ming Qi didn't see as a good sign.
A danger seemed to lurk in the shadows, yet he couldn't see it.
Ming Qi had always believed that the unseen danger was often the most dangerous.
"Be careful, stay close to me."
After instructing Dabai, Ming Qi reminded everyone one by one.
The sky gradually brightened, a ray of morning light peeked through the east, and the air was tinged with a hint of dampness.
After walking cautiously for a while longer, Dabai's shadow was within sight of several people. Ming Qi pulled a longsword from his ring and carefully dragged it behind him.
This sword was the finest of his collection. It was called the Soul Stealer, a top-grade spiritual weapon. In battle, the Soul Stealer could steal the enemy's energy to replenish the sword's spiritual power, making it even more powerful.
"The sound of the wind is different! Be careful!"
At this moment, Wei Silong also sensed it and became extremely alert.
Just then, Su Yuan stopped and suddenly, eerily, reached out his hand and pawed at the air a few times. After a few seconds of thought, he said, "It's the Wind Listener. The Wind Listener is following us. We're in big trouble."
"Wind Listener?"
Ming Qi was also hearing this name for the first time, and he couldn't help but feel a little surprised.
Could these strange wind sounds be caused by the so-called Wind Listener? What kind of a thing is a Wind Listener?
"Wind Listeners are cultivators from the alien Xinfeng Tribe who can master the power of wind. While they're not skilled in combat, their natural talent for tracking is unmatched. Anyone targeted by a Wind Listener will most likely be hunted down."
Su Yuan explained.
"Wind Listeners who have mastered the power of wind to the extreme can even become one with the wind, completely undetectable."
Su Yuan, having once lived in Xixian City, was arguably the person with the most contact with the alien races of the Western Wilderness. Naturally, he understood them better than anyone present.
Hearing Su Yuan's words, Ming Qi's expression darkened slightly.
A natural tracker, an alien race capable of perfect control of the wind, would be extremely difficult to escape.
"Su Yuan, do you have any ideas for dealing with Wind Listeners?"
Since Su Yuan knew Wind Listeners so well, she probably had to rely on her to eliminate them.
"Well, I can try, but I can only go alone," Su Yuan said.
"One person, no!"
Ming Qi was still pondering when the little boy spoke up.
At this critical moment, letting someone escape alone would pose a greater threat than being tracked down by the Wind Eavesdroppers.
"Are you confident?"
Ming Qi ignored the boy's words and walked over to Su Yuan, looking at her seriously.
Su Yuan was once a renowned Sky-Thief in Xixian City, so she naturally possessed some hidden skills. If she could truly eliminate the Wind Eavesdroppers, it would be a positive development.
Seeing Ming Qi's question, Su Yuan charmingly brushed her hair with her right hand and smiled. "It should be okay this time, but I can't say for sure about the future."
Ming Qi was confused by this, but at least Su Yuan had given a positive answer, which satisfied him.
"Okay, go ahead. Be careful."
Ming Qi made the decision to let Su Yuan go.
"I told you not to leave. What do you mean?"
The little boy's face lit up with anger, clearly irritated that Ming Qi had ignored him.
Ming Qi turned, glanced at the boy, and said coldly, "I have the final say now. I'll take responsibility for any mistakes!"
The little boy was stunned.
How could this boy, who looked only fifteen or sixteen, suddenly become so decisive?
"Hehe, you're quite good, but it's a pity I don't like men."
Su Yuan's chuckle echoed as he quickly retreated.
"Let's keep going."
Watching Su Yuan leave, Ming Qi spread her aura, tracking his movements while keeping a vigilant eye on all sides.
The group continued on their way.
When Su Yuan had retreated about ten miles, she stopped and stood in the open field, leisurely stroking her rapier.
"Naxi, I know it's you. Come out."
The empty land was silent.
Su Yuan wasn't anxious, simply speaking with interest to the surrounding air, "Naxi, I can smell your scent in the wind. Don't hide! Come out!"
Clang!
Without warning, Su Yuan, who had just been admiring the rapier in her hand, suddenly raised her hand and thrust it like a dragon into the empty space to her left.
Her movements were swift, even faster than the wind.
With one thrust, a sigh echoed in the surrounding wind.
Then the flowing wind suddenly condensed, and soon a slender woman in silver clothes appeared in the wind.
The woman had a stunningly beautiful face, a small whirlwind mark on her forehead, and she stood there like a spirit of the wind.
"Naxi, why are you working for those damn mercenaries?"
Su Yuan looked at Naxi, his tone suddenly becoming strange.
"Ah Yuan, there's no connection between us anymore. We each serve our own masters, you know."
Naxi's expression was as calm as water, as if she had anticipated this moment. Even facing Su Yuan's sword, she remained unperturbed.
"Haha, each serving his own master?"
Su Yuan swung his rapier, the tip humming as it pressed directly against Naxi's throat.
"Yes."
"So, this time, you won't turn back, no matter what?"
Su Yuan bit his lip, the sword in his hand trembling slightly.
Naxi remained silent, her silence seemingly the best answer.
"Then die by my sword today!"
Su Yuan suddenly erupted in rage, his body shimmering with a hazy energy. His rapier trembled like a dragon's roar.
Faced with Su Yuan's fury, Naxi seemed to have no intention of evading or confronting him. She simply stood there quietly, waiting for his sword to strike.
"Go!"
Su Yuan's sword didn't thrust out, but a powerful burst of sword energy sent Naxi flying several meters away.
Staying steady, Naxi suddenly spoke, "Ah Yuan, I'm getting married..."
Su Yuan, who had already sheathed his sword, suddenly shuddered and stopped. A few breaths later, his voice echoed across the wilderness.
"If any man dares to touch you, I will tear him to pieces!"