"I heard that as soon as Prince Dai Weisi's injuries started to heal, he swore he would flay Dai Mubai alive and chop that Ye Yin from Shrek into ten thousand pieces!" the mercenary continued.
"Miss Zhu Zhuyun also announced that she would personally cripple Zhu Zhuqing…"
Bang!
The wine glass in Dai Mubai's hand shattered, splashing wine everywhere. He shot to his feet, his golden pupils burning with a furious rage, and took a step toward the mercenaries' table. At the same time, a cold killing intent began to radiate from Zhu Zhuqing.
Startled by the commotion and the powerful surge of spirit power coming from Dai Mubai, the mercenaries instantly sobered up. They fell silent, like cicadas in the dead of winter.
Ye Yin, however, placed a hand on Dai Mubai's arm, gently holding him back. He shook his head and whispered, "Mubai, sit down. A few small fries aren't worth your anger. At least we got the information we needed."
Dai Mubai took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the rage boiling inside him. He sat back down, but his face remained dark and stormy. Ye Yin casually flicked his finger, and several gold coins sailed through the air, landing with a crisp clink on the mercenaries' table.
"Gentlemen, let's talk about something else," he said. His voice was gentle, but it carried an authority that could not be denied.
The mercenaries glanced at the gleaming gold coins, then at Ye Yin's unfathomable eyes and the formidable aura of the guards surrounding him. They wouldn't dare say another word. They quickly pocketed the coins, nodded their heads eagerly, and immediately changed the subject.
The tavern soon returned to its previous noisy state, but a heavy, tense atmosphere now hung over Ye Yin's table.
"Dai Weisi! Zhu Zhuyun!" Dai Mubai gritted his teeth. "They still have the nerve to go around purging their dissenters?!"
"The more they act like this, the more it shows their guilt and fear," Zhu Zhuqing said coldly.
Ning Rongrong frowned. "It seems the people in the Star Luo Empire already know we're coming. They've likely set up a trap just waiting for us."
"What's there to be afraid of!" Xiao Wu declared, waving her small fists. "If one comes, we'll fight one. If two come, we'll fight a pair!"
Tang San grew thoughtful. "The enemy is in the shadows while we're out in the open. We need to plan this carefully. We still don't know enough about the current situation in the Star Luo Empire's capital."
Ye Yin gently tapped his fingertips on the table, a slight curve appearing on his lips. "It doesn't matter," he said calmly. "The more prepared they are, the harder they'll fall. Let's stay here at the border for a couple of days to gather some intelligence. And in the meantime…" His gaze swept across the various people in the tavern. "...we'll see if any kind-hearted souls come to us for help."
As if on cue, a commotion suddenly erupted at the tavern's entrance. A middle-aged man wearing the tattered uniform of a low-ranking Star Luo officer stumbled inside. He was bruised, covered in dust, and his face was a mask of terror and anger. He looked around frantically, as if searching for help, but most of the patrons indifferently averted their gaze, clearly wanting no trouble.
The officer's eyes passed over Ye Yin's table. Seeing their unusual demeanor and the well-armed guards, he hesitated for a moment. Finally, steeling himself, he stumbled over and fell to his knees with a loud thud.
"Sirs! Please, I beg you, save our village!"
Everyone at the table was startled. Dai Mubai frowned and asked, "Who are you? What happened?"
The officer gasped for breath, speaking with urgency. "My name is Zhao Tie! I'm the captain of the border patrol stationed in Qinghe Village, just ahead! Our village… it's been taken over by a group of rogue deserters from the Star Luo army!"
He continued his desperate plea. "Their leader used to be a commandant, and he's incredibly cruel! He killed our people, stole our food, and… and he kidnapped the young women from the village! I barely escaped with my life to get help! I'm begging you, sirs, please have mercy and save my people!"
Qinghe Village was the next small settlement marked on their map, just across the border on the Star Luo side. Ye Yin's eyes shifted slightly, but he remained silent.
Hearing the officer's story, the anger in Dai Mubai's evil eyes intensified. "How outrageous! Deserters daring to be so arrogant! How many of them are there? How strong are they?"
"About thirty or so," Zhao Tie said quickly. "The leader, that commandant, I think he's a Spirit Ancestor. There are a few Spirit Elders with him, but the rest are just ordinary thugs."
Dai Mubai turned to Ye Yin. "Yin Ge?"
Ye Yin looked down at the pleading man. His mental force subtly extended like invisible tendrils, sensing Zhao Tie's emotions. Fear, anxiety, anger… it all felt very real, not faked. Still, he asked calmly, "Why didn't you ask for help from your superiors or from the nearby towns?"
A look of grief and helplessness crossed Zhao Tie's face. "I did! Of course, I did! But… but the officers over there said those deserters used to be Prince Dai Weisi's men, and they… they didn't dare to interfere!"
The name 'Dai Weisi' appeared again.
Dai Mubai's fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. "So, they're his dogs after all!"
A flash of understanding appeared in Ye Yin's eyes. This seemingly random plea for help likely had Dai Weisi's shadow behind it. Was it a test of their strength? Or was it a trap? Perhaps it was both.
"Yin Ge, we can't ignore this!" Dai Mubai said in a deep voice, his eyes flashing with a mixture of righteous anger and deep hatred for his brother. Zhu Zhuqing also nodded in agreement, while Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu looked equally indignant.
Ye Yin smiled slightly and stood up. "Of course, we'll intervene. When you see injustice, you have to draw your sword and help. Besides," he added, "it's a good chance to stretch our muscles. Captain Zhao, lead the way."
Overjoyed, Zhao Tie began kowtowing repeatedly. "Thank you, Sir! Thank you all!"
Ye Yin turned to the captain of his Yin Feng Guard. "You and your men stay here and wait outside the town for my signal. Don't act rashly."
"Yes, my Lord!"
With that, the group of seven followed Zhao Tie and swiftly left the Black Stone Tavern, heading towards Qinghe Village.
Back inside the pub, a man in merchant's clothing who had been drinking quietly in a corner watched them leave. A cold smile played on his lips.
The fish had taken the bait.
The night was as dark as ink, with no stars or moon to light the way. The seven of them followed the officer, Zhao Tie, as he led them away from Black Rock Town and toward Qinghe Village. The border area was hilly and covered in dense forests, with rugged paths that were difficult to navigate. Zhao Tie, however, seemed to know the way perfectly, leading them with hurried steps while constantly looking back to urge them on, his face still etched with anxiety and fear.
After about half an hour, the dark outlines of low-lying houses became faintly visible ahead. A few scattered lights flickered in the night wind, making the place feel even more desolate. A faint, almost unnoticeable smell of blood and smoke drifted through the air.
"That's Qinghe Village up ahead!" Zhao Tie whispered, pointing towards it with a tearful voice. "Sirs, listen… I think I can still hear crying!"
Everyone listened intently. Sure enough, the faint sounds of sobs and curses could be heard carried on the wind, seemingly coming from the center of the village.
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