Chapter 131: The Incompetent Young Commander

Lu Han and the mysterious woman drew quite a stir as they walked down the crowded street.

The Evil Wind Beast, which possessed the bloodlines of two powerful ancient species, sensed the malice radiating from the townspeople. It chuckled to itself, "To think they’d dare target them. It seems Lord Evil Wind is in for a good show; at least I won’t be bored anymore, hehe..."

"You mangy snake, why are you laughing so obnoxiously?" Lu Han patted the Evil Wind Beast on his arm.

The beast ignored him, pointing its tail toward a nearby eatery. "We’ve been traveling for so long, shouldn't we eat something? Lord Evil Wind has been missing the dishes you humans make."

As it spoke, a bead of crystal-clear drool hung from the corner of its mouth.

Lu Han, too, felt his stomach growling. They had been surviving on dry rations for a while now, and his palate had grown dull. He didn't bother trying to shake off the mysterious woman—he had no choice, as he was no match for her. Throughout the journey, she had remained silent, simply following him.

The eatery was packed with mercenaries and adventurers. These men lived on the edge of a blade, and having safely returned from the outskirts of the Monster Mountain Range, they were naturally there to feast—drinking wine by the bowl and eating meat by the slab.

When Lu Han first entered, the patrons paid him little mind; some even looked on with disdain, thinking a youth like him daring to venture into the Monster Mountain Range was no different from courting death. But upon closer inspection, their gazes shifted. They realized the young man before them was actually at the First Heaven of the Xiantian realm—a level they hadn't even reached in their own youth.

Then, when the mysterious woman walked in, the room grew restless. Every eye in the establishment was fixed upon her.

Lu Han shrugged, found an empty table in the corner, and sat down. The mysterious woman followed suit, taking the seat directly opposite him.

Lu Han: "..."

*You certainly make yourself at home,* Lu Han thought, though he dared not say it aloud.

"What would you like to order, sir?" a waiter approached and asked. He glanced at the mysterious woman, thinking, *Such a beautiful woman—I've never seen her in Monster Town before.* However, he didn't dare stare; having worked in this business for years, he knew better than to be indiscreet.

"Just bring us a few of your signature dishes," Lu Han said.

"Understood. Please wait a moment, sir, it will be out shortly."

Inside the eatery, the patrons were chatting away. At the table next to Lu Han, two men were in conversation.

"I say, Brother Ma, I heard you managed to pick a century-old Flame Grass in the Monster Mountain Range this time. For a fire-attribute martial artist, that’s no less than a heaven-sent treasure," one patron said to his companion.

At the mention of the Flame Grass, a hint of pride crossed the eyes of the man addressed as Brother Ma. "I originally intended to take it to the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion in Black Rock City, but I happened to run into a genius student from the Imperial Royal Academy on the way. I don't know how he sensed I had it, but since I was going to sell it anyway, I let him have it. He was a student of the Royal Academy, after all, and the price was quite fair."

"Brother Ma, you've made a fortune this time. I’m truly envious," the other replied.

"Nothing to be envious of. The grass was guarded by a Flame Rat; I was nearly killed by the thing," Ma Lao-san said, still shaken. The Flame Rat was a Second-Level Xiantian monster, and being fire-aspected, its breath was laced with toxic flames. To snatch the grass from its jaws was a true testament to his skill.

Just then, a group of people entered the eatery.

"I..." The man was about to continue, but when Ma Lao-san saw who had arrived, his expression changed. He patted his companion to silence him.

The chatter in the eatery died down. Most of the patrons looked at the newcomers with disgust.

"It’s Wu Yong. Judging by his demeanor, he’s headed straight for that young man and woman. They’re in for a bad time."

"So it’s that spoiled young commander."

"This Wu Yong relies on having a father in the Mysterious Monarch realm to run wild in Monster Town. I’ve hated him for a long time," someone whispered.

"Shh! Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

*We can't afford to provoke people like him,* another thought, *but with his personality, he’ll cause trouble sooner or later. It’ll likely implicate his father and the Bloodthirsty Mercenary Group. Someone will deal with him eventually.*

Wu Yong was the son of Wu Qing, the famous leader of the Bloodthirsty Mercenary Group. Wu Qing had fathered him at forty, and as a result, the boy had been pampered his whole life. He was a notorious playboy in Monster Town, but out of respect for his father, most people kept their peace.

Leading the group was Wu Yong himself, a man in his twenties holding a plum-blossom fan. His eyes were cold, his lips a sickly pale, and his gait unsteady—a clear sign of excessive indulgence.

Wu Yong and his mercenaries scanned the room as they entered, seemingly searching for something. When his eyes landed on Lu Han and the mysterious woman, his face lit up.

"Snap!" He closed his fan and walked toward their table.

Although the people around him had spoken in whispers, ever since Lu Han inherited the legacy of the Underworld Crow, his blood had been awakened, and his hearing was far sharper than before. He had heard every word they said.

Seeing Wu Yong approach, Lu Han frowned. He only wanted to eat and return to Maple Leaf City as soon as possible; he had no desire to court trouble. Yet, as always, things rarely went according to plan.

"I don't know where you two are from, but I am Wu Yong, young commander of the Bloodthirsty Mercenary Group. I am intimately familiar with the Monster Mountain Range. If you need any assistance, I would be happy to oblige," Wu Yong said.

Despite his words, he didn't even glance at Lu Han, his eyes locked firmly on the mysterious woman.

The woman didn't acknowledge him, her gaze fixed instead on Lu Han.

Lu Han gave a wry smile. "Young Commander Wu, I was just about to head home. As for her... I suppose she is coming with me."

Wu Yong shot Lu Han an annoyed look. He had hoped to converse with the beauty, only to have Lu Han interrupt. Though in his twenties, Wu Yong was still only at the Seventh Heaven of the Houtian realm, earning him the nickname "The Spoiled Young Commander," and he despised geniuses.

He looked at Lu Han, realizing only then that the young man was actually in the Xiantian realm. A flash of jealousy crossed his eyes.

"Brother, I don't know your surname. Since we’re roughly the same age, why don't we be friends? And this lady here is..."

"She and I... we just met on the road. We happen to be heading in the same direction, that's all," Lu Han replied.

The Evil Wind Beast roared with laughter, its voice echoing in Lu Han's mind: "Haha! 'Heading in the same direction,' my foot! You just can't get rid of her! Lord Evil Wind is going to die laughing!"