"Long time no see," Tang Yi said with a slight smile.
"Yes, long time no see."
Other than Liuu Tian, the old members of the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps had either left or died. Wang Dali and Li Qingqing were part of a newer batch who had joined later, so they didn’t know Tang Yi and had only heard Liuu Tian mention him occasionally.
"We’re here to save someone. We need to find a medicinal herb called the Jiuli Flower, which is why we risked coming here," Liuu Tian replied. When she mentioned the Black Blood Wolf Pack, her expression darkened and she looked disheartened. The peril of the encounter had clearly shaken her confidence in continuing to explore the Valley of Desolation.
"Haha, Leader Liuu, you praise me too much. I’m not as amazing as you think. Getting into the West Mansion was just a stroke of luck," Tang Yi said humbly.
So, even though he knew these words would be a blow to the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps, Tang Yi felt he had to say them.
Tang Yi wasn’t lying. He had indeed just encountered a Level 4 Demon Beast in the outer area. He had also run into dangers on the same level as the Black Blood Wolf Pack several times. It was only thanks to his extraordinary strength that he could deal with these Demon Beasts so easily. If it had been the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps, any one of those encounters would have been enough to wipe them out completely.
"You think everyone is like you?"
But when they heard the two words "Battle King," everyone from the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps shuddered. They recalled the scenes of Tang Yi soaring freely through the sky and powerfully slaughtering the Black Blood Wolf Pack. Instantly, their gazes toward Tang Yi, which had held gratitude, were now filled with a deep sense of awe.
Now, realizing that Tang Yi was a West Mansion Disciple and a supreme expert at the Battle King Level, the group couldn’t help but become a little reserved. They no longer interrupted Liuu Tian, letting her and Tang Yi talk.
"I think you should go back. You’re not like me; you don’t have protective treasures from a Sect, and your strength is... Dangers like the Black Blood Wolf Pack are everywhere in the Valley of Desolation. Even in the outer areas, you’ll run into Level 4 or Level 5 Demon Beasts. I just encountered one myself. If you were to run into one..."
The man before them might be young, but he was a disciple of the West Mansion, and a disciple with the strength of a Battle King at that.
However, Wang Dali caught that fleeting crimson blush on Liuu Tian’s face. He frowned, looking at Tang Yi with considerable displeasure, and muttered from the side, "A coincidence? Maybe it’s not a coincidence at all. For all we know, he’s some kind of perverted stalker, secretly following our Leader Liuu all this time. That’s how he can always show up when she’s in the most danger, just so he can play the hero saving the damsel in distress."
"Qingqing, what nonsense are you talking!" Hearing Li Qingqing’s gibberish, a blush crept onto Liuu Tian’s face, but it vanished in a flash.
In any case, Wang Dali had no favorable impression of Tang Yi and wouldn’t even spare him a glance.
"Oh, so that’s how it is," Liuu Tian nodded.
"Don’t be so modest, Tang Yi. Do you think I don’t know what you’re capable of?"
Furthermore, just based on his identity as a West Mansion Disciple, even though they were older than Tang Yi, it wasn’t excessive for them to call him ’Lord’.
Li Qingqing shot Wang Dali a contemptuous look, then pointed at the clothes Tang Yi was wearing and said, "See that? The emblem on his clothes is the unique symbol of the West Mansion. Lord Tang Yi is a West Mansion Disciple. He’s going to be a big shot in the future; he doesn’t have time to stalk our Leader. The fact that they met is fate. They’re a match made in heaven."
However, she didn’t dwell on the topic and changed the subject. "By the way, Tang Yi, what are you doing in the Valley of Desolation? This place is far more dangerous than the Wind Moon Forest was."
At first, the others didn’t think much of Tang Yi. After all, he was so young that everyone had regarded him as an equal.
"Alright, Qingqing, stop talking nonsense."
All in all, neither Tang Yi’s strength nor his status was something the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps could even compare to.
Luu Tian sighed and said, "It’s not that I don’t know how incredibly dangerous this place is, but the Jiuli Flower can only be found here. For the sake of my relative, I have to take this risk."
It was true.
"Yes, I’m currently an Outer Mansion Disciple of the West Mansion." Tang Yi had nothing to hide about his identity, so he admitted it openly.
That was why Li Qingqing had been calling him "Lord Tang Yi" over and over just now.
On the Saint Martial Continent, the strong were revered. Age was never an issue. As long as one was powerful, one would earn the respect and fear of others.
Luu Tian also smiled and nodded, speaking with a mix of pleasant surprise and emotion. "Tang Yi, I can’t believe it. I’ve run into danger twice, and both times you were there to save me. It’s such a coincidence. You’re truly my good luck charm."
Luu Tian stopped her again, then turned to Tang Yi and explained, "This is just how they talk. They’re a bit crazy, and not a word they say can be trusted. I hope you don’t mind, Tang Yi. By the way, you joined the West Mansion?"
"What about you? Why did you come to the Valley of Desolation?" Tang Yi asked.
As for Wang Dali, who was still off to the side, although he still had no favorable impression of Tang Yi, his attitude had become much more subdued. He no longer dared to speak ill of Tang Yi.
Wang Dali had joined the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps in the first place for Liuu Tian. Now, seeing the object of his affection talking so intimately with another man, their attitudes so ambiguous, how could he possibly stand it?
Luu Tian scanned Tang Yi from head to toe. The more she looked, the more pleased she was, and the more her heart fluttered. She couldn’t help but praise him aloud, "It’s only been a month or two, and I find you’ve gotten more and more handsome, Tang Yi. Your aura has become more outstanding, too. And your strength... you can even fly now. You must have reached the Battle King Level, right? That’s amazing."
From the side, Li Qingqing watched Tang Yi, her eyes shining as she interjected, "That’s right, that’s right! The Leader and this... this Lord Tang Yi, it must be fate! How could it be such a coincidence? It looks like you two are meant to be together!"
Luu Tian rolled her eyes at him. She thought back to when Tang Yi had fought fiercely against Zhangg Yuxi and his men, and then to how he had just effortlessly annihilated the Black Blood Wolf Pack. How could strength like that possibly be a stroke of luck?
"I’m here to train. The West Mansion Outer Mansion’s grand competition is about to start, so I came out to get some practical experience and increase my strength. As for the danger, which Demon Beast Land isn’t dangerous? If you want to improve your strength, you naturally have to face some threats. Besides, I have a protective treasure from the West Mansion, so it’s fine." Tang Yi repeated the same explanation he had given Murong Liu.
In terms of both status and strength, he was leagues above anyone in the Nine Cities Mercenary Corps.
"Battle King!"
’Even though Tang Yi saved them, so what?’
From Liuu Tian’s expression, Tang Yi could see her firm and resolute determination. It seemed the patient in urgent need of help was extremely important to her. After a moment of thought, Tang Yi said, "How about this? What does the Jiuli Flower look like? I’ll go find it for you."

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