Chapter 111: I Want to Kill Him for Revenge

Duan Geng himself was drenched in cold sweat, soaking through his clothes.

“I can’t die. I must not die,” he repeated frantically in his mind.

Suddenly, his eyes brightened as he glanced at the weapon at his waist.

“I’ve got it!”

He hurriedly unfastened the weapon and ran over.

“Sir, this weapon is forged from refined iron. It cost thirty-seven thousand taels at the time. I’ll use it to cover the thirty-one thousand taels I owe.”

Xiao Yang glanced down.

The refined iron blade was well-maintained, still worth nineteen thousand taels if sold back.

“Alright, you may go,” he said, looking at Duan Geng, knowing that this man had already reached his limit.

A well-suited weapon greatly amplified the strength of a grand martial artist.

Selling his weapon meant he was truly at the end of his rope.

“Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!” Duan Geng bowed three times without even looking back, fearing Xiao Yang would call him back.

The other members of the Iron Wolf Mercenary Group watched on helplessly.

Many began to weep bitterly.

They simply didn’t have the money.

“Move quickly. The rules are clear: if you have money, pay; if not, give your life.”

Xiao Yang urged sharply.

The remaining members obediently produced all their assets.

Three grand martial artists, after pawning their weapons, each had at least a hundred thousand taels and left successfully.

But the rest weren’t so fortunate.

Most had spent their money on cultivation or indulgences.

Out of nineteen men, only three could produce thirty thousand taels; the rest came up with only a few thousand.

Xiao Yang’s face darkened.

Even combined, they fell short of a hundred thousand taels.

“How do you want to die?”

Missing a mere one or two thousand taels might be tolerable, but lacking over twenty thousand was a huge loss he could not accept.

Suddenly, the Iron Wolf mercenaries dropped to their knees in unison.

“Please spare us, sir! I have an eighty-year-old mother and hungry children to care for—please…”

Before the plea could finish, Xiao Yang kicked the man away, sending him flying unconscious.

“Heh! Spare me the nonsense.”

A murderous aura erupted from Xiao Yang’s body, causing the remaining mercenaries to tremble and press themselves to the ground, too afraid to look up.

“This is your last chance. If you can’t produce something satisfactory, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

“Sir, we truly have no money left.”

“Sir, if necessary, we can sign an IOU.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yang nearly lost his temper, wanting to slap the speaker.

An IOU? He was robbing them, yet they had the nerve to suggest such a thing. Could they show some respect for his profession?

Without Xiao Yang saying another word, everyone understood his meaning immediately: IOUs were out of the question.

“Fine! Close your eyes. I’ll send you on your way.”

Raising his hand, Xiao Yang was ready to strike.

At that moment, a gaunt, skinny youth stood up.

“Great sir, I have a map. Perhaps it can save my life.”

“Bring it here.”

Xiao Yang raised an eyebrow, sensing the map might be valuable.

The youth hurried over and pulled a sheepskin scroll from his trousers.

Xiao Yang winced—he didn’t want to touch it with his hands.

The youth smiled awkwardly.

As a mere errand boy in the Iron Wolf Mercenary Group, any valuable items had long been claimed by the higher-ups. What remained were scraps no one wanted.

He cautiously unrolled the map for Xiao Yang.

A glance revealed mountains and rivers—so much so that Xiao Yang could not make sense of it.

Yet, he sensed the item held great significance. It was likely something precious.

“Where did you get this map?”

The skinny youth quickly explained.

“Sir, I pulled this map from the belly of a demon beast. I thought the drawing was good, so I kept it.”

Xiao Yang nodded thoughtfully.

This seemed to be more than just a scrap.

He decided to take a closer look when he had time, though he admitted he couldn’t read it himself.

“Sir, I want to follow you.”

Suddenly, the youth knelt and bowed his head repeatedly, startling Xiao Yang.

“Little brother, what are you thinking?”

Xiao Yang rolled his eyes.

With that frail body, forget following him; a gust of wind could probably blow the boy away.

The youth seemed aware of his weakness and quickly kowtowed again.

“Sir, though I’m skinny, I have strength. And I know how to read maps.”

At the mention of maps, Xiao Yang’s eyes brightened.

He scrutinized the boy again.

Maps in the Spirit Martial Continent were scarce and difficult to understand.

If Xiao Yang himself couldn’t decipher them, what hope did a scrawny kid have?

“Sir, I truly know this place. It’s deep within the Demon Beast Wilderness. I can lead you there.”

“Think carefully. If you lie to me, the consequences will be severe.”

Xiao Yang released his aura, pressing down on the youth.

The boy’s face turned pale but he gritted his teeth and endured, which earned Xiao Yang’s respect.

“Sir! If I, Zhen Zhuang, speak a single lie, may I be pierced by ten thousand arrows and struck by five thunderbolts from heaven.”

“What I say, heaven and earth bear witness!”

Xiao Yang finally nodded.

Oaths in this world were not made lightly.

Failing them might not bring actual punishment, but heavenly lightning was no joke.

After considering, Xiao Yang decided to keep him.

Where else would he find someone who understood maps?

“Alright, you can stay for now.”

Hearing this, Zhen Zhuang was so overjoyed he kowtowed three times in rapid succession.

“Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!”

“Get up.”

Seeing the boy still kneeling, Xiao Yang motioned him to rise, but Zhen Zhuang refused.

“Sir, there’s someone I want to kill. I ask you to grant me this favor.”

Xiao Yang’s brow furrowed sharply.

His first thought: this boy’s sense of purpose was too strong.

Just clinging to a powerful backer and already demanding repayment.

“You want to kill someone? Why?”

Xiao Yang restrained himself and listened.

Zhen Zhuang strode into the midst of the Iron Wolf mercenaries, pulling out a middle-aged man.

“Zhen Zhuang, you bastard! What do you want?”

The man shouted in panic, utterly taken aback to find himself targeted.

“To kill you, of course.”

“You can’t do this! I’m your sworn father.”

The man tried to break free, but no matter how hard he struggled, he could not escape Zhen Zhuang’s gaunt grip.

The youth slammed him to the ground.

Then knelt and bowed deeply three times.

“Sir, this man killed three hundred and eight members of my family. I want to avenge them.”

The man’s face turned pale, eyes flickering with fear.

But he quickly regained his composure and began to plead.

“Sir, don’t listen to this boy’s lies. I am a good man! Besides, he’s an ungrateful wretch.”

“Lies!”

Zhen Zhuang sprang up, ready to kill him.

“Stop. Let him speak.”

Xiao Yang interrupted.