?"Cut that bastard into pieces!" Liu Ba roared, his voice thick with a savage thirst for blood.

  ?His eyes were turning a deep, venomous red, and a twisted, mocking smile danced on his face. He looked at Su Han like a predator watching a trapped prey that had finally run out of luck.

  ?"I want you to make him suffer first. I want to hear his screams and the sound of his pain in my ears. I want to see him crawling in the dirt with my own eyes!"

  ?The moment Liu Ba gave the order, his four lackeys moved. They drew their jagged, curved blades from their sheaths with a synchronized motion.

  ?Shing!

  ?The cold sound of steel echoed through the damp silence of the forest. They leveled their weapons at Su Han and began to close in, their faces twisted with malice.

  ?But before they could take another step, Captain Zhao Lucy moved like a flash of lightning. She blocked their path, her own sword leveled directly at Liu Ba’s chest.

  ?"Liu Ba! You dare stand in front of me and order an attack on my people?" Lucy’s voice was as cold and sharp as a mountain glacier.

  ?"Not just an attack, you actually claim you will kill him right here? Do you look down on me that much? Do you think I don't even exist?"

  ?Liu Ba’s greasy gaze drifted over Captain Zhao’s face. He let his eyes wander over her body with a filthy, lingering look before shrugging his shoulders dismissively.

  ?"Lucy, didn't you hear how this brat talked to me? He’s practically begging for death. This is between me and him."

  ?He lowered his voice slightly, as if giving her a piece of friendly advice. "I'm telling you, don't get caught in the middle of this mess."

  ?Captain Zhao wrinkled her nose in pure disgust. There was nothing but raw hatred in her eyes for the man standing before her.

  ?"No matter what the dispute is, he is one of mine. I will never give you permission to touch a single hair on his head."

  ?She didn't wait for his reply. "Iron-Fist! Take your positions!" she shouted.

  ?Even though the mercenaries were exhausted and their wounds were still fresh from the last battle, their blood boiled at their captain’s command.

  ?Thud!

  ?The sound of their boots hitting the ground echoed as one. They stepped forward, forming a human wall right in front of Su Han.

  ?Su Han watched everything in silence. Seeing the cold and beautiful Zhao Lucy stand up for him, and seeing the group risk their lives, a strange warmth rose in his chest.

  ?In reality, Su Han wasn't a madman who would provoke a Level 9 expert like Liu Ba right after a life-and-death struggle. He had a very specific—and annoying—reason.

  ?The moment Liu Ba had appeared with his foul intentions, a familiar digital chime had echoed in Su Han’s mind.

  ?Ding!

  ?"Host has received a new mission: Humiliate Liu Ba and his companions and force them to leave empty-handed, or kill them."

  ?The System notification wasn't finished. "Reward: Based on Host's performance. Penalty: If the mission fails, the Host's level will drop by one."

  ?That notification had sent a surge of silent rage through Su Han. The reward was vague, but the penalty was a total nightmare.

  ?He had worked so hard to reach Level 7. Dropping a level meant he would have to spend weeks hunting beasts just to get back to where he was.

  ?He cursed the System a hundred times in his head. "Is this a System or a curse? It forces me into a corner every single time."

  ?But there was no turning back now. Besides, he could see that Liu Ba hadn't come here with good intentions anyway. If he didn't provoke him, things would have turned ugly regardless.

  ?Su Han wasn't overly worried about his own life. With his 'Shadow Steps' technique, he was confident he could escape if things went south.

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  ?But seeing the Iron-Fist Mercenaries stand their ground for him, his conscience wouldn't let him just run away.

  ?He etched their loyalty into his heart. "I won't forget this," he thought, his eyes sharpening as he memorized their faces.

  ?When Liu Ba saw the group standing united against him, his eyes narrowed into slits. A dangerous chill settled over him.

  ?"Lucy, I admire your spirit, but that doesn't mean you can overstep your bounds. I’ll say it one last time—get away from that boy."

  ?Lucy didn't move an inch. Her sword remained steady, her gaze locked onto Liu Ba with unwavering resolve.

  ?Liu Ba glanced at Su Han’s clothes and noticed something. There was no 'Iron Fist' badge on his chest, the mark that every member of the group wore.

  ?"Lucy, this kid doesn't even look like he’s one of yours. He isn't wearing your badge. Why are you risking everything for a stranger?"

  ?Captain Zhao Lucy ground her teeth, her jaw tightening until it hurt. "So what? Even if he isn't a permanent member, he came here with us."

  ?She stepped forward, the tip of her blade vibrating with her suppressed anger. "His safety is my responsibility. We aren't the type of people who abandon our comrades just because a dog starts barking."

  ?"A dog? Hahaha!" Liu Ba let out a crazed, high-pitched laugh.

  ?"So, Lucy... you really intend to fight me for the sake of this nobody?"

  Captain Zhao Lucy narrowed her eyes, a flicker of hesitation crossing her face for a split second. She didn't want a full-blown war with Liu Ba and the Shadow-Blade Sect, but she wasn't about to back down.

  ?She knew making such a powerful enemy was dangerous for her and her team, but leaving Su Han alone was against everything she stood for. Her principles were her life.

  ?The Iron-Fist Mercenary Group lived by a simple code: they stood by those who traveled with them. This unwavering loyalty was the very reason their reputation was so high in the region.

  ?Liu Ba saw her resolve and his face twisted into a mask of pure malice. "Fine! Very well! Then don't blame me for what happens next."

  ?He gestured to his men, his voice dropping into a dark, murderous tone. "Do exactly what I said to that boy. If anyone gets in your way, show them no mercy."

  ?He turned his gaze back to Lucy, his eyes roaming over her with a disgusting, lewd hunger that turned his pupils a dark, bloodshot red.

  ?"As for this beautiful flower... if she doesn't know what's good for her, I'll teach her a lesson she'll never forget tonight." He licked his lips again, his lust visible to everyone.

  ?At their leader's command, the Shadow-Blade thugs lunged forward. They slammed into the Iron-Fist mercenaries with brutal force, and a soul-shaking battle erupted instantly.

  ?Su Han’s eyes turned crimson as he watched them attack. His jaw tightened, his teeth grinding together until they ached. He wasn't going to let these people suffer because of him.

  ?Schwing!

  ?He drew his Wolf-Tooth Dagger, moving without a hint of hesitation or mercy. He wanted to end this quickly, his heart hammering with a cold, focused rage.

  ?The Shadow-Blade thugs thought Su Han was weak—just some lucky brat hiding behind the mercenaries. They didn't even consider him a threat as they moved past him.

  ?"Nine-Time Slash!" Su Han roared in his mind.

  ?He lunged like a coiled spring. Powered by his Invincible Supreme Dragon Bloodline and his Level 7 Body Refining strength, his speed was terrifying.

  ?One Level 8 fighter, who had been completely off-guard, didn't even see the flash of steel. The dagger buried itself deep into his chest, straight through his heart.

  ?Squelch!

  ?The man’s eyes bulged, his mouth hanging open in a silent scream of disbelief. He looked down at the blade, then up at Su Han, unable to comprehend how he was dying so fast.

  ?Ding!

  ?"Congratulations! Host has killed a Level 8 Body Refining warrior. 200 Experience Points and 2000 Silver Coins awarded."

  ?"Host has received a Yellow-Level Middle-Grade Blade."

  ?Su Han ripped the dagger out, a bloody, savage smile spreading across his face. Before the others could even process what had happened, he vanished into the shadows.

  ?Swish!

  ?Using 'Shadow Steps' at full speed, he appeared behind a second target. "Nine-Time Slash!" he hissed, aiming for another instant kill.

  ?The second man was faster and sensed the killing intent. He used a movement technique to twist his body at the last second, trying to dodge the lethal blow.

  ?Rip!

  ?The dagger missed his heart but tore through his arm. A spray of hot, red blood painted the dry leaves as the man screamed in agony.

  ?Su Han didn't give him a second to breathe. He ducked under a desperate counter-attack and slashed again, severing the man’s wounded arm completely.

  ?Squelch!

  ?Another scream ripped through the forest. Su Han was like a bloodthirsty beast, his eyes glowing with a terrifying light as he delivered a final, relentless strike.

  ?The man tried to move, but he was too slow and too weak. Su Han feinted toward his chest, then suddenly shifted the blade upward in a cold, precise movement.

  ?Slice!

  ?The dagger tore through the man's throat. He clutched his neck, gasping for air that wouldn't come, before collapsing into the dirt, stone dead.

  ?A heavy, suffocating silence fell over the battlefield. Two men were dead in seconds. The remaining Shadow-Blade members felt a chill run down their spines.

  ?Liu Ba’s face turned a horrifying shade of purple. "Kill him! Kill that bastard now!" he shrieked, charging toward Su Han himself.

  ?Clang!

  ?Captain Zhao Lucy intercepted him, her sword clashing against his blade in a shower of sparks. She wouldn't let him reach Su Han.

  ?The three remaining thugs, their eyes red with fury and fear, surrounded Su Han. They had just watched their comrades die and were now out for blood.

  ?The other members of the Iron-Fist group were drenched in cold sweat. Their backs and foreheads were soaked as they stood trembling, barely able to keep their footing.

  ?They were matched against experts way above their pay grade. Behind the shield of their captain, they realized that survival in this bloodbath was now a thin hope.

  ?Su Han stood alone against the three remaining killers. The odds were still heavy, and the air was thick with the scent of death.