Three Men Make a Tiger

"Guild Master, did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"That thing everyone in town has been going crazy about lately."

"Which thing?"

"Just that thing."

"Which thing?!"

"Just... just that thing!"

"Just just just just what the fuck thing?! God damn it, did you leave your fucking tongue at home?"

Slap!

Yuanyang Town, third floor of the Mercenary Association.

Association Guild Master Mu Lei slapped the reporting mercenary to the ground, pointing at his nose and cursing, "You motherfucker, speak human to me! Stop speaking in riddles!"

The mercenary covered his red and swollen face, saying aggrievedly:

"It's just that matter everyone in town is talking about."

"You motherfucker!"

Seeing him still speaking in riddles, Mu Lei was so furious he grabbed the chair from under his butt and was about to smash it down hard to let him know the consequences of speaking in riddles.

"No, no, no! Guild Master, calm down, calm down."

The mercenary hurriedly waved his hands, scurrying away with his head in his hands. He looked up with a serious face:

"What I want to say is exactly that matter."

"The whole town is going crazy over it."

"Motherfucker!"

The chair Mu Lei had just put down was raised again, and with a crash, he smashed it down.

Bang!

"Ah!!!"

The mercenary let out a miserable shriek, directly sent flying by the smash, crashing heavily into the wall.

Leaning against the wall, he struggled to prop himself up.

"Guild Master, I am utterly loyal... why would you?"

Seeing this bastard still speaking in riddles, Mu Lei instantly appeared in front of him and swung the chair down again.

"I'll give you speaking in riddles!"

"I'll give you utter loyalty!"

"I'll give you 'that matter'!"

"Ah!!"

Screams echoed continuously as wood splinters flew everywhere.

Mu Li, walking in from outside, saw this scene and was a bit dumbfounded, at a loss for what to do.

"Father, what is the meaning of this?"

"Hmm?"

Mu Lei looked up, and seeing it was his own son coming over, he stopped his foot from kicking the mercenary again.

"This guy is speaking in riddles with me."

"I asked him what it was, and he just kept saying it's 'that matter', and that the whole town is talking about it."

"The town is talking about it?"

Mu Li paused, then smiled. "Oh, I know, it's that matter, right? It's been spreading since a few days ago."

Mu Lei: "............"

He squeezed the remaining half of the chair leg in his hand, hesitated for a moment, and decided to let it go. No matter what, it was his biological son; it wouldn't be good to break him.

"Then tell me, what is 'that matter'?"

"It's the matter everyone in town is secretly talking about. They say that in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, in the past..." Mu Li stopped mid-sentence, his eyes locked onto the chair leg less than half an inch from his cheek, cold sweat instantly pouring down.

"Father, Father, what is the meaning of this?"

"Nothing."

Mu Lei put away the chair leg and waved his hand. "Getting old, I just like to stretch my bones and muscles. You continue."

Mu Li continued stuttering, "They say that in the Magical Beast Mountain Range not far from our town, a supreme expert fell in the past, leaving behind quite a few inheritances and treasures."

"Even the beggars on the street know about this."

"A supreme expert fell?"

Mu Lei snorted coldly, somewhat disdainful.

"I've stayed here for so long and never heard any story about a supreme expert falling. How come it's spreading so wildly these past few days? I bet it's just those mercenaries drinking too much and spreading random rumors."

"You actually believe this kind of rumor?"

"Uh.........."

Hearing this, Mu Li scratched his head. "Originally I didn't believe it either, but the problem is... it seems to be true, Father."

"Hmm?"

Mu Lei frowned. "Why do you say that?"

"Do you know Xia Hanmo, Father?"

"How could I not know? That bitch who always treats those mercenaries for free. She has no real skills but insists on stealing my business. If the townspeople weren't protecting her, I would have killed her long ago."

"Right, right, right, that's her."

Mu Li hurriedly nodded. "Through my year-round observation, every time that woman goes to the Magical Beast Mountain Range to gather herbs, she never gathers in just one place. Moreover, she secretly takes something out behind people's backs, looking around as if she's searching for some terrain."

"So I suspect..."

"You suspect she knew about this ruin long ago and even has a treasure map in her hands?"

"Exactly!"

Mu Li clapped his hands. "Especially the day before yesterday, Xia Hanmo went into the mountains alone to gather herbs, but she hasn't returned even today. I suspect she realized the news had leaked, so she went ahead alone to scout the way."

"You say it so convincingly, it really does sound like it."

Mu Lei stroked his chin.

He suddenly remembered that yesterday, several luxuriously dressed cultivators had suddenly arrived in town. At a glance, they were disciples of a major sect. At the time, he was curious what disciples of such major sects were doing here.

"That's not right!"

He suddenly looked up, staring at his foolish son. "Why are you staring at Xia Hanmo for no reason? Do you like her?"

"Uh..."

Mu Li scratched his head and said earnestly, "Father, I truly like Xia Hanmo. Besides, isn't your son also thinking of our Mercenary Association? As long as I marry Xia Hanmo, not only will those mercenaries lose their free clinic, but we will also gain an extra physician on our side. It's the best of both worlds."

"Do you really like her?"

Mu Lei frowned, pointing at him. "You just lust after her body, you're despicable!"

"Wait!"

"Since you knew she went out alone, such a good opportunity, why didn't you take the chance to capture her?"

"Well about that," speaking of this made Mu Li angry, "that woman ran too fast, and even jumped directly into the river halfway. Your son had a moment of inattention and lost track of her..."

"Anyway, Father, I suspect there really are ruins in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. There is no water without a source in this world; otherwise, why hasn't Xia Hanmo returned by now?"

"Why did those sect disciples suddenly come to the town?"

"There must be profit to be made!"

Mu Lei frowned, thinking carefully.

No.

He still felt something wasn't right.

"Do you think it's possible that Xia Hanmo hasn't returned yet simply because she was alone in the Magical Beast Mountain Range and has already been bitten to death by magical beasts? And those sect disciples came here simply wanting to train?"

"It's just a coincidence."

Right at the moment his voice fell.

Boom!

A blinding light tore through the night sky, illuminating the entire mountain range. Immediately following was an earth-shattering boom.

Mu Lei abruptly looked up out the window.

There, a phantom stood quietly, blooming with radiant light, shining over who knows how many thousands of miles.

Everyone in Yuanyang Town could see it.

At this moment, he had no choice but to believe it.

Without any hesitation, Mu Lei waved his large hand.

"Send down the order, depart with me immediately!"

"Yes!"

Mu Li cupped his hands and hurriedly walked out the door.

Before long, the men and horses were assembled. The entire town was already bustling with noise and excitement, and many people had already taken a step ahead.

Seeing so many people heading out, Mu Lei's last trace of doubt was also dispelled. It couldn't be that someone had started spreading rumors long ago to set up a trap, right? Then how could Xia Hanmo's treasure map be explained?

Could someone have planned years in advance just to play a trick on him?

Thinking about it, it was impossible.

"Let's go!"

With his command, the forces of the Mercenary Association marched in a massive, sweeping formation toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Meanwhile, on a street not far away.

Ye Shu was tossing ten copper coins into a beggar's bowl.

"Th-thank you!"

The beggar looked up, expressing his gratitude over and over.

Xia Hanmo stood behind him. Watching the continuously departing crowd, her brow was furrowed in sheer disbelief. "They were actually fooled into leaving by you."

"You stand at a higher vantage point, so naturally, you see the whole picture."

Ye Shu stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze indifferent.

"But from the other party's position, he has no idea that this is a scheme directed at him, nor does he know my true purpose."

"The ruins are real, and the treasure map is real."

"The source of the information was provided by his own trusted people."

"If one person claims it, it is false. If two people claim it, it is doubtful. But if three people claim it, it becomes the truth. Once or twice might be dismissed, but never a third time."

"This is the principle of three men making a tiger."