Chapter Forty-Three: Why Is It You? [Third Update—Seeking Recommendations]

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“I didn’t expect that Brother Qian would encounter such trouble just after joining our mercenary group!”

“Well, it’s not a bad thing. You’ve only just joined our Sand Mercenaries, so this will be a good opportunity to show your strength to everyone in Stone Desert City!”

Rob, the leader of the Sand Mercenaries, looked at the newcomer before him and spoke.

“That’s fine. I believe that as long as I make an appearance, even the City Lord will have to be intimidated!”

The speaker was none other than the Seventh Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect.

After learning that Lin An was surrounded by so many formidable experts, Elder Qian Xu fled the imperial capital and left the Jia Ma Empire. Taking his grandson Qian Qixian with him, he came to this remote and rather harsh Stone Desert City.

He was certain that Lin An and the people of the Misty Cloud Sect would never appear in such a place.

Upon his arrival, he concealed his identity and joined the city’s long-standing Sand Mercenaries as a three-star Dou King.

After mingling with the group and gaining their trust, he planned to kill Rob and take over the Sand Mercenaries himself.

As for revenge, Qian Xu had given up on the idea the moment he left. It was laughable—even Yun Shan, with his Dou Ancestor cultivation, was a peak he could never hope to reach in this lifetime, let alone Lin An, whose strength was completely beyond his ability to provoke.

Now, all he wanted was to quietly build his strength in Stone Desert City. As long as his grandson Qian Qixian could secure a good future, he would be content.

“Qixian, come with me and see what the people of Stone Desert City are like!”

“Yes, Grandfather!”

Qian Qixian answered without hesitation.

In his heart, Lin An was his greatest enemy. He never imagined that Lin An had hidden his strength so deeply—not only was his own talent extraordinary, but he’d even managed to win over Elder Yun Shan without anyone noticing.

If not for Lin An, he would have been the Misty Cloud Sect’s favored prodigy, perhaps even rivaling Nalan Yanran and reaching the pinnacle of his life.

But now, everything had changed.

He was forced to follow his grandfather to this forsaken place.

Though hope seemed slim, if the chance ever arose, he vowed he would kill Lin An with his own hands.

Yet this thought could only remain buried deep inside him.

Before entering Stone Desert City, his grandfather had warned him never to harbor thoughts of revenge—it would never happen in this lifetime.

“To dare provoke the Sand Mercenaries, they must be quite strong. If it’s the Iron Desert Mercenaries, all the better. Perhaps this is the perfect chance to wipe them out of Stone Desert City once and for all!”

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Rob spoke with anticipation.

In fact, if things went well, they might even seize control of the City Lord’s Mansion, turning it into their puppet and allowing the Sand Mercenaries to dominate the city.

Such thoughts had been pure fantasy when he was just a Dou Master, but now, with Qian Xu’s addition, they might really succeed.

“If it really is them, then the Iron Desert Mercenaries may well be finished,” Qian Xu replied calmly, for he truly had the strength to back it up.

Not long after, Qian Xu and Qian Qixian, surrounded by a crowd of mercenaries, arrived at the scene under Qian Xu’s lead.

“Boss, this kid is strange. After hearing the name of the Sand Mercenaries, he wasn’t scared at all. Instead, he demanded to see you, saying that if you came with a sincere attitude, he might spare us. Otherwise…”

“Otherwise what?” Rob sneered in anger.

In all his years leading the Sand Mercenaries, he had never been so slighted.

Judging by the team’s report, this person was just a young man?

“Otherwise, he said the Sand Mercenaries would be wiped out completely!”

“What arrogance!”

“I’d like to see if the one who dares say such things really does have three heads and six arms, or perhaps it’s a prince of the Jia Ma Empire.”

As they spoke, the members ahead began to make way, having heard that even the leader had been drawn into the affair.

“No need to get so worked up, Rob. In Stone Desert City, I refuse to believe there’s anyone with the nerve to challenge the Sand Mercenaries!” Qian Xu said with a smile.

“Of course! Now that you’re with us, Brother Qian, I’m sure it won’t be long before we control the entire city.”

Rob’s confidence was greater than ever.

“Grand… Grand… Grandfather…” At that moment, Qian Qixian suddenly sensed something terribly wrong.

Not far ahead, the calm figure watching him was the very person he and his grandfather had hoped to avoid for a lifetime—Lin An.

Not just Lin An: Elder Yun Shan, and even that seventh-grade alchemist were there as well!

All the color drained from Qian Qixian’s face. He could barely put one foot in front of the other.

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“What are you doing? Stop embarrassing yourself!” Qian Xu was furious at his grandson’s loss of composure.

He’d been so bold and arrogant back at the Misty Cloud Sect, but now, in this remote border town, he was reduced to this pitiful state. Qian Xu was all the more disappointed in Qian Qixian.

“There’s no need to be so angry, Brother Qian. I suspect Nephew Qixian has never even killed anyone, has he? It’s normal to panic the first time you face a situation like this.”

“How about this: once we subdue this person, we’ll let Nephew Qixian deliver the final blow!”

“A warrior… will have to face this sooner or later.”

“Besides, this is Stone Desert City, and we’re mercenaries. Our lives are always on the line. Qixian can’t afford to act this way.”

He was a flower raised in a greenhouse. With his talent, Qian Qixian would be considered a top genius in Stone Desert City.

But Rob was convinced that anyone in his mercenary group with Dou Qi at the ninth stage and a life spent dancing on the edge of a blade could kill Qian Qixian without breaking a sweat.

It was no exaggeration.

After all, someone who had never killed before was unlikely to survive real danger.

“Just as you said, Boss. I’d like to see—”

As they spoke, they walked forward, and after only a few steps, they reached the scene.

Just as he turned his head, the words still on his lips, Qian Xu froze, stunned into silence.

“Brother Qian? What’s wrong?” Rob, striding ahead, quickly noticed that Qian Xu had stopped dead, his face etched with disbelief as if he’d just witnessed something utterly impossible.

For some reason, Rob felt a sudden sense of dread.

Who were these people, to frighten even a Dou King like Qian Xu into such a state?

After a long moment, a hoarse, incredulous scream burst from Qian Xu’s lips: “Why is it you?!”

“Why won’t you leave me alone, even now?”

…