Upon hearing the roar, Little Jiunian suddenly became alert.

"Stop, something’s not right."

Although he had only spent a short time with Little Chichi, Little Jiunian seemed to have a telepathic connection with it, and they understood each other perfectly.

"What’s the matter? Little guy, if you can’t walk, don’t force yourself. The Old Monster can be the bigger person and carry you over. Just don’t delay everyone’s journey."

Jin Wu Old Monster complained.

"Chichi says there’s a problem ahead, we can’t proceed."

Little Jiunian puffed up his bun-like face and said earnestly.

"Pfft, you mean this little thing in your arms? Even if Aguduo claims it’s a Spiritual Beast, at best it’s just a baby beast. If you won’t go, we will."

Jin Wu Old Monster glared and, taking advantage of Little Jiunian’s distraction, grabbed his collar and used Primordial Power to control several of his critical acupoints, forcibly taking him along.

"Let go of me!" Little Jiunian held onto Chichi, shouting incessantly.

Everyone shook their heads helplessly; none of them believed Little Jiunian or Chichi.

For one, Little Jiunian was too young; even they, Martial Artists in the Reincarnation Realm, hadn’t noticed any disturbance, let alone him.

Secondly, this area was a long-used crossing spot for the Heroic Society, and no incident had ever occurred here.

Holding onto Chichi, Little Jiunian found himself immobilized as Jin Wu Old Monster’s Primordial Power controlled several of his acupoints.

Little Jiunian’s eyes darted around, eventually settling on the mountain walls beside them.

He thought he saw something flash across the surface of the mountain wall.

There’s definitely something wrong.

In his urgency, Little Jiunian, without hesitation, exchanged a glance with Little Chichi, and the two, one human and one beast, cried out together, biting Jin Wu Old Monster’s hand.

"Ow, ow!"

Unluckily, they bit right onto Jin Wu Old Monster’s old injury, causing him to scream and immediately release Little Jiunian.

The rest also had to stop in their tracks.

"You little rascal, refusing my kindness! Making me furious! I’ll shut your mouth!"

Jin Wu Old Monster shouted, reaching to catch Little Jiunian like an eagle snatching a chick.

Little Jiunian swiftly bolted away.

"Old Monster, don’t mess around with the kid." Aguduo and several members had no choice but to step forward and stop him.

Suddenly, a rumbling noise broke out, and large rocks fell from the mountain walls on both sides.

These rocks weighed hundreds of pounds, kicking up billowing dust as they tumbled down.

In the blink of an eye, the way ahead was buried by huge stones.

Jin Wu Old Monster and Aguduo, initially furious, suddenly changed their expressions.

If Little Jiunian hadn’t "acted up," they would have been crushed under the rocks and left for dead.

As the rocks rolled down, dozens of figures appeared on the previously empty mountain wall.

"Which bandits dare to cause trouble on the Heroic Society’s turf!"

The members of the Heroic Society felt their hearts sink as they angrily shouted.

"Audacious Heroic Society, you dare defy Jiu Provinces Alliance’s orders, secretly digging tunnels and smuggling! We are here under orders from Master Chen of Jiu Provinces Alliance to arrest you bandits."

As they spoke, those dozens of figures surrounded the nearby hillside.

Dozens of bows and arrows were drawn uniformly, aimed at Little Jiunian, Jin Wu Old Monster, and others.

Jiu Provinces Alliance!

Upon hearing this, the Heroic Society members gasped, knowing trouble was brewing.

Jiu Provinces Alliance tightly controls smuggling, and captured smugglers are punished with death.

But this smuggling route has been secretly maintained for long without being discovered, and the current smuggling scale is small. How was it suddenly uncovered?

These members of the Heroic Society were unaware that the cause lay with Lord Mu, who was earlier soundly humiliated by Ye Lingyue and Di Shen at the Qiulin Ruins.

He’s a petty individual; though he outwardly said he wouldn’t pursue Ye Lingyue and others after getting news from Senior Sister Wan Yun, he secretly reported them to Jiu Provinces Alliance upon returning.

Ye Lingyue is now the new city lord of Huangquan City; Lord Mu lacks the status to harm her, but not the Heroic Society.

The Heroic Society, after all, rose from the underworld, always leaving themselves exposed to exploitation and illegal acts.

It so happened that Lord Mu discovered their smuggling route and placed an ambush here, aiming to give the Heroic Society trouble. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Everyone, the road ahead is blocked, and Jiu Provinces Alliance’s people are numerous; it’s not safe to stay. We need to retreat immediately."

Realizing the other side was well-prepared, the members signaled for a retreat while releasing a distress signal.

"Fools, still dare to call for help! Brothers, leave none alive!"

Instantly, the valley was filled with the sounds of massacre.

Jiu Provinces Alliance’s patrol envoys swarmed in like locusts.

Jin Wu Old Monster and Aguduo shielded Little Jiunian as they retreated.

"That brat can’t fight; let’s catch him first."

Jiu Provinces Alliance’s people were seasoned fighters, immediately spotting Little Jiunian as a burden.

As the words fell, a patrol envoy swung his long sword, which was infused with a pale blue Primordial Power, revealing it to be a Martial Artist cultivating Reincarnation Water Power.

Jin Wu Old Monster dared not underestimate, turning the Golden Crow Fire in his palm into a steady hand force, clashing with the long sword.

Clang—

A loud sound rang out as both were pushed back several steps.

A flash of red passed over Jin Wu Old Monster’s face, and a small cut appeared on his palm.

The cut was tinged with a dark red.

"Despicable, smearing poison on your sword! This is what you call righteousness in the Ancient Nine Provinces Continent?"

Jin Wu Old Monster spat a hefty glob.

"Why talk righteousness with smugglers like you."

The one fighting Jin Wu Old Monster was evidently the head of these patrol envoys, glancing maliciously at Little Jiunian and Aguduo with intent after landing the strike.

Seeing Aguduo’s beauty and Little Jiunian’s handsome and fair appearance, he suddenly harbored vile intentions.

"Kill all the others; capture the woman for me as my seventh concubine, and sell the kid to slavers."

Suddenly, he reached out towards Little Jiunian.

"Aguduo, take Little Jiunian and run."

Jin Wu Old Monster couldn’t believe Jiu Provinces Alliance would be so base.

Outnumbered and outmatched in strength, continuing like this would be dire for them.

He shouted, charging forward, signaling Aguduo to take Little Jiunian and flee.

The Heroic Society members also shouted.

"Miss Aguduo, quickly take Young Master Lan and escape."

With tears in her eyes, Aguduo scooped up Little Jiunian, killed one of the attackers, forcefully breaking through, and sprinted away.

Behind her, the sounds of slaughter echoed.

"I’ll chase the woman and the boy."

Seeing the two "fat sheep" getting away, the patrol envoy wouldn’t let it rest and, with a wave, beckoned four or five envoys to give chase.