If he hadn't called out, the Dark Lord's oppressive aura might not have intensified. But at that moment, Yun Di was too excited upon seeing Ye Lanshan to notice.
"Dark Lord, let me introduce you. This is Ye Lanshan, head of the Ye family." Shanluo Gongzi said with a beaming smile, presenting Ye Lanshan to the Dark Lord.
However, the Dark Lord's gaze wasn't on Ye Lanshan at all. Instead, it was fixed intently on Shanluo Gongzi, his eyes full of scrutiny.
Though Shanluo appeared calm on the surface, his heart was racing. *Who is this person? Why is his presence so overwhelming? Why is he staring at me like that? Could I have slipped up? No way, I haven't said anything incriminating.*
"I've long heard of the Dark Lord's extraordinary presence. Meeting you today, I see it's truly remarkable." Ye Lanshan subtly redirected the Dark Lord's attention to herself.
"Shanluo, brother, you can stop here. With the Dark Lord's care along the way, I'll return safely. Don't worry." She smiled as she bid Shanluo farewell, her face showing reluctance even as she urged him to go back.
"Then you must be careful." Shanluo, eager to escape the Dark Lord's presence, took her cue and left.
On the road, Yun Di whispered, "Are we really going to the Sunset Mountains with him? I've heard the Dark Lord is moody and ruthless. If we accidentally offend him, we're in real trouble."
Ye Lanshan heard Yun Di's concern and knew that even if they whispered, the Dark Lord would still hear. So she deliberately spoke in a normal tone to reassure him, "Yun Di, you can't say that. The Dark Lord acts with integrity and only kills those who deserve it. He wouldn't harm us over a trivial matter."
Yun Di opened his mouth to say more but, fearing the Dark Lord might overhear, decided to drop it.
The Dark Lord said nothing, but the cold aura around him seemed to ease slightly.
As they walked, an unusual silence hung over the trio. After what felt like an eternity, Ye Lanshan broke the ice: "May I ask what the Dark Lord is seeking in the Sunset Mountains?"
A long pause followed, and just as she thought he wouldn't answer, his icy voice reached her ears: "A phoenix."
"What a coincidence! We're looking for a phoenix too. What a stroke of fate—it's as if the heavens want us to cooperate." Ye Lanshan smiled at his response, revealing their purpose.
Yun Di anxiously nudged her from behind. "How could you tell him that? Didn't you hear him? He's after the phoenix too. Aren't you afraid he'll kill us all?"
"What are you afraid of? We're just going to take some phoenix blood. Whether he wants to kill it or contract it, that's none of our business. He wouldn't kill us over a bit of blood, would he? Besides, if he did, he'd lose two allies. I doubt he can subdue a phoenix alone." Walking behind the Dark Lord, Ye Lanshan noticed he hadn't shown any murderous intent and assumed he truly lacked the strength to handle a phoenix on his own.
But she had no idea that his lack of murderous intent wasn't because of that—it was because his search for the phoenix in the Sunset Mountains was merely an excuse to protect her.
Yun Di clutched his head in despair, thinking, *Oh well, let fate decide. Ye Lanshan is so capable; maybe she's right that the Dark Lord won't kill us over a little phoenix blood.*
"Is this the village at the edge of the Sunset Mountains? It's so desolate." Yun Di stared at the sparse, scattered houses ahead, unable to believe such a famous place could be so barren.
"It used to be bustling here, but unfortunately, many who entered never returned, so it gradually fell into this state." Ye Lanshan recalled Guangming's words to her: "It's beautiful here, but also dangerous."
Despite its fearsome reputation, people still came to the Sunset Mountains for adventure—mercenary groups, for instance, since this was their livelihood. For a bounty, they'd brave even the most perilous places.
A group of people dressed plainly, carrying various weapons, approached. A middle-aged man who seemed to be their leader blocked Ye Lanshan's path, speaking gruffly, "The Sunset Mountains aren't a playground for kids like you. Turn back."
"Is the Sunset Mountains yours?" Ye Lanshan looked up and retorted.
The man paused, startled. "No, it's not."
"Then what right do you have to stop us from entering?" Ye Lanshan knew the man meant well, but she didn't need his concern.
"I... I..." He stammered, at a loss for words.
"Tsk, tsk. Wen Jiuliang is already dead, and you still dare to take jobs here? Should I call you foolish or just plain stupid?" A very arrogant voice came from the left.
Ye Lanshan turned to see a team of people in purple armor, looking highly disciplined, but the one leading them wore a flashy green robe and exuded arrogance.
"You... you dare show your face here? If it weren't for you, how could Jiuliang have died?"
Seeing them, the middle-aged man gripped his blade in fury, itching to charge forward and tear them apart.
"Don't say that. He was overreaching by challenging our Yaolong Mercenary Group and taking on a D-rank mission. How is that our fault?"
"Cheng Ye, if you hadn't schemed to poison Wen Nuan Yang and mocked Wen Jiuliang in the street, would he have taken that D-rank mission?" The middle-aged man was unusually agitated, pointing his weapon at the disciplined team.
"What, want to avenge him? With you lot as you are now? Hah, do you still think you're the number one mercenary group in the world? Look at yourselves, look at your strength—you'd be a laughingstock if word got out." Cheng Ye fanned himself with a folding fan as he spoke sarcastically.
Ye Lanshan and her companions had no interest in this drama and were about to leave, but Cheng Ye turned his hostility toward them.
"Hey, little lady, you won't get far sticking with them. Why not come with me? I'll make sure you live the good life." Cheng Ye hadn't noticed them before, but their movement caught his eye. Seeing Ye Lanshan's beauty, he couldn't resist.
"If you have a problem, take it up with us. They're not part of our mercenary group. Stay away from them." The middle-aged man saw Cheng Ye's lecherous gaze and immediately shouted a warning.
"What makes you think you can stop me?" Cheng Ye approached Ye Lanshan with a sly grin, raising his fan to lift her chin. But the masked, cold-faced man beside her grabbed his neck and slowly lifted him off the ground.