Seeing the hesitation and the internal struggle on Su Han's face, Chen Qian, who was watching him closely, let out a soft chuckle.

  ?He reached into his bag and pulled out a refined wooden box.

  ?He walked over and patted Su Han’s shoulder in a friendly way. "Here, take this, brother."

  ?Su Han felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him.

  ?Chen Qian smiled and said, "It seems Brother Han doesn't keep track of small details when traveling. Tell me, is this your first time on such a journey?"

  ?Su Han felt even more awkward and rubbed his hair with a shy smile.

  ?"Yes... to be honest, it’s my first time," he admitted.

  ?Chen Qian’s eyes widened in total shock.

  ?Even Captain Zhao, standing behind them like a pillar of ice, looked visibly stunned.

  ?Su Han took the box and, with extreme care, placed the Heart-Shattering Black Lotus inside.

  ?He tucked it deep inside his clothes, making sure it stayed secure despite his torn and ragged attire.

  ?He then turned to Captain Zhao and offered a small word of thanks.

  ?Captain Zhao gave a faint, rare smile. "There’s no need for thanks. This is what you earned through your own strength."

  ?Then, her expression shifted. She narrowed her eyes and looked at Su Han with a piercing gaze.

  ?"Su Han, your power is impressive. Would you like to join the Iron-Fist Mercenary Group?"

  ?She continued in her cold but firm tone, "We won't treat you poorly. What do you think?"

  ?Chen Qian’s eyes lit up instantly. He looked at Su Han with high expectations.

  ?He had invited Su Han once before, but back then, he hadn't seen Su Han’s true potential.

  ?At that time, Chen Qian was just a regular member and didn't have much say in the group's leadership.

  ?But now, after seeing Su Han's strength—which felt even greater than his own—he desperately wanted him on the team.

  ?"Yes, Brother Han! Think about it. Joining the group has so many benefits."

  ?"We go on many missions as a group. Traveling and gaining experience in these places boosts our knowledge and power significantly."

  ?"You saw it today. This is your first time, and the Black Wolf Mountain Range is incredibly dangerous."

  ?Chen Qian leaned in, trying to convince him. "With a team, you have several advantages. You can learn about rare herbs and secrets that you’d never find alone."

  ?"I invited you before and you refused, but now even Captain Zhao is asking you herself!"

  ?Before Su Han could even open his mouth to respond, Captain Zhao’s eyebrows shot up.

  ?She turned a sharp, questioning look toward Chen Qian. "What do you mean? You’ve already suggested he join the Iron-Fist Mercenaries before?"

  ?Feeling the weight of her cold stare, a cold sweat broke out on Chen Qian’s forehead.

  ?He waved his hands frantically. "Captain Zhao, it’s not what you think! I asked him, but he refused, so I didn't mention it to you."

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  ?Captain Zhao was staring at him because she was shocked that Su Han had rejected an offer before.

  ?But Chen Qian was terrified, thinking she was judging him for making an invitation without her permission.

  ?The Iron-Fist Mercenary Group was a massive force in the Blue Sky Continent.

  ?Its branches and headquarters were spread across many cities and countries, and its rules were strict.

  ?Only specific people had the authority to approve new members. It wasn't a place where just anyone could walk in.

  ?Seeing Chen Qian’s panic, Captain Zhao’s face softened slightly.

  ?"I only meant... so he really refused?" she muttered.

  ?Then, she turned her sharp, freezing gaze back to Su Han. "Do you truly not want to join?"

  ?Su Han felt the temperature drop under her stare. He broke into a cold sweat and started to stammer.

  ?"It’s... it’s not like that, Captain Zhao. I just mean... I don't want to join any mercenary group right now."

  ?He tried to explain his situation. "I have a lot of things to do, and some personal issues I need to handle first."

  ?Before he could finish, Captain Zhao raised her hand, cutting him off mid-sentence.

  ?"Fine. It’s your choice." Her voice was flat and cold.

  ?She gave him one last freezing glare, let out a sharp "Hmph" through her nose, and turned around.

  ?She walked straight out of the cave without looking back.

  ?Su Han stood there, completely stunned. His mouth hung open as he watched her beautiful back disappear.

  ?"That’s bad..." he cried out internally.

  ?He shook his head in confusion. "What did I even do this time?"

  ?Chen Qian burst out laughing and patted his shoulder again.

  ?"Don't worry about it, brother. The Captain isn't a bad person at heart. She’ll be fine."

  ?Su Han managed a weak smile. "I hope so."

  ?The two of them shared a look, a small smile playing on their lips, and then walked out of the cave, their laughter echoing behind them.

  ?As they emerged into the daylight, the remaining members of the Iron-Fist Mercenary Group and the two clients let out a heavy sigh of relief.

  ?They were stunned to see Su Han alive.

  ?Aside from his clothes being shredded and him looking like a total beggar, he seemed perfectly fine.

  ?The group had expected him to be a pile of crushed bones after he charged into that narrow tunnel following the snake's tail.

  ?The sounds of violent crashes and hissing from inside the cave had convinced everyone that he wouldn't make it out.

  ?Captain Zhao stepped toward her team, her voice returning to its usual authoritative tone.

  ?"The Four-Colored Snake is dead. Its carcass is inside. Move fast and bring it out."

  ?She began assigning tasks immediately. "Extract the gallbladder and the venom sac for the clients. The rest of the materials belong to us."

  ?This mission was worth a staggering 80,000 silver coins just for the delivery of those two specific parts.

  ?But the real treasure was the rest of the beast.

  ?The meat of a Four-Colored Snake was packed with energy, capable of boosting a warrior's physical strength significantly.

  ?Its blood was a vital ingredient for high-grade medicines, and its bones were incredibly dense.

  ?Since it was a High-Grade Yellow-Level beast, its bones could be forged into Middle or even High-Grade Yellow-Level weapons.

  ?Even its fangs were valuable for crafting poison-tipped daggers.

  ?Altogether, the total loot from this single hunt was worth nearly 125,000 silver coins.

  ?The team had started with ten members, but three had been lost.

  ?The Iron-Fist Mercenaries had a rule: they never accepted a mission with fewer than ten people.

  ?To fill the gaps, they had hired three temporary members: Su Han and two others.

  ?One had fallen to the Black Wolves, and the other, Wang Pan, had met his end after his betrayal was uncovered.

  ?Now, only seven people remained—six mercenaries and Su Han.

  ?Su Han remembered the deal: he was promised 5,000 silver coins upon completion of the mission.

  ?But he wouldn't see that money until they reached Ling Shan Town or a major mercenary market.

  ?Mercenaries didn't carry huge bags of silver on dangerous paths; it would only invite more trouble.

  ?The mission wasn't just about the kill—it was about getting the goods and the clients back safely.

  ?In this world, if a mission failed, most low-level groups would still ask for half-pay for their effort.

  ?But the Iron-Fist Mercenary Group was different. They were elite.

  ?Their rule was simple: total success meant a high price, but failure meant they wouldn't take a single copper coin.

  ?Captain Zhao’s confirmation of success brought a wave of joy and relief to the exhausted survivors.

  ?Some thumped their chests, while others slumped to the ground, finally letting the tension leave their muscles.

  ?They knew the journey back would still be treacherous, but for a moment, they could breathe.

  ?Under the Captain’s orders, several men rushed into the narrow cave and dragged the massive snake carcass out.

  ?They began the systematic process of carving the beast, their faces glowing with the prospect of a huge payday.

  ?Everything seemed peaceful for a few heartbeats as they enjoyed this rare moment of calm.

  ?Suddenly, the sound of mocking laughter drifted from behind the distant, thick trees.

  ?The atmosphere shifted instantly.

  ?The relaxed muscles of the warriors tightened like drawn bowstrings.

  ?Panic and confusion flashed in their eyes as they all turned their heads toward the source of the sound.

  ?Who was watching them? And what did they want?