Chapter 109: Racing Together Into the Blaze!

In recent days, Xiang Nan had been contemplating the idea of bringing in external reinforcements. Although the Eagle Alliance was not short of experts, he had yet to find a suitable candidate.

Meng Qingwan’s cultivation had already reached the third-tier five-star level, and she possessed gravitational powers. Moreover, she was adept at identifying and neutralizing poisons, making her both a formidable attacker and defender.

Within the Lingxu realm, countless bizarre beasts and mutated plants thrived, many of which were venomous.

Having Meng Qingwan on the team would greatly reduce the risk of poisoning among the members, saving them a considerable amount of resurrection herbs.

“I’m willing to join,” Meng Qingwan answered simply and decisively.

“That’s so quick! Don’t you want to think it over? Lingxu is a perilous space. Although the Spirit Martial Association conducts annual assessments to prevent the emergence of transcendent-level beings, nothing is guaranteed. Every year, there are casualties—that’s...” Xiang Nan tried to make Meng Qingwan fully understand the dangers of exploring Lingxu.

“I’ve made up my mind. I want to take part,” she replied firmly.

In her heart, Xiang Nan was already the leader of the Hundred Flowers Alliance. Even if he hadn’t asked, she would have volunteered to enter Lingxu to protect him.

“All right then, you’re in! Spend the next couple of days training and preparing for Lingxu,” Xiang Nan said, confident that this straightforward girl could be trusted with his back.

Beside her, Su Yao whispered into Meng Qingwan’s ear, “Don’t worry, Xiang Nan has prepared plenty of resurrection herbs for this Lingxu expedition. We’ll be safe.”

Meng Qingwan nodded firmly. “I’m not afraid.”

They chatted a little more about precautions for Lingxu before Wu Liang finally emerged.

“What the hell! Who are you?” Xiang Nan stared in shock at Wu Liang as he stepped out of the bathroom.

“Pfft hahahaha... Wu Liang? Is this really Wu Liang?” Su Yao burst into laughter on the sofa.

Even the kind-hearted Meng Qingwan couldn’t help but cover her mouth to stifle a giggle.

The contrast was astonishing.

One moment, Wu Liang had been a rugged tough guy; now, with his pale complexion and delicate features, plus a trendy wave perm that could pass for a Korean heartthrob, he looked entirely different.

Fortunately, the sharpness of his facial lines remained, preserving some of his original toughness.

“How do I look? How do I look? Brother Nan, handsome? Beautiful?” Wu Liang seemed very pleased with his new image, striking poses nonstop.

“Beautiful—damn, too beautiful! Ugh~” Xiang Nan gave a thumbs-up, barely holding back laughter.

“Wu Liang, after knowing you for so long, this is the real you!” Su Yao laughed heartily.

“Hehe, I just realized it myself. Changing to my ideal look instantly boosted my confidence! Thanks to Brother Nan!” Wu Liang pulled out a small mirror from somewhere, admiring himself from all angles.

“No need to thank me, we’re brothers. Let’s go—everyone together to the crematorium!” Xiang Nan said with a grin, suddenly standing up and heading out.

“Huh???” Everyone was dumbfounded. “Crematorium?”

Xiang Nan looked back. “Quit dawdling! Let’s go to the barbecue! I’m starving!”

“Crematorium my ass, you scared me,” Su Yao jumped up from the sofa. “Let’s go!”

But as they reached the door, they were blocked again.

This time, thirty Eagle Alliance experts stood in their way, all cultivated to at least the second-tier five-star level.

“Young master, Steward Xu sent us to protect you. Wherever you go, we go,” the leader named Zhang Lei said respectfully.

Xiang Nan scratched his nose. After this, it was clear that Xu Qingshan truly valued him as a treasure.

In fact, besides cherishing Xiang Nan, Xu Qingshan had also learned from others about recent incidents—how Alice from the Blood Alliance had attempted to ambush him. Luckily, nothing serious happened; otherwise, the Eagle Alliance, just recently revitalized, would have suffered heavy damage.

So Xu Qingshan was uneasy and assigned thirty top experts to guard Xiang Nan.

“All right, since you’re here, let’s all go together to the crematorium,” Xiang Nan waved his hand.

The thirty or so men followed him in a grand procession toward the night market barbecue stalls.

“Last time, because of that venomous woman Alice, our barbecue night was ruined. Tonight, with so many Eagle Alliance brothers here, no one will dare disturb us. We won’t leave until we’re drunk!” Xiang Nan declared with a heroic air.

“Yeah! It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this great!” Su Yao danced excitedly.

“Brother Nan is really the man. Looks like we’re about to take over this entire night market street again!” Wu Liang remarked, remembering how their last gathering had scared the barbecue stall owners stiff. Tonight, they were about to repeat the feat.

“Let’s go, let’s feast!”

As the thirty-plus strong group marched toward the barbecue, several dark shadows slid silently through the night, following behind.

One shadow furrowed his brows. “With this kind of escort, does he really need our protection?”

Another glanced at the group ahead. “The boss’s orders are clear: protect him twenty-four-seven. We just follow orders.”

So the shadows said no more and kept pace.

Soon, the night market barbecue was thick with smoke and steaming heat.

Inside and out, tables were packed with people, beer, edamame, crayfish, and various skewers appearing in endless rotation.

The atmosphere was lively, the aroma intoxicating.

The Eagle Alliance experts all smiled broadly.

They had expected guarding Xiang Nan to be a tough job but found themselves feasting and drinking instead—it was too good to be true.

From now on, anyone involved with Xiang Nan would be eager to join.

While they indulged happily, the dark shadows trailing them were far less pleased.

Not only were they uncomfortable, but their stomachs grumbled with hunger.

Who could bear the smell of food wafting in the dead of night? Even if the body could endure, the stomach rebelled.

“Boss, are you hungry? Should we get something too?” one whispered.

“What are you saying? We have a mission. If anything goes wrong, who’s responsible?”

“I’m just saying it’s driving me crazy.”

“Hungry or not, we have to stay vigilant! The captain said not a single hair must be lost on our watch!”

“Xiang Nan is a lucky kid—he saved the general, and now the captain’s so worried about him. Have you ever seen the captain this tense about anyone else?”

“What? You jealous? Look at that face; no wonder the captain’s smitten.”

“No way, the captain’s that shallow?”

“Ha! Women are all the same—big pigs!”

“Can’t take it anymore, my stomach’s growling, it’s unbearable!”

“The smell of grilled kidneys has my mouth watering.”

“Hold on! Tonight’s a tough fight. Brothers, we must hold fast! Victory belongs to us!”

Though their whispers went unheard, the shifting shadows did not escape the notice of Su Yao, who possessed feline-like abilities.