Death... and me

Even though Rean complimented all the guys, he couldn’t help but think, ‘These guys totally look like bandits… oh well.’

“Ahem… We’re in need of information about this place. Can anyone here tell me where we are and where the closest city is?” Rean asked.

The leader of the group could only step forward to talk in response. “Sir, you are in the South Miglia Desert. As for the closest city, it is located five days of sand scorpion ride to the north-northwest.”

Rean nodded, satisfied. “Is that so? In that case, let me have one of your members show me the way to it. Who’s willing to come?”

Immediately, everyone took a few steps back. No one wanted to get involved with those monsters in front of them.

Seeing that, Rean pondered over it a bit and looked at the Stage Four Sand Scorpion they captured. “The one who shows us the way can have this scorpion in the end. That’s why you’re all here, right?”

The leader of the group couldn’t help but nod, saying, “That’s correct. We have been following this scorpion for several days, trying to capture it. Would you really give it to us if someone shows you the way?”

Rean smiled after hearing that. “Of course. Kentucky, put it down. Just make sure to knock the scorpion out as well. Otherwise, these guys will have some trouble controlling it with their cultivations.”

Kentucky nodded and hit the head of the scorpion with his beak. The scorpion immediately lost its consciousness because of that but didn’t suffer any big damage. With enough rest, it would definitely recover in a few days.

The leader didn’t expect that their group would be able to get the scorpion that easily. They had prepared many traps for that thing, and even with that, they weren’t sure if everything would work out or not. “Thank you, sir.”

Soon after, the leader of that group looked at one of his subordinates. “Falangia, you guide them to Dry Sky City.”

The female cultivator was taken aback. “What?! Me?!” Obviously, the girl wasn’t the least bit willing to be the sacrifice for that.

However, the leader was adamant. “Or you do that, or I can use you to feed our new Double Pincer Sand Scorpion King. Which one is better?”

Double Pincer Sand Scorpion King? Rean then looked at the scorpions the group was riding, and they were all Stage One or Two scorpions. As for the one Kentucky captured, not only was it Stage Four, it had a few different traits compared to the others. ‘I see… if they tame this scorpion, it will be a great help to their own sand scorpions. The presence of a king would boost the lower-level scorpions’ powers.’

The female called Falagia obviously knew that the leader wasn’t kidding. The guy wasn’t exactly known for being merciful. “Fi-fine…”

Rean then used his Divine Soul Power to grab the woman and put her on Kentucky’s back. Seeing that, the other guys showed a knowing smile. It was as if they expected Rean and Roan to do something to her… and the female thought the same thing.

Rean and Roan looked at each other but didn’t say anything. As long as she pointed the city’s direction correctly, they would simply let her go once they arrived.

Kentucky then took flight and shot into the distance, leaving the group of bandits behind.

*Ahhhhh!*

However, the girl almost got thrown out of Kentucky’s back and had to hold onto his feathers as tight as possible, or she would definitely fall. Only then did Kentucky pay attention to the girl’s cultivation. “Oops, I didn’t notice she was only at the Initial Stage of the Core Formation Realm.” As soon as Kentucky said that, he released his Divine Energy and created a barrier that shielded the girl against the strong winds. Only then did the female bandit stabilize herself on Kentucky’s back. Of course, Rean and Roan didn’t need that. Such a thing could barely bother the two at all.

Rean then laughed before patting the girl’s shoulder, saying, “Hahaha! It seems like your friends back there don’t care too much about you, huh?”

The girl bitterly smiled and nodded. “It has always been like this, and I’m no different. Since I was the weakest link, the best was to use me as a sacrifice. I would have done the same thing in that idiot’s place.”

Rean was surprised that the woman admitted that so openly. “Seems like you have quite an eventful life.”

Falangia sighed and then pointed in a certain direction. “Go through this route. It will avoid the sandstorm along the way, which should allow you guys to arrive faster.”

She wasn’t surprised that Kentucky talked, though. At the very least, she knew that Transition Realm demon beasts could speak, and she thought Kentucky was one of such demon beasts. That also confirmed how much stronger this group was compared to her. Well, Kentucky was still one stage away from the Transition Realm, though.

“You heard her, Kentucky. A sandstorm would barely affect your speed at all, but it’s better to be safe than sorry,” Roan said, wanting to arrive as fast as possible.

Roan then looked at the girl, who seemed quite nervous. “We won’t kill you as long as you do your service well.”

Falangia was taken aback for a moment but nodded in the end. “Th-thank you…” Soon after, she started to take her clothes off… In the end, she thought she would have to please the two guys if she wanted to survive. That’s the service she thought Roan was talking about.

Roan narrowed his eyes seeing that, asking, “What are you doing?”

Rean shrugged his shoulder while the girl got completely naked. “Can’t you see where we are? This is a desert. Since Kentucky is blocking the wind, she’s probably feeling a bit too hot. Naturally, she had to take her clothes off.”

Roan had to admit Rean had a point. “That makes sense…”

As for Falangia, she looked at the two with a weird expression. ‘Who the hell would get naked just because they’re feeling hot? I thought you wanted me to serve you. Isn’t it all about sex?’

Unfortunately for her, Rean and Roan showed no interest whatsoever, making Falangia feel like an idiot for taking her clothes off.