Chapter 6: How Do You Want to Die?

As Yiluo approached, she saw clearly what was happening.

In the middle of the forest path, a burly middle-aged man and two young men were violently kicking and punching a small cat-eared girl.

Their mouths spewed filthy curses that grated sharply on Yiluo’s ears.

“Try running again! I dare you!”

“*******!”

“You think you’re still living in that trashy viscount’s mansion?”

“We feed you and you think you’re some noble lady?”

“Don’t think being worth a few coins makes you special! Today I’m gonna see how tough a demon really is!”

The girl being beaten looked about twelve or thirteen.

Extremely thin.

She had a small tail, orange hair, a pair of upright cat ears, and on her forehead—hidden in her bangs—a tiny horn.

Cat ears and a horn.
A demon.

After seeing many strange beings already, Yiluo wasn’t surprised.

From the men’s words, the girl’s identity was clear.

She had served in a viscount’s mansion.

Now she was merchandise.

She tried to escape and was beaten when caught.

Yiluo’s gaze grew indifferent.

As a former agent, softness was forbidden.

Softness meant death.

Helping strangers only created trouble.

Saving everyone who was bullied would turn her into a walking charity center.

And in this world, non-human races being treated as goods was normal.

The cat-eared girl curled up, covering her head.

Her maid outfit was torn, her face covered in dirt, her empty eyes staring vaguely toward Yiluo.

Yiluo had a thousand reasons to ignore her.

She could just walk away.

But—

Zou’er’s face flashed in her mind.

A sudden ache pierced her chest.

In another three or four years, Zou’er would be this age…

“Hey. Trash. Stop it. You’re blocking Grandpa’s way. Move.”

Yiluo shouted fiercely.

Grandpa wasn’t an agent anymore.

Grandpa was going to handle this.

The three men froze and turned around angrily.

“Where did this brat come from? If I don’t torture you so you can’t live or die, I’ll write my name backward!”

The yellow-haired youth drew his sword and charged, but the muscular middle-aged man grabbed him.

“Don’t act rashly.”

He was clearly the leader.
His one command halted yellow-hair.

The middle-aged man examined Yiluo.

Black cloak, sword wrapped, a pretty face.

She rode a healthy, high-tier mount.

But he sensed no warrior aura.

A strong expert? Impossible.

No girl this age could hide her aura from Oak, captain of the Fischer Mercenary Group.

Conclusion:
A noble girl acting righteous.

“Young lady,” he said politely, “I am Oak, captain of the Fischer Mercenary Group.
This s*ave belongs to us and attempted to escape.
If disciplining her disturbed you, I apologize.”

“Boss! You—”

“Hol, listen to the boss.”

Yellow-hair was upset, but the other young man held him back.

“If I may know your name, young miss, our mercenary group is escorting a caravan nearby.
These mountains are dangerous.
We can protect you.”

Oak smiled politely.

If her background wasn’t strong, he’d kidnap and sell her.

Maybe “enjoy” her first.

His smile was fake.

To Yiluo, it was laughably bad acting.

“Trash. Why the hell should Grandpa tell you Grandpa’s name?”

“You deserve it?
You deserve shit.”

Yiluo normally spoke politely, but acting like an arrogant bastard felt wonderful.

Oak never expected such insult.

His face turned pig-liver purple.

“Fine! You refuse a toast, then take punishment! Capture her alive! I’ll torture her myself!”

Background?
In the wilderness?
Who cared now?

Oak drew his blade.

The two young men charged.

“Don’t run, okay? Or you’ll die.”

Yiluo jumped lightly off TuoTuo.

She patted its neck and walked calmly toward the attackers.

“Sigh… Grandpa isn’t good at frontal combat.”

Before she finished speaking, yellow-hair reached her and slashed downward with his sword.

Yiluo simply sidestepped.

CLANG.

The sword embedded three inches deep into the ground.

“Are you always this slow?
Eat too many turtles and turned into one?”

“Grandpa says—crawl.”

Yiluo lightly kicked his ankle.

The force wasn’t strong, but with his momentum he toppled forward.

He tried getting up—
but pain shot through his wrist.

He collapsed again.

CRACK.

“AAAHHH!”

After knocking him down, Yiluo stomped his wrist, breaking it completely.

His scream echoed in the forest.

The second youth arrived, swinging horizontally to cut her waist.

Too slow.
Too many openings.

Yiluo stepped inward and flicked her forearm against his wrist.

“Ugh!”

“AAAH!”

His hand went numb.
The sword flew—
and stabbed yellow-hair in the back.

Two screams merged.

Yiluo’s elbow smashed into the second youth’s chest.

THUD.

He couldn’t make a sound.

She kicked his ankle—
sending him falling onto yellow-hair.

Yiluo spun lightly, cloak fluttering.

She raised her leg and stomped down on the sword hilt.

SWISH.

The blade pierced through both men.

Blood spread around them.

Yiluo stepped back casually.

She turned to Oak and smiled.

“Trash.
How do you want to die?”