Night by night, the vast desert gradually enveloped in darkness. High above, on the distant horizon, the moon hung like a silver plate, pouring down its gentle, cool radiance in an endless cascade. Sparse in human presence, the desert was unusually alive at one hilltop, where a few flickering flames and bustling voices broke the stillness and chill. The sounds carried through, softening the surrounding silence and cold. As Xiao Yan was stirring the fire, a sudden laugh rang out, and immediately a wine sack flew toward him. With a swift reach, he caught it in his hands and looked up at Han Chong, who was now steaming with the scent of wine, giving him a warm nod. "Thank you, Brother Han," he said. Then, he raised the sack and took a hearty swig. The sharp, warming sensation surged through his belly, instantly giving his cheeks a rosy hue. "Haha, Xiao Yan, you're quite the find! There's real masculine flair in you," the surrounding Han family guards remarked, smiling as they watched him down half the sack of strong wine. Xiao Yan smiled at the group, about to speak, when all at once the central tent was flung open, revealing a stunning figure under the moonlight—none other than Han Xue. At this moment, Han Xue seemed to have just bathed, her smooth, slightly damp hair flowing freely over her shoulders, adding a touch of feminine grace that caused the younger members of the Han family guards to feel their hearts race. As she stepped out of the tent, she casually glanced around before settling down near a fire a short distance from Xiao Yan and the others. Drawing out her dagger, she carefully sliced a piece of roasted meat from the rack and slowly placed it into her mouth, chewing and savoring it with deliberate elegance. Against the more rustic, bite-and-go atmosphere of the others, her refined manner stood out distinctly—yet it was undeniable that Han Xue was truly beautiful and captivating at this moment. After her arrival, Han Chong and the others naturally lowered their voices, quickly suppressing the more meaty jokes they had been about to share. Xiao Yan slightly turned his head, gazing at Han Xue, whose gentle, feminine grace under the glow of the fire light seemed to contrast with her daytime sternness and coldness. "Hehe, is it that you've been captivated by the lady?" As Xiao Yan was intently watching Han Xue, Han Chong suddenly stepped forward, chuckling softly. Xiao Yan nodded slightly. Though he didn't know exactly how strong the Han family was, he did know that as the Han family's daughter, Han Xue naturally held a much higher status than any of these guards. Therefore, it was likely that the younger guards who harbored affection for her would end up quietly disappointed. Han Xue wasn't particularly hungry, so after only a short while, she stood up, her gaze sweeping across the camp before settling on Han Chong. She spoke softly, "The night watchmen should avoid alcohol; everyone else should drink sparingly. We'll be passing through Xiameng's territory tomorrow—everyone should stay alert." With that, she didn't linger any longer, moved gracefully toward her tent, and gently extinguished the lamps inside. Han Chong lifted the wine jar, took a hearty gulp, then threw it aside, stood up, and spoke firmly. Hearing Han Chong's voice, everyone also set down their wine bags and dispersed as instructed, reinforcing the camp's defenses and establishing hidden sentries. Observing the camp now growing steadily more serious, Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, and only after a moment did he rise to ask, "Brother Han, what about the demonic snake Xiamang?" "Heard that, Han Chong smiled faintly and said, 'Tomorrow, we'll pass through a place called Wan She Xia, which is the territory of a mythical serpent named Xia Mang. Though Xia Mang has only just reached the Dou Huang level, even some Dou Huang peak-level warriors hesitate to engage him. As a serpent spirit, he commands all the venomous snakes of four stages and below within Wan She Xia, thus maintaining control there for years. Every merchant caravan that passes through must pay a substantial toll to proceed smoothly. If they refuse, it's unlikely they'll make it out alive.' 'A serpent at the Dou Huang level? Remarkably intelligent, even managing to become a king of the mountains and a robber of trade routes?' Xiang Yan said, his expression somewhat puzzled. 'Most six-stage beasts possess strong intelligence. Moreover, Xia Mang has consumed an immortal serpent pill, allowing him to shed his serpentine form. His intelligence surpasses that of most other six-stage beasts.' Han Chong explained." "The Ape-Transformation Pill? Really, it can transform wild beasts into humanoid forms? I thought only the Transformation Pill had that effect—especially the seventh-rank one..." Xiang Yan exclaimed in astonishment. "The Ape-Transformation Pill is actually only of sixth rank. Its effects are indeed similar to those of the Transformation Pill, though they are more limited and significantly weaker. This pill is especially popular among certain wild beast clans..." Han Chong explained. Upon hearing this, Xiang Yan finally exhaled in relief and began to understand the concerns of Han Xue and the others. After all, in their caravan, the strongest member, Han Xue, was only at the Battle King level—far behind Xia Mang. "I hope Xia Mang doesn't demand too much tomorrow. Ah, Xiang Yan, you go rest now. I still need to instruct them to strengthen our defenses and get everything ready." Han Chong sighed, then patted Xiang Yan on the shoulder before turning to head toward the camp's outer perimeter. Xiao Yan gazed at the now much quieter tent, shook his head in resignation, and turned to return to his own. Upon reaching his tent, he did not immediately fall asleep. Instead, he retrieved a vial of medicinal liquid he had used during his cultivation in the molten world within the inner courtyard, and applied it generously over his body. The cool sensation greatly alleviated the sharp pains within him, and Xiao Yan could feel a gentle, warm energy slowly seeping through his skin and gradually integrating into his body. "Within a few days, the injuries within my body should begin to heal steadily, at which point I will be able to absorb and sustain qi flow." Feeling the changes within himself, Xiao Yan's face relaxed considerably. He once again donned the cotton robe over his body, then settled into a meditative posture, entering his cultivation state, carefully drawing upon the energies of heaven and earth to heal the injuries to his body... Setting down the tent at the vehicle, Xiao Yan had just turned around when a delicate fragrance drifted past him. He paused, and a pair of beautiful eyes swept over him, their voice calm and composed: "You stay in the vehicle today. Don't come out." With those words, she didn't give Xiao Yan a chance to respond, simply returning to her own vehicle and then issuing a striking, beautiful command. "Move out—form the procession!"