The Life of Lust Demon

Chapter 73 Betrayal in Chillwater Valley

Anos and his group soon caught up to the team ahead. The others had just finished battling a pack of beasts and turned to face Anos and his companions, sizing them up.

The other team consisted of eight people, bringing the total to fourteen now that both groups stood together.

"Any of them look familiar?" Zoey murmured to Oscar beside her.

Oscar shook her head slightly. "No one I recognize. But that's not unusual. Not everyone runs in the same circles."

Anos kept his eyes on the group ahead. "If they're strangers, let's tread carefully."

Zoey glanced at him and replied, "Right. Let's keep moving."

The group ahead stopped, watching as Anos and his companions approached, clearly waiting for them. The tension thickened in the air as both sides observed one another with guarded expressions.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Didn't expect to run into fellow warriors out here in Chillwater Valley. Always a surprise," Bodhi greeted, stepping forward with a courteous nod as the group's de facto leader.

Anos took a quick look over the opposing team. Six men and Two Women, seasoned mercenaries who appeared to be likely in their late twenties or early thirties. Compared to Bodhi's team, they had an aura of experience that was hard to ignore.

"Likewise," a broad-shouldered man in his thirties responded with a polite nod.

Bodhi held up the insignia of the The Iron Reavers Group. "We're with the The Iron Reavers Group from Flower City. I'm Bodhi, the vice leader. And you are...?" He trailed off, subtly probing for more information. His companions stayed alert, quietly assessing the other group.

The burly man nodded in return. "James, leader of the Bloodsworn Mercenary Group," he replied, showing his own badge in confirmation. "A pleasure to meet your team."

Seeing this, everyone heaved a sigh of relief. The fact that the other group presented their mercenary badge suggested they were not members of the Evil Fiend Temple. Of course, there was always the slim chance that the Temple had its own mercenary group as a cover, but that seemed highly unlikely.

"So, what brings you all to Chillwater Valley?" Bodhi asked, breaking the silence.

James let out a hearty laugh. "I'd wager we're here for the same reason!"

"Oh? You're also after the Ice Source Core?" Bodhi inquired with interest.

"That's right. Since we've all come this far, it makes sense not to battle each other for it. How about we split whatever we find fifty-fifty?" James suggested, his tone calm and businesslike.

But in the next instant, a glint of silver flashed in the palm of a woman beside James. Without warning, she released a silver needle that shot forward with blinding speed.

It was too fast—though Anos had kept a careful eye on them, James's position partially obscured the woman's movements, giving her the perfect cover. Bodhi, mid-air and focused entirely on the Frost Rumblehorn, was at his most vulnerable.

"Watch out!" Anos and Zoey shouted in unison, their voices laced with urgency. But the warning came a fraction too late.

The silver needle sank deeply into Bodhi's back, and he staggered, coughing up blood. Seizing the moment, James rushed forward and finished off the Frost Rumblehorn with ruthless precision. In an instant, the remaining seven from the Bloodsworn Mercenary Group closed in, surrounding Anos, Knox, Oscar, Xander, and the rest. The shock was evident—none of them had anticipated the sudden betrayal, and Bodhi now lay injured on the ground.

"Damn it! I let my guard down!" Zoey clenched her fists, her gaze filled with anger and regret.

Anos, too, cursed under his breath. How could they have been so careless?

A shrill, mocking laugh echoed from the woman who had attacked Bodhi, her eyes glinting with satisfaction at the chaos she'd created.

"Who are you people, really?" Zoey demanded, her voice steady, though tension simmered beneath the surface.

The atmosphere grew thick as Anos and his companions readied themselves. But the oppressive aura radiating from the seven around them was overwhelming- it was clear they were outmatched, and a sense of despair crept in.

James's laughter echoed through the cold, hostile air, sending a shiver down everyone's spine. He kicked the unconscious Bodhi aside, and the force of the blow sent him skidding several feet away, his body limp and unmoving. The others watched in stunned silence, their hearts pounding in their chests as the situation grew even more dire.

As James walked forward, his heavy footsteps crunched against the icy ground, each step sending a shockwave of dread through the group. He reached into his pouch and pulled out the Bloodsworn Mercenary Group's emblem. The emblem shimmered briefly before he crushed it effortlessly in his hand. The once-proud insignia disintegrated into powder, fluttering to the ground like ash, leaving behind only the faintest trace of its existence.

The act was deliberate, meant to break any remaining illusion of their allegiance.

"They're not from the Bloodsworn Mercenary Group,"

James's voice rang out, dark amusement lacing his words. "You were never facing the Bloodsworn Mercenary Group, fools. You've walked straight into a trap from the very beginning."

Anos' eyes narrowed as he analyzed the situation. The aura of the seven mercenaries surrounding them was unmistakable—the overwhelming pressure of five Spirit Core Realm Stage-One cultivators, two at Stage-Two, and James, the one who had destroyed their hopes of survival, at Stage-Four, all confirmed the power disparity.

Bodhi, their de facto leader, was down, and his injury had crippled him. Even if he managed to recover, he was no longer a threat. And with the remaining group members being mere Stage-One and Stage-Two cultivators, it was clear that they were at a complete disadvantage.

Zoey clenched her fists, the fear of defeat gnawing at the edges of her mind. It was a fight they had no chance of winning. Her eyes flickered to Anos, looking for any sign of a plan, any hope that might yet remain. But Anos' expression was unreadable, cold and calculating, his gaze locked onto the mercenaries with a focus that revealed nothing.

It seemed like their world was closing in on them—seven powerful enemies and the brutal reality of their disadvantage setting in. But despite the crushing pressure, Anos did not waver. He wasn't the type to give up. But the question lingered in the back of everyone's mind: How were they going to fight back against such overwhelming odds?