Chapter 19

Chapter 19: The Mercenary Guild
Jige was startled and blurted out, “What?” If the Red Cardinal’s daughter had lost her virtue under his roof, survival would be nearly impossible. Without time to think further, he immediately cast an ice spike spell, launching it suddenly toward A Dai’s body.
Just as A Dai was about to explain, a massive ice spike already loomed before his eyes. He could not dodge, for Xuan Yue stood directly behind him. Gritting his teeth, he forcibly unleashed his battle energy and slammed his fist violently into the ice spike.
With a loud boom, the ice spike was shattered, yet one shard pierced A-Dai’s arm, instantly staining the bed with blood.
“Archmage Jige, please let me explain! I didn’t do anything!”
As soon as he unleashed that ice spike, Jige regretted it. A-Dai simply didn’t seem like the type to do such a thing; besides, judging by his foolish appearance, it was uncertain whether he was even capable of it. Moreover, both Xuan Yue and A-Dai were fully dressed, and Xuan Yue was still wrapped tightly in her blanket…
“What exactly is going on?” Jige asked, frowning.
Ah Dai blocked the meridians in his arm and said, “I don’t know what happened either. As soon as she woke up this morning, she started trying to hit and kill me…” He quickly recounted everything that had occurred the previous night.
After listening to Ah Dai’s account, Ji Ge finally breathed a sigh of relief. Walking over to the bedside, he scolded Ah Dai, “You foolish boy! Don’t you know that men and women should not touch each other? How could you sleep together with a young lady?” Then turning to Xuan Yue, he spoke gently, “Miss Xuan Yue, Ah Dai is telling the truth. He certainly didn’t do anything. Look, his arm was pierced by my ice spear. Please don’t blame him anymore.”
In reality, Xuan Yue only had a vague understanding of matters between men and women. Hearing this, she sobbed, “Really? But… but since he slept beside me, will I have a child? I don’t want to have a child! If it turns out as foolish as him, I… I won’t live anymore!”
Xuan Yue’s words deeply pierced Ah Dai’s heart. He realized that, in her eyes, he was merely a dull and stupid fool. Yes! I truly am stupid! Stepping back two paces, Ah Dai moved to one side, while a layer of cold frost gradually appeared in the depths of his eyes.
Hearing Xuan Yue’s words, Jige laughed helplessly and said, “How could that be, Miss Xuan Yue? Men and women cannot have children without engaging in such matters. Adai is absolutely not that kind of person. Besides, isn’t your body feeling perfectly fine? Adai, hurry up and apologize to Miss Xuan Yue.”
Adai responded with a soft sound, walked to the bedside, lowered his head, and spoke indifferently, “I’m sorry, Miss Xuan Yue. I’m just a country bumpkin who has only recently entered this continent and know nothing. I’ve caused you grievance. I promise I will never touch you again, not even by a hair’s breadth; from now on, I’ll merely serve as your follower.” Having said this, he stepped back two paces and returned to his original spot. The reason he was still willing to stay was, first, because he had once made a vow—he simply couldn’t bear to part with those delicious steamed buns. Secondly, he felt he owed the Red Robed Cardinal a favor; without the aid of God’s Blessing, it would take him quite some time longer to reach the fifth level of the Shengsheng Technique.
Jige did not notice the change in Adai’s attitude. Turning around, he comforted Xuan Yue, saying, “Miss Xuan Yue, please don’t be angry anymore. I believe Adai will certainly never offend you again in the future.”
Xuan Yue snorted, wiped the tears from her face, and said to Jige, “My clothes were stained with blood yesterday. Find me another set, exactly the same. Also, I need a set of mage robes. I’ll be leaving shortly.”
Ji Ge couldn’t wait for her to leave; he hastily agreed, then turned and rushed out to fetch some clothes.
Once Ji Ge departed, only Ah Dai and Xuan Yue remained in the room, the atmosphere growing somewhat awkward. Xuan Yue had stopped crying. Only after Ji Ge’s departure did she notice the large pool of blood on the bed. Although Ah Dai had sealed the meridians in his arm, the wound was so severe that a small amount of blood continued to flow steadily. For some reason, a sudden wave of sorrow welled up within her. She knew well that Ah Dai could not have done anything to harm her; her earlier outburst of tears and cries had primarily been an outlet for her own dissatisfaction. Deep down, she always felt that Ah Dai was not on the same level as herself, maintaining a sense of superiority over him.
“Ah Dai, come here. Let me heal you.”
Ah Dai glanced at his arm. The freezing sensation from the ice shard had vanished, yet piercing pain kept surging through. Ji Ge’s attack had been so sudden that his protective fighting aura hadn’t had time to defend him. Fortunately, no damage had been done to his tendons or bones, but the loss of blood still left him feeling waves of exhaustion.
“No need, I can handle it myself.” A-Dai tore a strip of cloth from his clothes, bit down on one end with his teeth, and held the other in his right hand, quickly wrapping his wound. The intense pain caused beads of sweat to form all over his forehead.
Xuan Yue snorted and said, “Fine then, don’t come if you don’t want to. Do you think I’m willing to waste my magic power healing you?” Although she spoke these words, her gaze never left A-Dai’s wound.
A-Dai replied indifferently, “Exactly! How could such a minor injury trouble someone like you?” With that, he grabbed the bundle beside him and headed outside.
Xuan Yue asked, “Where are you going?”
Ah Dai opened the door and said, “I’ll go wash up and change my clothes, so I don’t offend your eyes.” With that, he closed the door and walked out.
As soon as Ah Dai left, Xuan Yue was completely stunned. When Ah Dai went to fetch his bundle, she caught a glimpse of icy coldness in his eyes. She couldn’t understand why Ah Dai had suddenly seemed like a different person; even his tone of voice had changed. Where was his usual foolish demeanor? Could it be… could it be that he’s acting this way because I wouldn’t let him sleep with me? But I’m a girl; how could I be that close to him? Hmph, never mind him. Anyway, he’s my follower; as long as he sticks with me, who cares what he’s thinking inside.
After a short while, A-Dai returned to the room. His face seemed much paler than before; his injured left arm hung limply at his side, while in his right hand he carried a tray laden with breakfast.
Placing the breakfast before Xuan Yue, A-Dai said, “Miss Xuan Yue, please have your breakfast.”
Xuan Yue glanced at him and asked, “Aren’t you eating? Why is there so little?”
A-Dai shook his head and replied, “I am your attendant; how could I possibly eat together with you? I will eat outside. Just call me if you need anything.” With that, he turned and walked out again.
Stepping out of the room, A Dai let out a long sigh. His heart felt heavy with suppressed sorrow. He gave a self-mocking smile and murmured, “Yes! I come from a background of thievery, while she is a young lady of the Holy See. How could she ever look up to someone like me? One year—just one year, is it? Teacher Glis, I’m afraid I’ll have to wait another year before I can return to see you.”
“What’s wrong, A Dai? You seem very unhappy!” Jige’s voice came through.
A Dai looked up at Jige. The old mage wore a faint, gentle smile on his face. “I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”
Jige sighed and said, “Child, I was far too impulsive just now, causing you such severe injuries. Come, let me heal you with a Water-element healing spell. With wounds this serious, if not properly treated, there could be lasting consequences.”
Ah Dai nodded gently; he still held great respect for Jige.
Under Jige’s treatment, Ah Dai’s left arm had regained some mobility, and after breakfast, his complexion looked much better.
“Young man, from now on, be very careful when you’re with that little troublemaker. Her connections are far too powerful; neither you nor I can afford to offend her. Your days ahead will be difficult.”
Ah Dai kept his head down and said nothing.
Jige said, “Try to keep your distance from her; never get too close.” Suddenly turning serious, he added, “Especially, do not fall in love with her, or you will suffer for the rest of your life. There is an insurmountable chasm between you!”
A Dai smiled self-deprecatingly and replied, “Archmage Jige, you worry too much. How could anything ever happen between Miss Xuan Yue and me? We simply belong to two different worlds.”
“There’s no need to belittle yourself either. At your age, achieving so much is already quite remarkable. Alright, rest a little longer while I deliver what the little witch needs. By the way, your clothes are all dirty too; I’ve prepared a new mage robe for you. Go ahead and change into it.”
After changing into the new mage robe, A Dai stretched his body. Although the injury on his arm had improved considerably, waves of pain still surged through it. The Shengsheng true energy within him circulated continuously, repairing the damaged meridians in his arm. He had slept very comfortably last night, and his impression of Xuan Yue had already improved significantly. However, after this morning’s commotion, A Dai’s heart had grown cold. Completely disheartened, he would never again easily open his heart to anyone.
Touching the Nether King Sword at his chest, A Dai felt a stir within. His Shengsheng True Qi had reached the fifth level; thus, he could begin cultivating the first form of the Nine Nether Decisions. As soon as he thought of the Nether King Sword Technique, A Dai’s heart trembled involuntarily. Its immense power was deeply imprinted in his mind, yet the sense of evil associated with it always lingered. After all, the Nether King Sword was an object of utmost malevolence! He did not wish to kill the innocent recklessly. Owen’s dying words kept echoing in A Dai’s mind: “Used for good, it becomes good; used for evil, it becomes evil.” Gritting his teeth, A Dai made his decision: he would follow Owen’s instructions and seize the opportunity to begin cultivating the Nine Nether Decisions.
Just then, Jige and Xuan Yue emerged together. Xuan Yue had changed into fresh clothes; her long blue hair was still styled in two small braids, and she looked much more spirited. However, having cried earlier, her eyes were slightly swollen and red. A Dai stood up and addressed Xuan Yue, “Miss, you are awake.”
Xuan Yue frowned. “Didn’t I tell you to call me Yueyue? Or do you want me to call you Daidai instead?”
A Dai replied calmly, “I am now your attendant. Whatever you choose to call me is entirely appropriate.”
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Keige cleared his throat and said, “Miss Xuanyue, where are you heading?”
Xuanyue shot him a glare and retorted playfully, “You can’t wait for me to leave, can you? Hmph! I’ll be back soon. Ah Dai, let’s go.” With that, she walked toward the entrance of the Mages’ Guild.
Upon hearing that Xuanyue intended to return, Keige nearly collapsed to the ground. He shook his head helplessly and gave Ah Dai a meaningful glance.
Ah Dai bowed respectfully to Keige, then followed Xuanyue out of the Mages’ Guild.
As soon as they stepped outside, Xuan Yue headed straight for the Mercenary Guild without hesitation. A-Dai kept his head lowered; beneath his fiery red cloak, his features were completely hidden.
The Mercenary Guild was just as bustling as it had been the day before, filled with a constant clamor of conversations. The arrival of Xuan Yue and A-Dai immediately drew the attention of most people present, especially due to the golden badge on Xuan Yue’s chest—the mark of a high-ranking mage! Mages were the scarcest resource among mercenaries; if one joined a mercenary band, it would undoubtedly bring enormous benefits. Just imagine: warriors charging at the front while mages cast spells from behind to provide cover and healing—what a magnificent sight that would be. Before coming to the Mercenary Guild, A-Dai had specifically entrusted his Tiangang Sword to the Mage Guild, fearing recognition by Feng Ping.
“Distinguished Mage, are you looking to join a mercenary band? Our Tianfeng Mercenary Band boasts formidable strength. With your addition, we would become even more powerful. Might you consider joining us?”
“Distinguished Mage, do not listen to his empty boasts. Please join our Tiezhan Mercenary Band instead. We can absolutely guarantee your safety. Even in the face of danger, we will defend you with our lives.”
“Lord Mage, our Dragon-Phoenix Mercenary Group has many beautiful female members. Why not join us?”
Nearly every mercenary group with even a slight reputation gathered around, and before long, invitations poured in incessantly, surrounding Xuan Yue and A Dai in the center.
Xuan Yue hadn’t expected to be so sought-after and couldn’t help but feel secretly pleased; however, her purpose was never to join another mercenary group. She shouted loudly, “Stop making noise! I’m not here to join any mercenary group. Please make way—I intend to establish my own!”
The representatives of the various mercenary groups were instantly stunned. A mage establishing a mercenary group on their own? What kind of concept was that? Moreover, from the voice, this high-level mage seemed to be a woman, and not very old at that.
Taking advantage of everyone’s momentary bewilderment, Xuan Yue turned her head and said to Ah Dai, “Quick, you lead the way; let’s head to that counter over there.”
Ah Dai responded with a nod, reined in his battle qi, gently pushed aside the crowd blocking their path, and led Xuan Yue to the innermost part of the guild hall.
The main hall of the Mercenary Guild was extremely spacious, easily capable of accommodating several hundred people. At the far end of the hall stood three counters: one for registration, one for accepting missions, and one for claiming rewards. Pushing through the crowd, Xuan Yue pulled Ah Dai quickly to the registration counter and called out to the staff inside, “I want to register a mercenary group.”
Behind the registration counter stood a young maiden. She looked in surprise at the senior mage emblem on Xuan Yue’s chest and said politely, “Miss, are you certain?” Having worked here for several years, she had never heard of a mage registering a mercenary band. Given the status mages held across the continent, they had no need to scramble for a livelihood. Although being a mercenary was a lucrative profession, it carried relatively greater danger. As far as she knew, only the Red Hurricane Mercenary Band employed a few mages; among smaller mercenary bands, it was rare to find even someone who understood the meaning of magic, let alone an actual mage.
Xuan Yue said impatiently, “Of course I’m certain. Hurry up. Can’t you see so many flies swarming around us?”
The young maiden pressed her lips together in a smile, glanced at A Dai, who stood silently beside Xuan Yue, and asked with a smile, “May I ask how many members are in your mercenary band, and what are the names of the captain and vice-captain?”
Without a moment’s thought, Xuan Yue replied, “Two members in the mercenary band. The captain is Xuan Yue—that’s me. The vice-captain is him; his name is A Dai.” As she spoke, she pointed toward A Dai’s tall figure.
“Idiot?” The young woman paused in surprise but said nothing, her pen flying across the page as she wrote furiously. By then, the mercenaries had recovered their wits and were closing in again from behind, attempting one last effort. Xuan Yue snorted softly, murmuring a few incantations under her breath. A sphere of light instantly materialized atop her short magical staff; its brilliant radiance enveloped both her and A-Dai within a shield of sacred energy. “Anyone who bothers me again had better not blame my magic for being unforgiving.” In truth, she had merely cast an ordinary light-element illumination spell. However, amplified by her own divine aura, the spell generated subtle energy fluctuations capable of dispelling evil, effective only against the lowest-tier dark-attribute creatures. Though it appeared formidable on the surface, it possessed virtually no offensive power. For those ignorant of magic, however, the intimidation was more than sufficient.
The intense aura of holiness immediately frightened the mercenaries into taking several steps back. Except for a few highly skilled ones, the rest awkwardly retreated to the side and went about their own business.
The young maiden asked, “May I inquire about your profession and specialties?”
Xuan Yue replied, “Naturally, we are mages. I specialize in light magic, while he excels in fire magic. Is registration really this troublesome?”
The young girl smiled gently and said, “Registration is indeed quite troublesome because we need to record everything accurately! Miss Mage, are you certain your mercenary group consists of only two members? This is the smallest mercenary group I have ever seen. I believe you should recruit a few warriors; that would make your group much stronger.”
Xuan Yue glanced at A-Dai, shook her head, and replied, “No need, the two of us are enough. If there’s anything else to register, please hurry up.”
The young girl smiled again and said, “There’s just one last item: please choose a name for your mercenary group.”
Xuan Yue paused in surprise. “Choose a name?” She hadn’t given this any thought at all. Ever since morning, she had been silently upset with A-Dai, only wanting to form a mercenary group for fun without considering further details. A name? What should it be called? Turning toward A-Dai, she asked, “A-Dai, what do you think our mercenary group should be named?”
A Dai shook his head and said, “I’m too dull; Miss, please decide on the name.” Since arriving here, he had been searching for Feng Ping and the members of the Red Lion Mercenary Group, yet he hadn’t seen any mercenaries bearing the lion-head emblem on their chests, which greatly eased his mind. It turned out that after Feng Ping’s departure, the Red Lion Mercenary Group members had already accepted a new mission and left. Even if they were still around, they would likely have struggled to recognize A Dai, who had completely changed his attire.
Xuan Yue snorted in dissatisfaction and said to the young maiden, “Then let’s call ourselves the Angel Mercenary Group. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?”
The young maiden lowered her head to check and replied, “I’m sorry, Miss, but that name is already taken by another mercenary group. Please choose another one.”
Xuan Yue was momentarily stunned, then snorted again and complained irritably, “Even picking a name results in duplicates! It’s infuriating! It’s all your fault for angering me first thing in the morning; see how nothing goes smoothly now?” Venting all her frustration on A Dai, she punched his arm, unfortunately landing squarely on his wound.
A Dai’s whole body shuddered; the intense pain forced an involuntary groan from him. Xuan Yue was startled, only then realizing that A Dai’s arm was injured. Glancing at his slightly trembling form, she turned to the young maiden and said, “Then let’s call ourselves the Heaven-Evil Mercenary Group, taking the meaning of angel and demon.” She whipped her head around to glare at A Dai, adding, “Always so cold and icy—the title of ‘demon’ suits you best.”
Gritting his teeth, A Dai endured the pain in his arm, thinking to himself, “I wonder who the real demon is.”
The young maiden smiled and said, “Miss Mage, please wait a moment while I prepare your corresponding mercenary cards. I’ll be back very soon. In the meantime, you may go over to the quest reception counter to take a look at the available missions.”
Xuan Yue agreed, then pulled A Dai aside and gazed at the enormous blackboard behind the quest reception counter.
Just then, a voice sounded behind them. “Miss Mage, I wonder if we might have a word.” A middle-aged man clad in red leather armor appeared behind them. His fiery red hair was neatly combed back, and he carried a broadsword on his back. Though not as large as Ah Dai’s Tiangang Sword, it was still a formidable heavy blade.
Xuan Yue’s beautiful eyes swept over him, sizing him up from head to toe, before she said coldly, “Talk? What is there to talk about?”
The middle-aged man smiled faintly and pointed to the emblem carved on his chest—a red whirlwind. “I am the captain of the First Warrior Battalion of the Red Hurricane Mercenary Group,” he said. “On behalf of our guild master, I would like to invite both of you mages to join our Mage Corps. We offer exceptionally favorable terms.”
Both Xuan Yue and A Dai were momentarily stunned. Even with their limited knowledge, they had heard of the renowned Red Hurricane Mercenary Group—a massive organization boasting tens of thousands of members, recognized as the foremost mercenary group across the continent. Its strength was such that no other mercenary group could even hope to compare. The man’s appearance alone caused members of smaller mercenary groups to step aside respectfully; nobody dared offend the Red Hurricane Mercenary Group. Its influence within the mercenary world was akin to that of the Holy See over the entire continent.
Xuan Yue cared nothing for how powerful your mercenary group might be. She replied icily, “Didn’t you see that we just registered our own mercenary group?”
The middle-aged man smiled and said, “That’s easy to handle. There are two solutions: first, you immediately disband your mercenary group; second, our Red Hurricane Mercenary Group can absorb you, offering favorable terms.”
Xuan Yue, seeing the middle-aged man’s arrogant and wealthy demeanor, felt deeply displeased. She snorted and replied, “We would never join your mercenary group. Stop bothering us. Talking about money with mages—are you out of your mind? If we were in this for money, would we have become mercenaries?”
The middle-aged man was taken aback and asked, “Then what is your purpose in being mercenaries?”
A hint of triumphant smile appeared on Xuan Yue’s pretty face as she said, “We became mercenaries to experience the joy of adventure. You claim to belong to the number one mercenary group on the continent, yet you don’t even understand such a basic principle?”
The middle-aged man smiled slightly and said, “That makes it even easier. There are many extremely difficult missions across the continent that no single person or small group could ever complete; they carry exceedingly high risks. With the support of our Red Hurricane Mercenary Company, you would be able to undertake those arduous quests. Wouldn’t that allow you to better experience the true essence of adventure?”
Upon hearing his words, Xuan Yue felt a slight stir in her heart, but she quickly dismissed the idea of joining. If her father learned that she had actually joined a mercenary company, who knew what he would think? Although he doted on her greatly, if he discovered this disgrace brought upon the Church, she would surely not escape being placed under house arrest. However, forming her own mercenary company was different; her father probably wouldn’t blame her too severely for that. Thinking thus, Xuan Yue shook her head and said, “We still prefer adventuring on our own. We apologize.”
A Dai had not spoken a single word from beginning to end. That morning, he had already decided that henceforth, while following Xuan Yue, he must minimize contact with her to avoid being hurt by her again. All he now hoped for was that this one year would pass quickly.
“Lady Mage, your cards are ready.” It was the young maiden who had returned, holding two white magic cards in her hands.
Xuan Yue ignored the middle-aged man and walked with Adai to the registration counter. Taking the card, he asked, “What is this for?”
The young woman explained, “Since you are the leader of the Tian’e Mercenary Group, your card contains information about both your group and yourself. Your mercenary group’s current rank is the lowest, Level Four. This rank will increase gradually based on the difficulty and number of missions you complete. As you are a mage, we have assigned you an individual mercenary rank of Level Three, which will also rise according to the difficulty and quantity of completed missions. This mage’s card is similar to yours. Please keep your cards safe; if lost, come to the guild promptly for replacement. You must present your cards when accepting missions. Additionally, here are two Level Three mercenary badges for you.”
Xuan Yue took the two copper badges and complained dissatisfiedly, “How come I’m only a Level Three mercenary? That’s far too low!”
“Advancing in mercenary rank is extremely difficult, becoming progressively harder at higher levels. If you rely solely on completing ordinary missions to level up, it might take a year just to advance from Level Four to Level Three. The Mercenary Guild has already granted you significant privileges by recognizing you as mages. As for me, after twenty years as a mercenary, I am still only Level One.” The speaker was none other than Karui, captain of the First Warrior Battalion of the Red Hurricane Mercenary Group.
Xuan Yue glanced at him and said, “Why haven’t you left yet? Didn’t I already tell you that we won’t be joining your mercenary group?”
The middle-aged man smiled gently and replied, “Even if no deal is made, goodwill remains. If you ever need any help in the future, feel free to come find me. Should there be any challenging tasks requiring cooperation, we would be more than happy to work together.”
Cooperation? That actually sounds like a good idea. Xuan Yue’s tone softened as he said, “Alright then. May I ask, sir, what is your name?”
The middle-aged man touched his face, which wasn’t particularly rough, and said awkwardly, “Am I really that old? Just call me ‘Big Brother’ instead. My name is Karui.”
Xuan Yue chuckled and said, “Compared to us, you are certainly older. Uncle Karei, if there are any missions requiring cooperation in the future, we will definitely seek you out. Now, we must go accept a mission.” Saying this, she pulled A Dai’s sleeve and ran to the mission acceptance counter, eagerly gazing at the mission board behind it. Earlier, they hadn’t had time to look before being interrupted by the middle-aged man; only now could they examine it carefully.
The board was divided into four sections. The lowest section listed ordinary missions, nothing more than escorting merchants or transporting goods, with relatively modest rewards. The level above that displayed Tier Two missions, which were incredibly varied and somewhat more difficult; among them, prominently featured, was the quest to find the Breeze Herb familiar to A Dai. Looking higher still were Tier One missions, even more challenging, mostly involving the search for rare items; one such mission, seeking the Nine Dragon Vessel, offered a reward as high as ten thousand gold coins. The topmost section contained Special Tier missions, of which there was only one. Its description read: “At the border between the Tianyuan Tribe and the Huasheng Empire lies the Death Mountains. Legends tell of high-purity, supreme-quality magic crystals existing within caves along the mountain’s edge. Mission objective: Retrieve a supreme-quality magic crystal and bring it back. Mission reward: Determined by the quality and attributes of the magic crystal, with a minimum guarantee of ten thousand purple crystal coins.”
A Dai knew about magic crystals. Previously, in Goris’s notes, it had been mentioned that magic crystals, depending on their attributes, contained different magical elements. They possessed the ability to absorb magical elements autonomously and store them, effectively serving as an additional mana container for mages. Extremely precious, they were the finest materials for crafting magical items. Magical items crafted from supreme-quality magic crystals, though not comparable to divine artifacts, could greatly enhance a mage’s power; under their amplification, magic could even advance by one entire grade. Among the materials Goris had collected were several magic crystals, but they were only ordinary ones. This mission inevitably stirred A Dai’s interest. It wasn’t for the money; he thought that if he could obtain a supreme-quality magic crystal and give it to Teacher Goris, the teacher would surely be very happy.
Xuan Yue had also seen this mission and murmured, “So supreme-quality magic crystals are worth so much!”
Karei leaned forward and said, “Top-grade magical crystals are naturally extremely valuable. Magical crystals are already exceedingly rare across the continent; even ordinary ones used to craft magic wands can be worth over ten thousand gold coins. As for top-grade magical crystals, they are treasures among treasures, almost impossible to find unless by sheer luck. The value of magical items crafted from them is nearly immeasurable. This quest has existed for a long time; rumor has it that it was issued by a master-level alchemist. Yet, until now, no one has managed to complete it.”
Xuan Yue asked, “With such a high reward for this quest, why hasn’t your Red Hurricane Mercenary Group attempted it? Aren’t you the number one mercenary group on the continent? Don’t you need money?”
Karei smiled bitterly and replied, “Of course we need money! Operating a large mercenary group comprising tens of thousands of members requires enormous funding. However, the difficulty of this quest is simply too great, and the risks involved are far too high. To ensure everyone’s safety, our leader strictly forbids us from taking on this mission.”
Xuan Yue questioned doubtfully, “Are magical crystals really that hard to find? With so many members in your Red Hurricane Mercenary Group, couldn’t you just conduct a thorough carpet search? Ten thousand purple crystal coins is no small sum.”
Karei sighed and said, “The main issue isn’t how hard it is to find, but rather the danger involved. Haven’t you seen where the finest magical crystals come from? That’s the Death Mountain Range!”
Even A-Dai’s interest was piqued this time; after joining the Mercenary Guild, he spoke for the first time: “Is the Death Mountain Range really that dangerous?”