Chapter 80: Chapter 20: Top-level Task_3
Behind them, a chubby shop owner with a bitter smile on his face muttered, "One thousand steamed buns, even if I were to risk my life, I wouldn’t be able to make them overnight!"
After departing the steamed bun shop, Xuan Yue began to make extensive purchases, primarily food, along with a few outfits for both Ah Dai and herself. Naturally, all of these items ended up in Ah Dai’s possession, with Xuan Yue finding everything she came across new and fascinating. She didn’t necessarily buy it all, but she certainly inspected it all. Her figure appeared in almost all the shops in the small town and it wasn’t until evening that they finished. By then, Ah Dai was laden with various items. Just when they were preparing to return to the steamed bun shop, they were stopped by a group of individuals on a deserted street that rarely saw any passersby.
The group consisted of samurais clad in lightweight armor, none of them seemed very old, about twenty. Their attire was uniform, and they all wore mercenary badges on their chests, with three members donning silver mercenary badges indicating their strength as second-level mercenaries. Among them was a conspicuous female mercenary, wearing brown armor, fiery red hair cascading down her back. Her good looks only accentuated the spirit emanating from her eyebrows. With a light-colored longbow carrying a silver metallic sheen slung on her back, she was clearly an archer. Her seductive gaze rested on Ah Dai.
Though they were stopped, Xuan Yue did not seem surprised in the slightest, taking shelter next to Ah Dai, she said, "They seem to have malicious intent, it’s up to you."
Ah Dai gave a slight nod, stepped forward, and politely asked, "May I ask what brings you here?"
One of the second level mercenaries who seemed like their leader stepped forward. Among this group of mercenaries, only he was clad in silver armor, making it clear that he was their leader. He smiled and said, "Greetings, kind mage, we are members of the Moon Scar Mercenary Corps, I am Moon Scar, the captain, and these are my comrades. We block your path not with ill intentions, but to propose a collaboration."
Ah Dai was taken aback and replied, "Seeking collaboration?"
Moon Scar nodded and said, "Indeed, we witnessed the process of you accepting the mission at the Mercenary Guild. We’re also quite interested in the Top-Grade Magic Crystal and wonder if we could collaborate with your corps to venture into the Death Mountain Range together."
Upon hearing that they were not bandits, Xuan Yue hurried over and stood before Ah Dai, asking, "You want to collaborate with us? What are you hoping to gain?"
Moon Scar gave a slight smile and said, "Mage lady, as you can see, we are all young individuals who’ve heard your speech at the Guild. We are not driven by wealth, we merely seek adventure, like the one waiting for us in places like the Death Mountain Range. Should we discover many Top-Grade Magic Crystals, we only hope to receive a small share. After all, the mission was accepted by you. If it weren’t for your words, we might not have found the courage."
Xuan Yue blinked her large eyes, thinking that if Ka Rui had described the Death Mountain Range as highly dangerous, then it surely wasn’t an exaggeration. If this group was to join, the chances of success would significantly increase. Furthermore, it would be livelier with more people, and young like them, so that would also be nice. She nodded and said, "Alright then, you may go, but on the road, you must all listen to me and cannot make decisions on your own."
The red-haired girl moved next to Moon Scar and protested, "How could that work? You are only two people and we are so much more, we are not even part of the same mercenary corps, why should we listen to you?"
Xuan Yue huffed and said, "I don’t care, you will listen to me, don’t forget, I am a mage, a Light Magician. Furthermore, only I can identify the Top-Grade Magic Crystal."
Moon Scar was slightly startled, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes. A Light Magician was precious not for their strength in attack, but their ability to cast healing and support magic on the team, which could prevent many casualties. He nodded and said, "In that case, we agree. Little sister, who asked for your two cents?"
The red-haired girl harrumphed in disapproval, then said, "Going by her voice, I reckon she’s younger than me. Being ordered around by her, I can’t accept that. Only if she can beat me will I accept."
Xuan Yue had never been one to shy away from a challenge. She snorted coldly, "Not convinced? Very well! Then I shall accept your challenge. What does it matter if I’m younger than you? Does being older mean you’re more competent?" As she spoke, she pushed back her cloak. The other mercenaries gasped in awe when they saw Xuan Yue’s breathtaking beauty, undoubtedly outshining the red-haired girl’s attractiveness.
Ah Dai put down the items he was carrying and lowered his head to Xuan Yue, "Miss, let me deal with this." Even though Ah Dai might be slow, he knew that an archer was a mage’s nightmare. Since he had promised the Red Bishop, he couldn’t let Xuan Yue get hurt again.
Xuan Yue paid him no mind, studying the red-haired girl contemptuously before saying, "That’s unnecessary, I can handle her just fine on my own." Then she raised the magic wand she’d been holding.
Moon Scar was curious to see how this young girl, who appeared to be in her teens, managed to get the senior magician certification, so he nodded to his sister, and whispered, "Don’t hurt her."
The red-haired girl merely grunted nonchalantly, and began preparing her longbow, a silver arrow magically forming on it. The rest of the mercenaries cleared an area by taking a few steps back. The red-haired girl, with her bowstring drawn to its limit, said, "Little girl, don’t claim that I bullied you, my Wind Extermination Arrow has a demon-busting attribute. Remember my name, it’s Yue Ji." As soon as her words fell, the silver arrow left her bow like a bolt of lightning, transforming into a blur of motion, crossing the short distance toward Xuan Yue in the blink of an eye. Yue Ji’s archery skills were starting to gain some recognition in the mercenary world and couldn’t be described solely as precise. With this arrow, she only intended to sever one of Xuan Yue’s clothes, to embarrass this little girl who was even more beautiful than herself.
