Chapter 1873: Chapter 1873 Merging of Two Teams
Behind Ye Liuyun, a group of martial practitioners were following at a distance. The one leading the group was in the mid-stages of the Fifth Realm.
Along the way, they kept checking marks on the ground and tree barks, trailing behind the whole time. They were probably the accomplices of the pair of spies in Ye Liuyun’s group.
After taking a break, the group resumed their journey with individual thoughts and motives.
In the following journey, Ye Liuyun and his group kept encountering feral beasts. Thankfully, there was a large number of fighters at the Fourth Realm in their group, making the feral beasts relatively easy to deal with.
Whoever killed the feral beasts would have it as their own, and no disputes had been brought up between the mercenaries.
But when it came to Fifth Realm feral beasts, a few mercenaries started to demand higher pay.
"If we go any further, it’ll be more dangerous than what we had initially expected. We need a pay raise."
This was a common tactic amongst mercenaries, demanding a pay increase when met with a critical moment. Many employers had no choice but to agree due to the lack of better options.
Because going back and hiring new people not only wasted time but also required payment for these mercenaries’ service. In either case, it wasn’t cost-effective.
Lin Zhi’an obviously lacked experience in dealing with mercenaries. He described the task as if it were a breeze, giving them the perfect excuse to demand a higher price.
Ye Liuyun and Kui Sen stood aside, quietly enjoying the event unfold without getting involved.
If Lin Zhi’an agreed to increase the pay, that would be best. If he disagreed, they had nothing to feel awkward about and could just continue their journey.
The mercenaries didn’t stand their ground together. If all the mercenaries demanded the same together, Lin Zhi’an would have no choice but to yield.
But there were only a few men voicing their protest. Initially, Lin Zhi’an intended to reject their demand and fire them immediately.
"Never mind, just increase as they wished! I’ll cover the extra costs!" Lin Xiyao chose to keep the peace by footing the additional costs herself.
Those mercenaries that had been driving up the price had also begun to feel nervous. Upon hearing Lin Xiyao’s agreement, they all sighed in relief and continued to flatter Lin Xiyao.
Seeing her make the decision, Lin Zhi’an thought that it was inappropriate to refute her. And so, he agreed as well and led the team to continue their journey.
Not much time had passed when Lin Zhi’an also spotted a team of martial practitioners in front. They followed behind with a faster pace, all possible dangers had been resolved by the team in front.
That team of martial practitioners also noticed them as well and immediately stopped in their tracks.
Their squad was equipped much like Ye Liuyun’s team, with more than ten bodyguards protecting a youngster who looked like a lord of some sort. They had a bodyguard in the mid-stages of the Fifth Realm leading the team and had also hired more than twenty mercenaries.
Ye Liuyun had noticed an alchemist badge similar to Lin Xiyao’s on that young lord. However, the words on Lin Xiyao’s badge were the word ’fourth’, while the young lord’s badge had the character ’third’, suggesting that he was a third-level alchemist.
Recognising the uniform of the Lin family, the leader of the bodyguards greeted, "Are you the alchemists from the Lin family?"
Lin Zhi’an responded, "Yes. May I ask which organization you belong to?"
"We are from the Regalty’s Medical Pills Center. This is Mr. Shangguan Minghe. I’m Tang Kuan." The bodyguard’s leader introduced themselves to Lin Zhi’an.
"Oh, so you’re the team leader from Medical Pills Center! I also escort our alchemist, Ms. Lin Xiyao, to collect herbs. I’m Lin Zhi’an, the deacon of the Lin family."
The two introduced themselves in turn.
Shangguan Minghe also greeted Lin Xiyao, "Ms. Lin, I’ve heard a lot about you in Regalty. Our pill center has even sold the Elixirs you concocted!"
The people on both sides, who were initially a little on guard, relaxed quite a bit upon learning of their business connections. At least they wouldn’t start fighting immediately.
"You’re flattering me, Mr. Shangguan!" Lin Xiyao replied politely.
"Since we’ve run into each other, let’s just travel together. The more, the merrier," Shangguan Minghe invited.
In fact, they initially stopped because they didn’t want to clear the path for Ye Liuyun. Now realising they share a mutual acquaintance, they might as well let the two mercenary groups join up and tackle the feral beasts together.
Moreover, along the way, they might get a chance to get close to Lin Xiyao. If they could trick this Fourth Realm alchemist into joining their side, the trip would be worth it, even if they couldn’t find any medicinal herbs.
Lin Xiyao looked inquiringly at Lin Zhi’an, unsure whether to join them.
Lin Zhi’an quickly spoke up for her, "Sounds good. Let’s travel together for now. But when it comes to the herbs, everyone will be on their own."
"Of course!" Shangguan Minghe also agreed.
"Mr. Shangguan, what herbs are you looking for?" Before Shangguan Minghe could make his move, Lin Xiyao asked directly.
Shangguan Minghe cunningly didn’t answer right away but counter-questioned her, "The Medical Pills Center come here all year round to collect medicine, we pick anything we come across. What about you, Ms. Lin?"
"I’m here to find the spiritual ginseng!" Lin Xiyao didn’t conceal the fact, telling him directly.
Shangguan Minghe was surprised at her answer, but he maintained a calm demeanour and asked, "I’ve heard about the ginseng too, but I thought it was too exaggerated to be true!"
"Alas! I’m just here to give it a try. I urgently need that ginseng to make Elixirs. Mr. Shangguan, if you’re lucky enough to find it, please give me some, a strand of root will do. I’ll pay the full price!" Lin Xiyao spoke to Shangguan Minghe.
"It seems she really needs it to refine Elixirs, not necessarily to find that spiritual ginseng."
"Sure, sure!" Shangguan Minghe agreed readily, and then asked, "What kind of Elixir you’re trying to refine? If you can’t find it, our center does have some old ginseng."
Lin Xiyao, however, gently shook her head, saying, "Only the one that’s a hundred thousand years old will suffice. I need it to save people. No room for negligence!"
Following this, Tang Kuan and Lin Zhi’an started leading everyone forward.
Shangguan Minghe kept trying to spark a conversation with Lin Xiyao along the way, but she clearly wasn’t interested in chit-chatting, only conversing out of politeness.
The pressure on the mercenaries began to increase. The feral beasts they encountered were all in the Fifth Realm.
However, these mercenaries were very dedicated, and they all had strong survival skills. Quite a few of them had treasures for protection, which could block the attacks of the feral beasts.
Neither Tang Kuan nor Lin Zhi’an were idle. They also helped out, so the mercenaries were all able to hold on.
Ye Liuyun had not revealed too much of his strength. He had been fighting using his sword intention. However, his sword intention was very strong, so among these mercenaries, his combat effectiveness was high.
In one battle, everyone was battling two mid-stage arrogant bears of the Fifth Realm. Suddenly, Ye Liuyun swung his sword at Lin Xiyao’s feet.
Caught by surprise, Lin Xiyao shot a stream of white and crimson flame at Ye Liuyun’s sword intention and retreated backward swiftly.
However, Ye Liuyun’s sword intention disappeared abruptly, and her flame hit nothing at all.
Just as she was about to make another move, the ground suddenly trembled. Next, a giant python of the Fifth Realm mid-level burst through the ground from her previous position. There was a cut on his face, and it was bleeding too.
Moreover, after bursting out, the giant python charged toward Ye Liuyun recklessly, aiming to avenge the injury he caused just now.
