Blood Rose Grass (Part 1)

The road was paved with flat stone, making it comfortable to walk on. The shop on the left and the right were full of people as the voices of bargaining could be heard. Not only shop, but there were also some stalls and peddlers selling many kinds of thing.

While Fu Tao was drawn to the weapon shop, Mingyue was jumping around as she saw many foreign things on the stalls.

"Look! Look! Look over here!" Mingyue pointed at the weirdly shaped weapon on the stalls. "Do you think you can use it?"

Fu Tao narrowed his eyes as he assessed the weapon on display.

It was a rod-shaped weapon, but it was too short. And there was a little handle at the side of the rod. Fu Tao never saw this kind of weapon, but he kind of understood the suggestion from Mingyue.

The weapon was suitable for Fu Tao's combat style.

"Uncle, what is this weapon?" Mingyue didn't wait for Fu Tao and patted the weapon on display.

"YOU DAMN BR-" The peddler wanted to curse, but he swallowed it back as he cleared his throat. "Ehem. Young Miss. This weapon is a rare weapon in the Earth Kingdom. You may search all around the Kingdom, but I believe the owner of this rare weapon is less than ten people."

The peddler changed his attitude as he saw Fu Tao behind Mingyue.

The story of a day ago was already spread around the Black Iron City.

A hidden expert that was comparable with the vice leader of Red Rage Bear Mercenary, Chen Lao. Along with the news that Fu Tao was appreciated by the leader, Lian Luoyang himself, making Fu Tao was similar to a foreign idol.

If not because of this reason, Mingyue would have been kicked out from his stalls with the reason of disturbing his business.

Of course, the peddler was proud of himself because he was a quick thinker. Who knew what would happen if he offended a big existence like a hidden expert?

"Hee. . . Is this small weapon is good?"

"Yes, of course. This weapon is well-known among martial artist."

Martial artist was another type of a warrior. They didn't use any bladed weapon as they depended on their bare-handed skill or blunt weapon. In a way, Fu Tao and Liao Yun could be considered as a martial artist.

A martial artist never depended on any weapon, on the weapon's destructive ability, but rather their own body's capability and unlimited potential. They believed the more they trained their body, their body will be stronger than the weapon itself.

But in the Earth Kingdom, they were as rare as the phoenix's feather and qilin's horn. Most mercenaries were the user of the bladed weapon.

The peddlers took the weapon and showed it to Mingyue, and said toward Fu Tao, "This weapon comes from the Water Association. There is no one that would manufacture this kind of weapon in the Earth Kingdom because there is almost no one will use this kind of weapon."

"Then, why are you selling it?"

The peddler had an awkward laugh. "Sometimes, there are collectors that are interested in some novelty. And this, this in one of that novelty thing."

Mingyue blinked her eyes a few times and asked, "Then, what is this weapon's name?"

"Err. . . martial artist's guard." The peddler sweated all over.

". . . No, it is not." Mingyue rolled her eyes as she winked at Song Qi. "How can uncle sell something you don't understand."

The peddler grew annoyed as everything that was said by Mingyue was on the spot.

"The sell it for cheap." Mingyue's voice was sweet and alluring as it arrived at the peddler's ear.

The peddler's gaze grew hazy, but he was still able to answer, "Young Miss. . . This weapon's material is top notch. . ."

Seeing that the peddler was not strong enough to be bewitched, Mingyue pulled back her trick. But even so, there was a residual Elemental on the peddler's brain, making the peddler couldn't think straight.

Yep, Mingyue was beguiling the peddler with her skill, the same skill that she used in the Grey Brick Town. but she didn't go all out, else the peddler in front of her would have the same fate.

Mingyue showed her three fingers as she bargained, even though it was not bargaining at all. "Then, three broken silvers! Take it or leave it."

The peddler didn't say anything, but his body swayed a little.

"It is decided, right? Smelly tofu, give me coins!" Mingyue spread her hand in front of Fu Tao.

"Er, can't you ask before anything first?" Fu Tao touched his temple, but he still took out three broken silver coins and put it on Mingyue's hand. "Here."

Putting tree broken silver coins in front of the peddler, Mingyue took the pair of tonfa and ran away from the stall.

Yes, it was tonfa, made from some kind of iron or steel, or maybe the fusion from both of it.

"Hey, little Yue. What are you planning with that."

Even though Fu Tao was reluctant to spend coins earlier, it was not false that he was interested in the weapon called tonfa. The shape was compact and much more flexible than his current weapon.

Even if he wouldn't use that tonfa, he could train with it.

But, Mingyue's answer broke his fragile heart.

"Of course, for little Qi." Mingyue replied the obvious as she didn't hear the sound of the broken heart.

"Wh-"

"Didn't I say the reason earlier? He will train under you. Giving him a pair of tonfa, a weapon that similar with yours is even better, right?" Mingyue had a bright smile that knocked the last defence of Fu Tao's broken heart.

Seeing the wounded Fu Tao, Mingyue patted his shoulder.

He thought that Mingyue was consoling him, but the next word made him cried.

"It is your fate."

[Heck!]

[Whose fate! That is not mine! I know it!]

[Why are you growing more and more similar with little Yun! One is already a headache!]

…

Two days later, in the backyard of the Mercenary Guild.

It was a big and open place, and there were a few wooden targets at the side.

There was a weapon rack along with various weapons there. But, all of them were rusty.

There were also a few people that were training and sparring. They were 0-star mercenary. Even though they had passed as a mercenary, there were a lot of limitations on them. And it was their best choice to hone their skill here, in the Mercenary Guild itself.

Mingyue, Fu Tao, and Liao Yun were standing together with many other young faces. There were a few of older face, but it was the minority.

Song Qi sure was left at the inn because it was forbidden to bring the unrelated party into the mercenary examination.

The youngest in this place was Mingyue as her appearance was no different from a ten years old girl. Or maybe lesser. But she didn't care.

But most of the participant should be around fifteen to twenty years old.

As the participants were all nervous, except for Mingyue, Liao Yun, and Fu Tao, three people came from inside the Mercenary Guild's building.

The first person was a big and muscle man. He wore a tight shirt that would show his muscle through the shirt. His head was similar to a stone because he was bald and had a pair of the thick eyebrow. His serious expression didn't change even after he stood in front of the participants.

The second person was Miss Chen. She was a beautiful looking woman with her long and silky hair. Mingyue didn't realize it before, but Miss Chen's hair was a little wavy around her shoulder. Her smile was very seductive as her curvy hip and waist were shown from her thigh skirt.

Miss Chen winked in the direction of Mingyue, but she returned to focus on her job.

The third person was an old man that was filled with white colour. White long hair, white eyebrow, white beard, and white oversized-cloak. This old man brought a staff and each of his steps was accompanied by the sound of his staff knocking on the floor.

As the three people arrived, the examination participants were all silent.

They didn't dare to make trouble in case of being banned from the examination.

Sweeping his gaze to the surroundings, the tight shirt man cleared his throat to gather the participant's attention.

"Good morning, little animal. You are all here to participate in the examination, and I am not talking about the useless crap here."

"This examination is simple. Harvest three stalk of Blood Rose Grass within the time limit, until the sun disappears. If you didn't know what is this Blood Rose Grass, you can come here and see the description." The tight shirt man pointed his index finger toward the stack of papers in Miss Chen's hand.

The tight shirt man swept his gaze at the surroundings as he asked, "So, is there any other question?"

One young man raised his hand and asked, "Where is this Blood Rose Grass habitat?"

"You can see the description here. But if you ask me, then I will say this. The place with a lot of blood flows."

"This Blood Rose Grass grows with blood as their nourishment. Whether it is the blood of an animal, blood of a beast, or even blood of the human, it is all the same. Is there any question?"

Many shuddered as they heard the explanation.

The place with so many deaths? It was no different from a dangerous place, or even a battlefield. It was no different from depending on their own luck to pass this examination.

Seeing that no one asked for a question anymore, the tight shirt man smirked and said, "The rule is what I have said earlier. Three stalks of Blood Rose Grass before the day ends. That's all. I don't care what you do, but I only care about the result."

All were surprised as they heard the end of the sentence.

[Result?]

[Yes! All that matter is the result.]

"Ready, GO!"

Many ran toward Miss Chen as they wanted to rob the plant's description. If there was the simplest way to reduce the number of the competitor, that was to destroy the hint.

But it was obvious that not only a few people that had the same idea.

Even before they reached for Miss Chen, they were already in a fight with each other.

Mingyue and Fu Tao were speechless by the scene before them, while Liao Yun didn't hold back her laughter.

…