Chapter 5 The Cost of Kindness (3)_1

When Ye Yinzhu arrived at the Iron Thorn Mercenary Group under Ge'en's guidance, the mercenaries were making their final preparations. They were set to depart early the next morning.

"The employer's commission this time is very good, so we from the Iron Thorn are going all out. We leave first thing tomorrow morning. Yinzhu, just stick close to me," Ge'en said.

Looking at the bustling mercenaries, Ye Yinzhu asked, "Uncle Ge'en, your mercenary group has more than sixty people. Why did you only buy twenty unicorns? That won't be enough to ride."

Ge'en gave a bitter smile and said, "I'd like to buy one for everyone, but the problem is our mercenary group's finances are limited. The unicorns I bought are for hauling goods and transporting the employer. If it wasn't for the employer's money, I wouldn't even be willing to buy twenty. We mercenaries are used to running around outdoors, and we're all in leather armor, so we're not that heavy, and our speed won't be much slower than the unicorns'. Don't worry, though, since you're a mage, naturally you'll be riding."

While talking, Ge'en clapped his hands forcefully, drawing all the mercenaries' attention to him, "Hold on, everyone. Let me introduce our new member, Ye Yinzhu. He will accompany us to Milan."

"Oh? A newcomer. He looks rather thin! Chief, what's his profession?" a mercenary in his thirties asked curiously.

With a mysterious smile, Ge'en announced, "A Red-rank High-Ranked Mage. From now on, our Iron Thorn can also be considered to have a mage. After we complete our mission in Milan City, we can stop by the Mercenary Guild there and register as a D Rank Mercenary Group."

At these words, the mercenaries erupted in cheers, having waited too long for this day. The promotion of the mercenary group's rank was directly related to their income. After all, they became mercenaries for the sake of money. Suddenly, Yinzhu became the darling of the mercenaries, with each one curiously looking at the handsome young man and bombarding him with questions. Some even wanted to see Yinzhu cast some magic.

"Alright, quiet down, you lot. Don't scare our little brother Ye," Ge'en said as he wiped the cold sweat off his forehead. He knew that mages were often very proud, and if Yinzhu were to leave in a huff because of their insistence that he demonstrate magic, what would they do then?

"Sorry, I can't demonstrate my magic for you," Yinzhu said somewhat apologetically. What could he cast without his zither?

Ge'en quickly interjected, "Exactly, you lot quiet down. Is magic something you can see any time you want? Yinzhu, don't mind them. Oh, and did you lose your Mage's Badge? If you have it, you better bring it along."

The Mage's Badge hadn't been lost; Yinzhu had simply carried it with him after receiving it from the Mage's Guild in Luna City. The map and the mask Zi gave him were also still on him because he hadn't placed them in his ring.

Nonchalantly pulling out the red badge and placing it on his left chest, the sixteen-year-old Ye Yinzhu still looked a bit youthful, but at least the badge on his chest now proved his professional identity. The badge issued by the Mage's Guild couldn't be counterfeited and contained a special magical fluctuation. To create this badge, Qin Shang had specifically taken a drop of Yinzhu's blood to the guild. As long as the badge remained undamaged, it would accompany Yinzhu for life. Whenever he advanced in rank, he simply needed to visit the Mage's Guild to upgrade his badge.

Upon seeing the badge, the mercenaries immediately quieted down and returned to their busy work at Ge'en's signal.

"Captain Ge'en, you're here just in time. How are the preparations going?" An entrancing voice wafted in from the entrance, and Yin Zhu turned his head along with Ge'en. In a split second, he felt a slight fluctuation in his spiritual power.

A woman appeared at the courtyard entrance, slowly stepping inside. Her simple white gown reflected a luxurious radiance on her, like sea waves undulating. Most of her water-blue, wave-like hair cascaded down her back, with just a strand on each side falling in front of her chest, covering her ears. Her snow-white, pretty face emanated a soft glow, delicate and straight nose, long graceful neck, cherry-red lips. It was as if a gentle goddess had descended from heaven. Her slender and upright figure only revealed her fair, lotus-like calves drawing reveries from beneath her long gown.

She moved with a gentle grace, serene and as elegantly drifting as elven dust, as if a captivating lily was passing through the clouds.

Yin Zhu became lost in his gaze, for he couldn't discern the woman's precise age. At first glance, she seemed as youthful and radiant as a young girl, but on closer inspection, she lacked the naivety of a girl. Her dignified elegance was enough to make those who fantasized about her feel ashamed.

Her arrival instantly captured the attention of all the mercenaries, but after only a brief moment, they lowered their heads, Ge'en included, as if to look any longer would be to desecrate the "goddess" before them. The only one whose bewildered gaze remained on the woman was Yin Zhu, who, standing there, seemed to emit a presence on par with the young lady in the entire courtyard.

For some reason, Yin Zhu suddenly felt a close affinity with this woman, her aura made him exceedingly comfortable, a feeling he had only ever experienced in the presence of his teacher, Qin Shang.

The woman soon noticed Yin Zhu's gaze, her soft eyes met his in the air, and she was immediately dazzled, surprise showing on her lovely face as two different lights drifted from her beautiful eyes. They held no malice, merely brushing lightly over Yin Zhu's gaze as a form of exploration.

Yin Zhu's mind briefly blanked, his vision becoming static, his mind dizzy, but it was only for a moment before he returned to normal. The Innocent Child's heart, pure and free of any other thoughts, was exactly why Yin Zhu made such rapid progress in his cultivation, be it in spiritual power or willpower, truly living up to Qin Shang's description of him as a genius. Stimulated by the woman's exploratory gaze, a dark red light released from his forehead once more, creating a barrier of spiritual power—a customary practice among mages to gauge one another's strength through such pure spiritual power tests.

"Ah! How is that possible?" The woman's surprise grew more pronounced, "Captain Ge'en, aren't you going to introduce me?"

Only then did Ge'en snap out of it, inwardly cursing his lack of composure. It wasn't their first meeting, so why did he react like this? He hurriedly said, "Miss Anya, this is the mage Yin Zhu whom I've newly employed. He will also be joining us for this mission. With him on board, we will surely be better equipped to protect you and your goods."

Having heard Ge'en's words, Yin Zhu realized that the dignified and elegant lady before him was, in fact, their employer for this mission.

"Hello, Sister Anya," Yin Zhu said, his clear black eyes fixed on Anya, inadvertently drifting to her full bosom, thinking to himself, Sister Anya's chest muscles are so strong!

Anya noticed Yin Zhu's eyes on her intimate area and initially bristled, but when she saw his gaze devoid of any impurities, the anger in her heart quietly dissipated. Just like Yin Zhu's feelings towards her, she too found herself unwittingly drawn to the handsome and exceptionally poised young man, not for his appearance, but for the pure aura he exuded.