Chapter 18: The Mission

Chapter 18: The Task

Since the mission was completed, Gray felt no urgency whatsoever. He wandered the streets with Ye Tian, browsing endlessly and entering any clothing store that seemed suitable. With several thousand gold coins about to come in, Gray’s confidence soared; he didn’t even glance at the price tags, letting Ye Tian pick whatever he liked.

But men will be men; not a single outfit Gray favored was chosen by Lasse—she rejected them all. Eventually, Lasse lost faith in Gray’s taste and took it upon herself to select Ye Tian’s clothes.

“Hey, shouldn’t you at least ask for my opinion since it’s me buying the clothes?” Ye Tian muttered, frustrated at how Lasse treated him like a mere mannequin. She made him try on everything she fancied, only to have him take it off again if she wasn’t satisfied. Ye Tian changed into a mountain of outfits, yet not a single one was bought.

“Just pick anything, really,” Ye Tian said. Truth be told, he disliked them all; they felt awkward compared to his comfortable linen tunic. But as soon as he caught Lasse’s murderous glare, he fell silent.

At last, Lasse selected a knight’s robe for Ye Tian, adorned with silver threads and looking exceedingly luxurious. Ye Tian twisted and turned, discomfort written all over his face. “This is the one,” Lasse declared.

“Fine, it’ll do,” Ye Tian replied.

“Hold on.” Lasse pulled Ye Tian over, carefully straightening his attire before taking two steps back to admire him. A smile spread across her face. “Buy it—he looks dashing and elegant!”

Gray chimed in with praise as well. After all, a woman’s eye for style far surpassed that of a man.

“Alright, this is it,” Ye Tian said, eager to escape further torment.

“That’ll be five gold coins,” the shop assistant announced with a cheerful smile, a sum that made Gray’s heart skip a beat.

“Highway robbery!” Gray exclaimed, but he handed over five gold coins from his purse.

“Let’s go, time to submit the mission,” Ye Tian said.

“Agreed.” Gray didn’t want to linger in the shop either. It hurt, truly—his money was earned with blood and sweat. Five gold coins would feed a family for a month; how could Gray not feel the sting?

The trio exited, heading straight for the Mercenary Guild.

“Make way, make way!” Suddenly, a runaway carriage stormed down the street. “Someone shout!” The coachman desperately tried to regain control, but the horses, wild and unruly, barreled ahead.

“Not good!” Lasse saw the out-of-control carriage racing toward the crowd. A little girl, frozen with fear, stared wide-eyed as the carriage hurtled toward her.

“Not good, move!” The coachman tugged hard at the reins, trying to veer the horses away. The horses reared up, hooves pounding downward.

“No!” Lasse screamed as the beast’s hoof struck something. Then, with a crash, the horse tumbled.

“What happened?” The crowd was stunned. Everyone looked to see a gray-haired boy in a silver-trimmed knight’s robe clinging tightly to the little girl.

“Are you alright?” he asked the girl with a smile, then coughed up a mouthful of blood, spattering her face. His head drooped, and he fainted.

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Another mouthful of blood spattered out as he gently placed the girl on the ground, then hurried over to check on the fallen coachman. “Are you alright?” he asked, helping the man up. Dizzy from the fall but otherwise unharmed, the coachman felt his pulse for a moment, then smiled, “It’s alright, no harm done.”

“Tian, are you okay?” Lasse pushed through the crowd, anxious. The one who had dashed in to save the girl was none other than Ye Tian himself. In that critical moment, he shielded the girl, unable to dodge, and relied on his Iron Bell Technique to withstand the impact, suffering internal injuries even as he protected her.

“I’m fine,” Ye Tian said, wiping blood from his mouth. Gray arrived, carrying the little girl. “She’s alright, don’t worry.”

“Masha, Masha!” A young woman forced her way through the crowd, calling desperately. Seeing the girl in Gray’s arms, her legs buckled, nearly collapsing.

“She’s fine,” Ye Tian said, steadying her. “Don’t worry, she’s unharmed—that blood’s mine.” He smiled reassuringly.

“Oh, sir, are you alright?” The coachman, now clear-headed, remembered the scene, cold sweat breaking out. Seeing Ye Tian alive seemed miraculous, and he clung to Ye Tian’s arm, asking repeatedly.

“I’m fine, don’t worry,” Ye Tian said, patting the coachman’s arm.

“Make way, the priest is here!” Someone had already gone to the church for help.

“Where’s the injured?” a voice called urgently.

“Oh, it’s Lisa,” Ye Tian said with a smile.

“Tian, it’s you? You’re hurt?” Lisa saw the blood on Ye Tian’s lips and was startled. She quickly began chanting to heal him.

“Don’t worry, I’m alright,” Ye Tian said with a smile. “Thank you, everyone, I’m fine.” The crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief and dispersed—no accidents would happen with a priest present.

“Thank you so much,” the girl’s mother said, moved to tears.

“It’s nothing, just what I ought to do. Take your child home—she’s shaken and needs rest. Let her sleep a while, it’ll help her recover, mentally,” Ye Tian advised.

“Trust him, it’s sound advice,” Lisa added. A priest’s words carried weight. The young mother thanked them again and departed.

Ye Tian asked Lasse to help the coachman gather his belongings and sent him on his way. Before he left, the coachman insisted on gifting a basket of apples as thanks; Ye Tian couldn’t refuse and accepted them.

“What now?” Ye Tian pointed at the large basket of apples. He could carry it, but heading to the Mercenary Guild with Gray, it would be a struggle for Lasse, despite her strength, and Lisa—well, better not. She’d share in eating them, but carrying was out of the question.

“How about this: Lisa stays here, Lasse goes back to fetch Geer,” Ye Tian suggested.

“It’s the only way,” Gray agreed, though a bit reluctant; it was the best solution.

“Let’s keep going,” Gray said with a grin.

“Alright.” Ye Tian grabbed a few apples and took a bite—crisp and juicy, quite delicious. As they walked, Ye Tian handed one to Gray, “Want one?”

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Gray gave a wry smile. “Tian, you really ought to change that attitude. In this world, everyone cares only for themselves. If you keep this up, you’ll get hurt one day.”

Ye Tian shrugged. “It’s alright. I believe there are still more good people in the world.” He grinned, showing eight gleaming white teeth.

Gray found it dazzling, turning his head away. He too had once believed that, but time had changed everything. Looking at Ye Tian, Gray could only sigh silently. When had he become so jaded, always warning others about the world’s cruelty?

Ye Tian tossed Gray the reddest apple, then started munching another himself. Gray looked at the apple in his hand, smiled, and bit into it. “Not bad—delicious!”

The Mercenary Guild—an adventurer’s paradise. Each day, the latest tasks were posted on schedule. Adventurers and mercenaries could take jobs according to their rank and earn rewards. No one had to worry about deceit; after centuries of operation, not a single case of fraud had occurred. That was the Mercenary Guild!

Unlike the Warrior Guild or Mage Guild, the Mercenary Guild welcomed anyone. Even notorious criminals could take jobs and earn rewards if they met the criteria. After nearly a millennium of development, the Mercenary Guild had become the largest and most powerful, and certainly the most mysterious—no one knew who the true boss was.

Every nation on the continent boasted a Mercenary Guild, unmatched by any other organization. Despite its reach, the Guild never meddled in political struggles, making it the safest of all—its foundations unshakable.

“It’s huge!” Ye Tian entered the town’s grandest complex; the front hall was nearly as tall as the city gates, a testament to its strength. The vast hall bustled with people, boisterous but never chaotic.

“Welcome, please show your Mercenary badge.” Gray strode up to a beautiful receptionist, who greeted him politely. Gray handed over his badge, which she examined carefully before saying respectfully, “Captain Gray, please proceed to the back.” Another lovely attendant arrived to guide them.

“Sorry for the trouble,” Gray said with a smile. The attendant gestured for them to follow. Many in the crowd watched with envy—anyone allowed into the back rooms was at least rank A, a number that inspired dreams.