Chapter 7: The Mercenarys Mission
Seeing that the promised time was arriving soon, yet these two people were still here chirping around, she looked at Chi Yi Xuan impatiently and said: “What? If you have something to say, say it, if you need to fart, then hurry up and fart.”
“You— Lou Mu Yan, do understand that you’re a female, don’t keep acting so unfeminine every day.” Chi Yi Xuan didn’t expect that Lou Mu Yan would be this impatient and rude to him. But why was it that when he looked at her simple and delicate appearance in her elegant purple dress, he suddenly remembered the times when they were younger—that cute little girl who would chase after him calling ‘big brother Xuan’. Since when did their relationship become like this?
While Chi Yi Xuan was lost in his own world, Lou Mu Yan said sarcastically, without giving him any face: “Who are you to me? What does it matter to you whether I behave and look feminine or not? There’s something wrong with you.” She didn’t wait for Chi Yi Xuan to reply and quickly went around them.
Chi Yi Xuan’s eyes revealed faint surprise as he stood there, staring at the purple figure leaving their sight, with Yun Jin who looked as if he was watching an interesting play.
Lou Mu Yan cursed Chi Yi Xuan inwardly as she hurried—that damnable man, what was he doing acting so arrogant and self-righteous in front of her? He really thought he was someone important?
Lou Mu Yan’s feelings for Chi Yi Xuan were very complicated. Sometimes she would despise him, yet her heart would also throb for him from time to time. Although the original owner of this body made the decision, willingly, to completely dissipate, but that strong love for Chi Yi Xuan still remained within her body and was inherited by her. That’s why every time she met Chi Yi Xuan, she needed to consciously suppress the strong feelings for him that was left behind. So she didn’t want to see Chi Yi Xuan even more.
“Yi Xuan, I don’t think Lou Mu Yan’s playing hard to get. Do you remember that rumoured divination?” Yun Jin’s eyes were filled with interest. He was currently very fascinated by Lou Mu Yan, so he hoped that she wouldn’t disappoint him.
Chi Yi Xuan nodded with a frown. Clans like theirs definitely knew about the divination from sixteen years ago1 made by the Divine Seer. It seemed that the divination came true. Lou Mu Yan really changed, and seeing the beautiful figure disappearing in their sight, he felt an inexplicable sense of loss. Then he shook his head and laughed in ridicule at himself.
When Lou Mu Yan arrived at the Mercenary Union, the agreed time had already passed. She cursed Chi Yi Xuan and Yun Jin again inwardly. The moment she entered the door, she found a one of the juniors from the Ye Clan she met yesterday waiting in the lobby.
“Miss, you’ve finally arrived, the elders have been waiting upstairs for a while now.” The young man said to Lou Mu Yan with a smile.
Lou Mu Yan nodded: “Thank you for your trouble. Let’s go.”
When she entered the room, she discovered that aside from the middle-aged man, there were two others. One of them was an old man that was around the same age as the elder from yesterday who was red-haired, red-bearded, had a slightly rotund body, and an amicable smile on his rosy face.
There was also a younger man who wore a dark-patterned black robe, around twenty-years-old, with a handsome face. His facial features were as if they were sculpted, clear and defined, while his thin lips were slightly curled. Lou Mu Yan guessed that he was probably Ye Clan’s Young Lord, Ye Qing Han.
Ye Qing Han raised his sharp, phoenix-type eyes and also scrutinised Lou Mu Yan. She wore a simple and elegant purple dress, enveloping her graceful and attractive body. Her face without any powder was like a painting, and her facial features were exquisite, while her temperament appeared otherworldly—she was indeed an interesting beauty.
“Sorry, something happened so I’m late.” Lou Mu Yan said with a smile to the old man from yesterday.
A type of smile he hadn’t revealed yesterday was now apparent on his face, and he politely cupped his hands. “Miss is too polite. Thanks to Miss’s treatment yesterday using the Art of the Golden Needles, the pain that occurred last night was indeed not as agonising as before. This old man truly admires Miss’s medical skills.”
“You’re welcome. I also did this just so I could join your team to the Blazing Mountain Range, so we were only obtaining what we each needed.” Lou Mu Yan said bluntly. There was no need to hide anything in front of these intelligent and astute people.
“Miss Lou is indeed straightforward, seems like the rumours in the Imperial Capital about Miss is erroneous.” Ye Qing Han’s voice was mature and magnetic; very pleasant.
Lou Mu Yan’s smiled softly: “Since you know that I’m Lou Mu Yan, then aren’t you afraid that this trash here is playing with you?”
The Ye Clan and her mother’s Clan, the Ling Clan, were equals as they were two of the Ten Distinguished Spirit Sword Clans of this continent’s Eastern Region. Even the Imperial Family didn’t dare provoke these formidable clans. If a man blessed enough to be born into such clans like Ye Qing Han were to investigate her, it’d be as easy as blowing off dust.
“The fact that you could control Old Lu’s chronic illness from recurring proves that you indeed have some real abilities. Listening and believing is not my style, I only believe what I see. The process is not important, I’m more concerned with the results.” Ye Qing Han raised an eyebrow as he said with a faint smile.
He naturally knew of that divination about Lou Mu Yan. Divinations from the Divine Seer were never wrong, so towards Lou Mu Yan’s change, because of the divination from fifteen years ago, even he felt it was only a matter of course. Naturally, why Lou Mu Yan knew the Art of the Golden Needles had to do with her own fortuitous encounters, so he wouldn’t ask.
“Then do you mean that I’m qualified to participate in your mercenary mission?” Lou Mu Yan raised an eyebrow.
Ye Qing Han chuckled, “Naturally. Our mission his time lacks a good Physician. We welcome your participation. I’m the leader of this mission, Ye Qing Han.”
“When will we leave?” Lou Mu Yan asked with a smile—best to leave as soon as possible.
Ye Qing Han glanced at Old Lu and the others and said: “Initially we were planning to wait until the third day after Old Lao’s chronic illness flares up, but now we decided to leave tomorrow. Is that fine with you?”
“That’s fine, then it’s settled.”
“By the way, I heard that Young Miss Lou can completely cure Old Lu’s illness?” Ye Qing Han’s eyes revealed a look of expectation.
Lou Mu Yan smiled and said, “Indeed I can, but right now I can only control the illness. If you want me to completely cure it, you need to pair the needles with medicine. Three sessions should be enough to treat and fully recover.”
“Then does Young Miss Lou have any conditions?” Based on Lou Mu Yan’s background, not to mention how pampered and cherished she was in the Lou Clan, she wouldn’t risk going to the Blazing Mountain Range for the puny thirty thousand gold coin reward—unless there were some secrets.
Admiration flashed by in Lou Mu Yan’s eyes—this man was indeed smart. She also preferred straightforward transactions, “I require the Flame Fruit. After you guys help me obtain the Flame Fruit at the Blazing Mountain Range, I can treat Old Lu. Of course, if I end up not finding the Flame Fruit, I can only say I’m unlucky, I’ll still treat Old Lu. As for in exchange, we’ll talk about it then. Well, either way, I won’t make it difficult for you guys.”
“Very well, I agree.” A smile rose on Ye Qing Han’s handsome face.
Even though the Flame Fruit wasn’t easy to obtain, if it could be used in exchange for Old Lu’s health, then they still benefited from this. Not to mention, whether it was Lou Mu Yan’s background or her very person, he felt that she was worth befriending. With such a beauty as company, their journey to the Blazing Mountain Range wouldn’t be boring anymore either.
“Then tomorrow at dawn we’ll gather here and leave.” Ye Qing Han thought for a moment, then smiled and added: “Don’t be late tomorrow, Young Miss Lou.”
Lou Mu Yan rolled her eyes at him—what a petty man.
“I know, see you tomorrow. I still need to make some preparations, so I’ll leave first.” Lou Mu Yan said with slight annoyance.
Ye Qing Han’s deep black eyes were coloured with a smile, nodding: “See you then.”
Translated product by May Our 梦 Come True
1original says 16, could be typo from author.
Note: Since it’s the weekend, I’ll publish 4 altogether over Saturday and Sunday