Turtle Shell Mercenary (Part 3)

The dark night shrouded the party as they were all camping in the open air. Each of them was busy with their own thing. Fu Tao and Hao Bo went to take care of the hardworking horse and donkey. Liao Yun was having her turn to fix some dinner while Mo Hua prepared some simple alarm in case of an unexpected guest.

It was a thin and long string of wires made of iron. There were a few bells attached in a few places. After infusing a small amount of Elemental toward each of the bells, it would make an ear-deafening sound to alarm them.

In a place not far from the wagon, a woman and a little girl were having fun.

"Ahaha, did you see it?" Qin Yi's voice was full of pride and cheeriness. She put a wide and big smile as she puffed out her big chest toward Mingyue.

Far in front of her was a big stone and there was a mark of crossbow's pelt.

Huooo. . ." Mingyue's eyes were sparkling as she looked at Qin Yi's crossbow. Her gaze contained her admiration and interest of Qin Yi's crossbow.

It was the first time Mingyue saw such weapon. With a simple gesture, a small projectile was shot toward the target. The most important thing was Elemental wasn't needed at all!

Mingyue was interested in the crossbow, she even couldn't remove her gaze from the crossbow.

"This is the strength of my buddy! Haha!" Qin Yi was satisfied with Mingyue's reaction. As what most people would say, a little kid was easy to impress.

Blinking her eyes a few times, Mingyue went closer and grabbed Qin Yi's hand. "Can you lend me that? Can I play with that?"

"Hahaha. Of course, you can't, little girl." Qin Yi was having fun with teasing the little girl in front of her.

"Humph!" Mingyue puffed her cheeks as she let go of Qin Yi's hand. Changing her plan, Mingyue planned to snatch the crossbow on Qin Yi's waist.

Surprised by the sudden move, Qin Yi parried each of Mingyue's attempt. Mingyue couldn't reach her crossbow, not to mention grab it. Thanks to the difference in their age, obviously the group of mercenaries didn't know Mingyue's real age, the scene was akin to someone which was bullying a little girl.

[Oh, how can this girl is this cute? What kind of adorable creature she is?] Qin Yi fell in love with the cute creature in front of her.

Seeing her every attempt ended in failure, Mingyue changed her plan. She immediately hugged Qin Yi's waist as she glanced upward. "Give me!" Even though the hug didn't have much strength behind it, Qin Yi couldn't bear to push the adorable Mingyue away.

Qin Yi was put in awkward position as she didn't know how to refuse. She threw every hint toward her leader, desperately asking for Hao Bo's help.

"Haha! You reap what you sow. Who ask you to show that?" Liang Chun laughed the loudest as she saw the defeated look on Qin Yi. "Come here, girlie. Take this big sis's thing." Even if they were all mercenaries, both of them were a woman, making them had a soft spot for a little girl.

Qin Yi wore a wronged expression as she looked at Mingyue's elated expression toward Liang Chun.

Different from Qin Yi, Liang Chun almost never used her crossbow because of her proficiency. But because of Hao Bo's insistence, Liang Chun reluctantly always brought her crossbow.

A weapon was akin to a mercenary's additional limb, a life saver. Trusted mate and a part of the mercenary's life. A good weapon didn't always make a good mercenary, but all good mercenary would have a good weapon for themselves. Thus, it was very rare for a mercenary to lend their weapon to another. And this was Qin Yi's dilemma.

As the only healer in the group, she couldn't possibly slack without any contribution to the group. After learning some combat technique, she was proficient enough with using crossbow and knife. But she couldn't possibly endanger herself, thus Qin Yi mainly used her crossbow.

And that was the main reason for why she didn't want to lend her crossbow. It was the extension her limb.

"Yeah!" As Mingyue released her hug at Qin Yi's waist, Qin Yi felt like she was being abandoned without any hesitation. She was akin to abandoned puppy, left alone in the dark.

Looking at the giggling Mingyue, the corner of Liao Yun's lips twitched. All of Mingyue's attention was focused on the crossbow as soon as Mingyue received it from Liang Chun.

[Damn this girl, what is she thinking now? Tricking some people?]

Liao Yun had a sudden flashback in a flash. She remembered all of her agonies thanks to the harmless-looking little girl. Liao Yun wanted to whack Mingyue's head, but her heart couldn't bear it. In the end, she could only say, "Don't pamper that girl too much."

Didn't understand the agony in Liao Yun's mind, Liang Chun only nodded her head.

[Isn't this woman a little overprotective? A girl in this age should have the capability to protect themselves.] But remembering the rumour about Liao Yun's skill, Liang Chun didn't say anything else. Another people's problem was not her place to put her foot in.

"Little girl, little girl, come here. Look what I have." Qin Yi waved her hand toward Mingyue, but unfortunately, Mingyue didn't pay any attention.

Mingyue was too focused on the crossbow. Even though it was only a crossbow without its pelt, it was enough to occupy all of Mingyue's attention.

"Klack, klick. . ." A various sound came from the crossbow.

"Don't destroy it, little Yue." Liao Yun tried to remind Mingyue, but there was no response.

Not paying any attention to the occupied Mingyue anymore, Liao Yun turned her attention toward Liang Chun, "So, when will we arrive at the nearest village?"

"Tomorrow afternoon. Evening at the latest."

"Don't the villager will be in alert if we arrive so suddenly?"

"No, they won't. They are already used with the travelling merchants and mercenaries. From the first place, the village is prepared to accommodate every traveller, making it's convenient for us."

Looking at the barren surroundings, Liao Yun scratched the back of her head. "Travelling to this kind of place is a little pointless, isn't it? Is there even any merit in?"

"Yup, the Grey Brick Forest. It is an abundant place, even though it was filled in danger."

"Forest, Which forest?"

"There is only one. Don't you know?" Liang Chun's expression brightened as she realized something. "Ah, the forest didn't have any name in the first place. But because there is a Grey Brick Town nearby, the forest is called Grey Brick Forest."

Liang Chun continued, "The forest is abundant with some herb. The price of the herb is not high in the first place, but there is a big request for the said herb. And the Grey Brick Forest is one of the few abundant places."

Remembering the forest where Liao Yun and Fu Tao came from, Liao Yun asked, "Then why don't you pick that kind of request?"

"Because of our speciality is escorting and guarding." Hao Bo interjected. She sat near the source of fire as Fu Tao followed behind. "Even though a mercenary is called mercenary, each mercenary has their own speciality. And in our Turtle Shell Mercenary, we are proficient in these two points."

Liang Chun added, "We are not as aggressive as our peers, but we make sure to not have any accident. Look at him." Mo Hua was at the end of Liang Chun's pointed finger. "His personality is timid, a little unsuitable to be a mercenary. But he is meticulous enough to care every detail, hence we invite him."

"Tsk, tsk. Just say that both of you are scared of that whatever forest." Liao Yun rolled her eyes.

"Hahaha! Indeed I am scared. Don't you know that there is even a mid-tier Fierce Beast in that place? And these few years, the number of missing mercenaries were multiplied if compare of the year before it." Hao Bo's expression grew darker. "I am not interested to die a dog's death yet."

Smirking at Hao Bo's answer, Liao Yun laughed loudly as the dinner was ready. "I like it! It is not the time for us to die, so why rushing to our death? Hahaha!"

Liao Yun's mood was better than before as she got closer to Hao Bo and Liang Chun.

As they were all having fun with each other, a cold glint flashed on Mingyue's pair of eyes as she gazed in one direction.

…