Angered Fu Tao (Part 1)

Ever since that incident, Mingyue's party didn't meet any trouble. Their journey was smooth without any trouble.

Ever since Hao Bo thought that Liao Yun was an Elemental Warrior, Liao Yun was always showered by the look of praise and worship. Especially Hao Bo and Liang Chun.

Both of them believed that if Liao Yun joined the Mercenary Guild, Liao Yun would be able to gain 2-star mercenary at the very least. Both of them even predicted that Liao Yun would be able to rank up in less than a year.

That was a high evaluation that came from veteran mercenaries. Since Turtle Shell Mercenary had gone to a Grade 2 Mercenary City, even though the Turtle Shell Mercenary itself was a group of 1-star mercenary, Liao Yun believed in their hunch.

But Mingyue thought the otherwise.

Liao Yun's reckless nature would lower her assessment even if her combat ability was high.

Mingyue remembered the passionate Xia Lanyue, her older sister's story about Mercenary Guild. Well, it was more like the small amount of Mingyue's meeting with Xia Lanyue was filled with the knowledge about mercenary and Mercenary Guild.

Strength was important. But the higher the star, the necessity for the teamwork was higher than the individual strength. People with unique abilities would be much more appreciated rather than a mere high individual strength.

But Mingyue didn't dampen Liao Yun's spirit because Liao Yun herself didn't understand much about mercenary, except for fighting.

[Maybe we should register at the Mercenary City?]

Mingyue rubbed her chin while she was thinking their next aim after reaching their destination, the nearest Grade 1 Mercenary City.

Both Liao Yun and Fu Tao were originally only following Mingyue out of their tribe's settlement, so it was not weird for her to take the next course of destination. But if Liao Yun or Fu Tao had their request, she was fine with it as she wanted to take it easy on the whole journey.

When they reached the destination, Mingyue wanted to stay for some time there.

The three of them would register at the Mercenary Guild. Since Liao Yun was interested to become a mercenary, Fu Tao would definitely follow Liao Yun as if he was a little duckling that was following the mother duck.

And in this way, Mingyue should be able to inquire a lot of information from the Mercenary Guild. About the Xia family at the Fire Kingdom, her split up family's where-about, and also Wu Mei's trace.

And the most important thing was they were all almost penniless. All the gold they received at the Grey Brick Town was all spent on their supplies, wagon, a horse and a pair of donkey.

She had planned to hunt some Fierce Beast along the way, but alas, there was no any prey at all!

She was in a headache when Hao Bo explained that the area around Grey Brick Town was desolate of Fierce Beast, with the exception of the Grey Brick Forest (Author's Note: unnamed forest). Of course, no one was daring enough to enter the Grey Brick Forest deeply because they would never be able to return safely.

But the resource at the outer area of the Grey Forest was rich, so there would be a lot of peddlers and merchants would come to the Grey Brick Town. Therefore, a small Mercenary Guild was built to regulate the mercenaries even though the Grey Brock Town was no different from an isolated place.

Therefore, there was still some low star mercenary would arrive at the desolate area like a Grey Brick City.

Thus, getting cash from the Mercenary Guild was the prime reason.

…

A few days later.

Many stars filled the night sky, but some were swept by the oncoming dawn. The sky grew brighter as the cold of night disappeared.

Unlike the days before, Hao Bo explained that the distance of the destination with their current position was not too far. Thus, she suggested that we moved before the dawn arrived.

"Look at that. That is a Grade 1 Mercenary City, Black Iron City." Hao Bo stopped the horse as she introduced the city in front of them.

Mingyue could see a snake-shaped road in front of her, with the end of the road was the gate of the city, the only gate. The city was surrounded by a wall, high wall. A lot of people queued up in front of the city gate. Some had a wagon similar to Mingyue's party, some had a carriage, and some other people just stood there to queue.

Mingyue was surprised as she saw how people understood how to queue.

Hao Bo continued the introduction of the Black Iron City in front of them. "Unlike the Grey Brick Town, this city has a regulation if one wants to go inside. The most basic is the Identification Badge. Identification Badge is a proof of a citizen. As long as you pay the tax to the kingdom, your identification badge will be able to be used all across the Earth Kingdom."

"Paying a tax is a burden for us mercenary, so we don't have any identification badge. But in exchange, we have a Mercenary Badge. We, mercenaries, are one part of the kingdom's strength. Thus, any mercenary will be able to use their Mercenary Badge as their identification proof. And of course, you must not lend your Mercenary Badge to any other people, or your qualification as a mercenary will be revoked."

Hao Bo took something under her gear. It was a pentagon-shaped badge with a lion holding a sword and a bow in the left and right side of the badge. The design was crude and the badge was made from some kind of iron or something similar.

"And the last is a visitor token. Well, it is more like paying the guard at the city gate and you will be allowed to come inside the Black Iron City. There are a lot of limitations for those with visitor token, so I suggest that all of you register as a mercenary." Hao Bo's eyes were filled with an admiration and adoration as she looked at Liao Yun.

"It's fine. Since we will need the identification sooner or later, let's all of us register this time." Liao Yun didn't even look at Mingyue or Fu Tao to ask for their approval. She smiled brightly as their party arrive at the end of the queue.

Even if Xiao Wu was something unusual for many people, no one paid a second glance after they saw her. Of course, no one would bother with some kind of animal which was not even a beast yet.

"Hahaha, finally this mission has ended!" Qin Yi stretched her body as she went out of the wagon.

Qin Yi's body was worn-out after the long journey even though she mostly stayed on the wagon, together with the unconscious boy, Fu Tao and Mo Hua.

Unlike the first time when Mingyue's party went out of the Grey Brick City, the amount of luggage on the wagon was reduced considerably. Almost all of the food supplies were used up and there was more space on the wagon.

But no matter what, riding on the wagon was not as comfortable as riding on a carriage or a horse. Thus, it was no wonder for Qin Yi to hate the wagon very much, even if this was the first time she rode a wagon on the journey.

Also, Qin Yi had to take care of the unconscious boy.

Ever since that accident a few days ago, that certain little and black bird never left the unconscious boy. And the boy never experienced any seizure or convulsion like that time. It was weird, but Qin Yi was tasked to observe the boy's condition in case of another convulsion.

Different from the worn-out Qin Yi, both Fu Tao and Mo Hua were spirited as they had a heated conversation almost all time.

"Little Yun, I will go to somewhere wide to spar with brother Hua." Fu Tao waved his hand at Liao Yun while he left the wagon to the other.

The timid Mo Hua only went to Hao Bo and whispered something. After receiving a small nod, Mo Hua turned his body and he chased after Fu Tao.

"Humph! Leaving me alone after has a new friend?" Liao Yun grumbled with her eyes full of resentment. Fu Tao had never left her alone like this. Not even once.

So when Liao Yun heard Fu Tao's earlier words, she was stunned and she didn't know how to respond. And in the end, Liao Yun only glared at him as if Fu Tao had wronged her

No one heard Liao Yun's muttering except Mingyue that was looking around the wagon.

[. . . Can't both of you just get married?] Mingyue rolled her eyes as she watched a pair of lovebirds.

"Yueyue, are they having a fight?" Xiao Wu asked because it was the first time she saw Fu Tao left Liao Yun on his own accord.

"Nah, forget it. Just a wife and husband's quarrel."

Mingyue looked at a pair of boys that was sparring. And what made it was a unique scene was both of them wore a shield.

Of course, it was an odd scene since a fight between shield-user was a waste of time. One side had a big rounded shield, while the other party had a pair of tower-shaped shields in a small to medium size.

The surrounding's people were attracted by the sound of the fight. But when they saw the fight itself, they lost their interest since it was a boring fight. Of course, who would watch a fight between a pair of turtle? When will they finish the fight? And there was no climax in the fight itself!

Some people even booing Fu Tao and Mo Hua since they were a shield-user. Even though it was not weird for someone to use a shield as their main weapon, but most of the men here believed that a shield was a weapon for a weakling, a scaredy-cat.

But a troublemaker would exist everywhere, without any exception.

"WHO THE F*CK IS THIS PAIR OF MONKEY! SHOO THEM AWAY!" A loud voice broke the calm atmosphere in the surroundings, making Fu Tao and Mo Hua stopped their sparring.

Fu Tao furrowed his eyebrows as the presence around him was different than the usual him.

…