Leaving the alchemy room, the hall of the old man's residence lay just ahead. Dabai wasn't there, and Xiaoqi's door was open, clearly empty.
"Hmm? Where'd he gone off to again?"
After failing to find Dabai, Mingqi was about to leave when the old man approached him.
"Young friend, you've done me a great favor, and you've essentially saved Xiaoqi. I really don't know how to thank you enough. If you need anything, just ask. As long as I can help, I won't refuse."
The old man's words were sincere, and Mingqi could see that. But could he be so shameless as to ask for anything? Wasn't this tantamount to extortion?
"This... isn't good."
Mingqi didn't know what to say. This old man was generally good in every way, except for this one. If you were sincere, wouldn't it be easier just to offer something?
Let me say it? How could I possibly say it?
After pondering for a moment, Ming Qi finally set his sights on the remarkable Loulan Ancient Tree in the hall.
"If Senior is willing to part with it, I think..."
Before Ming Qi could finish, the old man spoke with a smile.
"That's perfectly fine. Since you like it, take it. However, it needs to be watered with Jade Liquid once a month, otherwise it will wither."
With that, the old man unleashed a stream of energy, enveloping the entire Loulan Ancient Tree.
"Jade Liquid? Is that Spirit Jade Juice?"
As he spoke, Ming Qi took the ancient tree and placed it in his ring.
"Yes, it was a coincidence. Otherwise, it would have withered long ago."
"Yes."
Ming Qi nodded. Spirit Jade Juice wasn't difficult to find, but Dabai had told him that this Loulan Ancient Tree seemed to be a sacred tree of the Sky Fox Clan. It seemed to have some history, so it might as well be kept for now.
After putting away the Loulan Ancient Tree, Ming Qi headed outside.
His spiritual sense spread out, immediately sensing Dabai's location.
This guy had actually made it outside of Killing Star City.
Half an hour later, they were in an open space outside Killing Star City.
Ming Qi's eyes twitched as he watched Dabai galloping wildly across the ground, carrying Xiaoqi on his back.
"You, this guy..."
It was a bright spring day, and the girl in green resembled a lotus leaf swaying on the surface of a lake. Though not as dazzling and gorgeous as a lotus, she possessed a detachment and agility that even the lotus could not match.
The girl's clear laughter echoed from time to time on the wind, filling the entire landscape with a spring breeze.
"Sanlang, you're here. Is the elixir ready?"
Sensing a human presence, Dabai immediately became alert, but upon seeing it was Ming Qi, he didn't approach, instead transmitting a message from afar.
"Well, the elixir is done."
Ming Qi, bored, held a piece of dry grass in his mouth, gazing at the lazy sun in the sky.
"Sanlang, I like this girl..."
Without warning, Dabai's voice came over, startling Ming Qi.
"Stop talking nonsense!"
Ming Qi almost yelled.
"She's kind and beautiful..."
"Shut up!" Ming Qi ripped the dry grass out of his mouth and stood up.
"Stop fooling around! Wait until you reach the Heavenly Spirit Realm before you think about finding a woman."
Ming Qi was truly speechless. You said Dabai was just a tiger. How could he fall for a human instead of a tigress?
"I..."
Dabai was speechless too.
"Alright, alright. We have business to attend to. Let's take Xiaoqi back."
A moment later, Dabai strode majestically towards Ming Qi, though his tiger face looked a little unhappy.
Ming Qi rolled his eyes at Da Bai, then looked at the green-clad girl on the tiger's back and said, "Miss Xiao Qi, the healing elixir has been prepared. Take good care of yourself when you return. I wish you a speedy recovery."
Xiao Qi smiled sweetly and nodded.
That afternoon, Ming Qi and the others were resting in the restaurant.
The formation of the mercenary group was nearly complete. It went without saying that Wei Silong was the leader of the Angels of Vengeance, Mo Changli was the deputy leader, and Ming Qi had been given the title of deputy leader without any apparent reason.
"How is it going? Has it achieved the desired results?"
Ming Qi was still concerned about the formation. Without powerful innate masters, the mercenary group couldn't grow.
"There's only one innate master, and the remaining nearly a hundred are all acquired masters, with complicated backgrounds."
Wei Silong's face wasn't looking good. With only one innate master joining, the result was rather bleak.
"Where is he? Let me see."
After hearing Wei Silong's words, Ming Qi was eager to see him.
A short while later, Ming Qi spotted the only innately powerful member of the Angels of Vengeance Mercenary Group, Su Yuan, lying on the ground next to a wine table.
"A drunkard?"
Seeing the woman lying on the ground clutching a pile of wine bottles, Ming Qi was so surprised that he almost broke out in a sweat. There were many drunkards these days, but he had never seen such a delicate and frail drunkard like this before.
Su Yuan wore a black bodysuit over a long black skirt, her hair untied. If it weren't for her moon-like beauty, Ming Qi would have easily thought of her as a terrifying witch.
"That's her, Su Yuan. It's said she was once a flying thief from Xixian City. Pursued by her captors, she fled to Shaxing City. Because of her previous status, few mercenary groups would accept her, so she's been working solo."
Wei Silong explained, then motioned for a nearby mercenary to help Su Yuan up. Su Yuan still appeared drunk, but with the help of the burly man, he managed to sit up quite easily.
But just as Su Yuan was being helped to his feet, Ming Qi was stunned by his actions.
Su Yuan, babbling nonsense, saw one hand reach for his chest the moment the burly man lifted him up, seemingly trying to grab something.
"Uh, you're a man... Get out of here! Hiccup..."
Mumbling, Su Yuan pushed the burly man, causing him to stumble and nearly fall.
"Uh, what?"
Ming Qi was completely shocked. Could this woman have some kind of hobby?
"Bring some wine, quick!"
Su Yuan slumped down in the chair, already shouting.
Since Su Yuan had joined the Angels of Vengeance Mercenary Group, Wei Silong was responsible for all of Su Yuan's expenses. When he requested wine, the waiter immediately brought over two large bottles.
"Su Yuan's strength is between the fourth and fifth levels of the Xiantian realm, and he's proficient in Western Immortal Swordsmanship and skilled in assassination, but..."
Wei Silong paused at this point.
"But what?"
Ming Qi looked at the strange woman indifferently and asked Wei Silong.
"She loves wine like her life depends on it, and she's extremely fond of women..."
"..."
Ming Qi turned to look at Mo Changli and Wei Silong.
"Could it be that she joined because she's interested in you two?"
The two women simply ignored him. Such a statement was all they could do.
"Hehe..."
Ming Qi smiled, but didn't ask any further questions. Instead, he sat down across from Su Yuan.
Su Yuan was drinking from the bottle, his eyes awash with intoxication.
"Come on, cheers to money and women!"
Ming Qi grabbed another bottle from the table and clinked it with Su Yuan's.
"Hehe, you still understand me."
"Drink, drink..."
Su Yuan chuckled twice and resumed his drinking.
"Ignore this guy."
Seeing Ming Qi and Su Yuan drinking together, Mo Changli pouted and pulled Wei Silong out.
The two of them drank until most of the afternoon was gone.
Su Yuan was already quite drunk, and with who knows how much he'd drunk, he was completely drunk and rolled under the table.
Ming Qi had no choice but to move the table away, pick Su Yuan up, and carry him into the room.
As they entered the room, the intoxicated Su Yuan threw his arms around Ming Qi's neck, his plump breasts pressing against Ming Qi's chest.
Whoosh…
Feeling this ambiguous gesture, Ming Qi felt a surge of heat surge through his body.
"This woman didn't do this on purpose, did she?"
Ming Qi thought to himself. Seeing Su Yuan's eyes still tightly shut, he ignored her and walked over to the bed and laid her down.
But even though her body was on top, the hands around her neck remained. Speechless, Ming Qi reached out to remove Su Yuan's hands. He'd thought it would be easy, but as soon as he did, he realized those seemingly fragile arms were like a giant clamp, tightly clamped around his neck, and he couldn't pull them free.
"Hey, hey, you did this on purpose..."
Their faces were so close now. Su Yuan's rich breath of alcohol tickled Ming Qi's face without causing any discomfort. His fair face and rosy lips were incredibly tempting.
Silent. Ming Qi called out twice, but Su Yuan didn't seem to stir at all. He was truly drunk.
Ming Qi had no choice but to mobilize his Yuanli to try to push the door open. Just then, rapid footsteps echoed outside, followed by a startled cry.
"What are you doing!"
Mo Changli appeared at the doorway at just the right moment, stunned by Ming Qi's hunched posture, almost touching Su Yuan's face.
"Hmm, ah..."
Hearing Mo Changli's voice, Ming Qi knew there was no way he could explain it. With a wry smile, he jolts his Yuanli, finally dislodging Su Yuan's serpentine arm.
"Um... don't go..."
...
A moment later, with a sullen face, he leads Ming Qi to Wei Silong's room.
Mo Changli grumbles, clearly furious, while Ming Qi wears a wry smile.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing both of their expressions look utterly disturbed, Wei Silong asks curiously.
"Hmph, this guy's already hooking up with Su Yuan so quickly."
Mo Changli gritted his teeth, his face filled with anger.
"Ah!"
Wei Silong couldn't help but exclaim, clearly shocked.
"She's talking nonsense. It's not true. But what's the matter with you calling me?"
Ming Qi knew his explanation wasn't clear, so he simply changed the subject. Mo Changli had come to him so hastily, so he must have something else to discuss.