Although both women were somewhat incredulous, they knew that dwelling on the issue would lead to nothing, so they stopped immediately.
"Blood Sword Mercenary Group Vice Leader Huang Tianba was killed along with a dozen elites. Now that Blood Sword is offering a bounty for their lives, should we investigate?"
Wei Silong immediately mentioned that he wanted Ming Qi to come and discuss the matter.
Blood Sword Mercenary Group?
Vice Leader Huang Batian?
Ming Qi stroked his chin and asked, "Isn't Huang Tianba the one with the large scar on his face, nicknamed the War Maniac?"
Wei Silong asked in surprise, "How do you know?"
Ming Qi waved his hand and said, "If so, there's no need to investigate. I killed him."
...
Suddenly, Wei Silong and Mo Changli were speechless.
Huang Tianba, the deputy leader of the Blood Sword Mercenary Group, was a master of the fourth level of the Xiantian Armament Control Realm and was known as a war maniac. Even Wei Silong wouldn't have been able to defeat him in a one-on-one fight, let alone kill him. And it wasn't just Huang Tianba who was killed; several Xiantian cultivators and several post-natal cultivators were also killed. Could Ming Qi have killed them all?
Seeing the two women's expressions of disbelief, Ming Qi didn't bother to explain. With a flick of his right hand, a sky-blue shield appeared in his hand.
"This is Huang Tianba's shield, but it's mine now."
Twisting Huang Tianba's Sky-Blue King Shield, Ming Qi smiled brightly.
Seeing the Sky-Blue King Shield, Wei Silong finally believed it. Having been in Killing Star City for a long time, she naturally knew the people within a mercenary group as large as the Blood Sword. This Sky-Blue King Shield was the magic weapon of Deputy Leader Huang Tianba.
"Did you really kill Huang Tianba?"
Even after seeing the Azure King Shield, Wei Silong still found it hard to believe. Even though Ming Qi's realm had improved over the past few days, he was only at the third level of the Innate Five Elements Realm. Facing the fourth-level Huang Tianba and a group of Blood Sword elites, how could he have managed to slay them all without a scratch?
"Haha, you killed Huang Tianba, and you got a good deal. Interested?"
Ming Qi said with a smile, putting away the Azure King Shield.
"Deal?"
Wei Silong blinked. This guy was becoming increasingly elusive. Killing Huang Tianba was astonishing enough, and getting a deal so quickly sounded like a joke.
"Yes, there's someone we need to escort in two days. If we succeed, we'll earn 20 million Yuan Crystals. Not bad, right?"
Ming Qi was referring, of course, to the little boy they'd met.
Once they reached Langya Mountain and confirmed where the boy was going, they could decide whether to accept the deal.
"But we're not sure yet. We need to see where he's going."
Wei Silong nodded. "Okay, I'll go get some help in the next two days. Let me know when you're sure."
"Okay."
After all, the little boy had only agreed on a location with Ming Qi, and only Ming Qi could confirm it with him.
"Should we take Su Yuan with us?"
Finally, Mo Changli suddenly asked. Although she somewhat disliked this woman, known for her drinking and lust, she was, after all, the only innately powerful person in the group besides their own direct line.
"We haven't figured that woman out yet, so let's not take her with us for now."
Ming Qi turned around and said, turning back to the door.
"Hmph, of course I can't figure her out through her clothes..."
Mo Changli immediately taunted Ming Qi.
Ming Qi didn't care. He left Wei Silong's room and returned to his own quarters.
There were still two days left. Then we would go to Langya Mountain.
The two days passed quickly. Wei Silong was busy getting to know and organizing the group. Mo Changli, on the other hand, often stopped by Ming Qi's place, occasionally chatting. As for Su Yuan, she remained drunk as usual. Ming Qi had never seen her sober again, except for a chance encounter the next day when she asked, "Who are you?" On the appointed day, Ming Qi left Shaxing City at dusk and headed for Langya Mountain on the other side.
The fifty-li distance was a short journey for an innate cultivator, requiring no effort. By the time Ming Qi reached the relatively modest peak of Langya Mountain, it was just nightfall.
He hadn't brought Dabai with him this time, figuring he'd gone to see the old man again.
Standing on the mountaintop, he watched the crescent moon quietly rise at the edge of the sky.
"You're here."
A short while later, a little boy dressed in black appeared from where the voice had come.
Ming Qi was a little surprised. His aura was always radiating, and even though he hadn't used the Supreme Diagram to amplify it, he hadn't noticed the boy's presence at all.
But as soon as the boy appeared, Ming Qi sensed a faint presence flowing around him.
Nodding, Ming Qi got straight to the point, asking, "Where are you going? Only if you tell me your destination can I decide whether to accept this deal."
The boy didn't hesitate, saying, "I'm going to a sect called the Biyou Sect in the Bai Mansion of Jinchuan. The journey might be a bit far, but once we reach Jinchuan, there's basically no danger."
Jinchuan Bai Mansion, Biyou Sect!
Hearing the name, Ming Qi was instantly struck with astonishment. What a coincidence! He had left Jinchuan and returned just a short while ago. But then again, since we were heading to the Biyou Sect, it wasn't a big deal. Ming Qi nodded calmly and asked, "Then, one last question: who could be the enemy?"
"Any immortal mercenary in Killing Star City could be a possibility. As soon as I set out and reveal my whereabouts, they'll be after me like hounds," the little boy said.
"The five major immortal mercenary groups: Crimson Lightning, Thunderbolt, Blood Rose, Inverted Moon, and Killing God Domain."
Ming Qi went over the names one by one in his mind. These five mercenary groups were the top five in Killing Star City's strength. If all of them were deployed, even a tenth-level Xiantian expert wouldn't be sure they could escape with the little boy.
"But one thing is certain: it's only one of them that will appear each time. There's no chance of them collaborating," the little boy said confidently.
"It seems there's no agreement between mercenaries that prohibits them from collaborating," Ming Qi asked curiously. In Killing Star City, there seemed to be no restrictions on whether mercenaries could collaborate or not.
"This isn't about the treaty; it involves a secret I know."
As expected, Ming Qi immediately understood. The secret the little boy knew must be a crucial secret belonging to a certain mercenary group, most likely the Blood Sword Mercenary Group, which was why they were being so frantically hunted.
"Could a Martial King be involved?"
Ming Qi considered it carefully. Although the money was tempting, he didn't want to get stuck with a group of people, unable to get out, and ultimately lose their lives.
"No, Martial Kings are generally very concerned about their status and won't get involved in such matters. Furthermore, all the major mercenary groups know this. If word of this reaches a Martial King, no mercenary group will be able to benefit from it in the slightest."
"Okay, then. When do we leave?"
"The sooner the better. Ideally, we should leave right now."
The little boy seemed anxious, his brow furrowed.
"I have friends in the city right now."
"No."
The little boy immediately refused.
Knowing he still wasn't completely convinced, Ming Qi smiled and said, "If we can't build trust between you and me, I don't think this deal is worth doing."
With that, Ming Qi turned and left without hesitation.
The little boy was the target of the immortal mercenaries throughout Killing Star City. Clearly, he was connected to a profound secret, and his plan was simple: to bring this secret back to the Biyou Sect.
He didn't dare use the mercenaries in Killing Star City. The only people who could help him were those like Ming Qi, who had recently arrived in Killing Star City and hadn't joined any mercenary groups.
"Wait."
Ming Qi took a few steps when the little boy's voice echoed behind him.
"You can go back, but you must be back within half an hour. Also, you can't have more than ten people."
"Understood."
Ming Qi's feet flew quickly, and after walking a short distance, he immediately unleashed his Vermillion Bird Divine Wings and soared into the air.
Ming Qi didn't simply take on this deal for the 20 million Yuan Crystals; he also wanted to see what the Biyou Sect had become like after more than six months. He also had a few familiar friends within the sect, and it seemed time to visit them.
In less than a quarter of an hour, Ming Qi returned to Shaxing City and headed straight to Wei Silong's mercenary base.
In the hall of the rather spartan house, Wei Silong had gathered dozens of mercenaries, most of whom were only acquired talents, and they were all chatting and talking.
Those who knew Ming Qi was the deputy leader greeted him with smiles, while those who didn't know him were more distant.
"How's it going?"
Wei Silong was the first to ask upon seeing Ming Qi return.
Ming Qi glanced at the mercenaries surrounding him and said bluntly, "We can go alone. This deal involves a lot, so we can't mobilize a large force."
Wei Silong pondered for a moment, then nodded. He turned and gave a few instructions to his trusted subordinates. Then, he and Mo Changli hurried out of the base hall with Ming Qi.
"Captain, where are you going? Why didn't you tell me?"
As they left the hall, a somewhat seductive woman's voice echoed from outside. Su Yuan stood there, slenderly clutching a strange rapier.
"I thought you were drunk. Let's go."
Seeing Su Yuan had come to them on his own, Ming Qi couldn't refuse, so he left the city without further ado.
"Dabai, get to work!"
As they left the city, Ming Qi searched for Dabai's location and sent a message. A moment later, Dabai arrived.
"Just follow me."
As they exited the city gate, Ming Qi immediately unleashed his Vermillion Bird Divine Wings.
Mo Changli and Wei Silong only used their energy to accelerate, without using their Celestial Clan's natural flying talent. Su Yuan, on the other hand, threw the rapier in his hand and stepped directly on it to soar into the air.