Chapter Forty-Five: The "Ghost Fang" Mercenary Corps

“It’s like this,” the man said, forcing himself to his feet with the girl's support. He looked at Old Ye and continued, “I wish to ask my benefactor to save my father.”

“I’m not interested,” Old Ye replied coldly, glancing at Hong Lei. With that, he turned and headed into Qinglin Town.

Lu Zhe looked at the siblings, said nothing, and followed Old Ye into Qinglin Town.

Within Qinglin Town, in a large estate ablaze with light, armed men patrolled back and forth. Without exception, these patrols wore identical clothing, each bearing a badge resembling sharp fangs over their hearts. No one dared disturb this compound—not because of the two eight-foot-tall guards at the entrance, nor the armed patrols, but because this was the headquarters of the Ghost Fang Mercenary Company, one of the three great mercenary groups of Qinglin Town.

At this moment, the main hall of Ghost Fang was filled with its core members. The chief commander, Huo Shitian, sat in the leader’s chair, frowning deeply as he silently watched the burly man kneeling below.

Huo Shitian’s gaze shifted to the sack beside the burly man—it was brimming with gold coins, their glitter stoking the fires of greed.

“Are you certain about what you said?” Huo Shitian asked coolly.

“Commander, I swear it’s true!” the kneeling man declared loudly. He was the same one who had just tried to bar the siblings’ path outside.

Huo Shitian took a deep breath, straightened in his seat, and glanced at the scattered individuals below. “Vice commanders, what do you think?”

Eight men sat below—the eight vice commanders of Ghost Fang. All remained silent for a long moment, until one on the left rose, cupped his hands, and said, “In my opinion, we’d best not provoke them.”

“Why is that, Third Commander?” Huo Shitian asked calmly, looking at the man who had spoken.

This was Wu Zhi, the third vice commander, who prided himself as a strategist and rarely saw the front lines; Huo Shitian usually heeded his advice. Wu Zhi paused before explaining, “Anyone who can produce a hundred thousand gold coins in an instant is no ordinary person. More than that, he effortlessly sent our men flying with a swing of his staff. To challenge such strength would be pure folly for us.”

Huo Shitian nodded, indicating for him to continue.

Wu Zhi went on, “People like this are best left alone. If he were only a typical strongman, the gold would be a warning for us to take what we’re given and leave it at that. We’d do well to recognize the situation.”

Huo Shitian nodded in agreement, saying nothing more.

At that moment, a young man of about twenty stood up from the seating below Huo Shitian. He was handsome and tall, but there was a certain bloodthirst in his expression and demeanor—a trait only those who’d spent years living by the blade would possess.

“Father, are we just going to let it go at that?” he asked.

This was Huo Shitian’s son, Huo Lang.

Huo Shitian regarded him. “And what do you propose?”

Huo Lang’s eyes narrowed coldly. “Since he’s so wealthy, why not seize the chance to…” He made a slicing gesture with his right hand.

Huo Shitian looked at him and replied quietly, “Don’t get any ideas. Can you send a two-hundred-pound man flying with a single blow?”

Huo Lang hesitated, then insisted, “Sending one flying isn’t much, but…” His expression grew cold. “If we can’t do it openly, we can always act from the shadows.”

Before Huo Shitian could reply, Wu Zhi interjected anxiously, “That mustn’t be done, Young Master, absolutely not!”

Huo Lang replied impatiently, “Why not?”

Wu Zhi reasoned, “We might be able to kill him secretly, but aren’t you afraid his friends will come looking for revenge? Someone of his caliber surely has formidable friends. If we fail to kill him and anger him, all that your father has built will be destroyed.”

Huo Lang snorted in dissatisfaction but said nothing more.

“Are we just going to stand by while the woman I like is taken from me?” he complained after a moment.

Wu Zhi did not answer. Huo Shitian, seated behind, spoke instead, “Lang’er, why do you insist on that Hong Qingcang’s daughter? With all the women in Qinglin Town, can you not choose another?”

“Father, it’s not the same,” Huo Lang protested.

“What’s the difference? She has the same nose and two eyes as anyone else,” Huo Shitian replied indifferently. He looked at his son, sighed, and added, “Don’t worry. Her father, Hong Qingcang, is in our hands. You think she’ll escape? Sooner or later, she’ll be yours.”

With a wave of his hand, Huo Shitian silenced his son and turned to the vice commanders, about to speak, when a panicked shout came from the entrance: “Report!” It was clear something important had happened. A uniformed member of Ghost Fang hurried into the hall.

Huo Shitian frowned. “What is it?”

The man knelt on one knee, saluting. “Commander, the two—master and apprentice—have entered the town. They’re at the Fortune Inn.”

“Are you sure?” Huo Shitian asked.

“Absolutely,” the man confirmed.

Huo Shitian sat back, lost in thought. After a long silence, he slapped the arm of his chair. “Let’s go meet these two.”

Lu Zhe and Old Ye, having parted ways with the siblings, hurried into Qinglin Town. Lu Zhe gawked at the sights, as if seeing the world for the first time, but Old Ye ignored him and strode on ahead.

As they made their way, Lu Zhe realized that Qinglin Town was a lawless place. Most passersby belonged to mercenary companies—some brandishing broadswords, others with fierce expressions, as if the world owed them money. Scantily clad women called out from doorways, and two or three even tried to accost Lu Zhe and Old Ye, though both men ignored them.

Old Ye walked briskly ahead, and Lu Zhe, knowing his own strength was lacking in such a dangerous place, wisely stuck close behind.

They arrived at a modest inn—not luxurious, but not shabby either. Lu Zhe glanced at the sign: Fortune Inn.

He looked to Old Ye, who had already ducked inside. Lu Zhe hurried after him.

Within, Lu Zhe found the inn surprisingly spacious. The main hall was full of burly men, no doubt hunters of beast kings from the nearby mountains. Old Ye chose a quiet table, waved over the waiter, handed him a few silver coins, and said, “Just bring us a couple of dishes.”

The waiter grinned, pocketed the coins, and scurried off to the kitchen.

Soon, he returned with three small dishes. Setting them down, he said, “Enjoy your meal, sirs. Call if you need anything,” before bustling away.

Lu Zhe eyed the food warily, hesitant to eat.

Old Ye glanced at him, seeming to read his thoughts. “Eat. It’s not poisoned.”

Reassured, Lu Zhe began to eat.

Halfway through, there was a commotion behind them. Lu Zhe turned to see a group entering the inn—all dressed alike, clearly from the same organization. Most were burly, but the leader was a leaner, middle-aged man. Judging by the deference of those behind him, he was someone important.

With their arrival, the whole hall grew lively. The waiter, seeing them, darted off, soon returning with an elderly man—likely the innkeeper. The old man hurried over, bowed, and said, “Master Huo, I’ve already paid this month’s dues.”

This group was none other than the Ghost Fang Mercenary Company, and the man at the front was their chief, Huo Shitian.

Huo Shitian said coolly, “We’re not here for your dues tonight. We’re looking for someone.”

He didn’t spare the innkeeper another glance, but swept his gaze around the hall, finally settling on Old Ye.

After a few murmured words to a burly subordinate, Huo Shitian strode respectfully toward Old Ye.

Stopping at his side, Huo Shitian bowed. “Junior Huo Shitian greets the elder. May I know your name?”

Old Ye looked at him, and when his eyes fell upon the badge on Huo Shitian’s chest, he paused. “You must be the leader of Ghost Fang, one of the three great mercenary companies of Qinglin Town.”

Huo Shitian bowed again. “That is I.”

Old Ye nodded. “And why have you come looking for me, Commander Huo?”

Huo Shitian hesitated, then waved a hand. A burly man stepped forward, carrying a cloth sack—the very one Old Ye had used to rescue the siblings.

Huo Shitian said, “This is your sack, isn’t it?”

Old Ye glanced at it. “That’s right. It’s mine. But it’s yours now. I killed one of your men—this is compensation. Is it not enough?”

Huo Shitian waved his hands frantically. “You misunderstand, Elder. My incompetent subordinate brought trouble upon himself. He deserved his fate. Your compensation is far too generous—I cannot accept it.”

Old Ye replied coldly, “There’s nothing you can’t accept. Since I’m giving it to you, I won’t take it back. If you refuse, I’ll just toss it away.”

At this, all who understood gasped—especially the members of Ghost Fang. A hundred thousand gold coins! For an ordinary family, it would be enough to last generations, and Old Ye was threatening to throw it away as if it were nothing.

Huo Shitian was stunned, then smiled. “Since it is your kindness, Elder, I will accept it with gratitude.”

Old Ye ignored him. “What brings you here today, Commander?”

Huo Shitian considered a moment before replying, “Elder, the siblings you saved earlier have a history with us. If possible, I hope you will refrain from interfering. I would be most grateful.”

Old Ye waved a hand. “Your affairs don’t interest me. If not for my apprentice being interested in the girl, I wouldn’t have bothered.”

Lu Zhe shot Old Ye a glare—“The old bastard, using me as a shield,” he thought.

Huo Shitian, after a moment, explained, “The girl is my son’s beloved, but his affection is unrequited. As a father, I had no other recourse. If possible, perhaps your apprentice could find another sweetheart. If you don’t mind, I could help find him a ‘clean’ girl. What do you think?”

Old Ye waved him off. “I have no interest in that. Do as you please. I killed your man because he blocked my way. The money was to pay for his life, as I have no wish to die for it myself. As for the siblings, I had no intention of saving them. If they lived, it was only because your men took the money and left. Do you understand?”

Huo Shitian smiled faintly. “Then I thank you, Elder.”

(Today I realized I wrote nearly ten thousand words—quite an achievement! If you enjoyed it, please consider adding it to your collection or voting a recommendation. I would be most grateful.)