"Technically, with your strength, you wouldn’t be interested in our forces. After all, being at the fourth level in this buffer zone already makes you a top tier expert!

After discussing with our leader, we’ve decided to entrust the highest position to you to guide us outside this buffer zone. We are familiar with all the big forces, whom we can challenge and not, and how to deal with the aftermath once we take them down.

Building up our power independently will definitely be more advantageous than you seeking refuge under some big powers and getting underappreciated, right?"

Ye Liuyun didn’t expect that the Tiger Mercenary would go this far to recruit people.

He found it hard to imagine, "Offering me the leader’s position? Are you kidding me?"

Cao Meng vigorously nodded in reassurance, "Absolutely true! There’s no need for you to doubt our sincerity. In fact, surviving here isn’t easy and the resources available are just about enough. Being a group leader is much more tiring than a regular member.

We’re just a group of common people, gathered together in hopes of living a better life. Whoever can ensure that, can lead us – we’ve already discussed this among ourselves."

"But you all barely know me, how do you expect me to trust you?"

Cao Meng laughed, "The world respects the strong, your higher realm naturally qualifies you to be the leader. Otherwise, how would you consider for this group?

Regarding your character, we’ve observed you during these days, and you’ve been taking good care of the people around you. That’s enough. We’ve all been there, done that – none of us is any better than the other!"

One of the woman beside Cao Meng voluntarily chimed in, "If you’re willing to be our leader, we two are ready to serve you!"

Another woman added, "We volunteer, but not other women in the group. You must consider us all as family once you become our leader."

These two women are quite attractive, without any scheming charm, not coming off as promiscuous.

Ye Liuyun and his members were dumbstruck with their words.

Helian Xiu noticed Ye Liuyun casting a glance at the two women and gave him a hard pinch.

Ye Liuyun just chuckled, not even trying to resist, otherwise she wouldn’t be able to do so.

Seeing this, one of the women laughed, "Don’t be jealous! Men, after all, it’s normal for them to have a lot of women if they have the power! You can’t stop him if he wants to look for more!"

"He already has a lot of us!" He Lianxiu muttered discontentedly.

Cao Meng also just chuckled and said to him, "You can come with me to see for yourself if you don’t believe in me. You’re powerful anyways, there’s no need to be afraid of us tricking you."

Ye Liuyun thought that if what these people said was true, then he might as well cooperate with them. It would only be a matter of sharing some resources with them.

"Alright! Then let’s go and check it out!" Ye Liuyun also agreed.

"You..." He Lianxiu thought that Ye Liuyun had been swayed because of those two women.

"Nevertheless, even if I become the leader, I still won’t need your service! We would be better off as ’a family’, since you mentioned it.”

"That’s even better!" Cao Meng quickly agreed.

Ye Liuyun followed Cao Meng to their outpost.

Following their directions, before Ye Liuyun even reached there, his divine sense had already detected a col with over twenty martial practitioners, four women, and a teenage boy along with a little girl.

Most of these practitioners were in the second and third tiers of cultivation level— their power was indeed weak.

The most powerful among them, a mid-stage third-tier cultivator, was probably the current leader Cao Meng had been talking about - Master Wei. Around his forties and a robust body, he seemed to be an honest man.

The unity among the team members was quite good, with chatter and laughter, giving it a harmonious atmosphere.

If these people were not in a col but a village, Ye Liuyun would have mistaken them for ordinary villagers.

As soon as Ye Liuyun and others appeared, a young man keeping watch outside the valley immediately shouted, "Cao Meng brought them back!"

Master Wei immediately led everyone out to welcome them.

There were no ambushes around, and Ye Liuyun didn’t notice anything unusual either.

Having had previous experiences with being ambushed by villagers in the border battlefield, Ye Tiandao remained vigilant at the rear.

Helian Xiu kept a close eye on the two women, ensuring they did not get too close to Ye Liuyun.

The clone, meanwhile, remained invisible in the Concealcape, staying near them.

"There’s a powerful energy sealed within that girl, and a strong divine soul hidden within it!" The clone’s Golden Phantom Eyes could see the energy radiated by divine souls, even more useful than his own.

Ye Liuyun maintained his composure, exchanging pleasantries with Master Wei and the others with the help of Cao Meng’s introductions.

Everyone warmly invited Ye Liuyun into the valley, and gathered around them and Master Wei, while observing their guests.

Ye Liuyun bluntly commented, "You all seem more like villagers than mercenaries."

Master Wei awkwardly laughed, "Wait till you hang out with us more. We’re not much different than ordinary villagers. We, too, struggle to survive amongst these powerful forces.

But we’re very dedicated to the mission once we received. We are all people who frequent battles!"

Ye Liuyun just smiled. Many of them exuded less killing aura than even the soldiers of the Dark Legion. At most, some of them frequently engaged in battles.

However, Ye Liuyun did not dwell on the matter. "I can see that these people respect you a lot. Why did you give up your position as leader?"

With a silly smile, Master Wei replied, "You’ve seen my limited abilities. The group would fall apart in no time if I were to continue leading them!" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"As long as you can lead us to a better life, we will acknowledge you! I assure you, including me, everyone will listen to you!"

"Exactly, we won’t defy commands!"

"We will definitely obey!"

Others also echoed. It seemed that these people had already discussed it and didn’t care about a change in leadership.

"Have you facing any troubles?"

There’s no change in the expression on Wei’s face, "Why’d you ask?"

But the change in expressions of all the other mercenaries around him couldn’t escape his divine sense.

Ye Tiandao also noticed this, secretly sounded it to him.

"Everyone here is sensible, there’s no need to play dumb, I actually prefer straightforwardness, in fact. If you are in difficulty, I won’t mind lending a hand, but if you can’t deal with me honestly, then I see no point to be your shield. Isn’t that right?"