Reborn as a Hatrack in the Mystical Land-Chapter 74 - 5 "Pig-like" Teammates_2

Yue Jinghua was clearly not one of those.

There's a saying in the Mercenary World: fear not the godlike opponent, but the pig-like teammate.

This Blue Diamond Task was long in duration and not without difficulty; nobody wanted an extra burden within the group.

"So, the question for everyone present is, what must be done for me to be accepted as a Pill Master of the Reversed Fire Mercenary Group, a respected Pill Master?" Yue Jinghua suddenly spoke up, interrupting what Ni Qianjun was about to say.

Ni Qianjun understood what Yue Jinghua meant: if she couldn't get the mercenaries to accept her, she would struggle to survive in the Reversed Fire Mercenary Group.

"Successfully reach Shaba Town, and earn the title of a two-star mercenary with your own strength. Only then will you qualify to collaborate with us and complete this task," Feng Buhui and a dozen other mercenaries exchanged glances and said in unison.

In the end, under the provocation of Feng Buhui and the others, Ni Qianjun nearly resorted to group punishment for Feng Buhui, but Yue Jinghua, not wanting to put Reversed Fire in a difficult position under the pressure of the veteran mercenaries, voluntarily accepted Feng Buhui's terms.

Accompanied by Ni Qianjun, Yue Jinghua traveled through the Four Directions Xuan Array of Shang Kingdom and arrived at the nearest Mercenary Town to the Shang Kingdom—Shaba Town.

The endless expanse of chaotic rocky beaches, the moaning winds of the Tak Gobi, grew closer and clearer, revealing Shaba Town, like a veiled beauty whose mask had been blown away.

Shaba Town is also known as Shaba Mercenary Town. For the mercenaries of the Eastern Continent, Mercenary Town is a well-known name.

Mercenary Town doesn't refer to a specific place; it's a collective term for locations established by the Mercenary Guild across various city-states and nations of the continent, meant to facilitate the activities of mercenaries and also the starting point of every novice mercenary's career.

The largest Mercenary Town on the continent is called Geyue Town, which has never been formally disclosed to the public. It is said that only the most exceptional mercenaries have the chance to enter Geyue, which is also the stronghold of top-tier mercenaries.

It is rumored that at the entrance of Geyue Town lies the Golden Graveyard, where lie interred the bodies of strong mercenaries who made significant contributions to the continent and to the Mercenary World. Only those granted the title "Mercenary Soul" by the Mercenary Guild are eligible to be buried there.

Everything about Mercenary Town was what Ni Qianjun had told Yue Jinghua before they set off.

The Mercenary Town closest to Shang Kingdom is Shaba Town, a typical settlement of the northwest.

It serves like a comprehensive relay station, providing a variety of services for mercenaries. There's also a branch of the Mercenary Guild in the town, offering assessments for young men and women eager to become mercenaries.

"You really shouldn't mind the gossip in the group. I've already taught Feng Buhui a lesson; that boy won't be able to get out of bed for half a month," Ni Qianjun had advised Yue Jinghua repeatedly. Without a doubt, the itching Feng Buhui had been disciplined by Ni Qianjun.

"I've made up my mind, thank you for accompanying me to Shaba Town, you can go back now." This secret mission was lengthy, and so was its preparation period, which conveniently gave Yue Jinghua ample time to complete the Mercenary Assessment.

"I'll accompany you to take the assessment," Ni Qianjun said, eagerly rubbing his hands as more people emerged from the Four Directions Xuan Array, including some who recognized him. Seeing Ni Qianjun standing with a homely-looking woman caught their attention, prompting several second glances.

The Four Directions Xuan Array is a Transmission Array powered by Dark Pill energy, established in the capitals and major cities of every nation. It is also a convenient means for mercenaries and Dark Practitioners to migrate and travel.

"Ni Qianjun, how long can you accompany me? Once, or a lifetime?" Yue Jinghua teased lightly, her jet-black hair fluttering in the sandy wind like the strongest branches of desert willow, her eyes sparkling. A confident curve formed on her lips, exuding a certain magical power, a force that inexplicably quickened one's heartbeat, making Ni Qianjun involuntarily soften his stance.

Ni Qianjun frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "Be careful out there. If anyone bullies you, just drop my name."

Yue Jinghua gave a wry smile, thinking how motherly this guy was being. She strode forward without directly acknowledging his words, raising her right hand high. Under the scorching sun, she gestured with her hand in a scissor-like shape, "See you in Polo City in one month."

In the desolate desert, the girl's solitary figure walking away was forever etched in Ni Qianjun's mind, never to fade away.

No one knew, but it was from that moment, that the girl who was like a lone wolf from the northern deserts, with her unique "V" hand gesture, slowly pulled away the curtain on a legend of the mercenary world.

The world is in chaos, and heroes arise, just as the wind howls over the Tak Gobi like the battle horns sounding before war.

Shaba Town is situated at the entrance of the Tak Gobi on the Eastern Continent, the largest rocky desert. Fifty years ago, because it has the only natural spring in the entire desert, it was developed into a Mercenary Town by the Mercenary Guild.

Every year, countless mercenaries pass through here. The living conditions in this place are harsh, with various poisonous Dark Beasts lurking in the wasteland. Among them, there are Middle Level Dark Beasts, and the environment outside the town is noticeably more complex than Hundred Beast Mountain, which is why it has been chosen by the Mercenary Guild as an assessment ground.

Zack is a 23-year-old young man, a native resident of Shaba Town, with the distinct features of a minority group from the northwest. Natives like him have become a rare sight in Shaba Town today.

After Shaba Town was known as Mercenary Town, the majority of the people from Shaba moved out. Those who remained were mostly involved in the mercenary trade, while a minority stayed due to being too poor to leave. Zack belonged to the latter.

Zack's parents were both mercenaries; they died together in a poisonous insect swarm in Shaba Town, leaving behind Zack and his 14-year-old sister. Zack's sister had tuberculosis, and they didn't have the money to leave Shaba Town.

Luckily, Zack was smart and industrious, and he soon found a way to make a living in Shaba Town. With this job and the stone house left by his parents, the siblings managed to scrape by.

Today, like any other day, Zack squatted under the corner of the weathered city wall of Shaba Town.

At that moment, a strange woman approached from the side of the town's entrance, near the stone wall that looked like it could collapse at any time.

She didn't carry luggage and had no companion, her face a mixture of extreme beauty and ugliness. None of this mattered to Zack though; Mercenary Town had no shortage of mercenaries with missing arms, legs, or disfigured faces.

"That's her," Zack patted his behind and slowly approached the stranger.

After parting ways with Ni Qianjun, Yue Jinghua had walked a bit further before she could see the full view of Shaba Town.

Adventure abounded in this desert town, where everywhere you could see stone houses constructed from rocks.

Due to the presence of Flying Profound Beasts in the desert, which could attract attacks, the buildings in town were generally not tall, making the whole of Shaba Town look like an open quarry.

There were not many people on the streets, and occasionally a few mercenaries with cold expressions would pass by.

Not far away, a dirty figure followed her. He had not taken many steps when suddenly he let out an "Ouch" and collided with Yue Jinghua.