CHAPTER 340: CHAPTER 60: BULLYING THE WEAK

The girl’s cloak parted, revealing a face as fair as cream, with distinctive features and a pair of notably striking red eyes.

Gleaming in tandem with her crimson eyes was a set of tattoo needles made of cinnabar crystal, wrapped around her slender waist like a willow branch.

With a snow-white complexion and red eyes, about twenty years of age, and an air of supremacy over all beings, even Batesin recognized her distinguished background.

Upon seeing the girl’s appearance, the expressions of Li Rui and his companions drastically changed.

The young lady, however, faced everyone’s astonishment calmly, her lips slightly raised in a touch of arrogance.

In the Divine Court, there’s a contemporary Holy Rune expert named Sha Yan, and together with Yun Lang of the Yun Family, they are hailed as the two unmatched figures of the time. Given the appearance and demeanor of the girl before them, she must have no small connection to Sha Yan.

"May I ask what relation this esteemed young lady has with the esteemed Sha Yan of the Divine Court?"

(On the continent, noble youths with special skills are referred to as "Your Highness," while elders are universally addressed as "esteemed.")

"That would be my mother. I am Sha Xi, and I have come to the Xuan Beast Ridge this time to help my mother collect a long-lost Demon Pattern," whispered rumors say that Sha Yan has snow-white skin and red eyes, this girl bears an eighty to ninety percent resemblance to her, so her identity is likely genuine.

Divine Court, just thinking of that exalted place, whose mere name causes people to steer clear, made Li Rui’s temples throb, secretly relieved that he was close to losing his chance to gain the favor of a Holy Pattern Master due to mere wealth.

Sha Yan became renowned fifty years ago, she was a solitary character in her youth, never starting a family. After joining the Divine Court, rumors stirred of her affair with an elder within the court, and it was not until past the age of fifty that she had Sha Xi. Due to Sha Xi’s special identity, she was revered as a Goddess from birth and learned the Holy Runes and Holy Skills from Sha Yan.

Rumors say that Sha Yan dotes on her beloved daughter excessively, willing to pluck the stars from the heavens to lay before her, which fostered Sha Xi’s domineering and selfish nature.

Having been born in the Divine Court, Sha Xi held a deep admiration for the demigod-like Zong Shaoqing and left the court with a belly full of anger after receiving his cold treatment.

She intended to hire a Five-star Mercenary to quickly fulfill the task and return, only to encounter Batesin at the Five Saints Mercenary Union, who was also looking to recruit a large number of mercenaries.

Being naturally disinclined to sharing with others, upon hearing Batesin intended to snatch the only Five-star Mercenary, she promptly revealed her identity.

Sha Yan’s Holy Rune is considered a priceless treasure by anyone in the world, and serving this young lady well may very likely result in obtaining a Holy Rune.

With this thought, Li Rui’s demeanor immediately changed, and he said solicitously: "Blessed by the favor of Her Highness Sha Xi, I shall certainly do my utmost without any reservations."

Hearing Li Rui speak so, Batesin’s face tightened. Although Li Rui had just made a verbal agreement with him, according to the customs on the big roads, a verbal promise represents the establishment of a contract among mercenaries.

The implication of Li Rui’s words was the overt breach of the mercenary contract.

Remembering the instructions left by the Lord before his departure, and considering the special status of Sha Xi, Batesin from the Old Guan Family had no choice but to suppress his anger, his face ashen, "Miss Luo Lin, since Brother Li is unavailable for the moment, we can’t insist on his help. It would trouble you to help with the recruitment of the remaining mercenaries."

Without the presence of a Five-star Mercenary, the County Guard Army of Fengdan County would indeed pale in comparison, but fortunately, Lord Teng Wu would be staying in the territory for a short while, so they could have him help train the recruited mercenaries when the time comes.

Little did Batesin know that his wishful thinking would be thwarted once again.

Sha Xi saw Batesin’s face, which resembled the bark of an old tree, and found it particularly disgusting. She pursed her lips, which were like rose petals, "Luo Lin, I don’t just want to recruit a Five-star Mercenary, I also want to recruit over a hundred mercenaries, responsible for escorting me into the mountains."

At this moment, even if Batesin wanted to play dumb, he could already hear the provocation in Sha Xi’s words.

After all, Batesin had served in the military. Though his temper had become more restrained over the years of being a housekeeper, the blood of a soldier still flowed in his bones. Having been interrupted by Sha Xi twice in a row, his temper flared.

He said with a deep and resonant voice, "Miss, the matter of recruiting mercenaries was first proposed by me. If you truly wish to employ them, please wait until I have finished my procedures before we discuss any arrangements."

"Hmph, you old geezer, you can very well ask who came in first. We were clearly discussing a commission with Luo Lin just now; you came in shouting loudly. I want to hire a hundred mercenaries, what, is it a matter of who has more Dark Pills now?" Sha Xi’s crimson pupils contracted, showing a deep disdain.

She tossed out a Dan Xuan Card, and it gleamed with two sparkling diamonds.

A Diamond Level Dan Xuan Card contained at least nearly a hundred million Dark Pills.

The Divine Court accepts tributes from all directions, even the two great nations and several large organizations among the people will symbolically pay some money to the Divine Court, not to mention Tattoo Master Sha Yan, who earns income astronomical in numbers each time she carves a Holy Rune.

The financial situation in Fengdan County had finally turned around after persistent efforts by Lord Hongyao to reverse the continuous loss of over three years and had reached a point of breaking even.

Under such circumstances, the Lord invested a great amount of money for the safety of the people within his territory, preparing a mercenary County Guard Army, demonstrating his intentions clearly.

The Dan Xuan Card Batesin carried in his arms was temporarily funded by the Lord himself.

Thinking of these, Batesin felt even more the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders, his old face becoming redder, as he looked at Luo Lin pleadingly, hoping she would stand up for him.

Luo Lin also furrowed her brows, weighing the importance of the great Buddha of the Divine Court against the unclear situation in Fengdan County; comparing the two, the winner was obvious.

Luo Lin had no choice but to take Sha Xi’s Dan Xuan Card, apologetically shaking her head at the old housekeeper.

Batesin’s face instantly turned deep red, as if it had been hit by frost.

In the midst of Sha Yan and her maid’s mocking gazes, Batesin shakily took back the Dan Xuan Card and walked out of the Five Saints Mercenary Union with heavy steps.

Before leaving, he also heard the sneering laughter of two girls, "Nothing but a poor Lord from a backwater place, daring to show off, such paltry sum of money, and yet wanting to hire mercenaries, truly shameless."

The laughter behind him kept swirling in his mind, Batesin felt dizzy, hunching his back, he staggered a few steps, feeling as if a sharp knife was continuously twisting in his temples, "Lord, Batesin is useless, I’ve let down your trust."

The old housekeeper walked back step by step in the dawn light.

After the old housekeeper Batesin disappeared, a person emerged from the trees beside, it was someone familiar, no other than Song Mu who had had a few encounters with Yue Jinghua before.

He muttered to himself: "The Goddess is causing trouble again, I have to inform the Divine Son about this first."

While speaking, he beckoned with his hand, and a white quail perched on a nearby tree branch flew away.