Chapter 199: Chapter 187: The Mercenary Corps’ Crisis (Part 1)

When Nie Yun killed Liu Chengze, the news didn’t leak for a short while. But such secrets can’t be kept forever. Before long, City Lord Liu Jifei found out and also located the secret chamber.

Liu Chengze himself was a Qi Sect Powerhouse, and Liu Yuan was also quite strong. Yet their bodies showed they had been killed in a single blow. The weakest person capable of such a feat would have to be at the Peak of the Qi Sect. In all of Jibei City, there was only one person at that level: Liu Jifei!

Of course, there was another, and that was... Tie Lan’s Demon Pet!

A man wouldn’t kill his own brother. Liu Jifei recalled the conflict between Liu Yuan and the young man Tie Lan had been with, and so the Iron Rock Mercenary Corps became the prime suspect.

Liu Jifei therefore came to Divine Wind City. He found the Iron Rock Mercenary Corps thriving and utterly denying the accusation, so he reported the matter directly to the Huo Family’s Ancestor Huo Gangx—his own former leader!

Liu Chengze was the third-greatest Alchemy Master in the Divine Wind Empire. With Huo Gangx personally issuing the order, the matter immediately blew up.

With the Divine Wind Empire’s intervention, the Iron Rock Mercenary Corps looked successful on the surface but was actually facing a grave crisis. After all, the crime of murdering the Empire’s third-greatest Alchemy Master was simply too severe!

"What happened that day was..."

Tie Lan thought for a moment and recounted her time with Nie Yun, wandering through the Pill Assembly and attending the City Lord’s trade fair.

"You’re saying that person named Nie Yun left Jibei City that very day?" Tie Yan’s brow furrowed.

"Yes!" Tie Lan nodded. "This definitely has nothing to do with us. I think Liu Jifei is just trying to frame us. I came back right after the Pill Assembly ended. When would I have had the chance to kill Liu Chengze? Besides, I have no reason to hate him, so why would I order my Demon Pet to attack him?"

"I’m not saying you killed him, but could it have been that Nie Yun?" Tie Yan drummed his fingers on the table. TAP, TAP.

"Surely you’re joking, Leader. Miss Lan’er said before that this Nie Yun is about her age. How could someone that young possibly have the power of a Peak Qi Sect expert?" A laugh echoed in the room.

"That’s right! This has nothing to do with our Mercenary Corps. I bet since Liu Jifei’s brother and nephew are dead, he’s just deliberately trying to frame us!"

Upon returning to headquarters, Tie Lan hadn’t told anyone about Nie Yun’s true power. After all, a seventeen-year-old Ultimate Venerable was just too shocking. No one would have believed her even if she had told them.

"Lan’er, do you have any idea how strong that Nie Yun is?"

Although Tie Yan also agreed with what everyone was saying, he couldn’t help but ask.

"His power is..." Just as Tie Lan was about to speak, Jiang Xuan’s voice suddenly rang out from outside the hall. "Leader, Miss... there’s someone outside asking specifically to see you..."

The Mercenary Corps didn’t have many strict rules; otherwise, it would have been a huge hassle for Jiang Xuan just to deliver a message.

"Can’t you see we’re in a meeting? Someone wants to see the Miss? People want to see her every day! Tell him to get lost!"

This young man had a crush on Tie Lan, so he despised anyone who came asking to see her.

"Just tell him I’m busy..." Tie Lan frowned as well.

’Ever since word got out that I tamed a Demon Pet at the Peak of the Qi Sect, these self-proclaimed ’young talents’ have been showing up every day. It’s getting so annoying.’ 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Yes... He, he also said..."

Seeing Miss Tie Lan’s reaction, Jiang Xuan hesitated, unsure if he should continue.

"What else did he say?" the young man from before barked again. "Spit it out!"

"He... also said he wants the Miss to come out and see him..."

Jiang Xuan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, inwardly cursing Nie Yun a hundred times over.

’I’ve only met this kid once and had one drink with him. Why did I get involved in this? This is clearly a thankless job...’

"Wants the Miss to go see *him*? Who the hell does he think he is!" the young man roared again.

"The nerve of this guy! It’s one thing to come asking to see the Miss, but to actually demand she go out to meet him? Who does he think he is? Mo Yanqing? The Baihua Sect Master?"

Everyone burst out laughing.

"Go out there, tell him the rules of the Mercenary Corps, and make him leave!" Tie Lan, also displeased, waved her hand dismissively.

"Yes, yes, I’ll go tell him right now..."

Hearing the command from the corps’ bigwigs, Jiang Xuan quickly retreated toward the exit, muttering under his breath, ’That Nie Yun is going to be the death of me... Why did I have to be so agreeable and come over here...’

"Wait a second..."

Hearing Jiang Xuan mutter that familiar name, Tie Lan’s heart skipped a beat, and she snapped her head around.

"Miss..."

"What was the name of the person who wants me to go out and see him?" Tie Lan asked.

"He said his name is Nie Yun. I don’t know anything else..." Jiang Xuan scratched his head.

"Nie Yun? You all continue the meeting. I’m stepping out for a moment!" Hearing that it was indeed him, Tie Lan’s eyes lit up. She shot up from her seat and dashed outside, vanishing from the hall in the blink of an eye.

"Uh..."

Jiang Xuan’s eyes went wide. The Miss had just said she wouldn’t go out, but after hearing the name, she moved so fast he couldn’t even track her movement. He muttered in a voice filled with disbelief, ’Could it be... that this Nie Yun is actually some major figure?’

As he was muttering to himself, he saw the young man and the Miss walk in together. The look in her eyes as she gazed at the young man was one of pure... adoration!

’The Miss, a powerhouse who commands a Demon Pet at the Peak of the Qi Sect, is actually worshiping this kid? This... How is this possible?’

Jiang Xuan stared blankly. He shook his head hard, afraid he was seeing things!

"You’re Jiang Xuan, right? From now on, go join the Iron Team!"

Seeing Jiang Xuan’s reaction, Tie Lan blushed and then spoke.

The Iron Rock Mercenary Corps was divided into numerous squads, each graded A, B, C, or D based on strength. The higher-ranked squads took on more dangerous missions for more pay, while the lower-ranked squads handled easier tasks for less. The Iron Team was the corps’ strongest squad, with terrifyingly high compensation. Jiang Xuan had dreamed of joining it. Hearing the Miss’s words, his eyes immediately flushed red with excitement!

"Thank you, Miss..."

Jiang Xuan nodded quickly, but his eyes, filled with gratitude, turned to the young man with whom he had shared a drink.

’He wasn’t stupid. He knew the only reason the Miss was letting him into the Iron Team was on this young man’s account!’

’And here I was, offering to help him get into the Mercenary Corps, when it turns out he’s the one with all the connections...’

’Some guys in the corps get a little bit of status and power and immediately become arrogant, their noses so high in the air you’d think they were afraid people wouldn’t notice. But look at this guy—he’s clearly a master, yet he’s so humble and keeps his abilities hidden, even drinking with a nobody like me...’

’What a world of difference!’

’Now *that’s* a true master!’

In that instant, Jiang Xuan’s admiration for the young man before him reached an all-time high.

"Hehe, let’s head to the meeting hall. As it happens, my father and the others are there. I’ll introduce you!"

Ignoring Jiang Xuan, whose eyes were now sparkling, Tie Lan turned to the young man beside her and smiled, her entire being as beautiful as a blooming flower. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)