The King of Urban Mercenaries

"It’s nothing, General. Don’t misunderstand. It’s just that Lin Fei went to Gujiang City, and when we entered the city, we were mistaken for spies. Afterward, we smoothed things over by paying some money. However, do you know what happened when we were leaving?" Lin Fei asked the General, speaking up.

The General shook his head, "That’s something you experienced. How would I know?"

Lin Fei nodded, "The General is right. That soldier guarding the city wanted a bribe again, so I killed them all. I wonder if the General is short of money? If you need money, I happen to have some Silver Tael with me. I only hope the General can let us pass. How about it?"

"Outrageous! Who do you think the General is? Does he need your petty cash?" shouted a soldier, reprimanding Lin Fei.

The General raised a hand, signaling the soldier to be quiet, and said, "Since you’re from Gujiang City and killed people from there, you must have a grudge against Gujiang City. The enemy of my enemy is a friend, so we should be friends, don’t you agree?"

"The General is absolutely correct." Lin Fei nodded, still unsure of the General’s intentions.

"Haha, since we’re friends, why not come with me to the military camp? Let me, the General, host you. How about it?" The General looked at Lin Fei, speaking up.

Upon hearing the General wanted to invite him to the military camp for a meal, Lin Fei chuckled. There’s no such good fortune in the world, and even if there is, it wouldn’t be this straightforward.

"Alright, but I’m afraid I’ll disappoint the General now." Lin Fei said.

"What do you mean?" The General looked at Lin Fei puzzled.

Lin Fei chuckled, solving the General’s puzzlement, "Here’s the thing, General. We are heading to Qingyun Mountain. So, perhaps we can’t accept your kind hospitality."

"Hahaha, I see. But traveling to Qingyun Mountain from here will take at least a month, give or take a few days. So let’s go. I don’t like people turning me down." The General said.

Hearing this from the General, Lin Fei nodded, "Alright, since the General is so hospitable, I can’t refuse. Let’s go." Lin Fei said and followed the General toward the military camp.

At this point, the General spoke, "You two, dismount and let these guests ride."

"Yes!" The soldiers immediately responded, then handed their horses to Lin Fei and Jiang Ming, allowing them to ride and follow the General to the camp. However, Lin Fei noticed the other two hadn’t followed; they were probably heading to Gujiang City to gather information.

Lin Fei followed the General into the military camp, which was quite grand, with a presence of over ten thousand. This was because there were no major wars between the two countries, though small skirmishes continued, hence only this number of troops.

If it came to a major battle between the armies, the scale would be tens of thousands attacking together, a momentum unimaginable to ordinary people, especially since they’re all cultivators.

"Haha, please enter." The General pulled open the curtain and spoke.

Lin Fei and Jiang Ming walked in, entering the Mongolian-style tent within the camp. Inside was simple, with a stove in the middle. The General instructed the kitchen to prepare some dishes and sat down with Lin Fei and Jiang Ming.

"Since you two are from afar, you must have seen many wonders and strange things. Why not share them with me?" The General said.

"Well... General, may I ask your illustrious name?" Lin Fei asked, realizing he didn’t yet know the General’s name.

"Oh! My memory is terrible. My name is Fang Ba. You might as well call me Brother Fang Ba, seeing that you’re not young yourself." General Fang Ba said.

"Fang Ba, what a grand name, truly inspiring. I’m Lin Fei, and since the General regards me so highly, I’ll call you Brother!" Lin Fei said.

"Hahaha! Excellent, excellent! You suit my taste, very different from those wishy-washy people. I like you." Fang Ba said cheerfully, feeling as if he’d found a kindred spirit, exuding an approachable aura.

"I feel the same. But I wonder what the General intends inviting us here? Surely not just to tell stories?" Lin Fei didn’t think so. After all, during these times, who would have the leisure to tell stories? When armies clash, it’s not a time for enjoyment.

Fang Ba shook his head, "Since you’re asking, I’ll be honest. I’m planning to capture Gujiang City in one fell swoop and would like your assistance. How about it?" Fang Ba asked, revealing his main objective.

"Haha, Brother Fang Ba, are you joking? I don’t enjoy such jokes." Lin Fei said.

"I must tell you, I, Fang Ba, never joke about such matters, so I am serious." Fang Ba looked at Lin Fei with a serious expression, making Lin Fei understand that he wasn’t bluffing.

Lin Fei thought the same; he was just pretending to be naive. If he were indeed dragged into this war, the outcome would not be promising.

"But Brother Fang Ba, how do you intend for me to assist in this matter? Do you not suspect that I’m a spy?" Lin Fei asked. This was the most puzzling issue to him; Fang Ba couldn’t just believe him directly, so what was behind this trust?

"Hahaha! It’s a great question, and I’m pleased to answer it. You said you are just ordinary people, and that’s precisely what I need. Your strengths are formidable. If you join forces, you can cause chaos in the city, and no one knows you." Fang Ba explained.

"I don’t understand what the General means. Could you clarify?" Lin Fei asked, not comprehending Fang Ba’s reasoning. Could such a major task really be entrusted to them two? Where did that confidence come from?

At this time, Fang Ba explained to Lin Fei, "The logic is simple. You two don’t have that military aura, so I want you to deliver an artifact. Then claim you’re acting under a government post, and the artifact will be presented. Once the city-guarding Great General consumes it, the outcome... hehe."

Seeing Fang Ba with such a cunning smile, Lin Fei realized Fang Ba wasn’t as straightforward as imagined, at least he wasn’t a righteous person.

Lin Fei chuckled, "But does the General truly trust me? What if it fails? Has the General considered?"