The King of Urban Mercenaries

"Failed? Failure might cost both of your lives... However, rest assured, I will take good care of your families, and if you do succeed, I can reward you with a thousand Elemental Stones. How does that sound?" Fang Ba asked.

Upon hearing Fang Ba’s words, Lin Fei smiled.

Does he really take him for a fool? Does he really look like an idiot? Why would this guy speak like that? "I am truly speechless."

Though Lin Fei understood in his heart, he did not say it out loud. He spoke, "What if we refuse? This matter is too dangerous, and we have no reason to risk it for a thousand Elemental Stones, do we?"

One should know, in the warehouse of the entire city, there’s more than a thousand Elemental Stones; even ten thousand is possible. Although Elemental Stones are relatively rare for the Empire, the nation still has many in reserve. As long as a vein is found, it’s not an issue.

"Well... I’m afraid you won’t let me down. After all, this matter is beneficial for both of us." Fang Ba smiled, but the smile was chilling, as if he would strike at a moment’s notice.

Lin Fei smiled, "But we truly don’t need to take this risk, do we."

"Is that so? But I think you don’t have a choice now, do you?" Fang Ba replied, looking around, as soldiers surrounded them. Though outside the tent, Lin Fei and his companion, being cultivators, couldn’t possibly not feel the encircling Primordial Energy.

"General, you are forcing me. Are you not afraid of my betrayal?" Lin Fei asked.

Upon hearing Lin Fei’s words, Fang Ba suddenly burst into laughter, "Don’t worry, your betrayal is of no use to me and does no harm. After all, what you’re delivering is just poison, and Qiu Qian is a suspicious person who wouldn’t trust you. If you betray, the only path left for you is death!"

Fang Ba’s words sent chills down Lin Fei’s spine. He truly didn’t value their lives and didn’t care about their feelings. This general was truly detestable, and Lin Fei harbored intense aversion towards him.

"So? Do the two of you agree or not?" Fang Ba asked.

Lin Fei didn’t expect Fang Ba to change faces so rapidly, from one extreme to another, so despicably cunning and sinister, he had misjudged him terribly.

"Know a person by their face but not their heart," Lin Fei now deeply understood the meaning of this saying.

Thus, Lin Fei nodded, "But General, I have one question. What is your true strength?"

Fang Ba smiled, "I’m at least stronger than you, and we have enough strength to make you submit. Don’t resist, or don’t blame us for being impolite. Understood?"

Lin Fei nodded, "Of course, we won’t be ungrateful!" Lin Fei replied, then looked at Jiang Ming. Jiang Ming was also very angry, for obvious reasons.

But Lin Fei didn’t act rashly, he could only endure the General’s threats. Perhaps Lin Fei had another plan up his sleeve.

At this moment, two soldiers suddenly came in from outside and nodded to Fang Ba.

Fang Ba smiled.

Now that words had reached this point, Lin Fei resolved himself and spoke, "General, I’d like to know if those two are the ones you sent to investigate our identities?"

"Hahaha! You’re not stupid after all. You two, what were the results?" the General asked the two soldiers.

The two soldiers immediately reported, "General, the investigation confirms his story. He had just entered the city and, when trying to leave, was stopped by the city defense army. In his anger, he killed that squad, and now, Gu Jiang City is seeking to apprehend them both."

The two soldiers spoke, and Lin Fei chuckled, "General, you heard it yourself, Gu Jiang City is hunting us. Can you really entrust us with this task?"

Fang Ba nodded, "I do have a solution. You two, fetch the items from my room’s box."

Shortly after, a soldier brought a box, and Fang Ba opened it in front of the two, taking out two items—two pieces of skin, Human Skin Masks!

"These are Human Skin Masks. Wear them and enter Gu Jiang City, following my instructions, and you’ll surely succeed," Fang Ba said.

Lin Fei and Jiang Ming exchanged glances, then took the Human Skin Masks and donned them.

Lin Fei knew these were no ordinary masks, but real Human Skin Masks, crafted with special materials to adhere to one’s face and confuse perception, though truthfully, they weren’t that useful.

After wearing the Human Skin Masks, Lin Fei and Jiang Ming felt some effect, but not much, certainly not as potent as the Illusion Fruit.

So, it wasn’t wise to have high hopes. Lin Fei decided to use the last of the Illusion Fruit once inside, given the urgency of the situation.

"Good, perfect. Handle the two Elixir Pills carefully," Fang Ba said, handing two pills to Lin Fei.

Lin Fei accepted the Elixir Pills, admitting that if he didn’t know they were poisonous, they would seem perfect, emitting a pleasant fragrance, misleading one to think they were harmless.

"What if they have someone test the potion?" Lin Fei asked, knowing that important figures usually have food testers before consuming anything themselves.

"Don’t worry, this Elixir Pill is not poisonous, and you won’t fear them testing. When we attack, with another substance, we’ll trigger the pill’s poison, so there’s no need for concern," Fang Ba said.

Lin Fei was surprised by this revelation, although understanding that in nature, everything has a counter, hence this result was likely achieved through such a principle; otherwise, this outcome wasn’t possible.

"Very well, since the General trusts me so, I shan’t betray that trust!" Lin Fei declared.

"Hahaha, excellent, excellent!" the General said, lifting his glass, sharing a drink with Lin Fei as they laughed heartily.

But at that moment, Lin Fei said, "General, I can’t take you at your word alone. Could we perhaps get some advance payment?" Lin Fei didn’t want to walk away empty-handed.