Chapter 1869: Two Teams Merge

Behind Ye Liuyun and his group, a team of Martial Cultivators followed from afar, whose leader was also at the mid‑Fifth Realm.

They kept checking the bark and ground markings along the way, trailing the whole route.

It was probably the accomplices of those two infiltrators.

After resting, the group each harbored their own thoughts and set off again.

Ye Liuyun's party continued to encounter raids by ferocious beasts.

Fortunately, they had many members at the Fourth Realm, so the beasts were relatively easy to deal with.

Who killed a beast kept it for themselves, and the mercenaries did not argue.

But when they reached the Fifth Realm beasts, three or five mercenaries began to raise their price on the spot.

"If we go further, we'll have to fight for our lives.

This is far beyond the danger we anticipated; we need extra payment."

This is a common tactic among some mercenaries: they hike their price at critical moments, and many employers, helpless, can only pay more.

Because going back to recruit anew wastes time and also requires paying these mercenaries, it's equally uneconomical.

Lin Zhi'an clearly lacked experience hiring mercenaries; he had described the task lightly before, giving them an excuse to raise the price.

Ye Liuyun and Kui Sen merely stood aside, watching the commotion silently, without taking part.

If Lin Zhi'an agreed to pay more, that would be better; if not, they wouldn't be embarrassed and would simply keep moving.

The mercenaries were not united; if they all raised the price together, Lin Zhi'an would have to concede.

But there were only these few; Lin Zhi'an originally didn't want to agree and was about to dismiss them on the spot.

"Fine, just add a little extra! I'll cover the additional cost myself!"

Lin Xiyao chose to smooth things over.

The mercenaries who had raised the price had already begun to get nervous.

When they heard Lin Xiyao agree, they relaxed and kept praising her.

Seeing that she had spoken, Lin Zhi'an found it hard to object, so he also agreed and led the team onward.

Not long after, Lin Zhi'an also spotted a team of Martial Cultivators ahead.

They were following behind, moving quickly, and the dangers had been cleared by the front Martial Cultivator team.

That Martial Cultivator team also noticed them and stopped immediately.

Their party's composition was similar to Ye Liuyun's: over ten guards protecting a young man who looked like a young lord, led by a guard captain at mid‑Fifth Realm, and they had also hired more than twenty mercenaries.

Ye Liuyun noticed that the young lord also wore an Alchemist badge identical to Lin Xiyao's.

However, Lin Xiyao's badge bore four characters, while the young lord's badge had three, indicating he was a third‑grade Alchemist.

The guard captain, apparently familiar with the Lin family's insignia, bowed and asked, "Are you all Alchemists of the Lin family?"

Lin Zhi'an replied, "That's right; may I ask which faction you belong to?"

"We are from the Royal City Spirit Pill Hall.

This is our eldest son, Shangguan Ming River; I am Tang Kuan."

The guard captain introduced himself.

"So you're Captain Tang of the Spirit Pill Hall; I, too, have brought our Alchemist Lin Xiyao to gather herbs.

I am Lin Zhi'an, Steward of the Lin family's outer gate!"

They introduced themselves to each other.

Shangguan Ming River greeted Lin Xiyao: "Miss Lin, I have heard of you for a long time.

In the Royal City, I have already heard your great name.

Our Spirit Pill Hall has even sold the pills you refined!"

Both sides had been wary, but hearing of their business dealings relaxed them considerably.

At least they wouldn't clash immediately.

"You flatter me, Young Master Shangguan!"

Lin Xiyao replied politely.

"Since we've met, why not travel together? With more people we have support."

Shangguan Ming River extended the invitation.

Actually they had stopped originally because they didn't want to clear a path for Ye Liuyun's group.

Now that they recognized each other, they thought to merge the two mercenary squads and face the beasts together.

Moreover, he could get closer to Lin Xiyao along the way.

If he could deceive Fourth Realm Alchemist Lin Xiyao, even without finding herbs, the trip would be worthwhile.

Lin Xiyao looked at Lin Zhi'an, uncertain whether to merge with them.

Lin Zhi'an immediately replied, "Alright, let's travel together for now.

But the herbs we find will each depend on our own abilities."

"That's natural!"

Shangguan Ming River also agreed.

"Young Master Shangguan, what herbs are you after?"

Before Shangguan Ming River could make small talk, Lin Xiyao asked outright.

Shangguan Ming River, however, was extremely cunning and didn't answer immediately, instead replying, "Our Spirit Pill Hall has been harvesting here for years; whatever herbs we encounter we pick. Miss Lin, what about you?"

"I'm here for the spirit ginseng!"

Lin Xiyao didn't hide anything and said it outright.

Lin Xiyao didn't hide anything and said it outright.

Shangguan Ming River's heart moved, yet his face showed no change as he asked, "I've also heard about the spirit ginseng, but I think it's too exaggerated; it doesn't seem true!"

"Ah! I'm just here to give it a try."

"I urgently need that spirit ginseng to refine medicinal pills."

"If Young Master Shangguan happens to find it, please let me have some of its roots; I'll pay the price."

Lin Xiyao said to Shangguan Ming River.

"It seems she really wants to use it to make pills; she doesn't absolutely need to find that spirit ginseng."

"Sure, sure!"

Shangguan Ming River readily agreed, then asked, "May I ask what kind of medicinal pill Miss Lin wishes to refine?"

"If we can't find it, our Spirit Pill Hall also has some aged spirit ginseng."

Lin Xiyao, however, slowly shook her head: "Without a hundred‑thousand‑year age, it's not enough."

"I need to use it to refine pills to save lives; no room for error!"

Next, Tang Kuan and Lin Zhi'an also began directing everyone to move forward together.

All the way, Shangguan Ming River kept looking for topics to chat with Lin Xiyao, but Lin Xiyao's mind was clearly not on the conversation; she was just being polite, answering him with a few words.

The mercenaries' pressure also began to increase; the fierce beasts they encountered were all of the Fifth Layer Realm.

However, these mercenaries are very diligent, and their survival skills are strong; many have life‑saving treasures on hand that can block the beasts' attacks.

Tang Kuan and Lin Zhi'an were not idle either; they also helped out, and the mercenaries managed to hold on.

Ye Liuyun also kept his strength hidden, constantly using blade intent against the foes.

But his blade intent is strong, so among the mercenaries his combat ability counts as strong.

In one battle, the group faced two mid‑Fifth Layer barbarian bears, the fight was evenly matched, when Ye Liuyun suddenly swung a blade, aiming to chop at Lin Xiyao's feet.

Lin Xiyao startled, a red‑white flame surged toward Ye Liuyun's blade intent, while her body swiftly retreated backward.

However, Ye Liuyun's blade intent suddenly vanished, and her flame burned into nothing.

Just as she was about to strike again, the ground suddenly trembled; a mid‑Fifth Layer giant python burst from the spot where she had stood, its face bearing a blade wound that was still dripping blood.

Moreover, after the python burst forth, it heedlessly lunged at Ye Liuyun to avenge that blade.