Chapter 1949: The True Situation

Upon hearing this, Lao Wei and Cao Meng exchanged a glance.

"All right! Since you've figured it out, we won't hide it anymore!"

Lao Wei then put away his silly expression, turned serious, and said to Ye Liuyun.

Seeing that Ye Liuyun had so easily seen through them, the villagers all looked disappointed and disheartened.

Lao Wei explained to Ye Liuyun: "Some of the small factions here desperately recruit people to expand because some larger factions give us tasks every few months, and we must send people to carry them out."

This time the task is for us to send ten people to explore Yellow Dragon Hill.

But that place is extremely dangerous; eight or nine out of ten who go in never come out.

Especially since our cultivation levels are low, going there would just make us cannon fodder for others.

So we thought, if you could lead us out of this buffer zone, maybe we wouldn't have to send people ourselves! Or if you took us on the expedition, our chances of survival would be much greater!

"Is that the reason?"

Ye Liuyun asked Lao Wei, and also looked at the other mercenaries.

This time they all nodded in agreement together.

"I can help you! But you deceived me once, so I dare not trust you again! Unless……" Ye Liuyun said, pausing.

"We weren't trying to deceive you in bad faith; we just concealed some details.

"Like this, go ahead and propose your conditions! As long as we can agree, we won't refuse! Even if it costs my life, I won't even frown!"

Lao Wei also said.

"Unless you let me perform a Soul Search to confirm the truth!"

Ye Liuyun continued.

"Ah?"

"That won't work!"

Lao Wei was stunned upon hearing this, but the others objected.

"How?

"You're not afraid of death, yet you fear a Soul Search?"

Ye Liuyun, however, stared at Lao Wei and asked.

"That's not the same! After a Soul Search, one becomes an idiot!"

Someone shouted.

Lao Wei waved his hand, silencing the others' objections.

He said to Ye Liuyun: "After letting you perform a Soul Search, will you truly lead them?

"If you agree to sign a Divine Soul Contract, I'll go all out!"

Ye Liuyun, however, laughed: "Now it's you who are begging me, not me begging you.

"You have no right to set terms with me!"

Upon hearing this, Lao Wei also began to think.

"Lao Wei, no, that's too risky!"

Cao Meng advised from the side.

"Yeah! If it's not possible, just forget it; at worst we'll send people ourselves!"

Someone else also spoke excitedly.

However, after Lao Wei pondered for a moment, he agreed to Ye Liuyun.

"Alright, I agree! I hope that after you verify the information, you can lead them out!"

"Lao Wei!"

These mercenaries also became excited.

"If you're going to do a Soul Search, do it on me!"

At that moment, the boy over ten years old said to Ye Liuyun.

"Tu Ya Zi, what mischief are you stirring up by following him?"

Lao Wei scolded him.

"My cultivation is the lowest and I'm useless! If anyone should be sacrificed, it should be me! If he finishes the Soul Search and then ignores us, we'll still have to rely on you!"

The boy called Tu Ya Zi insisted.

"Do the Soul Search on me!"

Cao Meng also suddenly stood up and said: "He's just a half-grown kid who knows nothing; searching him would be useless!"

"Search me! I know that too!"

"Search me!"

"Search me!"

These people were of one mind; even a few women stepped forward without hesitation.

"Do the Soul Search on me!"

At that moment, the little girl, seeing everyone shout that, also joined in, not knowing what a Soul Search meant.

Ye Liuyun, however, shook his head and insisted: "I only want to perform a Soul Search on Lao Wei.

"The others are useless.

"I can guarantee that after the Soul Search confirms the information, I will stay and help you."

Lao Wei also patted Cao Meng on the shoulder, gave him a firm look, then told everyone: "Stop arguing! You all should live well from now on!"

"Whether we die early or late, what's the point of living in such a miserable way?"

A man shouted excitedly.

"Not bad! Lao Wei, take us to the Southern Region; perhaps we can live better!"

The others also said so.

Lao Wei shouted, "Stop talking nonsense! People like us, without strength or background, can't survive even in this familiar place, let alone elsewhere! We must survive to see hope."

After speaking, he stood firmly in front of Ye Liuyun and did not mention letting Ye Liuyun keep the agreement.

Ye Liuyun's strength far exceeds theirs; a single person could wipe them all out, and even if he later reneged, they would have no way.

He is gambling with his life.

If he doesn't take that gamble, he truly has no other option.

Rather than watching helplessly as those around him are taken away, it's better for him to go first.

Some women couldn't bear to watch, turning away to shed tears in secret.

Seeing this, Ye Liuyun no longer hesitated, releasing one of his Souls and charging into Lao Wei's Sea of Consciousness.

Lao Wei's words were indeed the truth, and these Mercenaries he treated as family.

However, Lao Wei was not originally their leader.

The former leader had already died during the previous few expedition missions.

Most of these people are Martial Cultivators from the Mortal Realm; only a few, such as Lao Wei, come from the Southern Region and have been roaming this area.

That little girl was also rescued by the former leader during a mission.

But she is young, doesn't know her full name, only that she is called Lan'er.

Yet she has always been looked after by them.

Rabbit‑tooth, the former leader's son, is actually named Li Pingchuan.

Their Tiger Might Mercenary Corps originally had more than seventy members, but after the former leader and some strong ones died, they could no longer compete with other forces, and people became fewer and fewer.

The coming fate is either to die on the road of missions, or to join another faction and become cannon fodder for others, but the outcome is predetermined.

Especially Rabbit‑tooth and Lan'er, even if given away for free to other factions, no one wants them.

Unable to fight yet still needing food and consuming resources, they are a burden to any faction.

Lao Wei and Cao Meng had also been observing Ye Liuyun secretly for several days, finding his character decent and his strength great, so they decided to relinquish the leader position.

But they had no noteworthy resources to offer as gifts; seeing two women beside Ye Liuyun, they tried to appeal to his preferences.

There were also two women willing to sacrifice themselves for everyone's survival, hoping to exchange that for Ye Liuyun's assistance.

Ye Liuyun then searched through a lot of information on the local factions, and only after that retrieved his Soul.

Lao Wei immediately realized he was completely fine, without even a headache, found it somewhat unbelievable, and stood dazed there.

Everyone else silently stared at Lao Wei, still thinking he had become a total fool.

"If you don't speak up, they'll think you've become an idiot!"

Ye Liuyun smiled and reminded Lao Wei.

"I… I actually have nothing wrong!"

Lao Wei also recovered, saying in surprise.

"What?"

"Nothing wrong?"

"Great!"

Someone's eyes still held teardrops; seeing Lao Wei say he's fine, their astonishment and joy overflowed.