C18 Accept the Challenge

Yan Yongchun leafed through the mercenary handbook and explained, "When two mercenary groups have an irreconcilable dispute, they can request a mercenary challenge from the Mercenary Alliance to prevent the situation from escalating and to safeguard the lives of the mercenaries. The rules for the mercenary challenge are: 1) Each side selects ten mercenaries to compete under their leader's guidance; 2) The Mercenary Alliance determines the challenge location; 3) Fatalities are prohibited, but injuries are not regulated; 4) The losing side must accept three demands from the victor."

"Damn, does the leader really have to join in?" Liu Xiaobao worried about their slim chances of victory. Facing off against Silver Knights and Bronze Knights with only ten Black Iron Knights on his team seemed daunting. Despite his team's bravado, the Vipers' strength was undeniable.

Liu Xiaobao found the requirement for the leader to lead the team into the challenge particularly unfair. As a mere Level 2 Black Iron Knight without any real combat skills or proficiency in weapons, wouldn't he just end up embarrassingly defeated if he entered the fray?

The financier, noticing Liu Xiaobao's newly formed group of mercenaries, approached with a grin. "Of course, the leader must participate. Are you scared, little brother?"

"Scared? Who said I'm scared?" Liu Xiaobao replied, his voice betraying his anxiety. "I'm definitely scared. It'd be odd if I weren't. We've just arrived here, and out of nowhere, we're being coerced into a mercenary challenge by the Vipers. If we lose and they decide to cripple us, how will we ever live normally again?"

The Vipers had already dealt with their wounded member. Their leader, Hong Jinbiao, made sure his voice boomed across the entire ground floor, "Kid, I, Hong Jinbiao, leader of the Vipers, formally challenge you. If you lose, you'll hand over the person who stabbed my brother, and I'll have his hands chopped off."

Chop off his hands? My God, how brutal! Liu Xiaobao had never witnessed such ruthlessness. This was the kind of thing he'd only heard about in tales of past thugs.

"What do we do? What do we do?" Liu Xiaobao turned to the composed Yan Yongchun. "Butler Yan, should we accept the challenge? Even though Han Xin, our Big Brother, can be a bit dishonorable, he's still one of our own. If we lose, won't he be in agony for the rest of his life?"

Hong Jinbiao continued to shout, "If you cowards refuse to accept the challenge, then I'll take my men to your Silverwind Estate this instant. I'm willing to risk imprisonment to lay waste to your estate."

It was clear that Hong Jinbiao was a man of deep loyalty, determined to avenge his wounded comrades at any cost.

Yan Yongchun was at a loss for what to do. Having arrived a day before Han Xin, she had wandered the streets and learned much about this world. Here, a Level 3 Bronze Knight could easily harness a type of energy known as genuine energy, which could bolster one's defensive and offensive capabilities. Had the vice-captain of the Vipers not been ambushed by Han Xin, he might have single-handedly defeated their group.

Han Xin addressed Liu Xiaobao, "Young Master, if accepting their challenge means risking my hands, then so be it. Besides, it's not a given that we'll lose to them."

Liu Xiaobao's voice shook as he asked, "Big Brother Han Xin, are you really okay with this? Just imagining you without your hands terrifies me."

"What's there to fear?" Han Xin replied confidently. "I faced the invincible overlord without a hint of fear. Young Master, let's accept their challenge."

"Yes, accept their challenge! I'll run those kids through with my spear!" Shan Xiongxin, who hailed from the greenwood and never shied away from defending the oppressed, was ready to fight to the last breath against such tyranny.

"Stop stirring things up," someone interjected. "You're not the one who'll end up maimed."

After much deliberation, Liu Xiaobao came up with a solution. He proposed, "Sister, we're willing to accept the challenge, but could we possibly schedule it for next month? As you can see, we're unarmed and lack proper weapons. Plus, we've just sustained internal injuries and need a month to recuperate."

"Shameless, despicable liars! You've just suffered internal injuries? And need a month to recover? You effortlessly dispatched the Vipers' men without breaking a sweat. They didn't stand a chance against you, and now you have the audacity to claim you're injured?"

Everyone who had witnessed the entire affair held Liu Xiaobao in contempt. They had never seen someone so brazen, with such a slick tongue.

The distinguished patron declared, "You two mercenary groups can negotiate the timing amongst yourselves. However, I have already selected the venue for your challenge. It will take place at the field of honor in the capital city."

Liu Xiaobao called out to Hong Jinbiao, "Guild Leader Hong, do you have the courage to face my mercenaries on the fifth of next month?"

"The fifth of next month? Boy, do you take me for a fool? Today is only April tenth. You expect me to wait more than twenty days? What if you hire some high-level experts in the meantime?" As the leader of the Vipers, Hong Jinbiao was certainly no fool. Twenty-some days would be more than enough time for Liu Xiaobao to recruit a Level 5 Archmage or a Level 6 Great Knight, which could spell disaster for him.

Liu Xiaobao retorted, "Hmph, can't your esteemed Vipers even agree to this condition? Me, invite someone to assist? That's laughable. Everyone knows I'm the biggest spendthrift in the capital, having squandered my entire fortune. How could I possibly afford to hire help? We simply want to rest for a month. After all, your group's overall strength far surpasses ours, doesn't it?"

Indeed, this young man was the notorious wastrel of the Silverwind family. How had that slipped my mind? The Duke Silverwind had been in decline for a decade; no one would come to this youth's aid.

After some thought, Hong Jinbiao finally conceded, "Fine, I'll agree to postpone the challenge. But the date you've proposed is too far off. I'll grant you ten days at most. We'll meet on the afternoon of April twentieth at the field of honor."

"Alright, ten days it is," Liu Xiaobao accepted. Ten days were better than an immediate confrontation. It seemed trouble followed him everywhere; even establishing a mercenary group had brought about such a headache.

In conclusion, the patron announced, "The challenge between the Vipers and Hearthfire mercenaries is now official. The duel will take place on April twentieth at the field of honor in the capital. Let the announcement be posted."

With that, the issue was resolved. Hong Jinbiao led his men away, as they had over twenty wounded awaiting treatment.

At the Mercenary Alliance, everyone was abuzz with talk about the showdown happening in ten days. It was a rare sight to see the spendthrift Young Master leading a group to take on the Vipers. Those who had witnessed the Hearthfire's martial arts prowess knew that Liu Xiaobao's men were not only skilled fighters but also incredibly brave. Even upon learning that the Vipers were more powerful overall, they showed no sign of fear.

Liu Xiaobao had Yan Yongchun take ten people to the smithy to craft suitable weapons and to brief them on the state of the world. Moreover, with the formation of the mercenaries, leadership couldn't rest on one person's shoulders. Liu Xiaobao established the 'Master Squad' for these ten, appointing Han Xin as the captain, a man known for his cunning. As the butler of Liu Manor, Yan Yongchun was, of course, not under Han Xin's jurisdiction.

No one questioned Han Xin's appointment as captain; his reputation preceded him. Known for his strategic genius and undefeated record, he was a formidable figure.

With only ten days remaining, Liu Xiaobao was working diligently to carry out good deeds as part of his strategy. By using the time wisely, he aimed to level up, confident that an additional level would help him face the upcoming challenge.

To level up through good deeds, Xiaobao knew better than to aimlessly roam the streets; he needed to seek out the beggar chief for information.

After Xiaobao and his group departed, the financier inquired of his subordinate, "What exactly transpired here? How did that wasteful Young Master and his eleven Level 2 companions manage to knock the Vipers' Vice Leader and his twenty men to the ground? They don't appear to be seriously injured, so why can't they stand?"

The subordinate explained, "The Vipers' Vice Leader was backstabbed by someone named Han Xin. The blade left a gash as wide as a hand. Then, Zhu Fu, the Vice Leader, was restrained by four people and struck several times by a martial arts master, which brought him down. The same happened to the twenty or so men; they were subdued by four individuals with martial skills unlike any we've seen before. Each strike targeted vital points, ensuring that anyone hit twice by them would immediately collapse, unable to rise."

"What kind of martial arts is this? It seems the rumored wasteful young master isn't as incompetent as they say. He actually possesses Level 2 strength. While Level 2 might not be genius level for his age, it certainly places him among the ranks of young masters," the patron instructed. "Keep a closer eye on Hearthfire from now on. Inform me of any developments."

"Yes, I will follow your orders."

"Dismissed." The patron ascended the stairs alone, musing over the young master's surprising strength and his recruitment of skilled martial artists. Intriguing, indeed.

Liu Xiaobao meandered back to the eastern part of the city, wondering if the beggars had properly executed the tasks he'd assigned them that morning.

Upon encountering the beggar leader, Liu Xiaobao inquired, "Any news?"

"My dear young master, are you so eager to do good deeds?" The leader was keen to earn Liu Xiaobao's silver, but admitted, "I've sent my brothers to inquire at every household in the east, yet it seems no one is in distress."

"Life in the capital must be too comfortable."

"Isn't that the truth? The wealthy live their lives one way, and we beggars and the poor have ours. Here in the capital, we all find our contentment. That's why I suggest you look outside the city for issues to address."

"That's a sound suggestion. Where do you think I should start?"

The leader recalled, "I've heard travelers mention that demon beasts have been sighted in the southern regions of Aeseaba. Two villages have already fallen to these creatures, and Aeseaba is dispatching forces to eradicate them."

"You're quite the informant, aren't you? Here's a silver piece for your trouble," Liu Xiaobao remarked, impressed by the beggar's knowledge of events in Aeseaba's south. He had underestimated the beggar's resourcefulness.

Rising to leave for Liu Manor, Liu Xiaobao pondered, "With the south facing a demon plague, the Mercenary Alliance must have missions to counter it. I'll make sure to check it out tomorrow. This could be a significant opportunity to rescue the people from peril, and I won't let it pass by."