Mercenary Harem in Murim Novel-Chapter 216 - – Successor

Leaving it to Astrid proved to be a correct decision.

With Jack giving her direction, she was able to arrange everything perfectly. Qin Weiqi, now with a different face, left for a journey toward the capital, leaving a will in the hands of the Mercenary Union. Inside was the City Lord's testament and request for protection from the Mercenary Union.

The letter also stated that his will should only be delivered by the Union in person to the recipient.

Qin Shangyu didn't live in the same manor as Qin Weiqi. He was a busy man who worked outside and only visited his adoptive father every now and then, so it wouldn't be strange for him to receive the will through a 3rd party.

With this, they could cover up Qin Weiqi's escape perfectly. The letter and the will would serve as the evidence and proof that the previous City Lord was killed by a third party and his death would not bring shame or doubt upon the Mercenary Union.

For his new identity, Leo chose the background of an apprentice of a blacksmith in a village far away because apparently Qin Weiqi had a hobby of making weapons. It was the perfect cover story for him, especially since the Capital City didn't have Beggar's Sect's presence in it.

The City's Beggar Sect didn't expand their influence that far yet.

By integrating in the society early on, Qin Weiqi could easily adapt himself and hide among the crowd without anyone noticing.

After Astrid returned, Leo patted her head in recognition.

New n𝙤vel chapters are published on freeweɓnøvel.com.

"Good job, Astrid. Now, how about the other part?"

"Ugh... I-It's finished. The successor knows what happened and is working to become the new City Lord now. We stationed one mercenary group, Brown Bear, around the manor as his guards." She reported.

"Good." He nodded approvingly, "Then, let's talk about your next job. You have to go to Peng Clan."

"What? So suddenly?! What do you want me to do there?"

"To meet your old family, of course."

Astrid's eyes went wide. Her face became red and her hands trembled.

"I-I..."

"Yes?"

She didn't know how to respond. She had prepared her heart, but she never thought he would take action this fast.

Meeting her old family again, after everything she did... She didn't think it was the right decision. It might bring a lot of trouble for both sides.

"Leader! T-That..."

Seeing her troubled expression, Leo sighed and patted her head.

"Don't worry. You will be there for business, not as your old self. You're there as Astrid from Hallowed Insect, not as Peng Clan's princess." Leo explained. "Your goal is to get a promise from them. From the look of it, they want to get close to the Mercenary Union, and this is a chance. Don't disappoint me, Astrid. You know what to do, right?"

"... Work?" She asked, unsure of herself. She still couldn't believe what she had heard, but Leo simply nodded his head.

"Yeah, work. Now chop chop and go. Don't keep your old family waiting."

"Ugh... A-Alright..."

Astrid didn't want to go, but she was the branch's leader. There was nothing she could do to avoid this meeting.

Thankfully, as a branch manager, she held the authority and the saying here. Even her senior couldn't refuse her request!

'I will drag Jack with me. It's not like he has something else to do!'

***

While the Mercenary Union was trying its best to expand its influence, Shui managed to reach the Central Plains' edge after a few days of walking.

The area was close to a huge lake, which was a source of water for the region. Flowers bloomed all over the place, and the air smelled fresh and clean.

In a war-filled Central Plains, a place like this was rare. Everywhere was filled with barren land, desolation, and ruins. Even though the area was beautiful and had abundant resources, it was still dangerous because of the lack of security.

But, for some reason, this place was peaceful. There was a log house standing by itself in the middle of a small forest surrounded by trees and bushes.

The swordsman from Hallowed Insect looked at the house and approached it. On his waist were two swords, a white and black one.

If looked closely, the white sword was broken, its sheath looked worn out and old. But it didn't take away the majestic feeling from it.

The sound of water running in a river nearby reached Shui's ears as he got closer to the house. There was a single presence inside, sitting in meditation.

Shui could feel his energy, calm and serene. His presence reminded him of a lake, where the surface was undisturbed and the bottom was hidden from view.

"Excuse me."

He knocked on the door softly and waited for the reply. A moment later, he heard a faint voice coming from within.

"Yes, please wait a minute."

A woman answered. Soon after that, a beautiful young lady in a simple robe appeared from inside the house. She had a gentle and soft appearance and her hair was tied in a simple braid that hung over her shoulder.

She smiled innocently like a naive woman, but her hand, hiding behind her back, was holding a small sword. She wasn't as defenseless as she seemed.

"What's your purpose for coming here? What are you looking for?"

The lady looked at Shui with curiosity. She didn't seem hostile or wary, but she kept her distance from him.

Shui noticed this but he didn't say anything about it.

"My name is Shui, and I have a chance to have a bout against Xiao Ah Tian a few times. I am here to deliver his final massage." He said calmly while cupping his hand, following the greeting custom of the Central Plain.

"I am also here to give this back." He said as he unsheathed his white sword, a broken weapon. It was the sword Xiao Ah Tian used to fight against Heart, "As well as to bury his remains."

Hearing his words, the girl's eyes widened. She observed Shui from top to bottom and noticed the black sword he carried with him and the sheath of the white sword that was hung on his waist.

"Ah Tian's sword... You are one of his opponents." She murmured to herself, "Please, come in. I'd like to hear the story of how he lost."

"I am ashamed, but I am not his last opponent." Shui said, "However, I have watched his fight, so I can tell you the result of his fight against his last opponent."

Shui and the girl, who introduced herself as Xiao Ah Ru, sat in a comfortable position inside. He then told the story, how Xiao Ah Tian fought valiantly but died in vain in the battle against Heart, the follower of Supreme Evil. He explained every detail of their fight and how the two clashed in their final battle.

"..." After listening, the girl remained silent. She didn't shed a tear, but she couldn't hide the sadness that appeared on her face.

A complicated feeling showed on her face, and Shui knew that it was the expression of someone who was grieving over the death of her beloved one. Her hand caressed the remains of the sword on the table gently, and it trembled slightly.

"My condolences. Xiao Ah Tian was indeed strong and he fought until his last breath." He said. It wasn't a lie. The swordsman who had challenged the world alone, despite the odds, had indeed shown his strength and courage.

"I know." Xiao Ah Ru smiled faintly. Her voice quivered, but there was no sorrow or regret in her words. It was just acceptance. "My father has always been a fool. He wandered around the world after my mother's death and challenged many strong people. He always came home injured. Not that he returned often."

Her hand then clenched tightly and her voice cracked. Her face distorted and tears rolled down from her eyes, "I am sad but not surprised that this is the outcome. I always knew there would be no other ending. I just wished that he wouldn't have died in vain... And I am glad he did."

Shui listened quietly. He understood her pain. It must be hard to lose a parent, especially if it was someone like Xiao Ah Tian.

"Say, this Heart fellow... He's an evil being, right?"

"He is one of the most evil people I have ever encountered. From our investigation, Heart had killed more than a hundred thousand people, sacrificing them in a gruesome way to revive Supreme Evil."

"Good, that's good. I don't know if it's right for me to say this, but at least, his death was not in vain." Xiao Ah Ru smiled faintly as she said so. Her eyes glistened brightly and her lips trembled slightly, "Thank you for telling me about my father."

"No problem. Now that I have fulfilled my promise, I will take my leave."

"Ah, please wait a minute."

Xiao Ah Ru suddenly stood up and went into the inner room. After a few minutes, she returned with changed clothes and her face was cleaned. She wore a light, purple dress with flowers embroidery on its sleeves and skirt. On her head, she also wore a hair ornament made of white flowers and a red jewel in the center.

"May I request a duel? I am not as skilled as my father, but I do know how to wield a sword." She asked politely and Shui could see that her eyes were clear. There was no longer sadness in them, only a strong will and determination. It was as if the previous event hadn't affected her at all.

Looking at her, Shui nodded. He didn't back off from her request, and instead, he accepted it.

"If that's what you want." Shui replied calmly and got up. "Then I accept."