Sinisi roared with laughter, and befriending Li Xi was perhaps his proudest achievement.
The meal stretched late into the night. The next morning, before Li Xi was even awake, Sinisi and the others were already at the mercenary hall, researching quests. Robert’s caravan needed to stay in Abi City for some time, and Sinisi and his companions couldn't just wait around. The sensible thing to do was to take on a suitable quest and head back to Kadu City.
Unfortunately, by the time Li Xi found the mercenary hall, there were no suitable quests available, or the suitable ones had already been taken.
“I’ve never really had the chance to explore other cities. You guys go ahead and look, and if you find anything suitable, save a spot for me.”
“Brother Li Xi, you go ahead. Don’t stay out too late. The women in Abi City aren’t as good as those in Kadu City.”
As Sinisi said this, he shot Li Xi another knowing glance.
Li Xi couldn’t be bothered to explain. He’d already said he preferred cleanliness and wouldn't be interested in those common women. If he didn’t find a princess to be his lover, it would be an insult to his transmigration status.
Li Xi simply wanted to wander around, experience the local customs of a different city, and see if anything caught his attention.
After strolling around all day, he discovered that aside from a few minor differences from Kadu City, Abi City was almost a carbon copy. There were the same numb commoners, the same struggling lower classes rushing about just to survive, and the same corrupt, decadent upper society. If not for his unfamiliarity with the streets, Li Xi would have thought he hadn't left Kadu City at all.
Later, Li Xi himself analyzed the situation, concluding that entertainment options in this other world were very scarce, communication was inconvenient, and basic necessities were severely lacking. Consequently, most people lived essentially the same lives, with some possibly repeating the same day over and over again their entire lives. It was truly pathetic.
If it weren't for the fact that he had to complete quests, he could have made a fortune just by creating some form of entertainment.
Losing interest, Li Xi returned to the hotel early. Before long, Sinisi and the others also returned. “Brother Li Xi, we’ve accepted a quest back to Kadu City. It’s D-class, escorting a wealthy merchant’s family. The commission is five gold coins per person. What do you think?”
Li Xi didn’t care about the commission amount; he cared about the quest rank. D-class was perfectly satisfactory. Once he returned to Kadu City and completed the quest, he’d get two more chances at the lottery.
“Alright, we’ve been out for six days, and I’m already homesick. A thousand days away from home are not as good as one day at home.”
“Haha, Brother Li Xi, you’re still too young. We mercenaries travel all over the continent; everywhere we go is our home. After some time, you won’t feel homesick anymore.”
“Heh, I suppose so. But I still want to go home as soon as possible.”
The next day, Li Xi accompanied Sinisi to accept the quest and proceeded to the designated location. A luxurious carriage, inlaid with gold and silver, was pulled by two mixed-breed warhorses. More importantly, magic patterns flickered with energy fluctuations in many places on the carriage.
Seeing this, Sinisi couldn’t help but gasp. “How incredibly wealthy must this merchant be to have a carriage augmented with magic? This carriage alone would cost tens of thousands of gold coins to purchase. This isn’t just a carriage; it’s a walking treasure trove! Five gold coins commission per person is far too little.”
Li Xi nodded in agreement. He might have accumulated nearly thirty thousand through various means, but compared to this carriage, he was still far behind. It was like the difference between a nouveau riche and an old aristocratic family; the disparity in their foundations was immense.
“Are these the mercenaries who accepted the quest?” a familiar voice called out from inside the carriage. The instant Li Xi heard the voice, he wanted to run. He’d have accepted the penalty for breaking the contract if it meant not taking this quest.
However, Sinisi and the others heard the voice and exclaimed with surprise, “Is it Madam Avril?”
The curtain was lifted, and Avril, dressed in luxurious silk everyday wear, emerged from the carriage. The smile on her face involuntarily evoked a sense of familiarity and warmth.
“Commander Sinisi, and Brother Li Xi, I didn’t expect we’d have such a fateful reunion.”
“If we had known in advance that Madam Avril was the one posting the quest, we wouldn’t have charged any commission. To make Madam Avril spend money now is truly something we shouldn’t have allowed.”
Seeing that it was indeed Avril, Sinisi tossed aside his thoughts of extorting a rich fool. Virtues such as honesty, fairness, and helping the weak, long discarded in the gutter, seemed to repossess him. He would help the suffering Madam Avril, even if it meant losing money or even incurring a loss.
Li Xi genuinely couldn't fathom where Avril's charm came from. Most people she met developed a sense of trust in her after just a few words, and this trust would only deepen over time, as if they were brainwashed. Li Xi was so wary of such a peculiar phenomenon that he wanted to avoid her at all costs.
“Ah, we truly do have a fated encounter. But unfortunately, I’ve just remembered I still have some unfinished business. You all go ahead; I’ll return in a few days.”
Li Xi tried to excuse himself with a casual laugh, but Sinisi grabbed him, asking in confusion, “Brother Li Xi, didn’t you say yesterday you were homesick and wanted to go back soon? Besides, Madam Avril was brought to Abi City by you. Wouldn’t it be great to return to Kadu City together now?”
Sinisi then quietly leaned in and whispered to Li Xi, “Brother Li Xi, it’s not easy to find such a good employer. She’s easygoing and pleasant. If you take on other quests, I guarantee you won’t find anyone as good as Madam Avril. What do we mercenaries strive for if not safety and smoothness? Listen to me, would I harm you?”
“Uh…”
Sinisi’s words left Li Xi unable to refute. If it came to the quality of employers, Avril could be ranked third, but no one would dare claim the first or second spot. However, Li Xi’s intuition constantly warned him to stay away from this strange Avril.
Li Xi’s face showed a hint of difficulty. “I really have something to do. There’s no danger on the way, so you all go on your own.”
Avril saw Li Xi’s actions from inside the carriage. Supporting herself against the carriage, she forced a slight smile, which conveyed three parts of hesitation, three parts of pain, and four parts of reluctance. “If Little Brother Li Xi has unfinished business, please don’t worry about me. You can attend to it first. If it’s not long, I can wait. If it is long, I can provide you with a quest completion certificate as a small token of my gratitude.”
As she spoke, her eyes reddened, and tears welled up but stubbornly refused to fall. Perhaps afraid that Li Xi would see her in such a state, she covered her eyes with her sleeve and returned to the carriage.
Then, faint sounds of suppressed sobs could be heard.
This ignited the situation like a beehive. Sinisi and the others began to blame Li Xi. “Brother Li Xi, why must you do this? Madam Avril is so kind; how could you bear to make her cry for you? Besides, this quest is a trivial matter for you. I really don’t understand what you’re running from.”
After speaking, Sinisi pulled Li Xi aside and said earnestly, “I can tell Madam Avril is no ordinary person. She must be extremely, extremely wealthy. Her feelings for you are also unusual. Brother, this is your opportunity.”
Then, he gave Li Xi another one of those knowing glances that men understood.
Li Xi managed a bitter smile. Her wealth might be questionable. When he rescued her from the bandit’s lair, she had been penniless. Yet, in just two days in Abi City, she had acquired this enchanted carriage worth tens of thousands of gold coins. Her methods were far more formidable than anyone Li Xi had ever encountered.
But before Li Xi could refuse again, Sinisi shouted towards the carriage, “Madam, please rest assured, Brother Li Xi has agreed to return with us. He’s arranged for someone else to handle his matters in Abi City.”
Well, that settled it for Li Xi.
As Li Xi tried to say something, Sinisi directly steered him towards a mixed-breed warhorse. “Don’t you want to see Aishe sooner?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go. Giddy up.”
Li Xi was swept along. The group traveled light and fast. What had taken the caravan five days to traverse on their slow journey, they would complete in just three days on their return.
On the first night, Li Xi went out and hunted a prey, preparing a roasted whole deer feast. Avril was also drawn by the aroma and descended from the carriage.
Before she could speak, the others quickly made way for her. “Madam, please sit here. This is the leeward side, where you can be warm by the fire and away from the smoke.”
While everyone was distracted, Li Xi cut off a leg of the deer, grabbed it, and went to another spot to eat. Li Xi had firmly decided to keep his distance from this Avril.
However, after just a few bites, Avril approached with a teapot. Just as Li Xi was about to move again, Avril called out to him. Her aggrieved voice sounded heartbreaking. “Mr. Li Xi, I’ve never formally thanked you for rescuing me from the bandit’s lair and for concealing it from everyone. I’d like to offer you a toast.”
Li Xi maintained his distance, looking at Avril, and didn’t even touch the wine cup in her hand. “No need for thanks. I just wanted to earn some extra money. Speaking of which, you were the one who told me where to find the gold. I should be thanking you.”
Avril held up the wine cup, and Li Xi pretended not to see it. The cup reminded him of the bandit leader Machiaveli’s eyes, which remained open in death. Li Xi was not yet immune to all poisons and decided caution was the better part of valor.
Avril persisted in holding up the wine cup, while Li Xi stubbornly feigned blindness. Watching Sinisi and the others by the campfire, they were filled with anxiety, wishing they could take Li Xi’s place.
Finally, tears welled up in Avril’s eyes again, lingering in the corners without falling. With eyes full of complex emotions, she looked at Li Xi, who remained unmoved.
Hot tears streamed down Avril’s perfect cheeks. She drank the wine in the cup herself.
“If you think I’m a cruel woman, please understand that I had no choice. In that environment, I had no other option.”
After saying these words, Avril boarded the carriage without making a sound.
Sinisi pointed at Li Xi, his face filled with reproaches and disappointment. Why would he give up such a golden opportunity? Not only that, but he’d made her cry. Did he really intend to be a mercenary for life?
Sinisi asked himself, if he were in Li Xi’s position, twenty-four-hour close protection would be the minimum requirement. What a golden opportunity, such a wonderful person, and crucially, so wealthy, with excellent temperament, character, looks, and figure. This was an opportunity granted by both the Goddess of Fortune and the Goddess of Destiny, yet he’d encountered the “truly” blind Li Xi.
Li Xi looked at Avril’s tears, and for some reason, felt a slight pang in his heart, as if he had committed a heinous wrong. Yet, thinking about Avril’s bizarre behavior, he still felt that keeping his distance from her was the right decision.
“If refusing beautiful women is a crime in this world, then let me be an unforgivable sinner,” Li Xi’s words silenced Sinisi and the others.
For the next two days, Avril barely left the carriage, and the food sent to her was returned. A fleeting glimpse through the curtain revealed Avril’s reddened eyes. During these moments, everyone would launch into a barrage of criticism against Li Xi.
Finally, just as Li Xi was feeling complex emotions and wondering if he had truly made a mistake and should go apologize, he saw the city walls of Kadu City.
“Finally, we’re home.”
No longer bothered by this mysterious woman, and able to completely escape her, Li Xi was on the verge of jumping for joy.
Sinisi handed Li Xi the quest completion certificate, looking at him with the gaze of someone who had just witnessed a scumbag.
“You’re my brother; otherwise, I’d have beaten you up.”
Li Xi looked perplexed. “Did that woman say something to you?”