The reason even alchemists, artifact refiners, and others had to take on missions to slay demons and exterminate evil was, reportedly, that there were too many Demons and Ghosts. The Five Elements Sect simply didn't have enough people to handle them all.
On top of that, more and more disciples were taking up various secondary professions to avoid these missions. That was why the sect's higher-ups had decided that even pampered alchemists, artifact refiners, and Formation Masters had to take on some demon-slaying missions, supposedly to hone their martial skills and improve their ability to protect themselves.
Of course, this was probably meant to improve the benefits for the disciples who actually went out to slay demons and exterminate evil.
After all, when faced with missions like these, most alchemists, artifact refiners, and Formation Masters probably wouldn't go into battle themselves. Qin Dongcheng was naturally one of them.
He'd have to be out of his mind to travel a thousand li just to slay demons and exterminate evil. The time and energy wasted on the journey alone would be enough for him to refine dozens of miraculous pills and earn a hefty sum of silver, not to mention the many dangers involved.
The mission reward was only a hundred Sect Contributions. He could earn all that and more by refining a few extra pills.
So the moment he received this compulsory mission, Qin Dongcheng went straight to the Mission Hall, intending to hire other disciples to complete it for him.
What he hadn't expected was to see a familiar figure as soon as he arrived at the Mission Hall.
"Sixth Brother, you're here too. Could it be because of the compulsory mission?"
Dong Hongyan spotted Qin Dongcheng first and immediately led her group of younger sisters over. Her little team had four younger sisters in all, and they often took on various missions together.
Since Qin Dongcheng had joined them last and was also the youngest, he had become the Sixth Brother.
Qin Dongcheng found this rather awkward. Somehow, he'd ended up as the Sixth Brother in a sisterhood, and it just felt a little strange.
Still, Dong Hongyan's other four younger sisters were all quite pretty: her second sister, Ju Xiaojing; third sister, Liang Qiuyue; fourth sister, Pan Yujie; and fifth sister, Dong Hongyu. Dong Hongyu was her own younger sister, but she was younger still, so she ranked fifth. Then came the sixth, Qin Dongcheng.
The group had clearly gathered for the mission as well.
Dong Hongyan spoke loudly, and with every member of their little group a beauty, they immediately drew plenty of attention. Curious eyes turned toward Qin Dongcheng.
No one could understand how a man had managed to become part of Bamboo Forest Valley's famous sisterhood.
Qin Dongcheng awkwardly went over and greeted the others before nodding. "I am here because of the compulsory mission. Mine is to travel a thousand li to Tongxin Village and kill a group of Rat Demons. I don't plan to go, so I want to hire some Official Disciples to complete it."
"That won't do, Sixth Brother. Even if you're an alchemist, you should still learn some combat skills and gain combat experience. Otherwise, what will you do if something like that demonic invasion happens again?"
Dong Hongyan patted him on the shoulder, looking as if he wasn't living up to her expectations. "As it happens, we're planning to take on more missions to slay demons and exterminate evil while we have the chance. We'll take missions around Tongxin Village and bring you along. It'll be a good chance to hone your skills."
The other girls chimed in too, urging Qin Dongcheng to join them.
"Exactly. Luo Cloud Prefecture is getting more and more dangerous, and Bamboo Forest Valley isn't safe either. Even Big Sister nearly had a close call, so you need to improve your combat skills too, Sixth Brother."
"Come train with us. We'll protect you, so there won't be any danger. Just come along without worrying."
"You're a man, so why fear Demons and Ghosts? We'll look after you. Don't worry."
Seeing all the sisters trying to reassure him left Qin Dongcheng speechless. If he'd known this would be such a hassle, he should've left the moment he rescued Dong Hongyan, so she'd never have learned who had saved her.
Now, with a group of older sisters urging him to fight and kill, Qin Dongcheng felt rather strange about it. Besides, he had lived two lives; he wasn't a sixteen-year-old boy.
He hurriedly declined their kind offer and left the Mission Hall in a rush, under Dong Hongyan's disappointed gaze.
As for his compulsory mission, the sisters naturally took it on for him while they were at it. They told him he could simply wait and turn it in when it was done. Dong Hongyan and the others wouldn't even accept the mission reward, which made Qin Dongcheng feel quite embarrassed.
He'd just have to refine some extra pills for the sisters later as thanks.
Watching Qin Dongcheng flee in such a sorry state, the sisters all shook their heads.
"Sixth Brother is good at everything. He's quick to learn, good at alchemy, kind, and handsome. He's just too timid, hiding at home to refine pills and make medicine every day, never daring to go out."
"That's right. Now that I've gotten to know Sixth Brother, I feel like we're the men compared to him. He's the woman."
"No wonder Hong Yu doesn't like him. Big Sister tried to set them up a few times, but she wouldn't agree to meet him. If my prospective match were like that, I wouldn't say yes either."
"Everyone has their own ambitions. Why force it? If Sixth Brother likes staying home to refine pills and make medicine, there's no need to force him to slay demons and exterminate evil."
After discussing the matter for a few moments, Dong Hongyan and the others said no more and began accepting various missions to slay demons and exterminate evil, ready to make a fortune while they had the chance.
They had come here because they'd heard that the Mission Hall was handing out many compulsory demon-slaying missions to alchemists, artifact refiners, and Formation Masters, driving them to the Mission Hall to hire people to help.
Besides the rewards for the missions themselves, there were also the extra rewards offered by these alchemists, artifact refiners, and Formation Masters. The pay was exceptionally generous.
It wasn't just them. Many individuals and teams skilled at slaying demons and exterminating evil had also come to the Mission Hall to take advantage of the opportunity and accept jobs from these wealthy alchemists, artifact refiners, and Formation Masters.
The sect had assigned demon-slaying missions to disciples skilled in secondary professions to motivate those skilled at slaying demons and exterminating evil, and thereby put an end to the demonic unrest in Luo Cloud Prefecture as quickly as possible.
They hadn't expected to run into Qin Dongcheng as soon as they arrived, making him the first person to hire them—though there was no extra reward.
The sisters couldn't understand Qin Dongcheng's stubbornness. What a great opportunity it was to join them in slaying demons and completing missions! There'd be no real danger, and he'd get to spend time with a group of beauties.
They weren't exactly ugly, either. He could feast his eyes on them, and plenty of disciples with cultivation far beyond his own wanted to join them but couldn't.
Yet he'd rejected them outright, without the slightest sign of agreement. All they could say was that their Sixth Brother was too timid. He was young and hadn't experienced much, so it was understandable that he was so afraid.
But some of the onlookers who had seen what happened mocked Qin Dongcheng, making snide remarks without the sisters' courtesy.
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