Ashen Wasteland 06: Finally Leaving This Wretched Place...

Jun Ruofeng's deduction was right: Ye Chuqi had seen it. But she had already guessed who they were before that. The glimpse of Ed's badge had merely confirmed her suspicion.

Ed looked down at his perfectly intact cloak, utterly baffled. Nothing but his head was exposed! Even that was wrapped in a face covering, leaving only his eyes darting around.

Jun Ruofeng had reached Ye Chuqi. He looked down at her, his gaze light and remote, and spoke in a voice as clear and cold as jade. "Red Wind Mercenary Group. Jun Ruofeng."

Ye Chuqi raised an eyebrow. She didn't like the way Jun Ruofeng looked at her, as though he were gazing down on an insect. His pale-black eyes were frighteningly cold. Was she afraid of him? Of course not. Though she was much shorter, she met his gaze without shrinking back.

Everyone was stunned!

Did this little girl have a death wish? She dared to stand up to the devil himself. She might end up helping him count the money after he sold her for parts.

Ye Chuqi smiled. The people of the Red Wind Mercenary Group amused her. Whenever they introduced themselves, they sounded so proud, as if everyone ought to know who they were. Maybe they really were famous, but she didn't know them. Ignorance was fearless, after all.

Jun Ruofeng studied Ye Chuqi in turn. Though they had never met, something about her features looked familiar. He couldn't remember where he might have seen her, and the way her smiling eyes held his left him strangely unsettled.

Tsk.

Trouble. No question about it.

Jun Ruofeng raised a hand and unfurled a portrait before her. "Have you seen this man?"

Ye Chuqi looked at the face in the portrait and nearly laughed. Come to think of it, the first time she had seen Red Beard clearly was in a portrait rendered down to the last detail. Reddish-brown whiskers hid most of his face, but his ice-blue eyes stood out. They were beautiful eyes, though their coldness made him look unapproachable.

When Red Beard's head had been wrapped up like a dumpling, he had sounded gentle enough. At least he had been far gentler than Jun Ruofeng, who looked like an ethereal beauty but was cold to the bone.

Chapter 6: Ashen Wasteland 06 — Finally Leaving This Wretched Place...

Ye Chuqi and Jun Ruofeng faced each other in silence for a while. She didn't budge. Instead, he smiled. It was like an iceberg suddenly cracking open to reveal a breathtaking flower.

Ye Chuqi's expression went flat. Really? A pretty face is his tactic?

She did have a weakness for good looks, but she could still think straight. One smile wasn't going to steal her soul. She knew where she stood. At most, she might be a tiny bit nicer to someone attractive.

Lush Mountain had never lacked beautiful people, and her Eldest Senior Brother stood out even among them.

Jun Ruofeng's smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Only Ye Chuqi would have thought he was trying to charm her. The members of the Red Wind Mercenary Group who knew him all took a step back, making it clear they wanted to keep their distance.

Jun Ruofeng turned his fingers, and a golden badge appeared between his pale fingertips. It looked exactly like Red Beard's badge, except that the flame at the center of Red Beard's was red, while the one in Jun Ruofeng's hand was gold through and through.

It looked very valuable.

Jun Ruofeng gave the others a look. They understood him at once and, grinning, took out their badges and pinned them to their chests with great ceremony. Ed, who had never brought himself to take his badge off, lifted his cloak so Ye Chuqi could see the silver badge on his chest—only to be smacked on the back of the head by a companion.

Couldn't he show a little restraint in front of a girl? This was hardly the time to go lifting his clothes!

Jun Ruofeng sounded certain. "You've seen him."

Ye Chuqi had no intention of hiding it. "Mm." She glanced around at them. "Coming with me?"

Jun Ruofeng glanced at Ed. "Ed, go ahead with her."

Ed clicked his tongue. "At a time like this, you still want to trail along at your own pace? Fine, fine. I'll go first. The rest of you, hurry up."

Jun Ruofeng's lips curved, but there was no warmth in his smile. "Because you're probably the only one who can keep up with her."

Ye Chuqi wanted to tell him she wasn't planning to run very fast. That sword strike had taken a lot out of her. She might look fine, smiling and moving about, but her meridians hurt as though they were about to shatter.

"Hurry up and lead the way." Ed strode ahead a few steps, then turned back to look at Ye Chuqi, plainly dissatisfied with how slowly she was moving.

Ye Chuqi squatted down where she stood. "Tired." I don't want to move! If she could, she would have liked to pass out then and there.

Ed's brow twitched. "You're doing this on purpose! Fine, I'll carry you. Which way?"

Ye Chuqi worked out the direction. "West. A hundred kilometers. A cave. Go yourself." She was done helping him.

The injuries she had kept so well under control had suddenly flared up again. Tearing pain radiated through her depleted Spiritual Platform. She needed to rest.

"Hey! What are you—"

"Ed."

"Fine, I'm going. Right now."

Ed shot away, with three other members close behind him. Xiya, the only woman in the group, glanced at Jun Ruofeng and was about to follow when he said, "Xiya, take a look at her."

Xiya was puzzled. So was Ye Chuqi.

But Xiya did not question Jun Ruofeng's decision. She walked over and crouched before Ye Chuqi without a trace of airs. The capable-looking woman with short chestnut hair wore an expression of genuine concern. "Are you hurt?"

Jun Ruofeng must have noticed the girl was injured and kept Xiya behind for that reason. But Xiya had not expected the injuries to be this severe. Ye Chuqi moved like anyone else, yet an examination showed that her body was in ruins, only a hair's breadth from collapse.