More Reputation Than Strength

"Are you sure you want to take this mission?"

The mission clerk peered at Ye Wuyou through the window, then glanced at the token in his hand.

"Is there a problem?"

"Someone's already taken this mission. They've got three and need a fourth. It's Grade B, Squad Five... oh, I suppose they're called Grade C, Squad Five now."

Ye Wuyou: "?"

Of course he knew someone had already taken the mission, and that they happened to be one person short.

The mission wasn't highly ranked, so it shouldn't be too difficult. The reward was exactly what he needed, and they could set off right away. It fit his requirements perfectly.

Seeing Ye Wuyou's puzzled look, the clerk said nothing more beyond, "You really don't know a thing, do you?" He registered the token and handed it back.

"Go on. They're waiting in the third room on your right."

Xu Fang, formerly of Grade B, Squad Five, now demoted to Grade C, Squad Five, paced back and forth inside the small room, looking thoroughly agitated.

Two others sat nearby. One had a grayish complexion and a subdued aura, and was resting with his eyes closed.

The other was a woman. Dressed in a fitted black outfit, Lin Qingqing propped her face on one hand and watched the hulking man pace, irritation showing on her face.

Finally, after the burly Xu Fang had paced a hundred or so times, Lin Qingqing couldn't take it anymore. She stood, pointed at him, and snapped.

"Xu Fang, can you settle down? You don't do a damn thing except make trouble. Watching you is driving me up the wall."

As if he'd finally found someone to fight with, the hulking man gave a cold laugh and folded his arms.

"I'm making trouble? I'm trying to think of a solution! We took this mission a whole day ago, and not one person has been willing to join us. That's how bad our reputation has gotten!"

"Think, my ass!"

Lin Qingqing cursed at him. "You think that pig brain of yours can come up with a solution? Emptying your head would be the biggest help you could give us. And reputation? What reputation do you have?"

"How do I not have a reputation? A month ago, who hadn't heard of me, Xu Fang, the Furious Vajra?" Xu Fang immediately retorted.

But Lin Qingqing seemed to have found his weak spot. She planted one hand on her hip, pointed at him, and burst into mocking laughter.

"Wahahahaha! Your reputation is just bigger than your strength. And if you're asking what reputation you have? None, actually. But it's still bigger than your strength!"

"You... you... you..."

Her words left the burly man's face flushed with anger. His Second Realm cultivation involuntarily radiated outward, and he looked furious beyond measure.

Lin Qingqing thrust out her chest, refusing to back down.

The gray-faced man opened his eyes, looked at the two of them, and sighed. He seemed long accustomed to this.

Their Grade C, Squad Five... hadn't been having a good time lately.

Just a month ago, they had been the newly promoted Grade B, Squad Five, repeatedly earning outstanding merits alongside that monstrously gifted young woman.

Unfortunately, sometimes the more you did, the more mistakes you made.

A Black Bear Fiend, actually fifth-tier but disguised as a gravely wounded fourth-tier, had deliberately allowed himself to be captured, ultimately causing that disaster in the Heavenly Prison.

And their reputation had gone rotten to the core.

Although both the Prison Warden and everyone else had said it wasn't their fault, those dead colleagues and gravely injured comrades remained needles lodged in many people's hearts.

Without Lu Caiwei... they no longer qualified as Grade B, Squad Five, and had been demoted to Grade C.

Who didn't have a few friends and comrades? In truth, they had long expected to fall into their present predicament.

A knock briefly interrupted the room's atmosphere, which had been on the verge of erupting.

All three turned to look at once.

"Excuse me, is this Grade C, Squad Five? The squad that took the mission to capture the Fox Demon?"

Ye Wuyou looked into the room, his expression slightly puzzled.

For some reason, these three gave him the impression that they were ready to fight to the death before they had even set out.

Coupled with the odd remarks from the colleague handling missions earlier, Ye Wuyou had a vague feeling that something wasn't right with this team.

Seeing all three stare at him without saying a word, Ye Wuyou thought for a moment, then said decisively, "I'll take my leave."

But someone moved fast.

Smack.

The door shut.

Lin Qingqing had already composed herself. She blocked Ye Wuyou's path, leaning quietly against the door, and gave him a gentle smile.

"That's right, colleague. This is Grade C, Squad Five."

Believing she had adopted her friendliest tone while showing off the figure she was most proud of, Lin Qingqing looked at Ye Wuyou and smiled.

"I'm Lin Qingqing, a Second Realm Formation Master. And you are...?"

Her gaze drifted down and settled on Ye Wuyou's waist.

A lone token marked [D] hung there.

A cold snort came from behind her, courtesy of the burly man.

"Hmph. Grade D... First Realm."

Ye Wuyou paid him no mind and simply stated his current cultivation.

"Ye Wuyou. Grade D prison guard, First Realm. Not a physician."

Sure enough, as soon as he said it, Ye Wuyou felt the woman's smile stiffen slightly.

But soon, both the stiffness and the smile disappeared. Lin Qingqing's expression became much more natural as she said.

"It's fine. So you're not a physician. With us handling this mission, we won't get hurt anyway."

At the same time, Lin Qingqing turned and exchanged looks with her two companions.

Ye Wuyou knew they thought his realm was too low and feared he would drag the team down.

But he didn't think these three were all that strong, either.

Compared to Lu Caiwei alone, they seemed as far apart as heaven and earth.

[Boring. Utterly boring. A mere handful of Second Realm brats who cannot even glimpse the shadow of a great Dao remnant, yet they dare look down on you.]

[A plan forms in your mind: slaughter all three during the mission, then seize their treasures and stage the scene to make it appear they died tragically completing their duty. You will reap a rich harvest.]

I'm not cultivating the demonic path, damn it!

After exchanging looks with her companions, Lin Qingqing turned back to Ye Wuyou and spoke seriously.

"Colleague Ye... we're willing to accept this mission with you. But since we'll be working as a team, and this mission still carries some danger despite its low rank, there are a few rules we need to establish beforehand."

"First, since you're [Grade D], you may never have gone on a mission or dealt with demonic creatures before. You must follow our orders on this trip and not act on your own."

"Second, if there's a disagreement during the mission, my orders take priority. If you insist on your own view, you're free to leave the team, and we will no longer be responsible for you. This rule applies to everyone."

Seeing no change in Ye Wuyou's expression, Lin Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief. She hesitated briefly before continuing.

"Third, any additional spoils obtained during the mission won't be divided equally. They belong to whoever acquires them."

After saying this, Lin Qingqing felt guilty. She thought for a moment and added.

"But if there's anything extra, you can pick out a few things, too."

"No need. Let everyone keep their own share," Ye Wuyou interrupted.

He had only come for the Jade Soul Flower, which could nourish his soul, and to see what these so-called missions were actually like.

Just as she had said, this was his first mission, and he wasn't expecting any great gains.

As for command?

Who would want command for no reason? All that effort, and no thanks.

Disagreements?

I'll listen to you. If danger comes up, the narration will start barking. If there's real danger and a disagreement, being free to leave the team would actually be safer.

Spoils?

Obviously, whoever kills it gets the loot.

At that moment, Lin Qingqing really wanted to ask him something.

Are you sure?

She looked somewhat incredulous, but then smiled and didn't try to persuade him further.

All three of them were in the Second Realm, while he was only a First Realm cultivator. Even if they did gain something along the way, what could he get if they didn't split it equally?

Or rather, dividing spoils and gains equally was what a team ought to do.

Lin Qingqing and the others hadn't initially intended to keep everything for themselves. They genuinely needed another person, because without a full team of four, they couldn't formally claim this mission.

But they certainly hadn't expected the newcomer to be Ye Wuyou, a First Realm, Grade D prison guard.

The gap in strength and cultivation brought with it comparatively unequal rules and restrictions.

But this was fair.

"Ahahahahaha! Fake, it's all fake! There's no Spring-Autumn Cicada, and there's no Eternal Life Gu! Fake, all of it is fake! Chen Ping'an!!!! I can't tell what's real, aaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!"