A Visitor Arrives

Though Luo De talked himself hoarse and tried every trick he knew, Zhang Yao remained as immovable as a man who had swallowed an iron weight, refusing to agree. While Luo De kept talking, Zhang Yao ate when it was time to eat and cultivated when it was time to cultivate, never even giving him a proper glance. In the end, Luo De had no choice but to give up.

Although Luo De finally gave up, he harbored a tremendous grudge over the ten gold coins he had spent for nothing. As he gathered the wanted notices from the table, he lamented, "My ten gold coins! Ten gold coins!" Every so often, he would fix Zhang Yao with a bitter, reproachful stare.

Luo De's staring made every hair on Zhang Yao's body stand on end. Unable to take it anymore, Zhang Yao drew the Drowned Ghost Dagger and held it against Luo De's neck. Only then did Luo De withdraw that chilling gaze. Yet he still could not forget the ten gold coins he had wasted and kept nagging in Zhang Yao's ear. It was not until Zhang Yao took out ten gold coins and threw them in his face that Luo De finally shut his mouth, beaming with delight.

Watching Luo De finally leave the room, Zhang Yao breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to resume cultivating. But he had barely sat down cross-legged when Luo De suddenly pushed the door open again.

"Luo De, what are you-" Zhang Yao had intended to ask what Luo De was up to this time, but when he suddenly noticed that Luo De was not alone and someone was following him, he immediately swallowed the rest of his words. His eyes locked onto the person behind Luo De, and every muscle in his body tensed, ready to attack at any moment.

"Heh, please don't misunderstand, Mr. Zhang Yao! I mean you no harm!" Upon entering the room and seeing Zhang Yao's reaction, the man behind Luo De hurriedly waved his hands and retreated several steps to show that he had no hostile intentions.

"Luo De, what's going on?" Zhang Yao asked, though his eyes remained fixed on the unfamiliar man.

"Zhang Yao, it's all right. No need to be nervous! This is Mr. Fehr. He's here on behalf of the Bounty Hunters' Guild to discuss something with us!" Luo De walked over to explain, discreetly moving his clenched right fist.

To prepare for unexpected trouble, Luo De had privately discussed a few signals with Zhang Yao. That movement of his fist meant the other party posed no danger.

"Someone from the Bounty Hunters' Guild?" Zhang Yao sized up the man before him, who wore luxurious clothes and a faint, courteous smile that concealed a trace of arrogance. Judging by his dress and manner, he seemed far more like a young noble who looked down his nose at everyone than a liaison from the Bounty Hunters' Guild.

"Yes, that's right! On behalf of the Bounty Hunters' Branch at Andal Harbor, I offer my greetings to you both, Mr. Zhang Yao and Mr. Luo De." Fehr placed one hand over his chest and politely bowed slightly, giving Zhang Yao and Luo De a customary noble greeting.

"What brings you here?" Zhang Yao dispensed with pleasantries and went straight to the point.

As the saying went, no one visited the temple of the Three Treasures without a reason. Apart from Luo De and the crew of the Freedom, Zhang Yao knew no one at Andal Harbor! He had never even seen this Fehr before. If anyone claimed that such a stranger had come calling for no reason, Zhang Yao would not believe it even if they beat him to death. And given Fehr's aristocratic airs, he would likely talk in circles. Zhang Yao did not want that kind of hassle, so he simply laid things out and asked why the man had come.

Fehr froze at Zhang Yao's words. Perhaps he had not expected Zhang Yao to be so direct and get straight to the point. But his surprise lasted only a moment before he recovered and said with a smile, "Heh, you certainly are direct, Mr. Zhang Yao! Then I won't beat around the bush either. I did indeed come here to ask a favor of you both, Mr. Zhang Yao and Mr. Luo De."

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"I'm sure you both know about the situation outside! A major battle is inevitable. As a member of the Andal Bounty Hunters' Branch, I naturally have to do my part for Andal's future peace and development! So I would like to ask you both to help us deal with those despicable bandits! Would you be willing? Of course, this is a commission I'm offering in a personal capacity. It does not represent the Bounty Hunters' Guild!"

Although Fehr never specified who those despicable bandits were, Zhang Yao could have figured it out with his toes from Fehr's words, expression, and tone: those so-called despicable bandits were members of the Ironblood Brotherhood. As for Fehr, there was no need to ask. He was surely part of the Free Alliance.

"Hmm..." After hearing Fehr out, Zhang Yao narrowed his eyes and pondered.

Zhang Yao had already told Luo De that he did not want to wade into these muddy waters, but he could not reject Fehr as bluntly as he had rejected Luo De. For one thing, he and Fehr were nowhere near as close as he and Luo De. More importantly, the fact that the man dared come straight to their door and openly declare his intentions forced Zhang Yao to wonder whether he had something up his sleeve-and what would happen if they refused.

It was entirely possible that the moment this Fehr stepped outside, guards or soldiers would surround their inn, and Zhang Yao, Luo De, and Amelia would all be arrested on charges of piracy or some other fabricated offense.

Zhang Yao looked at Luo De, whose eyes likewise betrayed unmistakable worry. Clearly, he had reached the same conclusion.

"Heh, you needn't worry. Even if you refuse, I won't hold it against you!" Watching Zhang Yao and Luo De hesitate, Fehr gave a soft chuckle.

Hmph, not even a ghost would believe that! Zhang Yao snorted inwardly as he looked at Fehr's kindly smile. He truly wanted to draw his dagger and drive it clean through this hypocrite's heart, but that would certainly mean accompanying the man to his grave. His own life was worth far more than this fellow's. How could he throw it away like that? So Zhang Yao merely raised his hand slightly, then lowered it again.

Although Zhang Yao did not strike, his killing intent had been laid completely bare in that instant, and the temperature throughout the room dropped several degrees.

Both Luo De and Fehr sensed the change. Luo De hurriedly looked at Zhang Yao, signaling with his eyes that he should not act rashly. Fehr shifted uneasily, and the smile that had remained on his face grew noticeably stiffer.

"Come, let's all have some tea first. We can take our time talking!" Seeing the atmosphere turn sour, Luo De hurriedly picked up the teapot, set some cups on the table, and poured black tea for both sides.

"Heh, Mr. Fehr, have some tea. Could you explain in detail exactly what sort of help you need from us?" Luo De placed the black tea before Fehr and asked with a smile.

"Of course! First, sorry for the trouble, Mr. Luo De, but please bring out the wanted notices you collected from the Bounty Hunters' Guild last night!" Fehr accepted the black tea, took a small sip, and addressed Luo De.