Following the line of their gaze to the peak, all that was visible were the twin divine grasping artifacts held by Zhong Shenxiu. The immediate impression they gave was that they belonged to the same league as Rhys's sword!
Good heavens, where did he get so many incredible weapons?
At this moment, both Yale and Andrew dared not believe their eyes. Could it be that these weapons were all "divine artifacts," as the passage suggested?
The moment this thought surfaced, their hearts began to pound violently, making even breathing feel difficult. Who would have thought that divine artifacts, which they could barely hope to see on ordinary days, would appear one after another today? If nothing else, the sheer visual impact alone was overwhelming!
After standing dumbfounded for a while, the two men scurried over to Zhong Shenxiu like hungry wolves, their eyes greedily fixed on the weapons in his hands, much like an old bachelor appreciating a breathtaking beauty after years of solitude!
"May I have a look?" Yale asked, even as his long, withered hands were already reaching out.
Andrew, not wanting to be left behind, imitated him immediately.
However, what neither of them expected was that Zhong Shenxiu would smoothly recall all the weapons back into his magic ring, while casually stating, "It's getting late; let's hurry up and prepare the tents!"
With that, he completely ignored Yale and Andrew and walked away!
Heavens above, you can't just play with people like that!
The misery Yale and Andrew felt at that moment was indescribable; it was the feeling of having one's passionate ardor doused instantly with a bucket of ice water.
Frustration, sheer, unadulterated frustration!
Since Zhong Shenxiu had prepared portable tents, he quickly erected his own shelter.
Even after Kaine and the others entered, there was still a considerable amount of open space inside. However, in the spirit of promoting hard work and cultivating wilderness survival skills, Zhong Shenxiu did not distribute tents to the others, forcing them to resort to primitive methods to build lean-tos!
Fortunately, the trials and tribulations of the past two years had made the group very adept at this; their coordination was flawless, the division of labor meticulous, and the construction of the lean-tos proceeded quite quickly!
Watching the practiced ease of Rhys and the others, even the dwarves like Andrew, who grew up in the forests, felt inferior!
The night was clear, with countless stars dotting the sky. Only a few wisps of white cloud drifted by occasionally.
Inside the lean-to, Yale and Andrew lay awake for a long time, their minds consumed by the events of the day. They had never imagined this expedition would bring such bizarre and shocking encounters. Even now, the mere thought of having touched "divine artifacts" with their own hands made their hearts race!
"Andrew, what kind of people do you think they really are?" Yale, sensing Andrew was also awake, couldn't help but ask.
He knew Andrew had met Zhong Shenxiu and Robin long ago, but he was unsure how much Andrew truly understood.
"I'm not entirely sure myself," Andrew replied truthfully. He had only interacted with Zhong Shenxiu once before, and that encounter had cost him dearly! The memory of Robin shattering a sword that day still sent shivers down his spine!
"Did you notice?" Yale frowned. "Their equipment is the absolute finest of the finest." He now understood why Wayne and the others hadn't shown much interest in his own gear—they already possessed superior items!
"Mm," Andrew merely hummed in response. He had already observed the weapons they used when the members of the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group' were felling timber to build the shelters.
A brief silence settled in the small hut. Finally, Andrew broke it, asking with unconcealed curiosity, "Yale, how... how did that wine taste to you?"
The fragrance of that liquor had already permeated his nostrils, nearly causing him to surrender to it!
Yale rolled over, turning his face toward Andrew, his expression intensely excited and full of longing. "Marvelous, truly marvelous. It's a great pity you didn't get any."
Yale was already lost in self-revelry; the warm current from the drink still flowed through his body, which was likely why he felt so energetic now.
Andrew stared fixedly at Yale, his expression complex, his thoughts hidden.
The next morning, the aroma of cooking food drifted over early.
Yale acted as if he were addicted, once again moving close to Zhong Shenxiu and his companions, proactively taking on the task of stoking the fire. When the meal was ready, Yale was enthusiastically invited to eat with them. He seemed to have already grown quite familiar with the group and showed no hesitation!
Today, just like yesterday, Kaine offered him some wine. But to Yale's utter astonishment, this wine was different from the one he had the previous night; it possessed an entirely different flavor profile!
It was still the pinnacle of perfection, still worthy of being called "God's Wine." The warm current that followed its melting on the tongue still circulated within his body!
"Kaine, may I ask where this wine comes from?" Yale couldn't help but inquire. Among the group, he had the best impression of Kaine, which allowed him to be so direct.
He genuinely feared he might never have the chance to taste such liquor again, and if so, he would surely sink into melancholy! Such an absence might strip the very color from his life!
"That's a secret!" Kaine said mysteriously. Strictly speaking, it was the secret of her flask; Zhong Shenxiu had specially developed it to possess the ability to transform plain water into fine wine. Furthermore, it incorporated a "Disorganized Combination Formation Array," which, when spontaneously activated by spiritual power, would generate unique and exquisite vintages. With this flask, Kaine could brew magnificent wines for herself from now on.
Just as Yale was about to press further, Andrew finally succumbed to temptation and walked over.
He had actually made up his mind the previous night; he was just putting his plan into action now.
Zhong Shenxiu seemed to have expected his approach, smiling mysteriously before treating Andrew with the same warmth he had shown Yale!
"Andrew, try this wine. After you taste it, you'll realize I wasn't exaggerating one bit yesterday!" Yale said, holding out his own drinking vessel toward Andrew.
Andrew had been too impatient to wait; he took it and downed a mouthful.
"How does it feel?" Yale asked, feeling a surge of pride when he saw Andrew's shocked expression. "This... this..." Andrew pointed at the wine with his finger but couldn't articulate what he meant.
"What are you trying to say?" Yale prompted.
Andrew didn't answer, instead taking another large gulp.
Yale grew anxious when he realized Andrew had no intention of returning the vessel, preparing to snatch it back when Kaine, smiling softly, presented him with another cup.
"Mr. Yale, please use this one!" With that, Kaine refilled his cup.
Yale's favorable impression of Kaine rose significantly again. Without further courtesy, he began drinking companionably with Andrew.
The two men thoroughly enjoyed the meal, and their relationship with the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group' deepened, shedding the previous formality.
After eating, the two discussed the matter and finally decided to offer Zhong Shenxiu some ore. After all, eating and drinking for free felt wrong, and they knew Zhong Shenxiu had a keen interest in mineral wealth, making it a perfect way to curry favor!
Zhong Shenxiu didn't stand on ceremony with them, immediately selecting several pieces of ore he fancied, seemingly making another profitable exchange.
Subsequently, the party resumed their journey. As they drew closer to the 'Stone Forest,' Yale and Andrew's expressions grew increasingly strange. Their earlier lighthearted banter ceased, replaced by silence, as if they were wrestling with some profound decision!
The sun was high in the sky; it was estimated they would reach the 'Stone Forest' in another half hour, meaning Zhong Shenxiu's mercenary mission was nearing completion!
The journey thus far had been smooth; they encountered neither demonic beasts nor bandits, as if all trouble actively avoided Zhong Shenxiu.
After traveling for another fifteen minutes, Yale actually quickened his pace, stopping right beside Zhong Shenxiu. He got straight to the point: "I want to join your mercenary group!"
He had deliberated on this matter the entire way, finally reaching this conclusion after extensive consideration!
"Me too! I want to join your mercenary group as well!" At this moment, Andrew also approached.
The procession halted. Zhong Shenxiu watched the two men with a knowing smile; his somewhat smug expression clearly indicated he had anticipated this outcome!
To put it bluntly, Zhong Shenxiu had laid a trap for them and was simply waiting for them to walk into it. If analyzed more rationally, however, this was actually an opportunity Zhong Shenxiu was extending to them both!
Zhong Shenxiu had been introduced previously. Although he enjoyed playing tricks, he always offered some form of compensation in the end. Zhong Shenxiu had received a significant amount of valuable ore from them, so granting them an opportunity was only reasonable!
Currently, under the pressure from the "Dark Trade Guild," every equipment shop had suffered considerable impact, and this pressure would only increase in the future. At that point, most other weapon and gear shops would likely close down, including Andrew's establishment.
This meant that both men faced potential unemployment at any time. Rather than face that, it was far better to follow the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group' to see the world; at least they would have good food and drink daily, and they would learn an abundance of unexpected knowledge!
This opportunity was truly once in a lifetime!
Perhaps Yale and Andrew made this decision solely for the exquisite wine and food, but they would never regret this choice later on. Following Zhong Shenxiu would prove to be the most brilliant decision of their entire lives!
"You two intend to join my mercenary group?" Zhong Shenxiu seemed to be testing them still.
Both old men nodded in unison; they belonged to the type who, once a decision was made, were determined to see it through!
"Joining my mercenary group is not easy. Given our prior acquaintance, I can agree to have you both serve as reserve members of the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group.' Do you agree?" Zhong Shenxiu inquired.
"We agree!" The response was immediate and decisive. Whether they were official members didn't matter much to them—as long as there was fine wine and delicious food every day!
Thus, the roster of the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group' gained two new members!