A significant portion of the Ethereal Mercenaries had departed, leaving the remaining members with ample free time. Following custom, they immediately launched into a frantic shopping spree, eventually dragging even Robin into their ranks!
Several notable things occurred during these few days:
At their own request, Bellidanti, Pagie, Niu Niu, and others joined the Ethereal Mercenaries. Niu Niu was arguably the youngest member since Zhong Shenxiu. Since Niu Niu only had a childhood nickname and no formal name, which was inconvenient, Zhong Shenxiu finally bestowed upon her the name "Zhong Ling'er," sharing his own surname!
Subsequently, Zhong Shenxiu, taking into consideration the opinions of Kaini and the other women, commissioned the tailor shop to design unified uniforms for the Ethereal Mercenaries: cloaks in a blue tone adorned with purple cloud patterns, symbolizing the very essence of "Ethereal."
Time flew by, and the departed members returned one after another. Although there were still three days left until the fifteen-day deadline, the Ethereal Mercenaries were fully assembled!
The reason for their early return was twofold: firstly, they feared missing the departure time, and secondly, they wanted to use the remaining three days for extensive shopping. No one knew how long the journey into the "Forest of No Return" would take; if they were stuck for another year or eighteen months, they would suffer without adequate preparation!
The three days passed swiftly. On this particular morning, all members of the Ethereal Mercenaries stood ready for departure, excitement shining on every face.
They hadn't received a single cent of their dues for over five years, for the simple reason that they hadn't contributed anything during that time. Now, the time for serious action had finally arrived, and everyone was eager, poised, and brimming with energy!
When Zhong Shenxiu handed out the crisp, new uniforms to each person, surprise filled everyone's eyes.
Slipping on the cloaks, an indescribable aura manifested, instantly drawing the attention of passersby!
The Ethereal Mercenaries already boasted numerous beauties, and the cloaks only amplified this captivating, mysterious allure!
"Hey, hey, who are those people?" asked Passerby A.
"Never seen them before, but they look incredibly cool!" replied Passerby B with an expression of deep admiration.
Fortunately, Zhong Shenxiu and his group were taking a relatively secluded route, and since it was early morning with fewer pedestrians, they managed to avoid causing a major sensation!
Leaving the city, they proceeded down the main road. Although they encountered some travelers along the way, even the most curious ones respectfully kept their distance.
The "Forest of No Return" was originally hundreds of miles away, but the Ethereal Mercenaries were no longer what they used to be; they reached the outer layer of the forest before sunset!
"This is the Forest of No Return!" introduced Xia Luo. She had adventured here before, though always staying on the periphery.
The group gazed up. The trees inside were lush and verdant, the flora incredibly diverse, punctuated by the occasional roar of various Magical Beasts. It was indeed a place of mystery and danger.
Zhong Shenxiu and the others only took a brief look before walking straight into the depths, showing not a trace of nervousness or fear!
After advancing perhaps several dozen miles, many Magical Beasts foolishly emerged, but they were quickly dispatched and became the group's next meal.
Dusk began to settle. Because the sky was covered with clouds, everything appeared eerie and dim!
"Xiao Xiu, the environment here is quite suitable. Let's set up camp here for the night!" suggested Kaini.
The location was relatively open, with a small stream nearby—an excellent spot for rest!
A bonfire was quickly lit, and they gathered around to share a large pot of stew, which tasted uniquely flavorful.
"Feiyan, how about performing something for us?" After eating their fill, Xia Luo suggested to Wu Feiyan.
"Yes, yes, Sister Nongying can provide accompaniment!" Kaini immediately seconded the motion. She was certainly the one least averse to excitement!
"Here?" Wu Feiyan hesitated slightly. She had never played music in a forest before and felt a strange sensation!
"Of course! What a perfect atmosphere!" Marco Xin chimed in, egging them on. (Atmosphere? It seems there's no moon tonight!)
With everyone chiming in, they enthusiastically demanded that Wu Feiyan and Yue Nongying perform together. Wu Feiyan didn't object much, but Yue Nongying seemed a little reluctant, quickly saying, "It's fine for me to perform with Elder Sister, but we can't be the only ones putting on a show; you all have to perform too!"
She finished with a cunning smile! (Alas, it seems they have all been led astray by Zhong Shenxiu to start making such faces!)
"Ah, no way! We can't do anything!" Someone immediately made a face like they had bitten into a lemon.
"I don't care! Every single one of you must perform, or it's completely unfair!" Yue Nongying declared triumphantly, acting as if she had them all cornered!
"Alright, you and Feiyan go first, and then we'll do a group sing-along later!" Elena said with a smile.
"Hehe, that's a good idea, I support it!" Solomon and Laurent immediately raised their hands in mock surrender! Yue Nongying's small face flushed as she retorted, showing a hint of petulant shyness—thankfully, everyone had spent so much time together that they had developed a degree of immunity to such displays!
"How about this..." Zhong Shenxiu, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up, his cunning smile outshining everyone else's. Only when everyone's gaze focused on him did he continue: "Wu Feiyan will dance, and Yue Nongying will sing. Everyone will perform something they are not skilled at."
This move was truly ingenious; even the usually aloof Wu Feiyan made a face of dismay! While her musical talent and singing were unparalleled, she was a complete novice at dancing, having never studied it!
"Young Master is truly ruthless, but I agree," Frank said with a laugh. If they were going to be embarrassed, they should all share the experience; that was much more amusing.
Moreover, the men clearly had the advantage, as they were generally less self-conscious!
Zhong Shenxiu's proposal was immediately met with unanimous approval from the male contingent. They were intensely curious to see how those who were usually taciturn—like Wu Feiyan, Angieria, Leng Xiangxue, Sibel, and the others—would react when flustered. The potential for amusement was immense, and the opportunity rare!
Under Kaini's subtle encouragement, the women were not to be outdone and quickly agreed they wouldn't lose to the men, thus igniting a competition!
The next issue was determining the order of performance. The men unanimously declared, "Ladies first." The women, however, insisted the men should set the precedent. After some back-and-forth arguing, they finally agreed that Zhong Shenxiu would break the ice, followed by Robin in second place, and then in order from there (the women would perform after the men were done)!
Zhong Shenxiu agreed readily enough; he had proposed the idea, so he should start! However, another problem arose: what should Zhong Shenxiu perform? Was there anything he wasn't good at?
This posed a real challenge to the group. It seemed there was nothing Zhong Shenxiu truly lacked skill in; seeing their leader make a fool of himself would not be easy!
While everyone was racking their brains, it was Kaini whose suggestion instantly received unanimous endorsement, everyone looking at Zhong Shenxiu with wicked grins. Their eyes held an undeniable anticipation. Even the elf, Rojiell, was no exception!
Kaini's suggestion was utterly brilliant, earning their complete awe!
The suggestion was simple: Zhong Shenxiu had to dress up as a woman for a turn!
Zhong Shenxiu gave Kaini a sidelong glance. Under Kaini's expert direction and assistance, he changed into a dress that once belonged to Diya and even had his hair styled into a butterfly braid. Marco Xin and the other women went even further, bringing out their rouges and powders. They stuffed two small buns under the dress, instantly manifesting the female sex's "defining symbols"!
At that moment, although Zhong Shenxiu didn't attempt to mimic a woman's voice, many people were already laughing uncontrollably, clutching their stomachs. Even the usually reserved Sibel and the other women let out choked giggles!
"Alright, please welcome our Xiuxiu to the stage!" Kaini called out, trying to stifle her laughter. Xia Luo, who had been assisting, was already shaking with mirth, looking exquisitely charming!
"Hehe, we can't call him Young Master anymore; we have to call him Miss!" Laurent said, wiping tears of laughter away.
After five years together, they had truly become a family with Zhong Shenxiu; joking like this felt completely natural. A deep bond had formed without them even realizing it.
After Zhong Shenxiu's performance, it was Robin's turn. Someone—no one was sure who started the wicked idea (perhaps Yue Nongying)—suggested Robin perform facial expressions, which was certainly not her strong suit!
"Robin, give us an expression that is half-pouting, half-angry!"
"Robin, try a seductive smile."
"Robin, a villainous leer!"
The group cheered wildly, making things truly difficult for Robin. Every expression that fell short was met with roaring laughter from these opportunistic hecklers.
But as the saying goes, the green hills remain, and the flowing water continues. Soon it would be the turn of others; no one would escape! (Heh, with Zhong Shenxiu presiding, who would dare renege!)
Next up was Gandalf. Someone with a malicious streak (perhaps Yue Nongying again) had nominated Gandalf to dance! Given his physique and frame, no matter how well he danced, he could never achieve the grace of Yue Nongying; his performance devolved into clownish acrobatics.
But the retaliation was swift. The next performer was Yue Nongying, who had been laughing the hardest. Her assigned act was changed by Zhong Shenxiu on the spot from singing to imitating various animals!
This was quite the ordeal for the beautiful woman!
"Nongying, how does a duck walk?"
"Nongying, what does a gorilla look like?"
"Nongying, how does a monkey climb a tree?"
Under the barrage of increasingly absurd requests, only two words echoed in Yue Nongying's mind: I endure, I endure, I must endure and endure...