Chapter Ninety-Seven: Descendant of the Enchanting Clan

Although the principal amount of one hundred gold coins seemed generous, when divided among five people, each would only receive twenty gold coins. Crossing Black Wind Mountain remained extremely dangerous, and even after completing the task, if one spent time enjoying themselves in Blood Wind City, there might not be much profit left from the journey. Ordinary mercenary groups likely wouldn't take on such a mission.

"Are you interested in this mission, young man?" Just as Lin Xiaobao was hesitating, a middle-aged man appeared behind him and spoke.

Lin Xiaobao turned around, his heart faintly startled. Although the man also concealed his cultivation, Lin Xiaobao's powerful spiritual sense detected that the man possessed the strength of the first stage of the Spirit Path—this was the first Spirit Path expert Lin Xiaobao had encountered in the Mercenary Guild.

It wasn't that mercenaries lacked Spirit Path level experts; rather, in a place like Ningfeng Country, anyone with Spirit Path cultivation was qualified to form their own mercenary group—and would certainly rank among the top.

"Yes, but unfortunately, I'm alone," Lin Xiaobao replied, secretly wary. Could this man be from the Snow Wind Pavilion and already recognize him?

"That's perfect. We're planning to accept this mission and are short one person. Would you join our team?" The middle-aged man spoke earnestly.

"Of course," Lin Xiaobao agreed without hesitation. If the Snow Wind Pavilion was truly after him, there was nowhere to hide.

Seeing Lin Xiaobao accept, the middle-aged man beckoned, and three others immediately walked over.

What was going on? Lin Xiaobao noted that the three newcomers only possessed about the sixth rank of Postnatal Martial Arts. If the Snow Wind Pavilion wanted to target him, they would certainly not send people of such strength; even the Spirit Path expert before him would not be qualified.

"We have five now and wish to accept this mission," the middle-aged man told the staff once the group was assembled.

After some negotiation, the staff directed them to Xianlai Residence to find the task issuer. If the person accepted their protection, they could begin the mission.

After all, such escort missions required the protected person's approval, unlike other tasks that could be undertaken at will.

On the way, everyone introduced themselves and gained a preliminary understanding of each other. Fang Pengfei, fifth rank of Postnatal Martial Arts; Yu Hao Ran, sixth rank; Fan Yongchang, sixth rank; and the man who invited Lin Xiaobao was named Bu Yongfeng, who, after concealing his strength, appeared as a fourth rank Innate Martial Artist.

Bu Yongfeng was from the Blood Victory Empire. According to him, he was returning home anyway, so taking on this mission was a convenient way to earn some gold coins and boost his mercenary contribution. With his strength, he could have completed the mission alone, but Ningfeng Country required five people for border crossing, hence his invitation to Lin Xiaobao and the others. He was also fair-minded, not lowering their pay due to their lesser strength.

The hundred gold coins would still be divided evenly, twenty per person. Fang Pengfei and the others, seeing the opportunity, readily joined. Though their cultivation was decent for Ningfeng Country, earning twenty gold coins quickly was extremely difficult.

Everyone silently hoped the employer would approve them, so the gold coins would be theirs. While Black Wind Mountain was perilous, with an Innate Martial Artist in the group, as long as they didn't encounter a spirit beast, the journey would be safe.

Black Wind Mountain had not seen spirit beasts for years.

Xianlai Residence was close to the Mercenary Guild; within moments, the five entered and, after inquiring with the attendant, proceeded directly to the back hall.

"We request an audience with Miss Yun Keke," Bu Yongfeng said politely outside the door. At that moment, with a creak, a young woman opened the door.

She was in her eighteenth year, her eyes clear as autumn water, filled with a penetrating light, scanning the five. "Are you from the Mercenary Guild?"

At that instant, Lin Xiaobao's sharp spiritual sense detected something unusual—a fleeting anomaly—but his heightened vigilance made him even more cautious. Observing the young woman, he found she had not cultivated at all, which puzzled him further.

Was it just his paranoia? Perhaps she wasn't from the Snow Wind Pavilion after all?

"What a close call! Who would have thought there were still descendants of the Charm Clan in this world?" As Lin Xiaobao wondered, Old Mo's voice sounded in his mind.

"Descendants of the Charm Clan?" The name was unfamiliar to Lin Xiaobao.

"The Charm Clan could be considered an ancient race," Old Wu, silent until now, explained. "People of the Charm Clan cannot cultivate, but in ancient times, they were terrifying beings."

"Unable to cultivate yet terrifying?" Lin Xiaobao, accustomed to a world where power decided all, relaxed upon hearing they couldn't cultivate.

"That's right!" Perhaps the appearance of the Charm Clan stirred old memories; before Old Wu could speak, Old Mo interjected. "The Charm Clan possesses a unique bloodline skill—Heart-reading Art!"

The Heart-reading Art, through a special power different from spiritual sense, allowed one to know what others were thinking. In other words, before the Charm Clan, there were no secrets. Even more frightening, those who mastered the advanced Heart-reading Art could influence others’ actions or thoughts, even control everything about them.

Even as cultivation increased and spiritual strength grew, one could break free from the Heart-reading Art’s control instantly. However, if you faced an opponent of similar strength and were suddenly controlled mid-battle, it could spell disaster.

Thus, the Charm Clan in ancient times was a paradoxical existence, both loved and feared by countless strong practitioners.

Any powerful martial artist with a Charm Clan companion would see their combat prowess rise several levels. Conversely, few would willingly face an equally strong opponent accompanied by a Charm Clan member.

Yet fate was fair. While granting the Charm Clan such special abilities, it deprived them of the ability to cultivate. Moreover, their inheritance was greatly restricted, for only children born of two Charm Clan parents possessed the bloodline. No matter how many offspring they had, only one would inherit the ability.

Thus, the Charm Clan gradually faded from history.

Just now, when Yun Keke first met the five, she used the Heart-reading Art to scan their thoughts—a self-preservation method for the Charm Clan, allowing them to anticipate any malice.

When reading Lin Xiaobao's mind, the two elders intervened in time, masking his secrets from Yun Keke. Still, she sensed his urgent desire to reach the Blood Victory Empire.

This, in turn, dispelled many of Yun Keke’s concerns. "Let us depart at once," she said.