Chapter 26: The Phoenix Mercenary Corps

  In the cold winter of December, several days of heavy snowfall filled the Wild Bull River valley with a span of nearly six or seven meters, leaving only a small gap of less than one meter in the middle.

  This pristine white soft snowfield is far from being as solid as it looks, and walking on it can easily lead to falling into a six or seven meter deep snow pit, coming into close contact with the icy tundra beneath the snow and then merging into one.

  So even the Firebird Mercenaries, who were eager to return to Sarnia with their spoils, had to stop in their tracks and set up camp outside the Wild Ox River Valley, after all, gold coins are precious, but they can't compare to one's life.

  Seven white canvas tents were set up in a simple camp, with several braziers scattered around where the cheerful mercenaries were roasting dried beef and coarse wheat cakes.

  The entire Phoenix Mercenary Corps, from Commander Jason to every member, is now in a very good mood. Except for the cold weather that makes them complain from time to time, the whole mission has been flawless.

  The horses galloped non-stop for a whole day, and both the people and the horses were exhausted, but no one complained. After passing through the Wild Ox River Valley tomorrow, they would return to Rodman's land, which was relatively safer, so they wouldn't have to rush as much, and soon they could return to their own home!

  Originally, the adventure approached Roadman, but as a result, not only did they not encounter any trouble, but they also stumbled upon a big fat piece of meat. The warriors of the Fox tribe were simply no match for them, and they didn't even need to exert much effort to clean them up.

  The Fox tribe is the best-selling slave, especially the Fox women are slender and delicate, with a charming appearance, which is an object of contention among various aristocratic masters who are willing to spend thousands of gold coins, each one can buy at least three or four thousand.

  Among them, Fox, who should be the leader from his eyes and attire, must be their big shot. Otherwise, the Fox warriors, known for being weak, wouldn't have fought so desperately. This big shot would definitely sell for 7,000 to 8,000 gold coins, or even higher, to those wealthy lords in Sarnia who are willing to spend money.

  "This time out, we've been running for several months, and now that we're back, I can finally take a good rest. I'd almost forgotten what the babes at Old Phil's bar look like!" A middle-aged warrior next to Jason took off his wet socks and shoes, smiling comfortably as he warmed up.

  The shoes and socks, full of foot sweat, under the scorching flames, suddenly emitted a pungent stench accompanied by a faint smoke, causing the surrounding mercenaries who were roasting food to curse and hastily move away from this toxic area.

  "Damn it, Bade, get that stinking thing away from me!" Even Jason couldn't stand the foul smell of the roasted shoe socks and scrunched up his face, getting up to move a little further away. "This time, as long as we can safely return, I'll give you enough money to buy all the girls and booze at Old Phil's bar!"

  Bade's eyes gleamed with excitement as he leered at the thickly felted wagon in the center of the camp, several months without a woman had left these mercenaries burning with desire, if it weren't for the fact that it wasn't safe here and they were afraid of losing money to those foxes' resistance, they would have already taken those charming young fox girls to satisfy their lust!

  "Hey, Boman, how much are we going to make on this trip!" Badu, with a look of displeasure on his face and a burning desire in his heart, shouted at a poor and weak mercenary who was sitting next to the prison car.

  At Barton's shout, Buman's face rose in panic, his trembling hands hastily pulled out a notebook and charcoal pen from his bosom, and after flipping through several pages in confusion, he hastily shouted loudly: "Escorting Peter's merchant group, we got a reward of 500 gold coins. After deducting the expenses on the way and the maintenance damage of vehicles and weapons, there are still 432 gold coins left. The four male Foxes slaves are worth about 3,000 gold coins, and the four female Foxes slaves are worth between 10,200 to 16,000 gold coins..."

  "Haha... I was just casually asking, you don't have to calculate it so clearly!" Buman's flustered and timid appearance finally dispelled some of the anger in Badu's heart, and the number of gold coins made him feel even more delighted.

  He casually picked up a piece of beef from the grill next to the fire and threw it at Buman, saying with a hearty laugh, "You still have some use value, this is a reward for you!"

  It was just that the hand that had grasped socks and pinched toes touched something, making Buman look at the beef in his hand with a difficult expression, not knowing whether to eat it or throw it away.

  A robust mercenary with a head of white hair and a face weathered by the years, walked over to Jason and sat down beside him, also removing his shoes and socks to dry them expertly. The smell was already pungent, but now it became even more overpowering. Jason looked on in resignation, eventually removing his own shoes and socks to dry them as well.

  "Squad leader, tonight the moonlight is very bright. We're taking a break, why not take advantage of the moonlight to cross the Wild Ox River Valley?" The old mercenary's words carried a hint of concern.

  "What's wrong? Benson, have you found something?" Jason asked with a puzzled frown. Benson was the most senior mercenary among them and had rich experience in dealing with various situations after years of wandering in the gravel wilderness, helping them get out of trouble countless times. Therefore, Jason still attached great importance to Old Benson's opinions.

  "There isn't." Old Banson shook his head with a serious expression "But it's precisely because there isn't that I find it strange!"

  "What did he say?" Jason's expression also turned serious.

  "The gravel wasteland is the territory of the Mank tribe. Every year in the harsh winter, when food is scarce, the Mank people go out to hunt in large numbers to make a living. There are also half-beasts and wasteland ferocious beasts that lack food. However, on our journey so far, except for encountering wolf packs several times, we haven't encountered a single Mank beastman or half-beast. I always feel that something might have happened on the wasteland, it's better if we leave as soon as possible!"

  Old Banson's face was very solemn, and the intuition of many years as a mercenary told him that something must have happened in the Shattered Rock Wastes, and it must be important to cause such an eerie change.

  "You're thinking too much, Old Banson!" Bard sneered with a low laugh as he roasted his shoes and socks. "Not to mention that nothing will happen, even if something does happen, those weak little monkeys can't do anything to us. They're just some wild beasts who don't even know how to use aura, let alone fight. If they dare come, I wouldn't mind catching a few monkey slaves on the way back and selling them for money!"

  It's not that Bade is arrogant, but Huo birds can gather more than 40 intermediate warriors. Even if they can't compare to those large mercenary groups, in Salina, they have a small reputation. With their strength, they are enough to sweep across the Shattered Stone Wasteland. What they need to worry about is just some of the powerful ferocious beasts on the wasteland.

  As for the Minotaur and Centaurs, as long as they dare to come, he can peel off their filthy hides.

  "Right, old Bannister!" Jason said thoughtfully in a low voice. "With our strength, those apes may not dare to come looking for trouble with us. Besides, you know the Wild Bull River Valley in the cold winter, it's really too dangerous to cross the river at night, and we have heavy loads on the cart axle, if we get stuck in the snowdrifts, it'll be a big deal!"

  It's hardly worth risking a night crossing of Buffalo Valley for Benson's premonitions and the crisis that must have overtaken Mowgli.

  "Captain, let's be careful!" Old Banson spoke up again, seeing the faintly worried glance in Guang Fenglang's eyes as he swept his gaze over the carriage holding Foxes' slaves. "And we have an important Fox prisoner, I know the Kampas Beastmen, they absolutely won't let one of their own become a slave!"

  Even through the thick fur, Old Banson could see the calm and collected eyes of the important Fox inside. Although there were some scratches on his body and his blood-stained clothes were in disarray, Old Banson had never seen a slave so calm before. The cold and tranquil gaze made the hairs on the back of Old Banson's neck stand up.

  Looking at the moonlit vast expanse of snow, it seemed as if the cold air had turned into murderous intent. Jason felt a twinge of annoyance in his heart. What Old Benson said might be right, but he couldn't let the entire mercenary group take such a huge risk just because of an unfounded guess.

  A faint, almost imperceptible sound, like a tiny spark, suddenly made the mercenaries' faces tense.

  Just a moment ago, they were discussing how to enjoy themselves when they returned to Sarnia, which tavern to go to, and which woman to sleep with. But in the next second, they suddenly changed, each one swiftly picking up their weapons, their faces stern, forming a circular formation around the supplies and the slave carriage, their cold eyes cautiously observing the surroundings.

  "What is it?" Jason hastily put on his shoes and socks, pulled out the large sword by his side, although his face was ordinary, but a strong and powerful aura emanated from his robust body, loudly asking.

  "It's a warhorse with someone on it, looks like one of our Rodman border guards!" A relatively sharp-eyed mercenary looked in the direction of the voice and loudly replied to the slowly approaching black dot in the distance.

  "What the hell are those border guards?" Jason walked to the front of the formation, his face full of discontent. Among the mercenary groups living in the border areas, not one didn't deeply despise those damned guys who were even more greedy than half-orcs.

  "What the hell are those bastards doing on Kampas' turf? Those lazy bums wouldn't have come out of that godforsaken outpost in winter if it wasn't absolutely necessary!" Badu's face was also twisted with indignation as he gazed at the black dots approaching from afar.

  "Be on guard!" As the leader Jason, who had developed the Firebird to its current state, was naturally not a careless person. Although it was just a lost border army, he still ordered the mercenaries to be vigilant.

  Staring intently at the vast, flat wasteland, Jason didn't dare to be even slightly careless; being cautious was the key to their survival as mercenaries.

  The evening wind came out head-on, like a sharp knife's icy coldness that made the cheeks ache. Jason, with a serious face, suddenly changed color and shouted loudly, "Everyone be careful, it's a beastman!"

  In the face of the blowing evening wind, it clearly carried a hint of the unique aura on the body of the Kampas beastman. The angry roar fell, and Jason's sturdy figure still disappeared, turning into a black shadow rushing towards the nearby war horse.

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