Nine-layer armor-breaking

Chapter 31 Head of Dong

"Thank you, Captain Bei and Captain Dong. I won't need so much." Jiang Xuan thanked Bei Hao and Captain Dong, left three silver notes, and stuffed the rest back into Bei Hao's hands.

Bei Hao hesitated for a moment, then smiled with relief and handed the banknotes directly to Bei Tao. He was convinced that since the young man in front of him didn't want to keep all the banknotes, then he must have a more specific purpose in asking for them.

As if he had seen through Bei Hao's thoughts, Jiang Xuan said, "To be honest with you two captains, I borrowed three hundred taels of silver from a friend before and bought something. I've been worrying about how to pay it back. You two captains are so generous, so now I don't have to worry about not being able to repay the silver." After saying that, Jiang Xuan grinned and waved the three silver notes in his hand.

"Captain, the inventory is complete." A member of the Mandarin Fish Mercenary Group reported to Bei Hao.

"How is it?" Bei Hao asked.

"Captain, all the carp from the Heavy Hammer Mercenary Group are still here, no one has lost anything. Our fish..."

Bei Hao realized that what he expected had happened. He turned to look at the member with concern: "Has he been taken away?"

The member nodded and said, "This is just a small team of the Evil Wolf Mercenary Group, led by two high-level Heavenly Rank warriors. The leader and two deputy leaders of the Evil Wolf Mercenary Group are not in this team."

Bei Hao had anticipated this situation, so he stopped asking questions and said, "Tell the two vice-captains to cooperate with the Heavy Hammer Mercenary Group in distributing the seized property." He turned to Captain Dong and said, "Captain Dong, you can take all the fish with you."

After hearing this, Captain Dong not only showed no joy, but also looked conflicted: "Captain Bei, I have an unwelcome request, but I don't know whether I should say it or not."

"Captain Dong, please speak."

"The Heavy Hammer Mercenary Group has come to an end. Before we encountered the Evil Wolf Mercenary Group this time, we received news from the base that they had been looted by another team of the Evil Wolf Mercenary Group. I don't know how we offended the Evil Wolf Mercenary Group. Why would they want to kill a small mercenary group like us?" Captain Dong said what he had been hiding in his heart and didn't want to say, and he instantly became much more haggard.

The Heavy Hammer Mercenary Group, though a small group, was renowned throughout eastern Qizhou. However, this fame came not from their combat prowess, but from the heavy hammer wielded by their leader, Captain Dong. Someone claimed to have witnessed Captain Dong, while escorting a group, smash two novice Heavenly Rank warriors into submission with a single blow of his hammer. At the time, Captain Dong was only at the novice Heavenly Rank level.

Captain Dong had been at the Qizhou Martial Arts School for over a year when, for reasons unknown, he was suddenly dismissed. Having lost such a valuable opportunity to cultivate, he felt disheartened and led several fellow warriors who had long been stuck at the Earth Rank to form a small mercenary group, the Heavy Hammer Mercenaries, each wielding heavy hammers.

At that time, Qizhou, especially in eastern Qizhou, didn't have as many mercenary groups as it does today. The Wolf Mercenary Group hadn't even been established yet. The Heavy Hammer Mercenary Group, spearheaded by their heavy hammers, managed to establish a reputation by taking on short-distance escort missions in eastern Qizhou with just a handful of members. They even attracted a deputy leader, also skilled in hammer wielding. With the addition of two Heavenly Rank warriors, the Heavy Hammer Mercenary Group reached a new level. They quickly attracted a significant number of warriors, gradually growing into a small mercenary group of dozens of members. It could be said that this mercenary group was almost single-handedly led by Captain Dong.

Now, the mercenary group that Captain Dong had single-handedly built up had been attacked by two separate Wolf Mercenary Group squads within a single day, nearly reaching its end. The Heavy Hammer Mercenaries knew that if it hadn't been for the timely intervention of Brother Jiang and the Mandarin Fish Mercenaries, the entire group would have been completely annihilated.

How can it not be sad that a small mercenary group that has been established for many years is now about to be wiped out by a newly emerging large mercenary group?
"I request that the Heavy Hammer Mercenary Group be merged into the Mandarin Fish Mercenary Group." Captain Dong's Adam's apple moved, and he said this in a decisive tone.

Bei Hao seemed to be startled by Captain Dong's words. He stared at him blankly without saying a word.

In his impression, Captain Dong would rather disband the mercenary group on the spot than join the ranks of others.

However, as the head of a mercenary group, how could Bei Hao not know what Captain Dong was thinking? Captain Dong could simply disband the mercenary group, but what about the other mercenaries? Where would they go? What would they eat?
"If Captain Bei is in trouble, I can send the Heavy Hammer Mercenary Group..." Seeing that Bei Hao did not answer, Captain Dong spoke again, but was quickly interrupted by Bei Hao.

"Merging is no small matter and requires joint discussion by all members of the two mercenary groups. Now both mercenary groups have suffered serious casualties, and a single mercenary group does not have the strength to fight against the Evil Wolf Mercenary Group. It is better to unite temporarily and make plans after returning to the base." Bei Hao said calmly.

Captain Dong did not say anything. He just bowed deeply to Bei Hao with great gratitude, and then bowed to Jiang Xuan, and then walked towards the people of the Heavy Hammer Mercenary Group.

The Heavy Hammer Mercenaries had lost their base, and the Mandarin Fish Mercenaries had come to their aid, but they only managed to recapture the fish they had been escorting. Now, they were forced to relocate to the Mandarin Fish Mercenaries' base. Captain Dong naturally couldn't bring himself to do such a thing, taking advantage of the situation. Bei Hao's words gave Captain Dong considerable face and resolved the Heavy Hammer Mercenaries' pressing need, leaving him incredibly grateful.

"Brother Jiang, you've seen the situation of our two mercenary groups. Currently, we only have a little over fifty people combined. We're in need of more personnel. I'd like to invite Brother Jiang to join the Mandarin Fish Mercenary Group as deputy leader. Would you be willing?" Seeing Jiang Xuan's embarrassment, Bei Hao added, "The Mandarin Fish Mercenary Group and the Heavy Hammer Mercenary Group have already united. If Brother Jiang is willing to join the Heavy Hammer Mercenary Group, with his strength, he can naturally become deputy leader. I'll talk to Captain Dong about this."

Jiang Xuan no longer hesitated and told Bei Hao his true thoughts: "Jiang Xuan, I am deeply grateful for Captain Bei's appreciation. However, I am afraid I cannot accept Captain Bei's kindness. I still have to rush to Qizhou City to keep an appointment. I came to Qizhou from Yingzhou this time because of my father's orders, so I can't stay away for too long."

Bei Hao felt it was a pity, but he didn't want to force it. "Since Brother Jiang has important matters to attend to, we can't force him. With such talent, it's really a waste for him to stay in a small mercenary group. I'm grateful for your kindness. The Mandarin Fish Mercenary Group is headquartered north of Lingsong Lake, and the doors of the Mandarin Fish Mercenary Group are always open to Brother Jiang."

(End of this chapter)