Commanding Wind and Cloud
chapter-168

Abela’s facial expression changed from shameful to angry with the Fire Arrow being put out. She glared at Duren Burg, who was rolling about on the ground in laughter. Just at this time the other mercenaries couldn’t hold on anymore but burst into laughter too, making the whole caravan immersed in a frolicking ambiance.

Qian Jin smiled faintly from the corner of his lips. Mages and warriors were to team up with each other, but Abela, a mage, mocked the warriors around her, how dare she? Even if Duren Burg didn’t fight back tit for tat, he himself, Qian Jin, would give her a lesson, or else, it would be such a huge pain in the ass to hear her, a lofty noisy parrot endlessly twittering before they could reach the Demons’ territory.

"You!" Abela was so exasperated that she lifted her arm to conjure a strong beam of flame from her broad robe sleeve—Fire Magic Scroll!

Neither Qian nor the other mercenaries had imagined that Abela would fight against her partners with magic! Admittedly, Duren Burg had said something malicious to her, but that was only a way to get back at her insult at the mercenaries.

Magic Scroll, a kind of magic that could be conjured in an instant! It generally took several seconds to activate it fully via one’s spiritual power. Obviously, the Magic Scroll used by Abela was not some type of mediocre scroll that could be easily conjured by a Level 3 Mage.

For the split second when the others were shocked, Duren Burg suddenly put on a murderous look, since Abela’s move of chanting magic spell had posed a challenge to the warriors.

The internal strife had started? Qian Jin frowned, moved his ankles on the soft ground which was wet by the rain several days ago, and swiftly kicked a piece of black and yellow mud onto Abela’s face and numerous mud patches at her mage robe.

"Ouch."

Attacked by dirty mud patting on her face, Abela’s sensation for beauty was immediately stimulated along with the fear given rise by an attack of unknown objects. She unconsciously lifted her fingers to the sky, and the five burning flame balls were also thrown into the blue.

Abela was in a hurry wipe away the mud on her face, screaming incessantly, "What…what is this? Who did this? Mud…mud…who is that? Stand out! Do you know who I am? Do you know who my parents are? Ah! My clothes…"

Screeching in horror and anger, Abela tried hard to open her eyes to search for the "enemy". At this sight, Duren Burg’s face went blank and once again he blossomed a gloating laugh, "Funny, so funny! You are really a prodigy to have thought about putting mud on her! It’s one hundred times more vicious than to give her a beating! Since a girl would fight for her beauty at the risk of her life, Qian Jin, you are really a genius."

The other mercenaries still tried to hold in their laughter, while wearing a face full of admiration for what Duren Burg had said and looked in different directions, pretending that they hadn’t heard Abela’s screaming.

The coachman sitting on the third cart flashed a look of surprise from the brim of his hat, as Qian Jin’s kick was performed fast and precise, through which the mud had accumulated enough force equivalent to a stone, if not less, yet it didn’t crash onto Abela’s face to give her a nosebleed. It was a shocking amount of control for someone as young as him.

Qian Jin noticed the eccentric look of the driver, and he started to glance around like the other mercenaries did, paying no attention to Abela at all. As for who she was? Who her parents were? It had nothing to do with him.

"You! You people…" Abela’s pretty yet angry apricot-like eyes fell on the middle-aged man sitting on the third cart, "Zachery! My parents sent you here to safeguard me! But you just stand by when I am bullied by others! It was your Torrent Battle Fort that pleaded with my parents to be my bodyguard."

"This person is in service to the girl’s parents?" Qian Jin increased his alertness, thinking to himself that if this person endeavored to avenge his female master, he and his two fellows would have to fight with him! He had made up his mind to never surrender to this arrogant girl, even if that meant they couldn’t go on with their mission of sneaking into the Demons’ territory.

Quite a lot of mercenaries’ attention was drawn to the third coachman, Zachery, someone who scarcely talked in the caravan. How could he be able to protect a Level 3 Mage? If so, how strong was his warrior power?

Zachery once more lowered the brim of his hat, and slightly shook the horsewhip in his hand several times, saying to himself: if Abela was his daughter, he would have long whipped her to death! Her parents, vice presidents of the Crystal Magic Tower had urged him to discreetly protect their spoiled girl several times. But she exposed herself at such an inappropriate time! Didn’t she know that warriors who are Demon Fighters and above had a higher chance of being attacked by the Demons once they entered their territory? "Did she want me killed? "

"Abela, just let it go." Boss Leong dashed forward with his short and fat legs moving hurriedly and his two plump hands tossing in front, "Both sides have done something wrong…"

"Wrong? How could I be wrong?" Abela took out her silk handkerchief, wiped clean half of her face, trod on the cart board and glared at Boss Leong, "Mr. Leong! You gross fat man, my father used to help you a lot. And this time, I was forced to assist you in attending the caravan at the continuous pleading of my father…we Crystal Magic Tower isn’t a place that could be trampled by anyone at their wish like the Torrent Battle Fort..."

"And you!" Abela opened wide her apricot-shaped eyes to glance at the mercenaries, and then uttered a sneer, "How dare you laugh? You mean and disgusting warriors, who are not only too low to be my parents’ servants, but also unqualified to serve as a gatekeeper of our Crystal Magic Tower! My father could quench all of you to death with only one finger! "

Zachery could sense the darkened face of the mercenaries. He took a deep breath and said lightly, "Abela…"

"You don’t have the right to call me like that!" Abela screeched in an even louder voice and turned to Zachery in great anger. As a bodyguard sent by the Torrent Battle Fort to protect her, he blatantly disobeyed her, "You decadent of Torrent Battle Fort, how dare you classify yourself into one of the eight powers in Yulee State? Other people might not know about your actual situation, but we are clearly aware how poor you are! Even your president has to thoroughly listen to me when he stands in front me, let alone you? Who on earth are you? You are nothing but a dog dispatched by the Torrent Battle Fort to safeguard me! How dare you call out my name?"

Zachery stood there motionlessly. His chest was bouncing up and down so fiercely with his arms trembling so incessantly that everyone could feel his roaring anger as if a big ball of flame was burning in him.

After a while, Zachery uttered a long exhale, with which his entire body seemed to have been swabbed off, and his boiling anger seemed to have died down too. He silently turned back to the cart, leaving a shadow which was resoundingly inflammatory and desolate.

Crystal Magic Tower? Torrent Battle Fort? It was not until this moment did Qian Jin know that Abela came from the Mage Union of Yulee State.

In the vast land of Zence Empire, there stood bulks of symbolic magic towers owned by the different mage unions, which were constructed and named differently according to regions. For example, the magic union of the Holy Capital named their tower as Gold Magic Tower, while other places referred to their mage union headquarters as Jadeite Magic Tower, Mithril Magic Tower, etc…such names were exclusive to each other.

The magic tower of Yulee Mage Union was the Crystal Magic Tower! While that of the Torrent Battle Fort bore the name of Yulee Warrior Union. As has always been the case, the symbolic building of all warrior unions was a battle fort, and in the same way, the mage union was named differently, the warrior union of Yulee State was called the Torrent Battle Fort.

Having been admitted to a mage union at such a young age? Qian Jin nodded his head, thinking that this female mage's power was enough to guarantee her a seat in a primary mage union, however, she insinuated that her parents possessed compelling influences. Is this to say that her parents were also members of the mage union?

"Yes yes yes...Miss Abela, you are definitely right. It's my great honor to have you assume the post of a makeshift safeguard of the trade caravan…"

Nodding his head repeatedly, Boss Leong cursed that if not for your parents who were vice presidents of the Crystal Magic Tower, how come would I come into any contact with you? Your father asked you to safeguard my trade caravan? Are you kidding me? I was told that in order to grapple for this opportunity of serving as a transient guardian, you caused a lot of drama including smashing dishes and trays and even threatening to hang yourself?

"Hum! It’s good for you to bear this in mind~~~" Abela drawled in an arrogant way, and then lifted her lofty head to look into Boss Leong, "Then Fatty Leong, tell me who threw the mud at me just now? I will cast a dozen of fireballs at him, to have him know that getting on the wrong side of a proud mage entails a huge cost."

Hearing her say that, all mercenaries happened to look up to the sky, and Boss Leong appeared embarrassed, as all his mercenaries stood by Qian Jin’s side since Abela had done them wrong. If he confessed to Abela, all the mercenaries safeguarding his trade caravan would be exasperated.

Yet Qian Jin had fully prepared himself: it would be good if Boss Leong could succeed in making things even, or else dare Abela to throw fireballs at him, he would immediately fight back! Who cares who were her parents were? Just giving her, a gravely spoiled girl a beat was far beyond enough! If she longed for killing others, she should get prepared to be killed by them too! As there is no gender difference but life-or-death dilemma on the battlefield.

The premise of having a man treat a woman gently was that the woman was graceful. But to Abela, a desperately imperious girl who mocked others every now and then and dared attack her partner, treating her in the gentleman’s way would be deemed as despicable.

"Are you finished creating a fuss?!"

Having kept silent for long, Fanta Kunge suddenly uttered a harsh roar, with which his warrior power of Level 3 Demon Fighter was directly activated. Holding the battle blade in his hand, Fanta Kunge smashed Abela’s imperious tendency.

"You…" Abela’s delicate body quivered slightly, with eyes filled with anxiousness, surprise, and somewhat timidity.

A Demon Fighter was not an ordinary warrior, toward whom the mages held a respectful attitude. Even a supreme mage would keep courteous in front of a Demon Fighter Warrior.

These Demon Fighter Warriors were swift in marching, had a strong figure and had condensed their warrior energy into warrior power, all of which spoke of their confidence and pride.

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Boss Leong quickly wiped off the cold sweat oozing out of his forehead. He was secretly glad that there was still a Demon Fighter here to hold the Level 3 Mage in check. He was afraid to deal with the parents of the spoiled Abela since they were both the Vice Presidents of the Yulee Crystal Magic Tower, one of the Eight Forces in the Yulee State. What’s more, it ranked higher in the various leagues and it really was an existence that ordinary people couldn't afford to offend.

After the Abela scene passed, everyone began to worry about the eagle above. It would cause more trouble if not shot down as soon as possible.

"Don’t look at me!"Abela raised her head proudly, neglecting the earnest face of Boss Leong: "You want me to use my magic to help these mercenaries? Alright, send them over to beg me!"

"Right!" Abela extended her white tender index finger, "And the attacker! Turn him in! Otherwise...hmph..."

Bang!

A bowstring buzzing interrupted the sneer and a light whistle sounded as the sharp arrow grated against the air. The cold arrow flashed in the sky and the hovering eagle suddenly stiffened. After a bit of flopping, it fell down heavily right next to the carriage. The muffled "boom" made the mage's face freeze.

Qian Jin withdrew the bow, looked at Boss Leong and said in a casual tone, "Move on and be careful."

"Hmph!"Abela broke into another sneer chasing away the stiffness on her face, "Brute force! Such a vulgar warrior who even doesn’t possess warrior power!"

The mercenaries, who were pale, turned paler while blankly watching the archer. Living with their lives on the line all the time equipped those mercenaries with better insights. The shot was so out of the blue that not a single person had figured out how he did it! Not to mention the time he needed to aim at the prey.

And the accuracy! It would take ordinary people quite a long time just to aim at the fist-sized body of the circling eagle! But this young man, he didn’t even bother to look. He just raised his hand and let go the arrow, which directly pierced the eagle’s heart. It was obviously not a wild guess and this archery deserved some respect even if he was not a Demon Fighter!

No wonder an archer was called a mage's nemesis! Few mages could survive an attack from this archer if encountered!

While on the carriage, Zachery was more shocked than the mercenaries. What the shot had meant was something beyond what the mercenaries perceived! The bow had not been bent to its full extension! That was to say, it was anything but ordinary!

Right! Zachery quickly turned to Fanta Kunge! This young Demon Fighter had always shown great respect to the archer all this time! It seemed that he had known this capable archer warrior for a long time!

Zachery slightly pondered! He had planned a covert strategy to protect the spoiled daughter but was exposed. He could do nothing but call it off even there were no outsiders around.

He jumped off the carriage and walked to Qian Jin. He gently stroked the rotten side of his straw hat and asked in a bass voice, "Who did you learn your archery from? I suppose you just graduated from a novice warrior academy, right? Have you decided which war academy you would apply to for further study?"

Feeling no hostility from this Zachery, Qian Jin quietly replied, "No, I haven’t decided yet."

"You haven't?" Zachery did not care if Qian Jin had avoided some of his questions. He fished out a dark iron tag and handed it out. "Are you interested in the Punitive Expedition War Academy? I'm from the Torrent Battle Fort and if you are interested, I can..."

Qian Jin's pupils dilated! Was this man from the Torrent Battle Fort? Was that not the other name of the Warrior Union of Yulee State?

"The Punitive Expedition War Academy?"

Though Zachery had sensed a trace of doubt, he laughed, "That is what you usually call Punitive Expedition Academy. Because it is an advanced academy, we call it War Academy! After all..."

Qian Jin nodded in acknowledge. After all, those studying in advanced academies would normally enlist in the army, and even some people would be dedicated to the armed forces of the Zence Empire. It was fairly appropriate to call them that since they were established for war.

"Take it!" Zachery moved the tag a little closer, "Even if you're not interested in the academy, I'd also like to invite you to join the Torrent Battle Fort. It is always better to join the Warrior Union as soon as possible where you can get much more resources and information than any other places."

"Torrent Battle Fort?" Abela curled her thin red lips and looked at Qian Jin up and down with her arms folded across her chest: "Sure enough, it can only receive this inferior kind who can hardly become a Demon Fighter."

A trace of anger flashed through the broken edge of the straw hat...Zachery’s chest heaved as he breathed deeply and he gained calmness again after a few seconds. But the hand hesitated in the air and drew back since the pride had already left with the sarcasm.

Watching this, Boss Leong could not help but shake his head in a sigh. Without Fabreidis, the Yulee Warrior Union had been on the decline. Being one of the eight forces, it had now been driven into body-guarding a baby mage from the Crystal Magic Tower. No wonder rumor had it that the Torrent Battle Fort was the easiest to pick a fight with among the eight forces.

Sensing the altered mood, Qian Jin suddenly felt a jolt and subconsciously he grabbed the iron tag and smiled. "Well, I was going to attend the Punitive Expedition Academy anyway."

"Hmph..."Abela covered her mouth with a small hand and made out a sneer once again: "Do you really think you can enter the academy? Hmph, I will just wait there to see how you will be denied outside the door!"

Qian Jin shrugged with indifference as if what she had said was of no importance. In fact, he had already thought about going to the Punitive Expedition Academy. The decision was absolutely not a spur of the moment choice. The Holy Capital was too far away, and if he went there, Rosella was definitely gonna follow him around, which would cause great harm to Rollin’s business.

Rollin had already passed on and the loss of his family business now would be the last thing Qian Jin could bare. Fabreidis had once expressed that the Punitive Expedition Academy would be a good choice although it ranked lower than some other advanced institutions. But it was truly a very prestigious academy in terms of library holdings and study on warrior power!

Zachery forced a laugh to his shaking lips, pulled his hat down over his eyes and then returned to the carriage. Being a Torrent Battle Fort fighter, it was, in fact, a disgrace to be a bodyguard of such a prodigal mage from the Crystal Magic Tower! But he had to do this for the future development of the fort. The vice president parents were too powerful, not to mention the president, who was actually the brother of this young girl’s grandfather.

Qian Jin flipped through the black iron, on which was engraved a vigorous and powerful word, [Torrent]! On the back, there was "Zachery", the name of the owner and "Manager", the position he held in the fort.

A series of bustling horse hooves drew near from the distance. Two scouts rushed back followed by a dozen fast horses. And from time to time there were arrows shooting towards the scouts.

"F**k...Defense..." The scouts bent down on the horse, buried their heads deep into the saddle and the body moved up and down with the horse running! They shouted, "Black Wind...Black Wind..."

"Black Wind?" The plump shadowed face of Boss Leong suddenly became sullen and his short legs turned to jelly! He fell down on the ground in terror, and blankly asked, "Black Wind? The eighth of the Top Ten Bandit Groups in the Frontier? The one who robs everything including life? The one that only leaves written letters of their name?"

The mercenaries looked all serious! The bandit groups had always been the dominant force of the Frontier and it was also the top ten groups that had always been a pain in the ass. But the mercenaries had not expected to run into the robbers in such a remote area!

After a short silence, there sounded a series of metal collisions in the team and sharp swords were all taken out from the long sheath! The mercenaries looked at each other and all got a message from their eyes: This time they really had to risk their lives! Black Wind had left nothing standing! Since surrender also meant death, why not fight back? Maybe they would survive!

The mercenaries quickly pulled the carriages around to form a simple circular formation. Each one of them all took a defensive posture; even the horses had become somewhat restless. The proud small face of Abela glowed with some flush and the sapphire eyes flashed a hint of excitement. She tightly held her ruby [Raging Fire] magic wand and inwardly pondered how to beat the group. Once she saved the asses of those shabby mercenaries, they would no longer dare to look down upon her!

The scouts quickly reached the periphery of the circle formation and four mercenaries hurriedly reached out of the horse carriage. Suddenly two cold and fast arrows brushed against their heads! In two puffs, blood trickled through the trembling arrows to the ground. The scouts were shot dead on their horses.

All the mercenaries turned to Qian Jin in rage! The bow that had shot the eagle was now trembling with the blood stimulant!

"What the f**k?"

"You sick of living?"

"What? Are they enemies?"

More than a dozen knives and swords all aimed at Qian Jin! They all gazed at the young man as if they would like to turn the hostility into nails to crucify him!

Paying no attention to the outrageous crowd, Qian Jin slowly reached his quiver and said, "Take a look. The two on the horse, are they really your buddies?"