After meeting with Zhu Xiong and You Ping again, Yueshi learned more about the situation up there – and why they took so long to come down for them.
The latter did not matter too much to him, and he was instead grateful for it since they were given time to do a whole lot of things.
First, after their leader died and You Ping recovered, the bandits surrendered.
However, after seeing the headquarter of their prisoners, the entire group opted for killing them – they were not good people, and they did not have the right to be spared.
As for why they took so long to return, that had a lot to do with their body conditions.
After the fight, You Ping's hands had been completely burned back, and as of now many blisters covered both; he could not even hold a sword, much less go down through a rope.
The others were in similar situations.
Liangshi had her arm wounded and would not be able to grip the rope with enough strength, and Liu Bai had an arm almost severed off during combat.
As for Zhu Xiong, there was no need to say it, since she had lost an arm before - making it a dangerous endeavor.
That, and a few other implications, were the motive for their late arrival.
Yuan Yue's shouts that they were okay after their first intercourse inside the cave also made things easier for them. That is why they made their way around the canyon until they found an entrance to the valley at the bottom.
Leaving all that aside, the group was once more reunited inside the cozy cave from before.
With a bonfire in the middle, they chatted merrily over drinks and food. Going through such an ordeal together made their bonds even firmer and stronger and, despite their wounds, everyone was, apparently, joyous.
No one asked Yuan Yue or Yueshi about how they recovered so fast. Everyone had secrets they did not want or could not speak about, and that did not make them any less of a friend than the others.
It was like a girl would not tell a boy about the color of her panties, or vice-versa, just because they were friends.
Though that example was lame, it worked like that. Some things did not need to be spoken about or said, and some secrets could stay hidden – life was just like this, and friendship too.
"Come, little brother, you must toast with me!" You Ping was, as always, the loudest one. He drunk wine directly from the gourd while chatting with Yueshi with a grin on his face.
Yueshi was not too good with alcohol, but he did not refuse.
Yet, when the liquid passed through his throat, he felt like spiting it all out. Before he could even say anything You Ping started to laugh and slap his thigh.
"Did you think my gift would be like those weak wines from the city?" Guffawing, the older man poured Yueshi another cup of strong wine.
Yueshi could only roll his eyes at him. His face had already reddened a bit just from sipping it, however, the after taste was not that bad – though it resembled vodka when it burned its way down through one's throat.
To the side, Yuan Yue was also in a good mood as she chatted with Zhu Xiong and drunk wine with her.
From time to time she would blush as Zhu Xiong hinted at her about something related to Yueshi.
While the bunch was in a merry mood, their faces red because of the alcohol, they heard a few steps outside.
Before they could even say or think anything, a loud voice reached their ears.
"I am back!" Everyone recognized Yu Hai's voice, breaking into smiles.
It was finally time to go back.
Afterward, the group decided to leave as soon as possible, least another calamity crash down from the heavens unto their heads.
Yu Hai was more than surprised when they told him about what they had gone through, and also extremely worried while they were telling the story.
However, since things had already ended, all was well.
— - -
A few more days passed as they made their way back and, after returning to the city, Yueshi and Yuan Yue decided to spend a few days playing around.
This was a rare chance to be out of the sect, so they visited a few places, ate all sorts of food, and partied with the members of the mercenary group.
They did not waste all their time, though. They also often went hunting in the wasteland to train their skills and acquire battle experience.
Today, Yueshi and Yu Hai were drinking in a room alone, as per Yueshi's wish.
Yu Hai was curious about what he wanted to speak about, but he did not hush him. The two toasted each other as they enjoyed their drink, the warmth brought by it sipping into their bones.
"Brother Yu Hai, I have an offer to make you." After the third or fourth serving, Yueshi seemed to have finally made his mind as he spoke.
"Go on, there is no need for hesitation between us." After all, they had gone through, they were already close friends, and what was the use of hesitation when good friends chat?
"I would like to employee the Scarlet Flame Mercenary Group in the long term." Seeing him act like that, Yueshi did not hesitate anymore.
After speaking, he observed for a moment, wanting to see how the older man was going to react.
He had thought a lot about it before coming to this decision. There were a few things he took into consideration and a few things he wanted to achieve.
As a disciple of the Star Sea Sect, there would be many times when he would not be able to leave or do certain things because he was bound by the sect's rules.
That was why he wanted to develop a power that would heed his commands and work directly under him.
However, for that, he needed people and, above all, people he could trust.
Yu Hai and the other were good people and he had already noticed that, so he wanted to work with them; moreover, after the last battle, many of them had been grievously wounded and would need to retire.
"What sort of job do you want us to do?" Yu Hai asked, taking on a serious tone too.
Business was business, and it was better to not let their friendship cloud their judgment. Because of that, he could not just accept it and had to understand the job he would need to do.
"That will depend on how it grows. But all in all, people recruitment, assets management and administration of the recruits." If he spoke honestly, Yueshi felt he would scare Yu Hai with what he was truly planning.
Not only did he want to develop a faction of his own, but he wanted to let it grow and become a superpower too.
He had understood by now that what he could do alone was limited and that he'd need people in the future if he wanted to get stronger.
The Star Sea Sect was an example of that.
The disciples did not go there to learn and become stronger without paying any price. Every time they accomplish a task, the sect would take a portion of the gains; moreover, in situations of need, they used the disciples as manpower.
Those were merely small examples. Having a faction under him would make it easier to obtain information, gather resources, and establish connections, and so on.
There was, also, another few perks to it depending on how the faction developed and what it specialized in.
Still, he did not urge Yu Hai to answer him.
He did not say so, but Yu Hai should understand that most matters would be left on his and the others' hands since Yueshi would not have the time to deal with most things concerning this hypothetical new faction.
"I must talk with the others first before answering you." In the end, Yu Hai did not give a clear answer.
On one side he needed to talk with the others, as this choice could not be only his; on another, he needed more time to think about it.
"Hm, I will be waiting, then." Nodding, Yueshi smiled. "Then, big brother, let us leave that aside for now and drink!" With the serious matters dealt with, Yueshi laughed as he poured more wine on his cup and Yu Hai's.
Seeing his carefree expression, the older man smiled too.
Right, he could take time to think about it later. For now, he should enjoy this drinking session.
Cheering, the two exchanged toasts and drunk the content of their cups in a single gulp.
This was not You Ping's 'Burning Dragon Wine' and it did not roast one's throat.
Instead, it had a nice, pleasant smell and its taste was soft and entrancing; all in all, it was extremely enjoyable.
Playing with it in his mouth, Yueshi made a mental note to buy a lot of this 'Thousand Flowers Wine' before going back.
After a few more days passed by, Yu Hai and the others reunited while Yueshi and Yuan Yue were outside, hunting to hone their abilities in tracking and making traps.
The subject of this reunion was, obviously, the offer Yueshi had made a few days ago.
After Yu Hai explained to them everything Yueshi had said, and also what he left unspoken but also clear, no one said anything.
They all were experienced and seasoned veterans when it came to life, having gone through all sorts of dangers and troubles.
So, like Yu Hai, they did not let their friendship cloud their eyes.
"I think it is a good deal. This time we managed to get through it, but what if there is another? There is also that child…" The first to speak was Zhu Xiong and by her words, she was clearly talking about their sick member.
"Hm. We are getting old, too." Lingshi joked slightly. They could live for almost two hundred years, with most of them being in their early thirties they were fairly young.
"Also, settling down does not seem as bad of a choice as it seemed back in the years." Her words garnered several nods of approval.
They had once been hot-blooded youths, and that led them to leave their homes to explore the wider world and establish new horizons.
Years down the road and the vagabond life became the only life they knew. However, maybe the time to settle down had finally arrived.
Most of them only had each other, their families long having passed away. Any friends they had in the past remained there, in the past. Their life of wandering made it hard to keep contact, after all.
The same could be said about making a family, it was hard when you had no home and never stood in a single place for long.
"Well, I was planning to have a farm with some cows, chicken, and pigs when I retired. But this does not seem that bad, too." With his merry tone, You Ping gave his opinion, before lying on his back and getting prepared to sleep.
The others shook their heads and rolled their eyes.
However, they understood that whatever they chose would be fine for him, and he would do what he had always been doing – his best to help them and be of use.
"Unless you can get me some eyes, then I am all in for retiring." Smiling, despite his situation, Hu Peng joked.
Everyone was avoiding saying it, but yeah, some of them were pretty much fucked up right now.
"I can't promise anything." Finally, someone seemed against it. Everyone looked at the owner of the voice, it was Bai Yuanming. "I pretty much recorded everything about the creatures we can find and hunt right now, so I can go over for a while. But… once the opportunity arrives, or I get strong enough by myself, I must leave to complete my research."
His words made Yu Hai sigh.
Right, this guy was a research-maniac to his very core. If he had said that he liked the idea, then they would have to take him to see a doctor.
Still, the opportunity he spoke about was hard to come by, and him getting strong enough would take a very long time – maybe a dozen or more years since he wasn't some sort of superb genius.
The others also soon gave their opinions, and though they varied a lot, most of them were willing to accept Yueshi's offer.
As the father, Yu Hai also had the right to make this choice for their absent member, and he had no qualms about working under Yueshi.
What everyone did not expect was that their choices today would bring them no short amount of troubles and stress in the future… and also endless riches and glories.
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