Chapter 90 - 86: Recruitment

"To think... I was in the presence of a master." Di Wu’s tone was complicated.

Qin Ziwen said, "If you’re willing to stay, the Court won’t be able to find you."

Di Wu’s eyes flickered, but he finally shook his head. "My two brothers and I still have families. We can’t stay." He turned to Du Yu. "Brother Du, Youzhou is a bitter, cold land. Being sent to the frontier means you’ll waste your life away. You should really think about this."

"If I stay here, won’t I just be hiding for the rest of my life? What’s the difference?" Du Yu’s gaze grew calm again.

Qin Ziwen said, "Who said you’d have to hide forever? Beyond this door lies a whole new world. If you’re willing to stay, you’ll get to see things you’ve never imagined.

I know you killed a few local thugs on the street, only to be arrested by the Government Office and sentenced to the frontier. You’re disillusioned with this unfair world, so why not try living a different kind of life?"

Du Yu frowned, then grew thoughtful. He glanced around before his eyes finally landed on Qin Ziwen.

"Alright."

[You have successfully recruited a new member.]

[Please assign them a position.]

The small orb of light floated out on its own, and a selection frame appeared before his eyes.

Level 1 Tavern: [Shopkeeper (0/1), waiter (0/2), chef (0/1)]

Qin Ziwen looked at the positions, pondered for a moment, and then asked Du Yu, "Can you cook?"

Du Yu shook his head.

"Alright, then from now on, you’re a waiter at our tavern."

waiter (1/2)

Di Wu picked up the key and unlocked the cangue from Du Yu’s neck.

Qin Ziwen raised his arm and pointed toward the door curtain. "Want to come outside with me and take a look?"

Du Yu nodded, strode to the curtain, and stepped through.

Qin Ziwen followed close behind him, leaving as well.

Di Wu stared at the swaying curtain, a dazed look in his eyes. He hurried forward and lifted it. Outside was a deserted mountain path.

...

"So you’re saying that when I invited you, you heard a voice in your head at the same time?" Qin Ziwen looked at Du Yu.

"I’m not sure. It was strange. It was like a voice, but it also felt like it appeared directly in my mind," Du Yu nodded. "It told me some of the rules, which gave me a basic understanding of this place. I figured staying here would be fine, so I agreed."

’So that’s why Du Yu was looking around, frowning, and seemed so preoccupied when I was talking to him earlier. And here I thought I’d persuaded him myself.’

’It turns out that as long as I extend an invitation, the other person receives a message.’

"What dynasty are you from?"

"The Great Yong."

"The seventh year of the Heshun era of Great Yong?"

Du Yu was surprised. "The seventh year of Heshun? That’s an era name from the founding of the dynasty. It’s the fourth year of the Zhongping era now. Over a hundred years have passed since then."

Qin Ziwen understood now. The tavern could attract customers, but they were chosen at random and didn’t come from the same time period.

He could extend an invitation, and the guest would receive a message.

If they agreed, the guest could stay.

But the current Level 1 Tavern could only recruit a maximum of four people. After recruiting Du Yu, there were three spots left.

’That scholar from before must have been terrified,’ he thought. ’He probably thought the message in his head was something supernatural and fled in a panic.’

"Xiaowu, make an extra breakfast. This is Brother Du Yu. From now on, he’s a new member of our family."

Qin Ziwen walked over, with the towering Du Yu following behind him.

Du Yu was extremely tall, at least six-foot-five, with a powerful, broad-chested build. His ink-black hair fell to his shoulders, and his features were sharp and chiseled. Even in silence, he radiated a fearsome aura.

Following behind, Du Yu discreetly surveyed the living room, a strange light flashing in his eyes from time to time.

Qin Ziwu stared in surprise at the buff dude cosplaying as a prisoner, nodded, and said, "Alright."

Du Yu said in a deep voice, "My lord, Di Wu and the others are still in the tavern. I wish to say goodbye to them."

"Alright, I’ll go with you."

The two of them lifted the door curtain and returned to the tavern. The room was silent.

Di Wu and the two constables, who had been passed out drunk moments before, were all gone. All that was left on the table was a half-finished jar of wine and three empty pottery bowls. The three constables had clearly been gone for some time.

At this point, how could Du Yu not realize the other two had just been pretending to be drunk?

Besides the empty wine bowls, there was also a silver ingot on the table that cast a yellow glow. Judging by its size, it was three taels’ worth.

Returning to the living room, the four of them began to eat breakfast.

Once Du Yu opened up and they talked for a while, Qin Ziwen discovered that he was a true talent.

He had been abandoned in a village as a child and was raised on the charity of his neighbors. When he was older, he joined a temple and served as a Martial Monk for eight years, but was expelled for offending a powerful noble. He returned to his hometown to settle down, but with no farmland to till, he became a Hunter’s apprentice and lived as a recluse in the mountains for three years. Later, when a tiger began to plague the county, he went into the mountains to hunt it. His fame skyrocketed, and he caught the eye of a nobleman in the Prefecture City, who invited him to become a Guest in his household.

While in the Prefecture City, he saw someone harassing an innocent woman on the street. Unable to stand by, he rushed in to teach the man a lesson but accidentally killed him. Since the man had some powerful connections, Du Yu ended up in his current predicament.

"So you’re proficient with sabers and staves, skilled at hunting, and you even know some Arrow Skill?" Qin Ziwen clapped his hands. ’This guy is a specialized professional!’

Du Yu said humbly, "I wouldn’t dare say I’m skilled at hunting. I only learned the basics."

Qin Ziwu’s eyes lit up. "So you admit you’re proficient with sabers and staves."

The honest Du Yu was left speechless. He felt that admitting it would sound arrogant, but denying it would be a lie. For a moment, he didn’t know how to respond.

After breakfast, Qin Ziwen thought it over and decided to have Du Yu go up the mountain with him, while Li Tieshan would stay home. This way, Li Tieshan could forge a suitable weapon for Du Yu.

Du Yu’s height and bearing were already conspicuous, and his long hair only added to it, so Qin Ziwen suggested he shave his long hair.

Du Yu had no objection to this. He had been a monk before, and they had to keep their heads completely shaved. This was just a simple haircut by comparison.

From his previous experience cutting Li Tieshan’s hair, Qin Ziwen knew how difficult it was to cut hair with scissors, especially a buzz cut.

So this time, he didn’t cut it too short, instead giving Du Yu a shoulder-length cut.

With messy, shoulder-length hair, a tight white t-shirt, a black leather jacket that was a size too small, form-fitting black track pants, and athletic shoes, he was a completely different person from the long-haired ancient in a prison uniform from just ten minutes ago.

The biggest issue, if any, was his skin, which was rough and deeply tanned from years of exposure to the wind and sun.

After the five of them met downstairs, they gathered their things and set off immediately.

Qin Ziwen introduced Du Yu to Deng Guang and Zhao Pu. "This is Du Yu. From now on, he’s a member of our team."

Deng Guang gave a friendly nod. "Hello."

Zhao Pu extended his hand and shook Du Yu’s.

With yesterday’s experience, the group of five ascended the mountain at least twenty percent faster today.

They successfully reached the spot directly below the cave before noon.

"CAW!" A few Black Falcons circled overhead.

Du Yu took the Long Spear from Qin Ziwu, holding it steady in one hand. He walked to the front of the group. "Everyone, follow me. I’ll provide cover."

"CAW!"

From behind and to the side, a Black Falcon dove in for an attack.

Du Yu stomped his left foot on the ground, his waist twisting like a taut rope as his shoulders and back spun violently with the motion.

In the instant he spun back, the Long Spear shot out, venomous and swift like a serpent striking from its lair!

With a dull thud, the Black Falcon attacking from behind seemed to fly right onto the spear tip. The point pierced through its chest and exited its back.

Du Yu flicked his wrist, shaking the Black Falcon off the shaft and flinging a few drops of crimson blood into the air.

...

...