"Commander, take us with you!"
Tie Yinghu's eyes were red, yet a trace of determination could not be concealed.
He knew that Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan were going into considerable trouble, but he still stepped forward resolutely, without the slightest hesitation.
Firstly, Zi Linling had shown immense kindness to the former Iron Blood Mercenary Group, and as its former commander, he naturally understood gratitude.
Secondly, the path of strength could only be climbed by undergoing the baptism of blood and storms.
"Yes, Commander, take us with you!"
Xue Ruyi's eyes were already misted over.
After so long together, she had come to regard Zi Linling as her own daughter.
Although she knew she was not qualified, she was willing to contribute silently and protect her.
Now, this daughter was going to a wider world to fight, how could Xue Ruyi not worry?
"Commander, take us with you!"
"Commander, take us with you!"
"Commander, take us with you!"
...
The members of the King's Mercenary Group were all eager, their spirits high.
It would be a lie to say Zi Linling was not moved.
After obtaining the memories of the original owner, Zi Linling had been deliberately suppressing her emotions.
Except for Xue Ying and Ye Lingyuan, she dared not open her heart to anyone else.
She was afraid, afraid that this world would be as cold and heartless as in the original owner's memories.
But the Situ father and son, and these mercenaries, were using tangible actions to tell her that true affection existed in the world, and true meaning was revealed in times of hardship.
And no matter how strong Zi Linling presented herself, she was, after all, a woman with delicate emotions.
So, when she felt the sincerity of these people, a corner of her disguise was shed.
"Brothers of the King's Mercenary Group, do you know what I will be facing on this journey?"
Zi Linling's gentle gaze swept over each mercenary, then continued, "I will be facing the behemoth that is the Zi family of the Empire. Although I do not fear them, I may not be able to fully attend to your needs."
"Therefore, I will not take you with me to face unknown dangers. That would be unfair to you and irresponsible towards your lives!"
Zi Linling paused here and looked towards the distant sky. "Brothers..."
"Commander, we do not fear death. We will be responsible for our own lives. Just let us go with you!"
Tie Yinghu stepped forward, interrupting Zi Linling.
"Yes! Life and death are fated, wealth and honor come from heaven! We do not fear death, what we fear is not being able to fight alongside the Commander!" Xue Ruyi tearfully agreed.
"Commander, the King's Mercenary Group has no cowards. What is there to fear in death? A dead bird flies towards the sky, and in eighteen years, one will be a hero again!" Sun Shangde also stepped forward.
"Yes, big brother Sun is right! Commander, Chu Yunniang is just a woman and not very articulate. I just feel that brothers should share life and death, not seeking to be born in the same year, month, and day, but only wishing to die in the same year, month, and day!"
Qin Mingfei did not speak, but nodded firmly.
"What the deputy commanders said is correct! How can we, the people of the King's Mercenary Group, stand by and watch our Commander fight outside?"
"Exactly! We've eaten hot pot together, we'll brave mountains of knives and seas of fire with the Commander!"
"Right! Isn't it just the Zi family of the Empire? We'll kill them all, just like we killed those bastards in the Jin Xia Kingdom!"
"Kill them!"
"Kill them!"
"Kill them!"
...
Zi Linling looked at the group of passionate mercenaries, and the ice in her heart melted completely.
"Brothers!"
She shouted, and the King's Mercenary Group immediately fell silent.
"Brothers, I accept your intentions, but I still cannot take you on this adventure, because I have a more arduous task for you."
When the mercenaries heard the first part of her words, the fire in their eyes dimmed considerably, but upon hearing the last sentence, they revived as if injected with chicken blood.
"Commander, what task?"
"Commander, assign us the task!"
"Commander, hurry up and assign the task! We promise to complete it."
"Commander, not only will we complete it, but we will complete it with quality and quantity!"
...
Behind the babbling discussions, there were no promises less weighty than Mount Tai.
Zi Linling smiled and said, "Brothers, thank you! You are so loyal and righteous, I can entrust the Tian Qi Kingdom to you with peace of mind."
"I do not need you to guard the empire of Tian Qi, I only wish for you to protect the people and loved ones of Tian Qi. If anyone dares to trample on them, use your weapons to chop off their heads, even if they are royalty, you need not fear."
"If the sky falls, I and the King of the Underworld will bear it for you! Those who dare to offend Tian Qi are irrelevant to us, but those who offend our loved ones will be punished, no matter how far away they are! Those who insult our people, no matter how strong, will be killed!"
"Those who offend our loved ones will be punished, no matter how far away they are" was her responsibility and principle – protection and favoritism.
"Those who insult our people, no matter how strong, will be killed" was Ye Lingyuan's responsibility, and thus also hers.
"Those who offend our loved ones will be punished, no matter how far away they are! Those who insult our people, no matter how strong, will be killed!"
"Those who offend our loved ones will be punished, no matter how far away they are! Those who insult our people, no matter how strong, will be killed!"
"Those who offend our loved ones will be punished, no matter how far away they are! Those who insult our people, no matter how strong, will be killed!"
...
Their voices shook the heavens, emotions filled the world, their heroic spirit covered the universe!
Zi Linling nodded and looked up at Ye Lingyuan, "Let's go!"
Ye Lingyuan nodded, encircled her slender waist, and boarded the carriage drawn by eight golden sky-maned horses.
Unlike when they arrived, the carriage then ran on the ground, but this carriage was now suspended in the air.
After Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan entered the carriage, the eight golden sky-maned horses whinnied simultaneously, spread their wings, and galloped towards the distance.
The mercenaries gazed dazedly at the departing carriage, none willing to leave first.
Their commander's departure this time meant their reunion was unknown.
Therefore, they wanted to send their commander off with such a farewell gaze.
Until the carriage drawn by the eight golden sky-maned horses disappeared from everyone's sight.
Tie Yinghu finally sighed and said, "Brothers, since we cannot fight alongside the Commander, let us fulfill the task assigned by the Commander!"
"From this moment on, the King's Spear shall be the Spear of Enforcement. Wherever our loved ones are being bullied, we shall raise our spears!"
Sun Shangde was not to be outdone and said, "From this moment on, the King's Wings shall be the Wings of Enforcement. Wherever the people are trampled upon, we shall spread our wings!"
"Yes!"
The mercenaries replied loudly.
"Those who offend our loved ones will be punished, no matter how far away they are! Those who insult our people, no matter how strong, will be killed!"
"Those who offend our loved ones will be punished, no matter how far away they are! Those who insult our people, no matter how strong, will be killed!"
"Those who offend our loved ones will be punished, no matter how far away they are! Those who insult our people, no matter how strong, will be killed!"
...