144: Chapter 145 You've really made something of yourself!

"Mercenary Guild?!"

"Let me see, let me see—accepting missions... exterminating Demonic Beasts, escorting caravans, scouting paths, gathering herbs, mining—"

"Isn't this just letting us go out of the city to fight?!"

"Oh! I like this!!"

"Haha! Finally, there's an opportunity for me to show off my skills!"

"Only one-tenth of the mission earnings to be handed over? That's too little, right? I'd do it even if I had to hand it all over!"

"Agreed! I have plenty of strength. I don't care about others, but for mine, I'll hand over five-tenths!"

"I'll hand over seven-tenths!"

"I'll hand it all over!!!!"

...

The crowd suddenly erupted into chaos.

Some people squeezed to the front to read word for word, some in the back stood on tiptoes and stretched their necks, and some had already started discussing with those next to them whether or not to sign up.

General Zhang Tie took a deep breath; he had finally waited for his moment.

"Everyone, be quiet for a moment!" He stepped forward, his voice very loud. "Regarding the details of the Mercenary Guild, if anyone has any questions, you can—"

"I have a question!" A burly man in the front row immediately interrupted. "When is registration?"

"Registration starts tomorrow—"

"Tomorrow? Can we get a number today?"

"There are no numbers for now—"

"No numbers? Then can I hold a spot now?"

General Zhang Tie's mouth twitched, and he tried hard to steer the conversation back. "Everyone, no need to rush. The specific arrangements for Mercenary Guild registration—"

"Are there any requirements for forming squads? My brother and I want to be in the same squad!"

"I want to be in the same squad as them too!"

"Who are you?"

"I'm his brother-in-law!"

...

General Zhang Tie's lines were drowned out again.

But this time was different.

He didn't sheepishly retreat to the side like before; instead, he took a deep breath, took a big step forward, and pressed his hands downward.

"Everyone listen to me!"

His voice drowned out the noise.

The crowd was actually silent for a moment.

General Zhang Tie took advantage of this brief gap to blurt out his words:

"The Mercenary Guild will be temporarily headed by Lei Lie as the Guild Master! Registration starts tomorrow at the newly built Guild Hall in the East District! Squads can be formed freely or assigned by the Guild! Missions are divided into four categories: hunting, escorting, gathering, and scouting. The Materials split and rewards for each category are different. The specific details are clearly written on the notice, see for yourselves!"

He finished in one breath, his chest heaving twice.

The crowd was silent for two seconds.

Then, with a roar, it became even livelier than before.

But in this liveliness, there was now a direction—some went to look at the details, some were discussing which type of mission to choose, and some were already calling their friends.

General Zhang Tie stood where he was and let out a long breath.

The lines he had memorized three times had finally been used.

...

Shang Youjun heard all of this.

He was standing in the shade of a psychic small jianmu on the edge of the square, far away from the crowd.

Everyone's attention was on the Mercenary Guild. No one noticed the notice on the right—the notice with his name on it.

He should have felt relieved.

He was indeed relieved.

But after feeling relieved, something else slowly rose from his chest, something indescribable.

It wasn't sadness, nor was it grievance; it was just a hollow feeling, as if he had been shut out by the crowd.

This feeling made him a bit embarrassed.

It was clearly a good thing that people weren't staring at him.

He told himself in his heart.

But he still couldn't help but turn his head toward the direction of that notice.

"Oh my!"

A hand slapped his shoulder without warning.

Shang Youjun jumped.

"Not bad! You've become a minister!"

Minister Wang Fugui's Second Concubine stood beside him, smiling radiantly while carrying a bamboo basket.

She was probably here at the square to shop; the basket contained half a basket of vegetables.

Before Shang Youjun could react, the Second Concubine's expression changed—from confident to belated realization, her mouth forming an "O" shape.

Then she stepped back half a step, bowed solemnly, her eyes almost disappearing from her smile.

"Oh my, this commoner is being rude, this commoner is being rude! Please, Minister, do not blame me!"

Her voice was loud, and the gazes of several people around were drawn over.

"Minister? What minister?"

"Shang Youjun? He became a minister?"

Someone leaned over to look at the notice on the right, and then their voice was filled with surprise: "It really is! Minister of the Supervision Department!"

The news spread like ripples.

Several people who knew Shang Youjun gathered around.

"Youjun! Congratulations!"

"Good lad, you've really made something of yourself!"

"From now on, if there's any injustice in Flower City, we're all counting on you!"

...

An older woman held his hand, her tone earnest: "Minister Shang, my husband has a bad temper. If he does anything wrong in the future, you must deal with it impartially. Don't show favoritism just because he's an old neighbor!"

Shang Youjun was overwhelmed by this sudden burst of enthusiasm, fumbling with "I" and "this" for a long time without managing to form a complete sentence.

His hands were still shaking.

But as he shook, he suddenly remembered what Lei Lie and Minister Wang Fugui had said to him yesterday.

That's right, he was no longer an ordinary citizen.

He was now the Minister of the Supervision Department, and he had to look the part!

He took a deep breath.

The air filled his lungs and was then slowly exhaled.

That hand that had been shaking slowly relaxed and then clenched again—this time, it wasn't his sleeve he was clutching, but his fist.

He turned to the people who had gathered around, his hollow eyes unfocused, but his body stood straight.

Then he bent down and bowed deeply.

"Thank you for your trust; I, Youjun, will certainly not fail your expectations."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was steady.

After saying it, he was stunned himself—he hadn't expected to be able to say this sentence so steadily.

The Second Concubine was the first to start clapping.

Then the applause merged into one.

...

By evening, the people in the square finally began to disperse.

Shang Youjun returned to the tree house.

Closing the door, the room became quiet.

He sat on the edge of the bed and stared blankly for a long time.

Then he reached out and took a small box from under his pillow.

black jade connection paste.

Zhou Yun had given it to him.

He had never used it.

It wasn't that he didn't want to.

It was that he didn't dare to.

The last thing his father said on the day he blinded him was, "No one must know about your eyes."

With his eyes blinded, the secret was safe.

What if his eyes were healed?

But now it was different.

The secret was no longer a secret.

He didn't need to hide anymore.

Shang Youjun opened the box.

A cool scent diffused, carrying a faint herbal smell.

He put his finger into the box and dipped out a bit of the paste.

It was cold.

When his fingertips touched his eyelids, his hand shook again.

But this time, he didn't pull back.

The moment the paste was applied to his eyes, a violent, stinging pain exploded from deep within his eye sockets, as if something was being scorched, torn apart, and then stitched back together.