To my surprise, Mo Fan did take Jiaxing Xia with him. It seemed to me that the main argument for this was that we were going to a military base, where Jiaxing Xia could be looked after. The next day, as agreed, after warning Mo Jiaxing, we set off, but first we went to the hunter's league office. This was one of the few times I came here myself; usually, Jiaxing Yun handled all the issues. Finding a free registration window, we approached it. Behind it sat a beautiful black-haired girl with blue eyes, drawing attention.
"Hello, what's your name?" Mo Fan asked casually, jumping up first, while I, rolling Jiaxing Xia, walked a little behind.
"Ah... Excuse me, what do you need?" the girl asked, thinking for a moment. Although she was cute, something about her seemed strange, as if she was in a completely different reality, not here.
"This, we wanted..." Mo Fan began awkwardly, realizing the awkward position he was in.
"We would like to register one girl in the league," I said, bringing Jiaxing Xia closer.
"Is it really necessary to register her?" Mo Fan doubted.
"Yes, otherwise she won't be able to get to the military base, and we'll get less money," I replied, shrugging.
"Well, okay," Mo Fan said, shrugging as well.
"What is your magic level, miss?" the girl asked, smiling sweetly, although it seemed to me that this smile was somewhat like the smile of a madman.
"Healing mage, second stage of the initial level," Jiaxing Xia smiled awkwardly.
"Okay, one moment," the girl said, somewhat distractedly; it seemed increasingly strange to me. After a couple of minutes, she was already handing Jiaxing Xia a league card. "Here you go, anything else?"
"Yes, can you add these two to Baofang's team?" I asked, handing her my card, which indicated my affiliation with this team.
"Only the team captain can accept new members," the girl said, her voice starting to resemble something otherworldly.
"There are only two of us, so we don't have a commander," I said, trying to convince her to perform the operation.
"Then you will have to choose a commander if someone joins you," the girl said in the same voice.
"And does the commander who is being taken have to be present here?" I asked, as I intended to make Jiaxing Yun the commander, because I think he deserves it.
"No, the commander must be here," she said, dispelling my aspirations.
"Then let you, Xu Zhaoting, become our commander," Jiaxing Xia said, understanding what I was thinking.
"Ah, were you going to make Jiaxing Yun the commander?" Mo Fan was slightly surprised.
"Yes, I think he is quite worthy of it," I shrugged. "But okay, I can't do anything about the rules," I said, turning to the girl. She sat with completely glassy eyes, as if frozen in place and not moving.
"And why can't I become the commander?" Mo Fan asked, scratching his head and pulling me out of my stupor from seeing the girl.
"How do you imagine it? A high-ranking hunter is in a team where the commander is intermediate, huh?" I mocked him a little. "And in any case, how do you want to become the commander of the team that Jiaxing Yun and I created?"
"I agree with Xu Zhaoting, it wouldn't be fair," Jiaxing Xia said gently.
"Oh, come on, I was just kidding," Mo Fan smiled casually, although a slight disappointment was noticeable.
"Girl, I, Xu Zhaoting, will be the commander, write it down, and also include these two in the team," I said, addressing the girl, who was still in a stupor.
"Ah..." she said, looking up at me, and after a minute continued. "Yes, of course, give me your cards."
Without thinking, we handed her our cards, and her hands began to dance on the keyboard. I plunged into thought, what's wrong with this girl. She looked like she was slightly out of her mind, but at the same time, as then, she was still working here. Doesn't anyone else notice this?
"Excuse me, did something happen to you?" I asked, unable to contain my curiosity any longer.
"Yes, no, nothing like that happened," she said, thinking for a moment, now she looked like a completely normal person.
"And how long have you been thinking during conversations to the point that you don't hear anyone?" Mo Fan asked, clearly still upset that he was initially ignored.
"Since the beginning of September, probably. I don't know why I became like this," she said, becoming very sad. "Then some important client came to me, and then everything was like in a fog, I woke up at home, remembering nothing. After that, I started to drop out of conversations from time to time. But since I can still perform my duties, they kept me working here. Although my salary was reduced."
"I see, that's so sad," Jiaxing Xia said.
"Nothing, I'm used to it, it was a good lesson for me," she said, smiling as if she were a completely different person. "Here are your cards, anything else?"
"Yes, is there a mission to help the military in Bo City?" I asked, moving on to the last point of our visit.
"Yes, there is, should I sign you up, just three of you?" she asked, smiling sweetly, without any trace of madness.
"No, the whole team, if possible?" I said, and then, thinking, asked. "And what is your name anyway?"
"Yes, of course," she smiled, and then answered my second question. "My name is Zhang Rou."
After a couple of minutes, we were heading to the train station, preparing to go to Bo City. I asked the girl's name purely out of curiosity; perhaps I'll ask someone about her. After all, it's a pity for her; the person who did this to her is simply a monster. Of course, much better than the black church, but definitely not human. Killing your pursuers who killed your parents and want to kill you is one thing, but killing innocent people, or even worse, breaking their souls, is another. Why do I think her soul was damaged? Just my intuition.
Getting on the train, we headed along the route familiar to me, first to Xiamen, where we stayed overnight, as it was already quite late and there were no buses to Bo City. The next day, we took a bus and quickly reached Bo City, and from there to the military base. We were easily admitted there and led to the main person, namely Zhang Kong.
"Oh, Mo Fan, did you finally decide to join the army?" he asked cheerfully as soon as he saw us.
"No, I just took a mission from the hunter's league," Mo Fan smiled awkwardly, it seemed to me that he was ready to run away right now.
"Okay, but remember, if anything happens, I will definitely help you, just say the word," Zhang Kong said, laughing heartily.
After quickly confirming the start of the mission and our future tasks, we headed to the barracks assigned to us. They turned out to be two decent rooms in a large brick building; it was clear it was recently built. Jiaxing Xia was in one room, and Mo Fan and I were in the second. Soon after, Zhang Xiaohou and He Yu came to visit us, having somehow found out that we had arrived here.
"Hello, Brother Fan, long time no see," Xiaohou burst into the room, immediately jumping up to Mo Fan. "Oh, and Xu Zhaoting is here, where is Jiaxing Yun? I almost caught up with him too, reached the intermediate level," he said cheerfully, looking around the room.
"Sorry, he didn't come," I said, smiling awkwardly, while laughing to myself at him. He is as far from Jiaxing Yun as walking to the moon, the difference is too great. "He had urgent matters."
"Ah, what kind of matters?" He Yu asked, entering the room.
"Yes, he went to have fun with his love in Xi'an," Mo Fan said with a smirk.
"Brother Mo Fan, don't talk about him like that, they are going through a very difficult period in their relationship with Lin Yun'er," Jiaxing Xia said, slightly offended.
"Oh, come on, I was just kidding," Mo Fan smiled awkwardly. "Monkey, did you really reach the intermediate level? What element did you awaken?"
"Yes, it's true, about two months ago. And I awakened earth, I can already release magic," Xiaohou said cheerfully and confidently. "Now I can become even faster. After that, He Yu and I were promoted to junior lieutenants."
"And what about Sister He Yu, is she also an intermediate level mage?" Jiaxing Xia asked, slightly surprised, as she knew her weakly. But judging by how she clung to Xiaohou, while pretending they were just friends, it was hard not to understand that they were a couple. Although Mo Fan apparently didn't understand this.
"Yes, it's true, I reached it only a month ago, through incredible efforts," He Yu replied, slightly embarrassed. "I awakened the element of chaos, they say it's a strong element, but I can't release magic yet."
"Ah, what kind of element is that?" Mo Fan looked at her slightly surprised. I myself have heard little about this magic, mostly only that it exists.
"Chaos is magic related to spatial magic. As Senior Sergeant Zhang Kong told me, with its help, you can change the direction of magic or redirect the opponent's attack back at him," she replied modestly.
"Ah, I see, you still won't be able to attack," Mo Fan shrugged sadly. "Although the intermediate level water magic is very strong, it's called a storm wave."
"Yes, it's very strong magic covering a large area," she nodded.
"Well, and how are your relationships?" I decided to tease the cute couple a little. Mostly Xiaohou, since now he will have to explain to Mo Fan, who knows nothing.
"Ah, do they have any relationship?" Mo Fan asked, looking intently at me.
"Ehh..." the two lovers drawled in unison. I didn't doubt for a moment that everything was fine between them.
"Well, we, uh..." Xiaohou began uncertainly.
"We've been dating for a long time!" He Yu blurted out, blushing, grabbing his hand and pressing against Xiaohou. Mo Fan's expression at that moment was something to behold. A mixture of surprise and shock turned into joy for his friend.
"Well done, Xiaohou, you finally gathered the courage to confess," he slapped his friend on the shoulder. "And how long have you been dating?"
"Somewhere, since the disaster in Bo City," Xiaohou replied awkwardly, scratching his head.
"Ah, by the way, how is Se Lei doing?" I asked, remembering the second person I strive to be like. Se Lei was one of the lieutenants who went with us to clear both lairs. He is a lightning and shadow mage, with lightning being his main element, and when we left, he had almost reached the third stage of the intermediate level in it.
"Ah? Se Lei?" Xiaohou thought for a moment, remembering something. "He is our direct commander, recently reached the third stage of the intermediate level and was promoted to senior lieutenant."
"Ah, who is this Se Lei?" Mo Fan asked, not understanding what we were talking about.
"He is, you could say, our friend, along with Jiaxing Yun," I replied, smiling awkwardly. "We met him last time we were at the base."