"Are you sure that you want to take this mission?"


    Thedy at the reception counter asked Duncan with a raised eyebrow. From her reaction, it was clear to Duncan that she was skeptical about his ability toplete this mission.


    "I am sure," Duncan said with a pleasant smile on his face.


    "Sigh, why do young men always overestimate their abilities," thedy said with a resigned sigh.


    She rearranged the papers on her desk into an orderly pile before beckoning Duncan to follow her. Duncan was confused as to what this was all about. In the deepest part of his heart, he knew that something was fishy about this mission. But, thedy''s reaction to his request made it even queerer.


    Duncan followed thedy into an anteroom with confusion etched across his face. Once he entered, thedy beckoned him to take a seat opposite him. Duncan took a seat with curiosity burning in his heart.


    "Usually, we don''t interfere with mercenaries taking any kind of mission from the Mercenary Association job board," thedy spoke as she started pouring tea from the teapot present on the table between them. "However, this mission is kind of special."


    "While we have no responsibility towards your life or death, I wouldn''t be able to live with myself if I didn''t exin the dangers regarding the mission clearly to you."


    Thedy offered him a cup of tea. Duncan epted the tea while his mind began churning. He vaguely felt that something about this mission was incredibly dangerous. However, his danger instincts that have been honed for the past three months weren''t ring up.


    This gave him a bit of hope.


    "Do tell me," Duncan said in a cautious tone.


    "There is nothing to tell. The job description on the board is self-exnatory. We don''t skimp out on those details as it concerns the reputation of the Mercenary Association. This job is true as it is described. You need to act as a sparring partner. However…"


    Thedy paused her words and took some time to sip her tea. Duncan also sipped his tea waiting for thedy to continue on. He was not in a hurry to take this job.


    "However… This job was posted by a cultivation n," thedy said eyeing Duncan in a weighing manner. "And they need a sparring partner to fight against a low-level cultivator."


    "What!!!?"


    Duncan''s eyes narrowed in shock. This wasn''t something he had thought about. It was a well-known fact that the cultivators generally disdained working with normal people. To have someone ask for a normal person to act as a sparring partner was unprecedented.


    "Yes," thedy nodded before continuing in a solemn tone. "You see, normally it is impossible for normal people to act as a sparring partner for a cultivator. Even for a low-leveled one. However, the situation here is a bit special."


    "The Wang n''s Young Master has stepped foot into the path of cultivation. It is said that he is a genius that is rarely been seen in ten thousand years. At the tender age of five, he is already at the second level of Qi Gathering realm."


    "The Wang n wants to nurture him to the utmost level possible. Even though the Young Master is a child, they want him to experience the feeling of battle. It is also said that the Young Master himself requested the patriarch to approve this as he has high ambitions."


    "You got to be kidding me!!! You can''t expect me to fight a five-year-old kid!!!" Duncan said in anger as he processed the words thedy had told him.


    While he wanted to make money, he wasn''t a sadist to earn money by beating up a five-year-old kid. Cultivator or not, that kid was only five years old. He would be cursed by everyone out there if they knew what he had done.


    "You seem to be misunderstanding something young man," thedy retorted in a frosty tone. "Fight with the Young Master of the Wang n? You sure are dreaming. Are you even worthy? Did you not hear me clearly? That kid is already at the second level of Qi Gathering."<novelnext></novelnext>


    Thedy snorted angrily causing Duncan to stop in his train of thoughts.


    "So what? He is still a kid, isn''t he?" Duncan asked in a perplexed tone.


    "Hmmph, ignorant fool," thedy huffed in annoyance. "Do you think the difference between you and him could be bridged just because he is a kid? Ha ha ha, don''t make meugh."


    Thedy shook her head in annoyance.


    "You shouldn''t be worried about fighting the kid. What you should be worried about is how to survive that kid. Even though he is a kid, he is a cultivator. Not to mention that he is a once in ten thousand years genius. I called in here to warn you about the dangerousness of the job. Not for you to look down on it," thedy said in a serious tone causing Duncan to pause in confusion.


    Is the gap between a cultivator and a normal person like me that big? Can a kid in the Qi Gathering realm really overwhelm me? I have battled wild beasts solo for thest few months. Hell, I have even killed a boar all on my lonesome justst week. Can a kid be able to withstand me?


    "I can see that you are not taking this seriously, young man. But, let me make this clear. This mission is even more dangerous than killing a wild beast. Wild beasts don''t think. What you will be facing is a cultivator. If the age of the cultivator was above ten, this mission wouldn''t even be avable."


    "The only reason this mission was approved was due to the young age of the Wang n''s Young Master. As his body has not yet matured, he wouldn''t be able to exert the full strength of his cultivation level. But, that doesn''t mean that this will be easy money."


    "I have told you what I have to tell. Now, it is in your hands to decide what you will do. Knowing that you will have to fight a cultivator, are you willing to take this mission?" thedy asked in a solemn tone.


    Duncan didn''t even pause to think. He had always been hearing about the terror of cultivators. Yet, he had never seen them in action. So, he had always been curious about the difference in strength between them and him.


    This was a good opportunity to learn first-hand about the power of cultivators. And he wasn''t willing to let go of this. Moreover, if the information that was provided was right, he would need to go into the wealthy quarter for this mission.


    That meant, he will, atst, have a chance to step foot into the Blue Wind Society Hall. He would be a fool to let go of this opportunity. And he was being paid to do this.


    This was like killing three birds with one stone.


    "I am willing to take this mission," Duncan replied without any hesitation in his voice causing thedy''s eyes to narrow in displeasure.


    "Hmmph, this is your funeral," thedy snorted and stood up. "Follow me, I will write up a pass and give you the directions to the Wang n. I hope you are in a good state to collect your reward at least."


    Duncan could only smile wryly. In fact, he didn''t have any ill feelings about thedy''s attitude. If it was any other mercenary, they would have been d for the warning. However, Duncan''s needs were different from others.


    Whatever thedy may have said, he couldn''t wrap his head around the fact that thedy was scaring him with a five-year-old kid. The kid may be a cultivator, but he was still a kid, wasn''t he? How strong could he really be?


    Shaking his head in iprehension, Duncan followed thedy and waited in the side for her to give him the needed permit to go into the wealthy sector. When thedy gave him dis documents, she didn''t even deign him to look him in the eye. Duncan could only silently get the documents and make his way towards the gate where the Wang n was located.


    As usual, the guards stopped him at the entrance to the wealthy sector. However, with a permit in his hand this time, he was quickly allowed to walk inside the wealthy quarter of the city.


    The moment Duncan stepped foot into the wealthy quarter, he couldn''t but inhale in shock at the sheer level of cleanliness and opulence on disy.