Chapter 036: Lin Huafeng

Not even a signing bonus...

As soon as those words were spoken, everyone in Tang Mubai's area—whether they were representatives from martial arts halls, mercenary groups, companies, or professional warriors who had passed the Martial Association's exams—all stopped what they were doing and turned in unison to look his way.

For a moment, the vast area was plunged into silence, not even a whisper heard.

After a long pause, a sudden uproar broke out, filling the air with excitement.

The warriors who had been walking about rushed over, crowding around Tang Mubai's stall. Representatives from the other martial arts halls, mercenary groups, and companies couldn't help but leave their own booths, craning their necks to see what was happening.

"No signing bonus, and you dare to recruit here?"

"What kind of mercenary group is this? Do they think we're all fools?"

"If you can run a mercenary group, you must have some money, right? Even if you're not wealthy, you should be able to offer at least ten or twenty thousand as a signing bonus. But not even a dime?"

A chorus of voices rose as the crowd stared at Tang Mubai, discussing him animatedly.

Tang Mubai ignored them all, focusing solely on the man who had been shouting. His tone was calm. "I never said I wanted you in the group, so there's no need to get so worked up."

The shouting man was caught off guard, his face turning red with embarrassment and anger.

The crowd, too, fell silent, astonished.

Moments later, the hubbub grew even louder.

"Remarkable! This young man has a real personality. I wonder if that's how his group leader instructed him to act?"

"Hey, he's pretty proud, isn't he? Seems like he doesn't even want this guy in his group!"

"Miracle Mercenary Group? I think I've heard that name somewhere... Oh right, a month ago a group called 'Miracle' was wiped out after leaving the domain!"

With this revelation, the commotion intensified.

"No wonder they can't afford a signing bonus—the group really is broke!"

"The whole mercenary group wiped out? That's tragic. There hasn't been a complete group wipeout in Domain Thirty-Eight for years."

"Alright, everyone, disperse. The young man has suffered enough; let's not add to his burden."

The crowd lingered for a while, watching Tang Mubai with pity, regret, and sympathy, before leaving at the urging of several veteran mercenaries.

Even the man who had shouted at Tang Mubai gave him several odd, mocking, and schadenfreude-filled glances before walking away, bored.

Tang Mubai found himself alone, bewildered and helplessly amused.

He hadn't offered a signing bonus, and that was the end of it.

Before they left, every one of them looked at him with pity in their eyes. Though a group wipeout was indeed tragic, Tang Mubai wasn't particularly saddened by it.

The reason was simple: back on the previous Earth, his father had already passed away for more than half a year, and his uncle and aunt had died in a car accident. The only difference was that on the previous Earth, his little cousin had been taken away by her aunt, while here, the little girl stayed by his side.

As for the other members of the mercenary group, Tang Mubai hadn't known them before arriving, so why would he mourn them?

He felt close to Xu Dalu and Fang Shuixian now because he had inherited the memories of this world's "Tang Mubai." Though the two personalities had merged, the dominant one was still Tang Mubai!

Therefore, the demise of the Miracle Mercenary Group left him with little feeling.

The sympathetic looks cast his way by others only left him speechless.

Yet there was one gaze that caught Tang Mubai's attention, and to his surprise, it belonged to someone he knew!

Lin Huafeng, captain of the Madman Mercenary Group, and one of his father's friends.

The original "Tang Mubai" knew him well, but what was odd was that after the Miracle Mercenary Group was wiped out, Lin Huafeng had vanished and not been seen since.

Now, Lin Huafeng stood in the corridor ten paces away, his expression shifting, his eyes reddening.

When Tang Mubai looked his way, Lin Huafeng took a deep breath and strode over.

"Uncle Lin..."

"I'm sorry, Xiaobai. I don't deserve to be your uncle!"

Lin Huafeng stopped in front of the stall, his face full of shame as he ground out the words, "I've let you down, and I've let your father down. You've suffered so much at such a young age, while I've hidden in the background, doing nothing. I'm not a man, and I've failed your father. Just wait, when I get home, I'll give that damned woman a beating!"

Tang Mubai opened his mouth, unsure how to respond.

Lin Huafeng was clearly overwhelmed by emotion, so Tang Mubai decided to remain silent, letting him continue.

"Xiaobai, if you ever need anything, just come to me. If I ever shirk again, I'll jump off the domain wall! I promise you, nothing like what happened before will ever happen again!"

"What happened before?" Tang Mubai asked, curious.

"Half a month ago, Uncle Xu came to me, wanting to register Miracle Tavern under my name. I agreed, but I didn't expect that damned woman to steal my warrior certificate three days earlier and use the last slot to help a new friend open a shop. For the first time, I broke my promise, and I was too ashamed to face Uncle Xu or you!"

Lin Huafeng's face was filled with anger, his fists clenched tightly.

Speaking of this incident, he could barely contain his rage, feeling murderous.

Tang Mubai, however, wasn't very angry. Instead, he suddenly understood something.

His father had been sociable in life, with many friends—some mere drinking companions, but some truly close.

Lin Huafeng was one of the latter.

But when Xu Dalu tried to get Miracle Tavern registered under their names, none of his father's friends were willing to help. If any agreed, they were greedy, like Luo Mingchang, wanting to seize a large share.

Now, after hearing Lin Huafeng's explanation, Tang Mubai understood the reason.

First, there was a limit to how many shops or companies a professional warrior could have registered under their name—a maximum of three.

Three slots: sufficient if used for oneself, but everyone has friends and family. If they want a slot, will you give it or not?

Some do, some don't.

In the new world, disputes over these slots have led to brothers turning on each other and fathers and sons severing ties—cases that happen almost every year.

Naturally, Tang Mubai's father's friends weren't exempt.

Some had already used up their slots, and others, like Lin Huafeng, had their warrior certificate stolen by their spouse and the slots taken.

If the relationship was that of husband, wife, or child, bringing the certificate and household registration to the relevant department would be enough for approval.

As a result, Lin Huafeng and the others were too ashamed to face Tang Mubai, regardless of the circumstance.

Tang Mubai had indeed been upset before, but now he understood, and could only force a smile.

"Uncle Lin, it's not your fault."

He exhaled, comforting, "I'm now a professional warrior, and Miracle Tavern is registered under my name, so there's no need to be angry anymore."

"That's a separate matter!" Lin Huafeng glared, his voice low and stern. "Wait right here, I'll be back!"

With that, he disappeared into the crowd before Tang Mubai could reply.

Tang Mubai wanted to call after him, but had no chance.

He could only shake his head and sit back in his chair, waiting for someone willing to join.

None came.

Instead, Lin Huafeng returned less than ten minutes later, slamming a bank card onto the stall's table.

"There is one million federal credits in this card. The password is six ones. Xiaobai, use it as you need. If it's not enough, come to me for more!"