Qin Mingyue took out a purple-gold card and pushed it in front of Zi Linling, saying, "To be honest, I am here on the orders of my family to invite Commander Zi to become an elder consultant for the Qin family!"
"Elder consultant?" Zi Linling asked instinctively.
"Mm!"
Qin Mingyue nodded and said, "Yes! With Commander Zi's ability, becoming an elder consultant is absolutely well-deserved."
"This..."
Just as Zi Linling was about to refuse, she heard Qin Mingyue continue, "Commander Zi, don't be in a hurry to refuse. Listen to me first. If you become an elder consultant for the Qin family, not only will your freedom not be restricted, but you will also receive a substantial monthly salary."
"If you become an elder consultant for the Qin family, you can choose to stay with the Qin family. In that case, in addition to a fixed salary, you can also enjoy the resources of the Qin family, such as medicinal herbs needed for alchemy."
"Of course, you can also choose to leave. Your salary will still be paid, but you will need to help the Qin family when they need you. What do you think?"
Zi Linling shook her head and said, "Steward Qin, logically speaking, we have known each other for some time and are considered friends. I should not refuse your request!"
"However, I am not used to living under someone else's roof, nor do I like being constrained."
"The Qin family will not..."
Qin Mingyue was about to repeat herself when Zi Linling interrupted her.
"No! No matter how free an elder consultant is, there is still a price to pay. And I like the feeling of being free and unburdened."
"Furthermore, I still have important matters to attend to, and I don't know when I will have free time. What if the Qin family needs me to act during this period, and I am unable to, wouldn't that be awkward?"
After speaking, Zi Linling looked at Qin Mingyue with sincerity in her eyes.
"This..."
Qin Mingyue suddenly didn't know what to say.
The scene fell into an awkward silence for a moment.
Just then, Qin Mingfei walked in excitedly, saying as he walked, "Third sister, here is the blood ginseng you wanted, I actually..."
"Commander Zi?!"
Upon seeing Zi Linling, Qin Mingfei's smile froze for a moment, then turned into surprise.
He was somewhat taken aback, as he hadn't expected to see Zi Linling this time.
After all, he and Qin Mingyue had waited all day yesterday and hadn't seen hide nor hair of Zi Linling.
"Vice Commander Qin, you've really surprised me! What, the King's Mercenary Group can't hold you anymore?"
Zi Linling smiled at Qin Mingfei, a hint of something unreadable in her eyes.
Qin Mingfei hurriedly explained nervously, "Commander Zi, I... I asked Vice Commander Tie and the others for leave. Because my third sister returned to report for duty, I wanted to go home and see her. I didn't... I wasn't disrespecting the group rules."
He looked as if he had been caught doing something wrong.
"Puchi!"
Zi Linling laughed; Qin Mingfei's expression was just too adorable.
"Vice Commander Qin, don't be so nervous! Actually, when I saw Steward Qin, I already guessed that you had also returned to the empire."
"I don't blame you at all, so you don't need to be nervous. Of course, if you don't want to stay in the King's Mercenary Group, I won't force you. After all, you are a mercenary, not my private property, and I will not restrict your freedom!"
Zi Linling said this because she understood that a forced melon is not sweet.
If a person's heart is no longer there, keeping them forcibly is meaningless and counterproductive, not conducive to the unity of the entire King's Mercenary Group.
Of course, she also knew that Qin Mingfei was not a disloyal person; otherwise, he wouldn't have sworn brotherhood with Sun Shangde and Chu Yunniang back then, nor would he have disobeyed Zi Linling to preserve the Zhongcheng Mercenary Group.
As expected, as soon as Zi Linling finished speaking, Qin Mingfei visibly relaxed.
He said firmly, "In Mingfei's heart, Commander Zi will always be Mingfei's commander, and the brothers of the King's Mercenary Group will always be Mingfei's brothers. As long as you and the King's Mercenary Group need it, Mingfei will appear at any time, fighting shoulder to shoulder with my brothers!"
Zi Linling nodded with satisfaction, "I really didn't misjudge you! Come, sit down and let's chat!"
She gestured to the stool beside her and smiled.
Qin Mingyue looked at Qin Mingfei, then at Zi Linling, with a look of surprise.
In her impression, her ninth younger brother had always been taciturn, speaking concisely. If something could be expressed in one word, he would never use two.
But just now, Qin Mingfei had spoken such a long passage in one go, without pausing. Moreover, his firm tone clearly carried a sense of oath.
Therefore, Qin Mingyue was very curious what kind of charm Zi Linling and the King's Mercenary Group possessed to cause such a drastic change in a person.
After Qin Mingfei was seated, Zi Linling pushed the black-gold card back to Qin Mingyue and said, "Steward Qin, I'm sorry, but I really cannot be an elder consultant for the Qin family, because as you know, I still have a large group of brothers and sisters, and I don't want to drag them into any power struggles."
Qin Mingyue knew that Zi Linling's mind was made up, so she didn't try to persuade her further, but she still pushed the black-gold card to Zi Linling, saying, "Commander Zi, whether you become an elder consultant for the Qin family or not, you must accept this card."
"This..." Zi Linling frowned.
Qin Mingyue knew that if she didn't explain clearly, Zi Linling would definitely not accept it.
So, she said with a smile, "This card contains five percent of the profits from our last cooperation, as a gesture of our sincerity for our initial collaboration. We hope to have more cooperation in the future, so please do accept this card!" Su Dan Novel Network
Zi Linling hesitated for a moment, then finally accepted the card.
Both sides had reached a tacit understanding and agreement, and future cooperation would become smoother.
Seeing that Zi Linling had accepted the card, Qin Mingyue finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She looked at Qin Mingfei and said to Zi Linling, "Commander Zi, please take good care of Mingfei in the future!"
Zi Linling smiled and said, "Steward Qin, what are you saying? Mingfei is one of my brothers and sisters, and I will naturally take good care of him."
"Thank you very much!" Qin Mingyue gave a graceful cupped-hand salute.
Zi Linling smiled and looked at Qin Mingfei, saying, "Did you just say that Steward Qin needs blood ginseng?"
"Mm-hmm!"
Qin Mingfei nodded repeatedly, took out a blood ginseng from his spatial storage bag, and placed it on the table.
A hint of surprise flashed in Zi Linling's eyes, and her heart was filled with excitement.
After all, to refine the antidote for Moonlit Glaze, blood ginseng was the main ingredient.
Now that the blood ginseng was right before her eyes, how could she remain calm?