Six years later

A bright youth held up his dagger, his green jade eyes shone under the sun as he wore a charming smile on his face. He then muttered at the man on the ground.

"My dear friends, it isn't that you're weak..." He tossed the dagger and it landed right beside that person's head, stuck to the ground.

"Who am I kidding, it is because you're too weak" The youth seemed to be around 18 and arrogance was emitting from his body.

The person on the ground stood up, he was relatively calm, though his mind still lingered on the words 'weak' as he sighed.

"Lan Du, you're just too monstrous, how in the world is my spiritual strength stronger than yours! I can't even lift a finger" The young man shouted

The youth laughed, it was Lan Du and she had grown up to be much more mature. SHe face was a bit femenine and gave off a devilish charm. Her neck was wrapped by bandages and she claimed it was to hide a scar. She took the dagger back and leaned on the nearby tree.

"Qui Shan, even after 6 years, you're still as naive as always, I have said it before, even with a lower spiritual strength, I can beat you with ease, your spiritual strength should be close to royal spirit now, right? Although I'm still in the early phase of imperial spirit, I can utilise it better, keep working, after all...your dream of beating me is like a dog chasing its own tail, 

you'll never beat me" Lan Du smirked

She then glanced at the training field

'I wonder how those idiots of a subordinate of mine are doing, I haven't seen them in a good two years, they should have all been sent to the official military island by now, heh, in a year, if I get there and they haven't made a name for themselves, I'll show them what a fatal reunion is' Lan Du chuckled and turned to Qui Shan who got up and walked over with his head down.

"Lan Du, are you sure you're not a reincarnation of a veteran soldier?" He muttered

Lan Du flicked his head

"You're reading way too much of those wuxia novels, reincarnation don't exist" Lan Du giggled and suddenly flicked him again.

"What was that for!?" Qui Shan held his forehead and shouted

Lan Du's smile became sadistic

"I couldn't help it, our forehead was practically telling me to flick it" Lan Du replied with a wide smile

Qui Shan shuddered

"Lan Du...you've gotten more sadistic over the years, you know that?" He muttered

Lan Du laughed as she threw him into a headlock

"Old buddy, you know me well, my roommates left a year ago as they decided to start their 

own small business together, they said it was too much for them here, ever since then, you're my only source of entertainment, honestly, if I hadn't stayed with them for 5 years, I'd think they're gay for one another" Lan Du chuckled and rubbed Qui Shan's head with her fist.

"Ow ow ow, stop it!" Qui Shan yelled

But as he struggled, he realised Lan Du's smile was even bigger than before, her gaze was that of a predator, toying with her prey. Qui Shan trembled and stopped struggling.

"Not gonna struggle anymore?" Lan Du smirked and asked

Qui Shan shook his head

Lan Du released her hold and stretched her arms. Then, someone roughly their age walked up to them.

"Senior Lan, that person is here for you again" He said

Lan Du's expression became sour

"Chase her away, seriously, how many times do I need to reject that lass before she's happy, doesn't she have anyone else to bother?" Lan Du said harshly

The young man shook his head

"But she is blocking the academy entrance, if you don't go, problems may occur with you being the culprit" He said hurriedly, not wanting Lan Du to get into trouble.

Lan Du lifted a brow

"That lass is so many years older than me, isn't she embarrassed to chase me?" Lan Du muttered

"Fine, lead the way, I'll just beat up her guards to release pent-up stress" Lan Du sighed and followed the young man, Qui Shan followed her to watch the show.

When Lan Du arrived at the front gate, she saw mercenaries and bodyguards lining up outside the entrance, blocking it off. Lan Du shook her head and walked forward, when other students saw her, they made way out of fear and reverence.

Lan Du then saw a woman, standing behind the group of mercenaries, when she saw her, she waved her hands with a wide smile on her face.

However, Lan Du's gaze was cold

"You idiots are just letting her fool around like this?" Lan Du turned to the bodyguards and questioned, her words were cold as ice and her piercing gaze sent a shiver down their spine.

The girl was Yu Rei, the daughter of Yu Tian, she met up with Lan Du a few years back, she didn't know that Lan Du was little devil but she kept pursuing her ever since the encounter.

Naturally, due to this, her bodyguards are also familiar with Lan Du, after all, she would give them constant beatings whenever she felt like it.

"W-We're under young miss' orders so we cannot do anything about this, we tried to stop her" They said, trying to appease Lan Du.

Lan Du sighed, he walked closer and stepped in front of Yu Rei, her gaze was calm as she placed a hand on Yu Rei's cheek.

"Lass, I've said it already, I'm taken already, does your father know about this? Should I give him a call?" Lan Du asked

Yu Rei paused

"No, but I think he is right behind you" Lan Du chuckled, she didn't want her mercenary identity to be revealed so she lied about not knowing her father. Otherwise, she would have revealed it much earlier so she would stop pursuing her.

Yu Rei froze as she watched Yu Tian walk closer and closer.

"I asked you what you were doing back then and you replied that you were shopping, I don't mind if you mess around, but you actually borrowed my guards so you can pursue a boy? Which playboy is it!" He roared

Lan Du felt emotionally attacked

"Playboy? Do I look like a playboy to you?" Lan Du grabbed a nearby bodyguard and questioned, he hastily shook his head in reply.

Yu Tian walked closer

"Lass, you're coming with me, as for you, don't you approach my daughter again" He growled protectively

Lan Du sighed and shook her head

"Not like I wanted to approach her either" Lan Du replied as she shrugged her shoulders, she glanced at Yu Rei and chuckled.

"Be a good girl and stay with your father I still have to go teach my student later, but honestly, after six years, she still wants me to teach her, I can even tell she's asking me to teach her random things just so I would stay" Lan Du yawned and turned her head

"Now, you runts have caused quite the ruckus, should I make it quick or do you want to resist?" Lan Du cracked her knuckles and said with a cold smile on her face.

They all looked down

"P-Please make it quick" They said

The students watching knew what was coming up, they covered their eyes, Yu Tian who just arrived was shocked to see his bodyguards and mercenaries all drop to their knees in front of 

Lan Du as she stretched her arms.

Suddenly, more than half of them removed their hats, revealing a bald head. Lan Du blew on her knuckles and slammed it down on the first one.

*Bonk*

"Hm, your head sounds a bit off today, whatever, you can go now"

Lan Du proceeded to the next one

She raised her knuckled and smashed it down on his head

*Donk*

"That's a better sound" Lan Du nodded and stared at the third

"Is that hair I see on your head?" Lan Du grinned, the mercenary shuddered as he grabbed his few strands of hair on his head and pulled them off clean.

Lan Du chuckled

"A very dedicated one indeed" She proceeded to do the same with the next few guards and mercenaries, the shocked and speechless Yu Tian watched as his body trembled.

"Are you people idiots? Why did you just let him hit you" He shouted, feeling he wasted his 

money on them

They all shuddered

"Master Yu, it isn't that we don't want to, but we've tried it numerous times already to retaliate...h-he's a monster, we can't even last ten minutes unless he wants to play around"

They seemed to be on the verge of tears at this point, Lan Du chuckled and waved her hand.

"Don't worry, I'm just disciplining your guards, I'm a very nice guy, it's to teach them the harsh reality" Lan Du said as she turned to leave.

Yu Tian didn't stop her, he stared at Yu Rei then back at the men who each had a hard bump on their heads.

"Haiz, Rei'er, I'm doing this for your own good, don't go near that boy again, he looks like someone who'd look for trouble every moment he has" He shook his head and said

Yu Rei nodded silently, she didn't go against her father's words and followed him back. Lan Du then went back into the academy, she saw her class lined up at the training grounds and a man stood in front of them.

She saw a man standing in front, she recognised this person, he was instructor Lu, the one who taught her years back. But as time passed, she saw him less often as she spent more time in the virtual training grounds and missions from the mercenary guild.

"Instructor Lu, haven't seen you in so long, you look the same as before" Lan Du called out with a light smile on her face.

Lan Du walked over, she saw two girls watching her with a gentle smile.

"Jing'er, Ying'er, did you miss me that much? Aiya, I'm embarrassed, you two look at me a bit too much, you're making me blush" Lan Du said mischievously.Instructor Lu felt an urge to smack Lan Du right now, he held back the urge and took in a deep breath.

"Brat, I haven't met you in so long and you still haven't changed your bad habits, whatever, I won't judge, but we're heading to the mercenary guild today, everyone here will become a mercenary and gain experience from different missions" He said sternly.

Lan Du paused

'... I won't get caught...will I? No, the youngest age to become a mercenary is 16, I can just say I did it 2 years ago' Lan Du thought to herself.

Qui Shan had an excited look on his expression

"I've always wanted to start being a mercenary, but my parents said I mustn't until the school allows it, now, I can finally start gaining real experience" He said with a wide smile

Lan Du chopped his head with her hand

"Is my training not enough? Should I make it more lifethreatening then?" Lan Du smirked and asked

Qui Shan covered his mouth with his hands and shook his head, a pleading gaze in his eyes and his legs shaking vigorously.

Xie Jing and Xie Ying pinched Lan Du's back.

"Lan Du, you cans top messing with brother Qui Shan, he's already very traumatised by what happened years ago" They giggled and said

Lan Du rubbed their heads

"Why does it feel like ever since you two grew up, you've always been against me, where did my cute little pumpkins go?" Lan Du muttered with pity in her voice.

However, what she got in return was a light kick on her shin.

"Ah, such a pity, you two used to be so obedient" Lan Du ignored the kick and just continued rubbing their heads.

Seeing this, Qui Shan suddenly wanted to strangle her

"Having two beauties in each arm still isn't enough for you?" He mumbled

Lan Du turned over her head

"Oh? Did I hear something?" She chuckled and said with a cold smile.

Qui Shan shook his head and ran off

Lan Du sighed

"Where did I go wrong in teaching him? He used to compete with me in every way, now, he wouldn't even go against me" Lan Du said with a depressed look in her eyes.

Xie Jing and Xie Ying both giggled and held her arms

"Well, now we also have to discipline you a bit" They said in unison, they had a mischievous look in their eyes as they stroked Lan Du's chin.

Lan Du frowned lightly and flicked their foreheads.

"Did you mother tell you to do something like this again? Jeeze, all you learn from her is inappropriate seduction techniques, leave the flirting to me, you two just need to continue being my little wifey" Lan Du chuckled and flicked the both of them on their forehead.

She turned to instructor Lu

"When are we going?" She asked

"Now" He replied and led the class out, after years, the class has reduced in size after many assignments and tasks given by the academy.

There were times that the Xie sisters were almost eliminated, but Lan Du was able to forcifully push other students down the ranking to make them a spot. But now, they grew up to be ore decisive and mature, they no longer relied on Lan Du and could even hold their grounds against instructors.

Lan Du never revealed to anyone her true spiritual strength, nor did she reveal her identity as a mercenary.

When they arrived at the mercenary guild, Lan Du took out her mask and wore it, some 

students were confused by her actions, so was instructor Lu.

"Lan Du, why did you wear a mask?" He asked

Lan Du scratched the side of her face

"Um...I like hiding my face" She replied awkwardly

Instructor Lu sighed

"Fine, it isn't bad to hide your face eother, but don't cause trouble, even I need to be careful here to not offend the higher ups" He warned everyone and walked in.

When they stepped in, many eyes laid on them, their eyes were filled with ferocity and aggression, the students all felt fearful but standing behind instructor Lu gave them a sense of security.

Instructor Lu walked to the front counter to register each student, so the ret stood at the side waiting. Then, a small group of mercenaries walked over.

"Is this group this year's students? Looks like a group of wimps" But their eyes then laid on Xie Jing and Xie Ying, they stroked their chins and smiled.

"But they have quite the lookers, not bad, not bad" They smirked and stared at them with perverted gaze

Lan Du saw this and sneered, she walked over and gave the front man a heavy slap across the face.

*Pa*

The man was dazed, but then his gaze grew fercoious

"Who the hell are y-"

His eyes landed on Lan Du, sweat began running down the entire group's face. Their faces paled and their bodies trembled.

Instructor Lu turned his head and saw a shocking scene.

"I-It's the devil! Damn! Why is the devil with the group!" One shouted, he attempted to run but Lan Du grabbed him by the collar.

"Oh? Where's your arrogance? Hm? You look familair..." Lan Du pulled him closer

"Ah, I remember, you're the bastard who tried to take my mission a week ago, how's your arm? Looks like it's all patched up already, how about I break it again for good luck" Lan Du laughed and tossed him to the ground.

The man shuddered

"I-I'm sorry!" He cried

Lan Du then turned to the others within the group

"Oh, more familair faces, you three are the ones who wanted to split my share from the mission, hehehehe, it seems you all are growing more guts, to actually stare at my women" Lan Du smirked and her gaze pierced their hearts.

They all dropped to their knees

"X-Xiao Mo, f-forgive us, we didn't know!" They cried and pleaded

Lan Du scoffed and kicked them aside, her eyes landed on the rest of the mercenaries who were sitting around the side.

"What the hell are you idiots looking at, keep looking and I'll gauge out the eye that takes another glance" Lan Du said threateningly.

They all retracted their gaze and turned to a random direction, not daring to look near her. Lan Du then yawned, seemingly bored and used to this scene.

She smiled gently at Xie Jing and Xie Ying.

"If those bastards try doing anything to you, just tell me, I'll make them regret every being born" Lan Du smirked and glared at the nearby mercenaries.

The students were all speechless

"L-Lan Du, d-do you know them?" Xie Jing asked

Lan Du shrugged her shoulders

"I've been working here for quite some time, but some fools overestimate themselves and tried to pick a fight, naturally, I fulfilled their wishes of broken limbs and broken bones"

Instructor Lu almost dropped the badges in his hands, he was completely wordless.

"Also, here, call me Xiao Mo, don't know why they started calling me Devil, but I think Xiao Mo is much cuter" Lan Du said jokingly.