Chapter 8: Fortress Respite

Those gazes locked onto her for only a moment before immediately withdrawing their murderous intent. The sniper’s scope must have caught sight of the mercenary emblem on her chest. Yet, instead of diminishing, the attention only intensified, more eyes settling on her. Wei Zi was puzzled—perhaps the soldiers were simply bored. In this desolate wilderness, she was the only newcomer; naturally, everyone wanted a look. Wei Zi was well aware of how monotonous the lives of these fortress guards were.

Her suspicion proved accurate. Behind the fortress walls, murmurs about Wei Zi had already begun.

“Report, chief! There’s a girl walking toward us!” a soldier called out, his voice barely containing excitement. Guarding the fortress was the safest but also the dullest duty. Having dealt with mercenaries for years, these Huaxia soldiers spoke with a certain roughness, their tone tinged with mercenary swagger.

After three years in the army, seeing a woman was enough to stir their enthusiasm.

“I see her! Damn, she’s a mercenary! Look at her—skin so smooth you could squeeze water from it. Why on earth did she choose this line of work?” One sergeant, the only non-commissioned officer among them, squinted as he scrutinized Wei Zi through the sniper scope.

Wei Zi seemed utterly oblivious to their stares, walking steadily forward toward the base of the fortress.

“Present your information chain!” the fort’s officer shouted, his voice booming like thunder.

Wei Zi, seemingly unfazed, opened her communicator and pulled up her identification chain. Even in the flourishing era of mystic arts, Huadian Kingdom had not forgotten the power of technology. The information chain contained every individual’s identity data, only forgeable by top-tier hackers.

The sergeant used a scanner, which beeped as it scanned her wrist. It was mostly a formality. The imperial capital lay inland, far from any borders—there was no real threat of enemy invasion. Outside, wild beasts roamed freely; anyone venturing out was either a mercenary or courting death. Wei Zi clearly did not fit the latter category.

“Verification passed. You may enter the fortress for repairs,” the sergeant announced, lowering the ladder for Wei Zi to climb. Such a fortress had no doors; the only entrance was a narrow one-meter opening, too small for the overweight to pass through.

Though her body was untrained and her stamina weak, Wei Zi’s talents had been honed over ten years. She scaled the ladder with nimble ease, moving with the practiced grace of a seasoned mercenary, as if well acquainted with this routine.

The surrounding soldiers no longer dared underestimate her.

Though small, the fortress was fully equipped. The lodgings were free and of decent quality. Wei Zi took her key and located her assigned room.

At that moment, exhaustion washed over her. Her mystic core had just awakened and was already in use; she had fought a mystic beast, endured abuse from He Xiaohe, and finally trekked ten kilometers on foot. Wei Zi was utterly drained.

The guest room included a bathroom. Wei Zi filled the tub with hot water and submerged herself, letting out a contented sigh.

Having washed away the grime and sweat, her skin and hair exuded a fresh fragrance. The mirror reflected a stunning young woman, cheeks flushed like a lotus blossom, delicate and exquisite.

“I really rushed out too hastily,” Wei Zi sighed, eyeing the toiletries prepared by the fortress. However, there were no charm care products. Having been reborn, her foremost concern was her face. The harsh wilderness was no place to let her skin suffer.

She changed into a clean outfit. All her summer clothes were long dresses; once a lady of refinement, she had rarely worn jeans. Now, facing the wilderness, she fretted—was she really going to wear skirts out there?

Not to mention the high heels. This was no countryside stroll but a battle against wild beasts. She needed sturdy, abrasion-resistant mountain boots that could protect her ankles.

“Damn He Xiaohe, he was too gentle!” Wei Zi thought bitterly. If he hadn’t taken her money, she wouldn’t be so impoverished. She should have grabbed some cash when she was in his room earlier—those funds were from her grandfather, who was foolish to support such a vixen.

These thoughts clouded her expression with frost. The earlier comfort vanished as she dried her hair and stepped out.

Though small, the fortress hosted mercenaries and even some military personnel who passed through for repairs, so its facilities were comprehensive. Lodging was free, but the restaurant, bar, and supermarket charged fees. Wei Zi had barely over three hundred coins in her purse, leaving her feeling powerless.

Sure enough, the fortress did offer combat suits, but these were civilian-grade and hardly mystic artifacts. They were expensive: the cheapest sets cost four thousand, while others exceeded ten thousand coins; boots were even pricier.

Yet, going without combat gear was sheer torment.

“Miss, have you chosen? This set is perfect for women, protecting the waist and made from nano-fiber materials. Quality guaranteed, moisture-wicking and sweat-proof,” a beautiful saleswoman enthusiastically recommended.

Wei Zi glanced at the price—over twenty thousand coins—and felt her spirits plummet.

“Do you offer credit?” she asked, her usually icy expression tinged with embarrassment. Wearing a skirt and sandals into the wilderness was simply impossible.

The saleswoman’s smile stiffened, unsure how to respond.

“Ha!” Another group of customers in the shop burst out laughing. Wei Zi turned away. One young man’s smile froze, then his eyes gleamed with admiration.

He appeared around seventeen or eighteen, full of youthful arrogance and charm, though his crooked stance suggested immaturity. The combat suit he tried on was the most expensive in the store, reputed to withstand attacks from G5-level wild beasts. Two stunning women flanked him, but Wei Zi knew not to underestimate them—they were G10-level mercenaries, ten times more formidable than the young man.

This must be a scion of the imperial capital’s elite.

Wei Zi’s gaze darkened as she scrutinized him, unsure if his offer was sincere. Having lived through this life once, she understood the dangers of the wilderness and did not want to recklessly charge ahead. Taking a chance, she said, “Then lend me fifty thousand coins. I’ll repay double in three days.”

“Miss, don’t underestimate me, Young Master Zheng here,” the young man said with a sly smile. “I’m not short of money, and I don’t need you to repay me. How about you be my girlfriend for a day?”

Wei Zi’s eyes widened slightly, surprised. Then she suddenly broke into a strangely wicked smile.

Since her disfigurement in her previous life, men had shunned her like a venomous snake. When they saw her, they snarled or spat at her. She had heard every vile insult imaginable:

“Ugly!” “Scary!” “Ghost!” “Don’t come out and frighten people!”

Yet, in a single day, being called beautiful twice was a new sensation. For some reason, Wei Zi felt remarkably uplifted.

Though she knew this man’s intentions were far from pure, this ill will made her realize how vastly different her status was now—compared to the hideous monster she had been in her former life.