"Little girl, does your agency only look at age and not strength?" Wang Feng retorted.
"With your age, what strength could you possibly have? Don't mess around." Lingling waved her hand dismissively, her tone filled with disdain.
Hearing Lingling's words, Wang Feng's mouth twitched.
He had imagined countless possibilities, but he never expected to be looked down upon for being "too young" by a little girl who looked no older than nine.
Just then, a firm yet aged voice came from the stairwell.
"Lingling, is there a commission?"
An elderly man with a slight hunch slowly walked down the stairs.
He held an old pipe in his hand, a kind smile on his face, yet his eyes carried a sharpness that pierced through one's soul.
"Grandpa, it's not a commission. He's here for a job interview. But at his age, he's probably just a high school kid. What strength could he possibly have?" Lingling pouted.
Song Qiming walked up to Wang Feng, puffed his pipe, and exhaled a smoke ring before speaking with a smile:
"Being young is good. As the saying goes, a newborn calf fears no tiger. It fears nothing. But it's a pity if you die before you've enjoyed life."
His eyes narrowed slightly as he asked, "Young man, what's your name? Where are you from? And what system do you practice?"
Suppressing his helplessness, Wang Feng replied firmly.
"My name is Wang Feng. I'm from Bo City, and I'm a Healing System Mage."
"Bo City?"
"Healing System?"
Both grandfather and granddaughter were stunned, blurting it out in unison.
Song Qiming's smile faded into a trace of regret.
"Although the Healing System is rare, hunters at Qingtian usually work in pairs.
A Healing Mage isn't much use in direct hunts. Why don't you try other hunter agencies?"
Wang Feng smiled faintly and added:
"I'm not just a Healing System Mage. I'm also a Summoner, and I possess a Battle General-level summoned beast."
"Battle General-level?!" Lingling's eyes widened in disbelief.
Song Qiming's expression shifted to interest as he stroked his chin.
"An Intermediate Mage, then? That's more convincing."
He took a commission slip from the counter and placed it down.
"Since you have a Battle General-level beast, this commission is suitable. Treat it as your entrance examination."
Wang Feng picked it up curiously.
[Commission: Clear a nest of Cave Magic Slaves on the border of the safe zone outside the Demon Capital.]
[Reward: Five million RMB]
[Client: The Mu Family of the Demon Capital]
Surprise flickered in Wang Feng's eyes.
"This is… a family commission?"
Lingling folded her arms smugly.
"I know what you're thinking. A great family, yet they need help with something as trivial as a demon nest, right?"
"Isn't that so?" Wang Feng retorted.
"Of course not." Lingling snatched the slip and snorted.
"Families love to test their juniors. They assign these so-called 'training missions,' ones with little profit but enough danger to make it seem meaningful.
The juniors then spend money to hire hunters to protect them."
She gave a mocking smile.
"To put it bluntly, it's all formality. Just 'experience.' And this commission is exactly that."
Wang Feng finally understood and chuckled.
"The thoughts of the wealthy are something a commoner like me will never understand."
Still, money was money. He wasn't going to refuse.
"Alright, I'll take this commission."
Song Qiming nodded, satisfied.
"Good. I'll contact the client. Return tomorrow morning for the mission details and meeting point."
Wang Feng agreed, then left the Qingtian Hunter Agency.
Back at his apartment, Wang Feng opened the door to see Ye Xinxia sitting on the sofa with her phone in hand.
Her fair cheeks were flushed, and her eyes flickered with shyness, as if she were struggling with something.
"Xinxia, what are you looking at?" Wang Feng asked with a smile.
Startled, Ye Xinxia quickly hid her phone behind her back.
"N-Nothing! Brother Wang Feng, isn't your birthday in just over a month? I-I'm picking a gift! Yes, a gift!"
Raising an eyebrow, Wang Feng smirked mischievously.
"Just a gift? Then why's your face so red? You're not looking at something strange, are you?"
"N-no! I'm really picking a gift!" Xinxia stammered, her cheeks burning like a ripe apple.
Wang Feng laughed, walked over, and ruffled her hair gently.
"Alright then. I'm really looking forward to it, Xinxia."
He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the forehead before returning to his room to cultivate.
Only after his door shut did Xinxia exhale in relief and take out her phone again.
On the screen was her search history: [How to make myself into a 'cake'].
Her face flamed redder as her fingers twisted nervously.
"Is this… really okay?" she whispered, anticipation and embarrassment tangled in her eyes.
The next morning, Wang Feng headed out for the five-million commission.
To his dismay, Lingling tagged along, sipping "Shanghai Madam" fresh juice with a smug smile.
Originally, Wang Feng thought he could pocket the reward alone.
Instead, Lingling declared that since Qingtian's rule was "work in pairs," she'd be taking half.
Wang Feng looked to the heavens, eyes brimming with sorrow.
"One day, I'll reclaim what belongs to me!"
After a long journey, the two reached the Demon Capital's safe zone border, where an untamed wilderness stretched ahead.
At the forest entrance stood two women. They shared similar features, yet their temperaments couldn't be more different.
One wore elegant Han-Tang style robes, her long hair flowing like ink, her demeanor as gentle as water—yet the sharpness in her eyes revealed she was far from simple.
The other wore a fitted, practical outfit.
Her wine-red hair was tied high, exuding a heroic aura, though a trace of softness lingered between her brows, balancing her strength with warmth.