Chapter 33 Pay with Your Body

“It’s already over. Let’s go down.”

Lin Ge let out a long breath, and his body and mind relaxed.

Lanya hugged his thigh tightly and had no intention of moving.

“No! I’m not going down! I’m going to stay on this tree for the rest of my life!”

She pursed her lips tightly and looked very serious.

“You can think of me as a tree.”

“Eh? What do you mean by that?”

Lin Ge jumped down from the branch and landed on the fallen wild boar. Lanya sat on his shoulders, her legs around his neck tightly. Her small hands were firmly clasped on his forehead, afraid that she would fall.

After leaving the swamp, he put Lanya down and used a water-creation spell to wash off the black mud on his body and clothes.

Celia, who had followed them out, said, “Can you help me wash up too? I’ll definitely be laughed at if I return to the city in such a sorry state.”

At that moment, Celia was covered in mud and looked like a mud person.

“No problem. Please stand properly.”

“Oh! Come on. || Celia’s legs were slightly spread out at a width as wide as her shoulders, and she looked like she was ready for battle.

Lin Ge wanted to remind her not to be so nervous but decided not to. He raised his hand and aimed at her body. A strong stream of water sprayed out from his palm and hit her petite body from top to bottom, from her face to her feet.

The mud dispersed, and Celia’s fair skin was revealed again. The mud person turned back into a young girl with short silver hair, as well as finely lined muscles.

Bathing in the water, she suddenly bent down and took off her shoes and knee-high socks.

“Here too, please. My feet feel sticky and uncomfortable.”

“Okay.”

The water flowed down and began to wash Celia’s delicate feet, returning them to their porcelain-white color.

Celia straightened her back, wiped the water off her face, and laughed, “Mages are really useful. Uh, I meant that magic is very convenient, not that you are a tool like a water spray.”

She then pulled at the short leather armor on her upper body and said half-jokingly, “I really want to take off all my clothes and take a good bath.”

Lanya walked to Lin Ge’s side and looked at Celia, who was bathing in the magical water current. Her face was tense, and she suddenly said, “You’ve washed enough, right? I want to wash too.”

As she spoke, she pounced between the two of them and used her body to block the water flow. The thin robe instantly clung to her body.

“I’m almost done,” Celia said with a smile, “Thank you.”

Then, she walked to the side and put on her socks and shoes. She also dried her clothes with the little bit of Qi she had recovered. After the three of them finished cleaning up, they prepared to return to the city to hand in their mission.

Lin Ge looked back at the boar’s corpse under the tree and asked, “Don’t we need to take anything from it as evidence?”

“No need,” Celia shook her head.

“Won’t anyone lie about the results and cheat the reward?”

Celia sized up Lin Ge again. To think that he would ask such a newbie question with such a serious expression. It seemed like they really were just newbies.

“People from the guild will come to confirm the completion of the mission. If one were to lie about the results and be found out, one would not be able to survive in human cities. If you’re interested in the body of the wild boar, you can take it with you. Its meat and teeth should be worth a lot of gold coins.”

“However, I suggest that we leave it to the villagers. This animal wreaked havoc on the fields, and many farmers have been seriously injured by it, unable to work anymore. They still have to pay the bounty too. If they can sell this wild boar, it should make it a lot easier for them.”

Celia suddenly sighed.

“The entire village only came up with 89 gold as a reward, but the mission target is so difficult to deal with. No wonder no one accepted this commission.”

Lin Ge had no interest in the gold coins in this world. Hearing what Celia said, he said, “Then let it use its body to repay the villagers it has hurt.”

“Why don’t we return the reward to them as well, and I’ll pay for your share,” He said after some thought.

“Are you really going to do that?” Celia looked at him, surprised.

“I don’t think the village is rich, and the village chief’s house is very old too. I don’t think I should take the 89 gold.”

“I’m fine with it,” Celia said, smiling. “What about my share?” Lanya, who was following behind, tugged at Lin Ge’s cloak lightly.

“The same, the same.”

The three of them returned to the Adventurer’s Guild. When they handed in their quest, Lin Ge requested to return the reward.

The green-haired elf behind the guild’s counter looked surprised as she confirmed with Lin Ge, “Mr. Lin Ge, are you sure you want to return the reward?”

“Yes, quite sure.”

“Alright, one of our employees will return the gold coins that the villagers have deposited with the guild tomorrow. Good day.” After leaving the counter, Lin Ge returned to Celia and Lanya’s side.

In Celia’s hand was a coin worth 100 gold, which was the reward that Lin Ge had paid her.

“Come, I’ll treat you to a drink. Since you’re so generous, I can’t be stingy.”

Celia pointed at a table by the window in the hall. Lin Ge had never tasted wine from this world before, so he was interested and sat down at the table. Lanya followed him unwillingly and sat beside him.

The waiter came over with three full cups of bubbling wine and placed them on the table.

Lin Ge’s nose twitched as he smelled the aroma of malt.

“It smells good.”

Celia raised her glass and took a big gulp. She said in satisfaction, “This is the best malt wine here. I usually don’t splurge though I want to.”

Lin Ge picked up the wine glass and blew away the foam. The wine was dark brown in color, with bubbles constantly bubbling.

He took a small sip. The taste was mellow, the foam was fine, and it was slightly bitter. Overall, it was not bad, a bit like the black beer on earth.

“By the way, can you use your magic to help me make it cold?” Celia extended her glass and requested.

“Of course.”

Lin Ge smiled and reached out his hand.

Several crystal clear ice cubes formed in his palm. Two of them fell into her glass, and the other two into his.

“Thanks.”

Celia took another big gulp and let out a satisfied sigh.

“I really didn’t expect that wild boar to be so tenacious. I really spent a lot of effort. The feeling of forming a team with others seems pretty good.”

“Do you want to join our team?” Lin Ge asked with a smile, “Though, it was just established yesterday.”

Celia’s skills had left a deep impression on him. If he had a teammate like her, most of the missions would be easy to complete.

Celia leaned back in her chair and waved her hand, “But I’m used to being alone, and your vice-captain doesn’t seem to welcome me.” Lanya, who couldn’t get a word in, blushed.

She raised her glass and took a big gulp, making her face even redder.

“Hmph, this wine can’t compare to Lin Feng’s wine at all. It’s not good at all.”

“Oh? You know how to mix wine?” Celia asked, looking at Lin Ge with interest. “Hehe, a little.”

Lin Ge’s smile was filled with confidence.

“Can I have a taste?” Celia’s eyes lit up, and her tone was filled with curiosity. Lin Ge hesitated because he was not sure if Celia could walk into the Emerald bar. “Hey, we’re comrades who fought side by side. Can’t you give me some face?” Celia wrinkled her little nose.

Lanya’s legs dangled under the table and she said happily, “Haha, not everyone can drink his wine.” Celia’s eyebrows twitched. The more she acted like this, the more she wanted to drink. At this moment, Lin Ge stood up and walked towards the guild entrance. “Follow me, I’ll take you to the place.”