He refused to treat patients he disliked, wouldn't work when in a bad mood, and never treated women. These were the three things he was known for refusing.
Once, the Sixth Princess encountered him while traveling and asked him for treatment. He arrogantly repeated those words. From then on, he became famous across Jianghu.
No one knew what kind of grudge he had against women, but even the noble Sixth Princess wasn't an exception.
As soon as Bandit Leader Hayes heard that Jax had brought that man, he became furious. What was the point of bringing someone like that? His face darkened, his muscles tensed, and his fists clenched until they cracked, as if he could leap out of his seat and beat them at any moment.
Minnie shrank back in her chair again, more frightened than before. Jax noticed her movement and gave her a reassuring glance.
"Ahem, I've known him since we were kids. He's hard to talk to, yes, but compared to the Ghostly Senior, he's much easier to deal with. So I do have some confidence in persuading him to treat your wife," Jax explained.
She hadn't planned to reveal this so soon. She just wanted Bandit Leader Hayes to release their people first. But Bandit Leader Hayes was too shrewd and insisted on a cure before agreeing to anything.
Jax figured it was better to be upfront now rather than risk a confrontation later that might cost them too much. Bandit Leader Hayes's expression softened slightly.
He thought for a moment and said, "If you can really persuade Doctor San to treat my wife, I'll let Kai go and return the entire shipment untouched."
"Thank you very much, Bandit Leader Hayes," Jax said with a fist salute. "By the way, at this hour Doctor San might already be on the mountain. Please ask your people to be polite. He really doesn't have a good temper."
Bandit Leader Hayes was startled, then understood and quickly ordered Rhett, "Tell the patrol to invite him up here respectfully. Don't mess this up." Rhett accepted the order and left.
With his wife's treatment arranged, Bandit Leader Hayes felt better and told someone to bring tea and snacks. He warmly invited Minnie and Jax to enjoy them.
Minnie had already been scared out of her wits and her mouth was dry. She gratefully finished a bowl of tea in one gulp, then listened to Bandit Leader Hayes and Jax chatting about Jianghu stories while reaching for the snacks.
Everything felt way too real. If this was a prank game, the investors sure went all out. The effort was just too much.
But if it wasn't a prank game, then how could any of this be explained? Troubled by that thought, Minnie absentmindedly finished off a whole plate of pastries.
Not long after, Rhett returned, and a woman entered with him.
"Second Sister? Why are you here?" Bandit Leader Hayes frowned slightly.
The woman laughed cheerfully. "I heard there were important guests in the camp. Of course I came to take a look."
She was tall, about the same height as Rhett. Minnie couldn't take her eyes off her, because the woman had a very large belly.
Hmm, by the shape, it looked like she was due very soon. That's what Minnie was thinking. Jax quickly stood up and saluted.
"Second-in-command."
This woman was Erina, the second-in-command of Phoenix Camp. She gave Jax a once-over and said with a smile, "So you're the young head of the Mighty Escort Agency?"
"Yes, I'm Jax. I've heard much about the famous Double Sabers of Erina."
Erina smiled with squinted eyes. "You're handsome and speak so nicely. Do you have a wife yet? If not, be my seventh husband."
Even though Jax was already an experienced wanderer, he blushed slightly. "Thank you for your kindness, but I'm already engaged."
Erina looked at Minnie. "Is it her?"
"No, she's a friend."
"Good." Erina stepped forward, grabbed Minnie's hand, and asked with concern, "Sister, are you married?"
Minnie shook her head.
"Anyone serving you in your room?" Erina asked again.
Serving her? Minnie didn't quite get it, but still shook her head.
"Great. Wonderful." Erina's eyes lit up. "Sister, since you're here at Phoenix Camp, don't miss this great chance. We've got all kinds of men here. I promise you won't regret it."
"Second Sister, Second Sister." Rhett quickly stepped forward. Only then did Erina remember what he told her before she came in.
"Oh right, I got too excited and forgot," she said. Rhett smiled awkwardly.
"Sister, if no one's in your heart yet, how about considering my younger brother?"
Hearing that, Rhett's face lit up, then he quickly straightened it again, sneaking a hopeful glance at Minnie.
"Your younger brother?" Minnie was confused.
"It's him." Erina had great strength. She gave Rhett a push on the back and sent him right in front of Minnie with one palm.
"Consider him?" Minnie looked at Rhett, then at Erina, then at Jax. Finally, she asked, "Consider in what way?"
"What else could it mean? That thing, of course." Erina winked and laughed, then suddenly got serious. "Sister, you're so clueless. Don't tell me you're still a virgin?"
"Virgin?"
Erina laughed loudly and teased, "Third Brother, you really got lucky this time and found a treasure."
"What is it? Is there something wrong with my face?" Minnie reached up to touch her own face and asked carefully. Why was everyone looking at her with such strange expressions? Even Jax looked at her like she was a freak, as if she were something unbelievable.
Jax snapped out of it and shook his head. He hadn't expected this girl Minnie to be like this... Nowadays, as long as a girl's family had a decent background, they would arrange someone for her once she turned fifteen. Some even lost their innocence at an even younger age. Most women were cold and men were the ones who suffered emotionally.
Meanwhile, Erina was already whispering to Rhett and then said to Bandit Leader Hayes, "Boss, why don't we have Third Brother show Miss Minnie around?"
Bandit Leader Hayes nodded lightly.
"Miss Minnie, let's go out for a walk!" Rhett looked at Minnie with great anticipation. Minnie looked toward Jax. Jax smiled and said, "If you're bored sitting here, a walk would be good."
Minnie thought for a moment, then picked up her backpack and followed Rhett outside.
"Miss Minnie, how about we head that way? I can carry your... your bundle."
"No need." Minnie adjusted her backpack. "I want to walk along the path we came from, is that okay?"
Rhett hesitated a little.
"When we reach the place where eyes need to be covered, you can blindfold me then." Minnie offered calmly.
When Rhett thought about how he could hold her hand or touch her that way, he started to feel cheerful. He had no more objections and began leading her down the mountain. He never imagined it would take forever just to get from the meeting hall to the mountain gate.
"Third Boss, heading out on patrol?"
"Third Boss, you're looking good today!"
"Third Boss, new clothes today?"
Rhett's forehead twitched. He tried hard to glare the group of clueless men into leaving, hoping they wouldn't embarrass him in front of Minnie. Unfortunately, even when his eyes cramped from the effort, it had no effect.
There were eight hundred men on Phoenix Mountain, and fewer than sixty women. Just like Rhett, many men hoped for a good match and were still single. Now that Minnie had arrived, they certainly wouldn't let the opportunity pass.
At first, the crowd just talked to Rhett. But soon, the topic naturally turned to Minnie.
"Third Boss, this young lady is...?" someone asked, pretending to be surprised.
"Is this your friend, Third Boss?" another person asked politely.
"First time on Phoenix Mountain, miss?" someone boldly spoke directly to Minnie.
Minnie responded with a simple "yes."
The man clearly didn't expect her to reply so openly and was stunned, then broke into a silly grin he couldn't hide.
Minnie glanced at him with slight concern. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, really fine..." The man just kept grinning like a fool.
"Kane, what are you doing here causing trouble!" Rhett couldn't maintain his smile anymore. Ignoring all sense of dignity, he yelled out.
Kane was only thirteen, and compared to the grown men, he looked delicate. That's why Minnie dared to speak to him even though she was surrounded by bandits. To her, he was still just a child.
Even though he was young, Kane was very clever. He wasn't afraid of Rhett and said, "Why can't I be here? I'm part of Phoenix Mountain too. Of course I have to help welcome important guests."
"You—wait until you've grown all your hair before you speak again!" Rhett snapped.
"Hmph," Kane argued back. "I'm already thirteen, in a couple years it'll grow naturally. Better than getting old and losing hair!"
"You brat!" Rhett was furious that Kane called him old, grinding his teeth in anger. Kane had just offended not only Rhett but many others standing nearby.
"You really are something, Kane. Daring to mock Third Boss, you've got guts!" the men laughed.
"Exactly, if we don't teach you a lesson, it'll be a problem!"
With that, some raised their hands, others their legs, and they lifted Kane into the air. These men were strong, and Kane, being just a child, felt weightless in their hands. They tossed him around like a toy, back and forth. At first he still had the energy to curse and tell them to put him down, but later his voice grew weaker and weaker.
Minnie was first startled watching the grown men throw Kane around like a basketball. But soon she realized they were just playing and began to smile. Her eyes shifted and when she saw someone, that smile froze on her lips.