Rebirth of a Mercenary: The Ace Mercenary Forced to Be the Beloved of the Group

Two weeks is enough time for someone to go from a new face to just another face in the background.

Bai Ye learned the rhythm of this place. She would get up before dawn, follow Scorpion to patrol the perimeter, move goods, take inventory, clean, and occasionally be called to serve tea and water to Viper.

He didn't speak up, nor did he avoid people. He just stayed quietly in the corner, working when he was supposed to and eating when he was supposed to. Like a stone thrown into a river, he didn't make a ripple and slowly sank to the bottom.

The viper's observation of him changed from several times a day in the first week to once every other day, and later it only glanced at him occasionally when passing by.

Every time Bai Ye saw him, she would lower her head, maintaining that obedient posture of "I'm still adapting but I will try my best".

The viper's evaluation of him changed from "give it a try" to "not bad", and then from "not bad" to "useful".

That morning, Bai Ye had just moved a box of empty bottles to the door of the storage room when he was stopped by Viper's personal attendant. The man stood at the corner of the corridor, waved to Bai Ye, and without saying a word, simply pointed with his chin in the direction of Viper's room.

Bai Ye put down the box, dusted off his hands, and followed him across the courtyard.

Viper's room was still brightly lit. The chandelier was on, and warm yellow light streamed down from the crystal lampshade, giving the dark brown leather sofa a glossy sheen.

Viper sat on the sofa, holding a cup of tea in his hand. The cup was white porcelain, and steam rose from the rim, looking like a thin layer of mist under the light.

Bai Ye stood in the center of the room, his hands hanging at his sides, head bowed, his posture respectful and quiet. Two weeks of living together had taught him how far to stand in this space, where to look, and what rhythm to breathe.

"Lin Mo." Viper put down his teacup, the bottom of which made a soft sound as it hit the tray.

"Big brother."

"I've got you a job." Viper pulled a slip of paper from under the coffee table, placed it on the table, and pushed it towards Bai Ye with his fingertips. "Go collect the goods."

Bai Ye's movements stopped for less than half a second.

He blinked, maintaining his submissive expression of "I'll do whatever you say, big brother," but his tone carried just the right amount of confusion: "What kind of stuff?"

Viper glanced at him, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Goods are goods. When you get there, someone will tell you what to take. You just need to go and bring the goods back. Don't open them, and don't ask any unnecessary questions. Once they arrive, put them under the third shelf in the warehouse, and then come back and tell me."

Bai Ye paused for a moment. The pause was short, but it was clear enough in the viper's vision. His lips moved slightly and then closed again, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

"Big brother..." His voice held a hint of cautious probing, "Drugs...is it?"

Viper neither denied nor confirmed. He leaned back on the sofa, his gaze fixed on Bai Ye's face, as if waiting for him to give his own answer.

Bai Ye lowered his eyes, his fingers clenching and unclenching at his side. His breathing was a little faster than before, and his shoulders were slightly hunched, as if he were facing something he was hesitant to confront.

After a long while, he spoke, his voice even lower than before: "Brother... I... I can't do it. I've never done this before... I'm afraid I'll mess it up for you..."

"You've been following Scorpion for two weeks now." Viper's tone wasn't harsh, but the weight of his words was far greater than his volume. "You've seen what you were supposed to see, and you've learned what you were supposed to learn. And now you're telling me it's not okay?"

Bai Ye lowered his head, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. He rubbed his fingers together along the seam of his trousers, as if to encourage himself or to stall for time.

"I'm not trying to shirk responsibility..." His voice carried a hint of genuine nervousness, "I'm just afraid... afraid that something might go wrong along the way... that I'd let my brother down..."

The viper picked up the teacup, took a slow sip, and then placed it back on the tray. The clinking of the porcelain was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

He leaned back on the sofa, looking at the boy in front of him who had his head down and dared not raise it. His tone softened slightly, but that softening carried an even heavier sense of oppression: "Lin Mo. What did you tell me when you first came here? You said you could do anything, and you asked me to take you in. Now I've given you two weeks to adapt, taught you what the rules are here, and let you learn so much from Scorpion—and now you're telling me you can't do it? Did I misjudge you?"

Bai Ye's body trembled slightly. He remained silent for a moment, then took a deep breath, as if suppressing some emotion. He raised his head and looked at Viper, his eyes filled with a nervous attempt to appear courageous.

"...I'll go. Brother, I'll go. I promise I'll bring the goods back intact."

The viper looked at him, the curve of its lips deepening slightly. It wasn't a smile of satisfaction, nor dissatisfaction, but rather the expression of a hunter confirming that his bait was being taken.

"That's more like it." Viper pushed the note further from the table toward Bai Ye. "The address is on the note. When you get there, just give them my name, and someone will give you the things. Go to the backyard and pick up a motorcycle. Be back by today."

Bai Ye stepped forward, took the note with both hands, and pressed his fingertips against the edge of the paper, his movements as careful as if he were receiving a fragile item.

He glanced down at the address on the note, then carefully put it in his pocket, bowing to Viper: "Thank you for your trust, brother. I'll go right away."

He turned and walked towards the door, his pace quickening slightly. He paused at the doorway, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately didn't turn back, opened the door, and went out.

The door closed behind him. His footsteps faded into the distance down the corridor.

Viper picked up his teacup again and took a sip.

He didn't look towards the doorway, but instead turned his head to look at the shadows at the back of the room, his tone returning to its usual cold indifference: "Follow him. See if he tries anything funny."

Scorpion emerged from the shadows and stood silently at the edge of the lamplight. His expression was the same as it had been two weeks ago, without any change; he simply nodded slightly.

"Go," said the viper.

Scorpion turned and walked towards the side door, his steps steady and heavy, like a calibrated machine starting to execute an order. He disappeared outside the side door, his boots leaving a series of soft footsteps on the concrete ground, quickly drowned out by the hum of the generator in the distance.

Viper was the only one left in the room. He placed the teacup on the coffee table, the bottom of the cup making a short, crisp sound as it hit the tray.

He leaned back on the sofa, his fingers resting on the armrest, tapping lightly and absently. His gaze lingered on the door Bai Ye had left behind, lost in thought.