The Weiyuan Escort Agency was quite renowned in Ye City. Its head escort, Su Yuanshan, was a master swordsman skilled in both internal and external cultivation.
In his youth, he reportedly met the wandering leader of the Immeasurable Sword Sect, who guided his practice for three days.
As a result, ordinary Radiant Sun Realm cultivators were no match for Head Escort Su.
But time spares no one. Now past fifty, Su Yuanshan increasingly felt the strain of upholding the agency’s reputation.
In recent years, the Bronze Sparrow Chamber of Commerce had risen meteorically, becoming Yanxia’s third-largest merchant group in just a few years.
Their trade in exotic goods like glass and white sugar spanned the realm, with countless valuable items needing escort.
As a veteran agency in Ye City, Weiyuan naturally claimed a share of the profits, barely maintaining its facade.
But recently, the agency’s second-in-command intervened when the second young master of the Ma family caused trouble on the streets, only to be brutally beaten by the Ma family’s servants, his legs broken.
Worse still, the Ma family’s second son had taken a fancy to Miss Su Ningyue of the Weiyuan Escort Agency, persistently harassing her with a fan in hand, intent on making her his concubine.
Given the Ma family’s wealth and influence, the agency could only swallow their anger.
The sound of clopping hooves echoed from the street. Looking up, a girl in a red dress and black skirt, her face veiled, led a gaunt old yellow horse at a leisurely pace toward the agency.
Ji Yanqing rode the horse, wearing a mask. His appearance was refined but far from his true, devastatingly handsome visage. A sharp sword hung at his waist.
“When are you returning Shadow Bearer?!” Ji Qingyan demanded angrily. She’d come along hoping to escape his clutches, but this scoundrel had held her sword hostage in the Wei King’s Mansion and made her play guard, leading his horse.
“A gentleman’s word is his bond. Once I’m done with it, I’ll return it to you with both hands, no deceit,” Ji Yanqing said, his gaze sincere.
Ji Qingyan’s heart surged with the urge to bite this guy to death. But recalling her oath on her sect’s honor not to harm a hair on the Wei King’s Heir, she suppressed her rage.
“What if you keep delaying? Give me a firm date!” she pressed.
“Two months, then,” Ji Yanqing replied after a moment’s thought, answering straightforwardly without setting a trap.
“Two months is too long! Return it tomorrow, and I’ll thank you later,” Ji Qingyan said sweetly, her phoenix eyes holding three parts hope and seven parts shyness, enough to melt one’s resolve.
“That’s a bit too greedy,” Ji Yanqing said, unmoved by her clumsy seduction, giving her a bemused glance. “But I’m a kind man. If your offer’s tempting enough, I’m happy to oblige.”
Ji Qingyan: “…”
“Like, when killing the Wei King’s Heir, aim for the heart—don’t let him suffer too much,” he teased.
Hearing her true thoughts voiced, Ji Qingyan nodded instinctively, only realizing her mistake when she caught his knowing look.
“No, no! I got sand in my eyes and didn’t hear you!” she blurted, ignoring logic in her panic.
Ji Yanqing smiled faintly. “Careless, Miss Qingyan. As for the sword, let’s talk in three months.”
As Ji Qingyan tried to argue further, his voice cut in: “Two more steps, Heroine Ji, and you’ll pass the Weiyuan Escort Agency.”
She halted, reluctantly turning left to lead the horse into the agency.
…
According to the Wei King’s Mansion spies, the dead maid frequently visited the agency, sending money and silks to her family—a common practice. But in the past month, she came nine times, suspiciously often, and four times left without sending anything.
Such information was easily obtainable for Ji Yanqing; nearly all of Ye City was under the mansion’s watch.
Yet the maid’s risky behavior suggested her death wasn’t spontaneous—she’d been a sacrificial pawn from the start.
The Censorate, Prime Minister Liu, the Xiao clan, and the one on the dragon throne… what a mess, Ji Yanqing sighed inwardly.
The agency buzzed with activity. Three or four servants loaded sealed wooden crates onto carriages—four full loads—while escorts checked their gear and sharpened blades.
In this trade, no amount of caution was excessive.
Dismounting, Ji Yanqing’s peripheral vision caught a woman stepping out from the building.
She wore a pale blue jacket and skirt, her skin like fresh snow, her eyes like autumn waters. Her dark hair cascaded to her waist, her figure graceful and soft. Bathed in the autumn dawn, she exuded quiet elegance, like an orchid in a secluded valley.
Before Ji Yanqing could react, a virtual screen appeared in his mind.
[Name: Su Ningyue]
[Beauty: 96.4 (Fairy in a Painting)]
[In the bustling autumn breeze, gazing at this serene beauty, your heart stirs, longing to draw closer…]
[Option 1: Silently watch Su Ningyue with a smile. Reward: Significant boost to comprehension.]
[Option 2: Pin her against the wall, whisper, ‘Woman, you’ve caught my attention.’ Reward: Significant boost to endurance.]
[Option 3: Whisper in her ear, ‘Miss Su, you wouldn’t want Weiyuan Escort Agency to fail in Ye City, would you?’ Reward: Significant boost to vitality.]
The rewards were comparable, but options two and three risked drawing attention and exposing his identity. Long-term, comprehension was the better gain.
Ji Yanqing’s gaze settled quietly on the girl, who moved like a willow in the breeze.
Su Ningyue, the head escort’s eldest daughter, was well-raised, versed in poetry, calligraphy, and the arts. Her reserved nature kept her from fame, but her talent could’ve made her Ye City’s renowned beauty.
With the agency declining, Su Ningyue, still unmarried, stepped up to help weather the storm.
“Everyone, the escort journey is arduous. I’m frail and can’t assist, but I made some pastries myself. I hope you won’t mind,” Su Ningyue said softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, resembling a budding orchid—tall, delicate, and refined.
The agency’s men cheered.
“Eating pastries made by the young miss is our honor. How could we mind?” one said.
“You’ve done more than enough, Miss. No need to feel guilty,” another added.
“With fewer escorts in autumn and winter, come spring, Weiyuan’s business will surely thrive,” a third encouraged.
Touched by their warmth, Su Ningyue curtsied. “On behalf of Weiyuan Escort Agency, I thank you all.”
As she lifted her powdered face, her gaze met a black-clad youth’s.
Ji Yanqing stood alone in the autumn chill, his brow sharp, his peach-blossom eyes soft yet captivating.
Such beautiful eyes…
Su Ningyue froze, her heart unsteady, nearly stumbling. A maid steadied her, sparing her embarrassment before the crowd.