“Miss, are you alright?”
Su Ningyue’s snow-white cheeks flushed crimson. Her misty, almond-shaped eyes hurriedly averted, and after a deep breath, she calmed her flustered heart, softly asking, “Tongyue, who is that young man in black? I don’t recall ever seeing him at the agency.”
“Sigh, you’re right, Tongyue doesn’t remember him either. Maybe a new client? I’ll go ask.”
[Ding! Option task completed. Reward: Significant boost to comprehension. Host’s comprehension has now tripled.]
A surge of clarity washed over Ji Yanqing as his comprehension heightened. The world around him seemed more familiar, more vivid.
Elated, Ji Yanqing realized this would greatly accelerate his cultivation of the Soul-Coagulating Nether Art. More importantly, he’d no longer struggle with ancient texts like in his past life, fumbling with dictionaries and context to guess what authors meant centuries ago.
A faint smile curved his lips.
“Are you two here to entrust an escort?” Tongyue asked, hurrying over with her skirt lifted, her bell-like voice so charming it was hard to refuse. “Weiyuan Escort Agency is renowned in Ye City. We haven’t lost a single shipment in three years!”
“Weiyuan’s reputation is stellar, and Head Escort Su Yuanshan is a true martial hero,” Ji Yanqing said politely, patting the sword at his waist to steer the conversation. “But I’m not here to entrust a shipment. I wish to join your agency as a temporary escort to gain experience.”
He produced a letter from his sleeve and handed it over.
The plain yellow envelope was unremarkable, save for the bronze sparrow emblem on its seal.
Seeing the emblem, Tongyue’s expression tightened, wary of offending the esteemed guest. She rushed to consult her young miss.
“Miss, they… they’re from…”
“Slow down, Tongyue,” Su Ningyue said patiently, reading the Bronze Sparrow Chamber’s guarantee letter.
She was startled. Last night, Steward Chen from the chamber mentioned a distant cousin wanting to become an escort in Ye City to see the martial world.
She’d assumed Chen’s relative would be a spoiled noble, not this strikingly refined young man, and was quietly surprised.
Since he was recommended by the Bronze Sparrow Chamber, courtesy was paramount.
Su Ningyue approached gracefully, her figure lithe and elegant, and curtsied respectfully. “Honored guests from the Bronze Sparrow Chamber, I am Su Ningyue. I failed to greet you properly—please forgive me.”
Ji Yanqing leaned forward, clasping her porcelain-white hands just so, smiling. “Miss Su’s fame precedes her. Joining Weiyuan is our fortune.”
Her delicate hands were soft and smooth, like silk, a delight to touch.
Before Ji Yanqing could savor the moment, Su Ningyue withdrew her hands into her sleeves, her almond eyes flashing with mild reproach yet exuding a subtle charm that tempted one to taint her purity.
But seeing his clear, innocent peach-blossom eyes, she thought his touch might’ve been unintentional. After a moment’s thought, she lowered her gaze and asked softly, “May I have your name, sir?”
“Qi Shu,” Ji Yanqing replied, his gaze gentle.
This identity was prefabricated, with complete records in the local yamen: orphaned, from a remote area, impoverished—utterly unremarkable.
Even door-to-door inquiries would lead to Wei King’s Mansion agents, making it impossible to prove “Qi Shu” was fake.
He then glanced at the veiled girl beside him.
Ji Qingyan merely snorted, her phoenix eyes glaring as if appraising something vile.
“This heroine is my friend. She’s heard of Head Escort Su’s swordsmanship and came to witness it,” Ji Yanqing said with an awkward smile.
Ji Qingyan’s mood was tangled, but as a heroine, she couldn’t break her word. She grudgingly hummed in acknowledgment.
Though the Rakshasa Ancient Sect had declined, it was still one of the Seven Orthodox Sects. If it came to blows, the entire Weiyuan Escort Agency would fall in a few sword strokes.
“Clear out! Zhechong Prefecture’s business—who dares interfere?” a commotion erupted at the agency’s gate.
A young officer in armor, sabre at his side, led dozens of light cavalry, barging into Weiyuan Escort Agency with haughty arrogance.
This was Zhang Hongyuan, a Xuanjie Captain of Zhechong Prefecture, an eighth-rank martial post—barely an officer, insignificant in the Wei army, but more than enough to intimidate Weiyuan.
His rank paled beside his brother, a fifth-rank Guoyi Lieutenant with real power, and his father, a General of Guide. Those names thundered louder.
Riding a tall steed, Zhang Hongyuan looked down, confident that with his family’s status, he could run rampant in Ye City as long as he didn’t court death at the Wei King’s Mansion.
His gaze swept the crowd, lingering briefly on the black-clad youth before fixing on the graceful Su Ningyue. His arrogant eyes burned with a man’s desire for a beauty, thinking what a steal for the Ma family’s brat to claim such a prize.
Clamping his horse’s flanks, Zhang Hongyuan advanced, declaring loudly, “I am Xuanjie Captain of Zhechong Prefecture, here on Guoyi Lieutenant’s orders to apprehend Weiyuan Escort Agency’s criminals. Resist, and you’ll be cut down!”
“Captain,” Su Ningyue curtsied, stepping forward to face the cavalry alone, her voice soft. “Weiyuan has always escorted with diligence and integrity. What crime have we committed?”
Zhang Hongyuan, feeling in control, didn’t mind toying with the delicate beauty. “Fifteen days ago, Zhechong Prefecture entrusted Weiyuan with a shipment of black iron. True?”
Su Ningyue nodded. “That two hundred jin of black iron was for military equipment. Weiyuan delivered all the armor yesterday.”
“Hmph, two hundred jin, Miss Su? I recall six hundred jin!” Zhang Hongyuan sneered, watching her with amusement, anticipating her reaction.
Surprisingly, Su Ningyue, frail as a willow, didn’t pale in fear. She replied calmly, “Weiyuan received exactly two hundred jin. As for the missing four hundred, I hope the Captain can verify.”
“That’s your problem. I’m here to retrieve the missing armor—or Su Yuanshan’s head!” Zhang Hongyuan said coldly.
At his words, the escorts drew their blades, and the cavalry readied their spears.
Amid the tension, Ji Yanqing frowned, sensing something amiss. Among the Gathering Spirit Realm cultivators lurked a Qian Yuan Realm expert—too powerful for a small agency like Weiyuan.
He was certain this person was tied to the Xiao clan spy, but with the crowd and his mere Qi Condensation cultivation, he couldn’t pinpoint them.
Retreating behind the others, he was about to caution Ji Qingyan to hold off when—
“Ahh!”
A bloodcurdling scream rang out.
A red-clad figure soared through the air toward Zhang Hongyuan, her hand slashing like a spear.
Crack!
Struck by the sudden blow, Zhang Hongyuan was hurled from his horse, flying over two zhang, armor and all. After a few twitches, he lay still.