Escort Run, Part One (Thanks to My Brother Called Threefold for the Alliance Leader Reward)

Li Jue was very tall, a full head taller than Wei He. He was one of the tallest people in the courtyard.

Yet the muscles on his body were not particularly visible. From afar, he looked lean and utterly lacking in intimidation.

He was a very down-to-earth person, one of those who rose before dawn and worked until dark, training desperately every day. Yet for some reason, his progress simply would not rise.

Everyone watched Xiao Ran stand in the center, slowly stirring his blood and vitality. His fists darkened slightly, growing a whole size larger than everyone else's. The sheen on his knuckles was dim and grayish.

This was Stone Hide. At this level, one's blood and vitality were far stronger than Ox Hide's—at least several times stronger.

Wei He had once carefully compared himself with Cheng Shaojiu, who had reached Stone Hide, and seen the gap between them.

Whether it was endurance, strength, explosive power, or speed, the difference was vast.

"Xiao Ran isn't even nineteen yet, right?" someone nearby suddenly said.

At once, the atmosphere grew even quieter.

"Good, good, good! As expected of the most outstanding one in this courtyard!" Old Man Zheng laughed loudly as he stroked his beard, clearly in excellent spirits.

He stood up and called Xiao Ran into the inner room, obviously having private instructions for him.

Senior Disciple Brother Zhao Hong drove everyone away, telling them to return to their places and continue training.

Wei He returned to his spot and pulled open his collar to glance at his chest.

The pattern of the Boundary-Breaking Pearl there was only half full. That was already the result of him collecting Silver-Kiss Black Snake Meat from the Cheng Family every day.

He always felt that its accumulation speed was much slower than he had expected.

The nutrition in the Silver-Kiss Black Snake Meat definitely hasn't changed. What has changed should be the container. My body is stronger now, and my blood and vitality are more vigorous. The total energy needed to break through the next stage has increased, which is understandable. Still, if it keeps accumulating at this rate, who knows how long it'll take.

Wei He sighed inwardly, but compared with everyone else, he already possessed an overwhelming advantage with the Boundary-Breaking Pearl.

So although the Boundary-Breaking Pearl accumulated very slowly, he was already content.

Xiao Ran's breakthrough caused a stir not only within the courtyard, but beyond it as well.

For many days afterward, wealthy merchants, rich householders, stewards from prominent families, and gangs all came to the Huishan Fist Academy specifically for Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran refused them all.

When those people found they could not recruit him, they did not give up. They changed tactics instead, dragging Xiao Ran out day after day to drink wine, eat fine food, and listen to music.

Several times, carriages stopped outside the Huishan Fist Academy's gate, waiting for Xiao Ran to finish training and climb aboard.

Quite a few senior and junior disciples saw this and envied him beyond measure.

For a time, Xiao Ran rode the crest of spring wind. Even while training, his face carried a smile.

Shiqiao Town, where Huishan Fist was located, was only such a small circle to begin with. Xiao Ran's affairs quickly spread through the surrounding streets.

In an instant, the already-busy Xiao Ran found his social obligations increasing greatly. Most days, he was hardly seen at all.

Wei He was not anxious when he saw this. He continued following his own pace, practicing and grinding his skin bit by bit every day.

After becoming a true disciple, the tuition he needed to pay was reduced by more than half. He occasionally went to the Cheng Family to spar with Cheng Shaojiu, and both his physical conditioning and practical combat experience improved slowly.

Though slow, the improvement was visible.

Most importantly, the Boundary-Breaking Pearl was steadily accumulating as well, its progress inching forward.

Days like these, where hope could be seen, instead made Wei He's state of mind ever more tranquil.

But peaceful days did not last long.

Soon, just after Wei He retrieved the spiked handle he had commissioned from Li Family Ironworks, word came from the Cheng Family.

There was work. He had to make a trip with them.

Wei He also felt that after eating the Cheng Family's free provisions for so long, collecting money every month without doing any work, it was about time he did something.

Otherwise, even he himself would feel ashamed.

Dawn had only just begun to break.

Cheng Family compound.

A great banner embroidered with Yonghe Escort Agency fluttered and curled relentlessly around its flagpole.

Beneath it, over twenty caravan guards had gathered together. All wore uniform ash-white robes, gray belts, and short sabers at their waists.

Cheng Shaojiu stood before the caravan guards with a middle-aged man who wore a small mustache.

The mustached middle-aged man was somewhat shorter than Cheng Shaojiu, but all five fingers on both his hands were thick and large. It did not look like some diseased deformity, but rather as if he had practiced some special martial arts cultivation.

He wore clothing much like the other caravan guards, except his belt was black.

His expression was cold and stern. He cleared his throat.

"I am Cheng Kai, one of Yonghe Escort Agency's three Head Caravan Guards. Thanks to the respect shown by friends of the martial world, they call me Cheng the Iron Hand."

He flexed his palms and lightly brought them together. The sound between his hands was actually like wood and stone colliding.

"Many of you here are old hands, and many are newcomers. So we'll still follow the old rule: one veteran takes one newcomer.

"First, let me explain the rules of Yonghe Escort Agency."

He coughed, then spat out a huge wad of phlegm to his left with a puff, grinding it into the ground beneath his foot.

"First, on the road, newcomers must follow everything the veterans do.

"Second, newcomers must achieve the three nos: no rushing, no scrambling, no talking."

"Third, this journey is quite long. A round trip will take at least half a month. The route in between has long been decided. Before anyone leaves, they must settle all their affairs.

"No letters may be exchanged en route, no information may be leaked, and no one may casually speak with others without permission!"

This Head Caravan Guard Cheng Kai was clearly a veteran of many escort runs. The moment he opened his mouth, rule after rule spilled out in an unbroken stream.

Wei He stood among the caravan guards as well, quietly listening to the rules being laid down.

His expression was calm, and he did not say a word, but inwardly he thoroughly understood and approved of these escort-run rules.

No wonder the benefits were usually so good. One escort run took half a month, and the farther the journey, the more dangerous it was. If the benefits were poor, no one would be willing to go.

Wei He understood this clearly.

Soon, Cheng Kai finished speaking and began assigning veterans to lead the newcomers.

He himself, guided by Cheng Shaojiu, walked personally in Wei He's direction.

Before long, he arrived beside Wei He.

"Little Brother Wei He, I'll lead you personally." Cheng Kai smiled, his attitude toward Wei He exceedingly gentle.

"I've long heard Shaojiu mention you. I'm often out on escort runs, so I've never had much chance to meet you. This time, I've finally met you in person. I'm your Third Senior Brother's paternal uncle, so by rights, how about you call me Uncle Cheng?"

Wei He hastily cupped his fists.

"Uncle Cheng. Please look after me on this trip."

"It's nothing. Escort runs sound like they involve many matters, but once you've made enough trips, you naturally get used to them. Watch, listen, and learn from me more. With your cleverness, you should be familiar with it after two or three trips." Cheng Kai spoke amiably.

"Thank you, Uncle Cheng." Wei He quickly replied.

Cheng Shaojiu shot him a look from the side.

Wei He immediately understood.

After Cheng Kai said a few more words and temporarily left, the two quietly walked over to a corner.

Using the shadows for cover, Cheng Shaojiu took out a small bottle from his robes.

Nothing was written on the yellow porcelain bottle. When he gave it a light shake, the sound of water came from inside.

"This is the Snake Venom Fang Water you wanted. I got you quite a bit. If my family weren't in the snake meat business, there really wouldn't be anywhere to get this much."

"Thanks, Senior Brother!" Wei He hurriedly thanked him. Taking the small porcelain bottle, he knew that with this, the spiked handle he had just commissioned could finally be put to use.

"We're brothers. Why be so polite? But this stuff isn't cheap. If it were taken outside, it would normally cost at least this much, so use it sparingly." Cheng Shaojiu lowered his voice and held up five fingers.

Wei He understood immediately.

That was because Cheng Shaojiu was the young master of his own family. Obtaining such things only cost him the production price, which was incredibly cheap.

That was why Wei He had gotten snake venom from the Cheng Family. He had originally intended to pay for it, but Cheng Shaojiu simply waved a hand. No money needed—it was a gift!

He spent money like water and did not care in the slightest about such a small sum.

Wei He could only accept the favor and remember it in his heart.

If poison was to take effect immediately and directly affect the battle, it had to be potent.

The Silver-Kiss Black Snake was itself an extremely venomous snake. The poisonous liquid refined from it was generally only used occasionally by the Cheng Family themselves.

It was rarely sold outside.

For Cheng Shaojiu to give Wei He a small bottle for free was already a great favor.

Without five hundred taels, one could forget about buying this small bottle outside—and even then, it was something with a price but no market.

With the poison in hand, Wei He followed Cheng Kai's group. After a brief rest, they led the escort cart slowly out of Yonghe Escort Agency and headed toward the city gate.

Once they passed through the city gate, the procession raised its great banner.

Two horses rode in front, and two more followed behind. In the middle was an escort cart pulled by two horses, surrounded by a group of caravan guards.

Wei He followed Cheng Kai at the very front. Cheng Kai rode horseback while Wei He walked beside him.

Riding was not for comfort, but to see farther.

Thus, those who rode were the caravan guards with the sharpest eyesight.

The procession traveled without pause, moving quite quickly. Within half a day, they had gone beyond the ten-li boundary.

Along the way, Wei He even saw Mingde Temple, which he had visited before.

The temple in the mountain forest appeared and disappeared through the mist, blurred and indistinct amid the deep mountains' haze.

At the foot of the mountain, worshippers came in an endless stream, seemingly utterly unaffected by the people he had killed there before.

"They say that within ten li is one place, while beyond ten li is another. That saying isn't wrong, really." Cheng Kai rode his horse and turned sideways to speak with Wei He.

"Little Brother Wei, have you ever been beyond ten li?" he asked with a smile.

"No." Wei He shook his head. "Uncle Cheng, why is it so dangerous beyond ten li?"

"Because of mountain bandits and brigands." Cheng Kai sighed. "Beyond ten li lies the mutually acknowledged border between Hong Family Fort and One-Ear. Within ten li, Hong Family Fort's influence keeps things very safe. But beyond ten li is One-Ear's territory. If you want to pass through, you can—but you have to pay."

"Hong Family Fort? One-Ear?" This was the first time Wei He had heard such a thing.

"Isn't it strange? Why is it Hong Family Fort guarding the border when that should clearly be the responsibility of the city garrison?" Cheng Kai continued.

"Hong Family Fort was originally only a prominent local clan. Their family had held office generation after generation, and their reputation was excellent. But later, Feiye City changed its city garrison commander. For some unknown reason, a conflict arose between him and the Hong Family.

"Then the conflict between both sides grew fierce. In the end, after mediation, each side compromised. The Hong Family withdrew from the Inner City and built an earthen fort outside the city themselves, named Hong Family Fort.

"But because the Hong Family had once bestowed favors upon too many people and possessed vast connections, the city garrison commander could not easily make a move against them. He could only tacitly accept it."

"And who is this One-Ear?" Wei He pressed.

"One-Ear is a famous mountain bandit in the area, powerful and with many men and strong horses. Within a hundred li around here, he's this." Cheng Kai raised a thumb.

"Because he had several clashes with Hong Family Fort when the fort was being built, One-Ear suffered a crushing defeat and retreated. So both sides agreed upon a boundary. That is the ten-li line."

He paused, seeming to recall something else.

"Oh, right. I should also remind you. Beyond ten li, there is not only One-Ear, but also two of the legendary Three Gangs and Two Sects. If you encounter them in the future, do not offend them lightly. You must yield them the way and show courtesy."

"Understood." Wei He nodded.

Cheng Kai did not explain which names belonged to the Three Gangs and Two Sects, and Wei He was not in a hurry. Now that he had at least glimpsed the outline, he would be able to inquire about it sooner or later.