Gong Jie Leaves the Academy

At this moment, the area before the Escort Agency's gates was indeed rather deserted, standing in stark contrast to the bustle of the marketplace.

Gong Jie stepped forward and knocked on the heavy vermilion-lacquered gates.

After a moment.

"Who is it?"

A wary voice came from within.

"Uncle Jun, it's me, A-Jie."

With a creak, the gates were pulled open a crack.

A middle-aged man with somewhat handsome features and sharp eyes poked his head out.

He was around forty, dressed in neat brown martial attire with a cowhide belt around his waist, looking capable and trim.

He was none other than Gong Jie's biological uncle, Gong Jun, one of Yongxing Escort Agency's current escort heads.

"A-Jie!"

Once Gong Jun saw who it was, his wariness vanished at once. A smile spread across his face as he pulled the gate wider. "Back so early today?"

His sharp gaze then shifted to Jiang Qinghe behind Gong Jie, carrying a trace of curiosity.

"And this is?"

"Uncle Jun, this is Jiang Qinghe!"

"What? You're Jiang Qinghe, the one who knocked Qin Wu flat?"

Gong Jun's eyes widened, and his voice rose several notches.

"Uncle Jun, keep it down! Don't scare him off..."

Gong Jie was rather speechless.

Gong Jun irritably gave Gong Jie a knuckle rap, pretending to be angry. "What nonsense! Do you think Brother Qinghe can be scared off by a few words from me?"

He immediately turned to Jiang Qinghe with a beaming smile. "Qinghe, come by more often from now on. When it comes to being well-stocked and sturdy, the equipment in our Escort Agency isn't inferior to your Martial Academy's in the slightest. Use whatever you want, don't stand on ceremony!"

Jiang Qinghe was a little overwhelmed by the sudden warmth and could only nod repeatedly. "Mm, mm, mm. All right, all right." Then he followed Gong Jie into the somewhat spacious Escort Agency courtyard.

After passing through the front hall, Gong Jie explained to Jiang Qinghe in a low voice as they walked, "Qinghe, Uncle Jun is my real uncle and one of the agency's veteran escort heads. He's getting on in years, but he acts like a teenager. Don't mind him."

Hearing this, Jiang Qinghe laughed. "Haha, old in years but young at heart. It's great to be so full of vigor!"

Chatting and laughing, the two passed through a doorway, and the space before them suddenly opened up.

An open field roughly a dozen zhang square spread out before their eyes. The ground had been swept spotless, while Stone Locks, wooden posts, weapon racks, and other equipment stood along the edges.

Jiang Qinghe was somewhat surprised as he looked at the Escort Agency's training ground, which was even larger than the Martial Academy's martial practice field.

"Impressive, isn't it?"

Gong Jie swept his gaze over the grounds, pride in his voice.

But when his eyes passed over the dozen or so scattered figures training in the field, he could not help sighing.

"The place is big enough. Shame there aren't many people left."

Jiang Qinghe comforted him, "Once you hack through thorns and brambles, forge ahead with fearless vigor, and one day attain the realm of a Great Martial Master to restore Yongxing's former glory, this place will surely be teeming with people again!"

Hearing this, Gong Jie's spirits soared. He nodded heavily, fighting spirit blazing in his eyes. "Qinghe, you understand me. With your auspicious words behind me, they'll definitely come true!"

By evening, faced with the fervent urging of uncle and nephew, Jiang Qinghe naturally found it hard to keep refusing and stayed the night at the Escort Agency.

Gong Jie's father, Gong Yongxing, along with the other two experienced escort heads in the agency, had happened to lead teams out on an important long-distance escort assignment. Their return date was uncertain.

Thus, only Jiang Qinghe, Gong Jie, and Gong Jun sat down for dinner.

The three of them ate in a small private room in the Escort Agency's dining hall, simply furnished but clean and tidy.

The cook's skills were solid, and a standard four dishes and one soup were soon served.

A fresh steamed Huai Bai Fish, a glossy and tender braised pork hock, a plate of spicy and fragrant Husband and Wife Lung Slices, a dish of refreshing Dinghu Vegetarian Dish, and a bowl of sour, appetite-whetting Pickled Radish Old Duck Soup.

At the corner of the table sat a warmed pot of homemade Shao Daozi.

Across two lifetimes, this was truly Jiang Qinghe's first time touching alcohol.

Under Gong Jun and Gong Jie's watchful eyes, he lifted his bowl and took a tentative sip.

An intense spiciness instantly exploded in his mouth, making him cough despite himself and drawing a burst of laughter from Gong Jie.

"Qinghe, this is how you drink liquor. That's what makes it satisfying!"

Slightly tipsy, Jiang Qinghe watched Gong Jun and Gong Jie gulp down the rest of the strong liquor as though it were water. Their expressions remained as normal as ever, without the slightest sign of drunkenness, and he could not help thinking to himself:

It seems one's current martial cultivation has no direct connection to one's alcohol tolerance. Perhaps once one reaches the Organ Refinement realm, one can force the alcohol fumes out of the body and remain standing after a thousand cups...

Mm, once I become an Organ Refinement Great Martial Master, I'll come back and take these two down!

The next morning, Jiang Qinghe woke in a side room of the Escort Agency. After tidying himself up, he went to the front hall.

A simple breakfast had been laid out on a square table in the hall.

Steaming white porridge, several small dishes of pickles, and a steamer basket of freshly cooked meat buns.

Only Gong Jie sat at the table, holding a bowl and gulping down porridge.

"Where's Uncle Jun?"

Jiang Qinghe walked over, sat down, and picked up a bun as he asked.

Gong Jie set down his bowl and wiped his mouth. "He went out early this morning. Didn't say what he was going to do. Never mind him, let's eat first. Just leave some for him."

The two swept through breakfast like a whirlwind. Gong Jie put down his bowl and chopsticks, his expression turning solemn.

He reached into his robes and fumbled around for a moment before carefully taking out a small booklet wrapped in blue cloth.

Undoing the cloth revealed a handwritten copy with a slightly yellowed cover and rough pages. Three large characters were written on its cover: Panshi Jue.

"Qinghe, take it. It's a handwritten copy. You can return it after you've verified it."

"A-Jie, thank you."

Jiang Qinghe said no more. He had already come to regard Gong Jie as a brother.

Between brothers, there was naturally no need for many words. Everything was understood in their hearts.

Jiang Qinghe carefully tucked the Panshi Jue close to his body, then rose to his feet. "Come on, let's go back to the academy together."

Yet Gong Jie did not move.

He remained seated on the stool, looking somewhat melancholy. "Qinghe, I've already spent a full year at the Martial Academy."

"From now on, I'll be staying here. I need to start formally learning the rules of escort work from my father and Uncle Jun, preparing to take on escort assignments."

"A-Jie..."

Jiang Qinghe sighed inwardly. This day had come at last.

Gong Jie had initially gone to the Martial Academy with the intention of taking Elder Ping as his master, learning profound martial arts, and reviving the family business.

But now, after a year, he had still failed to become Elder Ping's disciple.

There was little point in spending more money to force himself to remain and become one of those ironclad assembly-line Martial Disciples.

After all, he was the Young Escort Head of Yongxing Escort Agency, even though the agency had declined.

At the very least, his blood relatives were here, as was the foundation left behind by his ancestors, along with resources he could use freely to become familiar with and take over the family business more quickly.

With no clear path upward visible at the Martial Academy, returning to the family and shouldering responsibility was the more practical choice.

"Qinghe, it's all right. I actually thought of this long ago and had already prepared myself."

At that moment, Gong Jie smiled with relief, as though a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Getting to know you, practicing and fighting together, that was worth it! Coming back now merely means changing roads and continuing forward."

"A-Jie, so long as your heart is set on martial arts, you'll achieve something no matter where you are."

"Mm!"

Gong Jie's gaze grew resolute.