Li Jingzhong had originally thought the other party wanted him to go out and mediate, and that truly would have been difficult.
But from the sound of it, they only wanted to find guards to accompany them to the spiritual medicine fields.
"You want disciples from my Martial Arts Academy to escort you to the spiritual medicine fields? But this batch of disciples has been with the academy for less than half a year. They have not yet graduated."
Chen Baiqing smiled. "Who does not know of your methods, Academy Master Li?
"Even disciples you have taught for less than a year are stronger than those fellows who have spent several years muddling about in gangs.
"I heard your first assessment has already ended. The disciples who remained must all be elites.
"Do not worry, I will not use them for nothing.
"The elite disciples you select will receive fifty taels for a single trip, the same price as an escort agency chief escort.
"Other disciples will receive thirty taels, even more than ordinary escorts."
Li Jingzhong took a sip of tea and pondered for a moment. "You truly came at the right time.
"This batch of disciples of mine is quite gifted. It could be said they are the best batch in recent years.
"But they paid to study martial arts at my Martial Arts Academy. They must agree to this sort of thing themselves.
"I will call over the most outstanding few disciples. Whether they go or not will be their own decision."
Li Jingzhong had a servant summon Han Zheng and the other four, then explained the matter of escorting Shenghe Hall's people to the spiritual medicine estate.
Of course, he did not mention Shenghe Hall's current situation. He only said they needed an escort.
Of the five, Guo Mingyuan and Song Tianqing refused outright.
The Guo Family was wealthy, and Guo Mingyuan was even a major client of Shenghe Hall. Why would he care about fifty taels of silver?
Song Tianqing was the same. The daily net profit from the shops in his hands exceeded fifty taels.
After thinking it over, Lin Qing also gave up on the idea.
His father was the Chief Clerk of the County Yamen. Though he was not as wealthy as those two, his family was still well-off.
Rather than escort goods for others, he might as well cultivate quietly.
Although Chen Zhao's family was not wealthy, his parents had still left him some possessions. He was not so poor that his income could not cover his expenses.
Besides, traveling outside for trade carried some danger. After considering it, he still refused.
Han Zheng said directly, "This disciple is willing to make the trip."
Cultivation was cultivation anywhere, but he truly lacked silver.
Even though he had been frugal with the ten taels of silver he got from Ma Gui, it was nearly gone by now.
Even if his father were still alive, that little monthly wage would probably not have been enough to support him.
Guo Mingyuan cast Han Zheng a faintly disdainful glance.
Going on an escort job for fifty taels of silver? How was this sort of person worthy of competing with him?
Li Jingzhong dismissed the other four, then smiled at Chen Baiqing. "This disciple of mine has the most solid foundation and the strongest practical combat ability among this batch. He is perfectly suited for this trip."
Chen Baiqing also knew Li Jingzhong would not lie. He nodded. "One person is a little too few. Four would be best."
Most Escort Agencies only needed three or four people to escort goods.
Those who sent dozens of people to protect a large shipment were mostly laborers carrying cargo.
The escorts were only responsible for fighting enemies at critical moments, not hauling goods.
Hiring too many escorts was expensive as well. If the escort fee cost more than the goods, it would not be worth it.
"Academy Master, what about Li Sancheng? His foundation and strength are also quite good."
Han Zheng spoke up to recommend him.
He knew Li Sancheng also lacked money and would definitely be willing to make the trip.
Li Jingzhong thought for a moment, then nodded. "Li Sancheng is not bad. Call him in and ask whether he wants to go."
Li Jingzhong knew every disciple in the Martial Arts Academy like the back of his hand.
Though Li Sancheng was somewhat lazy, his strength truly ranked above average.
After Han Zheng called Li Sancheng over, he immediately agreed. Then he looked at Han Zheng with gratitude.
Calling him along for such a good opportunity—this was a true blood brother!
Afterward, Li Jingzhong selected two more disciples whose family circumstances were not very good but whose foundations and strength were solid.
The four would be led by Han Zheng, and they agreed to gather at Shenghe Hall's entrance tomorrow.
After returning home, Han Zheng cultivated as usual until midnight before preparing to sleep.
Before bed, he checked his current status.
Over the past half month, he had opened another twenty Acupoints and one Meridian.
His strength had only grown steadily, without any major breakthrough.
Name: Han Zheng Cultivation: Houtian Meridian Opening Realm (opened one hundred and twenty Acupoints, five meridians) Martial Arts and Cultivation Methods: Houtian Realm "Iron Elephant Skill" proficiency (70%), Houtian Realm "Vajra Fist" proficiency (75%) Current Status: Pain Insensitivity, Abundant Vitality
*The "Iron Elephant Skill" and "Vajra Fist" are close to full proficiency. After that, I can break through.
But where am I supposed to get the materials needed for a breakthrough? Do I have to sacrifice parts of my own body, or go kill people?
Han Zheng rubbed his head, feeling a headache coming on.
Even if he wanted to turn into a bloodthirsty killer, killing people to gather Vitality Essence would not be so easy.
The martial artists in Black Stone County were either in Martial Arts Academies, gangs, prominent families, or the government offices.
After killing Wang Xiong, he had nearly left behind traces that could be followed. If he went after others, the result would be a complete wanted order, leaving him no place in Black Stone County.
After thinking for a while, Han Zheng stopped dwelling on it. They would set out tomorrow, and he needed to conserve his energy.
This was Han Zheng's first time leaving Black Stone County. In the memories of this lifetime, he had never left Black Stone County from childhood until now, always circling within the county city.
Early the next morning.
Before Han Zheng had even gotten up, Li Sancheng came running over and began pounding on his door.
"Why are you here so early? And why did you bring so much stuff?"
The moment he opened the door, Han Zheng was startled.
Li Sancheng carried a huge pack half the height of a person, practically as if he were moving house.
"Are we not going to be away for many days? I had to prepare everything. I even brought pots, bowls, and ladles.
"Those Escort Agencies bring far more things than I do when they escort goods."
Han Zheng was speechless. "We are not an escort agency escorting goods. We are merely responsible for protecting Shenghe Hall's caravan. They have such a huge business—would they not prepare these things?"
"That is true."
Li Sancheng scratched his head, removed most of his luggage, and only brought his weapon and a change of clothes as he set out with Han Zheng. On the way, they bought several steamed buns at the street corner for breakfast.
By the time Han Zheng and Li Sancheng arrived, the other two Martial Arts Academy disciples were already there, and Shenghe Hall's caravan had begun gathering at the entrance.
There were not many people, just over twenty Shenghe Hall workers and eight carriages.
As Shenghe Hall's chief shopkeeper, Chen Baiqing naturally would not go personally. He still needed to remain in the county city and hold down the fort.
The steward leading the caravan was an old man in his seventies named Chen Moshan. By seniority, he was even Chen Baiqing's distant granduncle.
So much spiritual medicine was worth a fortune. Chen Baiqing naturally would not feel at ease handing it all over to outsiders for escort, so he had to place one of his own people among them.
Traveling with them was also a physician in his early forties named Li Feng, Shenghe Hall's pharmacist, responsible for selecting medicinal herbs.
Chen Baiqing clasped his hands toward Han Zheng and the other four. "Brother Han, I will be troubling you this time. You must bring the spiritual medicine safely back to Black Stone County."
"Rest assured, Shopkeeper Chen. Entrusted by another, we will remain loyal to the task. We will not disgrace Zhenwei Martial Arts School's name."
Chen Moshan, the caravan leader, shouted out, and once everything was ready, the caravan set off.
However, when they passed the city gate, Chen Moshan suddenly ordered the caravan to stop.
There was a group of beggars at the city gate. Since this was where the most travelers and caravans passed through, they usually gathered here to beg.
Chen Moshan walked before the beggars and took out three pieces of silver, shaking them.
"Five hundred li out of the city. One tael of silver per person. Who is willing to go?"
"Me! Me! Me!"
The beggars swarmed around Chen Moshan, scrambling to raise their hands first.
Chen Moshan took several steps back in faint disgust, then selected three beggars who looked relatively healthy.
"You, you, and you. Come with me."
Han Zheng asked in surprise, "What does this mean? Why bring three beggars along?"
Chen Moshan gave Han Zheng a slightly contemptuous glance. "I do not know what the shopkeeper was thinking, having you greenhorn guards who know nothing and have barely left the county city a few times escort the caravan."
After saying that, he did not explain further and directly called for the caravan to continue onward.
Han Zheng frowned slightly.
Why did this old fellow seem to have a grudge against him?
This was their first meeting. How had he offended the man?
Li Feng, who was traveling with them, came over and smiled. "Do not mind it. Steward Chen has had a falling-out with the shopkeeper.
"His nephew runs a small escort agency. He originally wanted his own nephew to take this trip, and a hundred taels would have been enough.
"But the shopkeeper thought his nephew's small escort agency was too weak. They could not even find a Houtian Middle Stage martial artist, so he rejected it and went to Zhenwei Martial Arts School to find you instead."
Han Zheng immediately understood.
So they had blocked someone's path to wealth. No wonder the old man disliked them.
However, since Li Feng had come over of his own accord to tell him this, he probably was not on the same side as Chen Moshan.
"Pharmacist Li, why did Steward Chen bring three beggars into the caravan just now?"
"They are 'meat dishes.'"
"What does 'meat dishes' mean?"
"It means exactly what it says."
Li Feng sighed. "The world is chaotic now. When traveling outside for trade, there are two dangers people fear most: Demons and bandits. Meat dishes are prepared for Demons.
"Demons eat people. To avoid losses, one only needs to feed them until they are full.
"So before every caravan sets out, they find a few people among the beggars to bring along as meat dishes. Usually, it is one tael of silver per person.
"If they encounter a Demon, those people become meat dishes. If they do not, the silver belongs to them."
Li Sancheng's face turned pale beside them. "For just one tael of silver, they sell themselves as a dish?"
Li Feng shook his head. "You young people have never managed a household, so you do not know how costly firewood, rice, oil, and salt can be.
"These beggars eat one meal without knowing where the next will come from. One tael of silver might let them turn their lives around and never have to beg again.
"Besides, they will not encounter Demons every time. Rather than starve to death here, they might as well take a gamble."
Han Zheng frowned slightly. "But Shopkeeper Chen hired us to protect the caravan, yet he also prepared meat dishes. What purpose do we serve, then?"
"Of course, you are here to guard against bandits. How many people can a Demon eat? Meat dishes bought with a few taels of silver are enough to fill a Demon's belly.
"But if they encounter bandits, the goods on carriage after carriage are worth tens of thousands of taels."
Li Feng patted Han Zheng's shoulder. "This is all experience. After you have gone out a few times, you will understand."
Han Zheng looked at the beggars in the caravan, who clearly knew they were being taken along as meat dishes and might be fed to Demons, yet were still beaming with joy.
He gained another layer of understanding of the world as it was.
Human lives were as cheap as grass, so cheap it was horrifying.