Does It Have to Start This Explosively?

It was the third month of spring, in Dagan's Nanfeng City, at the Li Family Escort Agency.

As usual, Li Xian was practicing his martial arts in his own courtyard.

After every few repetitions, a prompt would sound in his mind.

"Proficiency System in progress..."

"Congratulations, host. You have completed ten martial arts training sessions and can claim one Proficiency Point."

Li Xian had bound himself to this Proficiency System as soon as he transmigrated into this world.

Practicing martial arts earned him Proficiency Points, which could help him improve his martial arts skills.

He had been in this world for several years now.

In this world, Li Xian was born into a local family that practiced traditional martial arts. His family ran an escort agency and enjoyed great renown in Nanfeng City.

This world was home not only to martial artists, but also to people born with extraordinary gifts—and even all manner of demons and strange creatures.

Demons and monsters ran rampant, and the current dynasty was showing signs of decline. Rumors of demons harming people were often heard.

This world, full of the unknown, was dangerous.

Li Xian was cautious. Over the past few years, he had relied on the Proficiency System to train several of his family's martial arts to their highest levels.

Those martial arts were the Returning Wind Willow Saber Technique, Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training, and Tiger Cannon Fist.

That day, Li Xian completed his allotted training.

All the martial arts he practiced had reached their highest levels and could no longer be improved with Proficiency Points, so he had accumulated a great many without using them.

"Looks like I'll have to find more advanced techniques to practice."

Li Xian muttered to himself.

Just then, a servant came rushing in from outside, his face stricken with panic.

"Second Young Master, Third Miss has been kidnapped!"

Li Xian looked at him and frowned. "Wasn't Third Sister out on an escort job? How did she get kidnapped?"

Third Sister's name was Li Chunxiao. She was Li Xian's half-sister.

Li Xian's father, Li Lantian, had three wives and seven children.

Li Chunxiao had displayed exceptional martial arts talent from a young age and was deeply favored by Li Lantian. He had begun taking her on escort jobs when she was thirteen, and more than seven years had passed since then.

Two years ago, when Li Chunxiao turned eighteen, Li Lantian started sending her on simple escort jobs by herself, seemingly grooming her to take over the business.

Back then, Li Xian's previous self had been nothing but a wastrel who cared only about food, drink, and amusement.

The day before yesterday, Li Chunxiao had taken on another escort job, accompanying an important official from Nanfeng City to a nearby county.

The route was short, the job was simple, and the payment was generous. They had thought it would be an easy, sure thing.

But something had gone wrong.

They had been ambushed.

On their way back, Li Chunxiao and her party had been attacked by a group of unknown bandits. After a fierce battle, only one escort and a few attendants had been lucky enough to escape.

Li Chunxiao had been kidnapped.

What a wildly explosive opening! Right off the bat?

After hearing the servant's report, Li Xian couldn't help frowning.

And at a time like this, too.

As luck would have it, Li Xian's father was away on another escort job. With no one else to take charge, Li Xian had no choice but to set out himself to rescue Third Miss.

"Uncle Qin, looks like you and I will have to go."

Uncle Qin, whom Li Xian had addressed, was a veteran escort at the agency. He was also one of the old hands who had braved life and death alongside Li Lantian back in the day, making immense contributions to the business.

Uncle Qin was taken aback. He hadn't expected the usually hedonistic Second Young Master to say something so responsible.

"Of course. I'll go with you, Second Young Master!"

There was no time to waste, and the situation was urgent. Li Xian hurriedly gathered his things, took his saber, and rode out of the city with Uncle Qin and the others.

Following the bandits' tracks and with Uncle Qin, who had escaped, leading the way, Li Xian soon found the place where the bandits who had ambushed the escort were hiding.

Wasn't this all going a little too smoothly?

They'd found them that easily?

"Are you sure they're hiding inside?" Li Xian asked Uncle Qin quietly.

Uncle Qin replied, "Judging by the tracks on the ground, they should be in that courtyard."

Looking at the dilapidated little courtyard in the distance, Li Xian felt an inexplicable shadow pass over his heart.

Before he could think it through, a woman's anguished scream rang out from the courtyard.

"Ah!"

It was Li Chunxiao's voice.

Li Xian's expression turned stern, and he immediately led the others into the courtyard.

"You dare!"

"Release Third Miss!"

Several people stood scattered around the ruined courtyard.

And Third Sister lay unconscious on the ground.

Fortunately, Li Chunxiao's clothes were intact.

Uncle Qin charged to the front, drew his Wild Goose Feather Saber, and shouted at the men across from them.

"You beasts! Hand over Third Miss!"

A yellow-faced bandit on the other side grinned. "Your Third Miss is right there on the ground. If you've got what it takes, come carry her back."

"Beast!"

Uncle Qin roared and swung his saber.

Strangely, his blade veered sharply off course, then came straight down on Li Xian behind him.

Li Xian's expression remained calm, as if everything had gone exactly as he'd expected.

Li Xian drew his own saber and swept it upward. He struck first despite moving second, just in time to block the blow aimed at his head.

"Uncle Qin, I knew there was something wrong with you."

Li Xian looked at Uncle Qin's bewildered face and smiled.