Enemy Attack

After disciplining that clueless guard, Lu Chuan's standing among the group had clearly shifted.

Not that everyone treated him with deference, but the dismissive looks were gone—no one dared to push him around anymore.

Still, Lu Chuan didn't plan to keep a stiff face the whole time.

These men might have to fight side by side with him later, and he didn't want to be left hanging by his own people on the battlefield.

While the others set up tents and gathered firewood, Lu Chuan slipped out for a bit and came back with a wild rabbit.

Everyone had been resigned to chewing on dry rations, but when they saw the rabbit, they lit up.

After that roast rabbit meal, his relationship with the guards eased considerably.

The guard Lu Chuan had thrown to the ground, named Wang Zhi, was surprisingly attentive to the man who'd bested him.

One moment he was handing over water, the next asking if Lu Chuan needed help pitching a tent—it left Lu Chuan half amused, half exasperated.

"Alright, alright," Lu Chuan waved him off. "I'm not here to play the big shot. We fought and made up—no need to fuss over me."

"Fair enough, I'll take your word for it, Brother Lu." Wang Zhi grinned and plopped down beside him.

As they chatted, Wang Zhi suddenly lowered his voice. "By the way, Brother Lu, if you don't mind me asking—how much silver do you get a month for this gig?"

Lu Chuan's heart stirred.

He knew better than to answer carelessly, but he was curious where Zhao Xuanhe's offer stood.

"It's decent. The Young Master gives me twenty taels a month."

"Twenty taels?!"

Wang Zhi's eyes went wide. The others nearby perked up and crowded in.

"Damn, twenty taels!"

"No wonder Brother Lu's so skilled—the Young Master really shelled out for this..."

Lu Chuan blinked. "What about you guys?"

"Us?" An older guard took the lead. "Among us, the highest gets eighteen taels, the lowest..."

He shot a glance at Wang Zhi. "Him. Fifteen taels."

Wang Zhi scratched his head, unembarrassed.

"Of course, Captain Fang's not in our league," he said, jerking his chin toward Fang ahead.

"A Second Qi and Blood captain starts at thirty taels at least, and he pulls forty taels per escort run."

Lu Chuan nodded, keeping his face neutral, but inside he was stunned.

Thirty taels—that was the price for Second Qi and Blood.

Zhao Xuanhe giving him thirty taels wasn't just generous; it was absurdly high.

He was only at First Qi and Blood, yet hired at that rate—the pushback he must have faced... Lu Chuan could imagine it.

He recalled the day he ran into Zhao's Father in the Backyard, that look in the old man's eyes, and suddenly it clicked.

Zhao Xuanhe had braved his father's displeasure to shove Lu Chuan into this team, paying a price meant for a Second Qi and Blood Martial Artist.

"Brother Zhao..." Lu Chuan murmured inwardly, then let it drop.

The journey went off without a hitch.

In two days, the six of them reached Qingyang County.

They settled accounts at the local pharmacy and bought a full fifteen hundred taels' worth of herbs.

Lu Chuan lingered nearby, catching bits of chatter—mostly that these were the main ingredients for Qi and Blood Pills: Yellow Essence, Angelica, Caulis Spatholobi, all essentials for a Martial Artist's training.

The herbs filled a cart to the brim, heavy and packed tight.

On the return trip, Captain Fang's face was noticeably more serious than when they'd come.

"The trip here was easy," he said, riding at the front without looking back. "But going back, this fifteen hundred taels of herbs is a slab of fat. Mountain bandits, outlaws, greedy eyes everywhere—almost every time, someone tries to jump us. Keep your eyes peeled."

Lu Chuan and the others understood well enough.

These herbs weren't just valuable—they were easy to move. Qi and Blood Pills were a Martial Artist's necessity; stolen goods would sell in no time, and even using them yourself was a huge gain.

The cart crawled back, slower than the outward leg, since the draft horse was hauling a full load.

Still, after over a hundred li, they made it through without incident.

By dusk on the third day, they left the main road and turned onto a narrow path.

Captain Fang reined in his horse and scanned the area.

The sky had darkened. The path was flanked by dense woods, with rolling hills stretching out of sight.

"We'll stop here. This trail's treacherous, and pushing deeper in the dark will only cause more trouble. Set up camp; we move at dawn."

The group acknowledged and began unloading the cart, pitching tents, and feeding the horses.

Wang Zhi worked with a grin. "Heh, once we deliver this haul to Renhetang Pharmacy tomorrow, this month's quota's all wrapped up!"

The others laughed along, their faces carrying the ease of a job finished and money in hand.

Lu Chuan, however, did not laugh.

He crouched by the wagon, his gaze sweeping carefully across the surrounding woods.

Though he hadn't ventured deep into the forest, there was no shortage of things that could be hidden within it.

Fang the Escort wasn't laughing either.

He shot a glare at Wang Zhi and the others. "We haven't delivered it yet—what's there to be happy about! If this job goes south, you'll answer with your heads!"

Wang Zhi shrank back, rubbing his neck sheepishly.

The night deepened.

They unhitched the horses from the wagon and tied them off to one side.

Their main worry was the horses spooking in the night and bolting with the wagon—that would be a real disaster.

The group lay down around the wagon, leaving two men to keep watch.

The first half of the night fell to Fang the Escort and Lu Chuan.

Fang leaned against the wagon, a blade tucked at his waist, his eyes half-closed.

Lu Chuan crouched by the fire, his gaze drifting now and then into the surrounding darkness.

He had the Eagle Eye.

This ability usually kept a low profile, but when standing night watch, it was incredibly useful.

Where others saw only a wall of black, he could make out the people hiding in the shadows.

Most of the night passed without incident.

The two men for the next shift came over—one was Wang Zhi, the other a man named Mo Lao Er.

"Boss," Wang Zhi said in a low voice, "you two go get some rest. We'll keep an eye on things."

Fang didn't move.

Wang Zhi pressed on: "You didn't sleep last night, and you've been driving all day... take a break. We'll need you tomorrow."

Mo Lao Er chimed in: "Yeah, boss, just close your eyes for a bit. It's almost dawn—nothing's gonna happen."

Fang glanced at the sky.

Less than half an hour until daybreak.

He was tired, truth be told. Even as a Martial Artist, going three days without proper sleep had worn him down.

"I'll rest for half an hour. Wake me then."

"Got it."

Fang lay down and soon fell silent.

Lu Chuan had been relieved from his post, but he remained alert.

He was being paid a hefty sum—if anything went wrong with this shipment, he'd have no face left to face Zhao Xuanhe.

Wang Zhi and Mo Lao Er sat off to the side, chatting in low, desultory tones.

Dawn was near, but this was also the time when people were most likely to let their guard down.

Suddenly, Lu Chuan's pupils contracted sharply.

Through his Eagle Eye, a faint black shadow shifted in the darkness at the forest's edge.

Before Lu Chuan could make it out, the figure burst forth, charging straight at them!

Lu Chuan, who had only been feigning sleep, shot upright with a sharp shout:

"Enemy attack—!"

Fang reacted instantly. Almost as Lu Chuan spoke, his hand was already reaching for his long blade.

But the shadow was faster. By the time Fang managed to cross his scabbard in front of his chest, the man's foot was already slamming into him.

Thud!

A dull impact rang out as Fang flew backward, blade and all.

"Second Qi and Blood!" His face went pale in an instant.

The bandit didn't pause after his successful strike. He spun and slashed open a sack of medicinal herbs with his blade.

Lu Chuan wasn't about to let him get away with it.

He kicked off the ground and unleashed a full-powered Mountain Collapse slash, aimed straight at the man's back.

Seeing this, the bandit had no choice but to abandon his grab for the herbs, turning back to block with his own blade.

"Clang--!"

Two blades clashed, sparks flying.

Second Qi and Blood, tough as expected... Lu Chuan barely managed to block a few more strikes.

Escort leader Fang had already scrambled to his feet. Seizing an opening while the two were locked in combat, he swung his blade at the bandit.

Blood splattered. The bandit grunted, his gaze turning savage.

"Looking for death!"

He erupted suddenly, sweeping his blade in a wide arc to force both men back, then grabbed a large bundle of medicinal herbs from the torn sack and fled into the depths of the woods.

"Where do you think you're going, you little thief!" Escort leader Fang raised his blade and gave chase.