Seven Star Steps

Wang Zhi's voice drew Lu Chuan's gaze over.

Following that line of sight, he only then noticed the boots on Ye Qi's feet.

The fight earlier had been too fierce, leaving no time to stare at his feet.

Now that Ye Qi lay on the ground with his boots exposed, Lu Chuan could finally see the unusual nature of the item.

The leather of the boots was delicate and fine-grained, shimmering with a restrained, precious sheen.

Lu Chuan's heart stirred.

He had experienced Ye Qi's Seven Star Steps firsthand; they were truly uncanny.

Even though he possessed Eagle Eye to track their trajectory, anyone else would have been nothing more than fodder for a blade if they encountered them at night.

These boots might just... allow him to acquire this footwork technique!

He immediately called out to Wang Zhi: "Brother Wang, can I take these boots?"

Head Escort Fang was crouching by the carriage inspecting the medicinal herbs; hearing this, he looked up briefly before lowering his head again.

The other guard likewise remained silent.

It was just a pair of boots anyway, and since Lu Chuan had killed the man, what harm was there in taking a pair of boots.

Wang Zhi chuckled twice: "Ye Qi was killed by Brother Lu to begin with, so how could I dare claim your boots?"

As he spoke, he had already squatted down, helped Lu Chuan remove the boots, and handed them over with both hands, looking quite eager to please.

"Thanks, Brother Wang," Lu Chuan took them.

The boots looked small, but they felt heavy in his hands. The leather was soft yet tough, and the craftsmanship was exquisite.

At a thought from him, the system indeed reacted.

[Weapon: Night Roaming Boots]
[Quality: Peak Mortal Grade]
[Description: Night roaming boots crafted from the soft belly leather of a White Lingxi. Lightweight and tough, allowing for silent movement, with a faint enhancement to footwork martial arts.]
[Absorption Effect: Can acquire martial art Seven Star Steps · Minor Success]
[Absorb or not?]

Lu Chuan's heart skipped a beat.

It really was Seven Star Steps!

Although it was only at Minor Success, that was the footwork upon which the Night Roaming Gate had built its reputation.

He forcibly suppressed the surge of excitement within him, kept his expression blank, and tucked the boots inside his tunic, placing them close to his body.

Now was not the time to absorb them, as several people nearby were watching.

Head Escort Fang walked over, glanced casually at the boots, and remarked offhand:

"These boots are made from White Lingxi hide. Such things are rare—they're worth twenty taels of silver at the very least."

Lu Chuan nodded.

Head Escort Fang did not ask any further questions either, turning to urge Wang Zhi and the other man: "Alright, stop dawdling. Pack up the goods and let's hit the road before dawn."

The four of them busied themselves for a while longer, reloading the scattered medicinal herbs onto the cart and hoisting the two corpses up as well.

By daybreak, the carriage was back on the road.

No one spoke along the way. Having just lived through a fierce battle, no one dared to relax for fear that Ye Wu and his men might make a counter-attack.

Not until the city gates of Qinghe County came into view in the distance did Head Escort Fang finally let out a long breath, his tense shoulders relaxing.

"We're here," he said.

Entering the city, the carriage headed straight for the back alley of Renhetang Pharmacy.

Zhao Xuanhe was already waiting there early.

Head Escort Fang jumped off the cart, hurried forward, and without a word cupped his fists and lowered his head:

"Young Master, it was my poor command this time. A traitor appeared in our ranks, and two men died."

The smile on Zhao Xuanhe's face instantly froze.

His gaze swept over the carriage, over Head Escort Fang, over Lu Chuan, then over Wang Zhi and his companion, finally falling upon the two corpses covered with straw mats.

"A traitor?" His voice dropped. "What happened?"

Head Escort Fang recounted the whole affair from beginning to end.

Ye Wu's sneak attack, Lu Chuan's warning, Mo Lao Er's betrayal and murder, Ye Qi's appearance, Lu Chuan's fierce battle, his own return, Mo Lao Er's execution, and Ye Qi being slain...

After listening, Zhao Xuanhe remained silent for a long while.

He stood there, staring at Lu Chuan with a complex gaze.

There was shock, lingering fear, relief, and something else mixed into that look.

Thinking that the Young Master was about to lay blame, Wang Zhi hurriedly spoke up:

"Young Master, although people died this time, the cargo didn't suffer any major damage. Head Escort Fang worried and labored all the way, and he couldn't possibly have foreseen a traitor..."

Zhao Xuanhe raised a hand to stop him.

"I have no intention of blaming anyone. Given how perilous this trip was, the fact that you managed to bring the goods back is already a monumental merit."

Subsequently, he added:

"I've decided to increase everyone's bonus for this trip by fifty percent."

Wang Zhi and the other guard lit up at that.

Zhao Xuanhe looked toward Lu Chuan once more.

"Brother Lu, aside from your thirty taels of wages as agreed, I will give you an additional fifty taels separately."

Fifty taels!

Wang Zhi and his companion drew in a sharp breath and exchanged glances.

Fifty taels—that was equivalent to three months of their wages.

Yet neither of them uttered a word of objection, only looking at each other with eyes full of pure envy, devoid of any jealousy.

That man's contribution was well worth the price.

If not for Lu Chuan holding off Ye Qi, the two of them would have long since died under Mo Lao Er's blade.

With Ye Wu, Ye Qi, and Mo Lao Er joining forces afterward, even Head Escort Fang might not have escaped unscathed.

Let alone keeping hold of those fifteen hundred taels worth of medicinal herbs.

Lu Chuan, however, was stunned.

He recalled the scene in the backyard when he had encountered Old Master Zhao that day.

Despite his father's pressure, Zhao Xuanhe had stubbornly forced him into this team and even offered him the pay rate of someone with Second Qi and Blood.

He already felt that he owed Zhao Xuanhe a favor.

"Brother Zhao," Lu Chuan shook his head,

"I merely did what I ought to have done. How could I accept so much..."

Head Escort Fang chimed in from the side:

"Lu Chuan, there's no need for modesty. This time you saved Renhetang fifteen hundred taels of silver; you take this money with every right and reason."

After pondering for a moment, Lu Chuan did not refuse further.

If he acted overly lofty and rejected this money, how would other people who rendered meritorious service in the future have the face to accept theirs?

In the long run, that would not benefit Renhetang.

"Then many thanks, Brother Zhao," he said, cupping his fists.

With the wages settled, Zhao Xuanhe dismissed the others and pulled Lu Chuan aside.

"Brother Lu," a smile graced his face, and his mood was clearly excellent,

"Tonight, dinner is on me. We're heading to Chunxiang Tower!"

Chunxiang Tower.

Lu Chuan had naturally heard of it; it was the largest tavern in Qinghe County, where a single table of dishes cost at least ten taels of silver to start.

"Brother Zhao, this..."

"None of that," Zhao Xuanhe interrupted him. "You saved over a thousand taels worth of cargo for my Renhetang today, and you also saved the lives of several of my guards. If I didn't even treat you to a meal, what would I, Zhao Xuanhe, be considered if word got out?"

Lu Chuan found it hard to refuse further.

And truth be told, he was also somewhat curious about what Chunxiang Tower actually looked like.

Chatting and laughing, the two men walked toward the back door.

The moment they stepped outside, they ran straight into someone head-on.

Old Master Zhao.

He stood there with a solemn expression.

Lu Chuan's steps halted, and a trace of awkwardness rose in his heart.

He still remembered the faint, detached gaze Old Master Zhao had given him when they last met.

Zhao Xuanhe's smile also faltered for a moment, but glancing at Lu Chuan behind him, he seemed to regain his confidence:

"Father."

Old Master Zhao glanced at him, then shifted his gaze to Lu Chuan standing behind him.

Lu Chuan cupped his fists: "Uncle."

Old Master Zhao remained silent.

Bracing himself, Zhao Xuanhe spoke up: "Father, an accident happened while escorting that batch of herbs today. Thanks to Lu Chuan, otherwise over a thousand taels of silver would have been lost. I plan to take him to Chunxiang Tower to celebrate..."

Old Master Zhao fell silent for a short while before he spoke:

"Mn. Don't let others look down on you—spend a bit more."

Zhao Xuanhe was taken aback.

Subsequently, Old Master Zhao looked toward Lu Chuan.

Meeting his gaze, Lu Chuan felt a slight tightness in his chest.

This time, however, Old Master Zhao looked at him and nodded slightly.

"Young man," he said, "Xuanhe didn't misjudge you. Keep up the good work."

With those words, he walked past the two of them and slowly headed toward the backyard.

Zhao Xuanhe stood frozen in place for a good while before suddenly turning back toward Lu Chuan, his face breaking into a wide grin.

"Brother Lu, did you see that? My father—he has acknowledged you!"

Looking at him, Lu Chuan could not help smiling as well.

"I saw it."

"You have no idea," Zhao Xuanhe said as they walked, "whenever I made friends over the years, the old man never stopped lecturing me about how I only associated with scoundrels and wasted my days in idleness..."

Lu Chuan listened without interrupting.

"It's all sorted now," Zhao Xuanhe beamed with delight,

"With this feat of yours, Brother Lu, you've completely won back my face before him. Fifteen hundred taels of cargo almost gone, yet yanked back purely by your efforts..."

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