Corruption

"Copper Escort missions are the easiest. They are short and don't cover much distance, usually running back and forth between a few county towns. They are also the jobs taken by most escorts in the agency. Still, at least one Martial Artist escort must be stationed on the mission. After one trip, an ordinary escort like you can earn anywhere from one hundred to three hundred copper coins."

"Iron Escort missions cover greater distances and carry a certain degree of danger. Because the goods are valuable, they easily draw the attention of bandits. However, our Four Seas Escort Agency has some standing in the dozen or so nearby counties. Both the underworld and the authorities will give us some face, so the chances of trouble are low. For one trip, ordinary escorts start at half a tael of silver."

"Then, Senior, do you usually take Copper Escort or Iron Escort missions?" Jiang Ping could not help asking curiously.

"My strength is fairly decent. I'm nearing the Eighth-Rank Martial Artist level, so most of the time I prefer taking Iron Escort missions. If there truly are no jobs available, though, I can only take Copper Escort missions."

"So that's how it is." Jiang Ping inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

At that moment, Escort Huang said seriously, "It was my idea to place you under me. You now know that I enjoy taking Iron Escort missions, so the ordinary escorts who follow me can earn quite a bit of silver as well."

"And since you've just become an escort and will be accompanying me on Escort Missions, most of the time you'll earn more than half a tael of silver per trip. It sounds quite good—a fine thing, even. It may even make some Senior Drafters envious."

"However!" Huang Youren abruptly changed the subject and said sternly, "I told you already, Iron Escort missions are no light task. They carry a certain danger. You've only just become an escort, and you have some talent besides. You should have a good future ahead of you. If you were to die young under me, that would be a pity. You must consider this matter carefully. If you are unwilling to accompany me on Escort Missions, I can make the decision to assign you to an old escort first, so you can gain experience. Once your strength grows, it won't be too late to accompany me. Besides, silver can never be earned dry; you need to be alive to spend it."

"This younger generation is willing to follow Senior. If I were switched to someone else, I'd be afraid I wouldn't get used to it." Jiang Ping made his decision at once. The more silver, the better. Besides, with his current strength, he had some confidence.

"Very well. In all my years taking Iron Escort missions, nothing life-threatening has ever happened." Escort Huang nodded, then added, "As for the finer details of Escort Missions, I'll explain them to you slowly once you set out in the future."

Next, Escort Huang spoke of Silver Escorts and Gold Drafters.

"You should know that I was injured on this Escort Mission with Head Escort Liang. Even the Chief Escort ended up in a rather sorry state, while many of those below him were killed or wounded."

"The mission we took this time was a Silver Escort!"

"A Silver Escort!" Jiang Ping raised his brows.

A mere Silver Escort had been dangerous enough to make even a Peak Seventh-Rank Martial Artist return defeated. How dangerous would a Gold Drafter be?

"Silver Escorts generally travel to unfamiliar territories. Most of the time, they even leave Changping Prefecture and head to places beyond the reach of our Four Seas Escort Agency. In a strange land with no one familiar, it is like having one's eyes smeared black, feeling one's way across the river by touching the stones. The danger is therefore extremely high, and trouble can easily arise."

"At the very least, among the few Silver Escorts I've undertaken, not one passed without incident."

Escort Huang spoke slowly. It seemed as though he had recalled something terrible, and there was even a trace of unbearable sorrow in his eyes.

"Since you know they are so dangerous, why do you still take Silver Escorts, Senior?" Jiang Ping could not help asking. If it were him, without the strength to preserve his life, he would never be willing to go.

"Because I'm poor!" Escort Huang let out a long sigh. "One Silver Escort starts at a hundred taels of silver. Who wouldn't be tempted?"

"So that's why." Jiang Ping understood at once. Martial Dao was a money pit, and a hundred taels of silver was indeed quite alluring.

"Speaking of which, the Chief Escort's failed mission this time has had a certain impact on our Four Seas Escort Agency. Since the incident, our volume of escorts has dropped by ten to twenty percent, and we've lost some regular clients."

"And this incident came very suddenly. Those bandits seemed to be targeting us specifically. I strongly suspect that another escort agency in Yang City was behind it." Huang Youren frowned.

"Behind it?" Jiang Ping's pupils contracted.

Escort Huang laughed. "Don't think the dangers faced by escort agencies are limited to bandits. This is a battle over profit. Those in the same trade are natural enemies. Sometimes, even the authorities will make a move."

"The authorities?"

Escort Huang lowered his voice. "Great Li is in prosperous times, yet bandits and outlaws often appear in every province. Silver Escorts are bound to run into trouble. Do you truly think those bandits live so long merely because they are highly skilled?"

"There is white within black, and black within white?"

"That is exactly the principle." Huang Youren nodded and sighed. "What in this world remains unchanged? It all comes down to the word 'profit.'"

"I've learned much." Jiang Ping cupped his hands slightly, as though he had gained a new understanding of these prosperous times.

"So the trouble with this Silver Escort was very likely related to the Chenfeng Bodyguard Agency?" he asked quietly.

There were only two escort agencies in Yang City, and their strength was about equal. One was the Four Seas Escort Agency where Jiang Ping worked, while the other was the Chenfeng Bodyguard Agency Huang Youren had mentioned.

"Head Escort Liang and I discussed it privately and had our suspicions. But it is difficult to find evidence. Even if we knew they did it, there would be nothing we could do. At most, the next time they take a Silver Escort, we can pay them back in kind."

"So that was it." Jiang Ping fell into thought. If he took a Silver Escort in the future, those he would need to guard against first would probably be his peers. Hmm, he would also have to guard against the authorities!

"By the way, what dangers does a Gold Drafter carry?" he asked again, looking quite curious.

"A Gold Drafter?" Escort Huang paused before answering, "Back then, the Chief of our Four Seas Escort Agency joined forces with the Chief of the Chenfeng Bodyguard Agency. They also invited Great Experts from several martial arts halls in Yang City to accompany them. Altogether, there were seven Sixth Grade Martial Artists, and they took on a Gold Drafter."

"The outcome was that one of the seven great experts died, two were crippled, and four were seriously wounded. Countless people below them were killed or injured, and the two escort agencies nearly disbanded."

"Ah?" Jiang Ping froze slightly.

So many Sixth Grade Martial Artists had escorted a Gold Drafter, yet the outcome had been like this?

That was far too tragic!

Of course, it also fully proved just how perilous a Gold Drafter was.

"Afterward, the two Chiefs declared that if one had not entered the Fifth Rank in Martial Dao, one must not touch a Gold Drafter!"

"Fifth Rank!" Jiang Ping's gaze sharpened, then flickered with a trace of anticipation.

Time passed, and their conversation soon drew to an end. The wine and dishes had been eaten clean as well.

Jiang Ping had learned nearly everything he needed to know, and his thoughts had already drifted to the Stance Technique. He could hardly wait to begin cultivating a new technique, so he bade Escort Huang farewell.

"You ate quite a bit of Lingxi Meat. You should return early and experience the effects of this superior nutritious food."

Escort Huang nodded, then added after a moment's thought, "Oh, right. Your Nourishing Life Technique is only at the Fourth Level, and your strength is still low. As for the two jin of Lingxi Meat awarded by the escort agency, it is best to cook two liang of meat for each meal. The effect will be better."

"Lingxi Meat? Becoming an escort comes with such a reward?" Jiang Ping's heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly asked, his eyes full of confusion.

"Head Escort Wang didn't give it to you?"

"Head Escort Wang? The one who received me was not Head Escort Wang." Jiang Ping hurriedly shook his head. He did not recognize every ordinary escort in the agency, but he had met the Four Great Heads and remembered them.

Hearing this, Escort Huang's brows furrowed deeply. Suddenly, he asked, "Was the person you met a young man in his early thirties, somewhat similar to Head Escort Wang?"

"Now that you mention it..." Jiang Ping recalled the young man in the Accounting Room yesterday and answered, "He did look somewhat similar, and he was indeed quite a bit older than me."

"Then that's it." Escort Huang slapped his thigh. "He is Head Escort Wang's offspring. He must have been helping Head Escort Wang handle such trivial matters."

"So this person embezzled my two jin of Lingxi Meat?" Jiang Ping's expression darkened. A wisp of Saber Qi flickered in and out within his sleeve, showing signs of awakening.