Changping Prefecture City

Clink, clink, clink!

One liang of silver rolled to the feet of Father Jiang and Mother Jiang as Sun Qi said, "Escort Jiang knows you didn't come to see him—you came for silver. But this is for medical expenses."

"He earned dozens of liang!" Jiang Fu glared.

Sun Qi's brows furrowed slightly at that. Then he said, "Escort Jiang earned that himself. It has nothing to do with Uncle, does it?"

"And," he added, "during Escort Jiang's last Escort Mission, he nearly lost his life."

Jiang Fu stiffened, while Mother Jiang, Zhang Yun, trembled and asked urgently, "Was he hurt?"

Sun Qi shook his head. "It was very dangerous. Fortunately, he wasn't injured. But silver is a resource—the foundation bodyguards rely on to strengthen themselves. If he gives you part of what he earns, how is he supposed to improve quickly enough to protect his own life?"

"Bodyguards travel south and north; it isn't as easy as Uncle and Auntie imagine. During my agency's last Escort Mission, several bodyguards from another team died."

Zhang Yun trembled all over. In a quavering voice, she said, "Child, could you tell Ping'er that we don't want his silver? Ask him to leave the bodyguard agency, all right? It was wrong of us, as parents, to take his money without permission. I'm willing to return it to him—double it, triple it—just ask him to come home, all right?"

Her legs were nearly buckling as she bent down, pleading.

Sun Qi sighed. What use was regret now? He told Mother Jiang the truth: on the day they had arrived, everyone had signed a ten-year contract. The consequences for breaking it would be severe.

Zhang Yun's vision went black at once, and she nearly fainted.

Afterward, she begged to see her eldest son just once.

Sun Qi shook his head again. "Time is medicine, in truth. Escort Jiang is a very good person. I had a few small frictions with him before, but now we've become fairly close friends."

"But Uncle and Auntie not only failed to reflect on themselves—they even caused a huge scene at the bodyguard agency over silver. Auntie, do you think he would still be willing to see you?"

Zhang Yun froze, unable to say another word.

In the end, the farce came to a hasty close.

Before leaving, Zhang Yun left these words behind: "Child, please tell Ping'er that we won't disturb him again from now on. Tell him to practice martial arts in peace. If one day his anger fades, he can come home whenever he wishes. I'll always keep his room for him."

Night.

Jiang Ping had packed everything. Poison-coated throwing darts, poison, a human-skin mask—all of it was on his person, along with ten immensely powerful Thunderbolt Eggs.

The day's farce had not affected his state of mind. The matter of obtaining Grandmaster Swordplay could not be delayed; he still decided to set out that very night for Changping Prefecture City.

After leaving the bodyguard agency, Jiang Ping mounted the swift horse that had been prepared for him and hurried out of Yang City.

It was his first time traveling far alone, so he was especially cautious. The moment he left Yang City, he spurred his horse onward at full speed toward the prefectural city.

Fortunately, until he was nearing the neighboring county, Jiang Ping encountered nothing unusual. Nor did he see anyone from the Chenfeng Bodyguard Agency sent to hunt him down.

Before reaching the neighboring county, Jiang Ping took out the human-skin mask and put it over his face.

He was too young, and he was traveling alone—exactly the sort most likely to draw thieves' attention. He needed to change his appearance, preferably into that of a domineering middle-aged man.

Well, dominance could not be disguised. His eyes were bright and clear, making him look like a handsome and dashing middle-aged uncle.

With sexy stubble, a longsword on his back, and something of a knight-errant's bearing, he had barely entered the city before several young women began sneaking glances at him.

All right, it was an Adult Shop open twenty-four hours a day. Where would unmarried girls come from in the middle of the night to sneak glances at him? It was several courtesans repeatedly waving at him from across the street, where he sat by the window on the second floor of a tavern.

Jiang Ping turned a deaf ear. Time waited for no one.

After filling his stomach, Jiang Ping mounted up and departed.

On the morning two days later, he finally caught sight of Changping Prefecture City.

Of Black River Province's eight prefectures, Changping Prefecture's martial artists were not among the very top-notch overall, but they were by no means weak.

For that reason, the city before him—the political and economic center—had been built on an extraordinarily grand scale.

Mighty mountains rose behind the prefectural city, while a vast plain stretched before it. Outside the city, a great river flowed into the distance, keeping its waterways open and unobstructed.

The city walls, built from blue-gray stone, were tall, thick, and imposing. A magnificent City Gate Tower stood before them, and the armored soldiers atop it all carried long halberds that gleamed with cold, sharp light. Countless people passed through the gates, traffic flowing like a river and horses like dragons.

Jiang Ping received little inspection as he entered the city. This place was very open, with many merchants coming from south and north.

The instant he entered, all manner of sounds reached his ears. It was far livelier than Yang City; crowds surged through the area, shoulder brushing shoulder and heel treading heel.

Jiang Ping followed the bustling main street, occasionally stopping to look at the dazzling array of goods in the shops lining both sides of the road.

Of course, he did not forget the purpose of this journey. He asked around as he walked and soon learned the location of the Auction.

"There's one this afternoon."

Jiang Ping was delighted. Better to arrive by chance than early—perhaps he might obtain a Grandmaster Level skill today.

With time still to spare, Jiang Ping wandered about, wanting to experience the pulse of life in a great city and learn its local customs.

He deliberately headed wherever the crowds were thickest and took the initiative to join the excitement. To truly understand a city, these were the places to go. Perhaps he could find something tasty or entertaining, something to bring back for his younger sister.

But blindly burrowing into lively places was not always a good thing. For instance, Jiang Ping now sat in a soft chair with glamorous women leaning against both shoulders, while the Young Master across from him raised a cup in toast.

"Drink up, Uncle. The wine here has a flavor all its own—not inferior to the Imperial Court's exclusive supply."

"..." Jiang Ping.

He had only heard that the wine here was good; he had not expected it to be a place where stockings played melodiously... where silk and bamboo played melodiously.

Jiang Ping immediately rose and headed for the door, turning a deaf ear no matter how the two ladies of the dust tried to dissuade him.

Yet moments later, he came back in through the door. The Young Master smiled when he saw him. "That's more like it. How can flowers grown at home compare to the fragrance of wildflowers?"

"I forgot to take my wine." Jiang Ping grabbed the wine from the table. He had paid silver for it, after all.

"..." The Young Master.

After leaving, Jiang Ping wandered about aimlessly again. This time, he no longer followed the crowd, instead finding a restaurant in a quiet corner with few people and having lunch there.

Compared with the famous grand restaurants, these little smoke-and-fire shops were quite good too—better value for money.

Time flowed by.

Before long, it was nearly time for the Auction to begin.

Jiang Ping, along with quite a few others, was already waiting at the entrance.

Standing amid the crowd, he seemed somewhat solitary. He did not speak with anyone, merely listening to the discussions around him.

Some had come to purchase treasure weapons, while others sought supreme cultivation techniques or precious resources.

"I heard that the Luoyun Chamber of Commerce has acquired nearly half a jar of Blood of the Mysterious Tiger. It will be the finale item at this Auction," someone said in a low voice.

"That's the sort of thing those aristocratic clans and wealthy families should concern themselves with. How could people like us have the right to cultivate with that blood?" Quite a few people shook their heads, not particularly interested in it.

Creak!

Just then, the doors of the auction house were opened.

"Come on, let's go in first." Many people entered excitedly.