Mission

Xu Shi.

The setting sun fell, and night rose.

Unlike Pingcheng, the streets of Nanxun Town seemed to be just coming alive.

Some shops had already lit their lamps early. The glow of their red candles brightly illuminated the place.

A room on the second floor of an inn.

Aside from Xie Fei, everyone on this escort mission had gathered together, waiting for Zhang Jinsong to speak.

"We've already distributed the pay for this escort mission. But the Xu Family would now like to hire us to escort a shipment back to the Cheng Family along the same route."

Zhang Jinsong repeated what he had told Chen Feng earlier.

"No one's being forced. It's entirely up to you. The Xu Family and the Cheng Family will both pay, and the reward is quite generous."

The group discussed it in low voices.

It was clear that this was the first they'd heard of it.

"Boss, would this count as a job for the escort agency, or..."

"Private work."

Zhang Biao Tou answered without hesitation.

"When do we leave?" one of the Escort Guards asked.

"Early tomorrow."

"That soon?"

"It's urgent," Zhang Biao Tou replied. "They want us to leave first thing tomorrow. There can be no delays."

The group immediately looked conflicted.

They had been on edge and exhausted these past few days.

If they continued escorting goods now, something might go wrong.

"Anyone who wants to withdraw can say so now and collect their travel expenses from me." Zhang Biao Tou pulled some silver from his pocket.

"I'm out."

"Me too."

"I..."

Many of the Escort Guards took the money from Zhang Jinsong, then got up and left.

More important than silver was their safety.

Many had already earned enough from this escort mission and planned to rest for a few days.

Not everyone would be like Chen Feng and invest all their silver in Martial Arts Resources.

Twenty liang of silver was enough to let them live it up for a long time.

Chen Feng thought it over for a moment, then chose to stay.

After maxing out the Five Elements Fist, he had reached the point where he needed to break through to the Bone Forging Realm.

Whether he wanted to buy a new Martial Art or the pills and materials needed for his breakthrough, he needed silver.

Chen Feng felt that the money he'd earned from this trip, even with the compensation Zhang Biao Tou had given him after Xie Fei's sneak attack, still wouldn't quite be enough.

But he didn't want to slow down his progress.

The Lin Family had already been doing everything they could to kill him. And there was Lin Jingshu, hiding in the Li Family, ready to deal Chen Feng a fatal blow at any moment.

He had to prepare as soon as possible.

Besides... escort missions also earned experience.

Far more than his regular boxing practice.

He had a pitiful nine thousand experience points left.

He could learn at most one more Martial Art at the same level as the Five Elements Fist before his resources ran dry.

Chen Feng had originally planned to ask his master to teach him the Dragon Subduing Staff.

But...

He still hadn't learned a Lightness Skill.

For now, he could run fast only because of his formidable physique.

He had never trained in leg techniques.

He had the Five Elements Fist for moves and the Tai Chi Profound Origin Technique for internal cultivation, but he was missing one thing: a Lightness Skill suited for running away.

As for Martial Art manuals...

To learn one, he either had to take a master or buy it.

But they were the treasures people relied on to make a living. How could anyone sell them easily? He would have to pay a hefty price.

That was how it stood.

Chen Feng seemed wealthy, but in reality, he was nowhere near having enough silver.

"Good. I'll ask one last time. Does anyone else want to withdraw? This escort mission will be far more dangerous than the trip here."

Zhang Biao Tou put away his money pouch and asked the group.

No one answered.

Chen Feng looked around.

Only a handful of Escort Guards remained.

Nearly everyone had chosen to leave.

Aside from Chen Feng, only three others stayed.

Two of them had been on Night Watch last night.

They were Zhang Jiu and Wang Huan.

Perhaps they felt they hadn't earned much after the compensation paid to Chen Feng and wanted to take another job.

The other man had a family in need of money and seemed to be struggling. He was a little older, and everyone called him Old Li.

"Good. Come with me."

Zhang Biao Tou opened the door and led them out.

After turning down several streets, they arrived in front of a large mansion.

Chen Feng looked up at the buildings behind the tall walls. With their carved beams and layered eaves, they were unmistakably the residence of a Wealthy Family.

Then he looked at the lintel.

Sure enough.

The two characters "Xu Mansion" were written there in bold, sweeping strokes.

This was their employer for the journey.

Zhang Biao Tou knocked lightly on the wooden door, making a hollow thudding sound.

Before long, the Xu Mansion's steward hurriedly opened the door and ushered them inside.

"Zhang Biao Tou, you're finally here. We've been waiting for you!"

The steward smiled as he spoke to Zhang Jinsong, while sizing up Chen Feng and the other three. But his gaze...

It carried a distinctly appraising edge.

Following the steward, they passed the artificial rockery, crossed the stone bridge in the courtyard, and went through several doors before arriving at a deeper courtyard.

Several people were already seated there.

They were drinking tea and chatting.

Among them was the Bone Forging Martial Artist who had traveled with them from Pingcheng to Nanxun Town.

When they saw Zhang Biao Tou arrive, they all stood to greet him.

They exchanged greetings.

"Brother Zhang, we'll be relying on you again for the journey back."

"Not at all..."

Listening to Zhang Biao Tou talk with them, Chen Feng's pupils suddenly contracted.

Every one of these men was at least in the Bone Forging Realm!

"This runs deeper than I thought. That reward is going to be hard to take..."

Chen Feng's face turned thoughtful.

Who needed a whole group of Bone Forging Martial Artists for an escort mission? What bandits could rob a group of Bone Forging Realm Martial Artists?

With this kind of lineup, they could wipe out the entire Lin Family.

With that kind of strength, they would already have made a name for themselves. They could simply block the road and charge tolls.

After greeting them, Zhang Biao Tou introduced Chen Feng and the other three:

"These are the Escort Guards under my command. They're all capable."

The others clearly weren't interested in Chen Feng and his companions, and only gave a few perfunctory replies.

But the Cheng Family's Martial Artist seemed pleased to see them. When he saw Chen Feng, a flicker of delight even crossed his eyes.

"My name is Cheng Li. Thank you for being willing to help us."

The Cheng Family's Martial Artist introduced himself and thanked them.

The four Escort Guards, Chen Feng included, hurriedly cupped their hands in reply.

They had spent several days on the escort mission together, but this was their first proper conversation with Cheng Li, the Bone Forging Martial Artist.

The Bone Forging Martial Artists from the Xu Family all glanced their way.

They said nothing.

But Chen Feng noticed that the Xu Family's men seemed to look down on them a little.

He wasn't sure whether it was because they were Escort Guards or because they were in the Blood Refining Realm.

He didn't dwell on it.

As long as he got paid, that was all that mattered.

After discussing the arrangements for the next day,

they went their separate ways.

They would return early and rest, preparing for the journey tomorrow.

The next morning.

The sky was just beginning to lighten.

Several horses were already waiting outside the Xu Mansion, hauling some goods. There was far less cargo than on the way here.

This trip could be called traveling light.

Of course, they had fewer people too.

Aside from Chen Feng and the other three, there were only two other Blood Refining Realm Martial Artists.

There were three in the Bone Forging Realm.

The men they had seen yesterday weren't all present. Only Zhang and Cheng, along with a Xu Family Attendant named Xue Hai, were there.

Nine people in all.

That was their entire party.

There was something else Chen Feng couldn't help noticing—

Beside the cargo on the escort carts was a covered carriage, with someone clearly seated inside.

It had been added to the group that very morning.

Zhang Biao Tou said they were taking it along as a favor, bringing it back to Pingcheng.

But Chen Feng didn't think so.

A small amount of cargo and three Bone Forging Martial Artists—a high-end lineup that made no sense.

There was only one possibility.

The person in the carriage.

They were extremely important.

The cargo and everything else was just a smokescreen. Their real purpose was to escort someone back to Pingcheng.

And...

Cheng Li and the Attendant named Xue Hai had already begun altering their appearances, concealing their Qi Blood Power.

They dressed as plainly as possible.

Like ordinary Escort Guards.

Just then, a gentle voice came from inside the carriage:

"Second Uncle, can we set off?"

Her voice was soft and melodious, clear but not cloying, soothing to the ear.

Just hearing it brought to mind a graceful figure.

"The madam is asking. Hurry up, everyone!"

A maid leaned out of the carriage and called to them.

The Xu Family servants moved faster, quickly loading the rest of the cargo.

Cheng Li replied respectfully:

"Please wait a little longer, Madam. We'll set off at once."