Mission

Xu Shi.

The setting sun fell, and nightfall ascended.

Unlike Pingcheng, the streets of Nanxun Town seemed to be just beginning to liven up.

Some shops had already lit their lamps early, their bright red candlelight illuminating the area.

Upstairs room in the inn.

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

"Everyone, I've already distributed the payment for this escort mission, but next, the Xu Family wants to entrust us with escorting a batch of goods back to the Cheng Family along the original route."

Zhang Jinsong repeated what he had told Chen Feng earlier.

"I'm not forcing anyone; it's entirely voluntary. The reward will be paid jointly by the Xu Family and the Cheng Family, and it's very generous."

The crowd murmured in discussion.

They had clearly just learned about this.

"Boss, is this trip for the escort agency or..."

"A private job."

Zhang Biao Tou replied without hesitation.

"When do we depart?" a镖师 asked.

"Tomorrow morning."

"So soon?"

Zhang Biao Tou replied, "It's very urgent. They require us to depart immediately tomorrow, with no delays."

Upon hearing this, everyone became hesitant.

Presumably, they had been mentally tense and overly exhausted these past few days.

If they continued escorting goods at this time, problems might arise.

"If anyone wishes to withdraw, you can state it now and I'll give you your travel expenses," Zhang Biao Tou said, taking out some silver from his pocket.

"I'm withdrawing."

"I'm withdrawing too."

"I..."

Many镖师, after receiving the silver from Zhang Jinsong, got up and left.

Compared to silver.

Safety was more important.

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

Not everyone would, like Chen Feng, invest all their silver into Martial Arts Resources.

Twenty taels of silver.

Was enough for them to live it up for a long time.

Chen Feng pondered for a moment, he chose to stay.

After maxing out Five Elements Fist, he was also at the point where he needed to break through to the Bone Forging Realm.

Whether it was buying new martial arts, or buying Pills, materials needed for the breakthrough, all required silver.

Chen Feng felt that the income from this trip alone, plus the compensation Zhang Biao Tou gave after Xie Fei's sneak attack.

Was still a bit tight.

But he didn't want to slow down his promotion speed.

The Lin Family was already trying every means to kill him, and there was also Lin Jingshu, hiding in the Li Family, who could deliver a fatal blow to Chen Feng at any moment.

He had to prepare early.

Moreover... escorting also provided experience points.

Much more than his daily practice.

Now his experience points were a pitiful nine thousand.

At most, he could learn one more martial art of the same level as Five Elements Fist before becoming stretched thin.

Chen Feng's original plan was to learn Dragon Subduing Staff from his Master.

But...

He hadn't learned Lightness Skill yet.

His current speed relied entirely on his strong physique.

He had never learned any Leg Techniques.

His techniques included the Five Elements Fist, his internal energy cultivation was the Tai Chi Profound Origin Technique, but he was missing a Lightness Skill suitable for running away.

Martial arts manuals and such.

To learn them, you either had to become a disciple or buy them.

But those were treasured skills that people relied on for their livelihood, so how could they easily sell them? This meant you had to spend a lot of money.

As a result.

Chen Feng, though seemingly wealthy, was actually far from having enough silver.

"Alright, I'll ask one last time, does anyone want to quit? This escort mission will definitely be much more dangerous than the journey here."

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

No one responded.

Chen Feng looked around.

Only a handful of escorts remained.

Most had chosen to leave.

Besides Chen Feng himself, only three others stayed.

Two of them had been on guard duty last night.

Their names were Zhang Jiu and Wang Huan.

Perhaps they felt they had earned less after compensating Chen Feng and decided to take on another job.

The other was short on money at home, seemingly facing some difficulties. He was older, and everyone called him Old Li.

"Good, follow me."

Zhang Biao Tou opened the door and led the few people out.

They turned down several streets and arrived in front of a large mansion.

Chen Feng looked up at the buildings within the high walls. Carved beams and painted rafters, layered eaves, it was clearly the residence of a wealthy family.

He then looked at the lintel.

Indeed.

The characters "Xu Mansion" were written in a bold, flowing script.

This was the employer for this trip.

Zhang Biao Tou lightly knocked on the wooden door, producing a dong dong sound.

Soon, the steward of the Xu Mansion hurried to open the door and welcomed everyone in.

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

The steward spoke to Zhang Jinsong with a smile, while also sizing up Chen Feng and the other three. However, his gaze...

Held a hint of scrutiny.

Everyone followed the steward,绕过假山 (passed by the rockery), 跨过院内石桥 (crossed the stone bridge within the courtyard), and 穿过几道门 (passed through several doors), arriving at a courtyard deeper inside.

Several people were already seated in the courtyard.

They were brewing tea and chatting.

Among them was the Bone Forging Martial Artist who had accompanied them all the way from Pingcheng to Nanxun Town.

Seeing Zhang Biao Tou arrive, they all stood up to greet him.

They exchanged greetings.

"Brother Zhang, we'll have to rely on you a lot for the journey back."

"Not at all..."

Listening to Zhang Biao Tou's conversation with them.

Chen Feng's pupils suddenly contracted.

All of these people were at least Bone Forging Realm martial artists!

This situation is deeper than I thought. It seems the reward will be difficult to take...

Chen Feng appeared contemplative.

Why would an escort mission require a group of Bone Forging Realm martial artists? What kind of mountain bandits could rob a group of Bone Forging Realm martial artists?

This setup was enough to wipe out the entire Lin Family.

If they had this kind of strength, they would have long been famous and could have simply blocked the road and charged tolls.

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

"These are the escorts under my command. All good hands."

However, they clearly weren't interested in Chen Feng and the others, only offering perfunctory responses.

And the Cheng Family Martial Artist.

He was happy about everyone's arrival, and even a hint of joy flashed in his eyes when he saw Chen Feng.

"My name is Cheng Li, thank you for being willing to help."

The Cheng Family martial artist introduced himself and expressed his gratitude to everyone.

The four escorts, including Chen Feng, quickly cupped their hands in response.

Although they had spent a few days together escorting the goods, this was the first time they had formally spoken with this Bone Forging Martial Artist named Cheng Li.

Several Bone Forging Martial Artists from the Xu Family glanced over.

They didn't say anything.

But Chen Feng noticed that the Xu Family members seemed to look down on them.

He wasn't sure if it was because of the escorts' profession or their Blood Refining Realm strength.

However, he didn't pay much attention to it.

As long as he got paid.

After discussing the arrangements for the next day.

Everyone dispersed.

They went back to rest early to prepare for the next day's journey.

Early the next morning.

It was still dim.

Several horses were already tied up at the Xu Family's entrance, pulling some goods, significantly fewer than when they arrived.

This trip could be considered traveling light.

Of course, there were fewer people as well.

Besides the four of them, Chen Feng, there were only two other Blood Refining Realm martial artists.

And three Bone Forging Realm martial artists.

Not all the people they saw yesterday were present, only Zhang, Cheng, and a Xu Family retainer named Xue Hai.

A total of nine people.

This is all the manpower.

Chen Feng was concerned about another matter—

Beside the鏢车 (鏢車) cargo, there was also a box-shaped carriage, and someone was clearly inside.

This carriage was squeezed into the convoy this morning.

Zhang Biao Tou said it was a coincidence, bringing it back to Pingcheng together.

But Chen Feng didn't think so.

A small amount of cargo, with a high-end configuration of three Bone Forging Martial Artists, was not worth it no matter how you calculated it.

The only possibility.

It could only be the person in this carriage.

Extremely important.

The cargo was just a smokescreen; the real purpose was to escort the person back to Pingcheng.

And...

Cheng Li and the retainer named Xue Hai had already begun to disguise themselves, concealing their Qi Blood power.

Dressed ordinarily.

Just like ordinary镖师 (鏢師).

At this moment, a gentle voice came from inside the carriage:

"Second Uncle, can we set off?"

The voice was soft and gentle, melodious and clear, not娇 (嬌) or嫩 (嫩), and pleasant to the ear.

Just by hearing the voice, one could imagine a graceful figure.

"Madam is urging us, hurry up."

A Maid poked her head out of the carriage and directed everyone.

Several servants from the Xu Family sped up their actions, quickly preparing the cargo on the carriage.

Cheng Li said respectfully:

"Madam, please wait a moment, we will set off immediately."