Wu Family Guards

Comparing the two, it was clear which was superior.

Seeing this, the man from the Wu Family clicked his tongue, but the woman's gloom vanished; she glanced at Chen Mo again, finding him much more pleasing to the eye this time.

Luo Heng, however, furrowed his brows tightly. He lost?

The iron-clad reality on the wooden post left him with no room to argue, and he felt as though many eyes filled with mockery were fixed upon him.

The woman smiled brightly. "It seems Chen Mo is the better man. Second Brother, you have nothing left to say now, do you?"

The man from the Wu Family gave a soft huff and turned his head away.

The woman turned back to Chen Mo. "Young friend Chen Mo, I invite you on behalf of the Wu Family to serve as a caravan guard. You will receive four taels of silver and four packets of Yiqi Powder each month. Should you perform any special service, there will be additional rewards. Are you willing?"

Chen Mo pondered rapidly.

He was currently in need of money. Although the seven taels of silver seized from Huang E had plugged the hole for the moment, it would not last long.

While a guard for the Wu Family was not as prestigious as a guest retainer, and the internal power struggle within the Wu Family was evident, he had no better options for the time being.

It would be better to go to the Wu Family for now and wait for an opportunity to change his circumstances.

Having made up his mind, he nodded. "Very well, I am willing."

Seeing this, the man from the Wu Family cupped his hands toward Master Yin. "Master Yin, I shall take my leave."

Without waiting for the woman to react, he walked straight away, and the people from the Zhao Family followed suit.

Finally, the woman waved her hand at Chen Mo. "Chen Mo, I have some things I wish to discuss with you in private."

The two walked one after the other through the back garden of the martial arts hall.

Seeing no one around, the woman spoke: "Chen Mo, my name is Wu Zhiai. I am three or four years your senior, so you may call me Sister Ai. You must have some questions in your heart, right?"

Chen Mo nodded, not hiding his thoughts. "Why did you specifically choose me? There shouldn't be any connection between us."

Wu Zhiai shook her head slightly. "I wouldn't say there is no connection. To be honest, my situation in the Wu Family is not good, so I need my own allies. There is one other person in the same position as me, and that is Master Wu from your Iron Furnace Room. It was he who recommended you to me."

"Master Wu?"

Chen Mo recalled that Master Wu was indeed a member of the Wu Family, but he had heard earlier that he held no status within the family, so Chen Mo had not paid it much mind.

If Master Wu had mentioned Chen Mo to Wu Zhiai, then it made sense.

"Sister Ai, I would like to know who is who within the Wu Family."

If he were to take a position at the Wu Family, he had to be well-informed. He needed to be prepared for whom to speak to and how to act.

Wu Zhiai explained in detail: "The old master of the Wu Family has passed away. Now, the family is divided into two factions. One consists of the eldest and second sons—my eldest and second brothers—and the other is just me, or at most, plus Master Wu."

"I am not the biological daughter of the old master, but the caravan and most of the wealth of the Wu Family were developed and expanded by me. Before he passed, the old master publicly promised me half of the family assets, but after he died, my eldest and second brothers went back on their word. That is why I am on such bad terms with them."

Chen Mo nodded in understanding.

"Then what is Master Wu's status in the Wu Family?"

Wu Zhiai replied: "Master Wu is the younger brother of the old master, but because he was born to a concubine, he has no status."

Chen Mo then asked about the duties of a caravan guard.

Wu Zhiai continued: "You will be responsible for escorting the Wu Family caravan. The caravan travels between Anyang County and Black River Town and often encounters bandits. You must ensure the safety of the goods."

After saying this, she added: "But the most important thing is the safety of the people. If you encounter a strong enemy, do not be reckless, because besides ordinary bandits, the Zhao Family is also our adversary."

"Also, since you were chosen by me, you are on my side. The eldest and second brothers may target you, so you must be prepared."

Chen Mo took these words to heart.

A brief silence fell, and the two stepped over the fallen branches in the back garden, the soles of their shoes making crisp, crunching sounds.

Chen Mo pondered to himself; he had not expected that while he had secured a position, he had inadvertently been dragged into the muddy waters of the Wu Family. He would just have to take it one step at a time.

Sometimes, the water must be muddy to catch fish.

At this moment, Wu Zhiai sighed softly: "Born in troubled times, one must keep the power of life and death in one's own hands. I hope that in the future, we can be the ones in charge at the Wu Family. When that day comes, I will not treat you poorly."

Chen Mo chewed on these words carefully. Whether it was encouragement or an attempt to win him over, he at least had an "ally" now.

"Oh, right." Wu Zhiai turned around. "Tomorrow, the Wu Family happens to have a shipment arriving from the county town. You are responsible for going to meet them."

"Understood."

Chen Mo agreed, then saw Wu Zhiai off as she left the martial arts hall.

After Wu Zhiai left, Chen Mo continued to practice his footwork and punches, performing fifty repetitions of each.

After finishing, he walked toward his third senior brother, Ji Chang. "Senior Brother, would you do me the honor of sparring a few rounds?"

Ji Chang rose to the challenge.

The next day at noon.

Chen Mo arrived at the Wu Family estate. Wu Zhiai personally led him into the courtyard, gave him a martial arts uniform and an iron saber, and stuffed two packets of Yiqi Powder into his hands. "Consider these two packets of Yiqi Powder an advance. You can take one now, just in case."

Yiqi Powder had the effect of circulating energy and increasing strength; Chen Mo had seen his senior brothers take it before.

Following this, Wu Zhiai instructed, "There are three other guards accompanying you today. Two of them are neutral, but one is from their side, so be careful not to get tripped up."

Before long, the four guards gathered in front of the Wu Family estate. Chen Mo looked up to see a burly man standing imposingly, holding a steel blade with piercing eyes.

This man was the one Wu Zhiai had referred to as "their person," Li Tu, a practitioner at the mid-stage of Ming Jin. The man looked back, and their gazes locked.

"The little brother must be the new guard hired by the Wu Family. In our line of work, the most important thing is to keep your eyes sharp, your hands and feet quick, and not to drag us down. I hope you can manage that."

Chen Mo offered a slight cupped-fist salute, offering no rebuttal.

The other two had not yet reached the level of Ming Jin and served only as errand runners in the group; neither dared to interject.

The four of them soon set off, heading north. The journey was relatively relaxed, and they arrived at a post station south of the county town before sunset to meet the Wu Family caravan.

After a brief rest, the group packed up and departed.

From this moment on, escorting the caravan back to the Wu Family under the cover of dusk was when their roles as guards would truly be put to the test.

Under the twilight, clouds hung low and stars were sparse; the forest was so quiet that only the sound of footsteps on leaves could be heard.

Li Tu suddenly spoke up, "New brother, there is mist in this forest, and I fear there may be bandits in ambush. I am more familiar with this area, so how about I take the lead and you take the rear?"

Chen Mo lifted his eyes slightly, having already guessed the other man's intentions.

Even if there were bandits, they would only be small-time thugs. When the time came, Li Tu would make quick work of them, claiming all the credit and rewards for himself, thereby giving Wu Laoda and Wu Laoer more leverage.

Although he had guessed the man's motives, Chen Mo was a newcomer and it would be unwise to object, so he decided to go along with it for now.

Seeing Chen Mo nod in agreement, a hint of smugness appeared on Li Tu's face. "Good, you're a straightforward lad!"