On the official road, the Zhenyuan Escort Agency slowly made its way toward Qingquan Prefecture's capital, guarding dozens of carts of goods.
Time was tight on this trip.
They had to return to the capital before sunset tomorrow.
Chief Escort Li He's daughter, Li Xiaoman, had once again disguised herself as a man and joined the convoy.
Several months had passed since she had last accompanied her father on an escort run.
She had finally seized another chance and begged him to take her along, treating it as an opportunity to roam the martial world and broaden her horizons.
But this journey through the martial world was nothing like Li Xiaoman's previous ones.
There were no flashes of blades or glints of swords.
No bloody storms or savage winds.
The road had been smooth, without a hint of danger.
The whole trip felt less like escorting goods and more like sightseeing.
Take Laohu Ravine, which they had just passed. Its fearsome reputation was known far and wide.
Even her father, Li He, the renowned "Ghost Head Blade," normally had to pay a toll to pass through it.
This time, though, Li He had not paid a single coin.
"Father, how did we get through Laohu Ravine safely without paying a single coin? We haven't paid tolls at any of the other strongholds along the way, either. Since when did the Zhenyuan Escort Agency command such respect?"
Li Xiaoman had been holding that question in for the whole journey. She had wanted to ask it ages ago.
After all, this was not her first escort run. She knew exactly what the road had been like before.
Li He raised his head and pointed at the Zhang Banner hanging from the agency's flagpole. His expression grew complicated. "Xiaoman, our agency has changed