Task

Li Yuan's gaze swept across the board, searching for a task that met his requirements.

Suddenly, his eyes locked onto a piece of paper that looked slightly cleaner than the rest:

[Delivery Task: Deliver a letter to the Abbot of Quiet Heart Temple, thirty miles away.

Requirements: Deliver once every seven days for three months.

Reward: Five taels of silver per delivery.

Note: Must possess a certain level of self-defense capability; the route passes through the outer perimeter of the Mang Mountain Bandits' territory.]

A delivery task? Li Yuan's heart stirred.

It seemed the long-term commitment was the reason no one had taken it yet.

There was a certain degree of danger, but as long as he was careful, it should be avoidable.

After a moment of thought, Li Yuan reached out and pulled the slip of paper down.

Just as he tucked the paper into his tunic, a low voice sounded from beside him: "Taking a job?"

Li Yuan turned his head to see a man standing at his side, also masked, with only a pair of sharp, bright eyes visible.

"Yes," Li Yuan replied, intentionally roughening his voice.

The masked man nodded and glanced at the task Li Yuan had taken.

Without further ado, he whispered: "Tomorrow at noon, go to Willow Leaf Alley in the east of Wuxi County. Find the third house and knock three long and two short times. Someone will receive you; just say you are there to deliver the letter."

Having said this, the man melted back into the shadows and vanished.

Li Yuan nodded, memorizing the address.

He did not linger inside, soon returning to Blue Stone Village by the same path he had come.

The next day at noon.

Li Yuan first went to Willow Leaf Alley in the east of the city and knocked on the door according to the secret signal.

An elderly servant opened the door, and upon hearing the words "deliver the letter," he led him inside.

Inside was a woman with a curvaceous figure, dressed in simple yet elegant clothing, possessing a dignified air. She appeared to be in her thirties, with faint crow's feet at the corners of her eyes, and identified herself as Madam Chen.

Madam Chen did not say much. Once she confirmed that Li Yuan had accepted the delivery task, she set the schedule for the first morning of every seven-day cycle.

He was to come here to collect the letter and deliver it to Quiet Heart Temple.

The time for the first delivery was set for three days later.

Even after securing a stable source of income, Li Yuan did not slack off.

Every delivery required passing through the outer perimeter of the Mang Mountain Bandits' territory, and although it was only the perimeter, the risk remained.

Although he was a martial artist in the Ox Skin Realm, he was, in the end, a country bumpkin who had never traveled far.

He was unfamiliar with the roads outside the city, and if he went back and forth alone, there was no guarantee he wouldn't run into trouble.

After much deliberation, Li Yuan sought out his Third Senior Brother, Zhao Qin, while training at the martial arts hall.

Zhao Qin had a good temper, and many disciples often sought his advice on things they didn't understand.

"You want to follow an escort team to Quiet Heart Temple?" Zhao Qin stroked his chin after hearing Li Yuan's intent.

"Hmm, being cautious is never a bad thing. Although you have reached the Ox Skin Realm and your strength has greatly increased, your experience in the pugilistic world is still shallow. The road conditions outside the city are complex, and bandits and outlaws won't play by the rules of one-on-one combat."

Zhao Qin wasn't stupid; since Li Yuan had asked him about ways to make money yesterday and wanted to go to Quiet Heart Temple today, it was obvious he had taken a job.

However, he wouldn't pry; everyone had their own choices and opportunities.

To Zhao Qin, as long as one didn't harm their fellow disciples or his family, it was fine.

Zhao Qin wrote a letter and told Li Yuan to take it to the Wei Yuan Escort Agency in the city to find an escort leader named Wang Min.

"Old Wang and I have some history. Their agency often handles business along that route. Take my letter, and he should give me enough face to let you tag along for a trip. But you must follow the escort leader's arrangements on the road and not act on your own."

Li Yuan gratefully accepted the letter: "Thank you, Third Senior Brother."

"We are fellow disciples, why be so polite? When you're out and about, safety comes first."

Carrying Zhao Qin's letter, Li Yuan arrived at the Wei Yuan Escort Agency and met Head Escort Wang.

He was a swarthy, sturdy middle-aged man who read the letter and then sized Li Yuan up.

Sensing the unique vitality of a martial artist in him, he readily agreed.

"Since you were introduced by Zhao Qin, just call me Uncle Wang."

"It just so happens that in three days, there is a shipment going to Black Water County that will pass near Quiet Heart Temple. You can just follow the team; consider it a temporary arrangement."

"However, according to the rules, those who join temporarily will have their share determined by their performance on the road," Head Escort Wang said.

Li Yuan naturally had no objections; this suited his intentions perfectly.

He could safely reach Quiet Heart Temple to complete the delivery mission while familiarizing himself with the route and gaining experience in traveling abroad.

It had to be said that having connections made a difference, saving him a great deal of trouble.

If Li Yuan had to find such an opportunity on his own, he would likely have to endure a so-called probationary period before becoming a regular member.

After the terms were settled, Li Yuan felt a weight lift from his heart and returned to the martial arts hall to polish his fist techniques.

Over the past few days, in addition to trekking through the mountains to earn a little money and tempering his skin and membranes, he had also begun searching the Outer City for small gangs where he could hold a position.

Ideally, one with high pay and little work—though, of course, that was just wishful thinking.

Li Yuan was still living in a temporary shack he had found in the shantytown of the Outer City.

The environment was poor and the security was not high, but it had the advantage of being cheap and convenient for coming and going.

Once his strength improved and he had money in the future, he would go to the Inner City to buy a house.

Li Yuan's skill in Consumption finally broke through at this moment.

[Skill: Consumption (Minor Achievement)]

[Progress: 1/1000 points]

[Effect: Digestion and absorption capabilities slightly enhanced]

[Note: Heaven Rewards Diligence; as long as you are willing to eat, there will be rewards.]

"Gurgle~"

"I just finished eating not long ago; why am I hungry so soon?"

The insights from the skill breakthrough did not flow into his mind, but rather into his stomach.

Li Yuan suddenly felt that everything related to eating had significantly improved.

He took a few pieces of dried meat and tasted them; the flavor seemed richer and more delicious than in the past.

Swallowing them, he felt nothing, but his body's blood and energy were replenished faster than before.

"It seems this Consumption skill is about how to nourish oneself and convert energy," Li Yuan thought thoughtfully.

Now that this skill had reached Minor Achievement, he feared his appetite would only grow larger in the future.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Early that morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, Li Yuan finished packing.

He first went to Madam Chen to collect the letter, which was in a beige envelope with the edges carefully sealed.

At the junction of the flap, a pattern of an orchid was pasted.

"I won't say anything redundant. Don't think about opening the envelope; if it is damaged in any way, they won't accept it on the other end."

"As for the reward, once you deliver it to the abbot, he will settle it with you himself," Madam Chen said indifferently.

Returning to his room, Li Yuan shouldered his hunting bow and quiver, packed some dry rations and water, and brought a short blade for self-defense.

When he arrived at the entrance of Wei Yuan Escort Agency, the escort team was already prepared to depart.

A dozen mule-drawn carts were loaded with goods, flying the flags of Wei Yuan Escort Agency.

More than twenty escorts and scouts were busy checking the vehicles and equipment.

Wang Min was standing to the side, talking with another man—Head Escort Sun, also known as Sun Tong—who had a short beard and a lean, sturdy build.

Sun Tong's voice was resonant as he addressed the group gathering before him: "The old rules apply; keep your spirits up.

Keep your eyes on the road and your ears to the wind. Don't ask what you shouldn't, and don't touch what you shouldn't.

Follow all orders, especially when we pass through Mang Mountain—keep your eyes peeled!"