Everyone first gathered at Song Academy again. Then, under Master Song's lead, they headed straight for the city gate.
Like Lu Yuan, the others knew they were about to learn saber techniques, so they had found ways to get their hands on sabers.
Except for Wu Yu, Chen Pi, and Gu Ming, who each carried a proper long saber, the weapons held by Chen Yong and the others were all sorts of oddities.
Some had woodcutting knives, some had kitchen knives, and some even had wooden sabers.
Clearly, they couldn't afford real long sabers and could only make do with these.
As for Hong Lei and Fang Chang, who followed close behind Master Song like his two guardians, they naturally each had a fine saber.
Just from its appearance, it was clearly much better than the long saber Lu Yuan had bought from the blacksmith's for half a tael of silver.
There was no need to guess. Master Song must have prepared them personally.
It was plain to see how precious these two disciples were to Master Song, given their outstanding natural talent.
Before long, the group arrived outside the city gate.
Several carts, their boxes piled high with goods, were already waiting there.
A man sat on each cart.
Even if they weren't martial artists, they all looked quite sturdy. They were likely the escort hands responsible for driving the carts and moving the goods.
"So much cargo!"
Someone couldn't help exclaiming at the sight of the goods loaded onto more than a dozen carts.
"Look at the escort flag on that cart!"
Someone pointed to the rather luxurious carriage at the front.
Everyone looked up. The escort flag bore four large characters: Wei Yuan Escort Agency.
"I think I heard Brother Hong mention before that Master Song has a post at the Wei Yuan Escort Agency. This escort mission must be theirs!"
Chen Pi smiled as he spoke.
"No wonder everyone gets five taels in pay. These goods must be worth a fortune. And that luxurious carriage up front—whoever's inside must be someone of wealth or status!"
Chen Yong's eyes flickered as he spoke, his expression unusual.
"Master Song is a great expert in the Transformation Realm. Whoever could have him personally escort them must be no ordinary person!"
Wu Yu nodded.
"Do you think we can count ourselves as half a bodyguard for the Wei Yuan Escort Agency now?"
Someone asked, clearly excited.
"If we do well on this escort mission, there's no reason we couldn't take up a post at the Wei Yuan Escort Agency and become real bodyguards!"
"Once we're bodyguards for the Fu Wei Escort Agency, even if we only take one escort job a month, we should have enough to eat meat at every meal, right?"
As everyone excitedly discussed this, Hong Lei walked over.
"You can each sit on one of these cargo carts!"
Hong Lei smiled at them, then spoke plainly.
"Brother Hong, when can we learn saber techniques?"
Someone asked, unable to wait.
"I'll teach you when we stop for the night!"
Hong Lei replied with a smile, then turned and went back to the luxurious carriage.
"Wonderful!"
Everyone grew even more excited and eager at his words.
Though Master Song wouldn't be teaching them himself, they were already quite satisfied.
They were merely outer-courtyard martial arts apprentices who paid to train. To be taught by Hong Lei, a direct disciple of the Inner Courtyard, and learn a saber technique for free was already a great blessing. How could they ask for more?
Lu Yuan was also looking forward to it. He didn't care whether Master Song taught him personally.
As long as he learned it, he could master it on his own without any problems.
The group didn't waste time. Each picked a cart and climbed aboard.
Lu Yuan was no exception. He casually chose one of the carts.
The escort hand riding on it was a dark-skinned, burly, middle-aged man.
"Little brother, are you Master Song's disciple?"
The man smiled at Lu Yuan as he asked.
"I wouldn't call myself a disciple. I'm just an ordinary apprentice!"
Lu Yuan replied with a polite smile.
"That's still impressive!"
The man looked at Lu Yuan with envy, then continued, "Unlike us. We have no talent for martial arts, and we're long past the golden age for training. The most we can do is sell our strength for a little hard-earned money, barely keeping food on the table for our families."
Though Great Zhou had been founded on martial prowess, not everyone could become a martial artist.
If someone had no talent and had already passed the golden age for training, it was nearly impossible for them to become a true martial artist. At most, they could learn a few rough-and-ready moves and rely on brute strength, making them a bit better at fighting than ordinary people.
Though Lu Yuan had only been exposed to martial arts for half a month, he had already seen countless people come and go at Song Academy.
Many were only sixteen or seventeen, in the golden age for training. Yet even after practicing Five Animals Fist at Song Academy for a month or two, they still struggled to get started. With no money to support their training, they had no choice but to give up.
After all, not everyone was like Wu Yu, Chen Pi, and Gu Ming. Though their natural talent wasn't exceptional, they could still enter the world of martial arts through hard work. If they later had enough money and resources to support them, they might even aspire to reach a higher level.
Nor was everyone like Hong Lei and Fang Chang, who had exceptional natural talent and had also met a good mentor. If they could grow up, their future would know no bounds.
And certainly not everyone was like Lu Yuan, who had awakened the Practice Makes Perfect fate. He could completely ignore natural talent, not only improving faster the more he trained, but also making every breakthrough permanent.
As the two chatted briefly, the convoy soon began moving.
Master Song, Hong Lei, and Fang Chang were all seated outside the luxurious carriage.
Clearly, it wasn't the cargo behind them they were truly protecting, but the luxurious carriage—or rather, the noble inside it.
As for Lu Yuan, Chen Pi, Wu Yu, and the other outer-courtyard apprentices, all they had to do was watch over the cargo behind them.
At first, everyone seemed quite cautious, often scanning their surroundings with wary, guarded looks.
But as time passed, they gradually relaxed. Some had even leaned against the cargo and dozed off.
Perhaps it was the deterrent effect of the escort flag, but aside from a few bumps along the way, they encountered none of the dangers they had imagined.
They ran into no bandits on the road, no gangs lying in wait, and no mountain robbers or thieves.
As night fell, the convoy stopped on a stretch of open ground in the wilderness.
After a bonfire was lit, Wu Yu, Chen Pi, Lu Yuan, and the others sat around it.
The escort hands sat around another bonfire and ate and drank.
Master Song, Hong Lei, and Fang Chang remained on guard beside the luxurious carriage.
As for the noble inside, they seemed to have no intention of coming out.
Before long, amid everyone's eager anticipation, Hong Lei and Fang Chang walked over together.
"Before I teach you saber techniques, I'd like to ask you first: who knows what a combat technique is?"
Hong Lei nodded to everyone, then asked with a smile.
"A combat technique is a method of killing!"
Wu Yu thought for a moment, then answered directly.
"A combat technique lets us unleash greater power!"
Chen Pi chimed in.
The others were also pondering, hoping to offer some different insight, but they scratched their heads, unable to think of anything.
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