"Third Master Shen, making such a big show of force this late at night seems like overkill."
When Zhou Yun saw dozens of Sky Sea Escort Agency guards, his confidence sank by half.
He had not expected Third Master Shen to act so quickly. It had barely been any time since he killed that old woman, and already he had summoned dozens of guards.
No, perhaps he had been watching from the start, making sure the whole process went off without a hitch.
"Little Friend Zhou, you left without saying goodbye. Was there something about the way the Sky Sea Escort Agency treated you that fell short?"
Third Master Shen narrowed his eyes slightly, seemingly in no hurry to bare his fangs.
He was sizing up this youngster, who had only broken through to Bright Force a few days ago. How had he escaped from an expert in Dark Force?
"There were too many bugs in my guest room. I casually swatted one, then came out for a walk."
Zhou Yun's expression remained unchanged as he answered calmly.
"Bugs?"
Third Master Shen was taken aback. Then his expression darkened; he clearly knew what Zhou Yun was hinting at.
As expected, that expert in Dark Force could never have let the boy leave.
There was only one possibility... He was dead.
A martial arts hall disciple who had only just broken through to Bright Force had killed a battle-hardened expert in Dark Force all by himself.
And from the looks of it, he did not even have a scratch on him. He had killed the man without a single injury!
"Good. Little Friend Zhou certainly knows how to enjoy himself."
Third Master Shen smiled without warmth, and his estimation of the threat Zhou Yun posed shot up several notches.
Someone like this could not possibly be just the son of a humble fisherman.
Perhaps he was a disciple of some reclusive expert or a major power from one of the Twelve Main Cities, sent to Black Stone County for experience.
If someone like that died here, word would inevitably get out unless he silenced all the dozens of guards present...
What was more, there was not a single expert in Dark Force among them. Most of those experts were stationed at the Black Stone County headquarters, while all the experts in Dark Force publicly known to be in Clear Water County were away escorting goods.
Keeping Zhou Yun here would be difficult.
"Since Little Friend Zhou finds the guest room uncomfortable, I can have you moved to another one. We wouldn't want to spoil your good mood, only for word to spread that the Sky Sea Escort Agency failed to look after you properly."
Third Master Shen waved his hand. The dozens of guards parted in unison, clearing a path.
"If you've finished your walk, go back and get some rest. Tomorrow, I'll send you back to Black Stone County."
Hearing this, Zhou Yun's expression froze.
He had thought a fierce battle was coming and had already prepared to fight.
Why had Third Master Shen suddenly decided to let them go?
"Could he be wary of my ability to kill an expert in Dark Force?"
Zhou Yun wondered for a moment, then came up with a plausible explanation.
"Even if I can kill someone in Dark Force, I'm still just a martial artist with no backing. But perhaps I'm so young that he thinks I'm a scion of some major power."
Only then did Zhou Yun feel he had a handle on the situation, though he remained as vigilant as ever.
"Thank you for your kindness, Third Master Shen. But perhaps I was born unable to sleep in a fine bed. I'd like to get two rooms at an inn outside with Miss Shen. I'm sure you won't refuse, Third Master."
Third Master Shen's expression changed, but he still gave a chuckle. "If Little Friend Zhou finds the guest rooms at the Shen Family uncomfortable, then do as you please."
"As for my niece, that depends on what she wants."
With that, he looked toward Shen Qingxue.
"Junior Brother Zhou and I come from the same school. It'll be more convenient to stay together before we return to Black Stone County tomorrow."
Shen Qingxue's voice was cold.
"Third Master Shen, we won't trouble you any longer."
Zhou Yun clasped his hands in salute. He and Shen Qingxue did not linger, heading straight out of the Escort Agency.
Third Master Shen watched them leave, his face as dark as water.
"Send someone to the Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall at once and report today's events exactly as they happened."
As soon as he finished speaking, several guards vanished into the darkness.
On the street.
The moment Zhou Yun stepped out of the Escort Agency, he hurried toward the nearest inn.
Few inns were still open for business at this hour. He and Shen Qingxue walked two streets before finding one.
"Shopkeeper, I want one of the good horses from your stable."
Zhou Yun said nothing more. He knew that every extra moment they stayed here meant more danger.
He could not count on Third Master Shen having a change of heart. If he suddenly changed his mind and sent men to drag them back, they would have no way to explain themselves.
"Sir, our little inn only offers rooms and meals. We've never sold horses..."
The attendant looked troubled.
"One gold bar."
Shen Qingxue took a bar of gold from her robe pocket and slapped it on the table.
"Right away! I'll pick out a fine horse for you!"
The attendant's eyes lit up. He immediately slipped the gold into his pocket, even taking the chance to bite it.
Before long, he led a sturdy chestnut horse to the inn's entrance.
It was no match for a heavenly steed like a Ferghana horse, but among the horses one could actually buy, it was a fine mount.
"Senior Sister Shen, you've spent a lot."
Zhou Yun patted the horse, used the stirrup to swing himself up, then reached down and pulled Shen Qingxue onto the horse behind him.
"Don't worry about it. This isn't the time to pinch pennies."
Seated behind Zhou Yun, Shen Qingxue felt a sense of security rise within her for no clear reason.
A fine horse galloped through the empty streets in the dead of night, soon racing out of Clear Water County.
Only after they were some distance from Clear Water County did Shen Qingxue ask, "Junior Brother, did you really kill that expert in Dark Force?"
"I was just lucky. That old woman killed more than a dozen guards during the day, and the force in her body hadn't recovered to its peak."
Zhou Yun made up an excuse on the spot. The old woman was dead, so he could say whatever he liked.
"I see."
Shen Qingxue tacitly said no more. She understood the principle that a tree that stood out was the first to be toppled by the wind, but she still could not help saying:
"Junior Brother Zhou, if you're willing, I'd like to hire you as a guest steward of the Sky Sea Escort Agency."
"You'd receive ten taels of silver a month, along with two Blood Coagulation Pills as support. You'd also be able to mobilize the forces of the Sky Sea Escort Agency and even the Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall to a certain extent."
Zhou Yun's heart stirred. Senior Sister Shen's offer was genuinely generous.
Ten taels of silver would be enough to support a family of three for a whole year if they lived frugally.
And two Blood Coagulation Pills were worth nearly as much as the ten taels. They were probably the most she could offer.
On top of that, as a guest steward of the Shen Family, he would be able to mobilize the forces of the Sky Sea Escort Agency and the martial arts hall to some degree.
That meant Zhou Yun would have a proper foothold in Black Stone County.
But if he accepted, he would truly be tying himself to Shen Qingxue.
"Senior Sister, you think too highly of me. I'm only a martial artist in Bright Force, and I have no desire to get involved in factional disputes."
Zhou Yun still refused. It was not that Shen Qingxue's offer failed to tempt him; the timing was simply too sensitive.
He did not want any part in the schemes between these powers. He only wanted to focus on his martial arts and break through. His future would naturally open up into a broad, bright road.
He had only gone on an ordinary escort mission and already been ambushed by an expert in Dark Force. If someone in Transformation Force came next time, even if Zhou Yun had three heads and six arms, he would not escape death.
In the end, his strength was still too weak.
"Junior Brother..."
Shen Qingxue wanted to say more, but in the end she stayed silent.
Truthfully, she also had her suspicions about the power that might stand behind Zhou Yun, though she did not think it very likely.
But Zhou Yun's performance had been far too astonishing. It was hard not to wonder about it.
The two rode through the night, pushing on until daybreak was near. At last, they reached Black Stone County.
Without stopping for a moment, Zhou Yun went straight to the Inner Court Martial Hall and found the Transformation Force grandmaster, who had just risen and begun his morning practice.
"Master Liang."
Liang Wanshan saw Zhou Yun looking exhausted. He took a sip of tea and sat down in a chair.
"What's wrong? I heard you and Qingxue went to Clear Water County on an escort mission. Did you run into trouble along the way?"
Before you continue