Zhenyuan Escort Agency

After understanding the principles of cultivation, Jiang Che looked at the people in the Martial Arts Hall again and instantly saw the gap between himself and them.

Take Gong Yulei, for example. He had abundant innate Qi-Blood, came from a wealthy family, and could consume large amounts of nourishing food, giving him an ample source of Qi-Blood.

His natural physique was good as well, and his fist technique improved at a breathtaking pace, so his conversion efficiency was high and his Qi-Blood advanced the fastest.

Although such vast Qi-Blood was extremely violent, and the slightest carelessness could cause his meridians to explode.

He took secret medicine every day, so that problem had also been solved.

Thus, he naturally advanced by one realm a day.

As for Jiang Che himself, his innate physical constitution was poor, his family was impoverished, and he had no money for nourishment.

His natural physique was poor too, and his fist technique conversion efficiency was low, so his Qi-Blood progressed slowly.

Fortunately, he had the Proficiency Panel.

For one, he could grind his fist technique up, which made up for part of his natural physique deficiency.

For another, he did not need secret medicine to use Flow State to refine and transform his Qi-Blood.

But the panel could not provide the effects of dietary or medicinal supplements.

As a result, Jiang Che was now gradually being left behind by them.

Of course, to ultimately form actual combat strength, he still needed to improve through real battles.

In that regard, Jiang Che was fairly confident.

He had Flow State and Omen. His actual combat ability would be a cut above what appeared on the surface!

No, I have to make money. I can't wait any longer!

Jiang Che thought to himself.

It was not just that he needed nourishment. He also had to buy a house and move!

After all, the area around the South District was no safe place.

Still, these past few days, he had gone to Wonderful Heart Studio every day to check.

But its doors had never opened.

During that time, he had asked around nearby.

Yet he had not found any news at all.

Thinking of the people constantly disappearing in the city, as well as the Green-Eyed Monster he had encountered that day.

Could the shopkeeper have disappeared too?

Jiang Che's heart sank.

That day, Jiang Che was practicing martial arts.

He saw Luo Kun emerge with a letter in hand.

"Everyone, stop for a moment."

The others promptly withdrew their fists and stood still.

"The batch of organizations seeking affiliated Martial Artists has arrived."

He waved the letter in his hand.

Jiang Che's spirits rose.

"It's finally here!"

Luo Kun picked up the letter and slowly read aloud:

"First is Zhenyuan Escort Agency. The monthly salary is thirty taels of silver. You will escort goods once or twice a month, with an additional ten taels for each trip. But you'll need to leave the city. Bandits have been causing trouble outside lately, and there are many Black Beasts too. It's very dangerous, so I don't recommend that any of you choose it." Luo Kun's gaze flicked toward Jiang Che, the meaning impossible to miss.

Jiang Che played dumb.

"Although it's dangerous... it pays at least forty taels of silver every month!"

That would relieve his financial pressure to the greatest extent.

As for danger, he had the Omen talent.

So long as he did not actively court danger, he was confident he could retreat with his whole body intact.

And he could take the opportunity to investigate his parents' whereabouts in Hengsha City!

If there isn't a better choice later, then it'll be this one!

Jiang Che thought to himself.

The others showed little reaction. Clearly, none of them were interested.

"Next is the Fish Dragon Gang. The monthly salary is thirty taels of silver. You'll need to regularly patrol the docks and Fish Market. It's relatively easy work. If you occasionally encounter gang disputes, you only need to lend a fist."

Gong Yulei's gaze flickered slightly, though no one knew what he was thinking.

Jiang Che secretly shook his head.

The pay isn't much, and it's easy to get dragged into gang trouble. Better forget it.

"Lastly, there's Jishi Hall Pharmacy. You only need to escort valuable medicinal ingredients within the city a few times each month. The monthly salary is twenty taels, and you'll receive some discounts when buying medicinal supplements. All right, those are the three. Make your choices!"

"Although the salary is low, I can buy medicinal supplements at a discount..."

Jiang Che immediately did not know what to choose, because he was desperately short on medicinal supplements right now!

Very soon, Lin Xue'er chose Jishi Hall.

Gong Yulei chose the Fish Dragon Gang.

Zhang Xiong hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and said:

"Master, I've decided to help my family with their affairs."

The others glanced at him. Zhang Xiong had never mentioned his family background before; it seemed he came from no ordinary origins as well.

Luo Kun nodded. He knew Zhang Xiong's circumstances and said no more.

"Jiang Che, what about you?"

Luo Kun looked at Jiang Che, who had yet to make a choice.

"Master, I choose Zhenyuan Escort Agency!" Jiang Che said.

No matter what, he had to go to Hengsha City to look for his father and mother.

Going with an escort agency was far safer than going alone.

And it paid the most.

Besides buying medicinal supplements, he also needed to save money to buy a house.

There were simply too many places that required money.

Jishi Hall might let him save money on medicine, but that depended on him having money to buy medicine in the first place!

Luo Kun looked deeply at Jiang Che, trying to find even a trace of hesitation in his eyes.

But Jiang Che's gaze was firm and unwavering.

He knew Jiang Che was in the most difficult circumstances. It was only to be expected that he would choose the escort agency.

Though Luo Kun did not want his disciple to take risks, there was no other way.

"Then be careful in everything."

"Thank you, Master. Your disciple understands!"

The next morning.

Jiang Che did not go to the Martial Arts Hall. Instead, he headed straight for Zhenyuan Escort Agency.

Zhenyuan Escort Agency was also located in the East District, not far from White Cloud Martial Hall.

After turning through a quiet alley, the escort agency came into view.

The roof eaves arched high, and though the front gate looked somewhat aged, it was thick, tall, and imposing.

Above the gate hung a plaque with golden lettering on a black background.

It bore the four grand characters: "Zhenyuan Escort Agency."

A stone lion stood on each side of the entrance, looking majestically imposing.

Jiang Che straightened his clothes and stepped inside.

Before him was a spacious courtyard, where seven or eight escorts were busy loading goods onto horse-drawn carts.

Crates of goods were stacked neatly and bound with thick hemp ropes.

From time to time, people shouted instructions and counted the goods.

It was Jiang Che's first time at an escort agency, and he found it somewhat novel. It felt a little like the logistics companies from his previous life.

Only, the cargo trucks had become horse-drawn carts.

He stopped an escort who was working nearby.

"Excuse me, may I ask where the manager is? I'm a Martial Artist here to affiliate myself."

The man was sturdily built, his gray short robe already soaked through with sweat, steam rising from his body.

He sized Jiang Che up and was somewhat surprised that this young man was actually a Martial Artist.

But seeing that he wore the disciple uniform of White Cloud Martial Hall, he did not question him. He pointed toward a side room in the back.

"That room. Manager Wang is inside."

After saying that, he continued moving goods.

"Thank you!"

Jiang Che cupped his fists, passed through the bustling crowd, and arrived before the side room.

The door was half-open. Inside stood a heavy pearwood desk piled with account books and an abacus.

A clean-shaven middle-aged man with a fair complexion, dressed in a blue-green robe, was inside calculating accounts.

Knock, knock.

Jiang Che knocked on the door.

"Is Manager Wang here? I'm here to affiliate myself!"

Hearing the knock, the man looked up.

When he saw Jiang Che wearing the White Cloud Martial Hall uniform, he said, "You're Jiang Che? Come in!"

Jiang Che nodded, entered the room, and sat down across from him.

Manager Wang carefully sized Jiang Che up and began muttering to himself inwardly:

This fellow looked somewhat thin and weak, and his Qi-Blood did not seem especially abundant either. Who knew whether Hall Master Luo's claim that his "fist technique was exquisite" was true...

But the escort agency was short on manpower after all. Anyone who had broken through into Qi-Blood was a powerful source of support, no matter what.

He quickly suppressed those thoughts, smiling as he pushed over a cup of hot tea.

"Hall Master Luo has already told me about your situation, so let's get straight to the point."

"Fine." Jiang Che accepted the teacup and took a light sip.

The warm tea carried a fresh fragrance. It was sweet and refreshing on the tongue, without any astringency. Looking closely, the tea was clear, with tender leaves floating within.

Jiang Che did not understand tea, but he could still guess that it was not cheap.

"Our escort agency mainly travels to Hengsha City, as well as nearby towns such as Qinglin and White River. Occasionally, we also take escort jobs to farther places like Cang Prefecture and Tai Prefecture, though not often."

"How long does a trip usually take?" Jiang Che asked.

"Hengsha City is the closest; a round trip takes six days. Qinglin and White River take ten days. Cang Prefecture takes fifteen days, while Tai Prefecture requires twenty. Our escort agency generally does not take jobs any farther than that." Manager Wang took a sip of tea. "Also, there are two kinds of escort jobs. Delivering goods is called freight escorting. Escorting people is called personal escorting. We take more freight escort jobs and fewer personal escort jobs."

"Oh? Why is that?" Jiang Che asked curiously.