Leaving the City

After thinking it over, Jiang Che decided it would be best to seek out his master, Luo Kun.

He basically had no friends in Abyss-Facing City. Zhang Xiong and Zhao Xisheng were the only two he was somewhat familiar with.

But entrusting his sister to them so abruptly would be rather presumptuous.

Compared to them, his master was the most suitable choice.

Besides, the Martial Arts Hall was safe enough.

Luo Kun was currently meditating beneath the eaves.

"Master."

Jiang Che stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"What is it?" Luo Kun opened his eyes.

"Your disciple has an escort job in three days, bound for Hengsha City. My younger sister will be alone at home, and I'm worried about leaving her there. Master, could you... let my sister stay at the Martial Arts Hall for a few days?"

Luo Kun glanced at Jiang Che and pondered for a moment.

"She is very diligent. She can help sweep the courtyard and mend clothes."

Jiang Che added.

"Mm, all right." Luo Kun nodded. "There happens to be an empty room in the East Wing. She can move in after it's cleaned up."

"Thank you, Master!" Jiang Che was overjoyed and quickly bowed in thanks.

That evening, after Jiang Che returned home, he told Jiang Ling about it.

"I'm fine with it. Just make sure you stay safe, Brother!" Jiang Ling's eyes held a trace of worry.

Jiang Che smiled. "Don't worry. Your brother is clever. If anything happens, I'll definitely be the first to run!"

"Mm!"

Jiang Ling suddenly remembered something. She hurried to her bed and pulled something out from beneath her pillow.

"Brother, carry this with you."

She walked over and stuffed it into Jiang Che's hand.

Jiang Che looked at it. It was a small indigo sachet made of coarse cloth, its stitches neat and fine.

The two words "Safe Travels" had been embroidered on it with perfect care. It was stuffed with dried mugwort, giving off a bitter, fresh scent of grass and leaves.

So this was what she had been sewing these past few days...

Jiang Che was moved.

"Mm, I'll carry it."

With that, he carefully tucked it into the pocket inside his clothes.

After dinner, the two began packing their belongings.

Early the next morning, Jiang Che brought Jiang Ling to the Martial Arts Hall.

Luo Kun had the servant A-Shan take them to the East Wing.

It was a small house of gray tiles and blue bricks. Upon pushing open the door, they found that the room was not large, but it was clean and tidy.

"Linger, you'll stay here. Listen to Master at the Martial Arts Hall, and don't run around," Jiang Che instructed.

"I know, Brother. Come back early once you're done." Jiang Ling was somewhat reluctant to part with him.

"Mm, I will." Jiang Che smiled and rubbed Jiang Ling's head.

After settling his sister in, Jiang Che felt much more at ease.

Next, he went to the blacksmith's shop.

"Boss, is the item I ordered ready?"

"It's ready, it's ready!" The blacksmith brought out a bundle from the back.

Inside was a black soft armor vest, made of tanned oxhide and covered in sharp little iron spikes.

There was also a hand spike forged from refined steel.

Jiang Che inspected them carefully.

The oxhide armor was tough, and its iron spikes were sharp. The hand spike gleamed coldly and fit perfectly in his grip.

"Not bad." Jiang Che paid the remaining balance and took the items home.

In the blink of an eye, the day of departure arrived.

It was before dawn, while the sky was still dim.

Jiang Che took out the soft armor and hand spike hidden beneath his bed.

Then, he took out two small medicine packets containing the poison Zhang Xiong had given him before.

With great care, he used cotton cloth to spread the poison evenly over the hand spike and the spikes on the soft armor.

He then put on the soft armor and covered it with his outer clothes.

Next, he stuffed the hand spike and lime powder into a specially made small pouch at his waist for easy access at any time.

After finishing all that, he washed his hands several times.

Everything was ready.

Jiang Che drew a deep breath.

"Time to go."

He slung his bundle over his back, left the house, and headed toward the Zhenyuan Escort Agency.

When he arrived at the escort agency,

more than a dozen men in gray short jackets, each with a short saber at his waist, were gathered in the spacious courtyard, waiting to depart.

The convoy was already prepared.

A flag embroidered with the four large characters "Zhenyuan Escort Agency" had been planted on the escort cart.

Manager Wang, dressed in a long green robe, was counting the goods and personnel.

Seeing Jiang Che arrive, he nodded, then called a man over.

The man was around forty, with a square face and a full beard.

His temples bulged high, his arms were exceptionally thick, and the skin on his hands was tough and coarse as oxhide.

An Ox-Hide Realm Martial Artist!

Jiang Che's heart tightened.

"This is Chief Escort Sun Yong. He'll be leading us on this trip."

Manager Wang introduced him,

"Little Brother Jiang Che, follow him. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask."

Jiang Che quickly cupped his fists. "Chief Escort Sun, I'll be relying on you for this journey."

Seeing that Jiang Che was merely a youth and his Qi-Blood was not particularly vigorous, Sun Yong frowned.

"Another little brat whose hair hasn't even grown in..."

The affiliated Martial Artist he had partnered with last time had also been a young man.

That boy had boasted fiercely, but when they encountered a Black Beast, he had been so terrified that he did not dare move!

In the end, Sun Yong had grabbed him and hauled him away, saving him from being buried in the jaws of the Black Beast.

But there were no other Martial Artists to be found at the moment, so he nodded. "Mm. Stay close to me when the time comes. Don't run around on your own."

After explaining some everyday precautions, he went back to inspect the escort cart.

Jiang Che, meanwhile, received a short saber and hung it at his waist.

This saber was not meant for fighting, but a trail-clearing blade used to cut through weeds and branches.

For Martial Artists above the Blood-Qi Realm, a blade was not necessarily more powerful than their fists.

Once everything was ready, the escort convoy set off.

The convoy had a total of Six horses.

There were two at the front and two at the rear, each ridden by an escort master.

The two in the middle pulled the escort cart.

The rest followed on foot.

Sun Yong rode a tall horse at the very front of the convoy.

Jiang Che walked beside him.

The reason someone needed to ride a horse was not to travel faster or more comfortably.

It was to see farther and spot danger at any time.

Therefore, those who rode horses all had exceptionally sharp eyesight. Otherwise, they could not handle the task.

The convoy did not travel quickly. Half an hour later, they finally left the city.

It was Jiang Che's first time outside the city, and he curiously looked around.

Beside the city walls lay stretches of rice paddies, where farmers could even be seen tilling the fields.

Farther away stood a forest, beyond which rose rolling green mountains.

Occasional birdsong drifted from deep within the woods.

A gust of wind swept through, stirring the leaves into a rustling whisper.

Sun Yong glanced at Jiang Che and slowly said,

"Do you find it strange that outside the city isn't as dangerous as the rumors claim?"

"It is. Why is that?" Jiang Che asked.

"There are two kinds of danger outside the city. One is bandits and horse thieves.

"Our escort agency pays them off in advance. Besides, near the city walls, government troops are always nearby, so those people don't dare come too close.

"Of course, once you travel farther out, or run into those who don't follow the rules, that's another matter. But our escort agency isn't easy to provoke either."

Sun Yong lifted his chin slightly, his tone carrying a few traces of pride.

"What about the other kind?"

Sun Yong's expression turned solemn,

"The other kind is Black Beasts. Even the weakest Black Beast has the strength of an Ox-Hide Realm Martial Artist, while the strongest can rival Force-Entering Realm Martial Artists!"

"They're that powerful?" Jiang Che clicked his tongue in astonishment.

"However, Black Beasts generally live in the mountains and prefer to move at night. You can hardly ever see them during the day.

"If you encounter one by chance, there's no need to panic too much. Black Beasts possess brute strength but have no techniques like us Martial Artists. They aren't actually difficult to deal with."

Jiang Che nodded, gaining a preliminary understanding of the situation outside the city.

Still, he did not lower his guard and continued observing the surroundings at all times.

As the convoy kept moving, Sun Yong's expression no longer appeared as relaxed as it had at first.

Before nightfall, everyone arrived at a village.

"Brothers, let's rest here for a while!" Sun Yong shouted loudly.