Out of the City

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

He had practically no friends in Abyss-Facing City. Only Zhang Xiong and Zhao Xisheng could be considered somewhat familiar.

But asking them for such a favor out of the blue would be rather presumptuous.

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

And the Martial Arts Hall was safe enough.

Luo Kun was meditating beneath the eaves.

"Master."

Jiang Che stepped forward and respectfully saluted him.

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

"Your disciple has an escort run in three days, heading to Hengsha City. My younger sister will be alone at home, and I'm a little worried. Master, would it be possible... for my sister to stay at the Martial Arts Hall for a few days?"

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

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

Jiang Che added.

"Mm, all right." Luo Kun nodded. "There's an empty room in the East Wing. Clean it up, and she can stay there."

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

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

"I have no problem with it. Just make sure you stay safe, Brother!" Worry filled Jiang Ling's eyes.

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

"Mm!"

Jiang Ling suddenly remembered something. She hurried to her bedside and pulled an item from beneath her pillow.

"Brother, keep this on you."

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

Jiang Che looked at it and found that it was a small indigo coarse-cloth sachet, its stitches neat and fine.

The two characters "Safe Return" were embroidered primly upon it. Inside was some dried mugwort, giving off a bitter, grassy fragrance.

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

Jiang Che was touched.

"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 lead them to the East Wing.

It was a small house of blue bricks and gray tiles. 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 while you're 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 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 thing I ordered ready?"

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

Opening the bundle, Jiang Che found a black soft armor inside. Sharp little iron spikes protruded from the tanned ox-hide.

There was also a Hand Spike forged from refined steel.

Jiang Che inspected them carefully.

The ox-hide armor was tough, and the iron spikes were sharp. The Hand Spike gleamed with a cold light and felt just right in his grip.

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

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

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 packets of medicine containing the poison Zhang Xiong had given him earlier.

With great care, he used cotton cloth to evenly smear the poison over the Hand Spike and the spikes on the soft armor.

Then he put on the soft armor and pulled his outer clothes over it.

Next, he stuffed the Hand Spike and lime powder into a specially made pouch at his waist, making them easy to use at any moment.

After finishing, he thoroughly washed his hands several times.

Everything was ready.

Jiang Che took a deep breath.

"Time to go."

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

Upon arriving at the escort agency.

In the spacious courtyard, more than a dozen men in gray short jackets, short sabers hanging from their waists, had gathered together and were waiting to depart.

The convoy was already prepared.

A flag embroidered with the four words "Zhenyuan Escort Agency" stood atop 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 thick beard covering his face.

His temples bulged high, his arms were exceptionally thick, and the skin on his hands was dense and rough as ox-hide.

An Ox-Hide Realm Martial Artist!

Jiang Che's heart tightened.

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

Manager Wang introduced him.

"Little Brother Jiang Che, follow him. Ask if there's anything you don't understand."

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

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

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

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

The boy had boasted fiercely, yet when he encountered a Black Beast, he had been so frightened that he did not dare move!

In the end, Sun Yong had grabbed the man and hauled him away, keeping him from being buried in the Black Beast's jaws.

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 off by yourself."

After giving him a few 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 machete used to clear away weeds and branches.

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

Once everything was ready, the escort convoy set off.

The convoy had six horses in total.

Two at the front and two at the rear, each ridden by an escort.

The two in the middle pulled the escort cart.

Everyone else 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 so they could see farther and spot danger at any time.

Thus, those who rode horses all had exceptionally sharp eyesight. Otherwise, they would not be up to the task.

The convoy moved slowly, and after half an hour, they finally left the city.

It was Jiang Che's first time leaving the city, and he curiously surveyed his surroundings.

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

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

Occasional birdsong drifted from deep within the woods.

A gust of wind swept through, making the leaves sway and rustle.

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?"

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

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

"Our escort agency makes arrangements with them beforehand. Besides, near the city walls, government soldiers are always nearby, so those people don't dare come too close.

"Of course, if 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 trace of pride.

"What's the other kind?"

Sun Yong's expression turned grave.

"The other kind is Black Beasts. Even the weakest Black Beasts possess the strength of Ox-Hide Realm Martial Artists, while the strongest are comparable to Force-Entering Realm Martial Artists!"

"They're that formidable?" Jiang Che clicked his tongue in surprise.

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

"If you do happen to encounter one, there's no need to panic too much. Black Beasts have nothing but brute strength. Unlike us Martial Artists, they know no techniques, so they aren't actually that difficult to deal with."

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

However, he did not let down his guard and continued observing the surroundings at all times.

As the convoy continued onward, Sun Yong's expression also became less relaxed than it had been at the start.

Before nightfall, the group arrived at a village.

"Brothers, let's rest our feet here!" Sun Yong shouted loudly.