The Escort Mission

Yan City was the nearest major city to Qingyang Town, and it was famous throughout the Great Yan Dynasty.

After several days of cautious travel, Lin Yiqing had finally arrived. Looking ahead, he saw a vast city standing on the plain.

Its black walls rose a hundred zhang high and stretched for who knew how many miles. A sizable army was stationed at the city gates, giving the place a solemn air.

He had yet to enter the city, but the main road was already packed with people. Lin Yiqing moved slowly along with the crowd and, after paying a small entrance fee, entered Yan City without a hitch.

After passing through a dim tunnel beneath the city gate, a deafening din surged into his ears like a tide. Seeing this, Lin Yiqing's lips curled slightly.

"This is a major city, all right. I'd better have a good look around."

The streets were packed with people, and shops lined both sides. As a major city, its buildings were far grander than those of Qingyang Town, all decorated in splendid gold and jade. The place had a charm all its own.

Along the way, Lin Yiqing saw all sorts of strangely dressed people coming and going. Some wore fine clothes that showed off their wealth, while others were imposing men clad in animal hides. There were also plenty of young ladies dressed in sheer gauze. The place was full of exotic charm.

He even saw quite a few people leading Earth Origin Realm or Heaven Origin Realm demonic beasts through the city. Those beasts had evidently become their pets.

"Tsk, tsk. No wonder this is a major city. In Qingyang Town, no one would dare provoke those demonic beasts, let alone keep them as pets."

Lin Yiqing couldn't help exclaiming at the sight. After wandering around for a while, he began to feel tired, so he found a quiet inn and checked in.

Lying on the bed, Lin Yiqing rummaged through his Universe Bag and couldn't help feeling helpless. His several hundred Yang Yuan Pills had already been cut in half in a single day. It seemed money was never enough, no matter which world you lived in.

"Looks like I'll have to find a way to earn some Yang Yuan Pills."

After saying this, Lin Yiqing washed up and went downstairs to ask the innkeeper about jobs in Yan City.

"Oh, I heard the Wanjin Chamber of Commerce is hiring guards. They're escorting a shipment of goods. You could go and have a look."

The innkeeper then gave Lin Yiqing directions to the Wanjin Chamber of Commerce. People like him were always well informed.

The Wanjin Chamber of Commerce was one of the three major powers in Yan City, occupying a position of great honor.

The balance of power in Yan City shifted constantly. A faction might rise to prominence today, only to plummet to the bottom the next day and never recover.

Yet among them, three powers stood above the rest, unshaken and unbowed.

The Wanjin Chamber of Commerce, the Blood Wolf Gang, and the City Lord's Mansion were the leaders of Yan City. Besides them, no one dared provoke the Symbol Master Association, though it kept a low profile and never took part in the fighting.

Following the innkeeper's directions, Lin Yiqing walked along the main road. After turning a corner, he finally arrived outside a resplendent pavilion.

The five-story building was made entirely of Ironwood, with vermilion walls and yellow tiles that gleamed brightly. Its carved beams and painted rafters were exquisite, every scene and beast lifelike. It was a sight to behold.

"So this is the Wanjin Chamber of Commerce? They certainly built it lavishly."

Looking at the building before him, Lin Yiqing couldn't help remarking on it. The Wanjin Chamber of Commerce's headquarters was one of Yan City's finest buildings, but its splendor still didn't impress him as much as the hundred-zhang city walls had.

Lin Yiqing had always loved traveling. Whenever he had free time from work, he would visit tourist attractions. These things were nice enough to look at, but to truly amaze him, they had to be something more distinctive.

At that moment, a crowd had gathered in front of the Wanjin Chamber of Commerce. A table stood there, and a notice on a piece of white cloth beside it announced that they were recruiting temporary guards.

The notice said they were hiring temporary guards to escort a shipment of goods to Wuling City. Those who completed the job would receive six hundred Yang Yuan Pills.

With so many factions in Yan City, they often recruited temporary guards when they didn't have enough hands for a task. They were much like mercenaries, and the people gathered around the table were just some of them.

"Qianqian, I've already signed up. Let's go for a stroll together."

Lin Yiqing turned to look. Beside him, a young man in blue was gazing ingratiatingly at a woman in red.

The woman in red smiled and nodded at him, but then she turned to another man beside her and murmured something to him.

Seeing this, Lin Yiqing couldn't help clicking his tongue. What caught his attention was the cultivation of the three people. All of them were Heaven Origin Realm experts.

"Looks like this shipment isn't ordinary. Everyone I've seen along the way has been pretty strong."

Lin Yiqing thought to himself. It was what he'd expected, after all. The reward was extremely generous: six hundred Yang Yuan Pills, equivalent to six thousand Yang Yuan Stones. That was enough to cover a small family's expenses for an entire year.

"Uncle, is this where I sign up?"

Lin Yiqing stepped forward and asked a burly man in animal hide who stood nearly two meters tall.

The man in animal hide turned around and looked. Hm? No one there? Then he lowered his head and immediately broke into a grin.

A little child, as delicate as a finely carved doll, was looking up at him with an utterly serious expression. Against that exquisite little face, the solemn look seemed rather adorable.

"Haha! Where'd this little tyke come from? This isn't a place for you. Hurry home before your family starts looking for you."

Lin Yiqing was speechless. He knew his current body was young and not very tall, but calling him a little tyke was going too far.

"Wow, what an adorable child!"

"Exactly! Whose little girl is she?"

The burly man's voice was loud, and at once it drew the attention of everyone nearby. They all erupted in surprise when they saw Lin Yiqing.

"I'm here to apply as a guard."

With everyone around him chattering, Lin Yiqing helplessly explained himself to the burly man.

"Haha, apply as a temporary guard? Little one, this isn't a place for you to play. Go on, get out of here!"

Behind the table sat a middle-aged man of about forty, with a long beard. Hearing Lin Yiqing say he wanted to apply as a temporary guard, he couldn't help laughing.

"That's right, Steward Xia is right. Hurry on home, little one."

Another wave of chatter rose around them. It was clear that everyone nearby was eager to curry favor with this "Steward Xia."

A dark line appeared on Lin Yiqing's forehead, and his eyes rolled upward. These people were so shallow, judging everyone by their appearance!

"Would I have to pay for it if I broke that wall?"

Lin Yiqing stepped forward and asked seriously. It seemed only strength could earn him a little respect.

"Haha, no need."

Steward Xia heard him, chuckled, stroked his beard, and answered casually. A little amusing diversion during work was rather nice.

Boom!

As soon as the words left his mouth, a loud crash rang out. Steward Xia's hand jerked in fright, plucking several hairs from his beard. He hurriedly turned toward the sound.

A hole about a meter across had appeared in the wall nearby. Lin Yiqing's left fist was still extended.

At the sight, the people around them fell completely silent. This time, they were truly stunned.

Among them were plenty of experts in the Late Earth Yuan Stage and even the Heaven Origin Realm, but someone this young was simply terrifying.

"Can I apply as a temporary guard now?" Seeing Steward Xia standing there in a daze, Lin Yiqing smiled faintly and asked.

"Of course, of course. May I ask what cultivation level you've reached, young brother?"

Steward Xia wiped away a bead of cold sweat. Someone so young with such powerful strength was almost certainly the descendant of some major faction. Whoever he was, he wasn't someone Steward Xia could afford to offend.

"Late Earth Yuan Stage."

Lin Yiqing thought for a moment before answering. He wanted to conceal his spiritual power cultivation as a trump card. It might come in handy.

"Hiss!"

Everyone around them sucked in a sharp breath at his answer. To have reached such a cultivation level at that age was truly astonishing.

"My surname is Xia, and my given name is He. I'm one of the Wanjin Chamber of Commerce's stewards. May I ask your name, young brother?"

Steward Xia hurriedly stood up, quickly picked up a Black Iron Token from the table, and handed it to Lin Yiqing. The four ancient characters "Wanjin Chamber of Commerce" were engraved on it. He then asked his question.

"I'm Lin Yiqing. I'm traveling to gain experience, and when I saw your chamber of commerce recruiting temporary guards, I thought I'd give it a try."

Lin Yiqing accepted the token Steward Xia offered and clasped his hands in greeting as he replied.

"Certainly. The caravan leaves from here at the first quarter-hour of the mao hour the morning after tomorrow. Remember to arrive on time, young Brother Lin. The Wanjin Chamber of Commerce will also hold an auction tomorrow. If you'd like to attend, this token will get you a twenty-percent discount."

Xia He picked up his brush and wrote Lin Yiqing's name in the register on the table. Then he addressed him solemnly.

By now, he was completely convinced that Lin Yiqing had been raised by one of the major factions, so he treated him with great courtesy.

"Thank you."

After hearing this, Lin Yiqing turned and headed back. He wanted to see that so-called auction the next day.