Yan San Niang

Although Gu Chundong wasn't old, only seventeen, she had been following Gu Mo around the Jianghu since she was seven. She could be considered quite experienced, and her vigilance was extremely high. She hid the head very well, making it look like an ordinary bundle.

They encountered no trouble on the way with Gu Mo.

"Brother, why do I feel like you can see?"

"Why do you say that?" Gu Mo asked.

"You're walking so steadily," Gu Chundong said. "Yesterday morning, we set off and traveled the whole day just to reach Great Treasure Mountain. But today, returning from Great Treasure Mountain, we've only walked for less than two hours. I didn't even have to deliberately slow down."

Gu Mo smiled slightly and said, "Last night, I had a breakthrough. My internal energy has greatly improved, and I can now adapt to life as a blind person."

"Is that so," Gu Chundong nodded. "That's good. But Brother, don't worry, I will definitely find a way to cure your eyes in the future."

"Okay."

Gu Mo smiled slightly. He wasn't too worried about the problem.

He now had the system by his side, so he wasn't too worried about his eyes not being cured. He planned to become a Blade Catcher. First, he could earn money to hire famous doctors. This was a world where the Martial Dao was very prosperous and glorious. As the saying goes, medicine and martial arts are inseparable, so there was no shortage of divine doctors. There would always be a chance to find a doctor who could cure his eyes.

Second, even if he couldn't find anyone to treat him, as long as he continuously hunted down Wanted Criminals, the system's rewards might one day offer something that could cure his eyes.

"Brother, you look so handsome when you smile."

"Then I'll smile more often in the future."

"Mhm, I like seeing you smile. Ever since your eyes had a problem, you've been so withdrawn, not talking, and your temper has been so volatile. I was so scared."

"It won't happen again."

Gu Mo reached out his hand in a petting gesture. Gu Chundong cooperatively tilted her head and rubbed it against Gu Mo's palm.

This was a habit they had had since they were children.

Gu Mo was three years older than Gu Chundong. Ten years ago, their parents suddenly disappeared, leaving the siblings to rely on each other. Gu Mo, only ten years old, had embarked on the path of raising his sister and finding their parents.

Fortunately, both siblings had started practicing martial arts with their parents when they were three or four years old. Although they were young, they had some ability to protect themselves. However, they were still very young and had suffered too much. The siblings had only managed to get through it by being each other's spiritual support.

And some time ago, He couldn't bear the blow of being blinded and was on the verge of a mental breakdown, his temper unpredictable and prone to outbursts. Gu Chundong had indeed had a very difficult time.

Linjiang City was the county seat of Linjiang County and was very prosperous. Because of its geographical location at the confluence of several major rivers, it had become the commercial hub of several surrounding counties.

However, trade brought both prosperity and problems. While commerce brought rapid economic development, it also brought many issues, the most typical being the increasing number of Jianghu people coming here to seek fortune. Since ancient times, the common problem of "knights breaking the law with martial arts" had existed, leading to a relatively chaotic order in Linjiang City. Many evildoers liked to commit crimes here.

Although the imperial Six Doors tried their best to suppress them, they were always stretched thin and short-handed. Therefore, the government had to resort to the method of "using martial arts to control martial arts," issuing bounty orders and inviting Jianghu people to assist. As a result, the Blade Catchers in Linjiang County were very prosperous.

For this reason, the Six Doors specifically established a department to deal with Blade Catchers.

Gu Chundong brought Gu Mo to the yamen and handed over the head of the Flower-Picking Thief Zhou Tong. They quickly passed the verification and received the bounty of three hundred Liang.

Three hundred taels of silver was a huge sum. In the past, when Gu Mo worked as a bodyguard at the Long Wind Escort Agency, with his daring and fighting spirit, he could only earn about a hundred taels a year. After deducting various expenses, not much was left at the end of the year.

Therefore, three hundred Liang of silver was a fortune for them.

Gu Chundong, holding the money, happily came out of the yamen and suggested, "Brother, let's buy a carriage. It's inconvenient for you to walk, and you can't ride a horse. A carriage is the most suitable. It will only take about half a month to get back to our hometown. Then, we can buy a small house, and we'll even have some money left over. I can start a small business, and once my martial arts are good, I can do big business and earn a lot of money to treat your eyes. Then, I'll find a sister-in-law to bring home, and she can have a few chubby grandsons for you!"

Gu Mo shook his head slightly and said, "I don't want to go back."

"Ah?" Gu Chundong asked in confusion. "If we don't go back, will we stay in Linjiang City?"

"Mhm, stay in Linjiang City." Gu Mo said.

Gu Chundong never objected to Gu Mo. She immediately said, "That's fine too. However, housing prices in Linjiang City are very expensive. Three hundred Liang won't be enough to buy a house, so we'll have to rent. It's also not easy to do business here. I can find a martial arts school to be a martial arts instructor. Although the monthly salary is a bit low, it's enough for us to live on, and I'll have time to practice martial arts properly."

Gu Mo smiled slightly and said, "I want to be a Blade Catcher."

Gu Chundong hesitated for a moment and said, "That's okay too. As long as you're happy, Brother. We can take on some simple bounty missions, and we can get by."

"Difficult missions aren't impossible."

"Brother, I can't beat them!"

"It's okay, I'll fight. You're in charge of leading the way and collecting the heads."

Gu Chundong looked at Gu Mo's bandaged eyes and wanted to say something but stopped. She really wanted to dissuade Gu Mo from his unrealistic idea, but she was afraid of discouraging him and didn't want his recently recovered spirit to become dejected and broken again.

Although Gu Mo told her that his internal energy had improved last night, she didn't think it could compensate for the defect of his blindness.

"Okay, Brother, I'll listen to you. Let's find an inn to stay in first, and then I'll slowly look for a place."

Gu Chundong thought to herself that since Gu Mo couldn't see, he wouldn't really go out to be a Blade Catcher, so there wouldn't be any danger. She decided not to argue with Gu Mo about the feasibility of becoming a Blade Catcher.

The siblings chatted as they looked for an inn.

As they passed a small alley, Gu Mo suddenly stopped and said, "The two friends behind us have been following us for a while. If you have any advice, why not reveal yourselves and speak plainly."

Gu Chundong's expression changed slightly, and she immediately gripped her saber hilt, assuming an attacking stance.

Immediately, a woman's voice came from the alley: "Young Hero Gu, Heroine Gu, please don't misunderstand. I mean no harm!"

Gu Mo couldn't see anyone, only hear the voice. It was a very pleasant voice, not just melodious, but filled with an inexplicable allure. If the person's appearance matched this voice, she would definitely be a very charming woman.

In fact, it was just as Gu Mo had guessed, A truly beautiful woman emerged, her figure graceful, dressed in a moon-white silk long skirt that perfectly accentuated her slender waist, which seemed so delicate it could break with a mere grasp. Every smile and glance she made was filled with allure.

Following behind the woman was a tall, upright young man with a stern face, clad in black. He held a long black sword and walked a half-step behind the woman, appearing to be her bodyguard.

"I am Yan San Niang of Unique Villa," the woman said, cupping her hands in greeting.

"So it's Boss Yan, the Bone Scraper. I've heard much about you. What brings you here today?" Gu Mo cupped his hands in return.

Gu Mo had been in Linjiang City for four years, always immersed in the Martial World. He was very familiar with the Jianghu of Linjiang County and knew most of the notable figures by name.

This Yan San Niang was an unusual person, a rare woman who had made a name for herself in the Martial World. She owned a villa in Linjiang City that specialized in making wine. She was famously beautiful, captivating many men, yet her methods were ruthless, earning her the moniker "Bone Scraper" in the Jianghu.

Upon hearing Yan San Niang introduce herself, Gu Chundong, already on guard, became even more vigilant, bordering on nervous.

She knew all too well that no one who made a name for themselves in the Martial World was simple.

Gu Mo was considered a rising star in the Linjiang County area, his Blade Catcher System exquisite. Yet, after all these years, he hadn't managed to earn a prominent title.

Yan San Niang cupped her hands and said, "Young Hero Gu, Heroine Gu, I saw at the yamen just now that you two brought in the head of the Flower-Picking Thief Zhou Tong. I wanted to ask if you two are planning to become Blade Catchers? If you are, we can cooperate."

Gu Mo chuckled lightly, "Boss Yan, are you perhaps abandoning your wine business to switch to running a Wind Chasing Tower?"

Yan San Niang replied, "Young Hero Gu, you've hit the nail on the head. Business is tough for wine shops these days, and I have indeed switched to the Wind Chasing business."

Wind Chasing Tower was an intermediary organization specifically serving Blade Catchers. Because Blade Catchers were a unique group, most of whom disliked dealing with the yamen, and some were even Wanted Criminals themselves, there was a need for someone to handle interactions with the yamen on their behalf.

Furthermore, Blade Catchers typically worked alone. When hunting Wanted Criminals, they lacked intelligence, making their efforts highly inefficient. Sometimes they might even be in the same place as a Wanted Criminal and not even know it.

Under these circumstances, organizations like Wind Chasing Tower emerged to serve Blade Catchers.

Blade Catchers would register under Wind Chasing Tower, which would then negotiate prices with the yamen, provide accurate intelligence, and, for powerful Wanted Criminals, help arrange cooperation with other Blade Catchers.

In simple terms, Wind Chasing Tower was an organization that helped Blade Catchers complete bounty missions faster and more easily, while also trying to negotiate higher bounties. After completion, the bounty money would be split fifty-fifty.

This model was a win-win for both Wind Chasing Tower and the Blade Catchers.

Even though half the bounty was taken, the Blade Catchers definitely didn't lose out.

Take Zhou Tong, whom Gu Mo killed last night, for example. If he had a powerful Wind Chasing Tower behind him, even after splitting the bounty, it would be more than the three hundred Liang from the yamen. There would be other bounties from the Jianghu or from wealthy families harmed by Zhou Tong. Wind Chasing Tower would be responsible for inquiring about and negotiating these.

"I see," Gu Mo said. "However, Boss Yan, there are at least eight or nine Wind Chasing Towers in Linjiang City now. Why should I come to your newly established one instead of the established, reputable ones?"

Yan San Niang replied, "I naturally have my advantages. Firstly, I have very few Blade Catchers under me right now, and I have abundant personal connections and resources. If Young Hero Gu and Heroine Gu register under me, I will do my utmost to provide you with intelligence. It's difficult to get first-hand intelligence from those large Wind Chasing Towers.

Secondly, my commission is lower. I wouldn't dare break the established rules, so outwardly it's still a fifty-fifty split. However, I will return two-tenths through other means, such as gifts. I will only take three-tenths.

What do you think, Young Hero Gu, Heroine Gu?"

Gu Mo nodded and said, "Alright. However, I'm a bit tired today. Send someone with sincerity tomorrow to discuss the details. Since Boss Yan is in the Wind Chasing business, you won't have trouble finding out where I'm staying, will you?"

Yan San Niang cupped her hands and said, "See you tomorrow."

"Farewell."

Gu Mo cupped his hands and left with Gu Chundong.

Watching Gu Mo and Gu Chundong, siblings, depart, the young man in black behind Yan San Niang asked, "Boss, Gu Chundong is just a young girl, and she's bringing along a blind burden. Is she worth recruiting? That Zhou Tong was clearly a lucky find for them. Everyone knows Zhou Tong had been on the run for days and was at less than a tenth of his strength."

Yan San Niang shook her head slightly and said, "I'm not recruiting Gu Chundong, I'm recruiting Gu Mo."

"A blind man."

"Yes, a blind man."

The young man in black chuckled, "Boss, you might be mistaken this time. That blind man won't see tomorrow's sun."

"Why do you say that?"

The young man in black replied, "A young girl and a blind man stumbled upon a huge windfall, gaining three hundred taels of silver. Now they've become the target of that windfall. Three hundred taels is enough to buy several lives, let alone a young girl escorting a blind man."