Arriving at the Capital City

After the encounter with the river bandits, the remainder of the journey was peaceful.

Following thirty days of sailing, the merchant ship arrived safely at the Capital City docks.

As the ship officially docked, the temporary guards had effectively completed their escort mission.

Everyone sought out Zhou to collect their pay and bid each other farewell.

Chen Ye received his share as well.

Because he had killed the river bandits, Zhou gave him a little extra as a token of gratitude, totaling twelve taels of silver.

As usual, he kept two taels for emergencies and used the remaining ten to redeem forty days of lifespan.

After calculating, he found that despite spending a month on the ship, he had actually gained ten days of lifespan, bringing his remaining total to two months and twenty-four days.

Chen Ye packed his things and said goodbye to the few people he had grown close to.

Just as he was about to step away, the old escort master called out to him from behind, holding a wine skin: "Kid, what are your plans now that you're in the Capital City? Do you have any leads?"

Chen Ye shook his head and said, "I haven't decided yet. I'll probably find some work first, earn some silver, and go from there."

The old escort master took a sip from his wine skin and said generously, "I have a nephew in the Capital City who is a manager at Shuntong Transport Agency in the South City. Their agency is currently short on strong hands for escorting carts. Would you like to go and try your luck?"

During the thirty days on the ship, Chen Ye had practiced diligently every day, never skipping his stance training.

The sensation of qi in his dantian had gradually grown from the thickness of a hair to a thin thread.

Occasionally, after standing in his stance for a long time, his Shenque Acupoint would twitch a few times, as if something inside had turned over before settling back down.

He knew he might not be far from a certain threshold.

This was not the time to wander aimlessly; he needed to find a place to settle down.

Therefore, he did not decline and bowed, responding, "Then many thanks, Senior. Once I am firmly established in the Capital City, I will certainly come to pay my respects."

"A small matter. I am also from Runan; helping you is only right."

The old escort master pulled out a strip of cloth, drew a simple map on it, and wrote a few lines on the back as a recommendation.

He handed the cloth to Chen Ye, not forgetting to warn him, "The waters in the Capital City run deep. Remember to keep your wits about you in everything."

Chen Ye solemnly took the cloth, opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, it only amounted to two words: "Thank you."

"Off I go!"

The old escort master waved his hand, his long saber at his waist and his wine skin in hand, swaying as he disappeared into the crowd at the docks.

Chen Ye stepped onto the soil of the Capital City.

This was one of the many docks in the Capital City; though its scale was only medium, it was several times more prosperous than the Anhuai docks.

Looking out, it was a sea of moving heads.

Porters shouted in rhythm, and patrolling officers wove through the crowd with iron rulers in hand.

The air was thick with the smell of sweat, fish, and the stench of overnight rot.

To the northwest of the docks, the walls of the Capital City stretched out before him like a straight, towering mountain range, extending for who knew how many miles.

Judging by this scale, it surpassed even the memories of the ancient Yanjing he had in his past life.

Chen Ye gripped the saber at his waist, took a deep breath, and squeezed into the crowd, heading toward that massive city.

Half an hour later.

Chen Ye walked beneath Xuanwu Gate and looked up at the three large characters on the city wall.

Pedestrians flowed like a weave beneath the gate.

Young masters and ladies in fine clothing passed by leisurely on horseback or in carriages, forming a sharp contrast with the impoverished residents in ragged clothes nearby.

Chen Ye did not rush to enter the city; he turned and walked to a wonton stall by the road, ordering a bowl of the cheapest wontons.

As he ate, he silently observed the activity at the city gate.

Chen Ye discovered that everyone entering the city had to undergo inspection by the gate guards, present travel documents, and under no circumstances were weapons allowed inside.

Someone had once tried to force their way in, only to be twisted by the arms and dragged away by two gate guards.

Seeing the agile movements of those guards, it was clear they were all martial artists who had undergone Mortal Shedding.

Chen Ye calculated in his heart, paid the copper coins, and found a secluded spot to hide his crossbow and short blade.

Then, he hurriedly washed up, found a clothing store in the market outside the city, and spent a heavy price of one tael of silver to replace his outfit from head to toe with something impressive.

By the time he emerged from the shop, he looked like a completely different person.

In a plain, fine cotton robe, white trousers, and square-toed shoes, he no longer looked like a servant in the slightest.

Once everything was prepared, he straightened his collar and walked toward the city gate, patiently queuing with the others.

While waiting, carriages of noble families passed by from time to time, and the gate guards let them through immediately without even a glance.

When it was Chen Ye's turn, a gate guard raised his arm to block him and asked the standard questions: "Name, place of origin, purpose for entering the city?"

"Chen Ye of the Chen clan from Runan. Invited by the old escort master Sun Chenghai of Xinglong Escort Agency to discuss business at Shuntong Transport Agency." Chen Ye's tone was steady, perfectly mimicking the demeanor of a young master from a noble family.

As he spoke, he calmly handed over the recommendation letter given to him by the old escort master.

The gatekeeper swept a glance over him, finding nothing amiss.

Chen Ye had no travel permit and did not want to invite trouble.

He took the opportunity to slip over a handful of silver bits, saying generously, "It's hot out, and you gentlemen have been working hard. A little something for tea."

The gatekeeper weighed the silver in his hand, estimating it to be at least over a tael, and his face immediately broke into a beaming smile as he lazily waved him through.

"Escort Master Sun is an old acquaintance. Young Master, please."

Chen Ye cupped his hands in a salute and stepped through the city gate.

The moment he entered the city, a wave of noise and heat rushed to meet him.

The streets inside were wide, lined with shops standing side by side, where shouts, laughter, and the sounds of carriages and horses wove into a single tapestry.

The breeze even carried the scent of wine and the cloying sweetness of fried pastries.

Chen Ye steadied himself, identified his direction, and began walking briskly toward the general location of Shuntong Transport Agency.

On the way, he paused as he passed a courtyard with blue-brick walls.

The courtyard was not large, and a weathered plaque hung above the lintel, with the faint sound of wind from punches drifting from within.

Clearly, someone was practicing martial arts inside.

The sound of the punches was heavy and steady, carrying a distinct rhythmic breathing.

Chen Ye sensed the flow of energy within his own body, which seemed to ripple slightly in time with that rhythmic breathing.

He felt a vague intuition that he was perhaps only a single opportunity away from completing his second Mortal Shedding.

Chen Ye quickly reined in his thoughts and continued on his way.

The Capital City covered a vast area.

The outer city alone was divided into four major markets: East, West, South, and North.

The population numbered well over a million.

As a newcomer, Chen Ye found every street and alley unfamiliar.

Fortunately, Shuntong Transport Agency had quite a resounding reputation in the Capital City.

After asking for directions along the way and cross-referencing his crude sketch, he finally managed to find the place after several detours.

Shuntong Transport Agency had an imposing storefront.

Several completed carriages were parked in the open space in front, their lacquer gleaming and their decorations grand.

Wealthy patrons dressed in silks and satins came and went frequently.

Chen Ye stood at the entrance, looking down at the outfit he had spent a tael of silver on, which looked surprisingly shabby here.

He didn't dwell on it, straightened his clothes, and stepped inside.

A sharp-eyed apprentice immediately hurried over, a familiar smile on his face: "A distinguished guest has arrived; are you looking to commission a carriage?"

Chen Ye ignored the prompt and stated his purpose directly: "I am looking for Steward Shen; please pass on the word."