"From the looks of it, the first Mortal Shedding added strength to my existing physical abilities. My flesh and blood had transformed, brimming with new life."
"The second Mortal Shedding increased my lifespan, and my flesh and blood grew even stronger."
Chen Ye carefully inspected the changes within himself. Seeing the extra four months of life on his status panel, his emotions surged.
His system still held seven hundred and eight days of lifespan that he had yet to redeem. Converted to silver, it would take one hundred and seventy-seven taels.
Working at the transport agency, there was no way he could save enough in a short time.
But this Mortal Shedding had revealed another way: breaking through in cultivation could itself increase his lifespan.
The Capital City was filled with Aristocratic Clans, and had countless pills and cultivation methods.
As long as he continued advancing in cultivation, even if he lacked money, he could still keep his life hanging on.
Chen Ye slowly opened his hand and looked down. The layer of golden-gray keratin gradually receded beneath his skin and disappeared.
The few flecks of True Yang near his dantian dimmed as well, settling back into stillness.
He exhaled a breath of stale air, feeling refreshed and clear-headed.
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate, drawing nearer.
Chen Ye straightened his lapels, concealing the few flecks of Golden Light that had yet to fade completely.
The newcomer was Steward Shen.
He found Chen Ye and got straight to the point. "The Liu Family's people are here. It's your first time escorting a carriage, so I'll go with you. For this kind of job from now on, you'll have to handle things on your own."
After a pause, he continued, "The longer you do this work, the more often customers treat our people like personal bodyguards. You're bound to run into all sorts of trouble, so be prepared."
Chen Ye cupped his fists. "Sorry for the trouble, Steward. I haven't yet had the honor of learning your full name."
"My surname is Shen, and I'm the third son in my family. Others call me Shen Chongsan. Head Escort Sun of the Xinglong Escort Agency is my uncle by marriage."
"I see. No wonder Head Escort Sun said you were his nephew." Chen Ye suddenly understood.
As they walked, Shen Chongsan said, "My uncle by marriage was a fine martial arts prospect in his youth, with astonishing strength. He'd already undergone Mortal Shedding twice when he was young. Unfortunately, he's old now, and he suffered plenty of hidden injuries back when he traveled far and wide. His blood and qi have declined badly, and less than a tenth of his cultivation remains.
"A few days ago, he insisted on accompanying a boat on an escort job. My aunt has been on tenterhooks at home ever since."
Chen Ye said nothing, only nodding almost imperceptibly.
As they spoke, the two had already reached the front hall.
Shen Chongsan went up to greet a middle-aged man dressed in brocade.
"Liu Family Steward, sorry to keep you waiting. I didn't expect you to come in person to inspect the carriage today."
The middle-aged man in brocade wore a haughty expression. "Where's my lord's carriage?"
Shen Chongsan's smile didn't fade. "This way, Steward. The carriage is ready."
With that, Shen Chongsan led the Liu Family Steward to a carriage with a remarkably plain appearance.
The carriage looked thoroughly unremarkable, with no unnecessary copper fittings or carved decorations. Even its lacquer had been deliberately aged, so at a glance it was no different from a commoner's carriage.
But Chen Ye noticed that the carriage walls were more than twice as thick as those of an ordinary carriage. When he knocked on them, they gave off a solid sound, with no hollow echo.
"Steward, as you can see, we made it look old according to Young Master Liu's wishes. It won't attract the slightest attention on the streets of the Capital City."
After making a full circuit of the carriage and delivering a long-winded explanation, Shen Chongsan ushered the Liu Family Steward inside.
The interior was covered in soft cushions and hung with jade ornaments and precious beads. Incense wafted through the air, and everything was extravagantly luxurious.
There was enough space for two people to lie down.
Standing outside the carriage, Chen Ye glanced around and was surprised to find that there were no windows at all, and the rear wall was completely sealed.
He looked away and asked no questions.
"The interior was also designed according to Young Master Liu's instructions. There are no extra windows; we've only covered the doorway with Soft Smoke Gauze. Once it's locked from both inside and out, it ensures complete privacy without blocking any light," Shen Chongsan explained from inside the carriage.
The Liu Family Steward looked around, satisfaction showing in his eyes.
He pushed at the carriage's mortise-and-tenon joints and asked, "Is this carriage sturdy? I don't want it falling apart on the road."
"Don't worry, Steward. Our master carpenter built it himself, using Zhenyue Heavy Wood. A Martial Master below the Dragon Elephant Realm couldn't break through it without several thousand catties of strength."
"Good, good." The Liu Family Steward grew more pleased the longer he looked. Then he suddenly thought of something and asked, "What if our young master gets locked inside? Surely we can't call over a Dragon Elephant Realm Martial Master every time?"
"Your concern is well-founded." Shen Chongsan pointed to a hidden catch beside the door. "There's a mechanism here, accessible from either side. Press it and pull this piece of wood out, and the door will open."
As he spoke, Shen Chongsan pressed a barely noticeable protrusion, almost indistinguishable from the carriage itself.
A piece of wood held in place popped up.
He pulled out the raised piece of wood, and the carriage door swung open and could no longer be shut.
"Excellent. This carriage is excellent." The Liu Family Steward looked delighted. "Let's take it to the gate first and give it a test run today. If there are no problems, send someone to the residence to collect the silver."
"Sure!" Shen Chongsan beamed and was about to call over a few workers to help carry the carriage out.
Zhenyue Heavy Wood was very dense, and it took two or three people to drag a carriage made from it.
Chen Ye, who had remained silent until now, raised a hand to stop them. "Let me try."
He walked up to the carriage and gripped the front shafts with both hands.
After undergoing Mortal Shedding twice, his arms had the strength of five hundred catties.
He drew a deep breath and gathered his strength throughout his body. The veins in his arms bulged as he steadily lifted the carriage shafts and pulled the carriage toward the gate, as easily as if walking on level ground.
The Liu Family Steward studied Chen Ye from head to toe for a few moments before saying, "The Shuntong Transport Agency truly deserves its reputation as the Capital City's number-one carriage agency. Even the worker escorting the carriage is no ordinary man."
This was Shen Chongsan's first time witnessing Chen Ye's ability. Pride showed on his face, though he replied modestly, "You flatter us, Steward."
At the gate, the Liu Family's people had already brought two horses and harnessed them to the carriage.
Shen Chongsan ushered the Liu Family Steward aboard, took hold of the reins, and asked Chen Ye, "Would you like to drive?"
Chen Ye's expression remained calm. "I've only driven a one-horse carriage before. I've never driven a two-horse one, so I'm afraid I might make a mistake."
"Driving two horses isn't much different from driving one. Watch how I do it." Shen Chongsan didn't suspect anything and patiently showed him the ropes.
"Hyah!"
Shen Chongsan flicked the reins, and the heavy carriage slowly rolled onto the main street.
The Shuntong Transport Agency stood in the southern part of the city. At the Liu Family Steward's instruction, they headed north, straight out of the city, crossing the entire Capital City.
They passed a grand residence with a plaque bearing the three gilded characters "State Protector Mansion." Its three gates stood open, and its imposing presence was magnificent.
Chen Ye had never seen such a grand residence. His gaze was immediately drawn to it.
"This is the Xie Family, a second-rank Aristocratic Clan," Shen Chongsan said, casually pointing. "From here to two streets ahead, all of it belongs to them."
Chen Ye's eyes flickered at the words, and he instinctively clenched his fist.
He scrutinized the residence in his mind, from the inside out.
Then he slowly relaxed his fingers, looked away, and continued watching the road.
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