The Zhao Family

The next morning, the morning mist had yet to dissipate.

Lu Zhen changed into the black silk, gold-trimmed inner-disciple uniform. Instead of heading to the Iron Arm Martial Arts Hall, he called upon Song Shi as agreed, and the two set off together to familiarize themselves with the Four Seas Escort Agency belonging to the Zhao family.

The escort agency was located in the west of the city and occupied a vast expanse of land.

A black plaque with gold lettering reading "Four Seas Escort Agency" hung from the towering gatehouse.

Four escorts stood below the steps, broadswords strapped to their waists. Though their postures were lax, their eyes were sinister, exuding a fierce aura that warned strangers to keep their distance.

Seeing Zhao Peng approach with others, the four escorts finally cupped their fists lazily and called out, "Young Master."

"Keep your eyes sharp. These two are inner-disciple brothers from our Iron Arm Martial Arts Hall!" Zhao Peng waved his hand familiarly and led the two through the main gate.

There was no scenery to speak of inside the agency; everywhere was permeated with a grim, utilitarian air.

Dozens of undelivered escort wagons were piled in the courtyard, the wooden wheels still caked with mud from outside the city.

When they reached the martial arts practice field in the backyard, seven or eight men in short tunics were sparring in pairs.

Lu Zhen stood to the side watching, but his brows gradually furrowed.

This group fought with extreme malice. Even though it was a spar between colleagues, they specifically targeted vital points like the groin and eyes.

Furthermore, when one man was bested and fell to the ground, those watching not only failed to help him up but burst into raucous laughter, interspersed with foul-mouthed curses.

There was ferocity, yes, but it was tainted with a sense of spite and internal strife, entirely devoid of camaraderie.

Seeing Zhao Peng approach, the group stopped and offered their greetings.

Zhao Peng pointed at the men and laughed, "Junior brothers, these are all veteran instructors of our agency. Several of them are old hands who reached the mid-stage of Lianli years ago.

Since you have just entered the inner circle, you need real combat to hone your skills. Would you like to step down and exchange a few moves?"

"I just made a breakthrough yesterday and my internal energy hasn't settled yet, so I won't go down and make a fool of myself," Lu Zhen replied with a cupped-fist salute, politely declining.

Zhao Peng looked somewhat disappointed, but Song Shi, a newborn calf unafraid of the tiger, nodded with an excited face: "I—I'll give it a try! I ask for your guidance, seniors!"

Song Shi took off his outer robe and stepped onto the field. A gaunt, cold-looking escort walked out from the opposite side and cupped his hands casually: "I am Zhao Si. Offense taken."

As soon as the words fell, Song Shi let out a loud shout, unleashing the three-snap Iron Wire Fist he had mastered yesterday, a heavy punch aimed straight at Zhao Si's chest.

The momentum was fierce, but it lacked flexibility.

Zhao Si sneered, his body shifting slightly to avoid the brunt of the force. He slid his feet like an eel, circled to Song Shi's side, and drove his knee hard into the soft ribs of Song Shi's lower back.

"Bang!"

Song Shi felt half his body go numb, his strength dissipating instantly. He was sent flying by the clever strike, landing face-first in the dirt.

Defeated in a single move.

The surrounding escorts immediately erupted into unmasked laughter.

Zhao Si shook his sleeves, his face full of disdain: "The tricks practiced in the martial arts hall, no matter how loud the sound, are useless if you haven't seen blood."

Song Shi climbed up with a flushed face and brushed off the dust. Far from being angry, he ran up to Zhao Si with eyes full of admiration: "Am... amazing! Senior, your footwork is truly elusive! The Four Seas Escort Agency is indeed... indeed full of hidden talents!"

Seeing this, Zhao Peng seized the opportunity and laughed: "Junior Brother Song, this is the real skill of licking blood off a blade. Come run a few outer routes with our agency, and I guarantee your methods will be honed as sharp as a knife.

Sixty silver dollars a month, plus a twenty percent cut of the escort commission. How about it?"

Song Shi had never seen such a high salary and nodded excitedly: "I'll do it! Thank you for the promotion, Senior Brother Zhao!"

After settling Song Shi, Zhao Peng turned and looked at Lu Zhen eagerly: "Junior Brother Lu, you are an expert at the mid-stage of Lianli. Since Junior Brother Song has stayed, what is your intention?

If you are willing to come, I will give you a base salary of seventy-five silver dollars a month! It is definitely better than staying at the martial arts hall!"

Hearing this price, Lu Zhen saw things clearly in his heart.

Seventy-five silver dollars was indeed a lot, but it couldn't compare to the one hundred silver dollars Gu Yanzhi had promised offhandedly, not to mention the precious Red Scale Fish and top-tier medicinal meals.

The compensation was only secondary.

Lu Zhen scanned the group of escorts with their cold, mocking eyes. The world was treacherous, and a profession that licked blood off blades required unity above all else. But this Four Seas Escort Agency was too full of malice; if they truly encountered fierce bandits, it would be a miracle if they didn't stab each other in the back.

Looking again at the smooth-talking Zhao Peng, he appeared harmonious on the surface but was calculating to the bone, only interested in self-preservation when trouble arose.

In contrast, Gu Yanzhi, despite his young master's temperament, was capable of slamming the table in anger for a friend; he was much more forthright and righteous.

Lu Zhen had already made up his mind about which side to choose, but he did not show it on his face.

"I appreciate your kindness, Senior Brother Zhao, and I am grateful for the offer," Lu Zhen said, cupping his fists with neither servility nor arrogance. "However, I have only just entered the mid-stage and feel my foundation is still shallow. As for the position, I would like to consider it further."

A flash of displeasure crossed Zhao Peng's eyes, but he immediately piled on a smile again: "Junior Brother Lu is prudent in his actions; that is a good thing! The doors of my Four Seas Escort Agency are always open to you!"

Lu Zhen nodded, gave Song Shi a few final words of advice, and found an excuse to cup his hands and take his leave.

As soon as he stepped out of the gates of the Four Seas Escort Agency, Lu Zhen quickened his pace.

With the matter settled, Lu Zhen did not linger at the Gu residence.

He took the black silk inner-disciple uniform handed to him by a servant, draped it over his shoulders, and after offering a parting salute, he strode away from the Tongjiang Chamber of Commerce and headed straight back to the Iron Arm Martial Arts Hall.

He soon reached an agreement with Gu Yanzhi.

One hundred silver dollars, plus Red Scale Fish and medicinal meals.

Such generous terms would be impossible to find anywhere in Ocean City, even if one searched with a lantern.

More importantly, Lu Zhen had his own calculations.

With the Daily Settlement panel, he could steadily earn experience by pulling a rickshaw, but that was, after all, nothing more than menial labor.

If he were to switch to a martial profession like an "armed escort," a life lived on the edge of a blade where real steel and true combat were the norm, would the experience and monetary rewards from the Daily Settlement be even better and more bountiful than pulling a rickshaw?

Lu Zhen felt a sense of anticipation.