As the sun slanted westward, the convoy rolled into a small town.
The town was not large. A few shops stood scattered along both sides of the main road, mostly inns, taverns, blacksmiths, and horse markets. It was plainly a place that catered to passing travelers.
"We're here!" Zhao Tieshan rode back, looking relaxed. "Young Gang Leader, Old Yang Inn is just ahead. The old proprietor has worked with us for over ten years. He's reliable."
Su Derong nodded. "We'll rest here tonight, as usual. We'll cross Black Wind Ridge first thing tomorrow morning."
The inn's signboard bore the words "Old Yang Inn." Its paint was faded with age, but the place looked tidy.
The innkeeper was a chubby middle-aged man. The moment he saw the escort flag, he came out with a broad smile and greeted Su Derong and Zhao Tieshan like old friends. "Young Gang Leader Su! Chief Zhao! It's been a while since Young Gang Leader Su last took this route!"
"The back courtyard's been cleared. As usual, the three rooms in the east wing with shared beds are for the crew, and those two clean rooms at the western end are for the escort guards." Old Yang spoke in a low voice as he led the way. "There's hot water on the stove. We've got braised meat, flatbreads, and greens-and-tofu soup—plenty for everyone. The stable's against the west wall, and the feed is fresh."
Su Derong nodded and pressed two pieces of silver into Old Yang's hand. "Sorry for the trouble, Uncle Yang. Keep alert tonight. If any strangers come looking for a room, let us know."
"Don't worry, Young Gang Leader. I know the rules." Old Yang pocketed the silver and went off to make arrangements.
The crates were unloaded and stacked together in the middle of the back courtyard, then covered with cloth. Zhao Tieshan personally took two runners to guard them.
The horses were led into the stable, watered, and fed. Only then did everyone disperse to wash up and eat.
They ate in the main hall, where several square tables had been pushed together. The braised meat was cut into thick slices, the flatbreads were crisp and fragrant, and steam rose from the greens-and-tofu soup.
It was a rule of escort work: no drinking at the dinner table. Everyone ate quickly and quietly.
After the meal, Su Derong put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a cloth, and looked around at the others. "I'll take the first half of the night. Master Zhao will take the second. The rest of you can stretch your limbs in the courtyard if you like, but don't leave the inn or raise your voices."
"Young Gang Leader, why take the watch yourself?" Zhou Yong couldn't help asking. "A few of us can take turns. That'll be enough."
Su Derong shook his head. "Rules are rules. You should get some rest and save your strength. We have to travel again tomorrow."
Zhou Yong opened his mouth, then said nothing more.
After the meal, night fell completely.
Two oil lamps were hung under the inn's eaves, their dim yellow light barely illuminating half the courtyard.
Su Derong picked up a small stool and sat just inside the inn's main entrance, leaning against the doorframe with his eyes closed as he rested.
It was a night watchman's posture—seemingly relaxed, but listening in every direction, ready to react in an instant at the slightest sound.
Two runners crouched in the shadows beside the escort wagon, one on either side, like a pair of stone statues.
The others spread out across the courtyard, each stretching their limbs.
Several runners finished clearing the dishes but didn't hurry back to their rooms. They squatted in small groups under the veranda, chatting.
They talked about family matters and things they'd seen along the way, but didn't say a word about the cargo or their route.
That was an iron rule of escort work: even on your own turf, you had to keep your mouth shut.
Zhou Yong took off his outer garment, revealing lean, well-defined arms.
He took his place in an open space in the courtyard, drew a deep breath, and slowly settled into a stance. His arms stretched out, his fingers curled slightly, and his body leaned forward, like a white ape poised to pounce.
Then he launched into his moves. His motions were light and nimble, each shift and turn carrying a wild, crafty edge.
His fists cut through the air with soft whooshes. Clearly, he had practiced for a long time.
"Zhou Yong's White Ape Fist is looking better and better," Wang Gui said, watching with his arms folded. Approval showed on his honest face.
He began loosening up as well, moving to an open space on the other side. He lowered his hips and settled into a horse stance, then slowly pushed out both palms.
His palm techniques were weighty and unadorned. Each push and press carried a dense, steady force, as if it could split the clouds and mist.
This was the family technique he practiced: Cloud Splitting Palm.
A few of the resting runners gathered around and spoke in low voices.
"Escort Guard Zhou's fist is fast, that's for sure! I saw him use it once before—he dropped four hooligans who tried to block the road with a single move."
"Escort Guard Wang's palm strength is what's truly solid! Last year, when we were on an escort run, a boulder came tumbling down the mountain. He smacked it aside with one palm and saved the whole load!"
"Hey, what do you think? What's this Xingyi Fist that the new Escort Guard Chen practices really like? I hear internal martial arts are mysterious stuff, and their way of generating force is different from ours..."
Zhou Yong finished his forms and grinned at Chen Jianghe, his eyes openly challenging. "What do you say, Brother Chen? Remember what you said earlier today? On an escort run, it's not enough to know the roads and recognize the tracks. When trouble comes, you still need your fists."
He rolled his wrists, his knuckles crackling softly. "I hear you practiced internal martial arts at the school. They say it's all about cultivating strength. I wonder if you can take a beating when it comes to a real fight..."
The courtyard fell quiet for a moment.
Chen Jianghe understood that he couldn't avoid this "test of fists."
It was a friendly exchange between fellow escorts, but also a way to establish his place in this little group.
After a brief pause, Chen Jianghe rose and walked over, clasping his fists. "Senior Brother Zhou, Senior Brother Wang, I've only just begun learning. I hope you'll both show me the ropes."
"I wouldn't call it that. We're just sparring." Zhou Yong's eyes brightened a little. He patted Wang Gui on the shoulder. "Wang Gui, why don't you feel Brother Chen out first?"
Wang Gui nodded and walked to an open space in the courtyard. He took the opening stance of Cloud Splitting Palm and said in a low voice, "Brother Chen, please."
The two took their stances.
Wang Gui's opening stance for Cloud Splitting Palm was unusual. One palm was held in front of the other, both palms slightly hollowed, fingers naturally spread like wisps of cloud drawing together.
He moved slowly around Chen Jianghe, circling halfway around him. Then, without warning, his left palm feinted forward while his right stayed hidden beneath his ribs, seeming to attack and yet not attack.
Chen Jianghe settled into the Three Body Stance, his gaze fixed on Wang Gui's shoulders.
Xingyi Fist prized a calm heart, clear eyes, and unified force.
Wang Gui moved.
His feinting left palm became a real strike, slapping toward Chen Jianghe's right shoulder. The force of it was soft, yet held a coiling strength.
Chen Jianghe advanced instead of retreating, raising his right arm to intercept it head-on with Splitting Fist!
Fist met palm with a muffled slap.
Wang Gui felt a fierce force drive through his palm, numbing his entire arm slightly. Startled, he retreated and changed his move.
His right palm swept out from beneath his ribs like clouds billowing and mist rising, covering Chen Jianghe's face.
Chen Jianghe twisted his waist and hips, then unleashed Crushing Fist!
The punch was fast and straight, aimed directly at Wang Gui's center. Wang Gui hurriedly brought both palms back to guard, using yielding force to deflect the blow. They exchanged moves, and in the blink of an eye, seven or eight passes had gone by.
The watching runners murmured among themselves.
"Escort Guard Wang's Cloud Splitting Palm is beautiful—soft on the outside, strong underneath!"
"Escort Guard Chen's fists are harder. You can hear the force behind every strike!"
"Xingyi Fist really lives up to its reputation..."
In the middle of the courtyard, Wang Gui suddenly gave a sharp shout and struck with both palms in rapid succession. Layer upon layer of palm shadows rolled like clouds, covering Chen Jianghe's entire upper body.
This was the Three Cloud-Stacking Styles he had trained so hard to master. Feints and real strikes intertwined, a technique designed to break the kind of forceful, direct punches that came straight at you.
But Chen Jianghe didn't panic.
He shifted his footing, slipping through the gaps between the palm shadows like a swimming fish. At the same time, his right fist changed from Splitting to Drilling, shooting upward from below toward the opening beneath Wang Gui's armpit!
The change was lightning-fast. Caught off guard, Wang Gui hurriedly dropped his elbow to block.
"Thud!"
Fist and elbow collided. Wang Gui staggered back two steps before managing to steady himself.
He shook out his numb arm and smiled wryly. "Brother Chen, you're good. I've lost."
Chen Jianghe settled his stance and clasped his fists. "You let me win, Brother Wang. The yielding, coiling force in your Cloud Splitting Palm taught me a lot."
His words were sincere, and Wang Gui's expression softened. He smiled. "You're too kind, Brother Chen. That unified force running through Xingyi Fist has really opened my eyes."
"Let me try!"
Zhou Yong strode into the middle of the courtyard.
He stared hard at Chen Jianghe, his mouth twisting into a thin smile. "Brother Chen, Old Wang's palm techniques are soft, and you beat him beautifully. I practice White Ape Fist, which focuses on speed and nimbleness. I wonder how Xingyi Fist handles quick punches?"
The atmosphere tightened slightly.
Wang Gui frowned. "Old Zhou, we agreed this was just a friendly spar. What are you—"
"It's only a test of fists." Zhou Yong rolled his wrists, his fierce gaze fixed on Chen Jianghe. "Brother Chen can ride in the lead carriage with Young Gang Leader Su, so I assume he's got some skill. I've been with the escort agency for three years. There's nothing wrong with asking you to trade a few moves, is there?"
Chen Jianghe looked at Zhou Yong.
The dissatisfaction in the man's eyes was almost impossible to miss. Did he think Chen Jianghe was inexperienced, yet had won Su Derong's favor? Or did he simply want to see what he was made of?
He fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "Please show me what you've got, Brother Zhou."
Zhou Yong said nothing more. He dropped low and sprang forward like an ape!
White Ape Fist was indeed swift. His fists and feet came like the wind, targeting the upper body.
Zhou Yong's footwork was nimble. He darted left and right, his fist shadows flowing without pause as they struck toward Chen Jianghe's head, face, throat, chest, and other vital points.
Chen Jianghe lowered his hips and settled into the Three Body Stance, holding his ground.
Xingyi Fist did indeed favor hard strikes and direct advances, but that didn't mean it was all brute force.
His eyes flashed as he precisely read the direction, angle, and feints of every punch amid Zhou Yong's storm of attacks.
Five moves.
Ten moves.
The longer they fought, the more shocked Zhou Yong became.
He had always believed White Ape Fist was fast enough that ordinary Bright Strength fighters couldn't keep up.
But Chen Jianghe's defense was watertight.
Every punch seemed about to land, yet at the last instant, Chen Jianghe would evade it by a hair's breadth or deftly deflect it with his knuckles or the point of his elbow.
What unsettled Zhou Yong most was that Chen Jianghe's breathing remained steady, and his gaze remained calm.
This wasn't just passively taking a beating. He was watching, learning.
What a bastard... Zhou Yong cursed inwardly. His attacks changed again. Suddenly, he dropped low and swept his leg across the ground, aiming straight for Chen Jianghe's lower body!
But Chen Jianghe seemed to have anticipated it. He lifted his right foot lightly to let the sweep pass, then unleashed Cannon Fist with his left hand like an exploding shell!
Cannon Fist belonged to fire: explosive and fierce.
Zhou Yong hurriedly crossed his arms to block, but the punch sent his blood and qi surging. He staggered back three steps and slammed into a locust tree before managing to steady himself.
Panting heavily, he looked at Chen Jianghe, his expression shifting.
Chen Jianghe slowly settled his stance and clasped his fists. "Brother Zhou's White Ape Fist is swift and nimble. If I hadn't practiced Xingyi Fist for so long and grown familiar with the way fast fighters attack and press forward, I'd probably have lost already."
He had given Zhou Yong a graceful way out.
Zhou Yong stared at him for a few breaths, then suddenly laughed aloud and shook his head. "A loss is a loss. Brother Chen, I'm convinced. Xingyi Fist really is formidable. More impressive still is your character—you could've beaten me quickly, but you let me fight for over twenty moves to save my face."
He walked up to Chen Jianghe and clasped his fists solemnly. "Brother Chen, I'm convinced. I was out of line just now. Don't take it to heart."
Chen Jianghe returned the salute. "You're too kind, Brother Zhou. Sparring is supposed to be like this. Without an opponent like you, I wouldn't have made any progress either."
Zhou Yong straightened up, and at last a sincere smile appeared on his face. "Good! Now that's something I like to hear! From now on, I'll be happy to travel alongside you on escort runs!"
The watching runners relaxed as well and chimed in with smiles.
"You two Escort Guards are something else!"
"That was a real eye-opener!"
"Come on, let's get some sleep. We've got another long day of travel tomorrow..."
Wang Gui came over and put an arm around Chen Jianghe and Zhou Yong's shoulders. "Come on, come on! I've got a bag of peanuts in my room. We can munch on them with tea and have a chat! Brother Chen, you have to tell me all about how you got into martial arts!"