Passersby turned to stare as they went by. Merchants who recognized the Su Family Escort Agency's banner craned their necks to get a better look, whispering among themselves. One glance at the convoy made it clear they'd been through a bloody battle.
Little by little, crowds gathered along both sides of the street to watch.
Their whispers drifted over on the breeze:
"Those are people from the Su Family Escort Agency... Look at them. Must've run into some tough customers?"
"That route through Black Wind Ridge, right? I heard things haven't been peaceful lately..."
"Look at the blood on that cart! Did anyone die?"
"Isn't the Young Gang Leader injured...?"
Su Derong listened, swishing his fan ribs even more loudly. He even nodded at a few familiar faces among the onlookers, the lazy smile on his face never fading.
Chen Jianghe, however, furrowed his brow slightly.
In troubled times, flaunting your wealth invited disaster, while showing fear invited calamity.
A cart smeared with blood and a crew parading their wounds through the streets—those with designs on the Su Family would take it as a sign that the escort agency was weak and ripe for the picking.
He turned his head and asked quietly, "Senior Brother, won't making such a show of ourselves draw too much attention?"
Su Derong shot him a sidelong glance and tapped the fan ribs against his palm. He lowered his voice so only the two of them could hear. "Jianghe, remember this: in the escort business, seventy percent depends on skill, and thirty percent on reputation. We may look battered today, but we made it back alive and kept the goods safe. Once word gets around, anyone thinking of making a move against the Su Family will have to think twice."
Chen Jianghe fell silent, understanding the point.
It was a show of weakness, but also a show of strength. In troubled times, being too low-key could make you seem like an easy target.
As he pondered this, Su Derong suddenly tapped his arm lightly with a fan rib. "Jianghe, look up."
Chen Jianghe did as he was told.
Su Derong looked him up and down, then clicked his tongue twice. "Come to think of it, you've been at Xingyi Martial Arts Hall for almost a year now, haven't you? What were you like when you first arrived? Thin as a reed. I was afraid a strong wind might blow you away. But look at you now..."
With his uninjured hand, he pointed at Chen Jianghe's arm and shoulder. "That build, that vigor. My, my."
Chen Jianghe glanced down at himself.
His indigo martial uniform was covered in dust and dried blood. The sleeves were worn through in a few places, exposing the solid muscles beneath.
Indeed, compared with the hunched-over young laborer who'd worked in the slaughterhouse at Shen Mansion a year ago, reeking of blood and offal, he was like a different person.
He cupped his fists. "It's all thanks to your care, Senior Brother."
Su Derong waved a hand, about to say something, when his eyes suddenly shifted and a mischievous grin appeared on his face.
"By the way, Jianghe, if I remember right, you're almost eighteen, aren't you?"
Chen Jianghe nodded. "I'll turn eighteen in another month."
"Eighteen, huh..." Su Derong drew out the words and rubbed his chin, looking as if he'd just remembered something important. "That's the age when young men in ordinary families start looking for a wife. Start a family, build a career—start a family first, then build your career!"
Chen Jianghe's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and a vague sense of foreboding rose in his heart.
Sure enough, Su Derong leaned closer with a beaming smile and lowered his voice, though Zhou Yong, Wang Gui, Zhao Tieshan, and the others nearby could still hear him clearly. "As it happens, I have a distant cousin with a younger sister who's a real beauty! And her figure..."
"Thin where she ought to be thin, and she's got plenty of flesh where it counts! Her bottom's round and firm—she looks like she'd bear children well. And her waist is slender but strong. She's definitely got what it takes to give you sons! What do you say, Jianghe? Want your Senior Brother to set you up? Give it some thought?"
Chen Jianghe: "..."
He opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know how to respond.
All he could think of was Su Derong's teasing grin, while the words "bottom," "waist," and "give you sons" buzzed in his head.
"Pfft!" Zhou Yong, who'd been drinking water nearby, spat it out and choked, coughing and laughing at once. "Y-Young Gang Leader! You don't mean that Qing girl from the escort agency, do you?"
"Exactly!" Su Derong slapped his thigh.
Zhou Yong shot Chen Jianghe a knowing look. "Brother Chen, Qing is a fine girl! Her looks, her figure—my, my. You won't find another like her on the streets of the Outer City!"
Wang Gui chimed in from behind, his honest face beaming. "That's right, Brother Chen. Once you're married, you'll have a wife waiting for you by the warm kang, and someone to help look after your mother. What could be better?"
Even Zhao Tieshan, who was usually steady and taciturn, couldn't help letting the corners of his mouth curl up. "Escort Guard Chen, the Young Gang Leader isn't just teasing you. Miss Qing may be a little proud, but there's nothing to fault about her character or looks. If you're truly interested, have the Young Gang Leader speak to her family. It could be a fine match."
The porters and escort agency workers busy nearby all pricked up their ears, wearing expressions of eager anticipation.
They'd returned from an escort run after walking the line between life and death. Now, listening to this homely banter, the tension that had gripped them for days eased a little.
Caught off guard by the sudden talk of matchmaking, Chen Jianghe felt at a loss. He took a deep breath to steady himself, then cupped his fists and replied earnestly, "Thank you, Senior Brother, and thank you all for your kind intentions. It's just that all my attention is on martial arts right now. My mother still isn't settled, and I've only just started working for the escort agency. I truly can't spare the time to think about marriage."
Su Derong studied him for a few breaths, then burst out laughing and gave his shoulder a hearty smack with his fan. "Good! Ambitious, too! But I'll tell you this now: my cousin has high standards, and there are plenty of people trying to court her. If you don't give it a thought now, don't come crying about it later."
He added with a grin, "When I was your age, I already had a child. You have no idea how wonderful it is to have a home and a lovely wife."
Chen Jianghe could only shake his head helplessly. "Stop teasing me, Senior Brother."
"All right!" Su Derong stopped pressing him and tapped the fan ribs against his palm. "Then we'll wait until you're famous throughout Yilin County! By then, there'll be suitors pounding down your door, and I'll help you choose the right one!"
Everyone laughed.
Amid the laughter and chatter, the convoy entered the western district. The signboard of the Su Family Escort Agency came into view.
A crowd had already gathered outside the agency.
Uncle Yang, the old manager, was waiting at the foot of the steps with two workers. As soon as he saw the convoy, he hurried over to greet them.
Several of the escort guards and porters who'd stayed behind gathered around as well, lending a hand to unload the carts, lead the horses, and carry the wounded.
Half an hour later, everyone had washed and changed, and they gathered in the main hall.
Su Jingming was already waiting inside. He wore an indigo silk robe with a jade belt around his waist, sitting upright in the seat of honor.
Several trays sat on the long table in front of him, covered with red cloth.
When the others entered, Su Jingming rose to greet them. His gaze first fell on Su Derong. Seeing that he was pale but still in good spirits, some of the worry in his eyes eased. Then he turned to Chen Jianghe and the others, sizing them up one by one.
"Sit," Su Jingming said, gesturing.
Everyone took their seats in order. Su Derong sat to Su Jingming's lower left, followed by Chen Jianghe, Zhou Yong, Wang Gui, and Zhao Tieshan.
Su Jingming asked about their injuries first, and each of them answered in turn.
His gaze swept across those present, finally settling on Chen Jianghe. He said slowly, "I've already had one of the workers give me a rough account of what happened on this escort run. But there are some details I still need to hear from you directly."
Zhao Tieshan stood and cupped his fists. "Reporting to Second Master, the first few days after we left the city went smoothly enough. Before entering Black Wind Ridge, we stopped to rest at Old Yang Inn as usual. That night..."
He recounted the ambush from beginning to end. His tone was steady, and he described every detail clearly.
Su Jingming listened in silence, his expression unreadable, though his fingers rubbed the rim of his teacup without thinking.
When Zhao Tieshan finished, he looked at Zhou Yong. "Zhou Yong, what about you?"
Zhou Yong stood, looking a little sheepish. "Second Master, I... I don't have much to say. If Brother Chen hadn't kept his cool that night, I'd have left my life there. I even thought he was a coward before. Now that I think about it, I was really..."
He paused, then said solemnly, "I, Zhou Yong, am thoroughly convinced by Brother Chen's skill, courage, and character."
Wang Gui rose too, sincerity plain on his honest face. "Second Master, I feel the same way. Brother Chen may be young, but he's experienced in handling things and decisive when he acts. If I'd been in that situation last night, I'd probably have panicked already."
Su Jingming nodded, his gaze finally settling on Su Derong. "Derong, tell me."
Su Derong didn't get up. He leaned back in his chair, pale but serious as he said, "Uncle, Old Zhao and the others have covered everything that needs saying. I'll just add one thing..."
He turned to Chen Jianghe at his side and said slowly, "If it weren't for Jianghe, I'd be dead—or left crippled. He didn't just save me. He saved this escort run, and the Su Family Escort Agency's reputation out on the road."