The hall fell silent.
Su Jingming was quiet for a moment, then slowly lowered his teacup and turned to Chen Jianghe.
"Chen Jianghe."
"This junior is here."
Chen Jianghe rose and clasped his fists.
Su Jingming studied him, a complicated look in his eyes—approval, relief, and a trace of deeply buried emotion.
"You joined the escort agency as a temporary hand, and this was your first escort run," Su Jingming said slowly. "You were a newcomer. I shouldn't have sent you into danger on this journey. But Derong strongly recommended you, and I wanted to test you as well. Now, it seems..."
He paused, his voice lowering. "You did very well. You stayed calm in a crisis, held back when you needed to, acted decisively, and risked your life when it mattered without losing your sense of restraint. Master Li truly knows how to teach his disciples."
Chen Jianghe bowed. "You flatter me, senior. We drove off the enemy that night only because my senior brother and the others fought to the death at the front. I merely happened to be there."
"Happened to be there?" Su Jingming smiled. "How many so-called 'experts' in the jianghu lose their nerve when death stares them in the face? To judge the situation calmly and strike at the right moment—that alone is rare."
He said no more. Instead, he took a ledger from his robes, picked up a brush, and dipped it in ink.
"The pay for this escort run will be settled according to the agency's rules," Su Jingming said as he wrote in the ledger. "You'll receive the agreed-upon fee. In addition, for protecting the cargo, defeating a powerful enemy, and saving your fellow men, the agency will grant you an extra reward."
He looked at Zhou Yong, Wang Gui, and Zhao Tieshan. "Zhou Yong, Wang Gui, and Zhao Tieshan will each receive fifteen taels of silver, be credited with one merit, and have their monthly pay raised by two taels for the rest of the year."
All three beamed at the news and rose to thank him. "Thank you, Second Master!"
Su Jingming nodded, then turned to Chen Jianghe. "Chen Jianghe, you earned the greatest merit this time, showing the agency great loyalty by coming to the rescue in a time of danger. After discussing it with Derong, I've decided to grant you the following rewards—"
He held up two fingers.
"First, you'll be paid at the highest rate for an Escort Guard on this run: thirty taels of silver."
Chen Jianghe's heart stirred. That was far more than an ordinary Bright Strength Escort Guard would earn for a single escort run.
Su Jingming continued, "Second, you'll receive an additional twenty taels of silver for your performance in battle."
Su Jingming paused, then added, "You'll also continue to receive meat and medicinal powders as usual. Starting next month, your monthly pay will rise to fifteen taels."
Chen Jianghe silently did the math.
For Chen Jianghe, this was a substantial fortune. With the money, his mother wouldn't have to live in a woodshed anymore. He could buy a decent little house near the martial arts hall.
"This junior thanks you." Chen Jianghe bowed deeply.
Su Jingming waved for him to rise, then turned to Su Derong. "Derong, how are your injuries?"
"I'm not dead yet." Su Derong tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Just need some time to recover."
"Then recover properly," Su Jingming said sternly. "The agency has no long-distance escort runs coming up, so stay home and rest. You can spend the time practicing, too. Don't go wandering around and making trouble."
Su Derong chuckled sheepishly. "I will, I will."
"That's enough. You're all dismissed."
"Brother Chen, let's get a drink when you're free!" Zhou Yong said with a broad grin. "It'll be my treat."
Wang Gui nodded earnestly. "I'll come, too."
Zhao Tieshan clapped Chen Jianghe on the shoulder.
Chen Jianghe returned each of their gestures, warmth welling up in his heart.
These men who lived by the blade might have been rough or blunt, but they knew right from wrong and valued loyalty.
After taking his leave, Chen Jianghe was about to leave the escort agency with the heavy bag of silver tucked in his clothes when Su Derong stopped him.
The scent of medicine, bitter and faint, hung in the teahouse in the rear courtyard.
Su Jingming personally changed Su Derong's medicine and rebandaged him. Only then did he sit down in the grand chair.
Su Jingming turned to Chen Jianghe and sat in thought for a moment before speaking. "Derong has already discussed this with me. There were too many people around just now, so it wasn't convenient to give this to you. You've reached Bright Strength. The next step is to build up your qi and blood and break through to Dark Strength. Meat and ordinary medicinal powders alone won't get you there fast enough."
Chen Jianghe's heart stirred, and he looked up.
He said in a low voice, "I've prepared three sets of medicinal ingredients. I'll have someone deliver them shortly. This soup is for external use. Combined with stance training, it can strengthen your bones and sinews and open up your meridians, helping you solidify the foundations of Bright Strength faster and prepare to break through to Dark Strength."
"These three sets of ingredients are worth no less than a hundred taels," Su Jingming said, his gaze deep. "I'm giving them to you both to reward you for protecting the escort and because...I hope to see you advance soon."
He paused, lowering his voice. "The Green Dragon Gang is watching us like a tiger from beyond the city walls, while the Sun Moon Cult is stirring within them. And in the Inner City, there are the Five Great Families. The Su Family needs more experts to hold down the fort. You and Derong are as close as brothers, and Master Li once saved our family's lives. That's why I've decided to give these medicinal ingredients to you."
"This junior won't disappoint you," Chen Jianghe said in a low voice.
"Good." Su Jingming nodded, a genuine smile finally appearing on his face. "Go on. Rest properly for a few days and spend time with your mother. Don't tell anyone about the medicinal ingredients, or you'll invite envy."
"This junior understands."
Su Derong draped an arm over Chen Jianghe's shoulder and limped toward the door.
"Fifty taels in cash, monthly pay raised to fifteen taels, and three sets of Bone Tempering Soup..." Su Derong clicked his tongue and shook his head with a smile. "My uncle really broke the bank this time. I've worked at the agency for years and never received so much silver in one go."
Chen Jianghe supported Su Derong and said softly, "If you hadn't looked out for me, senior brother, I wouldn't even have gotten through the agency's doors."
"Spare me that." Su Derong waved a hand, but his tone turned serious. "Jianghe, you've earned every bit of that silver."
He paused, then suddenly remembered something and lowered his voice. "By the way, once I'm feeling better, I'll come find you and go over some things you need to know about the Bone Tempering Soup. For now, find a place near the martial arts hall. That money will be more than enough. Don't brew the medicine at the hall—too many eyes and ears there."
Chen Jianghe replied solemnly, "All right. I'll remember, senior brother."
"Go on."
The setting sun stretched his shadow long, while a few oil lamps along the street cast a glow over his calm profile.
He thought of Loach Bay.
Those two battered boats, tied together with hemp rope, swayed on the river night after night.
The cabin always smelled of damp wood and fish. It was sweltering in summer and freezing in winter, and whenever the rain grew heavy, they had to worry about leaks.
His mother, Lin, hunched over as she mended fishing nets, her thin shadow cast beneath a bean-sized oil lamp.
Chen Jianghe's mouth twitched.
Home.
It was time he had a real home.
Chen Jianghe immediately sought out an old house agent at the entrance to an alley near the martial arts hall.
The agent's surname was Sun. He was in his fifties, lean and shrewd, and had been in the business around here for more than a decade. He knew the ins and outs of every household and every property on offer.
Seeing Chen Jianghe dressed in the martial arts hall's short uniform, with a steady bearing and clear eyes, he didn't dare take him lightly.
"Are you looking to rent or buy, young man? A private courtyard or a single room? Any particular requirements for the location?"
"Buy. It needs to be near Xingyi Martial Arts Hall, private, and quiet. The courtyard doesn't have to be big, but the house must be sturdy. A brick-and-tile house would be best. I don't mind if it's old."
Agent Sun's mind raced. A moment later, he slapped his thigh. "I've got one! There's a place that would suit you perfectly. Would you like to see it now?"
"Lead the way."
The courtyard lay in an alley west of the martial arts hall. It wasn't large, but it was square and neat, with blue bricks underfoot, three rooms in the main house, and one room in each side wing. It had a kitchen and a woodshed, too.
An old locust tree stood in the corner, its lush branches casting a broad patch of shade. The house had clearly been repaired; the doors and windows were in good shape, and the walls had been freshly whitewashed.
"This courtyard used to belong to an old scholar. He passed the provincial examination two years ago and moved away with his whole family, so the house has been empty ever since," the agent explained. "The asking price is fifty-five taels, but the owner's eager to sell. We should be able to bring it down to fifty."
Chen Jianghe looked the place over, inside and out, and was pleased.
The house was sturdy, the courtyard was quiet, and the martial arts hall was only a few steps away. His mother could live here, and it would be convenient for her to help out at the hall.
"Forty taels," Chen Jianghe said.
The agent froze, then smiled wryly. "Sir, I'm afraid the owner won't accept that."
"The place has been empty for over a year. You know how things are these days. If it stays vacant, its value will only fall further," Chen Jianghe said calmly. "Forty taels, in cash. We can close the deal today."
The agent hesitated for a moment, then stamped his foot. "All right! I'll go talk to the owner!"
Half an hour later, the agent returned, drenched in sweat, holding the property deed and a set of keys. "Sir, we've got a deal! Forty taels. The owner said to consider it a gesture of friendship!"
Chen Jianghe carefully checked the deed and, once he was sure it was in order, counted out forty taels of silver from his robes.
The agent grinned from ear to ear and thanked him again and again.