Responsibility

The morning at the Su Family Escort Agency was deathly silent.

When Su Derong pushed open the main gates, his footsteps faltered.

The courtyard was far too quiet.

There was none of the usual clamor of Pathfinders shouting as they loaded cargo, no crisp sound of horseshoes striking bluestone, nor the rhythmic breathing and shouts of Escort Guards practicing their morning drills.

Only the wind whistled through the hall, whipping up a few withered leaves that spun across the brick floor before settling quietly.

His heart sank, and his grip tightened on his fan.

The doors to the main hall stood open, and shadows flickered within.

Stepping over the threshold, he found Zhou Yong, Wang Gui, Zhao Tieshan, and others sitting or standing inside, each with a grave expression.

Seeing Su Derong enter, they all stood up.

"Young Gang Leader."

Su Derong raised a hand to signal them to sit, then walked to the rosewood armchair beside the main seat, though he did not sit down immediately. His gaze swept over the men before finally resting on Zhou Yong: "Escort Guard Zhou, how are your injuries?"

Zhou Yong twitched the corner of his mouth, attempting a smile that looked worse than a grimace: "Just flesh wounds, nothing fatal. It's just... we lost five brothers."

Su Derong was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly: "I have already heard about what happened."

Zhou Yong's Adam's apple bobbed as he said in a low voice: "This subordinate is incompetent. Please, Young Gang Leader, punish me."

Su Derong did not speak immediately.

He turned and walked beneath the gilded plaque hanging on the north wall of the hall.

The four characters on the plaque, "Integrity Above All," were the foundation of the Su Family Escort Agency and had been inscribed by Grandfather Su himself years ago.

"Punishment?" Su Derong suddenly laughed, a note of self-mockery in his voice. "What should I punish you for? For fighting to the death to protect the cargo and refusing to retreat? Or for... failing to overcome the odds and kill three of the enemy's Dark Strength experts?"

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall: "This shipment was accepted by my Su Family. The route was set by my uncle. You are all risking your lives for my family. If anyone is to be blamed, the first one should be me, the Young Gang Leader."

Zhou Yong opened his mouth to speak, but Su Derong stopped him with a wave of his hand.

Just then, hurried, stumbling footsteps echoed from outside the hall.

Old Zhou, the accountant, rushed in clutching a thick ledger.

The old man, who had managed the accounts for the Su family for over twenty years, looked ashen, his forehead beaded with cold sweat, his hands trembling as he held the book.

"You, Young Gang Leader..." Old Zhou's voice trembled.

Su Derong looked at him: "Mr. Zhou, what is it?"

Old Zhou spread the ledger open on the long table, his finger shaking as he pointed to several lines of figures marked in red ink, his voice filled with despair: "Since the eldest master led the men north with that heavy shipment, over two months have passed. In that time, the agency has sent out nine shipments. Of those... five were robbed, three barely broke even, and only one turned a slight profit. During this period, the agency has suffered a net loss of... a net loss of four hundred taels of gold!"

"What?!" Wang Gui stood up abruptly, knocking over the bench behind him.

Zhao Tieshan gasped, his face turning gray in an instant.

Zhou Yong stared fixedly at the shocking numbers in the ledger, his fists clenching until they creaked.

Four hundred taels of gold.

Even in the Su Family Escort Agency's prime, that was an entire year's net profit.

In these difficult times, the escort business was already shrinking; this loss was enough to hollow out the majority of the Su family's assets.

Old Zhou continued, his voice growing lower: "And this doesn't include the compensation for the fallen brothers, the medical expenses for the wounded, or the reparations for the stolen goods... If we account for all of that, I fear... I fear..."

He didn't finish, but everyone in the hall understood.

Su Derong walked slowly to the long table and leaned over to look at the ledger.

He read with great care, turning page after page, his gaze lingering on every line of numbers.

The hall was deathly silent, save for the rustle of pages turning and the heavy breathing of those present.

After a long while, Su Derong closed the ledger.

He raised his head, the shock and heaviness gone from his face, replaced by a calm composure.

"Mr. Zhou," he said, his voice clear and steady, "distribute the compensation for the fallen brothers at the highest standard. If they have elderly parents or young children, provide an additional two taels of silver per month for their support until the elders pass and the children come of age. The agency will cover all medical expenses for the wounded. If any are too disabled to continue escorting, we will find them light duties within the agency, with their monthly wages unchanged."

Old Zhou was stunned: "Young Gang Leader, this... the expenses..."

Su Derong interrupted him, his tone brooking no argument: "Do as I say. If there isn't enough silver, I will find a way. But the compensation and medical costs must not be shorted by a single cent, nor delayed by a single moment."

He paused, then continued: "From today on, the agency will stop accepting long-distance heavy shipments. We will consolidate all personnel and focus our strength on holding the final short-distance branch route. That route has thin margins, but it is short and has fewer complications; it is our only path to survival right now."

Zhao Tieshan couldn't help but speak up: "Young Gang Leader, the last main route and the two branch routes... are we just going to give them up?"

Su Derong looked at him, his eyes sharp: "And if we don't, then what? Master Zhao, how many combat-ready Escort Guards do we have left? How many capable Pathfinders? If we force a stand and exhaust our remaining resources, the Su Family Escort Agency's reputation will truly be finished."

Zhao Tieshan opened his mouth, but eventually lowered his head in defeat, saying nothing more.

Su Derong walked back to the main seat.

This time, he did not hesitate. He swept back his robes and sat firmly into the rosewood armchair that symbolized both power and responsibility.

His back was straight, his hands rested flat on the armrests, and his gaze swept over every person in the hall.

"I know that all these years, I've been idling in martial arts halls and listening to tunes in pleasure houses, barely concerning myself with the affairs of the Su Family Escort Agency." He spoke slowly, his expression grave. "You uncles and brothers have held up this family business for the Su Family; you have worked hard."

He stood up and bowed deeply to everyone in the hall.

"Everyone, you have worked hard."

Zhou Yong, Wang Gui, Zhao Tieshan, and the others scrambled to their feet, their eyes instantly turning red. They hurriedly cupped their hands and bowed in return, their voices choked with emotion: "Young Gang Leader!" "You mustn't!"

Su Derong straightened up and continued, "With my uncle now fallen ill, this burden must be carried by me. The road ahead will be difficult, but I, Su Derong, will say this today: as long as I have a bite to eat, none of you brothers will go hungry. As long as I am here, the signboard of the Su Family Escort Agency will never fall."

"Mr. Zhou, calculate the expenses for the pensions and medicine immediately. Give me the figures in one hour."

"Master Zhao, inventory and repair all weapons, armor, carriages, and horses in the warehouse. Not a single item is to be missed."

"Zhou Yong, Wang Gui, compile a list of the brothers still fit for duty. Divide them into three shifts based on their injuries and martial arts, and clearly define their responsibilities."

One order after another was issued clearly, without a hint of hesitation.

The people in the hall felt a surge of spirit, as if they had found their backbone, and they roared in response: "Yes!"

They immediately went off to carry out their orders.

Only Su Derong remained in the main hall.

He slowly sat back in the grand armchair, tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and let out a long breath.

That face, which always wore a lazy smile, was now etched with exhaustion, and fine beads of sweat even seeped from his temples.

A shortfall of four hundred taels of gold...

Pensions for the fallen brothers...

His uncle fallen ill...

The precarious state of the escort agency...

He snapped his eyes open, pulled the silk pouch he never left home without from his robes, and emptied all the banknotes and silver fragments inside.

He counted them; there was barely over a hundred taels.

A drop in the bucket.

Su Derong put the money back into the pouch, stood up, and straightened his clothes.

He looked down at himself and suddenly laughed.

It was a bitter laugh.

"So this is what it feels like... to be the head of the house."

He whispered to himself, turned, and walked out of the main hall.