Might-Guard Escort Agency

The next morning.

Cheng Heng had just withdrawn from the Martial Dao Space. Since all the cultivation techniques in his hands had already been trained to perfection, he could only devote all his energy to fighting others within the Martial Dao Space.

During this period, Cheng Heng had sparred with nearly every renowned Skill-Transforming Force expert in all of Gaoyang County.

Wu Yong had already become one of his defeated opponents!

It was no exaggeration to say that Cheng Heng already knew every one of Wu Yong's techniques like the back of his hand. If Wu Yong dared make a move against him, Cheng Heng would definitely give him a huge surprise!

As Cheng Heng pondered this, he suddenly heard a knock at the door.

A man dressed in fitted black martial attire hurried forward and respectfully handed Cheng Heng an invitation.

"Constable Cheng, pardon my intrusion today. I have come to deliver an invitation. At noon today, Escort Chief Lin will host a banquet at the Gathered Worthy Pavilion and wishes to have a word with you!"

Might-Guard Escort Agency, Lin Qing?

Cheng Heng was greatly surprised, but the invitation seemed to carry more goodwill than anything else, so he accepted it.

Opening the invitation, he found that it was indeed from Lin Qing.

Its wording was quite courteous. Lin Qing said he admired Cheng Heng, such a young talent, and wished to take this opportunity to speak with him at the Gathered Worthy Pavilion.

The Gathered Worthy Pavilion was Gaoyang County's most luxurious restaurant.

After giving it some thought, Cheng Heng accepted the invitation.

During the Martial Examination, Lin Qing had already thought highly of him and had wanted him to take a nominal post at the Might-Guard Escort Agency.

At the time, Cheng Heng had used the excuse that he needed to consider it and had not agreed immediately.

Now that the rankings had been announced, Lin Qing had once again come calling with an invitation. Refusing again would be rather hard to justify, so Cheng Heng simply agreed, intending to see what the Might-Guard Escort Agency had in mind.

Near midday, Cheng Heng set out for the Gathered Worthy Pavilion.

The Gathered Worthy Pavilion truly deserved to be called Gaoyang County's most luxurious restaurant. Even with Cheng Heng's current status and strength, this was his first time visiting.

Those who came and went here were all people of name and standing in Gaoyang County.

Dressed in dark martial attire and wearing a composed expression, Cheng Heng followed the waiter at the entrance up to the private guest hall on the restaurant's third floor.

The moment the hall doors opened, a faint, elegant fragrance drifted into his nose, calming his mind.

Once he entered the hall, the clamor outside vanished in an instant, as though they were worlds apart!

Lin Qing of the Might-Guard Escort Agency was already seated in the place of honor, having waited for quite some time.

Escort Chief Lin had shed his usual fitted martial clothes and now wore a white scholar's robe. The air of a man who licked blood from the edge of a blade had transformed into that of an elegant and outstanding scholar.

He had lost some of his fierceness and gained a little of a learned man's bearing.

At his side stood two middle-aged martial artists with bulging temples and sharp gazes. Judging by their appearance, they were likely elites of the escort agency.

Seeing Cheng Heng arrive, Lin Qing hastily rose to his feet, a smile on his lips.

"Brother Cheng, you truly keep your word. Come, take a seat!"

Cheng Heng cupped his fists in reply.

"Escort Chief Lin invited me so earnestly. How could Cheng refuse?"

He then swept his gaze around the room. Seeing no one else present, he immediately understood that this banquet had been arranged specifically for him, and calmly took a seat in the guest's place.

"Brother Cheng's bearing during the Martial Examination was truly admirable." Lin Qing went straight to the point, his tone candid. "There are two matters I wish to discuss at today's banquet."

"The first is that I heard Brother Cheng will be leaving for the prefectural city in two days. As it happens, I will also be escorting goods to the prefectural city then. If we are headed the same way, we can travel together and look after one another on the road."

"The second matter concerns what I told Brother Cheng on the day of the Martial Examination. I wonder whether you would be interested in taking a nominal post at the Might-Guard Escort Agency?"

After speaking, Lin Qing lightly clapped his hands. The waiter waiting outside promptly brought in dish after dish of delicacies from land and sea, each full of color, fragrance, and flavor, and arranged them on the table.

The one that drew Cheng Heng's attention most was a plate of demon beast meat placed in the center. It weighed a full three jin, and the entire slab gave off an enticing fragrance.

"This meat is the heart meat of a Red-Scale Water Python. It is snowy white tinged with red, and exceptionally delicious."

"For Skill-Transforming Force martial artists, it nourishes the blood and vital energy and strengthens the body. It is an exceedingly rare treasure meat!"

Pointing at the python meat in the middle, Lin Qing introduced it, "This creature lives in Spirit Creek and feeds on spirit shrimp all year round. It is extremely rare. Brother Cheng, hurry and have a taste!"

Demon beast meat!

Cheng Heng was slightly startled. This was the most precious thing he had ever seen.

For Lin Qing to spend so lavishly on him showed complete sincerity!

"Escort Chief Lin is far too courteous. Such precious treasure meat—I truly feel unworthy of accepting it!"

Cheng Heng nodded slightly, then quietly watched Lin Qing across from him.

"Hahaha, Brother Cheng, there is no need to be so polite."

Lin Qing smiled faintly, then took up his chopsticks first and gently picked up a piece, placing it in his mouth.

After seeing Lin Qing move his chopsticks, Cheng Heng also ate a piece of the python meat.

The instant the python meat entered his mouth, it transformed into a warm current that coursed through the meridians of his entire body, silently nourishing his blood and vital energy.

"As expected of Red-Scale Water Python meat. Its effects are so astonishing—its price must be considerable, no?"

Lin Qing smiled. "Brother Cheng, guess how much this plate of python meat is worth?"

Cheng Heng asked doubtfully, "Please enlighten me, Escort Chief Lin."

"Six hundred taels of silver!"

"Six hundred taels!"

Cheng Heng was greatly shocked. This single meal of his had cost five hundred taels?

One had to know that a residence in Gaoyang County's Inner City might not even be worth as much as this plate of python meat!

Surprised, Cheng Heng no longer held back with his chopsticks and began sending mouthful after mouthful of python meat into his mouth.

Before long, he had eaten the entire plate of python meat before him clean.

Lin Qing merely watched with a smile and said nothing. Cheng Heng could hardly be blamed. He had only recently become a Skill-Transforming Force expert. Though his strength was formidable, his wealth and experience were still far inferior to those of these established Skill-Transforming Force veterans.

Now that he had encountered such a feast of delicacies, Cheng Heng simply stopped being polite and stuffed it all into his stomach first!

Watching Cheng Heng, Lin Qing showed not the slightest trace of mockery. Instead, his estimation of Cheng Heng rose another notch.

Once Cheng Heng had eaten nearly his fill, Lin Qing finally asked with a serious expression.

"Brother Cheng, your temperament is very much like mine. This older brother will not beat around the bush any longer. What do you think about the matters I mentioned?"

"Are you willing to take a nominal post at the Might-Guard Escort Agency? If you feel the terms are insufficient, I can offer more!"

"As long as it is within my ability, Lin Qing will certainly satisfy you!"

Hearing this, Cheng Heng gently set down the chopsticks in his hand and voiced the doubt in his heart.

"Escort Chief Lin, even if I agree, I will be leaving for Qingchuan Prefecture in two days. If I take a nominal post at your escort agency while remaining in the prefectural city, I would be taking your salary for nothing and unable to help you in any way!"

Qingchuan Prefecture was more than ten days away from Gaoyang County even by horseback. The distance was not short.

After taking the post, how could he remain in the prefectural city while also attending to the Might-Guard Escort Agency in Gaoyang County!?

After hearing Cheng Heng's words, Lin Qing burst into laughter.

"Brother Cheng, this is where you are mistaken. Our Might-Guard Escort Agency's presence in Gaoyang County is only a branch. Our true headquarters is in Qingchuan Prefecture!"

"In two days, you and I will head to Qingchuan Prefecture together. The post you will take is at the Qingchuan Prefecture headquarters of the Might-Guard Escort Agency!"