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Seven days later.

Once Wang Quan's health improved, he waved his hand grandly and set off on the return journey.

Outside Yuexi County, Zhou Ming and Wang Quan mounted their horses and followed the official road toward Jinzhou.

Yang Escort Leader, meanwhile, had departed with three escort masters, including Li, five days earlier.

Five days ago, the escort agency had received word that an escort shipment had lost contact after reaching the border near Sealed Prefecture, and they had been sent to investigate.

Outside Yuexi County.

"I won't say much more about martial techniques. With talent as high as yours, you should devote yourself to forging a Perfect Foundation and swiftly raising your realm."

"I won't delay!"

"What kind of sight awaits at the summit of martial arts? Once you see it, remember to tell me."

Zhou Ming fell silent.

Ten days later, the two returned safely to Xishan County.

At the sight of familiar scenery, the stifled breath in Zhou Ming's chest dispersed somewhat.

After entering the city, they led their horses along familiar streets toward the escort agency.

When they reached the agency entrance, Zhou Ming saw his six-year-old cousin sitting slumped on the steps, hugging a little wooden doll.

Wang Quan glanced at the little girl and took Zhou Ming's horse. "Go on. Settle all the trivial matters first, then you'll be able to train in peace."

With that, he led the horses toward the agency stables.

Zhou Ming beckoned to Fang Men.

Fang Men jogged over. "Escort Master Zhou, what are your orders?"

Zhou Ming asked in a deep voice, "How did my cousin find this place? Why did you let her lie on the steps instead of taking her to my courtyard?"

Fang Men bowed. "About half a month ago..."

After hearing Fang Men out, Zhou Ming frowned slightly. He walked up the steps, picked up his sleeping cousin, and headed toward his own detached courtyard.

The little girl's delicate nose twitched faintly, as though she had caught a familiar scent, and she slept even more deeply.

Inside the courtyard, Zhou Ming glanced at the repaired roof, then went to the door and pushed it open with his shoulder.

After laying the little girl on the bed, he sat beside her and sank into thought.

According to Fang Men's account, half a month ago, his second aunt had somehow learned of his whereabouts and found out that he had become a Martial Artist.

She had brought the entire family to the escort agency to look for him, even though the agency told her that he had gone out on an escort job.

Yet his second aunt had brought Zhou Kang and his cousin and made a fuss for three straight days.

As for his second uncle, aside from coming to look for him on the first day, he had not appeared again afterward.

After verifying the matter, the escort agency confirmed their identities. Even if they caused a scene, it was difficult to handle.

They could only leave them be.

After three days of fussing, only his cousin came to play alone outside the agency entrance each day, clutching her wooden doll.

Fang Men had also said that he tried to bring the little girl into the agency, but every time, she said she wanted to wait outside for her second brother.

Looking at his sleeping cousin, Zhou Ming sighed. In the end, the child had nothing to do with this matter.

A moment later, he left the room and instructed a servant to summon a carriage to wait outside the agency entrance, then headed toward the training grounds.

He had not come to the training grounds for over three months. There were far fewer people now, and the grounds had become much emptier.

Standing in the corridor, he looked over the hundred or so people, searching for familiar faces who had once shared a room with him for a night.

Yang Shu was there.

Fan Daniu was there too.

Even Chen Li, with whom he had once had a small conflict, was still there.

Seeing that Chen Li was still around, Zhou Ming felt somewhat relieved. Since no one had used that incident to suppress Chen Li, it meant that the entire Dragon Soaring Escort Agency had its own clear principles.

Such a place would surely gather people's hearts and accomplish great deeds.

Zhou Ming called the three over.

Fan Daniu was the first to arrive. He asked excitedly, "Brother Zhou, long time no see! I heard everyone saying you've become a Martial Artist. Is that true?"

Zhou Ming smiled. "It's true. And I've even gone on an escort job. I just got back. Work harder—once you pass the final assessment, you can start taking escort jobs too."

Facing honest, simple Daniu, he said a little more, though there was no intent to show off.

He knew that honest, simple Daniu had come here only for a full meal. Once he could eat his fill, the next step would be earning money to marry a wife.

As for the path of martial arts, Daniu had spent three months in the great dye vat of the escort agency without taking on any color. He would not devote himself wholeheartedly to martial arts, only live steadily and properly, one step at a time, through his future life of escort work.

Yang Shu looked at Zhou Ming's fair skin and handsome face and smiled. "I never expected becoming a Martial Artist could give someone such a complete transformation."

Hearing Yang Shu speak with such easy familiarity, Zhou Ming smiled. "You need a good foundation for that. I think yours is a little questionable. When you become a Martial Artist, I'll treat you. We'll go to the pleasure house together, and I'll definitely be more popular than you."

A burst of laughter instantly rang through the corridor.

Zhou Ming, Yang Shu, and Chen Li laughed heartily. Honest, simple Daniu scratched his head and joined in with a foolish chuckle.

Seeing Daniu chuckling to himself, Zhou Ming teased, "Daniu knows about pleasure houses too?"

"My ma said I'm honest, not stupid," Fan Daniu said with a chuckle.

Yang Shu draped an arm over Fan Daniu's shoulder. "Looks to me like you aren't all that honest either, Daniu."

Hahaha! Another burst of laughter rang through the corridor, drawing glances from everyone in the training grounds.

Going with the mood, Yang Shu asked with a smile, "Brother Zhou, do you have something for the three of us to do?"

Zhou Ming did not beat around the bush. He said directly, "I called a carriage outside the agency. In a while, I'll carry my cousin onto it, and you three will take her home—to the third house in Pit Alley. This is a one-thousand-tael banknote. Give it to my second uncle."

As he spoke, he took a one-thousand-tael banknote from his robes and handed it to Yang Shu.

Yang Shu put away the banknote and left for the agency entrance with Fan Daniu and Chen Li.

Zhou Ming, meanwhile, headed back toward his detached house.

Sometimes, men did not need too many words.

Just like this conversation: he had called Chen Li over, but apart from their two bouts of laughter, they had not exchanged a word.

Zhou Ming's goodwill and regard for Chen Li needed no words.

Returning to the room and seeing that the little girl had not woken, Zhou Ming sighed faintly in relief. Otherwise, facing her crying and fussing would have given him quite a headache.

Before long, he stood outside the agency entrance and watched the carriage disappear into the distance. In a low voice, he said, "May you grow up happy and healthy."

Who knew how much time passed.

"Escort Master Zhou."

"Escort Master Zhou."

Hearing the voice by his ear, Zhou Ming came back to himself. "What is it?"

The servant bowed slightly. "The Chief Escort requests your presence in the council hall. There is an important matter to discuss."

"Understood. I'll go now."

Zhou Ming stared deeply toward the end of the street, then turned and walked back into the escort agency, making his way along the corridor toward the council hall.

The Chief Escort.

Zhou Ming had never seen him even once in all these years.

On the road back from Yuexi County in Sealed Prefecture, he had asked Wang Quan about him as well.

But Wang Quan had only smiled and told him to find out for himself.

Was he really that mysterious?

He wanted to see whether this Chief Escort truly had three heads and six arms.

Entering the council hall and seeing the person seated high in the Chief Escort's seat, Zhou Ming blinked in disbelief.

The Chief Escort blinked back at him.

Wu Quan, Wu Escort Leader, glanced at the tiny exchange between them, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

Zhou Ming kept blinking, his eyes growing increasingly dry.

Yet every time he blinked, the Chief Escort seated above would blink back at him.

Damn!

Social death in front of the boss—how was he supposed to break this deadlock?

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