Challenge

Because of its geographic location, as well as certain historical reasons.

The wealthy households of Peace City

were the most hostile toward mud-legged peasants from outside.

Especially in recent years, with chaos erupting across every prefecture of Chen State and natural and man-made disasters never ceasing, refugees fled here every day. Some wealthy families from elsewhere also arrived with their entire households, competing for the resources and jobs of Peace City locals.

Beyond that,

many foreign martial artists who did not abide by the Martial Restriction Order arrived in Peace City and acted without the slightest restraint.

Under the fine-sounding banner of "robbing the rich to aid the poor," they were in truth freely plundering wealthy households and slaughtering commoners. They even banded together and drifted into the Stockade, making the Stockade—long a chronic ailment in Peace City's history—grow ever stronger.

Coupled with the rapidly shifting international situation, under turmoil both within and without, Peace City, once safe and prosperous, was now declining with every passing day.

Under such circumstances, Qian Shiqi, born into a wealthy household in Shahe County, Peace City, naturally harbored an indescribable hostility toward Jiang Jingnian, who had arrived and immediately taken his escort master's position.

Toward the escort agency,

he was naturally resentful.

Toward Duan Escort Chief,

he bore even deeper grievances.

Yet neither was someone he could openly offend.

Thus, he vented all that resentment upon Jiang Jingnian, this mud-legged outsider.

"Such crude fist techniques, riddled with openings."

"Tsk! Country folk are just like this. They only know a few farming tricks. What worthwhile inheritance could they possibly have?"

"The only reason he has earned Duan Escort Chief's notice now is that he was born somewhat sturdier than others. What does that amount to?"

"Once one becomes a martial master, advancement through every stage cannot be separated from secret medicines and blood food. Even if a mud-leg somehow manages to break open the Blood Tempering Aperture, he may still remain trapped in the Blood Refining Stage for his entire life."

Qian Shiqi had been watching Jiang Jingnian's methods of attack, as well as the flaws and openings in his fist techniques.

The more he watched, the more he observed, the more irritated he became, until he could not help laughing in extreme anger.

This sort of person was clearly a novice at martial arts. Either his inheritance was too poor, or he had never received guidance from elders or a renowned master. All he knew were the crudest martial arts methods.

He had originally thought Jiang Jingnian was some rare blossom left behind in the countryside, an unparalleled martial prodigy, which was why he had been able to snatch away Qian Shiqi's position.

But unexpectedly—

This was his level?

This?

"Big Brother."

Qian Xiaofu entered the escort agency from outside, carrying a bag of meat buns and eating as he walked. Seeing his elder brother squatting in the corner, he jogged over. "Have something to eat?"

"Not eating. Not in the mood."

Qian Shiqi waved a hand without even turning his head. He merely continued to squint as he watched Jiang Jingnian practicing his fist techniques.

Know yourself and know your enemy.

Then you could fight a hundred battles without defeat.

When it came to fist techniques and practical combat experience, he naturally looked down heavily on this newly arrived "escort master." Yet Jiang Jingnian's innate physical gifts still made him highly wary.

"Brother, no need to keep watching."

Qian Xiaofu gripped a steaming hot bun and took a hard bite. The fragrance of meat juices spread everywhere, leaving his mouth gleaming with oil. "I've already watched this Jiang Jingnian for the past two days. He has absolutely no practical combat experience."

"Every day, he practices that set of country tricks. Whether he punches or kicks, he is terribly clumsy. He is just a pure, dumb big guy."

"And besides..."

As he reached this point, Qian Xiaofu suddenly paused and stuffed the other half of the bun into his mouth.

"And besides what?"

Only then did Qian Shiqi turn his head slightly and glance at his third brother, who was deliberately keeping him in suspense.

Qian Xiaofu's cheeks bulged as he chewed his food, his voice somewhat muffled. "Besides, he has never seen blood. He does not have the slightest killing intent on him. But you're different, Big Brother. You've spent more than two years licking blood from a blade's edge. You've killed those bandits who robbed escort shipments."

"Compared to you, he is a somewhat sturdy little white rabbit encountering a vicious wolf."

"Don't be fooled by how Escort Master Yu seemed to suffer a small loss in that spar last time. The problem is, it was only an ordinary assessment. Escort Master Yu did not even use one-tenth of his strength."

He swallowed his food, then swayed his head as he analyzed the matter.

In Qian Xiaofu's mouth, Jiang Jingnian was merely a frog at the bottom of a well, not worth fearing.

"What you said makes some sense, but his body-tempering skills should not be bad either. Otherwise, he would not have remained completely unmoved after taking Escort Master Yu's palm strike."

Qian Shiqi rose to his feet, battle intent burning in his eyes. "I cannot underestimate him."

After the morning's routine training ended,

at around nine in the morning came the escort agency's regular meeting, where they handled the handover of escorted goods, business negotiations, assignment of miscellaneous tasks, and various other affairs.

Other than those who had already departed on escort runs, everyone would generally be present for such meetings.

In the main hall of the front courtyard,

the chief escort sat above, assigning several recently accepted jobs to the escort masters and runners below. Duan Escort Chief, meanwhile, stood to the side checking the accounts and reviewing the newly signed escort contracts.

Neither of these matters could be treated carelessly.

They would generally first be written up, organized, and coordinated by the managers below, then handed to the two escort chiefs for final confirmation and handling, preventing mistakes from arising.

"Old Duan, judging by the time, that boy Li Mincheng should be returning to Peace City tomorrow, right?"

The chief escort was a somewhat bloated, fat man of around forty. His hair fell loosely to his shoulders, and every glance he cast carried a wild, unruly air.

"Escort Chief Li said in the letter he sent the day before yesterday that he still needed about five days of travel. He likely will not arrive tomorrow."

Duan Escort Chief checked the account slips beside him and spoke without raising his head.

"There have been quite a lot of matters lately! With that Li Family boy not back yet, we are a little short on manpower. The job of lending aid to the Su Family will have to be postponed for a few more days."

"How about I take some men to Orchid Garden Restaurant in a couple of days?"

As the two escort chiefs spoke,

an ill-timed voice suddenly rang out in the hall.

"Chief Escort!"

Everyone in the hall turned their gazes toward the source of the voice.

It was Qian Shiqi, dressed in black fitted martial clothes. He stepped out from the rear rows and walked to the center of the hall.

Many gazes fell upon him.

The apprentices and runners in the back rows all wore different expressions. The newly arrived apprentices in particular all looked eager to watch a show.

As for the escort masters, including Escort Master Yu, their eyes flickered. After glancing at Qian Shiqi, they shifted their gazes toward Jiang Jingnian, who stood nearby holding a literacy textbook and quietly murmuring as he studied the words written within.

They had also heard some of the rumors circulating through the escort agency.

One radish, one pit.

Qian Shiqi was a hardworking and talented runner, and he came from a wealthy household, yet he had never received a promotion within the escort agency. He would certainly have objections toward this new escort master who had suddenly taken his position.

"???"

Noticing the gazes around him, Jiang Jingnian put down his book. He unconsciously touched his cheek, then lowered his head to look at his clothes.

Had he failed to wash his clothes properly yesterday? Did he smell?

Seeing the boy's honest, simple appearance, several escort masters could not help finding it amusing.

Though this new colleague came from an unsuitable background, whenever they saw him in daily life, he was either practicing fists in the training yard or squatting in a corner with a book in hand, learning to read and recognize characters. Occasionally, he would even ask the literate servants for instruction.

That humble, eager-to-learn attitude earned their admiration.

"Boy from the Qian Household, what is it you wish to say?"

The chief escort lounged sideways in his chair. Seeing the people below whispering among themselves, he frowned slightly.

"According to the escort agency's rules, I wish to challenge this newly promoted escort master, Jiang Jingnian, during this regular meeting."

The chief escort had not been at the agency these past few days, and Duan Escort Chief had been handling its affairs. Qian Shiqi could only swallow his resentment.

But now things were different.

Thus, during the regular meeting, before everyone present, he directly issued a challenge to Jiang Jingnian.