That Year, Eighteen

The young escort who spoke up

was the young master the escorts spoke of—the only son of Li Dashan, the chief of the agency. He was also a remarkably gifted martial artist. At only twenty-five, he had advanced to the Marrow Tempering Stage as a Martial Master, with the Inner Qi Realm within reach in the future.

Among Peace City's younger generation of martial artists, he was already somewhat well-known.

Li Mincheng had rushed back to the agency ahead of time. Before his butt had even warmed the seat, his uncle had summoned him to this meeting.

His forehead was broad and square, his jaw straight, giving him an air of stern resolve.

Hearing the conversation between his second uncle and the Chief Escort, his face, too, showed a measure of indignation.

"Besides seizing goods at will, they even dared to slaughter the local villagers indiscriminately! They are utterly lawless!"

No matter what, the Tao Family was a prestigious Aristocratic Clan in the south. Yet what they had done was no different from bandits, only even more vicious. They had thrown every last shred of an Aristocratic Clan's dignity to the wind.

"Mincheng, there is no need to get so worked up." At this point, the Second Chief cut Li Mincheng off and said in a deep voice, "What the Tao Family's Sixth Young Master did may not necessarily represent the entire Tao Family or the Black Flood Dragon Army."

"It is perfectly normal for great households to produce a few scum."

Then he turned and fixed his gaze on the female escort runner beside him. "Little Chai! Tell us again—after you escaped Hongfeng Mountain, did you encounter anyone else? Black Flood Dragon Army soldiers, for example, or those wandering martial artists?"

"When we first escaped, we still saw a few scattered Black Flood Dragon Army soldiers. But after we reached the official road, we did not see anyone else."

Chai Li racked her brains, but ultimately only shook her head.

"It seems this Black Flood Dragon Army unit of the Tao Family also suffered grievous casualties!"

After pondering for a moment, the Second Chief swept his gaze across the escort chiefs present. "Big Brother is not at the agency, so I will personally visit the Qian Household to explain the situation and discuss the matter of subsequent compensation."

Li Mincheng frowned slightly. "Second Uncle, are we simply letting this go? We should join forces with the Qian Household and the other Aristocratic Clans to demand an explanation from the Tao Family. I can also seek help from the Mountain Cloud School."

On this escort run, the Tongda Escort Agency had not only lost its cargo. Two escorts, along with a whole group of escort runners and apprentices, had also died.

They had not died at the hands of bandits, but had been killed by the Tao Family.

"The Tao Family is not some bandit stronghold. If something like this happened with bandits, we could gather some capable men, kill our way over, and reclaim our pride. But they are a major power in the south. We can only swallow this breath."

The Second Chief looked at his eldest nephew, who hated evil as though it were a personal enemy, and could not help but give a bitter laugh. "Of course, you should notify Protector Li. If the Tao Family truly takes its anger out on us, the Mountain Cloud School can lend us a hand."

The Protector Li he spoke of was both Li Mincheng's master and a Protector-level expert of the Mountain Cloud School.

"But..."

Li Mincheng was about to say more when the Chief Escort beside him patted him on the shoulder.

The Chief Escort's expression was somewhat grave. He merely sighed. "Escort Chief Li, the Tongda Escort Agency's standing in the martial world is no longer what it was decades ago. The several Aristocratic Clans that supported us back then have long since moved elsewhere."

"With things as they are now, never mind taking the initiative to demand an explanation from the Tao Family. If the Tao Family does not come back to stir up trouble, that alone will be a blessing beyond measure."

Duan Escort Chief, standing nearby, frowned slightly at those words. "Even if we were to pursue this matter, the Tao Family would be the ones in the wrong. And the Black Flood Dragon Army suffered such terrible losses because of Demon Wraiths. It had nothing to do with our agency at all. Would they still come looking for trouble?"

At that moment, he thought of Wei Yu and the others, who still had not returned. They were most likely facing grim odds.

Especially Jiang Jingnian, the newcomer. He had been such promising material for external cultivation, and Duan Escort Chief had even entertained the thought of taking him as a disciple. Yet on his very first escort run for the agency, he had encountered such an undeserved calamity.

Heaven truly did not grant people their wishes. A talent had perished before his time!

The Chief Escort merely shrugged. "Normally, they would not. But better to fear the one chance in ten thousand than to regret it when it comes. The whole agency must remain prepared."

As he spoke, his gaze shifted toward the Second Chief beside him.

The Second Chief merely stroked his long beard and silently nodded.

Jiang Jingnian returned to Miqiao District in tattered clothes, and the patrolling constables nearly mistook him for a refugee and took him away.

Fortunately, he had not lost his escort's token.

After he presented proof of his identity, the patrolling constables eased their attitude. They did not test this suspected "Martial Master," merely assigning a young constable to escort Jiang Jingnian to the gates of the Tongda Escort Agency.

"Escort... Escort Jiang?"

The two burly men guarding the agency gate glanced at the constable, then at Jiang Jingnian beside him. After scrutinizing him for a while, they finally asked uncertainly.

To them, Jiang Jingnian, the newly promoted escort, was not unfamiliar. After all, they had once taken his silver coins and guarded his rickshaw for a time.

Later, when the two saw Jiang Jingnian rise in a single leap to become an escort, they had been shocked, but also developed some desire to curry favor with him.

They had wanted to return the money and had even brought tobacco and liquor to his door, but Jiang Jingnian had smilingly declined them all.

"It's me, brothers."

Jiang Jingnian's face was still fairly clean, but the rest of him was in tatters, covered either in bloodstains or mud. He looked every inch like a refugee fleeing disaster.

After greeting the two men, he stepped over the threshold and entered the agency.

Once the young constable standing not far away confirmed everything was in order, he turned and left as well.

There were not many people practicing martial arts in the training ground of the front courtyard at this time. Only a scattered few were sparring and instructing one another in the open space.

The ragged Jiang Jingnian immediately drew several strange looks as he entered.

But he ignored every one of those looks. His most urgent task now was to report the situation to the agency's steward and his direct superior, Duan Escort Chief.

Yet after crossing the front courtyard and preparing to look for the steward in the side rooms, he saw Duan Escort Chief walking and talking with Chai Li, the female escort runner, with the apprentices who had joined the escort run following beside them.

"...Escort Jiang, you're still alive!"

Because of the angle, Chai Li spotted Jiang Jingnian before Duan Escort Chief did. Surprise first appeared in her eyes, then she spat several times and hurried forward. "Ptoo, ptoo, ptoo! Listen to what I'm saying! Escort Jiang, it's wonderful that you survived! Where is Escort Wei?"

"I don't know. I fled all the way back and did not encounter anyone else."

Jiang Jingnian shook his head, then turned his gaze to Duan Escort Chief beside her. His voice was low. "Duan Escort Chief, on this escort run, we..."

"There is no need to say it. The agency already knows. Hurry back and wash up, then change your clothes. I will notify you about the follow-up matters later."

"In that state of yours... it truly has not been easy for you!"

Duan Escort Chief waved a hand. After examining Jiang Jingnian, he noticed several blackened gray wounds that had already scabbed over. With concern on his face, he asked, "You are not seriously hurt, are you?"

After something like this had happened, Jiang Jingnian had actually managed to survive. It seemed he was a man with fortune on his side.

He just did not know how Escort Wei was doing now...

"They are only superficial wounds. It is nothing serious. Thank you for your concern, Duan Escort Chief. I will head back first, then."

Jiang Jingnian nodded and gave a slight cupped-fist salute before preparing to leave.

Duan Escort Chief nodded, but as he watched Jiang Jingnian's retreating back, the wistful look in his eyes suddenly froze.

"Wait!"

He called out to stop Jiang Jingnian.

"What is it?"

"Jiang Jingnian, have you already broken through the Blood Tempering Aperture and advanced to Martial Master?!"

"I was merely a little fortunate."

Seeing Jiang Jingnian scratch his head with that humble, guileless look, not only Chai Li and the two apprentices, but even Duan Escort Chief's somewhat weathered face revealed traces of shock.

Eighteen years old.

Born into a poor household.

Practicing the most common Iron Body Skill.

Yet he had now broken through the Blood Tempering Aperture and officially advanced to Martial Master.

With this level and rate of cultivation, even in many martial arts schools, he would have counted among the foremost promising seeds of martial practice!