Heir to the Mantle

Ever since his traits improved, Jiang Jingnian had stopped deliberately suppressing his blood and qi realm.

What he now gave off was precisely the aura of a Blood Tempering Martial Master.

Among Blood Tempering Stage martial artists of the same level, without sparring or exchanging blows, it was naturally difficult to judge one another's exact strength. But Duan Escort Chief was an old hand of the martial world. After only a brief observation, he noticed something was amiss.

No wonder he was both shocked and excited.

One had to know that Li Mincheng, the young master of the escort agency, possessed an extraordinary family background and talent, along with all manner of secret medicines and blood food. Moreover, while still young, he had entered the Mountain Cloud School and taken an Inner Qi Realm expert as his master.

With all those advantages, he had formally begun martial training at thirteen, spending four years before breaking through the Blood Tempering Aperture and becoming a Blood Tempering Martial Master.

Another eight years had now passed. He had become a Marrow Tempering Stage Martial Master of some renown in Peace City, as well as the pillar of Tongda Escort Agency's younger generation.

As for Li Mincheng, who was resolute, upright, and blessed with a bright future, outsiders summed him up with one saying: "A tiger father has no dog son."

And now—

Jiang Jingnian seemed like the escort agency's second Li Mincheng. He looked honest and guileless, and he was likewise humble and eager to learn.

Likewise...

Gifted beyond measure.

Of course, temporary accomplishments and rapid progress did not necessarily mean future accomplishments would also be high, or that future progress would remain swift.

But at the very least, it showed one thing.

At this stage, Jiang Jingnian's talent in Iron Body Skills surpassed that of most martial artists his age.

So long as he did not die young, he would certainly have hope of reaching the Bone Tempering Stage within three to five years. He might even be able to make a run at the Marrow Tempering Stage before turning thirty.

By then—

The escort agency would gain another escort chief skilled in external cultivation.

Seeing such a prize, Duan Escort Chief's heart stirred. Before Chai Li and the others, he no longer bothered with any reservations. He hurried forward, grasped Jiang Jingnian's grime-covered arm, and said, "Jiang Jingnian, I intend to take you as my final disciple. Would you be willing to enter my school?"

Previously, he had wanted to observe Jiang Jingnian's character a little longer. But now that he had seen such genuine talent in hard martial arts, he truly could not wait another moment.

After saying that, he added, "I, Duan Deshun, am forty-seven this year, a Martial Master at Marrow Tempering Perfection. I once accepted two disciples, but both died one after another. My eldest disciple encountered Earth Dragon Wraiths while escorting a shipment and sadly perished.

"My second disciple fought a foreign strongman in an arena duel. They traded life for life, and he died on the spot."

"If you are willing to become my disciple, you will rank third. In truth, you will be my current foremost final disciple."

For a martial artist whose blood and qi had begun to decline, the value of a final disciple needed no explanation.

An heir to the mantle.

Not something to be bestowed lightly.

Jiang Jingnian's gaze froze. He seemingly had not expected Duan Escort Chief to want to take him as a disciple.

After all, they had not known each other for long.

Seeing the youth hesitate, Duan Escort Chief hastily promised, "Jiang Jingnian, if you become my final disciple, then aside from my daily guidance, the money, secret medicines, and blood food required for your cultivation—as long as I can provide them, I will give them to you."

"Moreover, if you step into the Bone Tempering Stage someday, I can give you the Duan Household's disciple slot in the Mountain Cloud School."

To an escort master who licked blood from the blade's edge, a final disciple was the equivalent of half a son.

To cultivate such an outstanding seedling, even spending most of one's fortune was perfectly normal.

Yet Duan Escort Chief did not dare make his promises too grand or too hollow at this moment, lest the cautious half-grown boy misunderstand him as harboring ulterior motives.

"Duan Escort Chief, I am willing to take you as my master."

After weighing the pros and cons, Jiang Jingnian nodded. Then he immediately performed a formal salute. "Master above, this disciple Jiang Jingnian pays his respects!"

"Good, good, good! I never thought that at my age, Duan Deshun would still find such a fine disciple!"

Duan Escort Chief accepted the salute. Looking at the raggedly dressed youth before him, he affectionately took hold of his arm.

Then he turned to glance at Chai Li and the others, who were too stunned to speak, and waved with a hearty laugh. "You lot, stop standing there in a daze. Go do what you need to do!"

"Jingnian, come with me. I have some secret medicines I accumulated over many years stored in the escort agency's rear courtyard. I have no use for them anyway, so I'll take them all out for you."

"After you return, cultivate diligently. Once you become a Bone Tempering Stage Martial Master, I can recommend you to the Mountain Cloud School. Don't worry, I do not forbid my heirs from joining other sects. So long as you can grow stronger, that is a master's greatest wish."

Duan Deshun pulled Jiang Jingnian along as they spoke, heading into the escort agency.

The joy of accepting a disciple diluted his earlier worries over the escort agency's future.

"But these clothes of mine..."

Jiang Jingnian blinked as well, pointing at the tattered clothes on his body.

The smell on him was still rather strong, yet Master Duan did not show the slightest sign of discomfort.

"It doesn't matter. Once I give you those things, you can go straight home and change and wash up."

Duan Deshun laughed heartily and practically dragged Jiang Jingnian into the rear courtyard.

Then he gave Jiang Jingnian more than half of the cultivation resources he had accumulated at the escort agency over many years, keeping only a small portion for emergencies. On top of that, he directly stuffed the Copper-Mirror Iron Garment Technique, along with several banknotes worth one hundred silver dollars each, into Jiang Jingnian's hands.

He had originally wanted to give him several property deeds as well, but Jiang Jingnian solemnly refused.

This Master Duan was giving him far too much.

And that eager expression of his made Jiang Jingnian feel inexplicably uneasy.

After all, in the two-plus months since he had transmigrated into this world, he had endured no shortage of cold looks and curses. Only his relative Fifth Uncle had treated him well.

Now, there was also Master Duan.

Carrying the large and small bundles his master had given him, Jiang Jingnian returned to the room where he lived.

Though this room was meant for two people, he was an escort master, so he had it all to himself and did not need to share it with the other runners.

After heating water for a hot bath and getting rid of his bloodstained clothes, Jiang Jingnian lay comfortably on the bed, flipping through the newly acquired Copper-Mirror Iron Garment Technique. After studying diligently, he could now recognize most characters.

"Once I master the Copper-Mirror Iron Garment Technique, can I merge it into my existing technique?"

Leaning against the bedside, Jiang Jingnian pondered the feasibility of merging the two techniques.

As he thought, he turned over again and found the most relaxed position.

The bed beneath him was only an ordinary whitewood frame bed, yet the environment and comfort here were far better than the damp storage room at Fifth Uncle's house.

The improvement in his status and strength—

Also meant better treatment in every respect.

As he read, Jiang Jingnian, exhausted from the past two or three days, fell asleep on the bed with the book in his arms.

Several more days passed.

Jiang Jingnian and the others who had returned alive received no further notice regarding the negotiations between Tongda Escort Agency and the Qian Household.

And in his interactions with Duan Escort Chief, the man never mentioned the matter. He did not even bring up compensation.

The escort agency training ground.

Duan Escort Chief walked over from afar. Looking at Jiang Jingnian practicing against a wooden post, a faint smile appeared in his eyes. He sighed unconsciously, "Your hard martial arts are improving quickly! Before long, this wooden post will probably need replacing. You'll have to ask the steward for a new one."