Beyond Imagination

Though the Su Household was not one of the local Aristocratic Clans, it was still a first-rate wealthy family and an old client of Tongda Escort Agency.

At its peak, Old Master Su's business had extended into several surrounding county towns. He operated more than a dozen restaurants and shops, and the transport of those valuable goods had basically all been entrusted to Tongda Escort Agency.

Later, as circumstances changed, the Su Household's business shrank drastically. Many shops were closed, and by this year, only one restaurant and two shops in Peace City remained open.

But for some unknown reason, they had offended a small local gang known as Garden Celebration Hall this year.

The Orchid Garden Restaurant run by the Su Household was then hit with demands for protection money from Garden Celebration Hall under all kinds of pretexts. Originally, the Su Household had adopted the attitude that fewer troubles meant fewer worries. They paid twice, hoping to spend money to ward off disaster.

However, what they had not expected was this.

Last month, Garden Celebration Hall suddenly raised the Orchid Garden Restaurant's protection fee tenfold. This far exceeded the restaurant's original budget. After repeated negotiations came to nothing, the Su Household cut off the payment and clashed with Garden Celebration Hall's thugs.

There was no need to say more about what happened afterward.

In any case, the Su Household had definitely suffered a heavy loss in the conflict. Otherwise, they would not be seeking help from Tongda Escort Agency now.

"A few days ago, I took some men to the Orchid Garden Restaurant to deal with this matter. I even drove back two of Garden Celebration Hall's deputy hall masters. Afterward, we went together to a teahouse to talk things over, and the two sides were considered reconciled."

"According to Jianghu Rules, the matter should have been settled. Who would have thought that instead of collecting protection money from the Orchid Garden Restaurant, Garden Celebration Hall would turn around and cause trouble for the Su Household's other two shops?"

Duan Deshun briefly explained what had happened, then, with a helpless look on his face, explained these Jianghu Rules to his disciple.

"Talking things over tea," also known as "having a bowl of tea," referred to how, when common folk had a conflict, they would ask a third party to make a ruling and mediate in a teahouse in order to prevent the situation from escalating further or even drawing in the authorities.

The matter would be left at that, with each side taking a step back.

After all, the Su Household was no insignificant family. Garden Celebration Hall could not possibly set fire to the Su Household's businesses outright. That would directly violate Peace City's unspoken rules.

A large gang might be domineering enough to flip the table like that, but a gang like Garden Celebration Hall did not have that kind of heft.

"Still, the Su Household's shops have only been harassed, disrupting their normal business. Those two deputy hall masters may be wary of the escort agency, so they have not come out to smash the place up."

As Duan Deshun spoke, he took a business contract from his robes and handed it to Jiang Jingnian. "Originally, this whole matter should have been handled by Li Escort Chief. But he was away at the time, and the matter was urgent, so I could only deal with it. Since I took it on from the start, I have to see it through to the end."

"However, tomorrow afternoon, I must leave Peace City for a while. At the longest, I will be gone for half a month; at the shortest, seven or eight days. I cannot remain stationed at the Su Household's shops the whole time, so after thinking it over, I have decided to leave this job to you. What do you think, Jingnian?"

Duan Deshun had several escort masters directly under him, but they were all out on assignments. Jiang Jingnian was the only one still in town.

"Since it is my master's request, I shall not yield to anyone."

Jiang Jingnian nodded without hesitation. After taking the business contract, he tucked it into his pocket.

"Good. Continue training, then. Tomorrow, three escort hands will accompany you. If you are willing, you can bring a few more apprentices along as well."

Duan Deshun added, "Of course, if they disregard all martial virtue and bring a whole crowd of thugs, return to the escort agency at once and call for reinforcements. But generally speaking, a gang like Garden Celebration Hall will not tear relations with our escort agency beyond repair."

"I understand. Master, you should also be careful while you are away."

Jiang Jingnian nodded solemnly.

"Good disciple, you are thoughtful."

Duan Deshun patted the youth on the shoulder with emotion written across his face. He said nothing more and simply left the training ground.

Watching his master's departing back, Jiang Jingnian turned around and continued practicing the Copper-Mirror Iron Garment Technique.

Duan Deshun crossed the front courtyard with a calm expression, nodding along the way in response to the respectful greetings of the escort hands and servants.

Only after entering a side room in the middle courtyard and confirming that no one was around did he roll up his sleeves and look at the bruises on his arms and joints.

"Hiss—"

That utterly ordinary face began to grimace. "That boy's strength is as mighty as an ox! Is he really still a Blood Tempering Stage Martial Master? He is no less formidable than a Bone-Tempering Martial Master. After breaking through the Blood Tempering Aperture, it feels like even his skin and membranes have grown several degrees tougher. Is this what it means to be gifted beyond measure?"

He hurriedly rummaged through the side room for some medicine for injuries and applied it to himself. Only after feeling its coolness did he slowly let out a breath.

"Whew. Jingnian's talent is probably comparable to that of my brother, who died young—perhaps even greater..."

Recalling their earlier exchange, Duan Deshun's expression became complicated.

When they had first met, he had thought Jiang Jingnian was good material for training in hard martial arts, and thus the notion of taking him as a disciple had arisen.

Only after truly accepting him as a disciple these past few days had he realized it.

How was the other party merely good material?

He was simply a peerless martial arts prodigy!

If placed in one of those large martial academies, he would likely be accepted as a True Disciple.

Who would have thought it?

Such an enormous bargain had fallen into the hands of an escort master like him.

It was his first time taking in such a gifted disciple, and Duan Deshun had not quite adjusted his mindset. He was delighted, yet also felt an inexplicable pressure and unease.

Naturally, his delight came from the fact that the boy's talent far exceeded his initial imagination. It was like thinking he had stumbled upon a few silver ingots, only to discover that he had found an immense treasure trove.

The pressure and unease, meanwhile, came from his doubts. Could a martial artist like himself, one not suited to teaching, truly guide such a talented disciple well?

I will not lead him astray, will I?

"It seems the Duan Household's quota at the Mountain Cloud School must be put on the agenda as soon as possible."

Duan Deshun silently considered all manner of things, his expression changing constantly. He did not even notice someone entering the side room.

Manager Li of the side room entered from outside. He glanced at the medicine bottle on the table, concern on his face. "Duan Escort Chief, are you injured? Was it from your last encounter with Garden Celebration Hall...?"

"No, I merely hurt myself by accident while practicing earlier. At my age, a decline in vitality and blood is normal. Perfectly normal."

Hearing the voice from the doorway, Duan Deshun's heart skipped a beat. He then turned around, pulled down the sleeve over his arm, and smiled calmly.

Then he lightly patted Manager Li on the shoulder. "Old Li, carry on with your work. I still have matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."

"Oh!"

Manager Li nodded. Then, as he watched Duan Escort Chief's retreating figure, doubts began to stir in his heart.

Duan Escort Chief was the strongest practitioner of hard martial arts in the escort agency. In terms of physical toughness alone, he was comparable to some experts who had only just entered the Inner Qi Realm. Even if his vitality and blood had declined, he should not have injured himself while training, should he?

How strange indeed!