Red Charcoal and the Goshawk, Escorting a Shipment

Xiao Wei led Qin Geng through the second courtyard's ornamental gate and pointed to a row of rooms on the east side and the stable beside them.

"This will be your patch of ground from now on."

Xiao Wei walked over to the trough and patted the railing. "This horse is called Red Charcoal. He's the master's pride and joy. He's a delicate beast, so his feed has to be prepared just right. You'll come over at dawn every morning. Chop the hay first, then mix his feed. Add black beans and an egg—raw. Crack it straight in and stir it through."

"He's got a temper and doesn't take kindly to strangers. Apart from the master, he generally won't let anyone near him. Be careful when you feed him. Don't get kicked."

After that warning, Little Wei went on, "Once you've fed him, clean the stall. Shovel out all the manure and lay down fresh straw. There can't be the slightest smell."

Qin Geng looked over. An extraordinarily fine horse stood tethered in the stable, large and chestnut-red all over, his coat gleaming like satin. At the sound of their voices, he snorted and scraped the ground with a hoof as broad as a bowl's rim. He had a fierce streak.

What a fine horse, Qin Geng thought.

As they spoke, Red Charcoal seemed to catch the scent of a stranger. He whipped his head around and fixed his huge eyes on Qin Geng. His restless forehoof scraped the courtyard bricks with sharp clacks, as though he were afraid.

Qin Geng carried the presence of a fierce beast.

With Dragon Tendon and Tiger Bone in his body, he usually went about looking sickly and half-asleep. Ordinary people would never notice it, but those with the skill—and animals—could naturally sense it.

"Don't be afraid."

Qin Geng stepped forward and stroked the horse's face, drawing in the imposing presence of his Dragon Tendon and Tiger Bone.

Red Charcoal snorted and actually settled down.

Surprise flickered through Little Wei's eyes. Then he pointed beside the stable. "Besides the horse, there's this litter of lean hunting dogs. The master takes them hunting in the mountains. They're precious, and they need meat at every meal. Farther in, there's a goshawk on a perch. It's already been trained. You'll look after it too. Don't let it go hungry."

Qin Geng followed his gaze and saw several long, lean hunting dogs lying in their kennel.

Like Red Charcoal, the dogs seemed frightened of Qin Geng. They stayed in their kennel, staring at him without budging.

Dogs that bit didn't bark.

Qin Geng knew they were afraid, but they would not run. If he made a sudden move, they would probably come at him for a bite or two.

A goshawk stood on a perch as well, its talons like iron hooks.

The goshawk was a proud one.

The presence of a sick tiger that had frightened Red Charcoal and the dogs only made the goshawk tilt its head slightly.

"The rest is a mixed bag of chores."

Xiao Wei counted them off on his fingers as he led Qin Geng to the woodshed and the well. "I don't need to teach you how to chop wood and carry water, do I? Keep the kitchen's water jars filled and make sure there's hot water for the back courtyard. Clearing fallen leaves and snow from the courtyard is a daily task. If the household needs you to deliver a letter or buy something in town, you'll need to be quick on your feet."

Qin Geng listened and tallied it up in his head.

It was a lot of work.

From dawn until noon, there would hardly be a moment to rest.

Someone less sturdy might not even manage to fill those two water jars, let alone tend to a spirited horse, a litter of hunting dogs, and a goshawk.

"I've got it."

Qin Geng nodded.

"Good. Off you go, then."

Xiao Wei waved a hand. "Be here at dawn tomorrow. Don't be late. Nothing annoys the master more than someone who can't keep time."

"Don't worry, Brother Wei."

Qin Geng went to the front hall to take his leave of Master Ye.

Master Ye sat in an armchair with his eyes closed. When Qin Geng said he had remembered everything, the old man merely gave a faint "Mm" without even lifting his eyelids.

But as Qin Geng left, the old man watched his back. A keen light flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly chuckled.

"That Old Eighth knows how to pick them."

Master Ye smiled, then closed his eyes again.

After leaving Crouching Ox Alley, Qin Geng returned to his shack to fetch his cart.

He spent the afternoon pulling it through Tianjin's streets and lanes.

By dusk, a cold wind was sending dead leaves spinning across the ground.

Qin Geng stopped his cart beside the Stewed Delight stall.

"Two big bowls of stew, boss. Extra garlic, as usual."

"Coming right up!"

The steaming stew arrived, and Qin Geng slurped it down.

The hot broth drove off the chill and got his mind working again.

He felt the copper coins in his pocket and frowned slightly.

I'm out of money now.

The thirty silver dollars he'd had before had gone into Hundred Herb Hall.

All he had left were a few copper coins—not even enough to make up one silver dollar.

Business has been decent these past few days. After paying my share, I clear a little over two hundred cash a day.

Qin Geng silently did the sums.

A little over two hundred cash sounded like a fair amount. It could feed an ordinary family of three for several days.

But for him, it was a cup of water against a cartload of burning firewood.

One dose of Dragon-Tiger Decoction costs three silver dollars. At current rates, one silver dollar buys a thousand cash. Three silver dollars means three thousand cash.

Saving two hundred a day, I'd need more than half a month for one medicinal bath.

Qin Geng chewed a piece of lung, his gaze darkening.

That was far too slow.

Scholarship Is Cheap, Martial Arts Are Expensive. The ancients hadn't lied.

At the level of Bright Force, hard practice alone was not enough. He needed resources poured into his training.

If the medicine ran out, progress in martial arts would be painfully slow.

Is there some way to earn more?

Qin Geng pondered as he ate.

Start a cart company?

He snuffed out the thought as soon as it arose.

The old Ping'an Cart Company had been nothing to fear. With Bright Force at his command, he would not have been afraid to open a company in its territory.

But Ping'an Cart Company was gone.

The Hongsheng Cart Company now in its place was a wolf that ate people whole.

They had dared to dump the Boss in the river and had even colluded with foreigners over the "Snake Corpse." Opening a cart company under their noses now would be like an old man hanging himself on his birthday—asking for an early grave.

I need to branch out into other trades.

Qin Geng swallowed the last bite of his flatbread, his eyes glinting.

With the Book of a Hundred Trades, he had no reason to hang himself from a single tree.

Being a physician is a good trade. The money comes quickly, people respect you, and you can prepare your own medicine. But the bar is high. I'd need medical books and someone to teach me.

Or perhaps... a tomb robber?

Remembering the grave-robbing methods he had seen that night on Bell Mountain, Qin Geng felt tempted.

The profits were enormous. Find a rich tomb, and he might come away with hundreds or even thousands of silver dollars.

But it was genuinely dangerous, and the mountains were far from peaceful right now.

Haul cargo at the docks?

Or sell my fighting skills?

Or dive for things underwater?

They all seemed possible.

But selling his fighting skills seemed the most direct.

Escorting shipments sounds good. I could travel a thousand miles, sell my fighting skills, and see plenty of combat. Neither trade would go to waste.

No wonder those House Guards sell their strength. Training in martial arts costs too much.

Just as Qin Geng was lost in thought, a fit of coughing interrupted him.

"Cough, cough..."

A slightly stooped figure shuffled over, carrying a birdcage.

Master Zhu Xin pulled over a folding stool and sat down opposite Qin Geng.