Arrangements, the Iron Family Caravan

Two days later.

Jade Gate Town.

It was the largest border checkpoint in eastern Great Qian, as well as the first town travelers reached after entering Great Qian from the east.

Beneath the scorching sun.

A man and a horse slowly approached the checkpoint.

A junior officer guarding the gate raised his hand and called out, "Halt! Show your Identity Plaque to enter the town."

Li Dao stopped, took his Identity Plaque from inside his clothes, and handed it over.

The officer took the Identity Plaque and examined it carefully, then looked the travel-worn Li Dao up and down. "Where are you coming from, and where are you going?"

"From Changgu Town, to the Imperial Capital."

"Changgu Town?"

The officer asked, "Do you happen to know Commander Wei?"

Li Dao put his hand to his waist.

The movement instantly put the soldiers behind the officer on alert. They drew their sabers in unison, looking ready to rush him at any moment.

Li Dao was unsurprised by their reaction, but he did not stop. He quickly took out the Black Iron Saber at his waist. "Do you recognize this Black Iron Saber, sir?"

The officer raised a hand to stop the soldiers, then took the Black Iron Saber and inspected it. His eyes lit up when he spotted a particular mark.

"So you really are one of Commander Wei's people. My apologies."

The officer's attitude changed dramatically, his caution giving way to delight as he politely handed the Black Iron Saber back.

Li Dao took it and asked, "Wei Yun told you about me?"

"Yes."

The officer smiled. "A few days ago, Commander Wei told me a friend of his would be entering through this checkpoint and asked us to lend him a hand. You must be that friend, young sir."

He did not know Li Dao, but given his age, "young sir" seemed an appropriate form of address.

"Then how did he ask you to help me?"

Wei Yun's initiative did not surprise him. After all, the fellow owed him a considerable debt.

"You're heading to the Imperial Capital, young sir?"

"Yes."

"You may not know this, but the eastern frontier is a long way from the Imperial Capital. Most people would struggle to make the whole journey alone, so people in Jade Gate Town usually travel there in groups. We don't have the means to escort you to the Imperial Capital ourselves, but we can recommend a suitable group."

With the officer's explanation, Li Dao soon understood the situation in Jade Gate Town.

The town occupied a strategic position on the frontier and was extremely remote.

As a result, individuals rarely made their way here. Usually, only caravans traveling the frontier passed between these border towns.

For anyone wishing to leave this place for the wider world, the best option was to join a group and travel together.

Li Dao wholeheartedly agreed with that approach.

Although he had a map from Jade Gate Town to Great Qian's Imperial Capital, he struggled even with modern maps, let alone an ancient one like this.

If he had to find his own way, a journey of half a month would probably take him several months.

Finding someone to guide him was therefore the best option.

Li Dao nodded. "Sorry for the trouble, then."

He took a ten-tael silver ingot from inside his clothes and tossed it over.

"You're being far too generous, young sir. You're Commander Wei's friend."

The officer caught the silver with a wry smile.

"No need to stand on ceremony. Wei Yun is Wei Yun, and I'm me. If he has a problem with it, he can come to me. Consider this money for drinks for the men."

Li Dao spoke casually.

The officer had no idea what to say to that. He could only cup his hands. "Rest assured, young sir. We'll make sure everything is properly arranged."

Led by the officer, Li Dao soon entered Jade Gate Town with his horse in tow.

Once inside, he discovered that the town was far more bustling than its exterior suggested.

Jade Gate Town was small, but it lacked nothing.

Stalls and hawking merchants lined the streets, with taverns and establishments of every kind along the way.

Seemingly noticing Li Dao's puzzlement, the officer explained, "These are all traveling merchants. The frontier may be remote, but merchants trading between countries can make money here. Most don't want to travel too far, so they simply sell their goods wholesale here. Over time, the town prospered."

"But don't let their enthusiasm fool you, young sir. No merchant is without a crooked streak. At the slightest rustle of wind through the grass, they're the first to run."

His voice was filled with contempt as he said this.

Before long, the officer brought Li Dao to an inn.

Standing outside, Li Dao immediately noticed the sign above it.

Iron Family Inn.

Below it hung another, smaller sign, also bearing four characters.

Iron Family Escort Agency.

"I didn't expect the Iron Family to have businesses here too."

Li Dao knew something about the Iron Family.

They were the Great Qian Dynasty's foremost imperial merchants.

Their businesses spanned all of Great Qian, with substantial holdings even in the neighboring countries.

The wealth of the Iron Family's businesses could rival a nation's.

And beyond their wealth, the Iron Family wielded considerable power in Great Qian.

In every generation, women of the Iron Family married into the imperial family, forming marriage alliances with the Great Qian Imperial House and holding positions of considerable standing. Thus, the Iron Family had always been imperial relatives.

It was precisely for this reason that the Great Qian Imperial House had never regarded them with suspicion, instead continuing to show signs of support.

The two entered the building.

Inside was a crowd of travel-worn people who looked much like Li Dao.

The officer led Li Dao to the counter.

"Xiao Qian, sorry for the trouble, but please call your proprietor out."

The officer addressed the attendant behind the counter directly.

Recognizing him, the attendant smiled. "Certainly! Please wait a moment, Master Zhao, sir. I'll inform the proprietor right away."

Before long, the attendant returned with a plump man dressed in fine clothes.

"Brother Zhao, what wind blew you our way today?"

The proprietor spoke with a cheerful smile.

"Don't try to cozy up to me."

The officer said bluntly, "Do you have any large groups heading to the Imperial Capital soon? I need you to arrange a place for someone."

"A large group heading to the Imperial Capital?"

The proprietor thought for a moment, apparently recalling something, then leaned closer and lowered his voice. "We do have one. It belongs to the Iron Family itself, but the requirements are rather strict. Anyone joining must have a clean background. Brother Zhao, this person you've brought..."

The officer glared at him. "So you think I've brought someone with a shady background?"

The proprietor smiled awkwardly. "Of course not, of course not. I was only mentioning it."

"Forget it. I won't waste words with you. Arrange a place for this friend of mine, and I'll owe you a favor."

The proprietor's eyes lit up. That favor was worth quite a bit, but remembering who was leading this particular group, he asked again, uncertain.

"You're sure there's nothing wrong with the person you've brought?"

The officer immediately snapped, "Should I leave my head here as collateral?"

"No, no need."

By now, the proprietor understood that the man behind the officer truly must have a clean background. He patted his chest and said, "Rest assured, Brother Zhao. On the Iron Family's reputation, I guarantee that this young man behind you will reach the Imperial Capital safely."

"Good."

The officer turned to Li Dao. "Young sir, you can stay at this inn for now. The proprietor will arrange everything for you."

"Thank you."

Li Dao spoke with genuine sincerity.

Though the two had spoken quietly, his keen senses had caught every word.

He therefore knew that the officer had taken considerable care over the matter.

The officer laughed. "Commander Wei saved my life on the battlefield years ago. His friend is my friend. No need for thanks."

Before long, the officer took his leave, leaving Li Dao alone at the inn.

The proprietor greeted him warmly. "You can stay here for now, sir. You'll be able to set out tomorrow."

Then he gave the attendant beside him a pat. "Hurry up and prepare a room for this young gentleman."

The attendant led Li Dao to a room.

"Is there anything else you need, young sir?" the attendant asked.

Li Dao glanced down at his attire, took a piece of silver from inside his clothes, and tossed it over. "Prepare some hot water, a meal, and a set of clean clothes for me."

The attendant caught the silver with a delighted smile. "Certainly, young sir. I'll make sure everything is taken care of."

An incense stick's worth of time later.

A tub of hot water, a set of black clothes, and a meal had been placed in the room.

Li Dao let out a long breath. "Finally, a hot bath."

Jade Gate Town was fine in that regard, but Changgu Town was remote, and water itself was scarce. There was enough to drink, but bathing was out of the question. At most, he could dampen a towel and wipe himself down.

He stripped off his shabby clothes, revealing the lean, powerful muscles beneath.

With each successive strengthening of his physique, his body had grown ever more perfect, every muscle fitting his frame flawlessly.

Sinking into the water, he let out another long breath. His last bath had been more than three months ago, back when he was still the Earl of Anyuan.

"Status Panel."

As he soaked, Li Dao called softly.

[Master: Li Dao]

[Physique: 87.81]

[Available attribute points: 0]

Since killing that Innate expert from the Falling Cloud Tribe, he had found no further opportunities to earn attribute points, so his physique had remained unchanged.

"Once this trip to the Imperial Capital is over, I'll have to think about what comes next."

Early the next morning.

Knock, knock, knock!

The attendant stood outside, knocking as he called, "Young sir, the proprietor sent me to tell you that the group is about to depart."

Creak!

The door opened. The attendant was about to speak when he suddenly froze. "Young sir... who are you?"

"Where's the gentleman from yesterday?"

The man in the doorway wore long black robes. His posture was straight, his hair black as ink, with a section tied up by a hairband and two locks falling naturally beside his temples.

His face was particularly striking-handsome and strong, with sword-like brows and star-bright eyes. Anyone who saw him would have praised him as a handsome young man.

"No need to look. I'm the man from yesterday."

Li Dao spoke to remind him.

"Huh?"

Disbelief filled the attendant's eyes. He could not reconcile the young gentleman before him with the travel-worn figure from yesterday.

Only after a long moment did he recover. "I'm terribly sorry, young sir. You're so handsome that I hardly dared recognize you."

Those words made it impossible to get angry.

Li Dao understood the attendant's reaction. He himself had been startled by his appearance yesterday.

Before entering the Death Row Camp, his looks had already been quite good. But years of drinking, feasting on meat, and frequenting brothels had depleted his body and left him with a poor complexion. He had looked somewhat puffy and listless, scoring at most seventy out of a hundred.

Now, the improvement in his physique seemed to have brought a series of adjustments and enhancements to his appearance as well. His looks had improved considerably, earning at least ninety out of a hundred.

He felt that even if he returned to the Imperial Capital, he need not worry about old acquaintances recognizing him as the former Li Dao. Only his underlying bone structure remained the same; his actual appearance was vastly different, as though he had become another person entirely.

"All right. Did your proprietor say where we should gather?"

Li Dao asked.

The attendant hurriedly replied, "I don't know, young sir. You can ask the proprietor downstairs."

Led by the attendant, Li Dao met the proprietor again.

Upon seeing Li Dao, the proprietor wore the same bewildered expression as the attendant.

Only after the attendant explained did he understand, immediately breaking into a warm smile.

"Just follow me, young sir."

On the way to the gathering point, the proprietor glanced at the saber at Li Dao's waist and asked, "May I ask whether you have any cultivation, young sir?"

Li Dao asked, "Why?"

The proprietor explained, "To be frank, the group you'll be joining is a caravan organized by an important member of the Iron Family. You'll need a role in order to join."

"If you aren't skilled in martial arts, I can arrange an ordinary position for you, such as a driver."

"If you have martial skills, I can assign you as an escort guard. Guards receive better treatment along the journey than drivers."

As though something had just occurred to him, the proprietor quickly added, "Of course, even as a guard, you needn't worry about your safety. There are very few roadside tigers in Great Qian blind enough to dare block a caravan belonging to the Iron Family Escort Agency."

Li Dao thought for a moment, then said, "Make me a guard, then."

Although he had no cultivation, his physique was far stronger than any cultivation could be.

"Very well."

After walking a little farther, Li Dao suddenly caught sight of a caravan.

At a glance, it had over a hundred wagons and carriages, stretching for several hundred meters. Most carried goods, while a smaller number carried passengers, and there were many escorts as well.

"As expected of the Iron Family."

With his keen perception, Li Dao discovered that many of those escorts possessed cultivation.

"Quite a sight, isn't it?"

The shopkeeper explained from beside him, "Only our Iron Family could put together a caravan this big. Ordinary lineages simply couldn't manage it."

The shopkeeper's words brimmed with pride in being a member of the Iron Family.

That was how things worked in ancient times: even a servant at the Chancellor's gate held the standing of a seventh-rank official.

If a lineage enjoyed high status, even its household servants rose in standing along with it.

The shopkeeper led Li Dao into the middle of the caravan and found a guard squad leader responsible for escorting it.

"Boss Qian, sorry for the trouble, but could you help make arrangements for this gentleman?"

With that, the shopkeeper slipped him a pouch.

The man took the pouch and hefted it in his hand, then gave a satisfied smile. "All right, leave this to me."

He looked Li Dao over and waved a large hand. "Boy, just follow me when the caravan sets off."

Hearing this, the shopkeeper turned back and said, "Young master, you need only travel with the caravan from here. Once you reach the Imperial Capital, you can leave it."

Li Dao cupped his fist in his palm. "Sorry for the trouble, shopkeeper."

The shopkeeper waved a hand. "Haha, no need for that, young master. It's all just an exchange of favors."

What none of them noticed was that, outside a luxurious carriage not far away, a young girl in a jade-green dress had witnessed the entire scene.