Chapter 54: The Dragon Gate
Chapter 54: Chapter 54: The Dragon Gate
The Longteng Escort Agency?
Xie Yuan and Liu the Monk hadn’t expected this answer. They exchanged a look, their faces showing the same surprise.
After a moment of thought, Liu the Monk called out:
"Go and invite our guest in."
"Yes, sir."
A short while later, a broad-shouldered, barrel-chested man entered the study and cupped his fist to Liu the Monk.
"I am Qin Hai, a Darts Master from the Longteng Escort Agency. Greetings, Sect Leader Liu!"
Liu the Monk’s expression tightened. This Darts Master before him moved with the stride of a tiger, his posture ramrod straight. The sheer presence he exuded put Liu the Monk on subtle alert. He was an expert of the Second Training!
A large escort agency would have at least a dozen, if not several dozen, Darts Masters. This Qin Hai was just one of them—not even a Master—yet he possessed the same level of cultivation. It was a clear testament to the Longteng Escort Agency’s power.
A smile appeared on Liu the Monk’s face as he politely returned the cupped-fist salute.
"You’re too kind, Master Qin. Please, sit. Xie Yuan, serve our guest some tea."
"To what do we owe the honor of your visit?"
Qin Hai sized up Xie Yuan, who was standing aside to brew the tea, and suddenly smiled.
"’Honor’ is too strong a word. I’m actually here for Younger Brother Xie Yuan!
"I won’t waste anyone’s time, so I’ll get straight to the point.
"Younger Brother Xie, are you interested in joining the Longteng Escort Agency and running escorts with us?"
"Huh?"
Xie Yuan was stunned.
The look on Liu the Monk’s face was priceless; he hadn’t foreseen this turn of events at all.
Seeing that Xie Yuan didn’t respond, Qin Hai continued on his own.
"The Longteng Escort Agency is the largest in Yunzhao County. Our business covers all of Yunzhou.
"Our Chief, Shen Longteng, is the top expert in Yunzhao County. His strength has reached the realm of ’Qi and Blood Transformation.’
"At the Longteng Escort Agency, we have a great atmosphere with clear rewards and punishments. Everything is fair and just. As long as you have the skill, perform meritorious deeds, and run escorts without any mishaps, you’ll have access to everything you could want—Silver Coins, Cultivation Techniques, Treasure Medicines! The Masters, and even the Chief, are happy to guide everyone in their training whenever they have a spare moment!
"We travel far and wide and come across many things others never see. Most of them are beneficial for cultivation and can be exchanged internally for merits.
"As long as you have the talent, your cultivation speed at the Longteng Escort Agency will be far faster than at other martial arts schools. I’m talking about the ’Golden Blade and Feather Sword’ schools, and they couldn’t say a thing even if I said it to their faces. We’re not even that far behind those major Sects!
"So, how about it, Younger Brother Xie? Interested?"
Qin Hai’s introduction was filled with boundless pride for his agency.
Xie Yuan’s understanding of the Longteng Escort Agency grew immensely after hearing Qin Hai speak. Compared to a small-town martial arts school like the Iron Cloth Sect, the Longteng Escort Agency was far more powerful. It clearly had the makings of a major force.
However, as he heard Qin Hai’s final boast, even knowing that the Longteng Escort Agency could live up to its reputation of dominating Yunzhao, Xie Yuan was inexplicably reminded of Cao Shan’s claim: ’The Iron Cloth Shirt is the Golden Bell Shield, and the Iron Cloth Sect is the Prajna Temple.’
’It seems that regardless of their actual strength,’ he thought, ’the way members praise their own organization is always about the same.’
Xie Yuan composed himself and voiced his confusion.
"It’s my honor to be favored by the Longteng Escort Agency. But there’s one thing I don’t understand. Why would your esteemed agency come looking for me?"
Qin Hai smiled faintly.
"I knew you’d ask that. The reasons are simple. First, Master Zhao was returning from an escort the other day and passed through Panlong. He happened to witness the competition between your three martial arts schools and was deeply impressed by your skill and spirit, Younger Brother Xie. That’s when he got the idea to recruit you.
"The second reason, heh, is that over the past two days, the Vajra Sect has been making a huge fuss, forbidding any martial arts school in Yunzhao from accepting a young man with the surname Xie. Word of this reached Master Zhao’s ears. He immediately had me investigate, then sent me straight here to recruit you."
Xie Yuan gasped.
"The Vajra Sect is forbidding the martial arts schools from recruiting me, but Master Qin, your agency..."
"Tch! Who the hell does the Vajra Sect think they are? Acting like they run all of Yunzhao. If they tell us not to do something, we’ll do it out of spite."
Qin Hai snorted with contempt.
"Honestly, if it weren’t for their little ban, a man as busy as Boss Zhao might have forgotten all about you. The moment he heard what was happening and realized it involved you, he remembered and excitedly sent me to find you.
"Anything that makes the Vajra Sect unhappy... well, that makes us happy."
Xie Yuan was stunned for a moment. He and Liu the Monk exchanged a look, both feeling a sense of absurdity at the situation.
A comical thought even popped into Xie Yuan’s head:
’Should I be thanking Zhang Yufeng? If he hadn’t stirred up all this trouble, I might never have gotten this chance!’
At this thought, Xie Yuan’s emotions finally stirred, and the situation began to feel real.
Was this a real chance to join the greatest power in Yunzhao? To enter the very "Dragon Gate" alluded to in the saying, "Golden Blade and Feather Sword find it hard to leap the Dragon Gate"?
He had thought that after being rejected by the three major martial arts schools, his only option was to flee.
But just when it seemed all hope was lost, an unexpected opportunity had appeared. He never imagined the Longteng Escort Agency would show up at his door.
If he could find a place for himself in the Longteng Escort Agency, the County Captain’s threat would cease to be an immediate problem!
Furthermore, the Cultivation Techniques, Treasure Medicines, and martial heritage within the Longteng Escort Agency would be a tremendous help to his progress.
With his "aptitude" and the support of such a platform, after a period of time, he might not have to fear that old bastard even if he left the agency!
Suppressing his excitement, Xie Yuan clasped his fist with force.
"I have drifted for half my life. If Master Qin will have me, I am willing to... I am willing to join the agency!"
"Haha, it’s not me who’s taking you in, it’s Boss Zhao who has his eye on you. Since you’ve agreed, you’re now a member of the Longteng Escort Agency!
"Mm, hunted tigers and bears, hailed as a hero in your village. Trained at the martial arts school, helped your fellow members. Progressed at lightning speed and defeated a direct disciple. A good lad. You’re a perfect fit for our agency!"
Seeing the look on Xie Yuan’s face, Qin Hai smiled.
"It’s not hard for our agency to investigate someone in Yunzhao. Don’t take it personally. An escort agency is different from a martial arts school. When you’re escorting valuables, a person’s character is crucial, so we always run a check first."
Xie Yuan understood. The security business required background checks, so he had no objection.
But the speed and thoroughness with which they had uncovered his background once again deepened his impression of the Longteng Escort Agency’s power.
Qin Hai clapped Xie Yuan firmly on the shoulder.
"Xiaoxie, we’ll be working together from now on. Now, pack your things. We’re leaving right away!"
"So soon?"
Xie Yuan was surprised. Qin Hai certainly did things in a hurry.
Qin Hai chuckled.
"You’re one of us now. The boss is waiting to meet you."
Xie Yuan hesitated for a moment, then made a request.
"Master Qin, could you please give me a moment?"
"Of course."
Qin Hai went outside to wait, leaving only Xie Yuan and Liu the Monk in the study.
Liu the Monk rubbed the dark stubble on his scalp, still seeming to be in a daze.
"Xie Yuan, you’re joining the Longteng Escort Agency... just like that?"
"I didn’t really expect it either..."
Xie Yuan’s emotions had been on a roller coaster, and for a moment, he couldn’t quite put a name to how he felt.
Fate was a strange thing indeed.
Liu the Monk shook his head again and again, then broke into a smile.
"Ah, Xie Yuan, your luck has finally turned! The darkest hour is just before the dawn! Hehe, once you’ve joined the Longteng Escort Agency, not only will the County Captain no longer be a blade held to your neck, but your future will be boundless! Boundless!"
Xie Yuan cupped his fist and said with sincerity:
"Master, no matter how high I climb in the future, I will never forget that I learned my very First Form at the Iron Cloth Sect. And I will never forget your kindness and support!"
Liu the Monk chuckled and waved his hand dismissively, then pulled a small manual from a bookshelf.
"Take it. These are the last two levels of the Iron Cloth Shirt, along with my insights on reaching the peak of the Second Training. You probably won’t think much of this technique after joining the Longteng Escort Agency, but it’s your foundation. Ponder it when you have time, keep up with your hardening practice, and you’ll avoid some injuries."
Xie Yuan accepted it as if it were a treasure and said earnestly:
"I will be sure to study it well."
He then packed his few belongings. Aside from his axe and a set of well-made clothes from the Iron Cloth Sect, he had nothing else to his name.
Once everything was settled, he found Qin Hai outside. Qin Hai led him away, saying:
"Come on, I’ll take you back to the agency."