Chapter 60: The Escort Agency is Shaken
Chapter 60: Chapter 60: The Escort Agency is Shaken
At the gates of Yunzhao County, an escort team entered the city in single file.
The men were strong and their horses were sturdy, yet nearly every one of them had torn clothes and bore injuries.
This was especially true for the young man in the lead. His chest was thickly bandaged with white cloth, yet blood still seeped through. His azure robe was stained with so much dark red that its original color was almost impossible to make out.
Despite this, every man held his head high with his chest puffed out, radiating an extraordinary aura. They were clearly a victorious team, drawing stares from the passersby.
"Boss, we’re back in Yunzhao County. You can stop putting on a brave face now, can’t you?"
A man in the team called out to the one in front.
Zhao Xingyang sat tall on his horse, his back straight. He wore the blood-soaked robe with perfect composure, as if the stains weren’t his own—though, admittedly, most of the blood belonged to his enemies.
He said coolly,
"Blood can be spilled, heads can be lost, but our spirit must never be broken."
"Heh heh."
A low chuckle rippled through the team, followed by a few weak coughs.
"To think the Leopard Mountain Seven Bandits would dare to touch our Escort Team. They really did have some skill, though. If the boss hadn’t shown his might, I’m afraid some of our brothers would’ve been left behind."
one man lamented.
Another immediately grumbled,
"Boss, don’t take a blade for me like that again. My worthless life isn’t worth it!"
"What nonsense are you spouting? Are you going to get married or not?"
Zhao Xingyang shot back, turning his head.
The man shouted loudly,
"Not anymore! I’m following you for the rest of my life, Boss!"
"Get lost! If you want to cross swords, take a left at the Vajra Sect up ahead. Don’t you get near me!"
Zhao Xingyang laughed and cursed, brandishing his riding crop, and the team immediately erupted in boisterous laughter.
"Since I’m the one who led you out, I have to bring every single one of you back... Stop! Don’t be gross!"
Zhao Xingyang waved his hand, cutting off the declarations from the group of hardened men, and added,
"Let’s hurry back to the Escort Agency and report in. Hmm, I wonder if our new guy has been training properly."
"Using the Rushing Wolf Saber Skill to start out? Even with Brother Hai teaching him, it’d be impressive if he can even go through the motions of the stances by now."
someone said, shaking his head.
Another retorted,
"Do you think everyone is as stupid as you? Why else would the boss have recruited him? The way I see it, after seven days, he should be about ready to master the basics."
"Didn’t we recruit him just to piss off the Vajra Sect? Mastering the basics in seven days? That’d put him on the same level as Xiaolei!"
the first man said quickly.
A young man in the group, only about twenty, shook his head demurely.
"Seven days is nothing. The boss mastered the basics in three days. Now that’s what you call a genius."
The man who had retorted scratched his head and replied to the first speaker,
"You’ve actually got a point. Boss, you tell us. What’s his talent like?"
Zhao Xingyang glanced back slightly and said calmly,
"Whether someone’s talent is high or low isn’t what’s crucial. Some of our brothers learn martial arts faster, some slower, but when we stand together as one, our strength is not the least bit weak. It doesn’t matter if that kid is training well or not. As long as he’s training seriously, not causing trouble, and has the right attitude, he’ll be one of our brothers."
"Mm, I’ve pinched my fingers and done a little divination. He doesn’t seem like the type to stir up trouble."
"The boss still makes the most sense. But... why have you gotten so into that finger-pinching divination stuff lately? You can really tell if someone’s a troublemaker with that?"
"On our last mission, the boss met a Daoist on the side of the road. They talked for a bit, and he was completely blown away. But that Daoist said our boss..."
The man trailed off at this point, shutting his mouth awkwardly.
Zhao Xingyang laughed freely.
"There’s nothing to hide. The Daoist felt my talent was a bit lacking. Otherwise, he would’ve been willing to take me as his disciple."
"What?"
The men all cried out in shock, and Xiaolei, in particular, said indignantly,
"He must be some charlatan from the streets! Saying the boss has poor talent? What a joke!"
Zhao Xingyang shook his head.
"That Daoist was truly a master. There’s always someone better out there, a higher heaven beyond the sky. Compared to people like him, my talent really is nothing special."
But he immediately broke into a smile, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
"But so what? Geniuses have always been as numerous as the stars, but how many can truly enter the Dao? The path of the Martial Dao is long and arduous, but at its end, there will surely be a place for me, Zhao Xingyang."
"Yeah! If it’s Boss Zhao, he’ll definitely crush all those young masters from the Sects and noble families!"
The men’s blood boiled with excitement, and they all started shouting.
Zhao Xingyang gave a dashing smile and said leisurely,
"For now, it’s all just talk. Never mind, never mind. Ah, we’re finally home... Why are so many people gathered in the courtyard?"
"Let me see... Whoa, that’s a lot of people... It’s the Head Escort Master!"
"The Head Escort Master himself is here! And Darts Master Lu! What’s going on? Wait, the one they’re surrounding is..."
"Isn’t that Xiaoxie?"
"It is Xiaoxie."
The men exchanged glances, then stealthily looked toward the stunned Zhao Xingyang.
"Boss, that was some great divination. Please don’t do it again."
"Looks like that Daoist really did have some foresight after all."
...
In the side courtyard of the Escort Agency, you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone had just witnessed Xie Yuan sever Li Guo’s saber with a single strike.
The sabers were the standard-issue long sabers of the Escort Agency.
One saber broken, one intact. The victor was obvious at a glance.
As Xie Yuan said, "You let me win," Li Guo’s face went deathly pale. He silently clasped his fist and retreated. The quiet courtyard instantly erupted with discussion, like a pot of boiling water.
"No way, no way! A new guy just took down a Darts Master?"
"This new guy is a beast!"
"I see in this Xie Yuan the makings of a Darts Master."
Qin Hai had long since been drawn over by the commotion and was now at the edge of the crowd, looking dumbfounded.
’This kid is good, but how is he this good?’
’That final strike of his... it had a hint of an axe technique. He really hasn’t forgotten his roots.’
"Excellent!"
A powerful shout of praise boomed from behind, drowning out the entire crowd.
Qin Hai flinched, pulling his neck back. He turned his head and was instantly shocked.
"Head Escort Master!"
"Head Escort Master!"
Greetings rang out one after another as the crowd automatically parted to form a path, allowing a tall, elderly man in a purple robe with black hair and a ruddy complexion to walk into the center of the yard.
’Even the Head Escort Master was drawn out?’
Xie Yuan followed the crowd and bowed.
"Greetings, Head Escort Master!"
Shen Longteng stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes filled with appreciation.
"Xie Yuan, your comprehension of saber techniques is truly excellent. To think you could unleash a strike with the power of Minor Success at the last moment!"
Everyone was stunned to hear this. No wonder Xie Yuan’s final strike was so incredibly powerful.
’What kind of monster is he? He can use a Minor Success technique after just a few days of training?’
Xie Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. ’As expected of the Head Escort Master. His eye is incredibly sharp.’
’However, it seems even he can’t see through my internal energy.’
Among the astonished crowd, only Qin Hai wore a strange expression.
’A chance burst of power... If this kid can do it once, he can do it a million times!’
’Could it be that his Rushing Wolf Saber Skill has already reached Minor Success?’
Unable to believe it, Qin Hai sucked in a sharp breath, causing the temperature in the Escort Agency to rise slightly.
Shen Longteng chuckled.
"The Vajra Sect really sent us a true talent. This is the dumbest thing they’ve done all year."
The Escort Agency members were slightly taken aback. ’The Head Escort Master has such a high opinion of Xie Yuan?’
"But, you’ve only just arrived, haven’t you? Xingyang mentioned you to me. It’s only been a few days. How did a simple sparring match turn into such a grand event?"
Lu Zhenyu took a step forward, clasped his fist, and bowed.
"Head Escort Master, it’s like this..."
He recounted the events in full, without hiding or embellishing any details.
After listening, Shen Longteng nodded slightly.
"Ah, Zhenyu, Xingyang’s situation is something of a special case. He told me about his idea before. I neither supported nor opposed it, simply letting him do as he pleased."
Lu Zhenyu paused for a moment before saying in a low voice,
"Since the Head Escort Master does not object, then I have no further comments."
"However, you also have a point. Nothing can be accomplished without rules. Xie Yuan, since you acquired your merit points on credit, you must pay them back soon. From what I can see, you already have the strength to go out on missions."
Xie Yuan clasped his fist.
"Yes, sir!"
Shen Longteng tilted his head slightly.
"Xingyang, any problem with that?"
"None at all! Whatever you say goes, sir!"
Having hidden behind the gate for quite a while, Zhao Xingyang led his men in, a cheerful smile on his face.
Shen Longteng’s gaze swept over Zhao Xingyang, and his brow furrowed slightly. The tall, elderly man, who had been placid until now, suddenly exuded a murderous aura.
"You’re that badly injured? Where did it happen?"
"Leopard Mountain. But of the Seven Bandits, I killed six. One little cub who’s no real threat got away, but he’s already heavily injured. No need for you to worry yourself, sir."
Zhao Xingyang’s spirits were high.
The Escort Agency members exchanged looks of shock, and even Lu Zhenyu’s expression flickered.
The Leopard Mountain Seven Bandits were notorious mountain bandits near Yunzhao County, responsible for numerous bloody massacres.
Their leader and second-in-command were both Third Training masters, and the rest were all at the Second Training level!
Shen Longteng’s expression softened, and he nodded.
"Alright then. Everyone, disperse. Xingyang, you should hurry up and rest."
With the Head Escort Master’s order, the crowd of onlookers quickly dispersed.
But before the Escort Agency members left, they all glanced at the handsome young man.
Though he had only joined the Escort Agency a few days ago, the name Xie Yuan, along with this sparring match, quickly spread throughout the agency.