Chapter 79: Situ Qin
Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Situ Qin
After the seventh day of the New Year, more than half of the Longteng Escort Agency’s men had returned.
In fact, many had already started trickling back just three days into the festival. The Darts Masters who had been with the agency for a long time simply felt more at home with their Escort Teams. While Shen Longteng was happy to let them spend time with their families, they did not want the place to feel deserted.
Xie Yuan felt a sense of confusion as he followed Qin Hai outside.
’An urgent matter in the martial world? As a lead Darts Master who had perfected the Third Training and boasted extensive connections, Zhao Xingyang could handle almost any problem that arose in the martial circles around Yunzhou. If he couldn’t sort it out, what use would a rookie like me be?’
However, Xie Yuan soon reached Zhao Xingyang’s study and understood the nature of the "emergency."
Inside the study.
Zhao Xingyang, dressed in a blue robe, sat behind his desk with his head lowered and eyes downcast, holding a lidded tea bowl and sipping from it slowly.
But he sipped for a long time, and the tea level in the bowl never seemed to drop. The cup remained glued to his lips. If not for his slight movements, one might have thought time itself had frozen.
Across from him stood a slender young woman in a daffodil-yellow dress.
Her hair was done up in a delicate bun. Her skin was as fair as snow, and her features were as picturesque as a painting, enough to captivate anyone at a single glance.
Her features were utterly exquisite. Her pale, dark brows were like distant mountains veiled in mist. Below them, a pair of large, almond-shaped eyes sparkled with life. She had a delicate, upturned nose and full, crimson lips. The slight purse of her lips was enough to stir a feeling of protective tenderness in any man’s heart.
She stood before Zhao Xingyang’s desk, her brow furrowed and her lips pouted in dissatisfaction.
"Master Zhao, are you this unwilling to escort me this time?"
"Miss Qin, the Escort Agency is busy during the New Year period. I have urgent matters to attend to and truly cannot get away."
Zhao Xingyang coughed and set down his tea bowl.
The young woman, Miss Qin, crossed her arms and tilted her head up slightly.
"Isn’t escorting me part of the Escort Agency’s business? I imagine it would be one of your top priorities. Shouldn’t a lead Darts Master like you be responsible for it?"
Zhao Xingyang faltered, momentarily speechless. All he could say was,
"My mission was assigned before the New Year."
"And I paid a deposit to your agency for my request two months before the New Year."
Miss Qin refused to yield, her tone laced with disdain.
"Master Zhao, if you’re going to fob me off, you could at least be a little more convincing."
Zhao Xingyang’s head throbbed. For all his youthful bravado, he was powerless against this sharp-tongued and noble young lady. He could only offer a placating smile and say in a low voice,
"Miss Qin, please be patient. I’ll find another capable Darts Master for you. He’ll be here right away."
"As if your agency has any lead Darts Master more capable than you—"
Before Miss Qin could finish, Zhao Xingyang’s eyes lit up.
"He’s here!"
He darted to the study door and opened it himself, just as Qin Hai was raising a hand to knock. Qin Hai froze, his hand hovering in mid-air, taken aback.
"Boss, I’ve brought him."
Qin Hai stepped aside, revealing Xie Yuan behind him.
Xie Yuan was surprised to see the look on Zhao Xingyang’s face—a mixture of joy and immense relief. ’What could possibly make Boss Zhao, a man who never shied away from any hardship, look like that?’
Before he could say a word, a small, expressive face—one that looked lovely whether pouting or pleased—peeked out from behind Zhao Xingyang to size him up.
"Master Zhao, is this the capable Darts Master you arranged for me?"
"Indeed. Miss Qin, don’t be fooled by Xiaoxie’s youth and good looks into thinking he’s just a pretty face—"
"Fine. I’m very satisfied with this choice. Master Zhao, you can go now."
"?"
Zhao Xingyang blinked in surprise. The young woman skipped out cheerfully and performed a small curtsy before Xie Yuan.
"Greetings, Master Xie. I am Situ Qin. You could say I’m your ’cargo’ for this trip. When do we depart?"
Xie Yuan stared at the girl, easily the most beautiful he had ever seen, momentarily at a loss to grasp the situation.
’She’s truly beautiful... so much more than all the other pretty faces I’ve seen... But what exactly is happening right now?’
Zhao Xingyang, however, felt a strange pang of resentment. ’Just a moment ago she was insisting I escort her, and the second she sees Xiaoxie, she completely forgets about me. So much for a ’noble young lady.’ She’s just another shallow girl who only cares about looks...’
Just as he was grumbling to himself, Situ Qin happened to turn and stare at him oddly.
"Master Zhao, aren’t you busy? What are you still doing here?"
Zhao Xingyang’s face fell.
"This is my study."
He sighed and shook his head.
"Never mind. Xiaoxie, come in. I’ll brief you."
"Why does only Master Xie get to go in? I’m the client. I should be there to listen in with him."
Seeing Zhao Xingyang about to lead Xie Yuan into the study alone, the girl tagged along beside him, craning her neck to speak.
"...Miss Qin, please, come in as well."
Once they were inside, Zhao Xingyang said to Xie Yuan,
"This is Situ Qin, Miss Qin. She is... a young lady from a prominent family, a regular client of the Escort Agency."
Zhao Xingyang amended his statement slightly under her pointed gaze, and only then did Situ Qin look away, satisfied.
"This time, she’s returning home to visit family and has commissioned the Escort Agency to escort her. It’s a personal escort mission. I can’t get away, and after thinking it over, Xiaoxie, you are the most suitable. The mission is yours. You must escort Miss Qin safely back to Yunzhou Prefecture."
Xie Yuan nodded silently. He could already see that this young lady had a flighty personality. It seemed Zhao Xingyang couldn’t handle her, so he’d tossed this hot potato to him.
"Boss Zhao, if you’re not going, who else from the Escort Team will be coming along?"
"You’ll have an outrider with you... ahem. Just you."
After a glance from Situ Qin, Zhao Xingyang corrected himself.
"Just me?"
Xie Yuan was incredulous.
"It can’t be helped. There’s too much to do during the New Year. We really can’t spare the manpower."
Zhao Xingyang spread his hands, then stepped forward to pat Xie Yuan on the shoulder.
"Xiaoxie, there’s no time to waste. Don’t keep Miss Qin waiting. You two should set off now!"
He then leaned closer to Xie Yuan and said in a low voice,
"Miss Qin is of noble birth and has a powerful family. Xiaoxie, don’t say I never look out for you. This is a golden opportunity. If you can win her favor, your future success is all but guaranteed!"
Zhao Xingyang clapped him heavily on the shoulder again. Despite his words of encouragement, a mischievous grin played on his lips.
He thought he had spoken quietly enough, but failed to notice Situ Qin pouting behind him with a look of utter disdain.
Xie Yuan felt like he was being strong-armed into this bizarre mission, but an order was an order. Reluctant as he was, he had to bite the bullet and accept.
Stepping before Situ Qin, Xie Yuan gave a formal fist-and-palm salute and said in a deep voice,
"Miss Qin, I am Xie Yuan. I will be responsible for your safety on this journey. After you."
"Xie Yuan? It’s a fine name. It suits you."
Situ Qin’s eyes curved into crescents. She smiled and openly looked him up and down, making him visibly uncomfortable, which only made her smile widen.
After quickly gathering his things and grabbing an escort banner, Xie Yuan followed Situ Qin out of the agency. He was surprised to find a large procession of carriages waiting outside, attended by a retinue of more than twenty guards.
Each of the guards had a sharp, imposing presence; they were clearly all skilled fighters from Situ Qin’s own household.
Xie Yuan finally understood why Zhao Xingyang had sent him alone on what was clearly a major escort job. A contingent like this did not need any more men. Having the Longteng Escort Agency send someone was just a formality to ward off trouble from bandits on the road. The banner he carried held more significance than the man carrying it.
No wonder Zhao Xingyang had been so reluctant. A man of his caliber taking on these Insurance Darts was a complete waste of time. The Escort Agency had far more important uses for him.
’Of course, there was also the matter of the young lady herself...’
Xie Yuan saw Situ Qin was still secretly sizing him up and shook his head slightly.
Situ Qin giggled and said in a soft voice,
"Master Xie, you don’t need to be so serious. Our partnership with your agency is really just a formality. Besides, I consulted the imperial almanac before we left. It says today is an auspicious day for travel. The journey will be smooth, with no mishaps."
"That would be for the best, of course."
’A retinue this large and well-equipped, combined with the banner of the Longteng Escort Agency, was indeed extremely safe.’
Xie Yuan nodded slightly and fell in step with the caravan as it began to move, slowly making its way out of the county town and heading south.
As they passed through the city gates, several of the vegetable vendors by the roadside exchanged a look. Then, they silently lowered their heads, turned, and walked away, forgetting even to pack up their stalls.