Chapter 358: The Escort Agency’s Announcement

“Mochou City.”

Nie Qianyu helplessly uttered a place name.

She then continued: “Hero Ren, I have never told you the name or location of our manor. There truly were difficulties in my heart. Please, I hope you can be magnanimous and not take it to heart.”

“Huh?” Zhang Xiaohua asked in surprise: “Miss Nie, what makes you think I’m upset? Haven’t I also not told you where I’m going? Everyone has their own secrets. I don’t have the time or interest to meddle in other people’s business. Besides, we’re about to part ways soon. Even if I were angry with you, what difference would it make?”

Hearing this, Nie Qianyu’s eyes brimmed with tears, her face turning a little pale.

Zhang Xiaohua found Nie Qianyu’s reaction rather odd, but he had no time to comfort her. He turned and left the small room, though he did pause for a moment as he stepped out.

He said: “Miss Nie, you keep calling me ‘Hero Ren’, ‘Hero Ren’ this, ‘Hero Ren’ that. It sounds rather awkward to me. If possible, could you just call me as you did before? What do you think?”

“Mm, alright, alright.” Nie Qianyu nodded eagerly, like a pecking chick. “I’ll listen to you, Hero Ren-no, Big Brother Ren.”

Her previously gloomy face instantly brightened, breaking into a smile through her tears.

Little Orange, standing nearby, however, looked rather uneasy.

The Fushun Escort Agency was some distance from the inn. Zhang Xiaohua didn’t ride his Sibu Xiang, but instead strolled along casually, taking the opportunity to observe if there were any suspicious martial artists around.

Danhe City was a large town, no less bustling than Pingyang City. Many people came and went, and among them were some sword-wielding, blade-carrying martial folk. But they all seemed to be in a hurry, not loitering or looking around, so they likely weren’t Nie Qianyu’s pursuers.

With that, Zhang Xiaohua felt a bit more at ease.

He walked slowly on purpose, wanting to draw any unwanted attention onto himself along the way. It seemed this method had worked. In fact, when he killed those people yesterday, one purpose was to serve as a warning, to let them witness his martial prowess. If they had any sense, perhaps they’d give up searching for Nie Qianyu. Of course, that was a slim hope. The second purpose was to confuse and mislead them, making it hard to discern Nie Qianyu’s direction, or perhaps to make them think she had doubled back to seek help. This way, with Nie Qianyu and Little Orange being escorted to Mochou City by the agency’s guards, the risk would be lessened a bit more.

Actually, “man proposes, Heaven disposes.” Zhang Xiaohua was merely doing his best; however much he could accomplish, that would be enough. If he had truly nothing to do, then even escorting the two of them to some place like Spring Revival Valley would be no trouble at all.

The Fushun Escort Agency’s storefront was quite grand, at least twice the size of the Lotus Escort Agency in Pingyang City. At a glance, it was clear this was a place of considerable strength. Two stone lions stood at the entrance, each with a paw atop an embroidered ball, their fierce gazes exuding great might. Yet, the main doors of the agency stood wide open, with merchants coming and going, but no guards stationed at the entrance, which struck Zhang Xiaohua as odd.

Could it be that the customs in Danhe City differed from those in Pingyang City? He remembered that the Lotus Escort Agency’s guards would always stand at the entrance to greet guests when the doors opened, both to welcome customers and to display the agency’s strength. Did the Fushun Escort Agency not require this?

Following a few people inside, Zhang Xiaohua glanced around. Heh, the layout was exactly the same as the Lotus Escort Agency’s: a vast open courtyard, with weapons and stone locks arranged in the corners. Early in the morning, several men were already practicing martial arts, diligently honing their skills.

Seeing this familiar scene, a smile appeared on Zhang Xiaohua’s lips. The days spent recovering at the Lotus Escort Agency, though plain and sometimes painful, were also filled with an unusual warmth.

Then, moving with practiced ease, Zhang Xiaohua headed toward a large hall to the right of the main entrance. In his memory, that was where the Lotus Escort Agency received business. In fact, there was no need to ask; several people were already heading that way.

Rounding a decorative screen, before he even got close, Zhang Xiaohua heard an anxious, booming voice from within: “Chief Escort Lu, you must stand up for me! You already agreed to the terms earlier, so why have they suddenly changed today? If this shipment can’t be delivered to Yanxi Town on time, I’ll suffer a huge loss!”

Another firm voice responded: “Manager Mo, it’s not that I don’t want to help you. We’ve been doing business together for over ten years. If it weren’t for special circumstances, how could I refuse your business? Our escort agency issued a notice three days ago, Fushun Escort Agency is temporarily suspending all business headed toward Mochou City. Perhaps you didn’t see the announcement?”

“Ai, that’s right. I’ve been busy arranging goods these past few days, where would I have had the time to pay attention to anything else? Besides, your agency has never delayed my business before, I never imagined a problem would arise at the most reliable link.”

“Sigh, apologies, apologies, Manager Mo. For now, you’d best find another solution. Once this period has passed, I’ll come personally to apologize to you.”

“Forget about apologies. I’d better hurry and find a few guards skilled in martial arts to deliver my goods first. Oh, right, Chief Escort Lu, what exactly happened for your agency to make such a decision? Did something happen again on the road to Mochou City?”

“Hahaha, Manager Mo, it’s best if you don’t ask too much about this. It’s all matters of the Jianghu, knowing too much isn’t good for you. Anyway, if you hire some guards to deliver your goods, I reckon there probably won’t be any trouble. You should go take care of your business.”

As Zhang Xiaohua entered the main hall, a short, stout old man with a full white beard was huffing and puffing as he hurried out, still calling back as he walked: “Alright, Chief Escort Lu. If something like this happens again, please inform me as early as possible.”

Zhang Xiaohua looked up and saw that the hall was filled with all sorts of people. In the center, a vigorous old man with a ruddy face replied in a loud voice: “Of course, Manager Mo. I’ll remember.”

At this moment, another person spoke up: “Chief Escort Lu, it’s one thing not to escort Manager Mo’s goods, but my little girl just wants to visit her cousin in Mochou City for the New Year. She’s a living person, I can’t trust just any random guards with her. Can’t you at least assign two escorts?”

Chief Escort Lu looked at him and gave a wry smile: “Scholar Li, you’re a man of learning. I made it clear in the announcement: it’s not just goods, even for protecting people, our agency isn’t taking any jobs. Especially for women, we absolutely won’t take any.”

“Outrageous! What escort agency has rules like yours?”

Scholar Li stormed off in a huff.

Hearing all this, Zhang Xiaohua’s heart stirred, his brows furrowing deeply.

How could things be so coincidental in this world? He wanted the Fushun Escort Agency to escort Nie Qianyu and Little Orange to Mochou City, and now the agency had issued a notice refusing all jobs, people or goods, headed in that direction. There was no need to ask; this must be the ‘good deed’ of those pursuing Nie Qianyu.

What exactly is the treasure inside that brocade box Nie Qianyu is carrying? What could it be that makes them go to such great lengths?

Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but feel curious.

At this moment, a one-eyed man quietly asked: “Chief Escort Lu, the notice also says that all ‘red goods’ to be transported by your agency must be inspected first. Is that true?”

Chief Escort Lu nodded solemnly and said: “I know this goes against the usual rules of an escort agency, but I truly have my reasons that I cannot disclose. Please understand. Besides, as you all may know, the other two escort agencies have issued similar notices. So, if you can’t accept these conditions, you’re free to find someone else. But if you want our agency to take the job, you must comply with the notice.”

The one-eyed man said: “My goods aren’t headed toward Mochou City, so they don’t need to be inspected, right?”

Chief Escort Lu replied: “Sorry, if it’s not going to Mo Chou City, Fushun Escort Agency can take the job, but we still have to inspect it. Even if it’s an escort for a person, we have to see everyone’s faces first!”

“Hey, Chief Escort Lu, now that you mention it, I just remembered, except for the East Gate, which is as usual, the other three city gates seem…”

Several others chimed in: “That’s right! Now that you mention it, I do recall that three days ago, there were some martial artists with swords and blades guarding the city gates. It’s been several days now. I thought it was strange at the time.”

“Exactly, Chief Escort Lu, what exactly is going on? Has something happened?”

Chief Escort Lu stroked his beard and smiled: “It’s nothing. I can stake my life on it. If anything is happening, it has nothing to do with any of you. The Fushun Escort Agency’s notice is just temporary. In a few days, things should return to normal. If you’re not in a rush, come back then and you’ll likely be able to have your goods escorted as usual.”

After saying this, Chief Escort Lu cupped his hands in farewell and left the main hall. Those who weren’t in a hurry, or simply refused to have their goods inspected, like the one-eyed man, left as well. Only those who urgently needed an escort and could accept the strict conditions remained, to be attended by other escorts.

And what about Zhang Xiaohua?

The very thing he wanted Fushun Escort Agency to protect was exactly what they wanted to inspect, so naturally, he left with the others. However, as he walked, he discreetly released his divine sense, following Chief Escort Lu as he departed.

Chief Escort Lu exited the main hall and headed toward the rear courtyard. After passing through several courtyards, he arrived at an elegant private room. Inside sat a refined-looking middle-aged scholar, savoring tea. Upon seeing Chief Escort Lu return, the scholar stood up with a smile and greeted him.

Observing this, Zhang Xiaohua glanced around, then slipped beside a decorative screen. With a twist of his body, he vanished from sight. When he reappeared, he was right outside that elegant room.

Zhang Xiaohua peeked around to make sure no one was watching, then pressed his feet to the ground. His body floated up like a wisp of cotton and landed atop the elegant room. He pricked up his ears, preparing to eavesdrop.