Chapter 142

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A standard robbery in the martial world came to an end just like that.

Zhang Xiaohua, who had hoped to witness some excitement, ended up receiving a thorough lesson from Zhang Xiaohu. Although he did not see the bloody side of the martial world, he gained an understanding of the greed of human nature and the transactions of power and money inherent in it. He also came to realize that in the martial world, strength is the ultimate authority.

In the days that followed, Zhang Xiaohua prayed not to encounter any more highway robberies or mountain bandits, a stark contrast to his initial excitement upon arriving.

However, the storms of the martial world do not change based on an individual’s wishes. The road was not a sunny boulevard, there were still some short-sighted bandits who did not take the Lotus Escort Agency and the Piaomiao Sect seriously. But any bandit who dared to make a move lacked insight. They were quickly crushed under the powerful force of the Lotus Escort Agency, centered around the formidable leader, Head Escort Luo. Yet, heaven is ruthless, and blades and spears have no eyes. Some escorts were injured, with one even having his wrist nearly severed. Although the escort carried top-notch medicine and the team found the best doctor in the next town, the injury was severe. The man’s life was saved, but his hand was rendered useless.

During the subsequent journey, the injured escort lay in the carriage behind Zhang Xiaohua. Zhang Xiaohua frequently saw his vacant eyes and sullen expression, which cast a heavy shadow over his previously cheerful mood.

Fortunately, the Lotus Escort Agency’s strength proved adequate. Despite Zhang Xiaohua’s discomfort, only one escort was severely injured along the way. Head Escort Luo, however, was elated, feeling as if he were under a lucky star. The journey back had been unusually smooth.

The small seaside town was indeed far from Pingyang City. It wasn’t until the convoy had traveled for nearly a month that they finally entered the Piaomiao Sect’s sphere of influence. The escorts seemed particularly sensitive to their own territory. Originally, they were supposed to arrive in the afternoon, but due to a broken carriage that delayed their journey, they only reached a remote small mountain village by afternoon. If it had been a few days earlier, the convoy would have set up camp for the night. However, this evening, not only did Head Escort Luo but everyone from the escort agency was determined to press on. Even if they had to travel at night, they wanted to reach their own territory first. So, the group continued their journey through the twilight and did not enter a small town until close to midnight.

As soon as they entered the town, Head Escort Luo let out a long sigh of relief and loudly declared: “Brothers, we’ve reached our own territory! Haha!”

Everyone cheered and laughed, leaving Zhang Xiaohua, who was bleary-eyed from sleep, looking quite puzzled.

In the following days, the escort team was noticeably less vigilant and traveled more casually. By the time they arrived in Pingyang City, it was already midnight.

Although Pingyang City was a city, it was merely an inland city with no strategic significance. Therefore, out of the four city gates, only three were closed at night, leaving one open for people to enter and exit. This was one reason why the Lotus Escort Agency’s convoy traveled through the night. Who wouldn’t want to return to the escort agency as soon as possible, freshen up, put everything down, and sleep comfortably?

Of course, Zhang Xiaohua had already fallen into a deep sleep by the time the convoy approached Pingyang City, without having had the chance to freshen up.

The convoy quickly arrived at the escort agency’s entrance, which was already closed for the night. Someone knocked loudly on the door. When the gatekeeper saw that the returning people were from the escort agency, there were no complaints about being disturbed in the middle of the night. The gatekeeper hurriedly opened the main gate and allowed the twenty or so carriages to be driven into the agency’s courtyard. The commotion of dozens of people returning to the escort agency was not small. The guards at the gatehouse were soon aware of it. The leader first congratulated Head Escort Luo on safely bringing the agency’s people and clients back to Pingyang City. Then, he turned to Zhang Xiaohu and said: “Zhang Xiaohu, you’re finally back. Fourth Master Wen has been waiting for you for days. He instructed that as soon as you return, you must go see him immediately!”

Zhang Xiaohu was taken aback. Why was this? He carefully confirmed: “Do I really have to go even if it’s midnight?”

The guard smiled wryly and said: “Fourth Master said so, but he didn’t specify the time. Since you’re back now, I think you should go, otherwise, it might upset Fourth Master, and that wouldn’t be good.”

Zhang Xiaohu thought for a moment and said: “Alright then, thank you for the reminder.”

Zhang Xiaohu then went to the square, carefully placed the sleeping Zhang Xiaohua on the kang in his small room, tidied up his belongings a bit, and brought them back to the room. Only then did he hesitantly go to the inner courtyard, to Fourth Master Wen’s room.

It was already past midnight, and Fourth Master Wen’s courtyard was quiet and serene. Zhang Xiaohu tiptoed to the door, hesitated for a moment, and was about to knock when an elderly voice came from inside: “Who is it? What do you want at this hour?”

The voice was so sudden and unexpected that Zhang Xiaohu trembled in fright. He secretly admired the old saying, “The older the ginger, the spicier it gets”. Fourth Master Wen’s internal skills were among the top in the Lotus Escort Agency. Zhang Xiaohu had just approached the door and was already heard. He sighed, wondering how long he would need to practice to achieve such a level.

Inside, Fourth Master Wen was irritated and thought to himself: “Which unlucky kid is outside? Doesn’t he have any sense of respect for the elderly and affection for the young? This old man usually has trouble sleeping and finally managed to close my eyes early tonight, just to be woken up by you. If you want to come, then come. You come knocking at this hour, and you tiptoe around, making me think it’s some kind of villain. My old heart nearly jumped out of my chest. If you hadn’t knocked, I would have jumped out of the window to give you a good thrashing and teach you the consequences of disturbing an old man’s sleep.”

Zhang Xiaohu straightened up and said respectfully: “It’s me, Zhang Xiaohu.”

“Zhang Xiaohu?” Fourth Master Wen hesitated. “What brings you here at this hour?”

Zhang Xiaohu was startled by Fourth Master Wen’s question and quickly replied: “Fourth Master, I just came back from an escort mission. The guard at the door said you were looking for me and told me to come see you immediately if I showed up.”

“Oh!” Fourth Master Wen said angrily. “Is that so? Cough, cough~”

Fourth Master Wen was so angry that he started coughing and took a sip of water before continuing: “Did I say anything like that? Even if I did, there’s no need to come at this hour.”

Zhang Xiaohu, feeling embarrassed, replied: “The guard thought it was something urgent and didn’t know that you didn’t want us to come at night. That’s why he notified me. If you don’t have anything important, I’ll head back now and come see you again in the morning.”

Fourth Master Wen listened and said: “Oh, I see. This matter was something I mentioned a month ago, it’s almost been two months, and I had nearly forgotten. Alas, the older you get, the easier it is to forget things. Well, you don’t need to go back. I’ll get up soon anyway since tonight is bound to be a sleepless one.”

Zhang Xiaohu waited for a moment, and then Fourth Master Wen opened the door to let him in.

Once they were seated, Fourth Master Wen poured some water, and after Zhang Xiaohu had a drink, he looked at him and said: “Zhang Xiaohu, this escort mission took quite some time. You must have worked hard.”

Zhang Xiaohu quickly said: “Not at all, Fourth Master. I was just an assistant to Head Escort Luo. He made most of the decisions, I was just a helper.”

Fourth Master Wen smiled and said: “Since the escort mission extended past the New Year, it was only natural for it to be hard. Did anyone below have any complaints?”

Zhang Xiaohu replied: “There were no major complaints, just that they hoped the escort agency could provide a bit more allowance since they spent the New Year away from their families.”

Fourth Master Wen stroked his sparse beard and said: “That’s to be expected. The escort agency won’t treat anyone who contributes poorly. This kind of New Year away from home is the same, and even for greater contributions, the treatment remains the same.”

Zhang Xiaohu was momentarily confused, thinking: “Great contributions, what does this mean?”

But he still respectfully said: “On behalf of my brothers, I thank Fourth Master for your concern.”

Fourth Master Wen waved his hand and said: “Haha, no need for thanks. It’s only right.”

After a brief hesitation, he asked_ “Was the escort mission smooth overall?”

Zhang Xiaohu, puzzled, answered: “Yes, it went normally. We only encountered some common mountain bandits on the road, but Head Escort Luo handled them with ease.”

In his mind, Zhang Xiaohu thought: “What’s the old man up to? Can’t sleep and wants to chat? I’m tired and want to sleep.”

Fourth Master Wen then kindly asked: “When did you return to the escort agency?”

Zhang Xiaohu frowned and said: “Just now, I only just entered the courtyard. I came over as soon as I put my things in the room.”

Fourth Master Wen nodded and said: “Oh, so you haven’t heard any news yet.”

“News?” Zhang Xiaohu asked, puzzled. “What news?”

Fourth Master Wen contemplated for a moment, then changed to a sorrowful expression and said: “Zhang Xiaohu, you are considered one of my trusted aides. Being able to work as an escort for the Lotus Escort Agency is also our fate. I believe you have the spirit of dedicating your youth, your passion, your sweat, and even your life to the escort agency.”

Zhang Xiaohu was even more confused by this formal rhetoric and didn’t quite know how to respond.

Seeing Zhang Xiaohu’s surprised expression, Fourth Master Wen continued: “When I was young, I had the same thoughts as you, dedicating myself to the escort agency. Look at me now, having worked hard for most of my life, and only now do I see the escort agency flourishing. The escort agency is like my home, and it depends on everyone’s dedication and sacrifice. Without a sense of dedication, the escort agency would not have reached where it is today.”

Zhang Xiaohu was bewildered and cautiously said: “Fourth Master, did I do something wrong? Please give me some guidance.”

Fourth Master Wen smiled and said: “You’ve done very well. You haven’t brought me any shame.”

Zhang Xiaohu opened his mouth to speak: “Then, you…?”

Fourth Master Wen took on another sorrowful expression and said: “It’s like this: I have a very tragic piece of news to tell you. I hope you can prepare yourself mentally. I suggest you get ready, perhaps brace yourself, and listen carefully to what I have to say. Also, after hearing it, please don’t be too anxious.”

Zhang Xiaohu smiled and said: “What news, Fourth Master? You’ve been so vague that I feel lost and confused.”

Fourth Master Wen nodded and said: “Indeed, you’re not lacking in composure. This quality alone makes you someone capable of handling important matters.”

He then continued: “Actually, as the old saying goes, ‘It is great to live nobly and to die gloriously’. Some people are dead even while they live, while others live on in our hearts even after they die. Some deaths are as heavy as Mount Tai, while others are as light as a feather. If you can achieve such a level someday, you can have no regrets in this life.”

Zhang Xiaohu listened to Fourth Master Wen’s eloquence and was deeply moved, yet he dared not interject. He just wanted to know what the devastating news was.

Suddenly, he seemed to have a realization, could it be something happened at home?

Was it the bandits from West Cui Mountain? Or perhaps the bullies from Lu Town?

Zhang Xiaohu was thrown into a state of confusion, thinking, wh-what should I do?

Fourth Master Wen seemed not to notice Zhang Xiaohu’s shifting expressions under the lamp and continued: “In life, it’s easy to do one or two good deeds, but what’s truly remarkable is doing good every day, and performing acts that people will remember with gratitude for a lifetime. This kind of life is truly moving. As the ancients said, ‘Do not refuse to do a small good deed, and do not commit a small evil deed’. Whether the good deed is big or small, one should persistently do it. Not to mention those who sacrifice their lives for others, these selfless acts are to be cherished. On behalf of the Lotus Escort Agency, Huanxi Villa, and the Piaomiao Sect, I offer you my highest respect!”

After speaking, Fourth Master Wen wiped the sweat from his forehead and said awkwardly: “Ah, the words from that book of Fan Da are really hard to remember. I’ve recited them countless times, but I can’t seem to make them sound moving. It’s not my fault, I thought you would return sooner. I didn’t expect you to come back only today. I haven’t read it for nearly a month.”

Alas, it’s hard for this old Fourth Master, he’s sweated through the winter trying to memorize it. It shows that rote memorization isn’t the right way, understanding and assimilating knowledge is the key!

When Fourth Master Wen finally looked up from his notes and saw Zhang Xiaohu’s gloomy face, he said with sorrow: “Zhang Xiaohu, it seems you’ve understood what I meant. The deceased is gone, but those who live must continue. You must control your grief, turn your sorrow into strength, and continue to work hard. Take up your younger brother’s baton, fulfill his unfinished wishes, and contribute your blood and life to the Lotus Escort Agency and the Piaomiao Sect!”

Zhang Xiaohu’s face instantly changed dramatically. His eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open wide enough to fit a duck egg in it. In disbelief, he said: “My brother? Zhang Xiaohua?”

Fourth Master Wen nodded heavily and said in a very somber tone: “Yes, it is your brother, Zhang Xiaohua, the good employee of Huanxi Villa, the admirable figure of the Lotus Escort Agency, and the good friend of the Piaomiao Sect. He will forever live in our hearts!”

Zhang Xiaohu stood up abruptly and said: “This!!! This must be a mistake?!”

Fourth Master Wen, looking displeased, said: “How could such a thing be mistaken? Sit down, sit down. I just praised your calmness, and now you’re so flustered? I know it’s hard to accept this news all of a sudden, which is why Fan Da from the escort agency wrote this lengthy message for you. Even then, you’re still so rough and surprised, suddenly standing up? Calm down, calm down. You need to have the calmness that remains steady even when mountains collapse before you. That’s the basic quality we should have as leaders.”

Zhang Xiaohu smiled and sat back down, saying: “Fourth Master, I was just startled by the news, which is why I jumped up. Please don’t be upset.”

Fourth Master Wen, stroking his sparse beard, said: “Good, you’ve recovered quickly. You have my style, your future is promising. I have high hopes for you!”

Then, Fourth Master Wen got up and took a small wooden box from a cabinet behind him. He placed it in front of Zhang Xiaohu and said: “Although Zhang Xiaohua has left us, we will definitely publicize his inspiring deeds and ensure he is remembered in the annals of Jianghu’s history. However, given the changing circumstances in the martial arts world and the many unfavorable conditions for the Piaomiao Sect, we can’t make Xiaohua’s heroic act public for now. Therefore, we can only make some compensation in other ways. This is a token of deep respect for Zhang Xiaohua, personally delivered to me by the Sect Master Ou Peng, and I’m passing it on to you.”

Zhang Xiaohu opened the wooden box with confusion. Inside was a thick stack of silver notes, at least a hundred pieces. The top note alone was worth one hundred taels, making it a total of ten thousand taels!

Zhang Xiaohu was stunned and trembling. He had never seen such a large sum of silver before and was quite taken aback. He pushed the box away and said: “Fourth Master, what is this? What happened to my younger brother Zhang Xiaohua? Is there some mistake? I can’t accept this silver!”

Fourth Master Wen replied: “I don’t know the exact details. The situation at Huanxi Villa is very confidential, and I haven’t been able to find out much. I only heard from Qiu Tong that your brother Zhang Xiaohua was loyal and sacrificed his life to save Villa Owner Ou.”

“What?” Zhang Xiaohu was stunned and exclaimed: “Is that true? Why didn’t I know such a thing? Xiaohua didn’t mention this to me!”

“To you?” Fourth Master Wen smiled and said, “How could he tell you?”

Zhang Xiaohu said seriously: “Xiaohua is right now sleeping in my room. He came back with the escort team, and all the brothers in the team know this. However, he only mentioned falling into the water during the night ambush and didn’t tell me anything more.”

Fourth Master Wen’s hand, which was stroking his sparse beard, trembled, causing his sparse beard to become even sparser. He was so distressed that he didn’t care about the pain. He jumped up from his chair with the same agility Zhang Xiaohu had shown earlier and said in a stern voice: “Really? He’s sleeping in your room right now?”

He seemed to have lost the calm demeanor he had shown when scolding Zhang Xiaohu.

Zhang Xiaohu replied: “Yes, he’s in my room, sleeping soundly.”

Fourth Master Wen immediately grabbed Zhang Xiaohu’s hand and said: “Let’s go quickly, let me take a look.”

Zhang Xiaohu, being pulled up, thought to himself, “Stay calm, stay calm. Fourth Master, you’re also a leader!”