Chapter 14: All Is Dog Shit

The journey to the city of Lingnan proceeded relatively smoothly, though every slight disturbance along the way left the remaining bodyguards drenched in cold sweat. After all, for the Sihai Escort Agency, they could not afford even the smallest loss at this point. The lives of the fallen guards could not simply be compensated for with a paltry sum of condolence money. For those who had no family and had pledged their lives to the agency since childhood, it was easier to accept. But for those with dependents, the death of their household’s pillar was no less than the collapse of the sky itself. The thought of bereaved families coming to the agency in their grief made Liu Hui’s heart heavy throughout the journey.

Moreover, the prospect of returning so many bodies to Shouchun would be a severe blow to the reputation of the Sihai Escort Agency. Shouchun was home to more than just their company. In these turbulent times, business for escort agencies should have been thriving, but after such a disaster, who would dare entrust their goods to Sihai? Liu Hui could already imagine the schadenfreude and smirks of their competitors.

Night fell, and out of caution, the Sihai Escort Agency decided not to travel through the night. Instead, they found a place to camp, set up sentries, and lit a bonfire, preparing to rest until dawn. In the wilds, there were not only bandits to fear but also beasts ever ready to prey on the unwary.

Ning Xiu sat alone by his fire, leaning against the trunk of a palm tree for warmth.

“Uncle Xu, just what level has our benefactor reached?” On the other side, the members of the escort agency sat around the campfire, and Liu Hui finally voiced her lingering question.

The benefactor in question was, of course, the masked swordsman. Xu Da pondered a moment before answering, “Judging from his fight with the One-Eyed Dragon, he hasn’t reached the second rank. Otherwise, the One-Eyed Dragon would have been dead already.”

“Of course, cultivation is one thing, actual combat ability is another. His swordsmanship is the most bewildering I’ve ever seen. If I had faced him, I doubt I could have lasted ten moves.”

“I heard that Feng Chu, the chief of Black Wind Stronghold, has reached the peak of the second rank and is on the threshold of the grandmaster’s realm. Doesn’t that mean our benefactor is in great danger?” Liu Hui asked anxiously.

“It’s clear from his actions these past days that he’s not reckless. As long as he doesn’t actively seek out Feng Chu, with his strength, Black Wind Stronghold can do nothing to him.”

Beside them, Liu Tao forced a bitter smile and said, “We’d best think about how we’re going to explain ourselves to Master Liu when we return.”

...

“Third rank?”

In the shadows, Ning Xiu tossed a few dry branches onto his fire, watching the flames flicker as he muttered to himself.

In the Great Qi Empire, martial artists were classified into ranks. Ordinary fighters were unranked; only those who had cultivated inner strength earned a ranking, referred to in the martial world as “entering the ranks.” Third rank was the lowest, first rank the highest, and above the first rank stood the so-called grandmasters.

Of course, Ning Xiu, privy to some of the world's true secrets, knew all of this was nonsense.

When they finally reached Lingnan, Ning Xiu glanced at the sky. The sun was nearly set.

Lingnan’s bustling city was a riot of splendor, far surpassing the small county town of Shouchun. The lively streets and the elegantly dressed passersby allowed the heavy hearts of the Sihai Escort Agency’s group to ease a little. After more than ten days on the road, they had finally reached their destination.

The letter from Ning Mingfeng spelled out the delivery address clearly. After entering the city and asking for directions, Ning Xiu led the group straight there.

According to the letter, the client was the Wang family of Lingnan.

The Wang family residence was located in the southern part of the city, in the most prosperous district. Though Lingnan did not rival the capital where every inch of land was as precious as gold, it still took tens of thousands of taels of silver to purchase a decent house, let alone the majestic mansion before them.

The group stood before the gates, eyes wide in astonishment. The main entrance alone spanned several yards, wide enough for more than a dozen people to walk abreast. The two towering, blue-green stone lions at the gate gleamed with a golden sheen, clearly of extraordinary value.

Ning Xiu immediately recognized that the lions were carved from lapis lazuli, one of the most expensive stones. They were imposing and lifelike, obviously the work of a true master.

After knocking, Ning Xiu and his companions waited quietly at the door. After a moment, a thin, elderly man who looked to be a steward appeared, glanced at the letter Ning Xiu handed over, then opened the gate and said, “Come in.”

What they had seen outside was merely the tip of the iceberg of the Wang family’s opulence. Once inside, the true extent of their wealth became evident.

The young escorts stared in awe; even Xu Da and Liu Tao, who had seen much in their years of travel, could not help but gasp.

Within the estate, the paths were paved with massive blue stones, each one identical in size and perfectly aligned. Plum trees lined the walkways, snow still clinging to their branches, creating a scene of striking beauty.

After winding past several ornamental rockeries, they finally glimpsed the main buildings.

At the steward’s command, a few servants came forward to lead the Sihai Escort Agency’s group to deliver their cargo and settle in. Ning Xiu, however, was taken directly to a guest room.

The old man pushed open the wooden door and said in a raspy voice, “It’s getting late. Rest here tonight. Supper will be brought to your room shortly. Take your payment in the morning and you can be on your way.”

With that, he turned to leave, but after a few steps, he paused.

“Remember to keep your doors and windows shut tonight. Don’t go out unless necessary.”

Ning Xiu was about to inquire after the arrangements for the others, when suddenly a chill swept over him, icy and abrupt.

“What’s wrong?” the old man asked.

“Nothing, just hungry,” Ning Xiu replied, forcing a smile, his gaze flicking over the man.

“I’ll have your meal sent up at once,” the old steward said, giving Ning Xiu a look before departing.

As soon as he left, Ning Xiu returned to his room and shut the door. But the right hand that had gripped a blade for hours in the snow without so much as a tremor now began to shake uncontrollably.

He swallowed hard—a reflex to steady his nerves, the instinctive response of a normal person struggling to calm turbulent emotions.

For this was the first time since his rebirth that he had encountered something truly supernatural and bizarre.

Just a moment earlier, as the clouds parted in the night sky and faint moonlight spilled down, he had seen that the old man cast no shadow beneath the moon.

No sooner had Ning Xiu regained his composure than a sudden knock sounded at the door.

Dong, dong, dong—