Chapter 25: Competing for Escort, Underhanded Tactics
A wind swept through the courtyard, rustling the leaves. Some half-yellow leaves detached from their branches, drifting down to the ground, rolling a few times before falling still.
Autumn sunlight fell on the floor through the square-carved windows, dust motes swirling in the air.
The Boss of Four Seas was named Lei, with the given name Luo.
Lei Luo was not at the Escort Agency. The runners had already been dispatched in a desperate search for him. The Merchant Lu was being received by Zhou Yan, Escort Lu, Escort Su, and the Steward, whom Huyan Lei had encountered at Songhe Tower.
Escort Su and the others already knew about the escorted goods and the opponent’s intentions. Their only concern was the profit from the escort; such a lucrative business had to be secured.
Escort Su showed no gratitude for having been rescued by Huyan Lei, Zhou Yan, and the others not long ago.
His mind was filled with the anger of losing a move to Zhou Yan at Songhe Tower due to carelessness, and the malice of disparaging rivals in their profession.
He spoke eloquently, “In Daxing Prefecture, when it comes to the strength of escort agencies, Four Seas and Fu’an are the top. By rights, I shouldn’t be gossiping.”
Merchant Lu immediately recalled Zhou Yan’s words. He put down his teacup, “Escort Su, if you have something to say, just say it?”
“Since you say so, I will tell you the truth.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“The escorts at Fu’an Escort Agency are not only negligent in their duties, but they also frequently steal from their clients. Furthermore, when escorting young ladies from reputable families on personal safety escorts, some escorts have seen that the ladies were exceptionally beautiful and secretly courted them, even getting them pregnant.”
“They bring shame to their peers,” Escort Lu chimed in, speaking with regret for their lack of integrity.
“Is that so?” Merchant Lu feigned shock.
Escort Su stated with conviction, “Yes, and they frequently lose escorts. However, losing escorts isn’t necessarily due to Fu’an’s lack of strength. It’s because they encounter such fierce robbers that no escort agency could continue in business if targeted by them.”
“Is that so?” Merchant Lu nodded slightly. “Then perhaps the Steward and the two escorts could tell me about Four Seas’ advantages.”
Escort Su spoke with great animation, detailing the deep connections their Boss had with high-ranking officials in Zhongdu, how he knew famous figures in the Jianghu, and his interactions with gangs and righteous individuals, speaking in flowery language.
Merchant Lu listened, speaking little. Time was thus passing, and the Boss of Four Seas had still not arrived. However, the merchant’s attendants were led to the courtyard by the runners.
Merchant Lu stood up and said, “Excuse me for a moment.”
“Certainly!” Escort Lu and Escort Su cupped their hands in salute.
Merchant Lu left the hall and went into the courtyard, heading to the octagonal pavilion with his attendants.
“How is it?”
The attendant said, “I spent some money to inquire. They say Fu’an has many capable people. I haven’t heard anyone mention Fu’an escorts seducing ladies on personal safety escorts or losing escorts. However, I did hear something interesting.”
“Tell me quickly.”
“About half a month ago, escorts from Four Seas and Fu’an clashed at Songhe Tower. Fu’an’s side had Escort Huyan and Escort Zhou, the young escort who guided us. He successively defeated two escorts from Four Seas, surnamed Su and Lu.”
“Heh, I didn’t realize Escort Zhou’s skills were so impressive.”
“Indeed.”
“What was the reason for the conflict?”
“A verbal dispute. Four Seas initiated the provocation.”
Merchant Lu nodded, “I understand.”
“How about here?” the attendant asked.
“It’s about the same as what Escort Zhou said.”
“What is your decision, sir?”
“Then Fu’an.”
“Did you mention the competing escort matter to the people from Four Seas, sir?”
“Of course, I did.”
The attendant looked dejected, “Aren’t there still variables?”
“Who says so? Let Escort Zhou and the escorts who went to Songhe Tower have two more matches, and then there will be nothing more to say,” Merchant Lu said.
“Your wisdom is unparalleled, sir.”
Merchant Lu smiled, turned, and entered the living room.
Shortly after, the Boss of Four Seas, Lei Luo, arrived. Merchant Lu, in a friendly tone, spoke of the valuable goods and the idea of a competition for the escort, where the most capable would win.
Lei Luo had nothing to say. Plans such as giving the attendants some benefits or inviting Merchant Lu to a pleasure house to listen to music were rendered impossible.
Four Seas and Fu’an would compare in three matches, and the winner of the competition would get the escort.
The choice of escorts to participate rested with Merchant Lu. Both escort agencies listed all their escorts, and Merchant Lu would randomly select opponents. The winner would remain to continue the contest.
In other words, if one escort won two consecutive matches, the escort would belong to them.
Merchant Lu felt this was a sure thing for Fu’an.
If he drew Zhou Yan, and then drew Escort Su and Escort Lu from Four Seas, Four Seas would have nothing to say. Zhou Yan, being so intelligent, would know he had been shown a favor and would report this matter. He could also witness Fu’an’s strength firsthand, which would be beneficial for future cooperation.
It was a perfect arrangement, killing two birds with one stone.
The time was set for the following morning, at the Four Seas Escort Agency.
Merchant Lu, with his attendants, left and headed straight for the inn where they were staying.
Lei Luo, the Steward, Escort Lu, Escort Su, and the Head Escort who had arrived, convened.
Under the bright daylight, the Boss said, “Head Escort, what do you think our chances of winning are?”
The Head Escort of Four Seas Escort Agency declared confidently, “Boss, there’s no need to worry. It’s just a competition between escorts. Most of Fu’an’s skilled fighters have gone to the Shu Region. Currently, the only one they can put forward is Huyan Lei.”
Escort Lu said, “Being ambushed by Huyan Lei at Songhe Tower that day was due to carelessness. I am not afraid of him.”
“The problem is the random draw to decide the winner.”
Escort Su smiled, “That’s easy. We’ll send out some of the weaker escorts and say they are on an escort mission and not at the agency.”
The Boss clapped his hands, “Excellent idea.”
…
A crescent moon hung in the western sky; night had not yet truly fallen.
Detailed information about the escort competition was reported by the runners of Four Seas Escort Agency to Fu’an Escort Agency.
Zhang Wangyue smiled after learning the rules.
Many escorts had left Fu’an.
However, Huyan Lei, Zhou Yan, Wang Kui, and others were no longer what they used to be.
There was nothing to worry about.
The Head Escort didn’t even need to brief the escorts.
Zhou Yan felt no pressure. He practiced as usual, bathed and rested at midnight, and after a night of Stars Shifting, Time Flies, he woke up early to practice Xiaoyao Fist, then went out to eat his fill at a breakfast stall before heading to the escort agency.
As daylight faded, the Boss Duan Huai’an, along with the Head Escort and thirteen escorts including Huyan Lei and Zhou Yan, headed to the Four Seas Escort Agency.
The Four Seas side, already buzzing with activity, had Escort Lu and Escort Su, listed on the roster, repeatedly cleaning their weapons and checking their hidden weapons.
Escort Lu, whose cultivation was not high, was excluded; he was not even at the escort agency.
The wind rustled. The martial field had several long benches set up. The runners and escorts of Four Seas sat around, watching and cheering.
At several square tables sat Duan Huai’an, the Boss of Fu’an, Lei Luo, the Boss of Four Seas, Merchant Lu, and others.
Escorts from both agencies were eager to compete.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries between the three parties, the list was presented to Merchant Lu.
Unaware that Four Seas had cheated by excluding less capable escorts, he didn’t see Escort Lu and assumed he was not at the agency. Merchant Lu selected Escort Su and then scanned the list of Fu’an’s escorts before looking up and announcing, “Escort Su of Four Seas and Escort Zhou of Fu’an, first match.”
Upon hearing this, Escort Su let out a sinister laugh, thinking, “What a narrow path for enemies! Today, I will make sure you are disgraced.”
Zhou Yan smiled inwardly.
How could such a coincidence happen? It was clear the other party already favored Fu’an and had investigated at Songhe Tower, knowing he had knocked Escort Su down the stairs, hence this selection.
Huyan Lei and Wang Kui were still a little worried. Escort Huyan, sitting next to Zhou Yan, asked, “Do you have confidence?”
“Ten moves.”
Huyan Lei grinned, “I’ll believe you when you say it.”
“Watch out for hidden weapons,” Wang Kui leaned over and cautioned.
“Will do!”
Zhou Yan nodded, stood up, tightened his waistband, and walked to the martial field.
Escort Su then put two iron finger rings, each with small spikes on one side and containing potent poison, on his index fingers.
In the center of the martial field, a runner from Four Seas beat a gong, announcing loudly, “According to the rules of escort competition, no lives are to be harmed. All methods of combat are permitted.”
This implied that hidden weapons could be used freely, and any underhanded tactics were allowed.
