Chapter 82: First Encounter with the Golden Saber Consort
Huyan Lei, after the Hu Family Generals.
Yang Tiexin, his ancestor was Yang Zai Xing.
Escorts Wang Kui and Shi Baichuan, though escorts, were upright and honorable. Their personalities differed slightly, the former being hearty and the latter meticulous. Both were individuals with whom one could share life and death.
Therefore, Zhou Yan spoke without reservation.
As the wind swept past, stirring the fine snow to dance, his calm, deep voice echoed in the wind and snow to everyone’s ears: “If the Head Escort asks, I will speak my true feelings without hiding anything. Fu’an and Changfeng will be in a fierce competition in Zhongdu, so the escort agency needs to be united. And one more thing…”
Zhou Yan’s voice lowered slightly: “We might have another hidden opponent, the Imperial City Guard.”
Zhang Wangyue understood and nodded slightly: “Brother Zhou is right.”
…
The snow stopped and the wind blew fiercely, making a whistling sound under the eaves. Duan Huai’an, the Boss of Fu’an, concisely explained the collusion between Cui Changshun and the former Four Seas Escort Agency escorts Su and Lu. Cui Qingshan’s breathing quickened, and his body trembled.
It was true that he disliked Zhou Yan and had spoken ill of Zhang Wangyue, who had specifically asked to look after Zhou Yan during the Shu Region escort mission. However, he had never thought of betraying the escort agency.
Had this scoundrel’s heart been blinded by greed?
He had intended to return and smooth things over, asking the escorts to go easy during the examination so that this scoundrel could successfully be promoted to escort. It would have been one thing if he had been chasing women, but how could he have been so reckless?
Thinking this, Cui Qingshan was furious.
“You scoundrel.”
“Uncle, I…”
Cui Qingshan clapped his hands twice, and red marks immediately appeared on Cui Changshun’s face.
“Boss, allow me to teach this scoundrel a good lesson.”
Duan Huai’an said sternly: “Betraying the agency is an unforgivable crime.”
Cui Qingshan’s expression stiffened, and he looked towards his own Head Escort.
The burly Head Escort Shi Xiangui said: “The Boss is right.”
“I understand.” Cui Qingshan’s heart sank, and he turned to Duan Huai’an: “Boss, I will go and teach this scoundrel a lesson.”
Duan Huai’an nodded.
Cui Changshun wept profusely: “Boss, I know I was wrong, and I will reform.”
“Silence!” Cui Qingshan grabbed Cui Changshun and turned to leave the meeting hall.
Duan Huai’an withdrew his gaze from the escorts and said to Shi Xiangui: “What do you think of this matter?”
Shi Xiangui said: “Changshun harbored ill intentions and should be expelled from the escort agency.”
“Yes, regarding Escort Cui, you should pay attention. After all, their uncle-nephew relationship is deep. Justice is justice, and personal matters are personal; do not confuse them.”
“Rest assured, Boss. Cui Qingshan is an old escort and can distinguish between right and wrong.”
“If you say so, I am at ease. Also, regarding the matter of the Four Seas Escort Agency.”
Duan Huai’an spoke briefly, mentioning the Four Seas Escort Agency hiring assassins, Lei Luo’s defection to the Changfeng Escort Agency, and Zhang Wangyue’s impending appointment as Chief Escort.
…
In the hayloft next to the escort agency’s stable.
With a “bang,” Cui Qingshan threw Cui Changshun to the ground.
“Uncle.”
“Don’t say anything more. The Boss will never keep you at Fu’an again.”
Cui Qingshan got up and said: “Zhang Wangyue, Zhou Yan, Huyan Lei, and others are gaining more influence in the escort agency. I haven’t wanted to stay here for a long time. While I was detained, I overheard the runners chatting, saying that Four Seas is now a branch office of Changfeng, and Fu’an has even clashed with Changfeng. Uncle, if you and I go to Changfeng, wouldn’t it be better than staying at Fu’an?”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“I’m perfectly clear-headed, Uncle. I know you care about me and want to repay you. Back then, Escort Su said he could give Uncle the position of Head Escort. The reason I agreed to them was for your and my future. Now, don’t you think about how the people in the escort agency will look at you from now on?”
“Shut up. It’s all your fault.”
“Uncle, if this place doesn’t keep me, another will. We can even use the Changfeng Escort Agency to deal with Zhou Yan. My current predicament is all because of him.”
“Just stay put for now.”
Cui Qingshan walked out of the hayloft with a grim expression.
Cui Changshun’s face showed a fierce look: “Zhou Yan, if you can’t kill me, I will find a way to make you die.”
…
“Miss Mu, are you free? Come with Brother Zhou and me to the horse market in the suburbs to return the mules and horses.”
After a brief meeting by the martial field, Zhou Yan and Huyan Lei became busy. When the escort team traveled to Shu Region, it was the two of them who hired the mules and horses from the horse market. Zhou Yan had also acquired the “Night-Shining Jade Lion.” Now, they were naturally the ones taking the runners to return them.
Huyan Lei, wanting Mu Nianci to become familiar with the escort agency’s affairs, asked this.
“I’m free.” Mu Nianci replied and said to Yang Tiexin: “Father, I’m going out.”
“Go ahead!”
Mu Nianci placed the iron spear in her hand onto the weapons rack and went to the stable with Zhou Yan and Huyan Lei.
“How is Miss Mu’s horsemanship?” Zhou Yan asked.
“I can ride, but I’m not good enough to gallop freely.”
“The examination should be in the next couple of days. Once you become an escort, pick a horse and practice more. This heavy snow has likely delayed many merchants. After the snow clears and the weather improves, the escort agency will be busy. Without excellent horsemanship, you can’t escort missions.”
“I understand. I will practice diligently. Thank you, Escort Zhou.”
Huyan Lei led the Wuzhui Horse. Mu Nianci had poor judgment when choosing a horse and was hesitant. Zhou Yan then went to the Qingcong Horse he used to ride. “This horse was ridden by me before. It has a gentle temperament and good stamina. You can use it for now.”
“Okay!”
The Qingcong Horse recognized Zhou Yan and nuzzled his clothes with its head. Zhou Yan untied the reins and handed them to Mu Nianci.
“The ‘Night-Shining Jade Lion’ I saw at Fengling Ferry was magnificent. Why don’t I see it?” Mu Nianci asked casually.
“Brother Zhou lent it to someone. His Yellow Spotted Horse was taken from bandits in the suburbs of Jingzhou.”
“Is that so?” Mu Nianci was a little curious about who it was lent to, as in her eyes, Zhou Yan had no reason to be in Jingzhou. However, she felt too embarrassed to ask, so she dropped the topic.
The three of them left the stable and summoned the runners to drive the mules and horses to the horse market in the suburbs.
As they walked along the street, a little red horse suddenly caught Zhou Yan’s eye. When he looked over, the little red horse was standing outside a pharmacy called “Zhi’an Hall,” with another Qingcong Horse beside it.
Zhou Yan had seen bloodstains in the snow the night before when he helped the Jiangnan Twin Heroes escape. He guessed that someone must have been seriously injured, and Guo Jing was at the pharmacy to get medicine for recovery.
Huyan Lei also saw the little red horse. He was knowledgeable about horses and had a discerning eye. He praised: “This is a Ferghana horse, no less than your ‘Night-Shining Jade Lion,’ Brother Zhou.”
“Indeed!” Zhou Yan nodded with a smile.
Mu Nianci favored red clothing and, by extension, also liked the little red horse, unable to help but look at it a few more times.
A young man in a fur coat and a white-robed scholar then walked out of the pharmacy and approached the little red horse.
Mu Nianci quickly averted her gaze.
Zhou Yan, however, couldn’t help but look a few more times.
He had seen the Masterstroke Scholar the night before. The young man had thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a honest face. Besides Guo Jing, who else could it be?
As the mule and horse team passed the pharmacy, Zhu Cong looked at Zhou Yan’s retreating back and frowned.
“Second Master, what’s wrong?” Guo Jing asked.
Zhu Cong was known as the “Masterstroke Scholar” and possessed the divine skill of bone-reading and theft, excelling at discerning people.
He said: “That young escort seems to be the one who chivalrously intervened the night before.”
Guo Jing was startled and, coming back to his senses, quickly said: “Second Master, let’s go up and thank him.”
Zhu Cong shook his head: “The night before, I didn’t know the Young Hero’s identity and was thinking of finding him to thank him. However, the Young Hero was disguised as an escort. Whether we succeed or fail in our assassination attempt on Wanyan Honglie, we will head south to Jiaxing, and the Zhao Wang Manor will be powerless against us. The Young Hero and his companions are at the escort agency; it’s best not to bring trouble to them.”
“Second Master is right.”
Guo Jing looked at the departing Zhou Yan, his eyes filled with gratitude.
