Chapter 85: Battling Wits and Courage, Strike Decisively When Necessary
The situation in the martial field did not escalate to the point of losing control, but chaos had already erupted.
The two head escorts of the Fu’an Escort Agency each had their own favored escorts.
Huyan Lei, Wang Kui, and Shi Baichuan were on Zhang Wangyue’s side, while many escorts, including Cui Qingshan, followed Escort Shi’s lead.
Where there are people, there is the Jianghu; where there is the Jianghu, there are disputes.
The promotion of escorts, the allocation of cultivation resources, and the selection of escorts for missions were all causes for grudges to arise among the escorts.
However, these reasons were not enough to lead to direct confrontation.
Yet, this seemingly normal promotion examination, due to Mu Nianci showing mercy with her spear, Cui Qingshan’s malice surging, and Zhou Yan’s sudden intervention, ignited like a raging fire.
Huyan Lei, Wang Kui, and others sprang to their feet. Cui Qingshan’s pained cries still echoed in the field, and five or six escorts close to Shi Xiangui also stood up in unison.
“Boss, Miss Mu indeed showed mercy. But in a fight, parrying and reacting are matters of an instant. Escort Cui threw hidden weapons, which is a martial artist’s instinctive reaction for self-preservation. Escort Zhou saving her is understandable, but to strike with killing intent, it smacks of personal revenge.”
“Boss, regardless of the previous cause, Escort Zhou should be severely punished simply for crippling someone.”
Huyan Lei glared, his eyes like a leopard’s, “Severely punished for crippling someone? That’s a fair statement. Under Escort Cui’s ‘Stars All Over the Sky’ hidden weapon technique, if it weren’t for Escort Zhou, Miss Mu could have been in mortal danger. How do you explain that?”
Shi Baichuan said, “Escort Zhou intervened to save the situation, but wasn’t Escort Cui attacking ferociously?”
“Exactly, are you suggesting Escort Zhou should have been subjected to the same trickery as Miss Mu?” Wang Kui said.
“Wang Kui, stop your nonsensical babbling.”
“You’re the one twisting right and wrong.”
“I’ve disliked you for a long time.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
“Let’s duel.”
“Then come on!” The sun shone brilliantly, and Wang Kui looked at the opposing escort with a condescending posture.
Mu Nianci had absolutely not expected the situation to develop like this. She was filled with regret. She firmly remembered Zhou Yan’s words about beating Cui Qingshan black and blue, but at that moment, continuing to thrust her spear would have caused him grievous bodily harm, which was why she retracted it. She hadn’t anticipated that a scoundrel would be so treacherous, dragging Escort Zhou into trouble. If she had known, she might as well have plunged the spear in and borne all consequences herself. From now on, if she encountered such a situation again, she would absolutely not be soft-hearted.
The martial field was noisy, the atmosphere like boiling water.
Duan Huai’an’s head was buzzing.
He hadn’t even registered the verbal conflicts between the escorts, nor did Cui Qingshan’s screams reach his ears. He was simply stunned by Zhou Yan’s skill.
Duan Huai’an’s martial arts were ordinary, but his eyesight was sharp.
Escort Shi Xiangui of the escort agency had suffered a disadvantage in his exchange with Zhou Yan. The head escort might not have used his full strength, but Zhou Yan had counter-attacked.
The last time he saw Zhou Yan fight was during the Fu’an and Four Seas competing escort mission. Zhou Yan had won two consecutive matches, but that encounter wasn’t enough to leave a breathtaking impression. The close-quarters combat just now, where fists met flesh, made one’s breath catch.
After a trip to Jingzhou for an escort mission, his improvement was so significant.
A scholar who has been away for three days should be looked at with new eyes.
The most composed was Zhang Wangyue; he knew Zhou Yan’s strength.
If it weren’t for his previous conversation with Zhou Yan about “the farmer and the snake, and that mercy cannot lead an army,” he would have intervened to stop Zhou Yan from crippling Cui Qingshan. But Zhou Yan’s reasoning was sound: the escort agency needed to be united against Changfeng.
Furthermore, there were personal safety escorts. The Imperial City Guard’s Swift Runners had appeared in Zhongdu once, and there would be a second, third, and even direct confrontations. The escort agency in the Jin Dynasty’s Zhongdu didn’t need to worry about the Imperial City Guard making a big fuss, but only brothers with unwavering loyalty could face the opponent’s underhanded tactics together.
Scoundrels like Cui Qingshan were a hidden danger within the escort agency.
As someone from a general’s family, he knew the harm of “trouble arising from within the walls.”
Therefore, Zhang Wangyue waited to see how things unfolded. However, Shi Xiangui’s intervention was something he hadn’t anticipated. He looked at the head escort standing in the field with a grim expression and suddenly felt that the direction of this matter might be even more perfect than he had initially imagined.
Certain decisions were thus made in the mind of Boss Duan Huai’an at this moment.
He was good at utilizing people.
Cui Qingshan was ultimately severely injured; Zhou Yan’s kick could have rendered him infertile. The escorts on both sides had already engaged in verbal conflict. To punish both sides equally, offer substantial compensation to Cui Qingshan, and directly promote Mu Nianci to escort, while seemingly the best solution, was also the worst.
It buried hidden dangers that could erupt at any moment.
Therefore, a decisive action was needed.
He stood up.
The martial field suddenly fell silent.
“Miss Mu won the martial arts competition and shall be hired as an escort. Escort Cui is severely injured, and his subsequent examination is postponed. Escort Zhou’s eagerness to save someone is understandable; he shall first tend to Escort Cui’s injuries. Escort Shi, let us go to the meeting hall to discuss matters.”
As the boss spoke, runners quickly entered the field and carried Cui Qingshan away.
“Alright!” Shi Xiangui regained his senses and followed Duan Huai’an towards the meeting hall.
Wang Kui and others quickly moved to Zhou Yan’s side. Huyan Lei whispered, “Well kicked!”
“The escort agency is about to experience changes.”
Huyan Lei chuckled deeply, “I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.”
Mu Nianci, holding her iron spear, walked over and said, “I’m sorry, it all started because of me.”
Zhou Yan said, “Cui Changshun’s matter was just a trigger. It was bound to escalate the conflict between us and Escort Shi, Cui Qingshan, and the others sooner or later. You weren’t injured, and the matter was brought out into the open directly, which is actually a good outcome. Don’t overthink it.”
“Okay!”
Zhou Yan first comforted Mu Nianci with words, then walked to Zhang Wangyue’s side.
“《 The Yue Family Boxing Manual 》 does not contain such leg techniques.”
Zhou Yan smiled, “It’s the Whirlwind Sweeping Leaves Leg. I can even make it look more impressive.”
“Good leg technique. I didn’t expect Escort Shi to intervene. He lost half a move to you and lost face. If the boss handles this matter impartially, I estimate the head escort will use a strategic retreat to test the boss.”
“And the boss?”
“He will likely go with the flow.”
“Then there’s nothing to worry about.”
Zhang Wangyue nodded. He looked at the sharp-edged Zhou Yan and felt a sense of admiration, thinking he could now handle things independently.
On the other side of the martial field, Young Master Duan Zhaoxi looked at the spear in Mu Nianci’s hand, then his gaze fell on Zhou Yan. His mind naturally recalled the scene of Zhou Yan lifting Cui Qingshan and performing that flying kick.
He suddenly felt he understood the true meaning of his father’s words, “Do not harbor crooked thoughts.”
“He’s truly ruthless.”
Duan Zhaoxi muttered to himself.
…
Sunlight streamed through the open window into the meeting hall, dust motes dancing in the air.
Duan Huai’an and Shi Xiangui entered the meeting hall and sat down one after another.
The boss of Fu’an spoke, “Such an incident is indeed unexpected. Escort Shi, please do your best to comfort Escort Cui.”
Shi Xiangui remained silent, his mind replaying the many events that had occurred since his return from the escort mission.
Zhang Wangyue was to be promoted to Chief Escort.
Wang Kui, Zhou Yan, Huyan Lei, and Shi Baichuan would become head escorts, on equal footing with him.
The three, Huyan Lei, were fine; they had the martial arts and seniority. Facing the aggressive posture of Changfeng establishing itself in Zhongdu, promoting talent and expanding strength for Fu’an was understandable.
But what qualifications did Zhou Yan have? How long had he been an escort? He had severely injured a trusted subordinate, Cui Qingshan, in the martial field. Even when beating a dog, one must consider its owner.
Moreover, he had lost face in the martial field.
As he thought this, more of Cui Qingshan’s words from recent days became clearer: Changfeng had taken over Four Seas, and Helian Chuncheng was recruiting soldiers and buying horses.
A tree that is moved dies, but a person who moves thrives. If they went to the Changfeng Escort Agency, they could openly contend with Zhang Wangyue, Zhou Yan, and others.
Shi Xiangui collected his thoughts and decided to probe cautiously for now.
“Boss, I no longer have the face to remain at Fu’an.”
I’m reporting to all of you, the novel will be available on the 10th. The author is currently working hard to write and save drafts. Morning updates may be delayed, but they will stabilize after the book goes on sale. I owe quite a few extra chapters for monthly votes, mainly because the word count is sufficient, but the recommended periods haven’t concluded. After the book goes on sale, I will strive to add more chapters. I will add extra chapters for all of you who have voted dozens of monthly votes. Thank you all for your monthly votes and recommendations. I am immensely grateful.
