Time flowed like water, and in a flash, more than a month had passed.

The season entered the height of summer. The weather grew hotter by the day, and the chirping of cicadas was incessant.

Strangely enough, not a single drop of rain had fallen all of last summer, yet this year, the wind and rain were favorable. It seemed to be a sign of a bountiful harvest.

"Go on an escort mission with Yuan Cheng. You’ll be back in ten to fifteen days at most."

That afternoon, Zhu Huaishan called Zhao Lin to his side and said this.

"Yuan Cheng could have handled this job alone, but I’m sending you along to get some experience. I hear your family are farmers on Baitou Mountain, so you’ll be able to earn a bit of money to help out at home."

Although Zhao Lin was still just an apprentice, Zhu Huaishan held him in high regard, treating him almost like an inner disciple.

He was too embarrassed to ask how much he would be paid. Since the Sect Leader had given the order, he had no reason to refuse. Besides, it was a chance to broaden his horizons, so he readily agreed.

Back in the front courtyard, Zhao Lin brought the matter up with Yuan Cheng.

"The Liuhe Sect runs an escort agency business?"

"Of course. Did you think this huge estate was a gift?"

Yuan Cheng chuckled. "A sect needs businesses to establish itself. We just aren’t as indiscriminate as some martial arts halls that run everything from casinos to brothels."

"We have a stake in the escort agency. They fly the Liuhe Sect’s banner during missions. It’s mutually beneficial."

"Also, on this trip to Changliu City, Master has instructed me to purchase two medicinal ingredients for making Vajra Pills. Kills two birds with one stone."

The Vajra Pill was the primary medicine for training bones and sinews, which Zhao Lin happened to be taking.

He had already completed his skin-toughening and had officially begun training his bones. Hearing this, he nodded. "When do we leave?"

"Sometime in the next two days..."

...

"Brother Zhao, you’re back!"

That evening, as Zhao Lin returned to his village, he saw a short, plump, stout middle-aged woman in her forties coming out of his house.

Zhao Lin called out in acknowledgment and glanced inside his home.

The middle-aged woman’s surname was Hu. People called her ’Know-It-All Hu,’ and she was a famous matchmaker around Baitou Mountain.

Zhao Lin guessed she was there to arrange a marriage for his older brother.

His brother was already in his late twenties, and it was indeed rare for a man from a mountain family to be unmarried at that age.

In the past, the Zhao family had fallen on hard times, and no one was willing to marry into the family.

Now, the Zhao family’s fortunes were improving day by day. Although they kept a low profile, others could still tell after a while.

For one thing, whenever it was time to eat, the fragrant aroma wafting from the Zhao family’s house was enough to make one’s mouth water.

And with Zhao Lin wearing his impressive martial arts uniform every day, everyone knew the Zhao family was on the rise.

"By the way, Brother Zhao, how old are you this year?"

’Know-It-All Hu’ asked suddenly.

"Me?"

Zhao Lin froze for a second, then immediately understood her intentions. "You don’t need to ask about me. It’s still too early. Just focus on my brother’s business for now."

"True, no rush."

’Know-It-All Hu’ chuckled, then turned and walked away with a sway of her hips.

Zhao Lin entered the house and saw his parents beaming with joy, while his brother, Zhao Shan, was red-faced and grinning foolishly to himself.

He teased, "So, which young lady has caught my brother’s eye?"

"Nothing’s decided yet. ’Know-It-All Hu’ just asked for our thoughts. She’s going back to talk to the other party," Mrs. Zhao said with a smile.

"What do you think, brother?" Zhao Lin asked Zhao Shan.

"As long as she’s honest and can manage a household," Zhao Shan’s requirements were quite simple.

Zhao Lin wanted to suggest his brother aim a little higher. After all, in the long run, the family’s circumstances had room to improve.

Learning martial arts was expensive, but once mastered, the returns were quite substantial.

’In just another year or two, once I reach the Qi Realm, I’ll be able to get involved in all sorts of businesses and shops. Just a little effort will be enough to provide my family with a wonderful life.’

Mrs. Zhao suddenly turned to look at Zhao Lin. "You’re not getting any younger either. Once we’ve made some progress with your brother’s situation, it’ll be your turn."

Zhao Lin quickly replied, "It’s still too early for me."

’At my age in my past life, I would have just been starting high school. Who gets married this young?’

To stop his mother from nagging, he told her about the escort mission.

"I hear escorting is very dangerous. What if you run into bandits?" Mrs. Zhao said nervously upon hearing the news.

"Don’t worry. I’m just tagging along. If there’s any danger, I’ll run."

’If I really want to run,’ Zhao Lin thought, ’it’s no exaggeration to say that no one could catch me, not even on horseback.’

Ever since discovering that the Spirit Beast Scroll could neutralize the toxins in Spirit Beast meat and accelerate his body’s transformation, Zhao Lin had been venturing deep into the mountains every ten to fifteen days to hunt small and medium-sized Spirit Beasts.

The effects were quite remarkable. His strength had already reached over eight hundred jin, and he was on the verge of possessing the legendary "thousand-jin strength."

When he ran at full speed, he moved so fast it even made him feel dizzy.

Although his martial arts cultivation was only at the First Layer of the Power Realm, Zhao Lin felt that in a real fight, probably no one within the Power Realm was his match.

「Two days later.」

Zhao Lin set out early in the morning and arrived at the Xinglong Escort Agency.

When he saw the escort team, he realized that quite a few people were "guest starring" like him.

Various banners fluttered from the escort carts at the front: Revitalization Martial Arts Hall, Flying Tiger Martial Arts Hall, Liuhe Sect, Shizi Sect, Lingshan Sect... In total, there were six or seven reputable sects and martial arts halls from the city.

By headcount, only about half of the people actually belonged to the Xinglong Escort Agency.

To make their attire more uniform and avoid looking like a motley crew, the head of the Xinglong Escort Agency gave everyone a short jacket printed with the agency’s name.

The man in overall charge of the escort was an elderly man in his fifties named Pan Xiashou, the deputy head of the Xinglong Escort Agency.

Before they set off, Pan Xiashou first took a roll call. After confirming everyone was present, he briefly explained the rules of the escort.

"Esteemed masters, I’m sure everyone hopes for a safe and smooth journey. But every family has its rules, and every trade has its code. Since all of you are cooperating with our Xinglong Escort Agency, please listen to this old man for a moment."

Pan Xiashou cleared his throat, scanned the crowd, and said, "When we’re on the road, there are six prohibitions and three inseparables. Everyone, pay attention."

"First, we are forbidden from staying in newly opened inns. Second, we are forbidden from staying in inns that have recently changed owners. Third, we are forbidden from staying in inns with prostitutes. Fourth, we are forbidden from stirring up unnecessary trouble. Fifth, we are forbidden from letting the goods out of our sight. Sixth, we are forbidden from drinking alcohol midway through the journey."

"The three inseparables are: first, your weapon must never leave your person. Second, your clothes must never leave your body—sleep fully dressed. And third, the carts and horses must never leave the courtyard. No matter what happens, the goods must not leave our line of sight."

"Can you all do this old man a favor and abide by these rules?"

The crowd roared in agreement. "No problem." "Don’t worry."

Zhao Lin nodded to himself. ’These rules basically plug all the most likely loopholes where problems could arise.’

’If Yang Zhi of the Great Song had abided by these rules back then, he wouldn’t have let Chao Gai and his men get away with the birthday convoy’s tribute.’

Yuan Cheng chuckled softly. "Actually, there are three taboos he didn’t mention."

Zhao Lin asked curiously, "What three taboos?"

Yuan Cheng lowered his voice. "First, it’s taboo to ask what’s inside the client’s baggage. You only ask which items must be saved at all costs in case of an accident."

"Second, it’s taboo to touch the escorted goods. It’s like being in a melon patch or under a plum tree—it easily arouses suspicion. Third, it’s taboo to ’ask for a reward’ midway, lest it be seen as extortion."

Zhao Lin nodded as he listened. ’There are a lot of intricacies to this business.’

While the two were talking, the rest of the group finished their preparations. With a sharp command from Pan Xiashou, the sound of rumbling wheels filled the air, and the convoy set off with a lurch.