Xia Xiayin angrily rushed to the door. Opening it, she saw five or six people outside, all on horseback and carrying weapons. The leader was a middle-aged man wearing a casual blue robe with a sword hanging loosely at his side. His handsome features conveyed natural steadiness and integrity.
"Uncle Qu!"
Upon seeing the visitor, Xia Xiayin's anger instantly dissipated.
Although she harbored resentment toward the Changfeng Escort Agency, it was only directed at certain individuals. Her relationship with most people there was actually quite good. The middle-aged man standing before her was the closest person to the siblings both at the Changfeng Escort Agency and throughout Linjiang Prefecture.
This man was named Qu Heng, an escort leader at the Changfeng Escort Agency and Xia Ci's mentor.
Three years ago, seventeen-year-old Xia Ci had been wandering through Linjiang Prefecture with his fourteen-year-old sister Xia Xiayin, working as hired muscle with his martial skills. They happened to clash with Qu Heng's group, and Qu Heng had given them a thorough thrashing in short order.
Afterward, seeing that the siblings were young, Qu Heng couldn't bear to watch them go down the wrong path, so he brought them to the Changfeng Escort Agency, providing the siblings who had been drifting for years with a stable place to stay.
Later, Qu Heng personally taught Xia Ci the escort business, treating him completely like an apprentice and taking special care of him.
Now,
Outside the wooden door,
Qu Heng also recognized Xia Xiayin and immediately exclaimed with surprise: "Xiayin, what are you doing here? Where's your brother? Why aren't you in Linjiang City? What brings you out here?"
Seeing that the rain was getting heavier, Xia Xiayin said, "Uncle Qu, come in first, then we'll talk!"
"Oh, yes, yes, yes,"
Qu Heng quickly turned to a young man in yellow robes beside him and cupped his hands in respect: "Young Master Tang, let's go inside to take shelter from the rain!"
Then, Qu Heng called to the other escorts to quickly move the items from the carriage under the eaves.
The young man in yellow strode quickly to the doorway and bowed to Xia Xiayin: "Thank you, miss."
There are unwritten rules when traveling in the martial world.
In such remote mountain areas, whether it's an abandoned temple, a woodshed, or a cave—any ownerless shelter—it's tacitly understood that whoever arrives first has temporary right of use. Latecomers must get permission from those who arrived earlier before entering; otherwise, it could be considered trespassing, easily causing conflicts and unnecessary trouble.
This young man in yellow moved with a natural elegance. With a sword at his waist and steady gait, he was clearly a person of the martial world and naturally understood these rules.
"You're welcome," Xia Xiayin waved her hand, then looked at Qu Heng and said, "Uncle Qu, my brother is inside."
Qu Heng complained, "What are you thinking? Don't you know your brother's condition? Why aren't you staying at the escort agency instead of traveling so far?"
While speaking, Qu Heng ushered his escorts in to avoid the rain.
"Brother, it's Uncle Qu," Xia Xiayin called out.
Xia Ci was sitting by the campfire. He could sense that besides his sister, there were six people, but he couldn't determine which one was Qu Heng, so he bowed toward the doorway and said, "Uncle Qu."
Qu Heng had his men build another campfire for the young Master Tang, then sat down beside Xia Ci and said, "I was just wondering why Xiayin wouldn't stay at the escort agency and instead brought you out here."
Xia Ci smiled slightly and said, "Uncle Qu, you must have just returned to Linjiang City and were immediately assigned to escort duty, right?"
"Yes," Qu Heng nodded. "I arrived in Linjiang City just last night. I didn't even have time to go home—I had just delivered my mission report to the agency when I was immediately assigned a new task."
"That explains it," Xia Ci smiled and said, "Uncle Qu, Xiayin and I have been expelled. We're no longer part of the Changfeng Escort Agency."
"What?!"
Qu Heng was shocked, and the other escorts also looked astonished.
"Who did this? How could they do such a thing? You were injured while working for the agency. According to the rules, the agency should find a way to care for you, or at the very least, provide compensation. What does 'expulsion' mean?" Qu Heng was furious.
Xia Xiayin said, "It was that dog Young Master Yang Yan. He said the agency doesn't support cripples, and that my brother's injury was his personal affair with no relation to the agency. He didn't pay a single coin in compensation and threw our belongings out. When my brother tried to reason with him, he was humiliated with the most vicious words."
"Outrageous!" Qu Heng was enraged. "No wonder they were so eager to send me out on escort duty as soon as I returned. They were afraid I'd find out you were being mistreated. Xia Ci, Xiayin, stay with me for now. Once this escort mission is complete, I'll take you back to seek justice."
"Let it go," Xia Ci waved his hand. "I'll seek justice myself. No need to trouble you, Uncle Qu. Besides, you have a family to support. There's no need to offend Yang Yan. He's the young master of the agency. If you anger him and he makes things difficult for you, what will happen to your family?"
"He wouldn't dare!" Qu Heng said angrily. "So what if he's the young master? He doesn't have the final say in the agency. I'll go find his father, Yang Fang. I don't believe the Chief would allow him to act so recklessly!"
Xia Ci shook his head and said, "I wasn't expelled yesterday or the day before. Yang Fang must know about it. Since he hasn't done anything and approved of Yang Yan keeping it from you, it means he also agrees with my expulsion."
"This is too much," Qu Heng said angrily. "Why would he do this? Doesn't he fear alienating the others?"
Xia Ci smiled but said nothing.
He actually knew why Young Master Yang Yan targeted him. The reason was simple: Yang Yan couldn't accept Xia Ci's reputation as the top young talent in the Changfeng Escort Agency, feeling that Xia Ci had overshadowed his status as young master. So he challenged Xia Ci to a duel.
Being young and hot-blooded, with low emotional intelligence, Xia Ci had actually accepted the challenge and defeated Yang Yan in public, severely embarrassing him and making him lose face. From then on, Yang Yan harbored a grudge.
However, Xia Ci's martial prowess was exceptional, and he had repeatedly distinguished himself at the agency, gaining considerable fame. Yang Yan never found an opportunity for revenge until now, when Xia Ci lost his eyesight—naturally, he wouldn't miss this chance to kick him while he was down.
As for Chief Yang Fang, he probably also felt that Xia Ci no longer had any value, so he simply let it happen.
"No, Xia Ci, I must seek justice for you in this matter, even if it means I quit," Qu Heng grew increasingly angry. "You must come back with me. I brought you to the escort agency; I can't let you be bullied like this."
Xia Ci shook his head slightly, not wanting to continue this topic. He changed the subject and asked, "Uncle Qu, where are you escorting to this time?"
"Zhushan County."
"What a coincidence, we're also going to Zhushan County."
Qu Heng asked curiously, "What are you going to do in Zhushan County?"
"To find someone," Xia Ci asked. "Uncle Qu, what are you escorting this time?"
"Some iron ore," Qu Heng answered. "That gentleman is Young Master Tang, called Tang Buyi, the young master of the Tang family in Zhushan County. You've probably heard of the Tang family in Zhushan County—they're in the weapons business and quite renowned throughout Linjiang Prefecture.
This Young Master Tang was originally traveling for pleasure and happened to be in Linjiang City when he received urgent news from the Tang family, requiring him to quickly purchase a batch of iron ore from Linjiang City and return."
Xia Ci asked puzzlingly, "That seems odd. The Tang family has been in the weapons business for a long time. How could they be short of iron ore?"
"Apparently, the Tang family received a large unexpected order and weren't prepared for it, so they're in short supply."
Xia Ci nodded and said, "I see..."
Before he could finish, Xia Ci suddenly froze and asked, "Uncle Qu, is there anyone else outside who hasn't come in?"
Qu Heng asked, puzzled, "No, why?"
"There are people outside, two of them!"