Chapter 213 - 156: Take Away
At the gates of Qin City.
Li Xiao could hardly believe the grand scene before him.
’Are those columns of soldiers here to welcome me?’
’It looks like there are several in the Tendon Transformation Realm, aren’t there?’
Li Xiao swallowed. Then, he saw his older sister in the sedan chair.
Li Rongrong bore a strong resemblance to him. She was dressed in fine silk, her hair adorned with various exquisite ornaments.
Even with just a touch of makeup, she was exceptionally beautiful. It was no wonder the Qin City County Magistrate had taken a fancy to her.
Beside Li Rongrong was an older man of about sixty. He had the handsome features characteristic of the Hua Family and a rather scholarly air, but his age couldn’t hide the ravages of time.
Before Li Xiao could get a closer look, the carriage had already reached the city gates.
"Li Xiao, come over here!"
His sister, Li Rongrong, stepped out of the sedan chair and waved to him.
Li Xiao quickly got out of his carriage. As brother and sister reunited, tears welled up in their eyes. They shared a brief, gentle hug.
They only let go after a short while.
After that, Li Rongrong pulled Li Xiao into the sedan chair with her.
At first, Li Xiao was quite uncomfortable. After all, he was sharing a ride with the County Magistrate of a city.
But seeing his brother-in-law gesture kindly with a wave, Li Xiao steeled himself and got in.
As the procession returned to the residence, Li Xiao looked at the soldiers beside the sedan chair and the common folk lining the streets. At that moment, his heart swelled with an unfamiliar feeling.
The five from Changle Martial Arts Hall had finally completed their mission.
Feeling quite relaxed, the group of five was about to head to the Changle Martial Arts Hall to report the completion of their task.
The Chief of the Thunder Shock Escort Agency and a few Darts Masters hurried over to thank Wei He and the other four.
After some pleasantries, they bid each other farewell and parted ways.
The Chief of the Thunder Shock Escort Agency, Zhao Lei, looked at everything within Qin City and felt that life was full of hope.
「...」
After entering Qin City.
Zhao Lei immediately prepared to find a broker to look for a suitable location for their headquarters.
The Escort Agency needed to open for business as soon as possible. Otherwise, they would burn through their savings and wouldn’t last more than a few days.
One of the Darts Masters suggested asking Li Xiao for help.
After much hesitation, Zhao Lei rejected the idea. He had gotten a clear sense of the boy’s character at the border checkpoint—Li Xiao was not a very dependable person.
After some investigation, Zhao Lei discovered that Qin City did not discriminate against refugees like them from the south.
In fact, for a fee, one could even register their household in Yunyang Prefecture. This was better than he could have hoped for.
’We can make a life in Qin City without relying on Li Xiao’s connections!’
Zhao Lei decisively sought out a broker. As luck would have it, he found a suitable property. Although it was a bit on the outskirts, it wouldn’t affect an Escort Agency.
An Escort Agency relied on its reputation and strength.
In the afternoon, everyone in the Escort Agency began to clean up the new headquarters.
Many hands make light work. By nightfall, the place was spotless.
The next morning, aside from the custom-made sign that would take a few more days, the Escort Agency was already open for business. Zhao Lei set off several long strings of firecrackers.
They were in luck. That very day, someone placed an order, attracted by the Escort Agency’s low fees.
The delivery was to the heartland of Yunyang Prefecture.
The area between Qin City and Rong City had originally been the border between Jiangnan Prefecture and Yunyang Prefecture. Lu Changfeng had even traveled this road before.
But with Qin City now incorporated into Yunyang Prefecture’s territory,
people had begun to forge paths through this region, which was known for its frequent Demon Beast sightings.
An Escort Agency, in particular, had to take this most direct route.
Zhao Lei was preparing to personally lead a few escort missions to scout out the route.
Just then, an old acquaintance arrived at the Escort Agency.
The visitor was flanked by a squad of soldier bodyguards. It was Li Xiao!
Though it had only been two days, Li Xiao had already changed into a set of luxurious clothes that looked expensive at a glance.
A longsword hung at his waist, its hilt and scabbard inlaid with magnificent jewels.
The moment Li Xiao saw the Chief of the Escort Agency, he frowned and said, "Zhao Lei, why didn’t you tell me you were looking for a new headquarters?"
Zhao Lei didn’t mind Li Xiao addressing him directly by name, but a few of the more straightforward Darts Masters beside him were already showing angry expressions.
Zhao Lei clasped his hands. "We didn’t want to trouble Young Master Li. We found this place ourselves and feel it’s good enough."
"Hey? Don’t call me Young Master Li, just call me Li Xiao. Zhao Lei, you took great care of me at the Escort Agency, even promoting me from a chore boy to a Disciple of the agency."
"I must help you out. How about this: I’ll have someone find you a better location. Once they do, you can give up this place and move in. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely find you a spot in the very center of Qin City. From now on, the Thunder Shock Escort Agency will be one of Qin City’s top escort agencies."
Li Xiao said, speaking as if he’d already decided everything.
Zhao Lei gave a wry smile. He wanted to decline but felt it would be a slap to Li Xiao’s face, so he said, "Well... in that case, thank you, Young Master Li."
"It’s a small matter!" Li Xiao beamed.
Li Xiao strode away.
After Li Xiao left, a few of the Darts Masters couldn’t help but speak up. "That punk Li Xiao, it’s like his nose is already in the air!"
"Exactly! He’s just relying on his sister. He was a Disciple of your Escort Agency, Chief, yet he dares to call you by your name!"
Zhao Lei raised a hand to silence the Darts Masters. "Enough. His status is different now. We have to make a living in Qin City, so remember to watch what you say and do."
"This time, if Li Xiao can really find a better location for us, that would be for the best," Zhao Lei added.
Time flew by, and soon it was the next day.
It had to be said, Li Xiao’s connections were indeed solid. The very next day, someone from the County Yamen came to the Thunder Shock Escort Agency and handed them a contract directly, offering to swap their current location for another one on a central street in Qin City.
"If it weren’t for the County Magistrate’s face, a property like this would never have gone to a bunch of outsiders like you," the official from the County Yamen said.
Zhao Lei agreed verbally. He took the contract, and after one look, his face changed dramatically.
"Thirty thousand taels of silver!"
"But... we can’t come up with that much silver right now!" Zhao Lei exclaimed.
After the exploitation they suffered back in Daliang, and spending a considerable amount on the long journey here, Zhao Lei truly couldn’t afford this sum.
"What? You can’t afford it? Are you joking with us, the Government Office?"
"If it weren’t for Young Master Li’s sake, would I have come here personally to handle your registration?!" the official said, his face a mask of disbelief.
"We... we really can’t come up with the money..." It was a prime location, but the Thunder Shock Escort Agency couldn’t pay for it.
"Child’s play!"
"I’m going to tell Young Master Li! This is outrageous!" The official turned and left in a rage.
Zhao Lei had a bad feeling and wanted to stop the official, but the man walked extremely fast and was already gone.
Zhao Lei’s premonition was correct.
Not even half an hour later, a large group of constables from the County Yamen swarmed into the Thunder Shock Escort Agency.
"Zhao Lei of the Thunder Shock Escort Agency! You are under arrest for fraudulent dealing on a contract. Do you have anything to say?"
Zhao Lei opened his mouth, but then gestured to stop his Darts Masters. "I have nothing to say."
"Then come with us. Hmph, you dare to mess with Young Master Li? Don’t you know he’s Magistrate Hua’s current favorite?"
Zhao Lei was taken away by the constables.
Leaving behind a few Darts Masters, frantic with worry...