Translator: Myuu Editor: Myuu
Yan Liqiang, Gu Zexuan, and Zhao Huipeng woke up from their slumber the next day before dawn. After a moment of preparation, they slung their bags on their backs and left Tianqiao Peak. Before a quarter past five in the morning, they managed to reach the mountain gates of the Divine Sword Sect.
When the three of them arrived outside the gates of the Divine Sword Sect, the sky in the east had just begun to shine. The sun wasn’t even out yet. Despite that, the wide road outside the mountain gates was already bustling with all sorts of activity. About three hundred primed carriages and rhinodrake steeds of the same number — as well as twice the number of personnel — had already gathered at the roadside, shouting about and making noises.
“Sh*t. There are so many carriages. How many things are they actually pulling?” Gu Zexuan widened his eyes as he watched the spectacle in front of him.
“Twenty thousand Pearl Blossom Steel bladed weapons in addition to the impedimenta for the journey — a fleet of three hundred carriages is not nearly enough…” Yan Liqiang said in a casual manner after sweeping his gaze over the carriages.
“Ah, you already knew what was inside the carriages, Leader. I was also at Tianqiao Peak, how come I didn’t hear any news about it?”
“This can be considered as classified information within the sect, so most people have no knowledge of it. The secrecy is sanctioned for the fear of this information leaking out, which would lead to problems during the journey. I only caught wind of it by accident. Come, let’s go report our arrival, otherwise someone might claim that we don’t know any etiquette…”
“Alright, Leader. We will heed your words!”
Zhao Huipeng would sometimes talk less than ten words in a day, which was why Yan Liqiang and Gu Zexuan would be the ones talking most of the time when the three of them were together while he listened at the side. Those who didn’t know him would definitely assume that Zhao Huipeng was a mute. In reality, however, only Yan Liqiang and Gu Zexuan knew that he always preferred to not talk in front of a crowd. This was his personality which could not be forced to come about.
After randomly inquiring one of the people in the fleet, Yan Liqiang and the other two managed to find the fleet’s leader, an escort leader surnamed Feng of the Four Seas Escort Agency.
The Four Seas Escort Agency was an institution that belonged to the subordinate of the Divine Sword Sect’s Four Seas Courtyard. Most of the members of the escort agency were disciples of the Divine Sword Sect and had statuses within the sect. Moreover, the Four Seas Escort Agency specialized in escorting and protecting people. This batch of items was designated to the Four Seas Courtyard for transportation within the Sword Divine Sect. The final implementation, on the other hand, was handled by those people at the Four Seas Escort Agency under Four Seas Courtyard.
The escort leader surnamed Feng had a burly physique and a bearded face. His eyes were bright, and his ears were huge on his dignified face. With just one glance, one could tell that he was a ‘member of the society’ with expert martial skills and rich experiences under his belt. He definitely represented the figure of ‘an elder brother’.
“Are you three the ones Tianqiao Peak dispatched to follow us to the north?” Escort Leader Feng creased a frown when he saw Yan Liqiang and the others, as if he was displeased with them.
Upon seeing Escort Leader Feng’s expression, Yan Liqiang remembered the expression on the HRs at his previous company when they saw the fake educational background and diplomas the interviewee had brought during the career interview.
“Yes!”
“Where are your paizas? Show them to me!”
Yan Liqiang and the other two handed over their respective paizas to the escort leader surnamed Feng. He took did a cursory inspection of their paizas before he tossed them back and bluntly asked, “Did you offend someone on Tianqiao Peak?”
“Well… We don’t even know who we offended. Manager Qiu was the one who arranged for us to come!” Yan Liqiang calmly said.
“Forget it. Let’s not talk about this crap!” Escort Leader Feng impatiently waved his hand and continued in a gruff voice, “I will only explain my own rules. The three of you will follow us escorts. You must listen to me throughout the entire excursion. When I say move, you move. When I say stop, you stop. Whatever I ask you to do, you will do them. Those who dare not listen and try to act smart, I will make him regret that he was ever born into this world. I might be an escort leader of the Four Seas Escort Agency, but I am still a manager of the Four Seas Courtyard. It would be extremely easy to punish you three young kids, understand?”
“Understood!”
“Chen Hu…” Escort Leader Feng turned around and called out to a person nearby.
A thirty-year-old man quickly rushed over when he heard the calling and said, “Escort Leader, did you call for me?”
“These three are from Tianqiao Peak. They will follow you. Teach them the rules…”
“Alright!” The man named Chen Hu then gave a cursory glance at Yan Liqiang and others before continuing, “You lot come with me…”
And just like that, Yan Liqiang and the other two followed Chen Hu who immediately arranged errands for them thereafter. The three of them were assigned to follow three carriages that were carrying goods. On top of guarding the goods, they were also responsible for taking care of the rhinodrake steeds pulling the carriage. As they followed the group, they were not allowed to move around by themselves. Even their meals, drinks, and bowel movements had to be controlled and permitted by Chen Hu. They had to be present on time when called as well. Should they try to disobey him, the whip in Chen Hu’s hand would start flying around with loud cracking sounds…
Three hours after Yan Liqiang and his friends arrived, the first ray of dawn finally emerged and shone on the surface of the earth. The large fleet of carriages outside the gates of the Divine Sword Sect subsequently moved according to Escort Leader Feng’s roaring order: “Begin the escort…” Like a long snake, the fleet slowly started moving. All of the people in the fleet, including those on their steeds and driving the carriages — with the exception of Yan Liqiang and the other two — began reciting the work chant in succession as if they were singing a song.
“The Four Seas Escort Agency traverses the four seas. We are men of reason — with words we persuade, not with violence and anger. Those who do not heed to us will be greeted by our swords and spears. Without business, there are no tasks for us. Since your hands won’t work on us, why choose to sour our friendship? Since you hear me as your friend, why not seek to plunder another man elsewhere? With a friend on the land you stand, a war you will not face. The gray clouds will clear for the sunny skies. If we don’t meet here, we will meet somewhere without crossing swords. Friends should be loyal to one another. Kindness will bring wealth — disloyalty and injustice will not be tolerated. Keep those words in mind and you will be a hero wherever you go.”
The one-sided triangular flag of the Four Seas Escort Agency was planted on top of that carriage. Yan Liqiang listened to the majestic work song of few hundred old men while sitting on top of the carriage, thoroughly immersed in the atmosphere of a brotherhood. At that moment, he was quite interested in the situation. This job wasn’t as boring as he had initially thought. He used to receive packages from Jingdong Express and Shunfeng Express all the time, so he never felt strange about it. He only understood when he came to the other world that the line of logistics and transportation on foot wasn’t work that an ordinary person could perform.
If there was a train or car, it would have been more convenient to transport the goods. To be honest, it wouldn’t be difficult to make trains, cars, or anything related to those. In order to build those, the most important thing would be a steam engine. The principle behind a steam engine wasn’t that complicated, but because the people in this world were used to using animal power and manpower, no one ever thought of it in the first place.
Was it possible to receive Heavenly Bestowment through the invention of the steam engine?
A thought emerged inside Yan Liqiang’s head. He then shook his head, discarding the thought, unable to stifle a laugh. What was the use of thinking about these useless things…
