"There’s no comparison between people. After two years of training, I hadn’t even reached the threshold for Single-Time Skin Smoothing."
"No kidding. If you’d managed that, you wouldn’t be working for an Escort Agency now. We’re destined to only look up to a genius like that."
"Younger Brother Zheng, you’re also from Guangping County Town. Do you know this Young Master Lin?"
"I... how could I know him? You think too highly of me, Brother Zhao."
"Sir, your horse has been fed."
When the stable hand came over, Lin Yan ended his conversation with Zhu Xiao and Zhu Yi, then stood to take his leave.
Zhu Xiao and Zhu Yi saw him to the door and only came back inside after quite a while.
"It’s getting late. Everyone, get yourselves ready to set out."
Zhu Xiao announced loudly. Inside the teahouse, the dozen or so Martial Artists from the Escort Agency began to stand, some heading to the stables to get their horses, others to relieve themselves...
"Zheng Xun, you’ll be riding a horse."
Zheng Xun had already stood and was walking out. He stopped dead in the doorway, stunned by the words. The other Martial Artists at his side looked just as surprised.
This was a high-value escort. Not only was it led by the two Escort Leader Zhus, but it also included eight Second-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists. In the entire party, only those at the Second-Time Skin Smoothing level or above were permitted to ride; the remaining Single-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists had to guard the wagons on foot.
But despite their surprise, the men simply smiled at Zheng Xun and left the teahouse, each with his own thoughts already churning.
They had originally thought Zheng Xun was just some guy from Guangping County trying to make a living in Sanshan County, someone with no background who had luckily broken through to Single-Time Skin Smoothing. It now seemed they were wrong. For Escort Leader Zhu to make an exception for him, Zheng Xun’s background had to be substantial.
Their only question was, why hadn’t Escort Leader Zhu given Zheng Xun special treatment earlier on the road? Why now?
’Could it be that Escort Leader Zhu had initially wanted to test Zheng Xun’s mettle, and now, after more than ten days of hard travel, he felt the test was complete?’
After everyone else had left the teahouse, Zhu Xiao walked over, clapped Zheng Xun on the shoulder, and said in a low voice, "Younger Brother Zheng, just now, as Young Master Lin was mounting his horse, he glanced over here and recognized you. He’s in a hurry and has urgent business, so he asked me to pass on a message. He said that once he’s done, he’ll find you in Sanshan County for a drink."
There was another thing Zhu Xiao didn’t mention: Young Master Lin had also asked him to take good care of Zheng Xun.
Hearing his Escort Leader’s words, Zheng Xun’s Adam’s apple bobbed a few times. A storm of conflicting emotions brewed in his heart.
He knew in his heart that Lin Yan hadn’t recognized him only after leaving. It was obvious he had spotted him back inside the teahouse.
He hadn’t greeted him because he, Zheng Xun, had lowered his head first.
He’d lowered his head the instant Lin Yan walked in, terrified of being recognized.
And the reason he was so afraid of being recognized was that he couldn’t let go of his pride.
Back in Qingtian Town, he had felt a distinct sense of superiority when facing Lin Yan. But now, Lin Yan was a high and mighty Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist, while his own family’s fortunes had plummeted due to the turmoil with the Tang Family. Their positions were suddenly reversed, and he was afraid of seeing smug satisfaction, or even mockery, on Lin Yan’s face.
Lin Yan had seen all this, which was why he hadn’t approached him inside the teahouse, waiting instead until he was outside to say those things to Escort Leader Zhu.
Now, Lin Yan’s quiet, subtle consideration left him utterly ashamed.
"Come on, it’s time to go."
Zhu Xiao looked at Zheng Xun’s conflicted expression but didn’t say anything more. He had learned about Lin Yan’s origins from the Head of Escort Leader and could roughly guess what the situation was between Lin Yan and Zheng Xun.
In fact, besides asking him to look after Zheng Xun, Lin Yan had also left a fifty-tael silver banknote.
However, he wouldn’t give the silver banknote to Zheng Xun just yet. He would wait until Zheng Xun’s emotions had settled before passing it on to him.
PS: I originally said I’d release one Chapter at midnight and another in the afternoon, but on second thought, I’ll just post them all at midnight. If there’s a chance for a bonus Chapter, I’ll release it in the afternoon. On another note, my good buddy of ten years, Mo Mo, and I rarely launch new books at the same time, and it’s even rarer that our rankings are this close. Right now, his new book is one spot ahead of mine in the monthly ticket rankings, and he’s acting like a total villain, trash-talking me nonstop. We’re only separated by 200 tickets—which is just 100 during the double-ticket event! Everyone, lend me a hand! Let’s show this guy that getting overtaken from behind can be a real pain in the ass!

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