A thousand enlightenments in one night, starting from being a menial apprentice.

Longchang Escort Agency is a prominent escort agency in the southwest of Linzhang Prefecture. Over the years, it has established numerous escort routes, covering the territory of three prefectures and eighteen counties.

The owner of the escort agency is named Xia Yingong. He is over forty years old this year. He has been working in the escort industry since he was a child, living a life of danger. With his talent and quick wit, he has gradually made a name for himself in this industry. Later, he married the daughter of the original owner of the Longchang Escort Agency. After the old owner died, the agency was passed on to him.

This happened more than ten years ago. That day, after dinner, Xia Yingong went to his study to drink tea and review accounts as usual. Just as he reached the corridor, his eyes suddenly narrowed, and he looked into the shadows deep in the corridor, whispering, "Who's there!?"

His body tensed instantly, and he flung out a javelin, its cold light flashing as it shot into a shadowy spot in the corridor.

"it's me."

As the familiar deep voice sounded, a figure wearing a straw hat stood at the juncture of light and shadow, holding in his hand the dart that Xia Yingong had just shot.

Xia Yingong looked at the figure illuminated by the dim light, his eyes flickered, and without saying a word, he walked to the lantern hanging in the middle of the corridor, pushed open the study door and went in.

Xia Yingong blew on the tinderbox to light the lamp in the study. He turned around and saw that the study door was already closed. A thin figure wearing a straw hat was standing there.

The man took off his straw hat, looked at Xia Yingong, and said, "Yingong, things happened in a hurry, and it came rather suddenly."

Xia Yingong of Longchang Escort Agency is the leader of this branch, while the visitor is the inspector of Linzhang Prefecture. This is not the first time the two have met.

Xia Yingong clasped his hands and said, "Your Excellency, please forgive me. I was somewhat rude just now." Xia Yingong was naturally referring to the incident of shooting a spear at the Inspector who was hiding in the shadows.

The man said, "Ignorance is no excuse. I was hiding in the shadows, intending to greet you when you reached the study door. I didn't expect you to be so perceptive, noticing me as soon as you entered the corridor."

Xia Yingong said, "I come from a background of escorting goods, so I have a keen eye for subtle changes in shadows."

As Xia Yingong spoke, his gaze involuntarily drifted to the bundle carried on the inspector's back.

The man's gaze swept over Xia Yingong's face, and he said, "Pharmacist Shang is rushing to finish a batch of medicine, and there are a few ingredients that are urgently needed. This Blood Lingzhi came from Huangpi County. You should deliver it to Renle Pharmacy in Quyang County as soon as possible and hand it over to Manager Zhou personally. Remember, you must deliver it in person."

As he spoke, the man took the bundle off his back and handed it to Xia Yingong.

"Yes, Your Excellency." Xia Yingong replied respectfully.

The man then asked, "When can we set off?"

Xia Yingong said, "There will be a caravan heading to Rongcheng County tomorrow. I will personally lead the caravan, take a detour, and pass through Quyang County to deliver this item to Manager Zhou."

"Very well." The man nodded, put on his straw hat, turned around, opened the door, and disappeared into the night.

Xia Yingong's face darkened. He placed the bundle in his hand on the table, then closed the door before returning to the table. He opened the bundle, revealing a sandalwood box inside. He pulled out the box, and there was a bright red blood spirit mushroom inside.

The Longchang Escort Agency's routes are extensive and interconnected. Since he joined the Filthy Blood Cult, the cult often entrusted him with things to carry on his escort missions, but this was the first time he had ever carried medicinal herbs.

Xia Yingong rewrapped the bundle and left the study.

The escort mission to Rongcheng County was originally scheduled to depart tomorrow, but now that it needs to detour to Quyang County, it must be moved forward. Moreover, he needs to personally lead the team, so he needs to give instructions to the brothers of the second escort team to gather in the front yard now.

Duan Rong stood in the shadow of a house across the street from the backyard of the escort agency, his divine sense fixed on the patrolman of the Filthy Blood Cult. He naturally overheard the conversation between the patrolman and Xia Yingong, the owner of the Longchang Escort Agency.

While they were talking, Duan Rong's divine sense had already surveyed the entire Longchang Escort Agency. He discovered a rather large and secluded secret room underground in the backyard of the Longchang Escort Agency.

That secret chamber was where the Filthy Blood Divine Art was practiced. The statue of the Five Tongs God, which was taller than a person, was carved in a rather ferocious and exquisite manner, far superior to the statue in the Five Tongs God Temple in Huangpi County.

Duan Rong's heart skipped a beat. The existence of this secret chamber for cultivating the Filthy Blood Divine Art was enough to prove that the Longchang Escort Agency was a stronghold of the Filthy Blood Sect, or at least a branch.

Before even meeting the head altar's envoy, they had already discovered a branch stronghold. Duan Rong figured that following this path might yield considerable gains, just like several grasshoppers tied to a rope.

“It’s really a whole string of them.”

Just as Duan Rong was thinking this, the inspector's figure leaped out of the backyard and darted into the shadows facing the street.

Duan Rong's eyes flickered, and he was about to follow, but he suddenly stopped and stood there. In the darkness, a voice he had just been probing suddenly echoed in his mind.

"...Pharmacist Shang!?"

While the Bloodstained Blood Cult's inspector was talking to Xia Yingong, Duan Rong investigated their conversation while simultaneously casting his divine sense over the entire Longchang Escort Agency, whereupon he discovered the underground cultivation chamber.

At that time, he was attracted by the underground cultivation chamber and only listened to the conversation between the two without paying much attention.

But at this moment, he suddenly caught the word "Pharmacist Shang" because it reminded him of someone.

An old friend from the sect.

When he was a disciple of the Taiyi Sect, he followed Shang Xiangyu and almost died at his hands. After Shang Xiangyu disappeared, Duan Rong speculated that he had joined the Filthy Blood Cult.

Even if he joined the Filthy Blood Cult, Qingzhou was so vast that Duan Rong never imagined he would have any interaction with Shang Xiangyu again. But things rarely go as planned.

"Shang Xiangyu, is it really you?" Duan Rong's eyes shimmered like stars in the darkness.

In that instant, he was almost certain that the Shang Pharmacist mentioned by the Bloodstained Cult Inspector was most likely Shang Xiangyu.

Even a sect would find it difficult to train a pharmacist, let alone the Filthy Blood Sect, and this particular pharmacist happened to have the surname Shang.

If someone like Shang Xiangyu, a pharmacist who has been refining medicine in a sect for many years, were to join the Filthy Blood Cult, what position would he hold?

Duan Rong stood in the dark alley, his divine sense covering the entire city. On one side was the patrolman of the Filthy Blood Sect, whose figure had already leaped onto the city wall. On the other side was the front yard of the Longchang Escort Agency, where the escorts and porters were gathering, and chests were being loaded onto carriages, clearly ready to set off for the escort mission soon.

Duan Rong's eyes flashed with a cold light.

He now has two choices: one is to continue tracking down the Bloodstained Cult's inspector, perhaps discovering a few more hideouts, and eventually finding a head altar master.

This round trip would at least expose a significant portion of the Filthy Blood Sect's territory. Within the sect's elders' council, this would be a major achievement. Of course, he had a second option: abandon the pursuit of the patrol envoy and change course, following Xia Yingong, the owner of the Longchang镖师 (bodyguards/escorts), or more accurately, following the Blood Spirit Mushroom in Xia Yingong's possession. Because that Blood Spirit Mushroom would definitely be delivered to that apothecary merchant.

Duan Rong hesitated for only a moment before withdrawing his divine sense from the inspector and focusing it on the bustling and chaotic caravan in the front yard of the Longchang Escort Agency.

Even if tracking the Blood Spirit Mushroom yields no results, at least we've discovered that the Longchang Escort Agency is a stronghold of the Filthy Blood Cult. Taking down just this one stronghold is enough to report back to the sect.

Moreover, Duan Rong felt that if the so-called Shang Pharmacist was indeed Shang Xiangyu, his value was probably even greater than that of the Headquarters Dharma Envoy.

First, he is a traitor to the sect. Second, pharmacists are extremely rare; even sects find it difficult to cultivate them. Considering Yang Sixuan's description of the Bloodstained Cult's three-tiered system, at which level would Shang Xiangyu, as a pharmacist, fall?
Duan Rong had a vague feeling that he might be at the highest level.

Because there are so few pharmacists, let alone one like Shang Xiangyu who has been practicing medicine within the sect for many years. Is it possible that he is serving the sect leader, Fu Yi?

Over the years, the Taiyi Sect has never touched the third level of the Filthy Blood Sect's system, which is the highest level system centered on the sect leader Fu Yi, as Yang Sixuan mentioned. The most the sect has ever touched is the system at the level of the main altar envoy and the patrol envoy.

From this perspective, Shang Xiangyu's value is clearly far greater than that of a mere head altar envoy. Moreover, Duan Rong also wanted to meet his former mentor again, which is why he suddenly decided to change his tracking route in that dark alley.

The Bloodstained Blood Cult inspector who jumped off the wall was unaware that he had inexplicably escaped with his life just moments before, simply because he had mentioned the name Pharmacist Shang when he met Xia Yin Gong. In truth, whether he mentioned it or not made no difference to Xia Yin Gong.

Sometimes, fate changes in the blink of an eye, as if by divine intervention, and humanity remains completely unaware of the resounding roar of destiny.

The caravan had assembled and the goods had been inventoried. Wu Liang, the leader of the second caravan, glanced at the owner who was riding in on horseback with his bundle on his back, and felt quite puzzled.

This shipment isn't anything valuable or rare, and the journey isn't long. The routes are all well-established and well-maintained. Why would the owner suddenly want to lead the team himself?
Wu Liang bowed and scraped to Xia Yingong, and said with a smile, "Master, everything is ready. We can set off now."

Xia Yingong, sitting on his horse, squinted and said, "Let's go then. We'll detour to Quyang County along the way; I have some business there."

Wu Liang's eyes flickered, and he said, "Yes, Master."

Then, the caravan, with torches stuck in their carriages, left the front yard and headed towards the east gate of the city along the main street.

Duan Rong hid in a small alley not far from the escort agency, his divine sense locking onto Xia Yin Gong, who was feigning sleep on his horse, and the Blood Spirit Mushroom he was carrying on his back.

The journey for this caravan wasn't far to begin with, but they made a detour to Quyang County. By the time the caravan arrived in Quyang County, it was already dusk, and the men and horses were exhausted, so they found an inn to rest.

When Xia Yingong arrived at the inn, he only drank a bowl of water before instructing Wu Liang to look after the escort team. He then rode off to Renle Pharmacy on East Street.

Narenle Pharmacy enjoys a good reputation in Quyang County. The owner, Zhou Cheng, is known for his generosity and kindness. Moreover, the medicinal herbs are of good quality, the prices are fair, and he never cheats the young or old.

Xia Yingong rode over, and across the street, he saw the signboard of Renle Pharmacy glowing faintly in the setting sun. A couplet was also hanging on both sides of the shop door. Upon closer inspection, it read: "I only wish that people in the world were free from illness, and I would rather the medicine on the shelves turn to dust."

Xia Yingong tied his horse to a willow tree not far from the shop, carried his bundle, and stepped into the pharmacy. As soon as he entered, a clerk greeted him and said, "Greetings, esteemed guest. Are you here for a medical consultation or to pick up medicine?"

Xia Yingong remained expressionless and said, "I am a镖师 (bodyguard/escort). I have a shipment that I need to personally deliver to your Manager Zhou."

Upon hearing this, the shop assistant turned to look at a middle-aged man sitting behind the counter. The man glanced at Xia Yin Gong and said, "Come with me."

Xia Yingong then followed the man into the back hall, went up to the second floor, and came to a somewhat cramped room.

The middle-aged man sitting in the shop said, "Please wait a moment, our manager will be here shortly."

After saying that, the man closed the door and left.

A short while later, an elderly man dressed in brocade robes, with a goatee and some age spots on his face, slowly walked in.

Xia Yingong glanced at the man. Although he was an old man with a faltering gait, his eyes were calm and collected, and he looked quite capable.

The old man looked at Xia Yingong and smiled, "I am Zhou Cheng, the owner of Renle Pharmacy. May I ask how you are addressed, esteemed guest?"

"I am from the Longchang Escort Agency," Xia Yingong said coldly. "I only have one question for you: what is in my bundle?"

The old man paused for a moment, then replied, "It should be a Blood Ganoderma."

Xia Yingong then took down his bundle, placed it on the table beside him, and walked out without saying a word.

Watching Xia Yingong's departing figure, the old man quite admired the man's capable style. He walked to the table, untied the dusty bundle, opened the wooden box inside, and saw a crimson blood spirit mushroom, which looked like a blood clot.

The old man lowered his head, sniffed the medicine, and exclaimed, "Excellent appearance! Excellent medicinal properties!"

Duan Rong sat in front of a wonton stall at the other end of the street, slurping his food while using his divine sense to lock onto the Blood Spirit Mushroom.

When Xia Yingong left the Blood Spirit Mushroom in the room of Renle Pharmacy and turned to leave without looking back, Duan Rong suddenly released his divine sense and searched the entire Renle Pharmacy, inside and out.

He did not discover Shang Xiangyu, nor did he find any secret training chambers of the Filthy Blood Cult near Renle Pharmacy.

The old man had already put away the blood spirit mushroom, locked the door, and gone out to attend to other matters.

Duan Rong was slightly surprised, but doubted that his previous deduction might be wrong. The apothecary the inspector mentioned might just be an ordinary person in the secular world.

There's no going back. Even if he wanted to go back and track down that Bloodstained Cult's inspector, two days had already passed, and the inspector had long since disappeared.

Duan Rong's divine sense remained locked on the Blood Spirit Mushroom placed in a cramped and dimly lit room on the second floor of Renle Pharmacy. At this moment, the Blood Spirit Mushroom was silently sitting there, as if no one cared about it.

After slurping down a bowl of wontons, Duan Rong left the stall and found an inn nearby to stay in.

Even after he lay down on the bed in the inn, his consciousness remained locked on the Blood Spirit Mushroom. He knew it was for Pharmacist Shang, and by this time, night had fallen, and the person in question had not yet appeared.

Duan Rong was puzzled. He remembered that the Bloodstained Blood Cult's inspector had said that Pharmacist Shang urgently needed this Blood Spirit Mushroom. If that was the case, why had it been kept hidden in a dark room for so long, untouched by anyone? (End of Chapter)