Scourge Messenger

Chapter 38: Tears of Business

"Five thousand!"

Yan Qing breathed a sigh of relief. After completing five thousand punches with all his heart and soul, he broke out in a light sweat, but felt refreshed.

The benefits brought by this milestone of martial arts genius far exceeded imagination. Yan Qing started out with no method in swinging his punches, but gradually he mastered the skills of exerting force on the hands, arms, shoulders and waist. Later, when he threw a punch, there was even a sound of breaking through the air. What's more important is that he found such a simple action as swinging a punch very interesting, and he still felt unsatisfied after punching for an entire afternoon.

Anyone who's failed at losing weight knows that the biggest problem with exercise is that it's boring. For exercises like running, swimming, and fat-burning workouts, fatigue isn't the only thing; the lack of enjoyment in the process is what keeps many people from sticking with it. Conversely, many people enjoy multiplayer sports like basketball and badminton, even when they're so exhausted they can't get out of bed the next day. This is because they don't exercise for exercise's sake; they exercise for fun.

Yan Qing was certain that his previous lack of interest in sports and his current relentless pursuit of boxing were clearly due to his martial arts prowess. As Milestone had described, true martial arts genius wasn't about comprehension, but about finding joy in the mundane.

This is of great significance to Yan Qing - he finally found a second entertainment!

Although he likes playing games very much, playing the same game for so many days without any other entertainment is a bit unbearable even for Yan Qing who considers himself a heavy gaming Brahmin.

Dinner was naturally prepared by Ye Si. As the team leader, he had the right to ask the chef to cater to Yan Qing's tastes. As Yan Qing was about to eat, Jiang Shi and the others in the game also happened to arrive at Mansu Forest.

By this time, the sky had darkened, but the area surrounding the Mansu Woods was as bright as day. Burning torches burned the night into fiery scars. When Jiang Shi peered out to observe, they saw a vast camp stretching for dozens of miles. A fence of picket fences stretched out as far as the eye could see, seemingly encircling the entire woods.

A line of soldiers stood at the gate, each clad in Mingguang armor and purple-gold boots. Their armor appeared spotless in the light. Compared to the Qi knights and Zhou soldiers, the Liang soldiers' first impression was one of splendor. They resembled less like butcher knives used for dirty work than like ceremonial vessels used in grand ceremonies.

A clerk came over to register the visitor's information. Qian Gongyu and the coachman Lin Yuan naturally had no problem until he saw "Jiang Shi" appear.

"Master Qian, are you saying...she is your bodyguard?"

The clerk's eyes flickered back and forth between Qian Gongyu and Jiang Shi, his expression growing increasingly suspicious. Just when Yan Qing thought he couldn't get away with it, the clerk said, "I thought she was a sister or relative of you, the head of the Qian family."

"He's a distant relative." Qian Gongyu said with a smile, "Now that I've mastered my skills, I've started working for the family."

"As expected of the Qian family, they are truly overflowing with talent," the clerk echoed, making way. "Please come in. We're having a Liushang dinner inside. If you haven't already eaten, please do us a favor."

He paused. "Mansu Forest is packed with outstanding individuals, including two talented individuals from the Shang family and Jie family."

"What? Merchants and world lords?"

Qian Gongyu, who had been lacking interest at first, immediately became excited upon hearing the news: "Uncle Lin, let's go in!"

Without Yan Qing asking, Qian Gongyu excitedly revealed information in the car: "Although the Shang family is only a wealthy and powerful family, the head of the Shang family, Shang Xuanwen, is the prime minister of the current dynasty, making him a very popular and powerful family. The Jie family is even more remarkable. Even before the establishment of Liang State, it has been an aristocratic family with a thousand-year heritage. After the establishment of Liang State, it was one of the only three purple ribbon noble families."

"I normally never get the chance to meet these noble family members, but I never expected to run into them here. If I can make friends with a few of them, my trip to Mansu Forest will not be in vain!"

"Miss, you can go to the dinner first. I will arrange the carriage." The coachman Lin Yuan said very considerately.

"Then I'll trouble you, Uncle Lin!"

Qian Gongyu couldn't wait to pull Jiang Shi out of the car. The forest was bustling with activity. Servants and maids were running back and forth, and delicious dishes were being shipped out from the kitchen one after another. Even through the screen, Yan Qing could smell the fragrance. Following the servants' guidance, they soon arrived at a large tent.

Although it was a tent, its floor space was no different from a banquet hall. There was even a string music band playing inside. The ceiling was adorned with huge chandeliers, and the floor was covered with patterned carpets. Inside, elegantly dressed men and women were toasting and chatting. The tables were laden with delicacies from land and sea, even monster meat that Yan Qing had only heard of but never seen.

You have to remember that this is the wilderness, and the Mansu Woodlands are only open for less than half a month each year. Even so, these children from aristocratic families can still enjoy a luxurious life here—of course, this is just the opinion of the poor Yan Qing. Perhaps in the eyes of this group of people, the environment here is already very harsh.

From here, we can get a glimpse of the tip of the iceberg of the upper class of Liang State in Jiangnan.

Qian Gongyu's goal is very clear, which is to get to know the nobles from the business community and the Jie family. It is also easy for her to find her target because everyone here has the same ideas as her. They have formed two circles around the two nobles, and it takes some effort to squeeze in.

But Yan Qing had no interest in meeting any VIPs, so he turned and went to the dining table to stock up. The monster meat was good, the roasted pork looked crispy, and there were even arm-length mantis shrimp. Holy crap, could these things, kept warm by the ice, be ice cream?
Just as Yan Qing was showing off the food through the screen, a fierce quarrel suddenly came from the side, and Qian Gongyu's voice was among them.

"Luo Weijin, do you dare to say it again?" Qian Gongyu said coldly: "Don't think I dare not--"

"Think you wouldn't dare bite? Oh, I never thought so." The young man who had been arguing with Qian Gongyu said with a sinister smile, "Your threats are too strong. I'm very scared."

Yan Qing took a look and saw that the young man named Luo Weijin had a bamboo green household sash, which represented that his family belonged to the second tier of prestigious families, one level higher than the Qian family.

Qian Gongyu's face flushed with anger at Luo Weijin's words, but he didn't react violently. Instead, he turned and left. Luo Weijin raised an eyebrow and shouted to the people around him, "Don't underestimate the Baiyun Qian family. Although they are only blue belts, they are able to consistently train third-rank messengers. It just comes at a price. For example, the previous generation of the Qian family head—" "Luo Weijin!" Qian Gongyu pointed outside. "You can take revenge on the Qian family. We can go out and fight right now, but you are not allowed to slander my father!"

"As expected of the last remaining bloodline of the Qian family, you're truly barbaric. Do you resort to violence when you find you can't win an argument?" Luo Weijin laughed. "But I'm not seeking revenge. I'm simply introducing the Qian family's heritage to my friends. Does telling the truth mean I'm taking revenge on the Qian family? That doesn't make sense, does it?"

Qian Gongyu gritted her teeth, but she didn't dare leave, letting Luo Weijin's nonsense run wild. She could only stand alone in the crowd, head bowed to hide her expression, enduring the humiliation directed at her family. She even began to regret coming to Mansu Forest. She had clearly minimized socializing since her father's death, hoping to minimize the impact of the past and let time forget the Qian family's shameful history.

I shouldn't have come here for the little reward from Mansu Forest... It would have been better if I stayed home. No one would think of the Qian family, and no one would humiliate them...

I shouldn't have...

"ah!!"

A sudden scream erupted from the tent. Qian Gongyu jerked her head up to see Luo Weijin, who had been speaking loudly, lying on the ground, two teeth knocked out and a mouth full of blood. The crowd scattered like a school of startled fish, except for a young woman with a sword, who stood expressionless. She was like a stone thrown into a lake, carefree and fearless, ignorant and unafraid.

It’s ‘Jiang Shi’!
"Someone's being beaten! Someone's being beaten!"

"How dare a mere guard assault a member of a prominent family? How disgraceful!"

"Wow, that was a really hard hit. My teeth are flying out."

"What a shame, such a beautiful guard..."

Qian Gongyu quickly pulled Jiang Shi aside and said anxiously, "You, how could you hit him? You're only a black belt and he's a blue belt. Rebellion is already a heinous crime, let alone you're two levels above you... Even my Qian family can't protect you!"

"Are you relieved?"

"what?"

"Miss, are you relieved?"

Qian Gongyu was speechless: "Why are you still talking about this at this time? What can I do if I feel relieved... I feel relieved."

"That's all. You don't have to protect me. Consider this a reward for your travel expenses."

Soldiers streamed in from the tent entrance, quickly surrounding Jiang Shi. An old man immediately rushed over to Luo Weijin, seemingly using a token to heal him. His gaze on Jiang Shi was fierce, but the household belt he wore was only a black belt, suggesting he was merely a Luo family guard.

Jiang Shi pushed Qian Gongyu away, and with his left thumb, he pushed the hilt of the knife out an inch, ready for battle.

Most of the food had been looted, and this place was very close to the entrance to the dungeon. Yan Qing was not interested in following the rules of the local gang, so he just rushed out and entered the dungeon.

"Catch her! Catch this treasonous pariah!" Luo Weijin cursed, covering his mouth with his hands, his voice leaking out. "How dare they assault a noble? They must be apprehended and punished as a warning to others! The Qian family is truly a bunch of bastards, unworthy of being a prominent family!"

"No!"

Qian Gongyu ran to Jiang Shi, pursed her lips and said, "Our Qian family can pay compensation and apologize, there's no need for—"

"Pay money to apologize? What do you think of our Yunfu Luo family? A poor family that can be trampled on for a little money?" Luo Weijin was determined to save face: "She must die!"

"Haha, you can also try to protect that untouchable and show me the backbone of your Qian family - as long as you are not afraid of being expelled from the rank of a prestigious family."

The soldiers drew their weapons, and Jiang Shi, already gripping the hilt of his sword, reached out again to push Qian Gongyu away. However, this time, Qian Gongyu seemed to have taken root, and Jiang Shi's shove failed to dislodge her.

The situation was on the verge of breaking out, and just when everyone thought a fight was about to break out, a voice like a silver bell stopped the fight.

"stop."

An aristocratic girl dressed in a red dress walked out of the crowd. She had elegant manners and a cold expression. Her voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by everyone.

"Just consider it a favor to me, Shang Xinlei. This conflict ends here."

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(End of this chapter)