In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 400 Retire after success
The Heavenly Demon Harp had long been in Huang Xuemei's hands.

Now that the Flying Tiger Escort Agency is involved with the Heavenly Demon Harp, the matter naturally involves Huang Xuemei as well.

"So, does this mean her revenge against the Fiery Palace, the Rakshasa Gate, the Ghost Palace, and the Crescent Moon Gate is about to begin?"

The mastermind behind the deaths of Huang Xuemei's family members was Mr. Six Fingers of the Tianlong Sect.

But the executioner's blade belongs to three second-rate forces: the Blazing Fire Palace, the Rakshasa Gate, and the Ghost Palace, as well as the Crescent Moon Gate behind these three forces.

If it were someone else, they might have let go of their hatred after dealing with Mr. Six Fingers, the mastermind.

However, Huang Xuemei was a woman who would not let go of any power that had been tainted by the blood of her relatives back then.

"I wonder what level her strength has reached now."

When it came to old friends, Gu Shaoan became quite interested.

As evening approached, the sky grew somewhat dark.

However, the scene was quite different in the neighborhood where the Flying Tiger Escort Agency was located in the west of the city.

Located in the middle of the street, a long wall encloses a large courtyard. The vermilion gate is wide open, and the four gilded characters "Flying Tiger Escort Agency" on the lintel shine brightly in the sunset. Two stone lions stand majestically in front of the gate.

At this moment, the area inside and outside the gate was bustling with people and vehicles.

Colorful flags fluttered in the twilight breeze, more concentrated than those seen at the post station yesterday.

After Gu Shaoan and his two companions entered the Flying Tiger Escort Agency with the flow of people, the first thing they saw was a plaque hanging under the eaves of the front hall.

The plaque is inscribed with the five large characters "The Number One Escort in the World" in gold paint.

Fan Sanshan was clearly familiar with the place. After exchanging a few words in hushed tones with a middle-aged man who looked like a head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) at the entrance, someone led Gu Shaoan and the other two into the镖局 (bodyguard agency).

Dozens of tables had been set up in the front yard for ordinary bodyguards and martial arts enthusiasts to sit down, and there was a lot of noise.

Led by the镖头 (镖头 is a term used in Chinese martial arts to refer to a镖师, a kind of镖师 who is a ...

A short while later, a person walked out of the front hall.

This man was about the same age as Fan Sanshan, a tall, burly old man. He had a square face, dark skin, and piercing eyes beneath thick eyebrows. He exuded an air of authority. Although he wore a brocade robe rather than a tight-fitting outfit, his steps were as steady as a mountain, and his breathing was as long and deep as a leopard's.

The protagonist who is retiring from the business today is none other than Lü Tengkong, the chief镖头 (chief镖师) of the number one镖局 (镖局, a type of security escort agency) in the world and the leader of the镖盟 (镖盟, a type of security escort alliance) of Dongyang Prefecture.

His gaze swept around the courtyard, and when his eyes landed on Fan Sanshan in the corner, Lü Tengkong's eyes flashed, and he quickly walked over.

"Brother Fan, I didn't expect you to actually come."

Fan Sanshan smiled and said, "How could I miss Brother Lü's retirement ceremony?"

As he spoke, Fan Sanshan first introduced Cheng Shifei to Lü Tengkong, and then, when Gu Shaoan stood up, he said, "This gentleman is also my friend, surnamed Gu."

Looking at Gu Shaoan's appearance and demeanor, Lü Tengkong first secretly praised him, then moved his gaze down and habitually looked at the Yitian Sword held in Gu Shaoan's left hand.

But when his gaze fell upon the Yitian Sword and he saw the two characters "Yitian" on the scabbard, Lü Tengkong's expression froze.

"His surname is Gu, and he's associated with the Heaven-Slaying Sword... Could it be..."

Lu Tengkong suddenly looked up, his face instantly filled with astonishment.

Before Lü Tengkong could speak, Gu Shaoan said first, "I have come uninvited, and I hope Chief镖头 Lü will not take offense."

How could Lü Tengkong be a fool to become the leader of the alliance of many escort agencies in Dongyang Prefecture?

Seeing Gu Shaoan and the others sitting outside the courtyard, and listening to Gu Shaoan's words, Lü Tengkong understood that Gu Shaoan did not want to reveal his identity to others.

In response, Lü Tengkong quickly replied, "It is an honor for me and the Flying Tiger Escort Agency that you have come, young master. How could I dare to blame you? I am only afraid that my hospitality may be inadequate and I may have neglected you."

Gu Shaoan smiled and said, "Chief镖师 Lü is too kind."

After exchanging a few words, Lü Tengkong clasped his hands in a fist salute and left without lingering.

Seeing Lü Tengkong responding to the other镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) around him with a hearty smile, Gu Shaoan said, "He may seem rough, but he is actually very shrewd. No wonder he can become the chief镖头 (head镖师) of many镖局 (bodyguard agencies) in Dongyang Prefecture. However, his retirement from the镖局 today may not be so easy."

Upon hearing Gu Shaoan's last words, Fan Sanshan's expression suddenly changed.

After glancing around, he turned to Gu Shaoan and said, "Brother Gu, do you mean that Brother Lü is in trouble?"

Gu Shaoan chuckled softly, picked up the teacup on the table, took a small sip, and said softly, "Probably!"

Upon hearing this, Fan Sanshan's expression shifted between anger and uncertainty.

If someone else had said that, Fan Sanshan might not have taken it seriously.

But now it's Gu Shaoan who's saying this.

Regardless of Gu Shaoan's identity, reputation, or the time they've spent together over the past month, Gu Shaoan's words carry more weight in Fan Sanshan's mind.

After thinking about this, Fan Sanshan hesitated for a moment and then looked at Gu Shaoan.

“Brother Lü and I have a very close relationship. Although this may be inappropriate, if Brother Lü really encounters danger, I hope Brother Gu can lend a helping hand if possible.”

Gu Shaoan glanced at Lü Tengkong, pondered for a moment, and then nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Upon seeing this, Fan Sanshan breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, he had witnessed Gu Shaoan's strength firsthand.

Even when Lang Fanyun and Li Xunhuan, both top-tier masters, joined forces, they were no match for Gu Shaoan.

Therefore, in Fan Sanshan's eyes, with Gu Shaoan willing to vouch for him, even if the leader of the Round Moon Sect came today, Lü Tengkong would be safe.

Soon, it was completely dark.

Lu Tengkong, who had been in the front hall, also walked to the entrance of the front hall and kept looking at the gate of the escort agency.

Amidst the whispers of the surrounding bodyguards, Gu Shaoan and his companions learned of the current situation.

However, it was Lu Lin, the son of Lu Tengkong, who was the young head of the Flying Tiger Escort Agency, who had not returned.

With the auspicious time for Lu Lin to retire from his life of martial arts practice drawing near, and still not having returned, Fan Sanshan couldn't help but shake his head and say, "Brother Lu is usually very punctual, but I never expected his successor to be so unpunctual on such an important day. Sigh..."

One of the principles of running a security escort agency is punctuality.

At this moment, the Flying Tiger Escort Agency had gathered almost all the well-known escort agencies in Dongyang Prefecture, but the successor of the Flying Tiger Escort Agency was late for such an important day as the previous head of the escort agency retiring from his life of business.

It's easy to imagine how the other escort agencies would view this.

This would inevitably affect the reputation of the Flying Tiger Escort Agency. It was at this moment that Gu Shaoan seemed to notice something, and his gaze swept subtly towards the roof of the front yard, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

Xu hour and three quarters.

Seeing that Lü Lin still hadn't arrived, Lü Tengkong sighed and turned to the servant beside him, saying, "The auspicious time has arrived. Let's not wait for Lin'er any longer and begin."

After the servants turned away, Lü Tengkong took a deep breath, suppressing his anxiety about his son's absence and a sense of foreboding. He then turned around to face the guests filling the courtyard.

"Fellow travelers and friends! I am honored that you all grace me with your presence today to witness my retirement from the escort business. For over thirty years, I have roamed the martial world, and it is entirely thanks to the support of you all and the kindness of my fellow travelers that I have been able to keep the Flying Tiger Escort Agency afloat until today. My gratitude is beyond words!"

"However, the storms of the martial world will eventually subside. As I grow older, my strength is not what it used to be, and it is time to hand over this responsibility to the next generation. From today onwards, the journey of the martial world is long, and I wish you all smooth sailing and that every mission will be successfully completed."

As soon as he finished speaking, a镖局 (bodyguard agency) disciple carried in a sandalwood frame covered with red silk. On the frame was a gilded basin made of pure gold with a flying tiger pattern carved on the rim. The clear water in the basin rippled slightly, reflecting the bright lights all around.

Lu Tengkong walked slowly to the golden basin. He lifted the sleeves of his brocade robe, revealing his muscular arms covered in crisscrossing scars, a testament to decades of bloodshed.

He slowly dipped his hands into the basin of water, washed them thoroughly, and then addressed the people present: "Today, I, Lü, am washing my hands of the trade. From now on, the Flying Tiger Escort Agency will be handed over to my son, Lü Lin. My son is still young, and I hope you will all be kind enough to give him a job and help him out."

"Chief Escort Lü"

However, just as Lü Tengkong finished speaking, a voice suddenly rang out from a table on the east side of the front yard, breaking the solemn silence.

Everyone looked on in astonishment and saw a middle-aged man in brocade robes with a sallow complexion, a hooked nose, and sinister eyes stand up.

Lu Tengkong frowned slightly as he looked at the newcomer: "So it's Luo Lie from Hengyuan Escort Agency, Chief Escort Luo. What brings you here?"

Luo Lie cupped his hands in a forced smile: "I dare not presume to offer guidance. However, since Chief Escort Lü is retiring from the martial world today, shouldn't the plaque of 'Number One Escort Under Heaven' and the command flag of the Dongyang Prefecture Escort Alliance leader also be handed over to a more capable person? After all, since you are going to enjoy your retirement, it wouldn't be right for you to still hold onto these responsibilities, would it?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a chorus of agreement erupted in the courtyard.

"Yes! If Chief Escort Lü is truly willing to retire, he should readily hand over the token plaque to show his sincerity. Otherwise, his retirement might not be a clean one."

"It's the Flying Tiger Escort Agency's business that Chief Escort Lü's son takes over, and we have no say in that. But we can't let some greenhorn become the head of all the escort agencies in Dongyang Prefecture, can we?"

The members of the Flying Tiger Escort Agency were visibly shocked, and their hands instinctively reached for their weapons.

Behind Luo Lie, the experts from Zhenyuan Escort Agency also stepped forward at the same time, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

Faced with this scene, Lü Tengkong raised his hand to stop his men from getting agitated.

After the surroundings quieted down, Lü Tengkong glanced at the group of people in the front yard and slowly said, "You are all right. Now that I have retired from the business, it is naturally inappropriate for me to continue to occupy the position of leader of the Escort Alliance and the plaque of 'Number One Escort in the World'."

"Ah Lai, take down the signboard!"

"Head of the escort team."

"Take it off."

Seeing that Lü Tengkong was adamant, the people from the escort agency had no choice but to do as Lü Tengkong said and bring over ladders and ropes.

As the plaque hanging under the eaves was slowly lowered, Lü Tengkong's expression was complicated.

Looking at Lü Tengkong standing to the side, Fan Sanshan said, "It seems that Brother Lü had anticipated this."

Cheng Shifei lowered his voice and said, "Uncle Fan, this镖头 Lü is clearly being bullied. Aren't you going to help him?"

Fan Sanshan shook his head and said, "You're still young and don't understand. In the martial arts world, the phrase 'retirement after achieving success' always comes at a price. Being able to give up a plaque and a position to live out your days in peace is already the luckiest thing."

"Brother Lü's current actions are the most correct decision, so why should I go and ruin it?"

However, strictly speaking, Cheng Shifei has not yet truly experienced life in this martial arts world.

I cannot understand what Fan Sanshan said.

"It's just a plaque and the title of alliance leader, what's so great about it? If we give it up, we give it up."

Fan Sanshan tapped Cheng Shifei on the head with his folding fan, annoyed: "I told you to follow me and learn from me before, but all you did was study dice all day long. Sometimes, reputation and status are more important than your life and fortune."

"Take the 'Number One Escort in the World' plaque for example. As long as this plaque is there, anyone in Dongyang Prefecture who wants to entrust their goods to an escort agency will immediately think of Flying Tiger Escort Agency. Business is never a problem."

"Secondly, as the leader of the Dongyang Prefecture Escort Alliance, he takes a 10% cut of the profits from each escort agency every year. He can sit back and collect money every year. Wouldn't you be tempted?"

After listening to Fan Sanshan's explanation, Cheng Shifei finally understood the reason.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Is this what you meant by 'All the world's hustle and bustle is for profit', Uncle Fan?"

Fan Sanshan said with satisfaction, "He listened to some of what I said, so it wasn't a complete waste of time."

After a pause, Fan Sanshan continued, "So, if Brother Lü wants to live in peace, he has to give up this plaque and identity. Otherwise, there will inevitably be endless troubles in the future. In severe cases, the Dongyang Prefecture Escort Alliance, which has been established for decades, may even fall apart."

Only then did Cheng Shifei show a look of sudden realization.

"Cannot be taken."

However, at that moment, a figure darted in through the gate of the escort agency like a cheetah, then lifted the plaque that was about to fall to the ground and hoisted it onto his shoulder.

The newcomer looked to be about twenty-one or twenty-two years old, dressed in a white short-sleeved outfit. He had delicate features, cool eyes, and a slight resemblance to Huang Xuemei between his brows.

It was Lü Tengkong's son, Lü Lin.

Upon seeing Lü Lin, Gu Shaoan's eyes flashed slightly, and a playful smile appeared on his face.

"No wonder they're siblings, they do indeed have a resemblance in their features."

Inside the arena, watching Lü Lin's actions, Lü Tengkong shouted in a low voice, "Lin'er, put down the plaque."

In response to Lü Tengkong's words, Lü Lin stubbornly replied, "Father, you risked your life to win back this 'Number One Escort in the World' title. Even if you retire from the business, it should remain with the Flying Tiger Escort Agency. Why should you give it away?"

"Nonsense! I have already retired from the martial arts world, so this plaque cannot be left behind. If you insist on going your own way, how will you face your many fellow practitioners in Dongyang Prefecture in the future?"

Luo Lie, who had spoken earlier, sneered: "Young Master Lu, you're still young. Don't you understand the principle of listening to advice and eating well? Do you think you're qualified to be called the 'Number One Escort in the World'?"

"Be careful not to get yourself into trouble. Otherwise, no one in the entire Flying Tiger Escort Agency will be able to get a single escort mission."

Upon hearing this, Lü Lin glanced at Luo Lie and said, "Are you trying to scare me?"

Luo Lie said with a forced smile, "If you don't believe me, Young Master Lü can try it too."

However, at that moment, the sound of horses' hooves pounding the ground and wheels rolling over the earth suddenly echoed throughout the Flying Tiger Escort Agency.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was so clear it seemed to be right next to their ears, eerily strange. This caused everyone in the front yard, where the atmosphere had just been tense, to tense up and turn to look at the entrance of the escort agency.

　This is just a transitional chapter! It's a bit bland!

　
(End of this chapter)