Becoming a Martial Master: Starting as a Swordsmith

Fortunately, Li Chengwen remembered that he was in a government office, and he managed to hold back his anger.

Even so, his fat face was full of wrinkles as he smiled and bowed to the official, saying repeatedly:

"You flatter me, sir. It's my pleasure, my pleasure!"

After completing the handover procedures and receiving the receipt, the group walked out of the Ordnance Department's gate.

Li Chengwen stood on the steps by the door, looking up at the white clouds in the sky, feeling an indescribable sense of ease and comfort throughout his body.

The fatigue and anxiety of the past few days finally vanished at this moment.

Xu Zhibao also secretly breathed a sigh of relief; his nerves, which had been tense for many days, finally relaxed a little.

But he still had important things to do.

Xu Zhibao stretched his stiff shoulders and turned to Li Chengwen, saying, "Young Master Li, the goods have been delivered, and I should head back to the Xu Family Escort Agency now. I need to report back to my family about what happened on the way."

Li Chengwen nodded repeatedly: "Of course, of course. You should go quickly, don't let your family worry."

Xu Zhibao gave a few more instructions on safety, and then led a few constables towards the Xu Family Escort Agency.

Li Chengwen watched him walk away, then rubbed his hands together, a look of eager anticipation on his face.

He turned to the remaining two guards and said, "Let's go! First, find my eldest sister, then we'll explore the city properly! We've come all this way to Qingyang County, how can we not make the most of it!"

As he spoke, he climbed onto the carriage and excitedly sped off towards the city.

......

Xu Zhibao stood in front of the Xu Family Escort Agency's gate, looking up at the plaque that had hung there for many years, feeling somewhat uneasy.

He took a deep breath before stepping inside.

The atmosphere inside the escort agency wasn't much different from when he left.

In the open space of the front yard, several young bodyguards were practicing their swordsmanship, while the accountant was hunched over behind the counter, rapidly calculating on his abacus. In the corner, an older bodyguard was dozing off, holding a pot of tea.

Everything was so peaceful and ordinary.

But Xu Zhibao knew that once he spoke the news, this peace would be completely shattered.

He walked through the front yard and went straight into the main hall.

Inside the main hall, several key figures of the Xu family were discussing matters.

Seated in the center is Xu Zhenchuan, the head of the security escort agency, a middle-aged man over fifty years old;

Sitting on the left is Xu Zhenhai, the second-in-command, who has a fiery temper and is known throughout the Xu family for his quick temper;

Sitting on the right is Xu Zhenjiang, the third-in-command. He is a calm and meticulous man and the strategist of the Xu family.

The three stopped talking when they saw Xu Zhibao enter.

As soon as Xu Zhibao entered the city, he sent someone to inform the escort agency, so the three of them were not surprised by his arrival at all.

Xu Zhenchuan put down his teacup, a gentle smile appearing on his face.

"Zhibao's back? You must have had a hard time working in Changping County. Please have a seat."

Xu Zhibao did not sit down.

He stood in the hall, hands at his sides, bowing deeply, his voice low: "Chief Boss, Second Boss, Third Boss, Zhibao is guilty and has come to beg for forgiveness."

The smiles of the three people in the hall froze simultaneously.

Xu Zhenchuan slowly put down his teacup, his gaze becoming serious:

"What happened? Tell me slowly."

Xu Zhibao straightened up and recounted everything that had happened on the way:

From setting off from Changping County, to the first attack, to the night battle at the post station, and then to the black-faced leader personally revealing that the Xu family's bodyguards had been killed.

He spoke in great detail, without concealing any details, including the mysterious man wearing a gray mask.

When he finished speaking, the main hall fell into a deathly silence.

Xu Zhenhai slammed his hand on the table, stood up abruptly, and glared angrily:

"What did you say?! All five of them are dead?!"

Xu Zhibao kept his head down, without avoiding the question:

"Yes! It was the Red Lotus Cult who did it! When I fought their leader at the post station, he said it himself, and that the body had already been cleaned up."

"The Red Lotus Cult!"

Xu Zhenhai gritted his teeth and slammed his fist on the table, making the teacups rattle.

"These cowardly bastards dare to mess with the Xu family! Brother, I'll report this to the authorities right away, then gather our men and head to Changping County to wipe out their hideout!"

"Sit down!"

Xu Zhenchuan's voice carried an undeniable air of authority.

Although Xu Zhenhai was full of resentment, he gritted his teeth and sat back down.

Xu Zhenchuan didn't immediately lash out, but remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking: "Zhibao, five bodyguards accompanied you on your journey, yet none of them survived. And you stand here unharmed. How do you explain that?"

These words were like a knife, precisely stabbing Xu Zhibao.

He did not defend himself, but lowered his head again and said in a deep voice, "Zhibao is incompetent and has failed the trust of the leaders, as well as the five brothers who died. If the chief wants to punish me, Zhibao will have no complaints."

"Punishment?"

Xu Zhenchuan sighed softly, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, and slowly said:

"The fact that the Red Lotus Sect was able to ambush and kill five of my Xu family's bodyguards within Changping County shows that they had been eyeing this shipment for a long time. It's already a stroke of luck that Zhibao was able to bring the goods and the eldest young master of the Li family to Qingyang County alive. If we really have to assign blame, it should be those cowardly cowards who only dare to act in the shadows, not a nephew of our own who risked his life to complete the mission."

Xu Zhenjiang slowly spoke up: "The Xu family's bodyguards died on the road because of their lack of skill, and they have no one to blame but themselves. But the Xu family members will not die in vain. This debt will be noted for now. Once we have investigated the Red Lotus Sect's background in Qingyang County, we will settle accounts with them all at once."

Although Xu Zhenhai was still indignant, he couldn't say anything more after his two brothers expressed their opinions, and just snorted heavily.

Xu Zhibao stood in the hall, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

He knew that although the leaders had protected him, the deaths of the five bodyguards were still a thorn in the side of the Xu family, and also in his own heart.

Xu Zhenchuan was silent for a moment, then waved his hand: "You can leave now. The Xu family will handle this matter."

Xu Zhibao bowed respectfully, then turned and left the main hall.

He lowered his head, deep in thought, and was about to leave the escort agency when he heard a slightly hesitant voice behind him:

"Is that... Brother Zhibao?"

Xu Zhibao paused and turned around.

A young man emerged from behind the wall. He had a fair complexion and a scholarly air about him. He stood there, looking at Xu Zhibao with some hesitation, as if he wanted to laugh but dared not.

Xu Zhibao recognized him at a glance.

This was Xu Zhenchuan's only son, Xu Wenzhao, the young head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) of the Xu Family Escort Agency.

The two grew up together in a security escort agency when they were young. Later, Xu Zhibao was sent to Changping County for training, while Xu Wenzhao stayed in Qingyang County to study martial arts and learn how to manage the security escort agency. As a result, the two gradually drifted apart.

It's been a year since we last met.