Inside the Yuan Shun Escort Agency, it’s chaotic, since everything’s fine on Xiao Zongting’s side, the matters elsewhere can be left to Luan Jingfu to worry about. Duan Rong steps with a twist, deciding to go out for a walk to relieve his pent-up frustration.
As soon as Duan Rong steps out of the escort agency gate, he notices that West Main Street also seems chaotic, with constables and governnt officers rushing past from ti to ti.
The street, which used to be quite clean and tidy, is now littered with papers like large sycamore leaves.
A gust of wind blows by, sending the papers flying across the street. With a swish, one lands on Duan Rong’s pant leg. Bending down to pick it up, he finds it’s a wanted poster with several lines of small characters beneath an ink-outlined sketch.
"Xu Ruhu..." Duan Rong’s expression changes slightly, feeling the na sounds vaguely familiar.
The street remains in a state of panic, with so shops already closed, and one can hear the distant knocking and shouting of constables.
Duan Rong walks forward and notices a teahouse on the corner that is still open. He strolls in, finding it empty except for a lone figure sitting in the middle seat.
The person is wearing official uniform with a knife at his waist; unexpectedly, it’s a constable from the governnt office. Just as Duan Rong wants to turn back, he takes a closer look and realizes the constable is none other than his childhood friend Yang Zhen.
Duan Rong chuckles and approaches, seeing Yang Zhen staring dazedly at an object in his hand. It turns out to be a shuttle dart!
The shuttle dart is seven or eight inches long, flat-edged with a red tassel trailing, gleaming with a cold light in Yang Zhen’s hand!
Duan Rong pats Yang Zhen, smiling, "What are you studying? So focused on a shuttle dart?"
Yang Zhen raises his head, his eyes seeming to lose focus montarily as he looks at Duan Rong, a reaction when deep thinking is suddenly interrupted.
After a mont, Yang Zhen seems to recognize Duan Rong, smiling, "Potato, how co you’re here?"
"Why? Since when did this teahouse beco your family business? Can’t I co?" Duan Rong retorts, plopping down opposite Yang Zhen and pouring himself a cup of tea.
"Not at all..." Yang Zhen begins to say sothing, his expression suddenly shifted.
It’s been only a little over a month since they last t, but Duan Rong seems completely different.
He’s grown half a head taller, his physique more robust and muscular, and what’s more surprising to Yang Zhen is Duan Rong’s natural confidence and composure, which creates an oppressive feeling even to a social adept like him.
"Xiao Rong." Normally used to calling Duan Rong ’Potato,’ Yang Zhen unconsciously changes his tone. "You seem... different..."
Yang Zhen searches for the right words, still unsure how to describe his feelings.
Duan Rong’s eyes dart, quickly understanding what Yang Zhen is referring to, and he laughs, "Yes, I’ve been chosen as an Apprentice Escort Master! I’ve been practicing the Inner Power Heart thod for over a month now."
Yang Zhen’s expression stiffens.
Despite Duan Rong entering the Yuan Shun Escort Agency, Yang Zhen never thought Duan Rong would be selected as an Apprentice Escort Master.
After all, escort masters and constables are almost the sa social class; their inco is similar. While constables sotis show off before commoners, they wouldn’t dare to when facing true martial artists.
"Really? That’s impressive?" Although Yang Zhen is genuinely happy for Duan Rong, he feels a bit out of sorts; afterward, he wouldn’t hold any advantage before his childhood friend.
Duan Rong quickly notices Yang Zhen’s slightly forced smile; having lived two lifetis, he understands his friend’s minor complex.
Yang Zhen soon recognizes his mindset issue and, seemingly to cover it up, says, "You’re doing well yourself! Being an escort master is a respectable job. Such a good thing, aren’t you going to treat to dinner?"
Duan Rong downs his cup of tea, saying, "I’m flat broke but for the coins I have! Where to eat? You decide!"
"Wow, that’s bold, huh?" Yang Zhen looks startled, suddenly his eyes flicker, a thought crosses his mind, "Wait... Hold on... Wasn’t there rumors about so Duan Painter from Yuan Shun Escort Agency selling a painting for ten taels of silver and then being invited for a al by the county magistrate? That wasn’t you, was it?"
When the rumors spread, they beca more exaggerated, and by the ti Yang Zhen heard it, the details were completely distorted; he never associated it with Duan Rong.
To suggest Duan Rong can paint would be sothing he could never believe!
"Indeed, it’s !" Duan Rong laughs, shalessly admitting it.
Yang Zhen’s expression changes; after a pause, he also says, "Wait... That’s not right, are you pulling my leg? When did you learn to paint? I’ve never seen you paint!"
Yang Zhen speaks, looking suspiciously at Duan Rong.
Duan Rong rolls his eyes, "I can poop, too! Have you seen do that?"
"Geez, can’t you be less disgusting?"
"I see constables and governnt officers all over the street searching, yet here you are leisurely drinking tea?" Duan Rong deliberately changes the subject, asking.
Yang Zhen exasperatedly extends his right leg, "That... injured..."
Seeing the bandage on Yang Zhen’s right calf with faint traces of blood seeping through, Duan Rong asks with an exaggerated amusing expression, "Oh, how did it get injured?"
"It was this!" Yang Zhen says, raising the shuttle dart in his hand, the very one he’d been looking at when Duan Rong entered.
"What happened?" Duan Rong recalls Yang Zhen’s thoughtful expression upon entering, sensing the matter might be complicated.
"It’s a long story..." Yang Zhen sighs, ready to explain, when suddenly a noisy group barges into the teahouse.
The leader is a thin figure with high cheekbones and large blinking eyes, appearing around thirty, yet dark circles under his eyes suggest long-term insomnia.
Bringing a team of governnt officers ard with Water and Fire Sticks, the leader charges in, shouting from behind the counter, "Boss, ordered search, apologies!"
Then, with a wave, the officers rush inside!
The boss, panicking, hurriedly follows the officers towards the back courtyard!
"Brother Lei!" As soon as Yang Zhen saw the person, he imdiately struggled to stand up, leaning against the table.
This person was nad Jie Lei, and he was Jie Daohan’s very own nephew!
With Xu Ruhu’s prison break being such a major case, the entire governnt office was restless. Jie Daohan personally led the constables to tackle the tough forces in the county, while Jie Lei led the governnt constables to search along the streets!
Hearing soone call him, Jie Lei turned his head, slightly surprised, and said, "Yang Zhen, what are you doing here?"
Yang Zhen awkwardly smiled and said, "I couldn’t stay at ho, so I ca out for a bit!"
"You’d better go back; the whole city is being searched and it’s not safe outside. Since your legs aren’t in great shape, you should go ho and rest for a couple of days." Jie Lei said with concern.
Yang Zhen agreed and was about to leave when Duan Rong imdiately reached out to support him. Yang Zhen smiled at Duan Rong, feeling a bit dazed. Back when he used to get into fights and got injured, Duan Rong had helped him ho countless tis!
But back then, Duan Rong was much shorter than him, while now, Duan Rong was slightly more robust than him.
As the two walked past Jie Lei, Jie Lei glanced at Duan Rong and said, "Your friend?"
Yang Zhen replied, "He’s my childhood friend! An apprentice escort master at Yuan Shun Escort Agency, Duan Rong!"
Jie Lei gave a slight nod to Duan Rong as a greeting.
Once they left the teahouse, Duan Rong said, "This person looks stern, but they speak quite kindly."
Yang Zhen replied, "Brother Lei takes good care of us usually."
Duan Rong’s eyes flashed as he recalled so old information, and said, "Is he Jie Daohan’s nephew, Jie Lei?"
"That’s right!"
Duan Rong supported Yang Zhen to the door of the teahouse, turned back, and caught sight of Jie Lei’s silhouette in the dusk. Jie Lei, though thin, had a large fra, and from the back, he looked like a clothes hanger.
Once outside the teahouse, Yang Zhen suggested, "It’s chaotic outside. We can buy so at and wine, and have a feast at my place!"
"Sounds good!" Duan Rong, feeling troubled, noticed that Yang Zhen seed similarly troubled, so they could drink together to ease their worries.
Duan Rong helped Yang Zhen to a deli, where they bought so pigs’ head at and a fat chicken, and asked the owner to mix so cold dishes. Then they went to the wine shop and bought a jar of yellow wine.
With Duan Rong carrying the wine and Yang Zhen holding the food, they chatted and laughed their way to Yang Zhen’s ho.
Once there, they didn’t stand on ceremony, and started eating and drinking. They even competed over the jar of yellow wine, and soon enough, they were both eating and hiccuping non-stop...
"So... how did you get injured... you ntioned it at the teahouse..." Finally, after not snatching food and drink anymore, Duan Rong was free to ask, his face flushed from the alcohol.
Half-drunk, Yang Zhen chuckled and said, "Xu Ruhu... was rescued from the Great Prison..."
Duan Rong was slightly startled. At the Escort Agency’s entrance, what Jie Daohan had said hinted at a prison escape, but it seed that old fox hadn’t told the truth; Xu Ruhu was actually rescued from the Great Prison.
"Were you there at that ti?" Duan Rong asked, his eyes bright and half of his drunkenness gone. Since Yang Zhen was injured, he was probably present at that ti.
"I was!" Yang Zhen replied angrily, "Those who attacked the prison... wore all black! He carried Xu Ruhu and ran right past , and I naturally tried to stop him! But as soon as we clashed, he kicked away... then he hit my calf with a shuttle dart..."
Yang Zhen spoke in stops and starts, and as he continued, the alcohol took effect, and he lay on the table, senselessly drunk...
Duan Rong shook him, saying, "And then? Why do you stop speaking right at the critical mont?"
Duan Rong shook him but could not wake him, so he let him sleep.
At that mont, Duan Rong noticed the shuttle dart lying by Yang Zhen’s foot. He picked it up and silently said, "Read the Artifact Spirit!"
Artifact: Shuttle Dart
Artifact Spirit Level: Not Ranked
Devouring Requirents: None
Devouring Effect: Entry Level Thousand-Handed Arhat
Duan Rong looked at this set of data and smiled slightly, realizing it was a hidden weapon technique.
The hidden weapon technique, like Lightweight Skill, belonged to the unconventional martial arts, and even though it’s just Entry Level, it’s still quite difficult.
Duan Rong blinked his alcohol-reddened eyes, suddenly rembering his persistent failure in devouring the Tree Spirit.
But if devouring the Tree Spirit failed, would devouring other Artifact Spirits succeed?
Duan Rong decided to give it a try and said, "Devour!"
The next mont, his eyes brightened. "I actually succeeded in devouring it!"
Duan Rong then recalled the ssage he got when the Tree Spirit devouring failed—the relevant area of the consciousness space was full!
"The relevant area is full! aning, the Artifact Spirit of a weapon and the Tree Spirit are not in the sa area within the consciousness space. Only the relevant area for the Tree Spirit was full, but the weapon’s relevant area is still usable."
Duan Rong speculated thus, and as the feeling of the alcohol and the discomfort after devouring the Artifact Spirit surged together, he soon fell asleep beside Yang Zhen...
In the latter half of the night, as the night wind roared, Duan Rong suddenly woke up from the ssy wine table. In his sleepy eyes, a strange light shone as he muttered to himself, "That... the one who practiced the shuttle dart... that silhouette..."
"That silhouette..." Duan Rong kept speaking, then suddenly stood up from the wine table with a face full of shock and said, "The one who rescued Xu Ruhu from the Great Prison... was Jie Lei!"
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