Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Something’s Wrong
Xie Yuan froze for a moment. ’Yin Yang Darts?’
Yin Yang Darts was a term within the Escort Agency trade. As the name suggests, a single escort mission is divided into yin and yang components: one overt, one covert.
The overt escort is a large, conspicuous procession. It can be a "face escort"—a decoy with fake goods—or it can be a real one, just not carrying the entire shipment.
The covert escort, on the other hand, is usually a small team traveling alone, or even just a lone rider. They carry the easily portable, valuable items, blending in with other travelers, making them nearly impossible to trace.
Thus, the covert escort is the true "core" of a Yin Yang Darts mission. It carries the most valuable items and is entrusted to the most capable and trustworthy individual, who travels alone to ensure the shipment’s safety.
Of course, some Escort Agencies take an unorthodox path, assigning a less conspicuous member as the covert escort for even greater stealth. But if they run into trouble, the outcome is hard to predict. The escort business is all about stability. Those who like to live on the edge might succeed for a time, but they rarely last long.
Since joining the Escort Agency, Xie Yuan had naturally learned the ropes, but he had never seen them employ this tactic before.
’Just how valuable is this shipment that it requires such a strategy?’
Moreover, the covert escort was often the more critical part. Taking the exquisite jade box, which was a size larger than his palm, and feeling its substantial weight, Xie Yuan secretly wondered, ’What kind of treasure could be inside?’
"Go on, open it. It’s in your hands now, anyway. This is Landlord Chang’s most prized possession. Half the value of this entire shipment is in what’s inside this box."
Seeing Xie Yuan’s curiosity, Zhao Xingyang casually flipped open the jade box for him without any ceremony.
’He’s already been entrusted with the covert delivery; what would be the point of holding anything back?’
A silvery-white radiance instantly illuminated the room, as if the moon itself had descended, even though it was still daytime.
The light was lustrous and translucent, bright but not blinding. Gazing at it was a soothing, centering experience.
Staring at the enormous pearl that emitted a lustrous glow—which was, aside from being crystal clear, larger than a fist—Xie Yuan was dumbfounded for a long moment before he exclaimed in shock:
"Is this... a Luminous Pearl?"
"That’s right. A Luminous Pearl the size of a fist."
Zhao Xingyang also shook his head with a sigh of admiration.
Xie Yuan was speechless. He never expected to encounter such a legendary treasure. ’A pearl this large is worth a fortune. Is Landlord Chang really willing to part with it?’
He voiced his question, and Zhao Xingyang replied:
"Our Escort Agency has been in business for decades and we’ve never lost a shipment. The Head Escort Master’s reputation is the best guarantee there is, so everyone trusts us. As for why he’s willing to part with this treasure, I have no idea. But I suspect this isn’t one of the truly legendary ones. The color seems slightly off."
Zhao Xingyang mentioned the differences in color he’d read about in ancient texts, and when Xie Yuan took a closer look, he saw that this pearl did indeed have a greenish tint and different markings. It was probably some kind of imitation or a cheaper substitute.
But even so, this was still a rare treasure of considerable value.
Xie Yuan asked in a low voice:
"Was Landlord Chang really a tomb raider?"
"Nine times out of ten. The old-timers say he got rich too fast. His antiques and paintings were all genuine, vintage pieces, each more authentic-looking than the last, and he had them in large supply. What kind of legitimate businessman has that kind of inventory?
"They say he was too flashy back in the day, and someone got some dirt on him. That’s why he had to sell off his assets and go into hiding, keeping a low profile to this day. Even this trip back to his hometown seems to be related."
Zhao Xingyang shared what little he had heard.
Xie Yuan nodded in understanding. ’So these wealthy men really do have stories to tell.’
’Then there must be some other reason for this escort job, for him to want to move the majority of his wealth.’
He didn’t know the reason, but it was certainly unusual. Zhao Xingyang must have smelled something fishy as well, which was why he had made such specific arrangements.
After all, no matter what Landlord Chang’s story was, he had paid a hefty price for the escort and the Escort Agency had accepted the job. That meant they would go through hell and high water to see the shipment delivered.
"Xiaoxie, you’ll leave through the back door before dawn. Keep a low profile the whole way. You can plan your own route, just make sure it’s both safe and fast. You don’t even have to tell me which way you’re going."
Zhao Xingyang ordered with a wave of his hand.
"Understood, Mr. Zhao. Longteng Escort Agency always completes its mission."
Xie Yuan said with a smile, cupping his hands in a salute.
After leaving the room, Xie Yuan hadn’t gone far when he happened to see Xu Mo the Head of the Escort and several other high-ranking Darts Masters.
Xu Mo often worked in the records office. At that moment, he was giving instructions to a few men. Seeing Xie Yuan approach, he nodded slightly and said in a serious tone:
"Xiaoxie, this is a critical mission. All of you must be on your toes."
"Yes, Xu the Head of the Escort!"
Xie Yuan gave a solemn salute, mentioning nothing of the Yin Yang Darts to anyone.
By the time everyone realized he wasn’t with the group tomorrow, he would already be on horseback, a hundred li outside of Yunzhao. The men of the Escort Team had fought side-by-side for years and were trustworthy, but keeping the secret even from your own people was an extra layer of insurance on top of insurance.
Back in his room, Xie Yuan quietly packed his bags, making careful preparations.
Clothes, wound ointment, a fire-starter, and dried rations.
He would fetch fresh water in the morning. The horses were tended to by a dedicated groom who brushed and fed them, so he could retrieve his mount directly from the stables at dawn.
He strapped on his long saber and placed his Moon-Cutting Axe into a long wooden box he’d had custom-made in the past few days. It was still conspicuous, but far better than carrying a giant axe openly on his back.
After one final check, he placed the jade box with the Luminous Pearl safely inside his travel pack, set it by his bed, and closed his eyes to rest. Xie Yuan silently circulated his Inner Power until just before dawn, at which point he rose, quietly left his room, and led his horse out through the Escort Agency’s rear gate.
Once out of the city, Xie Yuan spurred his horse eastward. He glanced at the horizon, where the pale white of dawn was just beginning to show.
’I’ve traveled this route recently; it’s safe all the way to Chicken Mountain, and alone, I’ll be light and fast. It’s just that area around Chicken Mountain... I’ll pass by the southern foothills, south of the Yushui River. I doubt those mountain bandits, however far their reach, can cross over to this side of the river.’
After a moment of thought, Xie Yuan made his decision. Although Zhao Xingyang hadn’t specified, since the main group was taking a northern route, it was naturally better for him to go south. It was an unspoken understanding.
It was just that Chicken Mountain was an annoyance, like a spike driven into the middle of his path.
’Once I’m strong enough, I’ll wipe them out myself,’ Xie Yuan thought. ’That’ll teach them for daring to block my way last time.’
Xie Yuan adjusted his direction, bearing slightly south, and urged his horse to a gallop.
The journey was peaceful and uneventful.
Riding alone and at great speed, Xie Yuan would have been hard to stop even if bandits had tried. To his own disbelief, he encountered no trouble at all. Traveling day and night, he arrived at Five-Mile Village in Yulin County, Landlord Chang’s hometown, in less than three days.
’I guess I can’t expect trouble every single time, can I?’
Seeing the imposing sign for the "Chang Manor," Xie Yuan felt his shoulders relax slightly.
Men who strike it rich always love to build a grand residence in their hometown. Even though Landlord Chang lived in Yunzhao year-round, he had still built a large estate here in Five-Mile Village, which appeared to house quite a number of people.
Xie Yuan dismounted at the gate and cupped his hands in salute to the porter who came forward to greet him:
"I am Xie Yuan, a Darts Master from the Longteng Escort Agency in Yunzhao, here to deliver a shipment home for Landlord Chang."
"A shipment from the Master? This is..."
The porter looked puzzled. He asked Xie Yuan to wait a moment and went to find the steward.
When the steward arrived, he was equally surprised. It wasn’t until they were in the study and Xie Yuan handed over the jade box that the steward was convinced. He muttered:
"The Master never said anything about this..."
He picked up a brush and thought for a moment before carefully wording a letter of confirmation for Xie Yuan, which completed the delivery.
As Xie Yuan left the estate, he glanced back over his shoulder, his brow furrowed.
’How strange. For such a major shipment, Landlord Chang didn’t inform his family in advance?’
He pondered this for a moment, recalling his earlier discussion with Zhao Xingyang, and felt increasingly that something was wrong.
A sense of unease grew in Xie Yuan. He immediately turned his horse around and galloped northwest, heading in the direction from which the overt Escort Team was supposed to be arriving.
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