Chapter 2: Luck Upgrade
Zhenyuan Escort Agency.
Seeing Lei Zhan completely leave, Old Ma leaned against a stone pillar with a worried expression.
"Young Master, that's three thousand taels of silver! How could you agree to it? Even if the Boss dotes on you, he'll take half your life when he returns."
Jiang Yuan sighed deeply. "Uncle Ma, do you think my father can still come back? For decades, we have been paying one hundred taels of silver to Heifeng Bandit Stronghold every year. Have they ever had any objections? But now?"
Jiang Yuan paused and continued, "Now they dare to come to our door and demand three thousand taels of silver. Don't you understand?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Old Ma was instantly struck as if by a heavy blow, his eyes vacant and lifeless.
Jiang Yuan shook his head, a bitter smile forming in his heart.
Originally, he was worried that when Jiang Zhenyuan returned.
His disguise might not necessarily work, after all, Jiang Yuan was his only heir.
Every move and gesture of his, every lift of his hand and step he took, Jiang Zhenyuan was more familiar with them than anyone else.
Even if he had all the memories, there would definitely be differences in the subtle details.
With Jiang Zhenyuan's ability to travel the martial world for many years, how could he not notice those subtle changes?
But now, it seemed that this worry was completely unnecessary.
However, he was now facing an even bigger problem.
The rumors from the outside world are likely to be true, Jiang Zhenyuan's escort this time might have really failed.
If he really had an accident, Zhenyuan Escort Agency would be in danger.
In the past few decades, Jiang Yuan's hard work had also accumulated some wealth for Zhenyuan Escort Agency.
But now, the strongest expert in Zhenyuan Escort Agency is the heavily injured Old Ma, only at the sixth level of the Body Tempering realm.
The other experts have all gone with Jiang Zhenyuan on the escort mission.
This situation is no different from a child holding gold in a bustling market.
And this world is not as safe as the previous life.
Once the news of Jiang Zhenyuan's accident is confirmed, it will definitely attract a pack of wolves to feast.
Lei Zhan's visit today is a clear sign, he definitely knows more than himself.
Thinking of this, Jiang Yuan's expression became solemn, and he fell into contemplation.
Just then.
A voice suddenly came from behind.
"Young Master, can giving three thousand taels of silver to Heifeng Bandit Stronghold help us get through the current crisis?"
Jiang Yuan shook his head. "No, that was just a temporary measure. We can't give them a single tael of the three thousand taels of silver. Once we show weakness, everyone will know that my father is in trouble and we will be devoured by the wolves."
"Young Master is right!"
A deep voice suddenly came from the wall.
"Who?" Old Ma immediately turned around to look.
Jiang Yuan also turned his gaze in the direction of the voice, his eyes suddenly narrowing.
He saw a thin figure, dressed in coarse linen clothes, a young man of about twenty years old standing on the wall, his body covered in bloodstains as if he had crawled out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
The most crucial thing was that, in Jiang Yuan's eyes, he was different from everyone else.
There was a layer of golden radiance enveloping him, a radiance formed by the convergence of golden hues.
[Detected thirteen strands of Luck power, absorb?]
At the moment Jiang Yuan saw this young man, a prompt appeared in his mind.
He quickly suppressed the waves in his heart.
Silently, he thought, absorb.
In an instant, those strands of golden radiance separated from the young man and continuously merged into Jiang Yuan's body.
Then Jiang Yuan opened his panel and took a look.
[Name]: Gu Mo
[Realm]: Seventh level of the Body Tempering realm (Blood Exchange)
[Innate Luck]: Sword God Talent (Purple), Innate Soul (Green), Proficient in Knife Techniques (White)
[Sword God Talent]: Extremely outstanding talent in swordsmanship, can be called a god among mortals, able to progress rapidly in all sword techniques.
[Innate Soul]: Naturally possesses a divine soul, exceptional five senses, and powerful spiritual strength.
[Proficient in Knife Techniques]: Has a good talent in knife techniques.
His pupils suddenly contracted.
It turned out to be a purple-level Innate Luck!
At the same time...
When Old Ma saw him, he was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Gu Mo, it's you!"
With his excited expression, he suddenly coughed violently.
Suppressing the urge to cough, he quickly asked, "What about the old master? How is he?"
Gu Mo shook his head slightly, holding the horse-cutting knife and leaping down from the wall.
As he landed, his figure staggered and his mouth twitched slightly.
"Gu Mo, what's wrong with you?"
He shook his head, "Just a minor injury."
Then he said to Jiang Yuan, "Young Master, I'm sorry, I failed to protect the master."
After speaking, he lowered his head and remained silent.
Upon hearing these words, Old Ma's eyes turned red, and his voice trembled as he said, "What did you say? The master..."
Gu Mo raised his head and said calmly, "Twenty miles away from Heifeng Mountain, we were ambushed by the Heifeng Bandit's leader and a mysterious expert at the eighth level of Body Tempering."
"The master fell there. More than twenty brothers went out together, but now only I have managed to escape."
Heifeng Bandit's leader, a mysterious expert at the eighth level of Body Tempering! Jiang Yuan's eyes immediately became extremely serious.
He was somewhat shocked. Why would such experts join forces to ambush Jiang Zhenyuan? What is the reason behind this?
He sighed slightly and patted Gu Mo's shoulder, "It's not your fault. Did my father leave any last words?"
"Yes!"
Gu Mo nodded and took out a brocade box from his pocket.
"Young Master, this is what the escort was really carrying. I suspect that their target was the cargo my master was escorting."
"The master told me that the people from Zhenyuan Escort Bureau can be lost, but the cargo cannot be lost. I hope you can deliver this item to its original owner in the future."
Jiang Yuan looked at the palm-sized brocade box in his hand, his expression couldn't help but change.
He had only heard of this kind of commitment in stories from his previous life.
There must be a reason why Zhenyuan Escort Bureau has grown bigger and bigger.
At this moment...
Old Ma, who was standing aside, remained silent.
He had followed Jiang Zhenyuan since his youth and received great kindness. From his youth to now, he had spent most of his life with him.
The depth of their relationship was beyond anyone's understanding.
At this moment, silence was the greatest lament.
After a long time, Jiang Yuan broke the silence.
"Uncle Ma, Gu Mo, go back and rest to recover from your injuries! We'll talk about everything tomorrow. Don't let your injuries worsen!"
"Yes, Young Master!"
Gu Mo nodded and helped Old Ma slowly leave.
In the courtyard...
[Name]: Jiang Yuan
[Cultivation]: Fourth level of Body Tempering
[Innate Luck]: Outstanding comprehension (green), strong physique (white, upgradeable)
[Luck Power]: 13 strands
After reading his own panel, Jiang Yuan's eyes lit up.
There has been a change!
But why does Gu Mo have Luck Power gathering on him?
Thinking of the distinguished purple-level Innate Luck on his panel, Jiang Yuan couldn't help but ponder.
The next moment, he dismissed his distractions, gathered his mind, and refocused on his own panel.
With a thought, strands of Luck Power slowly flowed into the white Innate Luck.
After a few breaths...
[Successfully consumed 10 strands of Luck Power, strong physique (white) evolved into extraordinary physique (green)]
[Extraordinary Physique]: Your physique is naturally strong, surpassing the ordinary. You have a higher talent in Body Tempering, both physically and mentally.