Li Jingzhong had originally thought that the other party wanted him to act as a mediator to broker peace, which indeed would have been difficult.
But it seemed they just wanted to hire escorts to go to the Spiritual Field.
"Do you want the disciples from my Martial Arts Hall to escort you to the Spiritual Field? However, these disciples joined the hall less than half a year ago; they haven't completed their training yet."
Chen Baiqing chuckled, "Who doesn't know or recognize the methods of Hall Master Li?
The disciples you have trained, even if it's been less than a year, are still better than those who have been messing around in sects for several years.
I heard that your first assessment has ended, and those disciples who remained must certainly be the elite.
Don't worry, I won't take them for granted.
For the elite disciples you select, each trip will be fifty taels, the same price as the Leader at the escort agency.
For the other disciples, thirty taels, more than what the ordinary Escort Masters get."
Li Jingzhong took a sip of tea and pondered for a moment, "Your timing is indeed good.
The talent level of these disciples isn't bad; in fact, they are among the best batches in recent years.
However, they all paid to learn martial arts in my hall, so it would be necessary for them to agree to this arrangement.
I'll call the most outstanding disciples, and let them decide for themselves whether to go or not."
Li Jingzhong had his servant call Han Zheng and the other four to discuss the matter of escorting the people from Shenghe Hall to the Spiritual Field.
Of course, he didn't mention the current situation of the Shenghe Hall, just that their escort was needed.
Out of the five, Guo Mingyuan and Song Tianqing immediately declined.
The Guo family was wealthy, and Guo Mingyuan was even a major client of Shenghe Hall; he didn't care about those fifty taels.
It was the same for Song Tianqing, whose daily net profit from his businesses exceeded fifty taels.
Lin Qing also thought it over and gave up.
His father was the County Government Chief Clerk, and although he wasn't as wealthy as the other two, he was still well-off.
He'd rather cultivate quietly than escort people for money.
Although Chen Zhao's family wasn't wealthy, his parents had still left him some assets, so he wasn't struggling financially.
Besides, traveling for trade had certain risks, and after thinking it over, he also declined.
However, Han Zheng directly said, "Disciple is willing to make the trip."
Cultivation could be pursued anywhere, but he truly needed the silver.
The ten taels of silver he had received from Ma Gui, even with his frugality, were now nearly depleted.
If his father were still alive, the monthly allowance likely wouldn't have been enough to support him anymore.
Guo Mingyuan glanced at Han Zheng with slight disdain.
Escorting for fifty taels? How could someone of his caliber compete with him?
After dismissing the other four, Li Jingzhong turned to Chen Baiqing with a smile, "This disciple is the one with the most solid foundation and the strongest in actual combat among this batch, perfectly suited for this trip."
Chen Baiqing also knew that Li Jingzhong wouldn't lie and nodded his head, "One person is a bit few, four would be better."
In most cases, escort agencies dispatch three to four people, which is sufficient.
Those scenarios where dozens of people escort a large batch of goods usually involve laborers transporting goods.
The Escort Masters are mainly responsible for intervening during crucial moments, not for transporting goods.
Having too many would be costly, making the escort more expensive than the goods themselves, which wouldn't be worthwhile.
"Master, what do you think of Li Sancheng? His foundation and strength are also quite good."
Han Zheng spoke up, recommending him.
He knew that Li Sancheng also needed money and would definitely be willing to make the trip.
Li Jingzhong thought about it and nodded, "Li Sancheng is indeed good, call him in to see if he is willing to go."
Li Jingzhong had a clear understanding of the disciples within the hall.
Although Li Sancheng was somewhat lazy, his strength could indeed be considered above average.
After Han Zheng called Li Sancheng over, he agreed immediately and gave Han Zheng a grateful look.
Having such a good opportunity and still thinking of him, he was truly like a blood brother!
Then, Li Jingzhong selected two more disciples whose families were not very well-off, but whose strength and foundations were very solid.
The four, led by Han Zheng, agreed to meet at the entrance of Shenghe Hall the next day.
After returning home, Han Zheng practiced as usual until midnight before preparing to sleep.
Before sleeping, he checked his current attribute status.
In the past half month, he had broken through twenty acupuncture points and one meridian.
His strength had only increased steadily, with no major breakthroughs.
[Name: Han Zheng
Cultivation: Postnatal Opening Meridian Realm (Cleared one hundred and twenty acupuncture points, five meridians.)
Martial Arts Skills: Postnatal Realm"Iron Elephant Skill"Skill Level(Result) (70%), Postnatal Realm"Vajra Fist"Skill Level(Result) 75%
Current State: Pain Insensitivity, Abundant Qi and Blood]
"The"Iron Elephant Skill"and"Vajra Fist"are almost perfect; I could break through after that.
But where do I get the materials needed for the breakthrough? Don't tell me I have to sacrifice parts of my own body or go out and kill people?"
Han Zheng rubbed his head, feeling somewhat headache.
Even if he wanted to become a murderous fiend, collecting Qi Blood Essence from killing wasn't that easy.
In Black Stone County, besides the Martial Arts Hall, other martial artists were either in sect clans or government offices.
After killing Wang Xiong, he almost got caught because of small clues. If he targeted others, it would only result in a full warrant and no place to hide in Black Stone County.
After pondering for a moment, Han Zheng no longer dwelled on it, as he needed to conserve his energy for the journey commencing tomorrow.
This was Han Zheng's first time leaving Black Stone County; he couldn't recall ever leaving the county in this life, having always been around the town.
The next morning.
Before Han Zheng had even gotten up, Li Sancheng came pounding at the door.
"Why are you here so early? And why have you prepared so much stuff?"
Han Zheng got a shock when he opened the door.
Li Sancheng was carrying luggage nearly as tall as a person—it almost looked like he was moving house.
"We're going to be away for quite some days; I need to prepare everything—pots, pans, ladles, I brought them all.
Those escort agencies, they bring way more than I do."
Han Zheng was speechless, "We're not from an escort agency; we're just in charge of protecting Shenghe Hall's caravan. With such a big family business, wouldn't they prepare these?"
"That's true."
Scratching his head, Li Sancheng unloaded most of his luggage, keeping only weapons and spare clothes. They set off following Han Zheng, also buying some steamed buns for breakfast on the way.
By the time Han Zheng and Li Sancheng arrived, the other two disciples from the martial arts academy were already there, and Shenghe Hall's caravan was beginning to assemble at the door.
There weren't too many people—about twenty staff from Shenghe Hall and eight horse-drawn carts.
Chen Baiqing, as the Store Manager of Shenghe Hall, naturally would not personally make the trip. He needed to stay in the county town.
The manager leading the team was a man in his seventies, named Chen Moshan, a distant uncle of Chen Baiqing's.
With the immense value of the spiritual medicine, Chen Baiqing of course wouldn't just trust it to outsiders to escort; definitely, a confidant had to be appointed.
Also on the trip was a forty-something doctor named Li Feng, a pharmacist from Shenghe Hall responsible for selecting the herbs.
Chen Baiqing gave a clasped-hand salute to Han Zheng and the other three, "Brother Han, we are troubled this time. You must bring the spiritual medicine back safely to Black Stone County."
"Don't worry, Manager Chen. Taking on someone's trust and loyalty is our duty; we won't let the name of Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy be tarnished."
Lead by Chen Moshan, the caravan finished preparing and started on their journey.
However, as they were passing the city gate, Chen Moshan suddenly asked the caravan to stop.
There was a group of beggars at the city gate, which was the busiest spot for people and caravans, so they usually gathered there to beg.
Chen Moshan walked up to the beggars and flashed three silver coins.
"Five hundred li outside the city, one silver per person. Who's willing to go?"
"Me! Me! Me!"
Many beggars swarmed to Chen Moshan, eagerly raising their hands.
Chen Moshan, somewhat disgusted, stepped back and chose three relatively healthy-looking beggars.
"You, you, and you, come with me."
Han Zheng asked in surprise, "What does this mean? Why are we taking three beggars with us?"
Chen Moshan glanced at Han Zheng with disdain, "I don't know what the Store Manager was thinking, letting you rookies, who barely know anything and have hardly ever left the county town, escort the caravan."
Then, without further explanation, he gestured for the caravan to start moving.
Han Zheng frowned slightly.
What is this old man's problem? As if he had a grudge against me?
This was only their first meeting; how could he have offended him?
Li Feng came over, smiling, "Don't mind him, Manager Chen is just upset with the Store Manager.
His nephew runs a small escort agency, and he initially wanted his nephew to come for just one hundred taels.
But the Store Manager thought his nephew's small agency was too weak, unable to even find a single mid-stage Postnatal martial artist, so he rejected him and turned to Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy instead."
Han Zheng suddenly understood.
So it was about blocking someone's financial path; no wonder the old man was displeased with them.
But Li Feng coming over to talk about this probably meant he wasn't on Chen Moshan's side.
"Pharmacist Li, why did Manager Chen just recruit three beggars into the caravan?"
"They are 'meat dishes'."
"Meat dishes? What do you mean by that?"
"It's literal."
Li Feng sighed, "These days, the world is chaotic. The greatest dangers to caravans are demons and bandits. Meat dishes are prepared for the demons.
Demons eat humans, and to avoid losses, it's enough to feed them well.
Thus, every time before setting out, the caravan picks a few people from the group of beggars to bring as meat dishes, usually paying one silver per person.
If encountered by demons, they turn into meat dishes; if not, the silver remains theirs."
Li Sancheng, who listened, turned pale, "Just one silver, and they sell themselves as dishes?"
Li Feng shook his head, "You youngsters, not running a household, don't know the cost of provisions.
These beggars live from meal to meal; one silver might just turn their luck, so they're no longer beggars.
Besides, it's not every time they encounter demons; rather than starve here, they take their chances."
Han Zheng frowned slightly, "But Manager Chen asked us to protect the caravan, yet he also prepares meat dishes. Then what's the point of us?"
"Of course, it's to guard against bandits. How many people can a demon eat? A few silver-paid meat dishes are enough to satisfy a demon.
But if bandits attack, that's thousands of taels worth of goods."
Li Feng patted Han Zheng's shoulder, "These are experiences. You'll get familiar after a few trips."
Han Zheng glanced at the beggars who knew they were going as meat dishes, potentially to be eaten by demons, yet were still elated.
His understanding of the current world deepened.
Human life was as cheap as chaff, distressingly so.