Chapter 9 - Starting the Escort Mission
Today, Ye Beizhi embarked on his first escort mission.
Fang Dingwu was explaining the escort mission guidelines to Ye Beizhi beside the escort carriage when a maid came over while carefully holding a package.
She handed it over to Ye Beizhi and said, "Miss Chi sent this to you, Young Master Ye."
Fang Dingwu cast a suggestive glance and a playful smile toward Ye Beizhi.
Ye Beizhi took the item. It was an intricate wooden box packed with osmanthus cakes and topped with a note that read:
Dummy, hurry back so that you can accompany me to see the shadow puppet show.
—Nanwei
Fang Dingwu keenly noticed Ye Beizhi's mouth slightly curve upward as if Ye Beizhi was actually smiling. Although subtle, it was still the first time he had seen Ye Beizhi’s happy expression.
Ye Beizhi carefully rewrapped the wooden box and nestled it within his clothes. He glanced toward Chi Nanwei's courtyard, then turned to Fang Dingwu and asked, "Brother Fang, when do we leave?"
Fang Dingwu gauged the carriage and said, "Once it's loaded, we’ll leave."
Before long, two burly escort guards brought a large elm chest over and set it down in the back of the escort carriage with a resounding thud.
Fang Dingwu stepped forward with two large locks, locked down the chest, and then entrusted each key separately to one of the two accompanying escort managers.
Following the standard procedures, Fang Dingwu finally explained to Ye Beizhi, "This elm chest is essential for our mission. It weighs over a hundred jin on its own. All of the valuable cargo is inside, secured with two locks, and the keys must be guarded separately. The chest absolutely cannot be opened during the journey."
With the explanation out of the way, Fang Dingwu took a triangular escort flag from a servant and planted it on top of the carriage. It proudly unfurled in the wind, displaying his name: "Fang."
Fang Dingwu then waved his hand, signaling, "Brothers! Let's hit the road!"
The escort carriage steadily headed out of the city. There were fourteen people on this escort mission, which was far more than what was typical for a regular escort mission. In addition to Ye Beizhi and the armed escort team leader, Fang Dingwu, there were two escort managers and ten armed escorts.
Fang Dingwu gave Ye Beizhi a look, suggesting he should follow him, and entered the carriage. Ye Beizhi frowned in confusion but followed him in.
When Ye Beizhi entered the carriage, Fang Dingwu was the only person inside. Still, Fang Dingwu said nothing, subtly beckoning him to come closer.
Ye Beizhi sat beside Fang Dingwu, who only then spoke in a hushed tone, "Brother Ye, there's something else I must tell you."
Ye Beizhi turned his head to look at Fang Dingwu.
Fang Dingwu gathered himself and continued, "Our mission is more complicated than it seems. We actually have a separate secret escort mission."
With that, he took a small cloth package from his sleeve and opened it to reveal a beautifully crafted jade box, which he cradled in his palm.
"This is the true cargo of this escort mission—the Transcendence Stone."
Fang Dingwu carefully opened the jade box, and a faint light emanated from within, revealing a naturally formed pearlescent gem. At first glance, the precious stone looked like an eyeball.
However, the outer layer of the pearl was translucent and speckled with tiny shimmering lights, while the core was jet black. Hidden within the ornate jade box, the Transcendence Stone resembled a piece stolen from the starry sky.
Fang Dingwu gulped again and said, "Legend has it that if this stone is embedded in a corpse, it can be revived. If used on a living person, it can extend their lifespan or even save someone on the brink of death... This is a truly priceless treasure.
Fang Dingwu carefully hid the Transcendence Stone in his clothes. "Normally I would never show this item to anyone, but Master Wu explicitly instructed me to explain the situation clearly to you, Brother Ye. You may not be aware, but I didn’t plan on inviting you on this escort mission. It was Master Wu who requested that you come along.
"As long as the secret of this hidden escort mission isn't leaked, the local bandits in the Green Forest will give us face and let us pass once they see the Fang escort flag. That might not be the case anymore because things have become chaotic recently."
Ye Beizhi tilted his head and asked, "Why?"
Fang Dingwu sighed.
"The weather is getting much colder so people from all around are seeking refuge inside the big city. The bandits in the mountains can't survive either if no one is around. If this continues, dozens or even hundreds of them are sure to starve to death.
"No one can guarantee they will still follow the unwritten rules when they’re desperate. If anything goes wrong, the loss of some cargo is a small matter, but the reputation of the Changfeng Escort Agency cannot be ruined under my watch."
By this time, they had reached the city gates and an escort manager had handed their passage documents over to the gatekeeper. Fang Dingwu lifted the curtain and glanced outside.
"In a few days, the first snowstorm will come. Although the government has started distributing porridge to the refugees outside the city, more people will still die."
Ye Beizhi peered past the curtain to see the dense cluster of tattered tents set up by the refugees. Unfortunately, the shabby shelters would find it difficult to survive the imminent snow as well.
Ye Beizhi made eye contact with a five or six-year-old little girl, who stood barefoot not far from the carriage.
The little girl was dressed meagerly and shivered slightly in the biting wind. She rubbed her bare feet together as she breathed warmth into her palms. Ye Beizhi lowered the curtain, unable to keep watching.
The carriage jolted, the manager had finished handling the paperwork and began moving again.
Suddenly, Ye Beizhi leaped out of the carriage.
"Hey, Brother Ye, where are you going?"
Fang Dingwu called from behind, but Ye Beizhi ignored him and quickly approached the little girl he had seen earlier. The little girl timidly stepped back and looked up at Ye Beizhi, who stared back at her.
“...”
"..."
The little girl was too scared to speak, and Ye Beizhi felt he should say something but didn't know how to start. They stared at each other until Ye Beizhi retrieved the box of osmanthus cakes from his clothes. He glanced at the box before he handed it to the little girl and declared, "It’s food."
The little girl hesitated, and at this moment, Fang Dingwu hurried over and grabbed the box full of osmanthus cakes. "Brother Ye! What are you doing!"
Ye Beizhi's gaze hardened, and he frowned as he looked at Fang Dingwu.
Fang Dingwu opened the wooden box, took out a few osmanthus cakes, and handed them to the little girl. "Take these and eat them quickly." He then straightened up to scan their surroundings, conspicuously placing his hands on the pair of sabres at his waist.
Those who noticed his gaze lowered their heads. Only after intimidating the crowd did Fang Dingwu pull Ye Beizhi back and explain, "Brother Ye, I was a bit reckless just now, please don't take offense. If you had insisted on giving the whole box of osmanthus cakes to her, you would not help her at all. In fact, you could have gotten her killed instead."
Despite hearing Fang Dingwu warnings, Ye Beizhi's brows were still furrowed in confusion.
"Brother Ye, look around you."
Ye Beizhi turned his head and looked around, examining the emaciated refugees everywhere. The girl who had received the osmanthus cakes was carrying them toward a man and a woman, presumably her parents.
The couple cautiously watched their surroundings while shielding the girl in their arms and urging her to eat quickly. All around, refugees cast greedy glances at the girl, only to quickly turn away when they realized Fang Dingwu’s group hadn't gone far.
Ye Beizhi narrowed his eyes as he reached for the hilt of his sword.
Fang Dingwu quickly grabbed his arm and reasoned, "Brother Ye, don't be impulsive. We shouldn’t kill anyone here. Look, she finished eating, so it's fine now. Let's go."
Hearing this, Ye Beizhi glanced toward the girl, whose cheeks were fully stuffed. When she saw Ye Beizhi looking over, she waved at him.
Ye Beizhi lowered his head and returned to the departing carriage.
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