As the Grand Sect Leader of Cat Immortal Hall, inside and out of Linjiang County, there's no temple or hall that Xu Qing doesn't know about.
At this moment, Xu Qing's left hand was tucked inside his sleeve, quietly cultivating the yin energy, while his right hand pulled the reins, riding a Five-Colored Steed at full speed, soon arriving outside a small temple.
He dismounted, and rainwater splashed out from the wide reed coat and hat.
Inside the temple, a few beggars were curled up in the corners. A group of escort masters gathered around a newly lit fire.
Xu Qing glanced over and found them quite familiar—weren't they the Young Master of the Taian Escort Agency!
When the escort team seeking shelter from the rain saw Xu Qing, the Town Guarding Escort Master immediately gave a look to the surrounding people.
Everyone silently positioned a veiled woman to the innermost spot, leaving Xu Qing unsure what to say upon seeing this scene.
Do I really look like a bad guy?
Coming before the group, Xu Qing's gaze fell on a rolled-up straw mat behind them.
"Can you all make some room? I'm here to get someone."
Clang—
As soon as Xu Qing finished his words, the escort masters drew their knives and swords, ready to fight at any disagreement.
"Friend, this person can't be taken!"
They shielded the woman standing just one step away from the straw mat.
Xu Qing raised an eyebrow and said, "You're escorting your client, and I'm taking mine. Our paths shouldn't cross—why can't I take them?"
While speaking, Xu Qing removed his hat and pointed toward the straw mat inside, "Young Master, we're all acquainted. The one I'm picking up is inside that straw mat, not the person you're protecting. I suppose the mat isn't your cargo, right?"
Xie Yunyan looked at Xu Qing, feeling he was familiar but couldn't immediately recall, given that Xu Qing's current demeanor differed much from the previous Silver Armored Corpse incident.
It was the sharp-eyed Gold-Hanging Escort Master, after half a year, who recognized Xu Qing.
"Are you the Shopkeeper dealing in dead people's business?"
"Dead people's business?" Xie Yunyan asked in confusion.
The Gold-Hanging Escort Master leaned close to Xie Yunyan, casually explaining, "Master, you forgot. Half a year ago, we took Mr. Feng's contract, lost a squad of escorts, and it was this Shopkeeper's cargo we transported. Young Master even broke an arm because of it, recovering only after half a month. How could you forget?"
Remembering the losses, Xie Yunyan instantly recalled.
"Master, I feel this person clashes with us; let's not deal with him directly. If he wants that mat, then clear a path for him quickly to avoid bad luck..."
Xu Qing's eyebrows twitched; they truly did not consider him an outsider—where do you talk about someone so openly?
"Ah, it's Shopkeeper Xu, long time no see."
Xie Yunyan offered a polite greeting and then gestured for everyone to clear the way.
Escorts roam the world, crossing mountains and bridges, securing money and goods all relies on reputation in the martial arts world.
Encounter evil guests, I raise my power; meet acquaintances or good guests, and I clear a path.
Seeing the group making way, Xu Qing cupped his hands and approached the straw mat.
He opened the straw mat, revealing the corpse of the Wang family's old lady.
Nearby, the frail woman who had been sitting by the mat cried out in shock.
Xie Yunyan asked in surprise, "Shopkeeper Xu, is this..."
Xu Qing replied casually, "A temporary burial ground isn't necessarily a wild temple, but a wild temple can serve as one. People in these yin-based trades, Young Master, should have heard some of this."
"This person is my client, and like the living client you're escorting, except mine is deceased and yours is alive, that's all."
Xie Yunyan nodded and added, "The rain outside is heavy, Shopkeeper Xu, you might as well wait for it to stop before leaving; there's a fire here, you can ward off the dampness."
"No, the family of the old lady is waiting. I need to return to set up the spirit hall and perform rituals. It's never good to delay for long."
Corpses aren't like living people; they easily decay as time passes. Xu Qing saw the old lady had been dead for at least two days, and since the Wang family's sister was waiting at the shop, staying outside any longer was unsuitable.
Xu Qing took off the raincoat and draped it over the old lady's body, showing more regard for the corpse than for himself.
The escort masters watched as Xu Qing covered the corpse with the raincoat, then picked it up and disappeared into the stormy rain.
See, this is what dedication looks like—that's dedication!
Leaving the small temple outside the city, Xu Qing rode the horse back the way he came.
Midway, he casually checked the old lady's lantern.
Compared to the Wang family's sister's narrative, the story told by the corpse was more detailed, more real.
The first half of the old lady's life was ordinary; she was just a regular farmer's wife, living a life where men plowed and women wove. Xu Qing gave a quick read and focused on the incidents of the past two years.
One day, Wang Liang returned with a few people of extraordinary demeanor, their noble origins apparent at a glance.
The old lady didn't know these people, only thought they were friends her grandson made, and when it was time to eat, she specifically killed an old hen to entertain these distinguished guests.
During the meal, she heard the leading little fat one mention heroes of the world and men's ambitions, talking about treacherous ministers stealing the mandate, wanting to extend righteousness across the world and save the people from calamity...
The old lady didn't quite understand, but her grandson was thrilled, and the next day, he packed up, made arrangements at home, and left with the chubby one.
Xu Qing recognized the chubby one—who else but Prince Zhu?
This chubby one was generous indeed; before leaving, he left the Wang family two hundred taels of silver and a crippled old man.