The next day, Zhao Ya, as usual, went to the Escort Agency early, planning to take a tour and meet the Chief of the Escort. If everything was in order, he would go home to practice martial arts.

But today, as soon as he entered the backyard, he heard someone talking inside the house.

"Chief Meng, the conditions our Hong Family is offering you are enough to prove our sincerity, so I hope you make a decision soon. After all, the situation is becoming increasingly chaotic, with bandits rampant outside the city."

"Even though your Changlong Escort Agency has some reputation, it's difficult to stand alone. You might as well join our Hong Family's camp to seize a hope in this troubled world."

The speaker obviously had excellent eloquence, speaking persuasively with great allure.

Standing in the courtyard, Zhao Ya's heart was moved by what he heard.

The Hong Family, as one of the three major families in the Inner City, was very powerful, and they once were the largest client of the Changlong Escort Agency.

Judging by the current words, the Hong Family clearly hoped that Changlong Escort Agency would join their camp.

This matter concerned the entire future of the Escort Agency and was closely related to himself, so Zhao Ya listened intently, wanting to know the Chief's attitude.

After a moment of silence, Meng Lei said.

"Thank you, Patriarch Hong, for your kind invitation, but our Changlong Escort Agency really has no intention of joining any camp. We just want to make a living with our own skills, so… please forgive us!"

"Alright then, since Chief Meng insists on refusing, we won't make it difficult for you anymore, farewell!"

Failing to recruit them, the speaker's tone turned cold and hard, immediately standing up to bid farewell.

Zhao Ya walked up to the veranda to watch and saw three people exiting the house.

The leader was a middle-aged man, wearing long robes with wide sleeves, sporting a goatee, looking like a scholar.

But Zhao Ya noticed the man's steady steps and shining eyes, indicating he was at least a Second Realm Martial Artist.

As for the two people following him, their palms were bright red, and their fingers short and thick, likely experts in Iron Sand Palm.

After watching the three leave from afar, Zhao Ya turned and entered the house.

Meng Lei was sitting in a chair drinking tea, and upon seeing Zhao Ya enter, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"Did you hear everything from outside just now?"

Zhao Ya nodded.

Meng Lei sighed deeply, "Alas, having relied on my Third Realm Martial Artist strength all these years to mediate among various forces to avoid getting too entangled with any party, we've developed the Changlong Escort Agency to this day without incident."

"Yet, I didn't expect us to end up being targeted by the Hong Family. Although they've been rejected for now, the chaos has begun, and the future of our Escort Agency will be difficult."

Zhao Ya remained silent.

Because he knew what Meng Lei said was heartfelt.

In this world, strength is paramount. Even Meng Lei, as a Third Realm Martial Artist, wasn't free, having to cautiously navigate between various forces to maintain balance.

This method might have worked before, but the increasingly chaotic world has broken this fragile balance.

"Will the Hong Family let it go just like this?" Zhao Ya asked.

Meng Lei shook his head, "I don't know, but no matter what, they still need to respect my Third Realm Martial Artist status, so I estimate after this, they'll at least stay quiet for a while."

Zhao Ya nodded and got up to leave.

At this moment, Meng Lei suddenly asked, "How's your progress recently?"

Zhao Ya didn't dare say that he had already succeeded in Membrane Forging, only mentioning slight progress but still far from advancing to the Third Realm.

Upon hearing this, Meng Lei sighed softly.

"Actually, I expected that. After all, with the Qi Blood Pill supply cut off and no more Exotic Beast Flesh, relying on a bit of leftover Great Nourishing Soup, it surely can't meet your cultivation needs. Under such circumstances, it's commendable that you're still making some progress."

"It's a pity this situation deteriorated too quickly. If delayed by a year and the Qi Blood Pill supply was ample, with your talent, you might indeed have a shot at breaking through to the Third Realm. Once successful, with two Third Realm Martial Artists holding the fort, even the Hong Family would have to think twice about acting against the Escort Agency."

"What a pity…" Meng Lei sighed again.

Zhao Ya also felt a heavy burden in his heart.

Even at his current pace, at best, he might have a chance to attempt a breakthrough to the Third Realm before year-end if everything goes smoothly.

Whether successful or not is still unknown.

If he fails the breakthrough, he'll have to rebuild his Qi Blood, which will take at least an additional month.

This is only possible because of Zhao Ya's Water Valley Essence Talent.

For an ordinary person, a failed breakthrough attempt would require at least another year to prepare Qi Blood.

Moreover, the success rate of a second attempt is much lower than the first, and after three tries, it's neglible.

Therefore, cultivators are very cautious about breakthrough attempts, with many preparing for three to five years before attempting a breakthrough.

This underscores the immense power of Zhao Ya's Water and Valley Essence Talent.

After staying for a while longer, Zhao Ya got up to bid farewell and went to the front yard to chat with the Porters before heading home.

In the following days Wuxiang City was calm, except for the rising grain prices, everything was as usual.

Zhao Ya's strength continued to grow slowly and steadily.

Until one day, the Escort Agency suddenly received a commission, which stirred up a storm in the entire Changlong Escort Agency.

The commission came from the Hong Family, to escort a batch of goods back from outside the city.

This was a normal task, but the key was that both the goods and the destination were very sensitive.

The goods to be escorted were a batch of weapons, and the destination was Iron Forging Manor.

"I think this commission is suspicious. Others don't know about our matter with Iron Forging Manor, but surely the Hong Family does. And why suddenly at this sensitive time escort a batch of weapons?" Lin Sheng spoke first.

Sitting nearby, Luo Qiang nodded in agreement.

"Exactly, I heard that outside the city is complete chaos now. The previously obscure Cyan Bamboo Ridge has become a major bandit force, and the official road is practically abandoned. Escorting such valuable weapons outside the city at this time is indeed risky."

Meng Lei said nothing, quietly listening until Lin Sheng and Luo Qiang finished before he turned to Zhao Ya.

"Ya, what do you think of this matter?"

Zhao Ya sighed, "This is clearly the Hong Family testing us, so my opinion is not to accept it."

Zhao Ya straightforwardly expressed his thoughts.

Meng Lei sighed at his words, "How could I not know it's the Hong Family testing us? But if we really don't accept it, the brand of Changlong Escort Agency might as well be ruined. At that point, the Hong Family could more blatantly force me to join them."

"But Chief...," Lin Sheng was about to speak.

Meng Lei waved his hand, then said solemnly, "I know what you want to say, but the Escort Agency hasn't had a commission for months, already in the red, so we must take this commission. As for the concerns you have…."

"I will personally escort this batch. Although the Manor Master of Iron Forging Manor is a Fourth Realm Martial Artist, we are entrusted to escort goods, not to start a fight. Besides, Iron Forging Manor was at fault in this matter with Wei Yu, so there shouldn't be any trouble. As for the bandits along the way…."

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