Jiang Ping stepped out of his house, taking a deep breath.

It felt like he was shedding his shackles and about to embark on a new life.

But the thought of delaying his martial arts training troubled him.

"If I keep saving money by doing hard labor as before, it will take four more years, leaving only four years of prime martial arts training time."

"Is there a quicker way to make money?"

Jiang Ping walked aimlessly, lost in thought.

"Robbery? Becoming a bandit?"

"No, in this flourishing dynasty, the imperial family and noble clans are powerful. Anyone daring enough to live that life is already famous. Even if I train in martial arts, as a novice, I'd probably get beaten to death on the first day."

"Becoming a gigolo?"

Jiang Ping recalled a coworker who frequented male brothels mentioning that gigolos earned quite a bit, making fifty percent more than women in regular brothels.

But the coworker also said that gigolos were all fair-skinned, with tender flesh and long legs, and quite handsome.

He looked at his own dark-skinned body and thought better of it.

Although Jiang Ping was confident in his looks, he wanted to train in martial arts, which required a robust spirit and energy. Overindulgence could harm his body.

His stomach growled.

"Let's eat first." Jiang Ping touched the ten coins he had left and headed toward the bustling street.

......

In this era of prosperity, the nights in Yangcheng City were lively and bustling.

Jiang Ping found a noodle shop and ate while pondering ways to make money.

But by the time he finished his noodles, he still had no idea.

He chuckled bitterly and shook his head slightly.

If making money were that easy, he wouldn't be doing hard labor.

"The key is still lacking strength. If I became a martial artist..."

Jiang Ping murmured.

The Dali Dynasty governed through martial prowess, and practicing martial arts was almost the best path to advancement.

The martial halls in Yangcheng City were thriving, never short of business.

But now, alone and without resources, joining a martial hall was difficult.

"If only I could train in martial arts while earning money."

Jiang Ping muttered, suddenly pausing.

He remembered something.

The Four Seas Escort Agency was recruiting new escorts.

He had done odd jobs for this agency before and knew a bit about its workings.

Not to mention, any escort who could take on a job earned at least a hundred coins per trip.

When he learned of this, he was filled with longing.

But when the agency actually started training new escorts, Jiang Ping hesitated.

The reason was simple: escorts traveled far and wide, often encountering danger.

Of the few low-level escorts he knew, none had an intact body.

In this line of work, the pay was good, but it was also dangerous.

However, because it was a time of peace, there were fewer bandits, and casualties were rare.

"I don't have many options left. Can I really wait four years?"

Jiang Ping pondered.

Continuing with hard labor meant starting from scratch, hoping to save enough for martial hall fees in four years, without falling ill or having any accidents.

It also meant wasting four more years of prime martial arts training time.

But joining the escort agency would be different.

The Four Seas Escort Agency had a Nourishing Life Art. Mastering it could make one a martial artist.

Every escort had to learn it.

It fit Jiang Ping's idea of training in martial arts while earning money.

"But the Nourishing Life Art is ultimately just that, not as effective as the Stance Art from the martial halls. Few in the Four Seas Escort Agency have successfully cultivated Blood Qi with it."

Jiang Ping was troubled.

The agency's conditions suited his current predicament, but the Nourishing Life Art was notoriously difficult to master, and the dangers of escorting made him hesitant.

After much thought.

Jiang Ping's eyes showed determination.

"Let's do it!"

"The agency gives a six-month buffer period to improve skills. When escorting, I'll choose simpler, relatively safer jobs. Once I've earned enough, I'll immediately go to a martial hall for further training."

"Six years since crossing over, without any special advantages, there's no point in avoiding the Martial Dao. The golden age for martial arts training can't be wasted. When you're young, you have to take risks. Fortune favors the bold!"

"Customer, are you in some kind of trouble?"

The noodle shop owner, seeing Jiang Ping's resolute expression, couldn't help but ask.

"No."

"Then are you seriously ill?"

"Who are you cursing!"

"Doesn't make sense."

"Get lost, I'm going to the Four Seas Escort Agency to become an escort."

"Oh, I see. I wish you success and to become a renowned master."

"That's more like it."

"Don't leave yet, customer, you haven't paid."

"Oh."

......

Standing before the agency's gate, Jiang Ping took a deep breath and knocked.

After a moment, a young servant opened the door.

After explaining his purpose, the servant led him inside, saying:

"If it were someone else, it might not be so easy to get in. The agency does background checks when training new escorts, preferring those with a clean history."

"But Brother Jiang is different. We all know you and your reputation. I remember Escort Master Yang even invited you once."

Jiang Ping nodded, saying nothing more.

In the years since crossing over, if nothing else, he had built a reputation for being diligent and reliable.

He had met several escorts while doing odd jobs at the agency, so he had some acquaintances.

Unfortunately, with the changing of the guard, those escorts had retired.

This was one reason he hadn't wanted to come here initially.

But only a few days later, Jiang Ping was here.

He had no choice. To train in martial arts, he had to take a chance. Who knows, it might just work out.

At this moment.

The escort agency was brightly lit, and the scene inside was clearly visible.

A path paved with pebbles stretched out, with flowerbeds on either side filled with clusters of golden chrysanthemums. In the distance, corridors, pavilions, and streams were arranged harmoniously.

To read the uncut version, go to [pawread.com].

Apart from the government office and a few martial halls, the Four Seas Escort Agency was the most impressive place Jiang Ping had seen in Yangcheng City.

Of course, this wasn't his first visit, so the scenery was no longer novel to him.

The servant led him past the Martial Training Ground, through a moon gate, and into a reception hall.

There were already people present in the reception hall.

Jiang Ping saw three burly men dressed similarly and with similar complexions to his own.

They were likely in the same situation as him.

Choosing to become escorts, either for the money or, like him, hoping to use the Nourishing Life Art to open the door to the Martial Dao.

Without exception, they were from poor backgrounds, only capable of physical labor.

After all, even his younger brother knew that to train in martial arts, one had to go to a martial hall. Anyone living comfortably wouldn't choose to become an escort.

Jiang Ping was also making this choice out of necessity.

"Chief Escort Liang."

Jiang Ping stepped forward, standing in line with the three burly men, and respectfully greeted the middle-aged man seated in front.

He was familiar with the agency's structure and the names of several well-known escorts.

This Chief Escort Liang had been escorting for thirty years, and his martial prowess was among the best in the agency.

The chief escort glanced at the newcomers and nodded slightly, having already learned of Jiang Ping's background from the servant.

A local of Yangcheng, and a reliable one at that, naturally made him an ideal candidate for the agency's new escort training.

But as per protocol, information still needed to be registered.

After Jiang Ping completed the registration, Chief Escort Liang produced a contract.

Jiang Ping looked it over; it was mostly agency rules, with a focus on the employment period—ten years!

Of course, it was said that training new escorts required the agency to invest money, so they wouldn't let newcomers leave easily.

He paused briefly, then signed, stamped, and sealed it.

If he could truly achieve something in the Martial Dao, the contract would be like waste paper.

Even if not, once he earned enough, he could train at a martial hall while continuing to escort.

The agency didn't oppose this, as they also hoped their escorts would be as strong as possible, especially since it didn't cost them any money.