Chapter 9. Guarding the Estate (2)

"Quite strict, isn't it?"

After applying for the guard duty, the security system of the Zheng family estate was as tight as that of the ammunition depot.

Servants, each with a horn around their neck and a spear in hand, were patrolling the perimeter.

"If it's this strict, I'll make sure to give you a generous guard fee."

"…It looks that way."

Right then, my senior, Zuo Junping, who was also assigned to guard duty, nodded and replied.

I had spent a little time with him, and he was very handsome, but he was a man of few words.

Should I say he's a bit heavy?

This type is the most tiring to work with when on guard duty, and I'm already worried.

Actually, I wanted to come with Sima Yu, but he refused, saying he was tired of guard duty.

Damn. Is there anyone who isn't tired of this?

"Is anyone there?"

Soon, a middle-aged man, the chief steward, came out. After showing him our guild badges and listening to his explanation, we discussed the guard duty schedule with him.

"So, we'll guard during the day today, and then at night tomorrow… This rotation works, right?"

"Yes, it does."

"Understood. And, by the way, can the Zheng family provide us with accommodation? It's a bit troublesome to go back and forth to our homes."

It wasn't that far, but it was too much trouble to go home after guard duty. Fortunately, the chief steward promised to provide us with the servants' quarters.

"And one more thing… I want to know clearly about the potential threats."

This was the most important part of this contract.

I only knew that the second son of the Juejian Sect was stalking someone, but I didn't know what kind of person he was.

The chief steward frowned and said in an annoyed tone,

"Really, that brat has caused us so much trouble. I won't go into the details, but I'll show you what he looks like."

The chief steward took out a portrait from his robe and showed it to us. The person in the portrait was… no, he was disgustingly handsome.

My senior, Zuo Junping, was handsome too, but in a different way. If Zuo Junping was a bit like an actor, this guy was like an idol from TV.

'His features are so delicate… He's the type that would drive older sisters crazy.'

As soon as I saw the portrait, I felt a surge of animosity towards him.

"This guy is fatally handsome."

"Fatally? He's more like a heartbreaker. Tsk."

The chief steward clicked his tongue and continued,

"Do you know how much trouble I had? Because of that lunatic, it was incredibly difficult to clean up the mess."

"I can imagine."

"Damn it! But, speaking of which, the head of the family immediately ordered all the security guards to be replaced. But how could I do that overnight? We don't even have the manpower."

"You have a point."

When the boss makes an emotional decision, the subordinates suffer.

"So, no matter how angry he was, I had to persuade him to think rationally. I managed to patch things up, but now he's wandering around this area again. How can my heart not be torn apart?"

"I understand your frustration."

"At least the Baiyun Escort Agency is sending people to help, or I would be in real trouble. My heart is burning. It's burning."

The chief steward seemed to have a lot of pent-up frustration, and he vented it all. I nodded and chimed in, "Yes, yes, I understand. That guy is really a bad one!"

After listening to his complaints for a while, I couldn't hold back my question any longer.

"But, what is this guy's martial arts level?"

I pointed at the portrait. The chief steward's demeanor instantly turned serious. Zuo Junping, who had been watching silently, also became more serious.

I hoped Zuo Junping would answer, but he remained silent, as if he was on a vow of silence.

"If he's a high-level expert, it might be difficult for us to handle him. We are guards, not professional warriors."

In the martial world, people usually called high-level experts are almost in the realm of superhumans. They can take on dozens of guards like us alone.

They are in a different league from us low-level guards, true killing machines, monsters with different blood.

So, I honestly stated my position.

It's not a good business practice to show weakness to a client, but if it's not possible, it's not possible.

Among the countless martial artists, only a handful are called high-level experts.

There are various criteria, but generally, when someone can freely emit their internal energy (neiqi) externally, they are considered a high-level expert.

When one can freely project their internal energy externally, they can use techniques like sword qi. To reach this level, one must undergo unimaginable training for a long time.

Even former national team athletes would stick out their tongues and run away after a few years of such harsh training.

Of course, for me, who has only two years of internal energy, using sword qi is out of the question. It would take at least ten years of internal energy to achieve that.

The chief steward cautiously replied,

"I'm not an expert in martial arts, but I don't think he's at that level. He doesn't even have a nickname. You just need to guard the perimeter."

"Then, can we limit our duties to perimeter guard duty?"

"Yes. If the horn is blown, the experts we have on retainer will respond. You don't need to waste time; just blow the horn and run away immediately. We have one of the famous ten experts from Hubei, Fan Tianbai, who will handle the situation."

I nodded, even though I hadn't heard of him before. Maybe I just didn't know.

The explanation was over, and I subtly gave Zuo Junping a look to see if everything was okay. He simply nodded.

I guess that means it's fine.

"Then, please give us the contract."

I read the contract the chief steward handed me and quickly signed it. The terms were 100 copper coins for a six-hour day shift and 150 copper coins for a six-hour night shift, which wasn't bad.

I signed my contract and turned to Zuo Junping, but he hadn't even read his yet.

"Senior, is there any problem? You should read the contract…"

"…I'm fine. You can sign for me."

"What?"

What does he mean by "I'm fine"?

I couldn't scold my senior, who had his arms crossed and refused to speak, so I decided to sign for him.

After this rare experience of signing someone else's contract, I shook hands firmly with the chief steward, and we decided to check the guard area.

* * *

While waiting for a servant to show us the guard area and drinking tea, Zuo Junping spoke softly.

"…Pay close attention to the areas this time."

"Uh… What do you mean?"

"This job. It's more important than you think."

Suddenly, what? It sounds ominous.

I came here for a part-time job, so what's so important?

"Is there something more to this?"

"Actually, it's on the orders of Chief Jiang. He wants us to check if we can take over this business."

"Ah!"

So, the Baiyun Escort Agency had ulterior motives in responding to the Zheng family's request. I finally understood the situation.

The Zheng family's protection of their business and the security of this huge estate, which is about the size of a university campus, requires a significant number of martial artists. At least dozens, right?

However, it's not easy for a merchant family to manage such a number of martial artists. That's why they've been outsourcing to the Juejian Sect.

But the Juejian Sect, which has been handling the dispatch of these martial artists, caused an incident.

From the Zheng family's perspective, they naturally need a backup plan.

Even if they don't terminate the contract, they must be eager to prepare alternatives and gradually make changes.

If the Baiyun Escort Agency appears at that moment?

"That's why you're here, Senior."

"Right. He wants us to check it out."

In other words, Zuo Junping is here to assess the situation.

To see how much money the Baiyun Escort Agency can make from protecting the Zheng family and whether it's worth it.

If the Baiyun Escort Agency gets involved in protecting the Zheng family's business, the Juejian Sect will be in a dire situation, but the Zheng family has a reason to let the Baiyun Escort Agency in.

It seems the Juejian Sect has already withdrawn from protecting the Zheng family's main estate.

I understand why Sima Yu withdrew. He probably found the situation too complicated.

"What a brother. Really."

"This job is bigger than I thought."

"Indeed."

I'm just here for the part-time job, so it doesn't matter to me, but it feels a bit strange to hear that this is part of the company's important new business project.

Zuo Junping, who was drinking tea, spoke again.

"The biggest threat is Bai Sheng."

"Bai Sheng… The second son who caused the incident?"

"Yes. I've heard of him. He doesn't have a nickname, but he's not ordinary. He's a prodigy, receiving permission to use his sect's name at the age of 15."

This is information I need to pay attention to.

In the martial world, being able to use your sect's name means your skills have been recognized by your master.

In martial novels, you often see scenes where characters introduce themselves with, "I am So-and-so from the So-and-so Sect. Who are you?"

I learned from experience that this is not just a casual greeting. It means, "I am someone who has been recognized by my sect. Do you have what it takes to stand against me, kid?"

When you first join a sect, you can't leave the sect's premises until you have enough skill. If a disciple goes out and gets beaten up, it reflects poorly on the sect.

If rumors spread that a disciple from a certain sect is always getting beaten up, it would mean the sect is incompetent, and they would have to close down.

So, underperforming disciples are either not allowed to leave the sect or are forbidden from using the sect's name if they do.

If a disciple leaves without permission and uses the sect's name, they will be caught by the tracking team and punished severely, often becoming a disabled person.

However, once a disciple's skills improve and they meet the strict standards of the sect, they receive permission to leave the sect freely.

From then on, they can introduce themselves as "So-and-so from the So-and-so Sect."

In other words, receiving this permission means the master recognizes that the disciple has the skill not to disgrace the sect's name.

It usually takes about 5-6 years of training to achieve this, and in famous sects, it can take over 10 years.

Even in minor sects, this is a significant issue related to the sect's honor, so the permission is not given lightly.

Receiving this permission at 15?

Bai Sheng is not an ordinary person.

"Then, we need to include this in our assessment."

"Indeed. I hope we don't run into him if we can help it."

I cautiously asked a potentially sensitive question.

"If you were to face Bai Sheng, Senior, what do you think would happen?"

Zuo Junping thought for a moment and shook his head.

"There are no absolutes in the martial world, but… it would be tough."

…Maybe I should practice blowing the horn quickly.