Chapter 11

One

People, both in the past and now, truly love ranking things.

The most common was the comparison of strength among the Eight Venerables and Six Kings (八尊六王), who possessed unparalleled martial arts.

However, what the common people in the marketplaces were most enthusiastic about was 'beauty.'

Women would argue over who among the Five Dragons was the most handsome man in the world.

Men would raise their voices, choosing one of the Three Peaks as the most beautiful woman in the world.

This trend quickly spread across the nation, and soon, each city began to have its own few handsome men and beautiful women.

In Zhejiang Province, where the Baiyun Escort Agency was located, there were three women known as the Three Flowers of Zhejiang (浙江三花).

Hua Lian Jian Dan Mu Hui, Jin Zhong Hua Jin A Lin, and Bai Lin Hua Jin Mi Huo.

Each of these women, with their unique charms, made the hearts of countless men in Zhejiang flutter.

If someone were to ask which of the three women was the most beautiful, it would be hard to give a quick answer.

But if asked who was the most graceful, one name would immediately come to mind.

Her name was...

Creak.

Neigh!

Just then, a carriage stopped in front of the main gate of the Baiyun Escort Agency, accompanied by the sound of a horse's neigh.

The fierce-looking driver, with a long scar from his eyebrow to his right cheek, turned to the inside of the carriage and spoke.

"Miss, we have arrived. Please get out."

Thud.

As soon as he finished speaking, the bodyguards standing in a row around the carriage became busy.

It was clear that the person inside the carriage was not of a light status.

The curtain of the carriage was pulled back, and a woman appeared.

She had a straight nose, eyes as clear and blue as a lake, and lips as red as cherries.

She was a woman of pure and graceful beauty.

At the moment when everyone's attention was already focused on the large and ornate carriage, the people watching let out simultaneous exclamations at the sight of the beautiful woman.

"Oh!"

"How can someone be so beautiful!"

"She's a fairy, a fairy!"

"It's Bai Lin Hua!"

"It's Jin Mi Huo from the Jin Family Estate, and she's here at the Baiyun Escort Agency!"

She was Bai Lin Hua Jin Mi Huo.

The only daughter of the Jin Family Estate and the most graceful of the Three Flowers of Zhejiang.

She discreetly looked around, and when she suddenly noticed the many people staring at her, she blushed in embarrassment.

Just as the commotion was about to grow louder, a man who gave off a black bear-like presence, the largest of the bodyguards, stepped forward.

He was Fang Haiyi, known as Jin Fu Hei Xiong (金斧黑熊), one of the most skilled martial artists in the Jin Family Estate.

Because he was also known for his short temper, the noise from the excited crowd naturally diminished.

"I will assist you."

Jin Mi Huo took the hand Fang Haiyi offered and carefully descended from the carriage.

But then, something happened.

"Don't, don't push me, ouch!"

Thud! Splash!

A dull sound and a splash of water echoed.

When people turned their attention, they saw a beggar child who had been pushed forward by the crowd and had fallen.

"Ah!"

The beggar child, whose face had been buried in the ground, turned pale.

"What, what do I do now!"

"Oh no! This is a disaster!"

Unfortunately, where the child had fallen was a puddle from last night's rain, and the splash of water had stained the hem of Jin Mi Huo's skirt.

It was clear that Jin Mi Huo's skirt was made of expensive silk, so the expressions of the onlookers changed to match the beggar child's.

"This scoundrel dares to!"

Fang Haiyi's face turned as dark red as his nickname.

"I'm sorry, really sorry."

The beggar child, kneeling, was crying and begging for forgiveness with his hands clasped together.

Fang Haiyi looked as if he was about to beat the child to death with his fist, which was as large as a pot lid.

"Wait a moment."

Jin Mi Huo, who had been quietly observing, stopped him.

She then approached the kneeling beggar child, helped him up, and spoke.

"Are you hurt? Take this and go get some medicine for your injuries."

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

When she handed a few coins to the beggar child, the onlookers were visibly moved.

"Wow! The daughter of the Jin Family Estate is truly virtuous by nature."

"That's right. It seems that beautiful people these days have good hearts."

"Looking at your wife, it seems that's true."

"No, where did this gentleman get the idea to talk about someone else's wife!"

Jin Mi Huo entered the Baiyun Escort Agency with Fang Haiyi and the driver.

As the gate closed, the voices of the crowd faded.

Once the people's gazes were no longer on her, she quietly called the driver.

Then, she whispered into his ear.

"...I understand."

The driver, with a cold look in his eyes, headed back out the gate.

He began walking in the direction the beggar child had gone.

"...Filthy things."

Jin Mi Huo was roughly wiping her hands with a handkerchief, as if they were contaminated with something dirty.

Two

The Qingyun Hall (靑雲殿), located in the center of the Baiyun Escort Agency, was the oldest building in the agency.

It had to be. When the Baiyun Escort Agency first opened, the Qingyun Hall was the only building that existed.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the entire history of the Baiyun Escort Agency was contained within the Qingyun Hall.

And this was a sentiment shared by the members of the agency.

The Qingyun Hall was used as a meeting room where the agency's leader and all the heads of the various divisions would gather for all major and minor matters.

Inside the spacious room, which could easily accommodate dozens of people, a long table in the shape of a 冂 was placed.

The center seat was reserved for the leader, but it was currently empty, so no one was sitting there.

However, Yu Jinxiang, sitting in the front row on the left, kept glancing at that seat.

'If it weren't for that Yu Xinyun, this seat would have been mine long ago.'

The more he looked at the empty chair, the more the suppressed anger within him rose, but Yu Jinxiang did not act rashly.

There was still a significant obstacle that prevented him from revealing his true intentions.

His gaze shifted to the opposite side.

At the front of the right row sat a middle-aged man with eyebrows as white as snow.

With his eyes closed, he waited quietly. This man was the deputy leader of the Baiyun Escort Agency and the head of the Baiyun Division, Bai Mei Jian Hao (白眉劍豪) Tao Jinwu.

A symbolic figure who had led the Baiyun Escort Agency alongside the previous leader, Yu Huoye, since their youth, and a swordsman with exceptional sword skills at the peak of the intermediate level.

It was not an exaggeration to say that a third of the current escort business was entrusted to Tao Jinwu rather than the Baiyun Escort Agency.

Moreover, his unchanging, upright character from his youth to the present day was enough to earn the respect of everyone in the agency.

'Hmph, so stubborn. Does he still think my father is alive?'

However, this was why Tao Jinwu was disliked by Yu Jinxiang.

Since the day Yu Xinyun had collapsed unconscious, Tao Jinwu had consistently rejected Yu Jinxiang's secret proposals.

Thud.

"Ha ha! Deputy Leader, you're here early."

At that moment, the door to the Qingyun Hall opened, and a large man appeared with a hearty laugh.

His size, larger than two strong men combined, and the solid muscles beneath his clothes made him look like a bear.

He was Luo Daixiong, the head of the Houyun Division.

Tao Jinwu, opening his eyes, replied with a kind smile.

"Have you arrived?"

"I'm sorry. My son was being slow, so I'm a bit late."

Luo Daixiong's excuse was followed by a robust young man standing a step behind him, who raised his voice in protest.

"Hey, why are you blaming me! It's because Father took too long in the bathroom, isn't it...?"

"Hey! Hurry up and greet Deputy Leader and Master Jinxiang."

"Ugh! Hello, Deputy Leader, Master Jinxiang."

Luo Daixiong's stern reprimand made his son, Luo Jianhuo, the deputy head of the Houyun Division, quickly greet Tao Jinwu and Yu Jinxiang.

Yu Jinxiang received the greeting with a forced smile, but his eyes were not pleased.

It was inevitable.

The heads of the Baiyun Division and the Houyun Division.

These two were the ones who did not support his appointment as leader.

'Why does this brat still greet that old man before me?'

Yu Jinxiang particularly resented Luo Daixiong, the head of the Houyun Division.

He had long given up on Tao Jinwu.

But Luo Daixiong, no matter how much he was tempted with money, beautiful women, and hard-to-find martial arts manuals, would not easily be swayed.

The reason was simple.

- The Houyun Division only serves a stronger lord.

It was due to the unique nature of the people in the Houyun Division.

The role of the Houyun Division in the Baiyun Escort Agency was entirely different from the other divisions.

It was a group formed to avenge their comrades with their lives if the escort mission failed due to bandits, pirates, or unexpected ambushes.

As a result, the members of the Houyun Division had a strong tendency to revere the strong.

'Tsk! Ignorant bulls. In the end, they will all end up under me.'

Just as Yu Jinxiang was barely suppressing his anger,

"Oh! Master Jinxiang, you're already here. As expected of the one who will restore the Baiyun Escort Agency to the top of the three major escort agencies in Zhejiang, hehe."

A man who could spout flattery without even wetting his lips sat down next to Yu Jinxiang.

Mao Taigui, the head of the Xiaoyun Division, a natural master of social skills.

Yu Jinxiang's face brightened at the sight of him.

Mao Taigui, along with Guo Zhushan, was a perfect part of Yu Jinxiang's power base.

"Welcome, Head of the Xiaoyun Division. You look particularly good today. Did you have a hearty meal last night?"

"Hehe, is that so? It must be because of your special care, hehe."

Luo Jianhuo's face briefly showed a look of disdain as he watched the two men converse, but it quickly disappeared.

At that moment, Guo Zhushan, who had been standing next to Yu Jinxiang, spoke.

"Since we are all ready, let's prepare for the short meeting before welcoming our guest."

Tao Jinwu spoke softly.

"Hasn't the eldest master come yet?"

Yu Jinxiang's expression crumpled at the words.

Mao Taigui, noting the reaction, continued in a smooth, slippery manner.

"Hehe, Deputy Leader, can't we just start? He's not in good health, and it's quite a journey for him to come here."

Mao Taigui did not even refer to Yu Xinyun as the eldest master.

The gazes of Tao Jinwu and Luo Daixiong met.

In that brief exchange, there was an unspoken understanding that they both thought Yu Xinyun would not come.

Especially since today's guest brought a problem that was closely related to him.

"Hmm, then..."

Just as Tao Jinwu was about to suggest starting the meeting,

"Is this the place?"

A confident man appeared in the open doorway. It was, of course, Yu Xinyun.

'...He's here.'

Yu Jinxiang, caught off guard by his unexpected appearance, ground his teeth audibly.

Wulin Family, Reincarnated Top Ranker