Chapter 125 (2): Kill!

"Very good. Have any of the escort parties run into any trouble on their assignments?"

"There's been some trouble, but nothing major. The Protectionists and Guardians have ensured that there are no particularly powerful bandits in the area, and we've made agreements with the larger bandit dens in the area, so they're not going to pose us any problems.

“Besides, very few people dare to try and mess with us nowadays. The three organizations that dared to attack us in the past have all been completely wiped out by a group of mysterious warriors, and all of their wealth has been delivered to our escort agency."

"A group of mysterious warriors?"

Fang Che recalled that those three organizations were places that even he didn't dare to go, and he was contemplating reporting them to the One Heart Church to have Yin Shengong take care of them, but it seemed that this wouldn't be necessary.

"They were warriors sent by our clans, and they left immediately after taking out those organizations."

"Good job!" Starlight praised.

The longer he ran this escort agency, the more pleased he became with his idea to start it in the first place.

Theirs had to have been the only escort agency in the world to be protected by both the Guardians and the Church of the Self-Righteous!

"From here onward, our top priority is to prepare for the main church's assessment," Fang Che said. "Have any of you received any news on this matter from your clans?"

"We've been constantly nagging our clans, but it seems they truly don't know anything aside from the fact that the assessment teams were sent out around half a month ago," Zheng Yunqi replied with a frustrated look on his face.

Starlight was also feeling rather frustrated.

It's already been half a month? Are people from the main church always so slow in everything that they do? It's already been close to two months since Yan Beihan promised me the divine metal and Golden Vein Fruit, and I haven’t received anything!

"How long would it take you to return to the main church from here?" Fang Che asked.

"If we go at full speed without rest, we can reach the New Chu Nation in three days and three nights, and from there, it'll take us somewhere between eight to twelve days to reach the headquarters of the main church," Zheng Yunqi replied.

This answer left Fang Che feeling rather perplexed.

The assessment teams had to have consisted of warriors far beyond Zheng Yunqi's cultivation base, so they definitely should've been here by now.

***

Sure enough, the assessment teams from the Church of the Self-Righteous had already arrived at the prefectural city long ago, but they had been instructed to remain outside the city until further notice.

Apparently, a new leader was on his way, and he would delegate some instructions to them upon his arrival.

***

Before the assessment team from the main church had even arrived, there was already trouble brewing for the Unmatched Escort Agency.

At around dusk, a pair of azure-robed figures arrived at the escort agency. Their collars and belts were both yellow, as were the tassels attached to the hilts of their swords.

"Is Head Escort Yin Xiu here? We are from the Mountain Moving Sect, and we would like to meet him."

Both men appeared to have been around thirty years of age, and they spoke in a polite and well-mannered tone, but there was a rather conceited look on their faces.

"Please wait a moment."

The guards at the entrance hurriedly rushed inside to report to Fang Che.

Starlight and the others were in the midst of their meeting, and they were all rather taken aback by this news.

What are people from the Mountain Moving Sect doing here?

"Invite them inside," Starlight instructed.

Shortly thereafter, the two Mountain Moving Sect disciples made their way into the guest hall in a graceful fashion, and they were attended to by Zheng Yunqi and the others, while Starlight remained in the main hall.

"These people came here a few days ago as well, Head Escort," the guard informed. "I remember them because all they did was stand at a distance and stare at our escort agency from afar, and I found that strange, so I remembered their faces."

A contemplative look appeared on Starlight's face upon hearing this.

They came here a few days ago? Were they hesitating about something? Have they arrived at some type of decision today? Is there any way I can use these people to my advantage?

The more Fang Che thought about it, the more convoluted his thoughts became. In the end, he arrived at a decision.

Screw it!

He made his way directly into the guest hall as he greeted, "Welcome! My apologies, I was busy with something just now."

"Greetings, Head Escort Yin Xiu. We've heard much about you. Allow me to introduce ourselves: I am Fei Yibin, and this is Yue Changhai. As you've likely been informed, we are both from the Mountain Moving Sect."

"Welcome, Brother Fei, Brother Yue. Quick! Bring on some tea for our esteemed guests! May I ask the purpose of your visit? Our Unmatched Escort Agency is a close partner of the Mountain Moving Sect, so if you have any request, feel free to state it."

"Honestly, I had no idea that our Mountain Moving Sect had handed out so many identities, and that all of you have started this escort agency," Fei Yibin said with a faint smile. "From the looks of it, business is booming. You must've worked hard to achieve all of this, Head Escort Yin."

"I certainly can't take sole credit for this, it's all thanks to everyone's collective efforts," Starlight said with a smile.

"You're far too modest, Head Escort," Yue Changhai chuckled. "Let's not beat around the bush any longer. All of you were only able to establish this escort agency thanks to the identities handed out by our Mountain Moving Sect, yet our sect hasn't benefitted from this at all, and I believe that needs to change. You and I are both aware of the dirty little secret this place is hiding, after all."

Zheng Yunqi, Zhao Wushang, and Zhou Mei'er were very displeased with this thinly veiled threat.

"So you just want a cut of our profits, right?" Zhao Wushang sneered. "I didn't know yours was a sect of shameless beggars!"

"Please be more respectful," Fei Yibin said with a dark expression. "Our Mountain Moving Sect is not one to be swayed by mere riches."

Meanwhile, Fang Che had already sent a message to Yin Shengong.

"Master, two people from the Mountain Moving Sect have come to visit, and judging from the looks of it, they want to take over our escort agency."

Yin Shengong was in the middle of a meeting when he received this message, and he immediately flew into a rage, smashing the table to bits!

All of the over forty high-ranking One Heart Church members were given a massive fright by this violent outburst.

Yin Shengong didn't have time to offer them an explanation as he immediately replied: "Try to find out exactly what it is that they want, and make sure to keep me updated."

Immediately thereafter, he ordered, "All warriors at and above the Sovereign tier, assemble here and await further instructions."

A dark look appeared on his face in anticipation of the coming storm.

"Yes, Master. The two Mountain Moving Sect disciples are at the escort agency right now, and I'll make sure to keep you updated."

***

At the escort agency.

"Our Unmatched Escort Agency is just an ordinary escort agency that earns nothing but money. If the Mountain Moving Sect is not interested in riches, then I struggle to see what you could possibly want from us," Zheng Yunqi said.

"Our sect is not tempted by riches, but that doesn't mean that we have no need for money," Fei Yibin said. "Our sect has a huge population of disciples and family members numbering in the tens of thousands, and all of them need to eat and have clothes on their backs, wouldn't you agree, Head Escort?"

"How about you state your intentions first, and we can continue our conversation from there?" Starlight proposed. "Also, may I ask if you're speaking on behalf of yourself or the leader of the Mountain Moving Sect?"

"What difference does it make?" Fei Yibin challenged.

Based on that response, Starlight immediately had a rough idea of what he was dealing with.

"May I ask what your official positions in the Mountain Moving Sect are? I don't mean to pry, but I believe a basic background check is necessary. If you're not willing to at least reveal such basic information to us, I struggle to see how we can build a relationship of trust and collaboration. What if you two are scammers?"

Zheng Yunqi and the others could immediately tell that Starlight was going to start playing some tricks, and they were very much looking forward to watching the show.

"I am Fei Yibin of the Flying Sword Peak, an eighth-generation disciple of the Mountain Moving Sect," Fei Yibin declared with a displeased expression.

"If I recall correctly, the main peak of the Mountain Moving Sect is the Jade Sword Peak, right? That's where all of our escorts had their identities arranged. How is the Flying Sword Peak related to the Jade Sword Peak?"

"Both peaks belong to our Mountain Moving Sect," Fei Yibin replied. "There are some things that our seniors don't want to say out of embarrassment, but as their juniors, we can't just stand by and watch as our sect is being taken advantage of!"'

"Ah, so this was your idea," Starlight chuckled. "You came here in secret, didn't you?"

"So what if I did?" Fei Yibin challenged. "This is what everyone at our Mountain Moving Sect wants!"

"So what exactly is it that you want then, Brother Fei?"

"Our Mountain Moving Sect wants 30% of your escort agency's profits."

"30%?! You must be dreaming!" Zheng Yunqi snapped.

"I believe that's perfectly reasonable," Fei Yibin said. "It's only thanks to our Mountain Moving Sect that you were able to start this escort agency in the first place, and this business is nothing more than a front anyway, so surely 30% of the profits is not too much to ask for."

"30% is indeed not too much to ask for," Starlight said with a smile. "In fact, I'll give you more than that."