Chapter Thirty-Seven: Two Days Late

The so-called leader of the criminals spoke with such conviction that the crowd shuddered at his words, already on the verge of retreat. At that crucial moment, I shouted loudly—"

Ji Wu stretched his tone, recounting his exploits in the manner of a storyteller, his voice rising and falling with excitement. His eyes sparkled, and his whole body moved animatedly as he spoke.

As for how much of his tale was truth and how much embellishment, that was difficult to say.

Just descended from the mortal realm, Xu Yuan found himself compelled to be Ji Wu's audience. He did not interrupt, but listened quietly to the events that had transpired around Ji Wu during the year he himself had been absent from the world.

It was clearly an incident that hadn't lasted long, yet Ji Wu spent nearly half an hour describing it—likely longer than the battle itself.

The sun had already risen in the east by the time Ji Wu, still lingering in his narrative, finally reached his conclusion, which was also what he most wanted to say. "After all was said and done, the court honored me with rewards. Since I held no official rank, the gifts were from the local authorities. Money meant little to me, but among the rewards, two items suited my tastes perfectly.

One was the renowned Abyssal Spring Sword, a genuine treasure that could cut through hair and slice iron as if it were mud!

The other was the Violet Lightning Horse, bred by the imperial stables, never for sale and only awarded to meritorious officials. It can travel five hundred li a day, only half the distance of the rare Blood-sweat Horses—truly a prize money cannot buy!"

As he spoke, Ji Wu finally reached for the sword at his waist and drew it with a flourish!

He then extended it toward Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan was, of course, unconcerned; he trusted Ji Wu would not harm him. Even if Ji Wu were so inclined, he hadn't the ability to do so.

Ji Wu thrust the sword in front of Xu Yuan's eyes, completely unaware of how dangerous such a gesture was, but immensely pleased with himself. "Look, sir! The blade is smooth as a mirror, with white veins running through it. When it moves, the patterns ripple like water in a deep pool, spring water bubbling from beneath. That is the origin of its name."

Xu Yuan examined it closely, finding Ji Wu's words true.

At the hour of sunrise, the sword's blade possessed a unique clarity. The white patterns reflected the light and shadows around them, like springs mirrored in water, dawn blooming like flowers, wavelets surging—nothing at all like a weapon meant for killing.

No wonder Ji Wu had gripped his sword tightly from the moment they met, cherishing it dearly.

Anyone unaware might have thought there were five hundred armed men lurking in the peach grove, waiting for his signal to attack.

Yet the trace of youthful swagger in Ji Wu was not unpleasant. In him, Xu Yuan sensed something he himself lacked—a certain vitality.

Xu Yuan did not curb Ji Wu's showmanship, but encouraged him, saying, "A hero deserves a fine sword. This is indeed a remarkable blade, but you must also live up to the name of hero."

"Of course!"

Ji Wu showed not a hint of humility, nodding without hesitation. "There are no cowards in the Ji Escort Agency!"

"This sword is extraordinary, so I imagine that horse must be equally impressive?"

Xu Yuan smiled.

"Heh, the Violet Lightning Horse is in the stables below. If you wish to see it, I'll take you right now. To tell you the truth, it's actually brown, but its hooves have streaks of violet, which is where it gets its name."

Ji Wu scratched his head. "The horse is tall and majestic, quite spirited, larger than any ordinary steed, but it must be well-fed—beans and eggs every day!"

Both the Abyssal Spring Sword and the Violet Lightning Horse were exceptional rewards.

For a youth, no amount of money could compare to the thrill of riding and wielding a sword while wandering the world; these two gifts were precisely what he desired.

Had he held an official rank, the authorities would never have been so generous.

"With such generous rewards, did you capture the leader of the criminals?"

Xu Yuan asked.

"No."

At this, Ji Yun sighed in resignation; it was the only flaw in an otherwise perfect tale.

He had foiled the criminal leader's plot, rekindled the fighting spirit among his peers, and rightly claimed the greatest merit.

Had he managed to capture the criminal leader himself, the rewards would have been far greater.

"The criminal leader, seeing the situation turn against him, fled faster than anyone. At the time, I told Xiong Ba to deal with those armored bandits first. By the time we finished, the leader had vanished without a trace.

If I had caught him, the court would have granted me an official rank outright!"

Ji Wu spoke, somewhat vexed.

After all, it was his first time escorting a caravan, and he had no prior experience.

Moreover, the criminal leader was the backbone of the mountain bandits, guarded by others, while the armored bandits, without Xiong Ba to break their formation, would have caused great trouble for the convoy.

So, instinctively, he had Xiong Ba prioritize the armored bandits. Only in hindsight did he realize that the combined value of all the bandits paled in comparison to that of the criminal leader.

Still, there were both advantages and drawbacks. Although he failed to capture the leader, by eliminating the armored bandits, casualties among his group were minimal, and the remaining outlaws were cowed and fled.

The Ji Escort Agency gained renown, earned much gratitude and friendship, and business improved dramatically. His father now frets daily about having too many lucrative offers, unsure which to accept, heh."

His frustration was fleeting; in the blink of an eye, Ji Wu no longer dwelled on his failure to capture the leader, his smile now genuine and bright.

"Speaking of which, I must thank you, sir. Without your sending Black Bear to assist us, the Ji Escort Agency would not have prospered as it has, nor would we have gained such fame from that journey. We might have died there instead.

Father said that if we ever saw you again, we must insist you stay for a meal, so he can properly thank you."

Ji Yun sheathed his sword and grabbed Xu Yuan's arm, as if afraid he might disappear at any moment.

"Ha, you accomplished everything by your own merit. I merely introduced Black Bear."

Xu Yuan did not claim credit, speaking with calm humility.

"If not for your introduction, the Ji Escort Agency would have remained ordinary."

Ji Wu led Xu Yuan down the mountain, asking, "By the way, sir, what have you been busy with this past year? You arrived two days later than in previous years, and I was worried you might not return!"

"Hmm?"

Xu Yuan paused, his steps halting, his expression suddenly changing.

"Sir?"

Seeing Xu Yuan stop, Ji Wu was puzzled.

"What did you just say?"

Xu Yuan asked, his voice trembling, or so Ji Wu thought. "Sir, you arrived two days later than in past years. Was something delaying you?"