Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 228 Shunfeng Escort Agency, Lu Xiaofeng Destroys the Power Gang

"Help the weak and punish the strong, avoid violence."

"Don't touch ill-gotten gains."

"A dart must never leave the person; a knife must always be at hand."

"Better safe than sorry."

Before dawn, the bodyguards of the Great King Escort Agency had already gathered at the training ground, shouting the agency's slogan.

This is the rule of the Great King Escort Agency, which has remained unchanged for decades. The surrounding people are already used to it and treat the slogans shouted by the escorts as their wake-up call.

Da Wang Escort Agency is not the largest or most staffed escort agency, but for decades, it has never had any accidents while escorting goods, thus cultivating a group of loyal customers.

The wealthy merchants of Guanzhong all know that the bodyguards of the King Escort Agency are the most disciplined, obey orders without question, and know how to advance and retreat with propriety. As long as they accept a mission, even if they encounter thousands of bandits and bloodshed ensues, they will still deliver the goods safely.

In the past two months, the Qinglong Society has been embroiled in internal strife, with the October branch and the April branch engaging in bloody battles. Ling Yufeng killed more than a dozen wealthy businessmen from the April branch.

Most of these wealthy merchants came from Guanzhong. Terrified by the brutal massacre, they trembled with fear and needed bodyguards to protect them. They offered large sums of money to recruit skilled fighters.

For a time, several large security escort agencies in Guanzhong were extremely busy, and there was a severe shortage of security escorts.

Fortunately, Deng Dinghou, Sima Chaoqun, Zhuo Donglai and others assigned escorts; otherwise, all the escorts in Guanzhong responsible for escorting goods would have switched to being bodyguards.

Escorting goods is nowhere near as comfortable as being a bodyguard!

Wang Zhaoxing, the chief镖头 (bodyguard/escort) of the Da Wang镖局 (escort agency), had finally resolved the manpower issue, but another difficult problem arose.

There are two major security escort agencies in Guanzhong.

Decades ago, Wang Zhaoxing, having achieved great martial arts skills, wanted to make meritorious contributions on the border and gain a title and a position for his wife and children. He joined the Dragon Cavalry Imperial Guard and handed over his family business to his brother, Wang Wanwu. However, he was betrayed by a traitor, and the entire Dragon Cavalry Imperial Guard was wiped out.

Wang Zhaoxing survived by chance and escaped back to Guanzhong. Disheartened with the imperial court, he wanted to go home, but remembering the bold words he had made when he left, he was too embarrassed to go back. So he casually opened a security escort agency, hoping to make a living from it.

When Wang Wanwu found out, he did not persuade his proud younger brother to go home. Instead, he told Wang Zhaoxing that as long as he was still a member of the Wang family, he had to keep the Wang family name on the signboard.

The security escort agency operates on a business based on acquaintances.

If you have no reputation, why should I give you business?
The aroma of wine is also afraid of the deep alley!

"Da Wang Escort Agency" is the best advertisement.

Wang Zhaoxing secretly pondered: He must find the traitors in the Imperial Guards to avenge his brothers. This might offend powerful officials in the court and cause him to separate from his elder brother. He deliberately created some conflicts to prevent his elder brother from being implicated.

This is why Miss Wang didn't ask Wang Zhaoxing for help in investigating the case after Wang Wanwu's death. Two months ago, Wang Wanwu was killed, and only Miss Wang remained in the family.

Without Wang Wanwu's name, Da Wang Escort Agency could hardly survive, and Miss Wang wanted to start her own business.

It's not in Guanzhong, but in Jinling.

"Borrowing the tiger's power" is a derogatory term, but the escort agency was very good at it. They set up their own business in Jinling and borrowed Li Zhaoting's power. Who would dare not give them some face?
It's a good thing to have Li Zhaoting's help.

But it doesn't sound good if people say it out loud!

How should Wang Zhaoxing explain this?

The elder brother had just passed away, and he couldn't wait to drive his niece out of the house and seize the Wang family's property. Escort agencies value harmony and make money, and they seek to maintain a respectable image. In particular, they cannot have a reputation for being greedy and avaricious. What wealthy family would hire a greedy and avaricious escort agency? Wouldn't they be afraid of being robbed halfway through the journey?
What if Miss Wang stays?

No, no!
With the loss of its pillar, Miss Wang's actions are too reckless, and Li Zhaoting is far away in Jinling, unable to provide immediate relief, making them vulnerable to being targeted by bandits.

Staying is not an option, and leaving is not an option either.

One-track mind becomes a double-edged sword!
Wang Zhaoxing racked his brains but couldn't come up with a solution.

Deng Dinghou gave him an idea: first, support Miss Wang in setting up her own business, and then transfer elite bodyguards from the escort agency to help Miss Wang build her team.

Finally, and most importantly, Wang Zhaoxing's son, Wang Zhenwei, was young and ambitious, and had long wanted to make his mark in the martial arts world. This was a good opportunity to release him.

Wang Zhenwei helped Miss Wang establish a security escort agency.

No one will gossip now, right?
How could it not be!

The world of martial arts is never short of busybodies.

The thugs in the teahouses and alleys are masters at fabricating stories, spreading rumors, and making unfounded accusations.

Wang Zhaoxing didn't need to care about these people, because they wouldn't become his clients. The security escort agency's target clients were high-ranking officials and wealthy families. As for the hooligans who stirred up trouble, he could just find an opportunity to beat them up.

Strangely enough, Jinling, such a precious place, has never had any large martial arts forces. There are no grandmasters who have established sects, nor have any famous sects set up branches in Jinling. There are only seven or eight underworld branches.

The forces of the righteous path are somewhat weaker than those of Jiangling.

Jiao Gongli, a martial artist who wasn't even third-rate and was worse than Sun Zhongjun, was actually a local tyrant in the Jinling martial arts world, which shows the decline of martial arts.

Li Zhaoting did not know the specific reason.

I don't have much of an impression of myself from childhood.

I spent most of my time away from home after I grew up.

From the perspective of the martial arts world, it was indeed a good business for Miss Wang to open a security escort agency in Jinling.

It can save the biggest expense.

What is the biggest expense for a security escort agency?
It wasn't for travel expenses, food and lodging, or even the old镖师's retirement money, nor was it a pension for the镖师 who died in battle. Instead, it was money for bribing officials at all levels to get through the journey.

Large security escort agencies spend about 40-50% of their budget on this, while smaller agencies spend 60-70%.

Therefore, only large security escort agencies could accept bodyguard missions that were thousands of miles away, while small agencies could only take orders from a few nearby prefectures, at most three or four hundred miles away.

Miss Wang doesn't need to deal with local bullies.

The most powerful local figure in Nanjing was Li Zhaoting.

To be precise, someone of Li Zhaoting's level can't be considered a local tyrant; he's more like a powerful figure who's been through thick and thin. If someone runs a security escort agency under Li Zhaoting's name, no one dares to cause trouble for them.

Miss Wang is always decisive and efficient. She brought dozens of bodyguards, bought a mansion in Jinling, and with Li Zhaoting's support, opened the Shunfeng Escort Agency.

This was the name chosen by Li Zhaoting.

For escort agencies, the best blessing is a smooth journey. Whether it's Wei Fu or Fu Wei, what they really want is for everything to go smoothly.

Two strings of firecrackers crackled and popped.

Amid cheers from the crowd, Shunfeng Escort Agency officially opened for business. With the opening of an escort agency, the chief escort must demonstrate his martial arts skills to avoid being underestimated. Borrowing the tiger's might is a way to survive, but one cannot rely on the tiger's might alone.

Miss Wang clasped her hands in a fist and said, "Fellow gentlemen and heroes, today I, Wang Shenglan, am establishing my family and career in your esteemed land. I ask for your support, fellow villagers. I am not well-versed in literature or eloquent in polite conversation. I only possess the rudimentary martial arts skills passed down in my family. I will make a fool of myself in your service!"

Before she finished speaking, Miss Wang grabbed the Overlord Spear from the weapon rack and began practicing her spear techniques in the training ground.

A thousand troops retreat, horses trample the enemy camps, sweeping away a thousand armies, with the strength to uproot mountains and rivers, dominating the eight capitals, directly attacking Guanzhong, burning the boats and breaking the cauldrons, the overlord turning his horse around, turning his horse and drawing his bow...

The Overlord Spear Technique has a total of eighteen moves, but only thirteen moves are commonly used in martial arts combat. These are the simplest and most basic spear techniques, similar to the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms. The moves are unremarkable, but the essence lies in accumulating and releasing power.

Only heroes with innate superhuman strength, courage, and generosity can unleash the full power of spearmanship, achieving decisive victories with sweeping and powerful strikes, making them invincible.

No fancy variations are needed; as long as you swing the Overlord Spear and smash it out, even if thousands of troops block your way, as long as you are fearless, you can charge out with your spear.

Miss Wang, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, looked heroic and spirited. Her spear moved like a dragon emerging from the water, making a tearing sound.

She touched the ground with her toes, spun around, and the spear shaft spun in a full moon arc along her waist. The crimson spear tassel was like a raging fire, and with an unparalleled power that could scare away a thousand troops, she slammed into the wooden stakes in the training ground. With a loud bang, the wooden stakes were shattered into pieces by the spearhead.

"Whoosh!" Miss Wang thrust her spear forward.

The spear tip struck the copper coin precisely without damaging the delicate thread that held it. Amidst the frost, Miss Wang fired ten shots in quick succession, and the ten copper coins swayed in the wind.

"laugh!"

The Overlord Spear flew out of his hand, carrying the force of a falling meteor as it slammed into the distant artificial hill. Accompanied by a heart-wrenching noise, the Overlord Spear became embedded in the wall.

Upon closer inspection, a fist-sized hole was left on the artificial hill. The cut was not as smooth as a mirror, but the power of this shot was truly terrifying.

Miss Wang guided her qi back to its origin, clasped her hands in a fist and bowed.

"Heroes and valiant men of the martial world, my skills are but a humble skill, and I dare not make a fool of myself."

Wang Zhenwei gave him a wink.

The atmosphere team skillfully clapped, cheered, and flattered!
The guests instinctively looked at Li Zhaoting.

Li Zhaoting laughed and said, "Miss Wang, your marksmanship is about 80% as good as Old Master Wang's. You've really entered the hall of fame in marksmanship and deserve the title of master."

Miss Wang scoffed, "Master Li, how many more years of hard training do you need to reach the level of a spear master?"

"Even a hundred years of hard training is not enough. The eight champions are all forged in battle, especially the spear champion. Spear techniques are essentially battlefield martial arts. They require fighting, risking one's life, and comprehending the essence of spear techniques on the brink of life and death."

"I practice the Overlord Spear."

"The Overlord Spear is a spear technique created by the Overlord of Western Chu when he was fighting on the battlefield. For example, 'Breaking the Cauldrons and Sinking the Boats' is to commemorate the Battle of Julu. In this battle, the enemy was fighting for their lives, and the Overlord was also fighting for his life. The spear technique was also a way to fight for one's life."

"Thank you for your guidance, Master Li."

"Studying the 'Biography of Xiang Yu' in the Records of the Grand Historian a hundred times is better than reading ten volumes of spear manuals."

"Shouldn't we be reading the Book of Han?"

"The Records of the Grand Historian is quite interesting."

Many of the glories of the Records of the Grand Historian were added by later scholars. If we simply discuss history, in some aspects the records are not very detailed, but from the perspective of the text, the Records of the Grand Historian is vivid and lifelike.

In particular, the "Biography of Xiang Yu" contains many chapters that can be read as martial arts novels, vividly portraying the image of Xiang Yu. Many of the moves of the Overlord Spear were summarized by later generations based on the "Biography of Xiang Yu".

In the versions circulating in the martial arts world, the Overlord Spear has moves such as "Surrounded at Gaixia," "Surrounded by Enemies on All Sides," "Heroes Shed No Tears," and "Farewell My Concubine." Clearly, these are names added by later generations based on popular folklore to the spear techniques.

……

The prefect of Jinling has been replaced.

Shunfeng Escort Agency opens for business.

These two matters are neither major nor minor. At least for the wealthy families of Jinling, they are not as interesting as the trivial matters of the Li family. It is better to keep an eye on Li Zhaoting.

It is said, and this is just hearsay, that if information about Li Zhaoting's trip can be sent out in time, along with a route map and the exact destination, one can exchange it for a reward at the Tianji Pavilion.

Li Zhaoting: ┓(`)┏

Want to know where my destination is?

too easy!

My destination is the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion!
Master of Tianji Pavilion: Is it too late to run now?
Li Zhaoting went into seclusion at home, and Jinling returned to a state of peace and tranquility. However, the martial arts world remained in turmoil, with heroes from all walks of life vying for money, power, and beauty.

On the fifth day of the seventh lunar month, the Huanhua Sword Sect was attacked by eight gods and demons and one Heavenly King from the Power Gang. The Power Gang used undercover tactics, attacking from both sides with a central attack.

Xiao Xilou, the leader of the Huanhua Sword Sect, died in battle, and his young son, Xiao Qiushui, escaped with serious injuries and has not been found since.

On the eighth day of the seventh month, Ximen Chuixue used his sword to kill the Power Gang's demon god Xin Huqiu, the Hundred Poisons Demon God Hua Gufen, and the Flying Leg Demon Gu Huanqing. His main target was Xin Huqiu, while the other two demon gods were implicated by Xin Huqiu.

Ximen Chuixue despises unfaithful and fickle people and specializes in killing those who break faith and betray trust. Xin Huqiu has been an undercover agent in the Huanhua Sword Sect for two and a half years and is an absolute hero in this attack on the Huanhua Sword Sect. Ximen Chuixue is determined to kill Xin Huqiu.

On the tenth day of the seventh month, the Power Gang's Sword King Qu Hanshan and Knife King Zhao Qiuxi blocked the gate of Wanmei Manor. Ximen Chuixue fought fiercely with the two. Qu Hanshan broke his sword and fled for his life. Zhao Qiuxi was seriously injured. Ximen Chuixue was ambushed by Liu Suifeng and injured his shoulder. Liu Suifeng rescued Zhao Qiuxi.

On the fifteenth of July, the Ghost Festival, Lu Xiaofeng destroyed ten branches of the Power Gang, exposing all of the Power Gang's arrangements in Sichuan and exposing more than thirty spies. The Power Gang suffered heavy losses, and Liu Suifeng was in a state of utter distress.

On July 18th, a fierce battle broke out between Jinfeng Xiyu Tower and Liufenban Hall, with experts from both sides joining the fray.

The Six and a Half Hall has added new masters such as Ren Wujiang, Yichuanbian, and Baiban Shaxing, and their strength has greatly improved.

Not to be outdone, Jin Feng Xi Yu Lou formed a sworn brotherhood with two young masters, including Su Mengzhen.

One of them was named Wang Xiaoshi. He was a disciple of Xu Xiaoyi, the hermit of Tianyi, the grand-nephew of Zhuge Zhengwo, and the junior brother of the Four Great Constables. He inherited the Wanliu Sword from Wei Qingqing, the founder of the Zizai Sect. He was skilled in both swordsmanship and sabers and had outstanding martial arts skills.

A man named Linghu Chong shone brightly after Zhang Sanfeng's 100th birthday banquet, single-handedly fighting to a draw with Fang Dongbai, the former elder of the Beggars' Sect known as the "Eight-Armed Divine Sword." Later, he was expelled from the Huashan Sect by Yue Buqun for associating with evil people.

In terms of pure strength, with the addition of Wang Xiaoshi and Linghu Chong, Jin Feng Xi Yu Lou has the upper hand.

Wang Xiaoshi inherited Wei Qingqing's unique skills and can unleash the strongest sword and saber combination technique of the Zizai Sect. Linghu Chong is proficient in the Dugu Nine Swords and can unleash his full power anytime, anywhere.

The more numerous, stronger, and more ruthless the enemies, the stronger the combat power that the two of them unleashed. After three days of fierce fighting, the five hall masters of the Six and a Half Hall fell under the swords of Wang Xiaoshi and Linghu Chong.

Zhu Yueming, the "Smiling Chief Detective" of the Six Doors, mediated the conflict between the two gangs, and the two sides temporarily ceased hostilities.

The Huashan Sect has lost face.

When a sect is in decline, expelling a talented disciple from the sect, regardless of the reason, is a clear weakening for the sect.

Fortunately, Mount Hua has a profound heritage, and soon a Mount Hua disciple regained face, namely Yuan Chengzhi.

Yuan Chengzhi joined the Six Doors as a constable and became a disciple of Li Xuanyi. In the past three months, Yuan Chengzhi has solved five major cases and arrested seventeen notorious bandits.

The world of martial arts is in turmoil, and the fighting will never end.

One by one, the chosen ones leave their sects to hone their skills in the martial world. "One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand," this saying applies not only to the imperial court but also to the conflicts in the martial world.

Whether they are righteous masters or demonic giants, all masters grow up amidst countless corpses and bloodshed. Without experiencing life and death, even if one's talent is comparable to Huang Shang, one will ultimately be unable to escape the fate of being a prodigy who fails to live up to expectations.

Huang Shang had experienced the battles of the martial arts world.

Dog Brother needs to experience the trials of the mortal world to temper his heart.

Which renowned master or martial arts grandmaster in the martial arts world doesn't have a few legendary feats to boast about? Which one hasn't fought a life-or-death battle with their enemy?
What good will Li Zhaoting's seclusion do?
Li Zhaoting is not the only prodigy in the martial arts world!
……

"Bang bang bang!"

A blood-stained hand knocked on the gate of the Shen Mansion in Jinling. The Shen Mansion was the official residence of Prefect Shen Rong. Upon seeing the wounded man, the doorman quickly stepped forward.

"Sir, who are you...?"

"Go quickly and report to Lord Shen that there are rebels and Manchu spies hiding in Nanjing, right next to him... Go tell Lord Shen quickly, or it will be too late."

Qin San mustered all his strength to utter his last words.

His injuries were severe, and the long journey had further strained his body, causing serious damage to his internal organs. Even the First-Grade One-Finger Divine Skill could not save his life.

The reason they have persevered until now is entirely due to their fervent patriotism and dedication to the people; it is a testament to their heroic spirit of chivalry.

Before the doorman could leave, a chubby, kind-looking fellow approached. His name was Xue Zhi, a confidant of Shen Rong, and supposedly a descendant of Lao Ai.

　Xue Zhi, the villainous boss of the first installment of the "Escort Agency" series, is played by Xia Donghai.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)