In chaotic times, one can become a martial immortal.

The group first gathered at Song Courtyard again, and then, led by Master Song, headed directly towards the city gate.

Like Lu Yuan, everyone else knew they were about to learn swordsmanship, so they tried to get their hands on swords.

However, apart from Wu Yu, Chen Pi, and Gu Ming, who were all wielding proper long swords, Chen Yong and his group were holding all sorts of strange swords.

Some were machetes, some were kitchen knives, and some were even wooden knives.

Clearly, they couldn't afford real longswords and had to make do with these.

As for Hong Lei and Fang Chang, who followed closely behind Master Song like two great protectors, they naturally each had a fine knife.

Judging from its appearance alone, it is clearly much better than the long sword that Lu Yuan bought from the blacksmith shop for half a tael of silver.

It's obvious without even thinking that Master Song personally prepared it for them.

It is clear that Master Song cherishes these two exceptionally talented disciples.

Before long, the group arrived outside the city gate.

Several horse-drawn carriages filled with boxes of goods were already waiting there.

Each carriage also had a man sitting in it.

Even if they weren't martial artists, they all looked quite robust and were probably porters responsible for driving the carts and carrying goods.

"Wow, so much cargo!"

Looking at the goods loaded onto more than a dozen horse-drawn carts, someone couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

"Look at the dart flag on that carriage!"

Someone else pointed to the rather luxurious carriage at the very front.

Everyone looked up and saw four large characters on the flag: Weiyuan Escort Agency.

"I think I heard Brother Hong mention before that Master Song has always been affiliated with the Weiyuan Escort Agency, so this shipment should be from them!"

Chen Pi smiled and said.

"No wonder everyone gets five taels of silver; these goods must be incredibly valuable. And that luxurious carriage in front—the people inside must be extremely wealthy and powerful!"

Chen Yong's eyes flickered, and he said with a strange expression.

"Master Song is a master of internal energy cultivation; for him to personally escort the goods, he must be no ordinary person!"

Wu Yu nodded.

"Don't you think we can be considered half-body镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) of the Weiyuan Escort Agency now?"

Someone asked, sounding quite excited.

"If we perform well on this escort mission, we might actually get a position as bodyguards at the Weiyuan Escort Agency!"

"Even if we only manage one escort mission a month after becoming bodyguards at the Fuwei Escort Agency, that should be enough to ensure we can eat meat every day, right?"

While everyone was excitedly discussing, Hong Lei walked over directly.

"You can each sit in one of these carts carrying the goods!"

Hong Lei smiled at everyone and then spoke directly.

"Brother Hong, when can we learn swordsmanship?"

Someone asked impatiently.

"I'll teach you when we park and rest at night!"

Hong Lei smiled and then turned around and went back to the luxurious carriage.

"Very good!"

Upon hearing this, everyone became even more excited and expectant.

Although they were still not personally taught by Master Song, they were already very satisfied.

They were merely martial arts apprentices from the outer academy who paid for their training. Being able to be personally instructed by Hong Lei, an inner academy student, and unconditionally learn a sword technique was already a great blessing. How could they ask for more?

Lu Yuan was naturally quite looking forward to it, and he didn't care at all whether Master Song would personally guide him.

As long as he can learn it, he can master it on his own without any problems.

Without delay, everyone chose a carriage and got in.

Lu Yuan was no exception and randomly chose one of the carriages.

The driver on the carriage was a dark-skinned, burly middle-aged man.

"Young man, are you Master Song's apprentice?"

The man smiled at Lu Yuan and asked.

"I can't be considered a disciple, just an ordinary apprentice!"

Lu Yuan smiled politely.

"That's really impressive!"

The man looked at Lu Yuan with some envy and continued, "Unlike us, we have no natural talent and have long passed the golden age of martial arts training. At most, we can only sell our physical labor to earn a meager living, barely enough to make ends meet for our families."

Although the Great Zhou Dynasty was founded on military strength, not everyone can become a martial artist.

If one has no natural talent and is past the prime age, it is almost impossible to become a true martial artist. At most, one can learn some farming skills and, with a bit of brute strength, be able to fight a little better than an ordinary person.

Although Lu Yuan had only been involved in martial arts for half a month, he had already seen many people coming and going in Song Academy.

Although many of them were only sixteen or seventeen years old, the golden age for martial arts training, they still struggled to even get the basics of the Five Animal Fist after practicing at Song Academy for a month or two. Lacking sufficient funds, they had no choice but to give up.

After all, not everyone is like Wu Yu, Chen Pi, and Gu Ming. Although their natural talents are not exceptional, they can still embark on the path of martial arts through hard work. If they have enough money and resources to support them in the future, they may be able to aspire to even higher levels.

Not everyone is like Hong Lei and Fang Chang, who not only have excellent natural talent but also have encountered good mentors. As long as they can grow, their future is limitless.

Not everyone is like Lu Yuan, who awakened the destiny of "practice makes perfect," allowing him to completely disregard his innate talent and not only train faster but also achieve permanent proof.

During their brief conversation, the convoy quickly got moving.

Master Song, along with Hong Lei and Fang Chang, were already seated outside the luxurious carriage.

Clearly, what they really wanted to protect was not the goods behind them, but the luxurious carriage, or rather, the noble person sitting inside.

As for Lu Yuan, Chen Pi, Wu Yu, and other outer courtyard martial arts disciples, their only job was to look after the goods at the back.

At first, everyone seemed quite cautious, frequently glancing around with wary and vigilant eyes.

As time went on, everyone became more relaxed, and some even started to doze off while leaning against the goods.

Perhaps because of the intimidating presence of the dart flag, apart from some bumps along the way, we did not encounter the dangers we had imagined.

They didn't run into any highway robbers, nor did they encounter any bandits or thieves.

As night fell, the convoy stopped directly on a plain in the wilderness.

After lighting a campfire, Wu Yu, Chen Pi, Lu Yuan, and the others sat together around it.

The porters, meanwhile, sat around another campfire, eating and drinking.

Master Song, Hong Lei, and Fang Chang remained guarding the luxurious carriage.

As for the distinguished person inside the luxurious carriage, it seemed that he had no intention of coming out.

A short while later, amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, Hong Lei and Fang Chang walked over together.

"Before I teach you swordsmanship, I'd like to ask you, who knows what technique is?"

Hong Lei nodded to everyone, then asked with a smile.

"Technique is the art of killing!"

Wu Yu hesitated for a moment before speaking directly.

"Technique can give us greater explosive power!"

Chen Pi also spoke up.

The others were also pondering, wanting to offer some different insights, but they were scratching their heads, unable to figure it out.

……