With a sword drawn, he laughs proudly, his martial prowess dominating the heavens!

Chapter 27 There is something I need to trouble my nephew with.

After exchanging a few pleasantries outside the gate, Huo Quan saw the three men off.

Li Che then learned that they were the head镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) of the Guanzhong Weixin Escort Agency.

Weixin Escort Agency, backed by Qianjin Village, is the premier escort agency in Shaanxi and Hanzhong, with nearly 300 escorts and couriers under its umbrella. Its headquarters are located near Xianyang.

Li Che overheard that the escort agency had recently received a big order and had come to Qianjin Manor to invite some strong men to accompany them.

"Nephew, come with me into the manor. Make yourself at home and don't stand on ceremony."

Li Che thanked Huo Quan and followed him into the manor.

As she walked, she suddenly felt a chill on her neck. She subconsciously glanced behind her and was met with Miss Huo's defiant gaze.

Upon arriving at the main hall, before even sitting down, a maidservant brought over a teacup.

Boiling water infuses the new tea, releasing a faint aroma that seems somewhat familiar. Last time I visited Suobuweixuan, my master used this same tea.

"sit!"

Huo Quan took the seat of honor first. He truly did not treat Li Che as an outsider. He only said one word before taking out the letter and reading it carefully.

But Li Che keenly noticed that he glanced at him at least twice.

After a moment, he put away the letter and smiled, "Your master said in the letter that you are going down the mountain to travel. Have you decided where you're going?"

"I have not descended the mountain for several years. I was thinking of finishing the task that Master entrusted to me and then heading south to Hanzhong and Sichuan, or perhaps heading east to Jiangnan for a stroll."

"That's perfect!" Huo Quan slapped his calloused hand on his leg. "Tomorrow, Weixin Escort Agency will be escorting goods to Luoyang. The Guanzhong region will certainly be safe, but after leaving Tongguan, bandits along the way will be causing quite a ruckus."

"Nephew, you have nothing to do anyway, why don't you trouble yourself to make the trip?"

Li Che was slightly taken aback. Then, seeing Lao Huo's meaningful smile, he immediately understood that Lao Yue's request for him to deliver the letter was a pretext; his real intention was to use the excuse of asking Qianjinzhuang to take care of him.

My age is still too deceptive.

Well, it doesn't matter where we go, we can't let Old Yue's kindness go to waste.

After pondering for a moment, Li Che stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "This disciple is willing to go."

"Excellent!"

"Dad, I want to go too!"

Huo Quan ignored him completely, first arranging for someone to take Li Che to a guest room to rest, and then turned around and walked towards the back of the house.

Miss Huo the Second was still not giving up. She followed her father for about ten feet behind, all the way to the patriarch's residence. Huo Quan was so annoyed by her that he turned around and said angrily, "What kind of girl is like you, always either raising hawks and leading horses or wielding spears and sticks!"

You don't learn female virtue, you can't do needlework, you always have a steel whip at your waist, and you go around looking for people to compete with. You, Miss Huo, are more famous than me in Chang'an!

"Qing, just wait to be an old maid, and see who dares to marry you!"

Master Huo, exasperated, pointed at his children, who stood ramrod straight, listening intently, their lips pursed, and they even seemed to want to pick their ears.

I've heard the same words countless times, word for word, with absolutely no originality.

Although Master Huo scolded her, he raised his hand high, yet he couldn't bring himself to hit her; in truth, he also loved his daughter dearly.

Miss Huo calculated the time, raised her eyebrows slightly, and sure enough, she saw that her father's anger was gradually subsiding. Then she said aggrievedly, "Staying in Chang'an City all day long is so boring."

"What, you, Lady Huo, want to make a name for yourself in the martial world? Don't you know your own limitations?!" Master Huo glared at him again. "Arrogant and presumptuous, if you really encounter a master, you won't even know how you died. Go, go, go, just seeing you annoys me!"

"I don't accept this! Li Che has only been practicing martial arts for a few years, and he's younger than me, yet Uncle Yue is more open-minded than Dad!"

"What do you know..." Old Huo swallowed the word "fart" back and continued, "Your uncle-in-law's martial arts are a hundred times better than your father's, and he is also a cautious and prudent gentleman who only praises three-tenths of his own people."

"If martial arts skill could be judged by age, then I'm older than Dongfang Bubai, so wouldn't I be the best in the world?!"

After wailing for a while, Master Huo caught his breath and said, "Perfect timing. Go tell the kitchen to make dinner more lavish. Your senior brother Li is a refined man, so please serve fewer dishes that are too oily and heavy."

What are you standing there for? Hurry up and go!

Miss Huo casually agreed, then turned and left in anger.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.

Li Che was sitting cross-legged on the roof, about to finish his practice, when he heard the light clatter of horse hooves not far behind him.

Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw Miss Huo leading her tall horse, a steel whip coiled around her waist, and a bundle on her back, tiptoeing towards the small gate on the west side of the mansion.

"Is Junior Sister Huo going on a long trip?"

"Clatter—!"

The latter paused, the latch she had just pulled off fell to the ground. She glanced left and right, but there was no one there. When she looked up, she saw Li Che looking at her with a half-smile.

Li Che leaped off the rooftop, his movements as light as a swallow, his feet barely making a sound as he landed. His exceptional lightness skill truly astonished Miss Huo.

As they approached, Li Che smiled and said, "Why are you acting like a thief in your own home, Junior Sister Huo?"

"Mind your own business! Why aren't you sleeping and running around on the roof getting some fresh air?"

"So, Junior Sister Huo is going for a horseback ride this morning?" Li Che glanced at the bundle on her back. "This isn't a short trip, does Uncle Huo know?"

Huo Shiyu's expression shifted between light and dark, and she cursed her bad luck inwardly.

Her bright eyes darted around twice, and the girl's face instantly lit up with a smile; the speed at which she changed her expression was simply unbelievable.

"Senior Brother Li, it's not a big deal. Father asked me to go to Hanzhong. Last night, I received an urgent message from there, so I volunteered to go."

This trip is quite long, and Dad told me to go and come back quickly; I can't delay.

Seeing her serious demeanor, Li Che couldn't tell if she was telling the truth or not, but he always felt that the words of this unpredictable Miss Huo were not very credible.

"The city gates have just opened, so I must go now. I won't keep Senior Brother Li from practicing his skills any longer. See you later!"

After saying that, she raised her hand, opened the door, mounted her horse, and rode away.

......

“Pah!”

Master Huo slammed his hand on the table. "Go! Send men to chase after them immediately! Tie them up and bring them back!"

"Master, the Second Miss is fast; she's already been gone for half an hour. Besides, if she's intentionally avoiding us, I'm afraid..."

"Uncle Huo, this is also my fault," Li Che said apologetically as he stood up.

"It has nothing to do with my dear nephew!" Huo Quan sighed, rubbing his throbbing forehead. "This girl has been nagging me for days, insisting on going on the escort mission."

"Sigh~ I should have let her go if I had known this would happen. Now her whereabouts are unknown. With her reckless and arrogant nature, what if she runs into bad people... sigh!"

"A delivery of goods? Is it the one from Weixin Escort Agency?"

Huo Quan nodded, then abruptly stood up after a few breaths. "That's it! That brat must have headed east! Send men on horseback to chase after her!"

"yes!"

"Nephew, I have arranged for horses to be prepared. You may now set off for Weixin Escort Agency. If you encounter that girl Shiyu on the way, please keep an eye on her."

"Don't worry, Uncle-Master, I understand."

After saying this, Li Che took his leave and left the manor. In front of the manor was a tall horse, which, although not as good as Huo Shiyu's mount, was still a rare and fine steed.

As soon as he mounted his horse, a man rushed out of the manor. "Young Master Li, please wait a moment. The manor owner prepared some travel expenses, but forgot to give them to you."

Thank you!

Li Che took the bulging money bag and put it in his pocket, estimating that it weighed at least thirty taels.

"Goodbye!"

The man returned the bow, saying, "Have a safe journey, young hero Li!"

......