Inheriting a security escort agency, the game begins with escorting the eldest princess.

Chapter 17, Master, extra money required.

Chang'an Academy.

Beneath the ancient pavilion.

The Master was also surprised, not expecting that the Sage of Chu would refuse him without hesitation.

"Chief Escort Chu, your martial arts talent is very strong. It's a waste to spend your time wandering the world escorting goods. Joining the academy will allow you to grow quickly and realize your ambitions."

Chu Sheng smiled calmly, "Master, everyone has their own ambitions, don't force them."

"I'm used to being carefree, I don't like constraints, and I don't have any ambitions."

At this point, the Master's deep eyes fell on him, his gaze seemingly able to see through everything.

Chu Sheng continued, "I only want to be a bodyguard, someone who keeps a promise and entrusts their life to another. Anyone who stands in my way is fair game."

"If you need help with escorting goods, you can come to me."

"If it's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

Seeing that Chu Sheng was about to leave after speaking, the Master quickly raised his hand to gesture for him to sit down, saying, "Young man, look how impatient you are."

"I haven't even mentioned my second matter yet, have I?"

Chu Sheng said, "Master, please speak."

His attitude was very clear: if it was about escorting goods, he would accompany them; but if it was about trivial matters, he had no time to waste.

"I do indeed have a shipment that I need Chief Escort Chu to make."

"Explain in detail!"

The Master picked up a brocade box from the side. It was about the size of a book, made of mahogany, and looked very valuable. "Chief Escort Chu needs to escort this item to the Human Academy and hand it over to their Dean."

"Dean Lu will give you something when the time comes. Bring it back, and this mission will be considered complete."

"Does Chief Escort Chu dare to accept the task?"

Chu Sheng laughed and said, "I'm a bodyguard, there's no escort I won't take."

"However... this isn't just one shipment, it's two."

"Master, you need to pay more!"

A smile spread across the Master's gentle face. He hadn't expected Chu Sheng to be so astute. "Chief Escort Chu, name your price!"

"Five hundred taels of gold one way."

"Master, you must pay me one thousand taels of gold."

Chu Sheng spoke calmly, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Chief Escort Chu, isn't this price a bit too high?" the Master said. "Chief Escort Chu, don't you know what I'm going to give you as a gift?"

Chu Sheng said, "Our Zhenyuan Escort Agency has a rule: we don't pry into the employer's secrets, we only protect the safety of the goods being transported."

In fact, all he knew was that the Human Academy was in Wudi City, at least five thousand miles from Chang'an, and it would take at least three months to travel there and back. The price of one thousand taels was very reasonable.

"The Master has been in charge of the academy for many years, and his students are all over the world. A thousand taels of gold is not difficult for the Master."

"If you think the price is too high, you can consider choosing another escort agency. There are many escort agencies in the world, so there's no need to insist."

The master looked at Li Haoran and said, "Haoran, give the deposit to Chief Escort Chu. The remaining silver will be given to Chief Escort Chu when he returns."

Li Haoran stepped forward and stood beside Chu Sheng, taking out a silver note from his sleeve. "Chief Escort Chu, this is a silver note for three hundred taels of gold. The remaining seven hundred taels will be paid upon your return."

Chu Sheng put away the silver notes and picked up the brocade box from the desk.

The Master looked up at him and said, "Chief Escort Chu, inside the brocade box is a scroll called 'The Treatise on Peace and Prosperity.' What you need to bring back is a wordless book."

Chu Sheng looked at the Master with some surprise, not expecting him to be so frank as to tell him about the items he was escorting. The Balance Strategy and the Nameless Heavenly Book were unique in the martial arts world.

It is said that the Taiping Strategies encompass profound martial arts and unparalleled military tactics, making it one of the world's most secret texts.

The wordless heavenly book is recorded in ancient texts and contains supreme martial arts. If one comprehends it, one can enter the realm of the celestial beings, or even step into a higher realm.

Legend has it that the Book of Heaven without Words consists of nine volumes, and whoever obtains one of them will gain control of the world.

Chu Sheng thought this statement was a bit of a boast. If it were really as the rumors in the martial arts world said, that obtaining one of them would grant one the world, how could the Human Academy possibly exchange the Book of No Words for the Treatise on Peace?

Escorting such a priceless treasure would undoubtedly be fraught with peril on the journey.

Suddenly I realized that a thousand taels of gold... was too little.

"Only by understanding what the target is can you avoid getting into trouble," the Master said gently.

Chu Sheng nodded. "That makes sense!"

"Goodbye!"

As they left the ancient pavilion and passed by Cui Xuan, the two exchanged a knowing smile.

"Wei Yang, go and see Chief Escort Chu off."

Xiao Weiyang hurried after Chu Sheng.

"Master, didn't you say that Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother were to go to the Human Academy?" Li Haoran asked, puzzled.

"He is more suitable than your two senior brothers," the Master said. "This child's talent is the most extraordinary I have encountered in a hundred years. It is a pity that he is unwilling to join the academy, otherwise I would have devoted everything to nurturing him."

"Master, the Eastern Depot has been keeping an eye on him. Is it dangerous to hand over the items to him, and they might end up in Zhao Jingzhong's hands?"

"He is not a member of our academy, and I have no right to interfere in his affairs with the Ninth Prince."

Whether he can leave the capital depends on his abilities.

As the Master spoke, he seemed to have thought of something, "However, the Eldest Princess has a close relationship with him, and with that person from the palace intervening, the Ninth Prince should also restrain himself."

Cui Xuan said, "Master, Chu the镖师 (bodyguard/escort) is not so easy to kill. He killed the Eastern Depot's eunuch Qingxuan with his ninth-rank strength at the foot of Yanyun Mountain. Now that he has broken through to the Grandmaster realm, the price the Eastern Depot would have to pay to kill him is too high."

"You know him."

"Master, I had a brief encounter with Chief Escort Chu on my way to the capital."

"I see!" The teacher looked somber. It was a great regret that he couldn't keep Chu Sheng in the academy. The only thing to be thankful for was that Chu Sheng would not collude with Zhao Jingzhong.

"Haoran, make arrangements for Xiaoxuan."

"Yes, sir!"

...........

After leaving Chang'an Academy.

Chu Sheng checked into an inn, intending to take a bath before setting off for Wudi City the next day.

Before setting off, he needed to prepare some things, at least a fine horse, as the distance of five thousand li was not short.

This moment.

Li Anlan has entered the palace and is meeting Emperor Xia in the Imperial Study. "Brother, these are the things you requested."

Emperor Xia took the scroll handed to him by Li Anlan and said, "Sister, you've worked hard this time."

"I heard that Zhao Jingzhong laid ambushes along the way and tried to kill my sister many times, but thanks to a bodyguard, she was able to stay safe."

"That's right. If it weren't for Master Chu risking his life to save me, I wouldn't have survived," Li Anlan said. "Your Majesty, now that we have evidence of Zhao Jingzhong colluding with the northern barbarians, can we take action against him?"

"Zhao Jingzhong is incredibly audacious; he even tried to kill me. What else wouldn't he dare to do?"

Emperor Xia looked at the scrolls on the desk with some difficulty. "Royal sister, this evidence is not enough to convict Zhao Jingzhong of the death penalty. At most, it can only eliminate some of his henchmen. But don't worry, royal sister, I will definitely avenge you."

Li Anlan was well aware that even though they knew Zhao Jingzhong was a traitor, they still couldn't get rid of him because His Majesty's foundation was too weak to contend with Zhao Jingzhong.

"Your Majesty, there is one more thing I need your help with."

"What is it!"

"Your Majesty, may we invite that镖师 (bodyguard/escort) to the palace? I want him to escort the grain supplies to the eastern border."

"With the war between the Prince and the Eastern Tang, the supplies and provisions for this mission are extremely important and cannot be lost in any way. I can only rest assured that Chu Shi can protect my elder sister and ensure her safe return to the capital. I can only entrust this supply and provisions to him."

Li Anlan pondered for a moment, then said, "I'll give it a try!"