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

Chapter 20 Ganshan Three Heroes

After spending more than ten days together, Chu Sheng finally confirmed one thing: the princess's order to escort grain was a ruse.

She came for me.

This put a lot of pressure on Chu Sheng, who would occasionally lament that being handsome was also a sin.

He estimated that Emperor Xia was unaware that Li Anlan had left Chang'an with the army.

As the saying goes, "For a man to pursue a woman, it's like crossing mountains and seas; for a woman to pursue a man, it's like piercing a thin veil."

For more than ten days, Li Anlan showed concern for Chu Sheng's well-being and took meticulous care of him, which made the already slow-moving mission less tedious.

Chu Sheng discovered that the aloof, elegant, and noble princess also had a cute side; and you know what, she was actually quite alluring.

During his cultivation, Chu Sheng discovered that his Dao heart was unstable.

Suddenly, I'm looking forward to discovering some unexpected sparks with the Princess.

Men and women working together makes the work less tiring.

The ancients were right.

Just then.

Huo Zhan rode his horse to Chu Sheng's side, looked into the distance, and pointed to the endless mountain range in the distance. "Master Chu, ahead is the Daqian Mountain Range. A group of fierce bandits are hiding here."

"They robbed and murdered without hesitation, becoming a nightmare for passing merchants and travelers!"

The journey had been peaceful, and Chu Sheng thought he would arrive safely in the Eastern Territory.

"General Huo, you have three thousand soldiers under your command. Surely the bandits of Qianshan wouldn't be so bold as to come and rob our military supplies?"

"Master Chu, the three heroes of Qianshan are different from the bandits in other regions. The leader of the three heroes, Li Jingshan, is a ninth-rank martial artist. He is both brave and resourceful. He was once a general under the Prince of Yan. Later, the Prince of Yan was killed by the Ninth Prince. He left the army and fled into the Jianghu. He became an outlaw in Qianshan and called himself the mountain lord."

"His former soldiers and some people from the martial arts world successively joined him, and in less than five years, he had a force of three thousand men."

"These people are different from ordinary mountain bandits. Some of them are soldiers from the army, and some are martial artists from the Jianghu. Their fighting power is extremely fierce. Most importantly, Li Jingshan hates the imperial court very much."

"Our supplies pass through Qianshan; he will definitely attack us."

After hearing about Li Jingshan's past, he does seem to be quite a character.

His ninth-rank cultivation level was no match for him, but he had three thousand followers who might threaten the supplies.

"General Huo, have the troops halt. We'll head to Qianshan first."

Huo Zhan paused, looking at Chu Sheng with a puzzled expression. "What does Master Chu mean? Are you going into the mountains to suppress the bandits?"

"Go and meet Li Jingshan."

As soon as Chu Sheng finished speaking, the sound of horses' hooves approached, and a scout rode up, reporting, "General, we have spotted five hundred bandits from Qianshan ahead."

"Master Chu, Li Jingshan has made his move ahead of schedule."

"Since we're already here, let's go take a look!" Chu Sheng knew that he had to win over the three heroes of Qianshan in order to pass through Qianshan safely. He chose to try diplomacy first and then resort to force. If they couldn't reach an agreement, he also knew a little about martial arts.

Huo Zhan and Li Anlan followed Chu Sheng on horseback to the very front of the caravan. In the distance, five hundred bandits from Qianshan Mountain stood on the wilderness, swords drawn, blocking the supply train.

"Master Chu, I'll go and talk to them!"

The three heroes of Qianshan only knew that the imperial court's grain supplies would pass through Qianshan, and had no idea that there was a Grandmaster-level expert guarding the area.

Huo Zhan stepped forward to talk to him, but Li Jingshan didn't take him seriously at all. Whether in terms of numbers or strength, Qianshan was superior to Huo Zhan, so Li Jingshan's attitude was very tough.

"General Huo, for your father's sake, leave the grain and you can leave alive."

"If you resist, Qianshan will be your burial ground!"

Huo Zhan's expression changed, and he said in a deep voice, "Li Jingshan, you even dare to rob the imperial court's grain supplies. Aren't you really afraid that the imperial army will come to besiege you?"

Li Jingshan chuckled mockingly, "Are you afraid? If I were truly afraid, I wouldn't have become an outlaw on Qian Mountain. And do you think I know nothing about the imperial court? If a large army were truly capable of encircling and annihilating us, would I have been able to develop my power on Qian Mountain for so many years?"

"I'll ask you one question: leave your provisions to live, or perish here. The choice is yours!"

"Li Jingshan, let me give you a piece of advice: don't try to steal the supplies, or you'll regret it." Huo Zhan knew very well that Li Jingshan was determined to get the supplies and wouldn't give up easily.

He turned to look at Chu Sheng, "Master Chu, we can't reach an agreement!"

Chu Sheng spurred his horse forward, his gaze sweeping over Li Jingshan. The man appeared to be in his forties or fifties, weathered by life's hardships, with a resolute face and an aura of killing intent and iron-blooded fighting spirit swirling around him.

At the same time, Li Jingshan was also sizing up Chu Sheng, and was extremely shocked. He knew very well that the young man in front of him was actually a grandmaster whose cultivation level was above his own.

He is no match for a grandmaster-level expert.

When did the Great Xia Dynasty have such a young Grandmaster-level expert? Why is there no news about him in the martial arts world?

"Chu Sheng of Zhenyuan Escort Agency, please grant me the honor of allowing the grain supplies to leave Qianshan."

Chu Sheng did not take action immediately, but spoke in a gentle tone.

"Zhenyuan Escort Agency?" Li Jingshan wondered. The chief escort of Zhenyuan Escort Agency was not Chu Wu, whose strength was also at the ninth rank. He did not expect that Chu Sheng, a rising star, would have the strength of a grandmaster.

"Young man, what is your relationship with Chu Wu?"

"My master!"

Li Jingshan said, "I have some connections with your master. The rule of your Zhenyuan Escort Agency is that you never interfere in the affairs of the imperial court. Why are you helping the imperial court transport grain?"

"The rules you mentioned are my master's rules. My rule is... as long as the money is right, I'll take anyone's shipment; the employer doesn't matter," Chu Sheng said calmly. "You and my master have a relationship, so I won't make things difficult for you. Take your brothers and leave!"

"These provisions were escorted by me; you must not even think of taking them."

"I'm trying to persuade you kindly, don't make me massacre Qianshan."

Having great strength has this advantage: you can make the enemy retreat simply by having a deterrent force.

Li Jingshan was unwilling, but still ordered a retreat.

He knew in his heart that he could not contend with a Grandmaster-level expert. After weighing the pros and cons, taking action would only result in the needless sacrifice of his brothers.

"General Huo, order the army to set off!"

Chu Sheng looked at Li Jingshan, "Wait!"

Li Jingshan paused for a moment, "Is there anything else, Chief Escort Chu?"

Chu Sheng tossed a silver note to Li Jingshan, saying, "Keep this silver note; consider it my treat for the brothers on the mountain to drinks. We can't let them come all this way for nothing."

Looking at the silver notes controlled by his internal energy, Li Jingshan was surprised that Chu Sheng was such a meticulous person at such a young age.

Chu Sheng knew very well that in the future, Zhenyuan Escort Agency would be making its way in the martial world. Having more friends meant having more options. The martial world wasn't just about fighting and killing; it was also about human relationships and social interactions.

The镖局 (bodyguard agency) business is based on the江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world), and he can befriend all sorts of people.

A hero's origins are irrelevant, and a rich woman's age is irrelevant.

No one can be sure that the person you befriend today won't become a dragon among men one day.

"Master Chu, they are mountain bandits. You should wipe them out. Why give them silver?"

Chu Sheng glanced at Li Anlan. "Your Highness, if the court takes action and the world is at peace, what good person would become a bandit?"

"We are both wanderers in this world, why make things difficult for each other when we meet?"