The Iron Mountain Escort Agency was located in a narrow alley on the west side of the city. Its entrance was modest, with two wooden doors and a sign above them that read "Iron Mountain Escort Agency."

Two stone lions crouched at the entrance, and the door was slightly ajar.

Jiang Chi took a deep breath and stepped forward to knock on the door.

"Who is it?"

The door opened, and a middle-aged man poked his head out.

He was in his forties, with a square face, thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a circle of stubble on his chin.

It was Zhao Tieshan.

He saw Jiang Chi, paused for a moment, and looked him up and down several times before furrowing his brows.

"You are... Jiang Chi?"

"Uncle Zhao."

Jiang Chi called out.

Zhao Tieshan was silent for a moment, then opened the door.

"Come in."

In the courtyard, several escort carts were parked, and a few young escorts were polishing knives and feeding horses. They saw Jiang Chi and whispered among themselves.

"Who is that?"

"Don't know, dressed like a beggar."

"Someone the master knows?"

Jiang Chi kept his head down and followed Zhao Tieshan into the main hall.

Zhao Tieshan sat down, poured two bowls of tea, and pushed one to Jiang Chi.

"I heard about your situation."

Zhao Tieshan said, "Jiang Wanling kicked you out?"

Jiang Chi didn't speak, just nodded.

"Married the Su family's ugly girl?"

Jiang Chi nodded again.

Zhao Tieshan sighed.

"Your father did me a great favor back in the day. If it weren't for him, I'd still be sweeping floors at the Jiang Family Martial Academy."

He paused, "You've come to me, you must be in trouble!"

Jiang Chi nodded.

Zhao Tieshan was straightforward.

"Tell me! How much silver do you need, as long as I have it."

"I don't want silver!"

Zhao Tieshan was taken aback, his brows knitted tightly.

"Are you looking to kill someone?"

Jiang Chi quickly shook his head.

"No, no!"

"Then what is it?"

Zhao Tieshan was puzzled; he didn't want money, nor did he have a vendetta, which was a bit confusing.

Jiang Chi said.

"Uncle Zhao, I want to find a job here with you..."

"Any job will do, sweeping, moving goods, guarding the door."

Zhao Tieshan glanced at him, puzzled.

Outsiders all knew that the former young master of the Jiang Family, at the age of five, suffered a strange illness that destroyed his Martial Dao Foundation, making him no different from ordinary people to this day.

And now he wanted to work at the escort agency?

"Have you recovered your Martial Dao Constitution?"

"No!"

As expected.

"Can you do accounting?"

"Not really."

Zhao Tieshan was silent for a long time, thinking.

"Then how about guarding the door, would you do it?"

"I would!"

This was exactly the job Jiang Chi had in mind as the best option.

"Two taels of silver a month, the work isn't heavy, includes food and lodging, just watch the door, clean the courtyard a bit, don't let anyone in casually, just ask and report."

"Alright."

Zhao Tieshan stood up, took a key from the wall, and tossed it to Jiang Chi.

"The small room by the door is yours. You can start today."

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Jiang Chi caught the key, clutching it in his palm. "Uncle Zhao, could I get an advance on a month's wages? I want to... rent a house."

"Rent a house?"

Jiang Chi nodded.

"I came to the city with my wife this time, I need to take good care of her."

Zhao Tieshan slapped his forehead.

"Look at my head, you're already married."

Zhao Tieshan paused and then said.

"But why rent a house? There's a side room next to the escort agency, you can just move in there, it's convenient for guarding the door and taking care of your family."

Jiang Chi's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

He hadn't expected such a troublesome issue to be resolved so easily.

Jiang Chi bowed to Zhao Tieshan.

"Thank you, Uncle Zhao."

Zhao Tieshan waved his hand.

"Don't thank me. Your father helped me much more back in the day."

Jiang Chi turned and walked out.

At the door, Zhao Tieshan suddenly called him.

"Little Chi."

Jiang Chi turned back.

"Your father was a good man."

Zhao Tieshan said, "Don't disgrace him."

Jiang Chi didn't speak, just nodded, and pushed the door open to leave.

In the courtyard, those young escorts were still watching him.

Jiang Chi kept his head down and walked past them.

He heard someone behind him whisper.

"Is that the Jiang Family's waste?"

"I heard it is. Married an ugly girl and got kicked out."

"Tsk tsk, why would the master take in someone like that..."

Jiang Chi didn't look back.

But he remembered those two voices in his heart.

He walked outside.

Su Qianxue stood quietly by the skinny donkey, holding a bundle, waiting for Jiang Chi.

"Let's go home!"

"Home?"

Jiang Chi didn't answer, instead leading Su Qianxue around a bend to a gatehouse.

He used the key to open the door and pushed it open. The courtyard was small, with a well and a persimmon tree.

Su Qianxue was speechless with surprise at the sight of the courtyard.

Jiang Chi explained.

"I found a job as a gatekeeper at the escort agency next door. This house is for us to stay temporarily. The courtyard is small, don't mind it; I'll get you a big house in the future."

Su Qianxue shook her head vigorously.

"No, no, this is already wonderful!"

The two entered the room and pushed open the door.

Inside was a bed, a table, and a chair. It was simple, but enough to make them happy.

Su Qianxue put down the bundle, tears welling up, and threw herself into Jiang Chi's arms.

"Thank you!"

Su Qianxue was so moved that tears flowed uncontrollably.

For the first time in her life, someone cared for her, thought of her, and considered her well-being.

At this moment, this small house felt like the first stable, warm home in her life.

Though living outside the city for seven days had been fun, the fear of wild wolves had always left her with lingering fear.

Jiang Chi held the sobbing Su Qianxue, gently stroking her head.

"There, there! Life will get better from here, this is just the beginning."

Jiang Chi sighed inwardly, whether in the original world or now, a stable home was always what a woman desired most.

"Alright!"

Jiang Chi gently pushed Su Qianxue away.

"You tidy up a bit, I need to go to the escort agency. I'll come back when the agency closes tonight."

"Okay! Go ahead, I'll be waiting at home."

Jiang Chi went to the escort agency and stood at the entrance, watching the escorts practice their knife skills in the courtyard.

The blades flashed, and shouts echoed continuously.

Jiang Chi watched intently.

Deer Form, for agility and alertness.

Tiger Form, for fierce pouncing kills.

But what about weapons?

He hadn't learned to use weapons yet.

To him, the escorts' knife skills were full of flaws.

Too slow, too weak, too disorganized in footwork.

But he said nothing.

He just watched, memorizing it all.

With a photographic memory, seeing it once was enough.

By evening, the escorts had dispersed.

In the empty courtyard, only a few wooden stakes remained.

Jiang Chi walked over and stood before the stakes.

He took a deep breath.

Tiger Form. He punched out. "Bang!" The wooden stake shook but didn't break.

Jiang Chi looked at his fist.

Body Tempering Layer 9, still not enough.

He needed another night's sleep to reach the Martial Apprentice Realm.

Just then, Zhao Tieshan came over from the inner courtyard, seeing Jiang Chi staring at the wooden stake, he comforted him.

"Jiang Chi, don't worry, not knowing martial arts is fine. As long as my Iron Mountain Escort Agency is here, you can stay here."

"Thank you, Uncle Zhao!"

"Thank what, we're family. Just go home if there's nothing else, open the door for the escorts early in the morning."

Jiang Chi nodded.

"Alright!"

He turned and left, closing the door, and with a turn, he was home.

As soon as he stepped inside, the aroma of food hit him.

Su Qianxue eagerly came out to greet him.

"Brother Chi, you're back!"

Jiang Chi looked at the clean and tidy courtyard, smelled the fragrant food, and saw Su Qianxue's expectant eyes.

"Come on, let's eat!"

Jiang Chi picked up a bowl, thinking.

Tomorrow, the escort agency opens.

It's also time to reach the Martial Apprentice Realm!