Chapter 125: Noble‑Family Grudges

"Who are you?"

Ge Xue stared coldly at Ma Huixin, his eyes showing nothing but uncontainable anger.

Ma Huixin was one of the employers of this escort mission; how could he not know? He even knew that this time they would likely be attacked by the black-clad faction, and it was very likely that the faction was targeting Ma Huixin.

Besides Ma Huixin, there was another employer; the goods being escorted had been transported before without incident—not even encountering bandits, let alone people demanding toll money.

But once Ma Huixin was added, this escort run encountered the black-clad bandits.

This caused heavy casualties among the escort brothers, including many who had known each other for years, even over a decade.

As for Ma Huixin, the culprit, how could he not resent her?

Of course.

He also knew the principle of taking money to ward off disaster; they were doing the blood‑licking work on the blade's edge, and Ma Huixin had paid them amply.

For this escort run, Ma Huixin was a last‑minute addition; initially they were unwilling to agree.

Who knows if Ma Huixin had deliberately joined them to target their cargo?

They therefore quoted an exorbitant price, hoping Ma Huixin would be deterred, but they never expected her to agree; moreover, she told them that danger might be encountered on the road.

Let them be extremely vigilant!

At that time, they had already been lured by the escort fee Ma Huixin offered.

Although the fee was to be turned over to the escort bureau, a portion was still theirs to share.

After all, they were doing the blood‑licking work on the blade's edge; without sufficient pay, no one would do it.

He also thought of the other employer, a longtime customer who had hired them for many runs without ever encountering danger, and who had not offended anyone recently—there was no need to go to such trouble to set a trap.

It was only because of the high fee Ma Huixin offered that they agreed to let her join.

Who would have known.

They actually did encounter danger!

And it got a bunch of their brothers killed!

He knew he shouldn't blame Ma Huixin, but he couldn't help blaming her.

"Our young lady is the eldest daughter of the Ma Family of the Qianli Merchant Association!"

Xiang Qiao gave a cold snort, her face full of arrogance.

"The Ma Family of the Qianli Merchant Association?"

Not only Ge Xue, but even Xu Qing was startled; the Qianli Merchant Association is a famous guild in Fengyin Prefecture, and although the Ma Family are upstarts with no background, thanks to their wealth they have taken root and sprouted in the prefectural seat.

Our Yangcheng Escort Bureau does a lot of business with the Qianli Merchant Association!

Ge Xue wondered aloud: "How have I never heard that the Qianli Merchant Association has a young lady?"

Xu Qing looked at Ma Huixin's abnormal expression, knowing there was a story behind it; he wasn't the type to gossip.

Moreover, some stories, if heard by outsiders, could cost them their lives.

What's more, Ma Huixin wasn't alone—actually she was accompanied by a maid heading to the prefectural seat, and on the road they even encountered the black‑clad faction's ambush.

The story behind this is likely a matter of life and death.

Xu Qing hurriedly changed the subject: "Miss Ma, I recall that we're not far from Qingyang County Seat, but now my brothers are heavily casualties and we can no longer protect you on the way to the prefectural seat…"

Ma Huixin interrupted: "Escort Head Xu, rest assured—when we reach the prefectural seat, I'll double whatever benefits you're due, and I can also help arrange jobs for your wounded brothers; becoming rich and powerful may be impossible, but supporting a family is no problem!"

Xu Qing and Ge Xue exchanged a glance; suspecting the black‑clad faction's attack was aimed at Ma Huixin, they were considering whether to abandon this escort run, even if it would harm the reputation of their Yangcheng Escort Bureau.

Upon learning that Ma Huixin came from the Ma Family of the Qianli Merchant Association—and that she was the eldest daughter they had never known about—their thought of giving up reached its peak. Who knows whether this might drag them into a noble‑family feud!

But.

Hearing Ma Huixin's words, the two couldn't help but hesitate.

The Yangcheng Escort Bureau's benefits are actually quite good; even if a brother is severely injured or killed on duty, he receives a substantial compensation.

That said, compared to being injured—especially severely injured—it's better to just lose one's life; even if the compensation were higher, it wouldn't burden the family.

After all, no matter how large the compensation, there's still the risk of squandering it.

Especially if they have to support a disabled person, the family could decline over a few years.

Such situations, the Yangcheng Escort Bureau isn't unwilling to manage, but the bureau has grown large, with many people; even if it wanted to, it couldn't manage them all, and the bureau also needs to make a living and support families, so it can only provide a substantial compensation.

That's already going above and beyond!

Xu Qing and Ge Xue exchanged a glance, but in the end they still couldn't make a firm decision.

Noble‑family feuds, the work of injured escorts…

No matter which matter, they are entangled, and it's not good to make a hasty decision.

This novel you have reached.

Xu Qing said solemnly: "Miss Ma, you've misunderstood my meaning; I'm saying that it's still a long way to the prefectural seat, most of our brothers are seriously injured and can't escort you there, so we plan to first rest at Qingyang County Seat, then gather some capable hands from the escort bureau to resume the convoy."

"Then thank you, Escort Head Xu!"

Ma Huixin's face showed gratitude as she said: "When we reach the prefectural seat, any brothers who need job arrangements can come to me, and I will also settle the wages of the other brothers who come rushing from your escort bureau!"

"Thank you, Miss Ma!"

Xu Qing also breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Miss Ma, this place… this place isn't very safe; you'd better stay in the carriage. The carriage is made of fine ironwood, its defense is top‑notch—even swords and axes can't breach it—and I'll station a few brothers nearby to protect you."

"Thanks, Escort Head Xu, but I still have something I want to ask you!"

Ma Huixin asked curiously: "Was it the Flying Eagle Sword Hero who just saved our lives?"

"Flying Eagle Sword Hero?"

Xu Qing's face was full of bewilderment.

He had wandered the jianghu for many years and had never heard of such a figure.

Of course.

It's also possible that he's just ignorant and narrow‑minded!

「Escort Head, it's like this…」

Escort Head, it's like this...

Ma Huixin explained.

After a long while, Xu Qing listened to Ma Huixin's explanation, his face full of strange feelings; he never expected that Ma Huixin—no, it was her maid—would actually give such a name, he said:

he said:

「What you said is correct; the one who just saved us is a peregrine falcon, and it can actually control a Flying Sword; your 'Flying Eagle Sword Hero' is really vivid! 」

At that time.

He was about to lose his life at the hands of the Faction leader, but he didn't expect that suddenly someone—no, it was a monster… He didn't know whether to call it a monster or a spirit beast that intervened.

Not only did it rescue him from the Faction leader's grasp, it also slew the Faction leader.

He was frightened on the spot!

He never expected that a peregrine falcon could actually control a Flying Sword; he suspected there might be a Sword Cultivator nearby, but after checking repeatedly, he confirmed that besides the peregrine falcon, there was no outsider.

Although.

Unwilling to admit that a peregrine falcon could actually control a Flying Sword, but he had to say that his and the other escorts' lives were saved by this Flying Eagle Sword Hero.

(End of chapter)