Chapter 29: Arrangements, The Tie Family Caravan

Two days later.

Yumen Town.

This was the largest gateway pass in the eastern territory of the Great Qian Dynasty, and also the first small town one encountered after entering the empire from the east.

Under the scorching sun, a man and a horse slowly approached the checkpoint.

A sentry officer at the gate saw them and raised a hand, shouting, "Halt! Show your identification token to enter the town."

Li Dao stopped and took the token from his robes, handing it over.

The officer took the token, examined it carefully, and then looked Li Dao up and down, noting his travel-worn appearance. "Where are you coming from, and where are you headed?"

"From Changgu Town, heading to the Imperial Capital."

"Changgu Town?" the officer asked. "Do you know Commander Wei?"

Li Dao placed his hand on his waist.

This movement immediately made the soldiers behind the officer alert; they drew their sabers in unison, looking as if they were ready to charge at any moment.

Li Dao was unfazed by their reaction. Without pausing, he drew the mysterious iron saber from his waist. "I wonder if you recognize this iron saber, sir?"

The officer raised his hand to stop his men, then reached out to take the blade. He inspected it, and his eyes lit up when he spotted a specific mark.

"So, you truly are one of Commander Wei's people. My apologies, my apologies."

The officer’s attitude shifted instantly from caution to warmth. He politely returned the saber.

Li Dao took it back and asked, "Did Wei Yun tell you about me?"

"Yes." The officer smiled. "A few days ago, Commander Wei told me that a friend of his would be passing through here and asked us to provide some assistance. It seems that must be you, young master."

Not knowing Li Dao's name, the officer felt "young master" was an appropriate address.

"And how did he tell you to assist me?"

He was not surprised by Wei Yun’s initiative; after all, that man owed him a significant favor.

"Is the young master heading to the Imperial Capital?"

"I am."

"You may not know this, but the eastern frontier is a long way from the capital. It is very difficult for a lone traveler to make the journey, so most people in Yumen Town join caravans. We don't have the means to escort you all the way to the capital, but we can recommend a suitable caravan for you."

Under the officer's explanation, Li Dao quickly grasped the situation in Yumen Town. Because the town was a vital and remote frontier outpost, it was difficult for individuals to reach it on their own. Usually, only merchant caravans traveling between frontier towns came through. For an individual wanting to head further into the interior, the best method was to join a group.

Li Dao agreed with this assessment. Although he had a map from Yumen Town to the Imperial Capital, he found even modern maps difficult to read, let alone an ancient one. If he had to feel his way there, a trip that should take half a month might take several months. Finding someone to lead the way was the best solution.

Li Dao nodded. "Then I will trouble you."

He took out a ten-tael silver ingot from his robes and tossed it over.

"Young master, you are being too polite. You are Commander Wei's friend, after all." The officer managed a wry smile as he accepted the silver.

"No need for formalities. Wei Yun is Wei Yun, and I am I. If there's an issue, have him come to me. Consider this money for the brothers to buy some wine," Li Dao said casually.

Hearing this, the officer didn't know what to say, so he cupped his hands. "Rest assured, young master, we will make proper arrangements for you."

Led by the officer, Li Dao led his horse into Yumen Town. Once inside, he realized it was much more prosperous than the exterior suggested. Though not large, the town lacked nothing. The streets were filled with carpets, peddlers calling out their wares, and various taverns and inns.

Seeing Li Dao's confusion, the officer explained, "These are all traveling merchants. The frontier may be remote, but it’s a profitable place for merchants from all over. Most don't want to travel too far, so they wholesale their goods here, which is why it has gradually become prosperous. However, don't be fooled by their hospitality; merchants are inherently cunning. If there is even a hint of trouble, these people are the first to run."

The officer spoke with evident disdain.

Soon, the officer brought Li Dao to an inn. Standing outside, Li Dao immediately saw the signboard: "Tie Family Inn." Beneath it was a smaller sign that read: "Tie Family Escort Agency."

"I didn't expect to find the Tie family's business here."

Li Dao knew a bit about the Tie family. They were the premier imperial merchants of the Great Qian Dynasty. Their businesses spanned the entire empire and even extended into neighboring countries on a massive scale. Their wealth was said to rival the state itself.

Beyond wealth, the Tie family held significant power. In every generation, a woman from the Tie family married into the imperial household, ensuring they were always related to the throne. This was precisely why the imperial family never viewed them with suspicion; rather, there were always signs of continued support.

The two walked inside, where the patrons looked just as travel-worn as Li Dao. The officer led him to the counter. "Xiao Qian, please ask your manager to come out for a moment."

The innkeeper's assistant smiled when he saw them. "Understood, Master Zhao. You two wait a moment; I’ll go notify the manager."

Soon, the assistant returned with a plump man dressed in fine silk robes.

"Brother Zhao, what wind blew you here today?" the manager asked cheerfully.

"Don't try to get familiar," the officer said bluntly. "Do you have any large caravans heading to the Imperial Capital? I need you to arrange for this person to join one."

"A large caravan to the capital?" The manager thought for a moment, then leaned in close, whispering, "We do have one—it's the Tie family's own caravan. But entry is strict; we require people with a clean background. Brother Zhao, about this one..."

The officer glared at him. "Do you think I would bring someone with a tainted background?"

The manager chuckled nervously. "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. I was just asking."

"Forget it," the officer said. "I won't waste words. Help me get this friend of mine in, and I'll owe you a favor."

The manager’s eyes lit up—that favor was worth a lot—but thinking of who was leading the caravan, he asked cautiously, "Are you sure there won't be any problems?"

The officer lost his patience. "Do you want me to put my head on the line as collateral?"

"No, no." The manager realized that the person behind the officer must indeed have a clean record. He patted his chest. "Rest assured, Brother Zhao. I guarantee on the reputation of the Tie family that this brother will reach the capital safely."

"That's good." The officer turned to Li Dao. "Young master, you can stay at this inn for now. The manager will handle the arrangements."

"Thank you," Li Dao said sincerely. Although their conversation had been quiet, his sharp senses had caught every word. He knew the officer had handled this with great care.

The officer laughed. "Commander Wei saved my life on the battlefield. You are his friend, which makes you mine. No need for thanks."

After the officer left, the manager greeted him warmly. "Guest, you can stay here and we can depart tomorrow." He clapped his hands at the assistant. "What are you waiting for? Go prepare a room for this young master."

Led by the assistant, Li Dao reached his room. "Is there anything else you need, sir?"

Li Dao glanced at his own attire and tossed a silver coin to the assistant. "Help me prepare some hot water, a meal, and a clean set of clothes."

The assistant caught the silver, beaming. "Right away, sir. I'll make sure it's all ready for you."

An hour later, a tub of hot water, a set of black clothing, and a meal were waiting in the room. Li Dao let out a long breath. "Finally, a hot bath."

In Changgu Town, water was scarce, and he had only been able to wipe himself down with a damp towel. He shed his tattered clothes, revealing his lean, powerful physique. His body had been strengthened repeatedly, and his frame was now perfectly sculpted, every muscle refined.

As he stepped into the water, he let out another sigh. It had been over three months since his last real bath, back when he was still the Earl of Anyuan.

"Display," Li Dao whispered.

[Host: Li Dao]
[Physique: 87.81]
[Available Attribute Points: 0]

Since slaying the innate-level martial artist from the Luoyun Tribe, he hadn't had a chance to earn any more attribute points, so his physique had remained stagnant.

"Once the trip to the capital is over, I'll have to consider my future."

...

The next morning.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

The assistant stood outside. "Sir, the manager asked me to inform you that the caravan is about to depart."

"Creak."

The door opened. The assistant was about to speak, but he froze. "This young master... who are you? Where is the gentleman from yesterday?"

The man in the doorway wore a long black robe, standing tall and straight. His hair was black as ink, tied back with a silk ribbon, with two soft locks framing his face. His features were handsome and stern, with sharp, sword-like brows and starry eyes—a face that would make anyone call him a beautiful youth.

"No need to look for him. I am the same person," Li Dao reminded him.

"Huh?" The assistant stared in disbelief, unable to reconcile the handsome youth before him with the travel-worn man from the day before. It took a while for him to recover. "My apologies, sir. You are just so good-looking, I didn't recognize you."

One couldn't get angry at such a remark. Li Dao understood his reaction, as he had been stunned by his own appearance as well. Before he had entered the death camp, he had been somewhat handsome, but years of excessive drinking, meat-eating, and frequenting brothels had drained his vitality, leaving him looking bloated and withered. He would have given himself a seventy out of a hundred back then.

But now, as his physique had improved, his appearance had also undergone a transformation, refining his features into something closer to a ninety. He felt that if he returned to the capital, he wouldn't need to worry about being recognized as the old Li Dao. While his bone structure remained the same, his actual appearance had changed so drastically that he was essentially a new person.

"Has the manager said where to meet?" Li Dao asked.

"I don't know, sir. You should head downstairs and ask him," the assistant replied.

Led by the assistant, Li Dao found the manager. The manager had the same confused reaction until the assistant explained, at which point he broke into a warm smile. "Young master, please follow me."

...

On the way to the assembly point, the manager looked at the saber at Li Dao's waist. "May I ask, sir, if you possess any martial cultivation?"

"What do you mean by that?" Li Dao asked.

The manager explained, "To be honest, the caravan you are joining is organized by a very important figure from the Tie family. To join, you need a designated role. If you lack martial arts skills, I can arrange for you to be a stable hand. If you have skills, you can be an escort. The treatment for an escort is much better than that of a stable hand."

He added, "Of course, even if you were just a passenger, you needn't worry about safety. There are very few bandits in the Great Qian Dynasty who would dare to block a Tie Family Escort caravan."

Li Dao thought for a moment. "Then arrange for me to be an escort."

Though he lacked "cultivation," his physical body was far superior to any ordinary martial artist.

"Very well."

Soon, a caravan appeared before them. It was massive, consisting of over a hundred carriages stretching for hundreds of meters. Most were loaded with goods, but some were for passengers, and there were many guards.

"As expected of the Tie family." With his keen senses, Li Dao could tell that many of the guards possessed martial cultivation.

"Spectacular, isn't it?" the manager said proudly. "Only our Tie family could organize a caravan of this size. Other families simply can't do it."

The manager’s voice was filled with the pride of a Tie family employee. In this era, even the servants of a high-ranking family held status.

The manager brought Li Dao to the middle of the caravan and found the captain of the guards. "Captain Qian, I'd like to trouble you to arrange a spot for this one." He slipped a purse into the captain’s hand.

The captain weighed the purse and smiled. "Fine, I'll take care of it." He looked at Li Dao and waved his hand. "Kid, just follow me when the caravan departs."

The manager turned back to Li Dao. "You can follow the caravan from here on out. Once you reach the capital, you can simply leave."

Li Dao cupped his hands. "Thank you, manager."

The manager waved his hand. "Haha, no need, it's all about favors."

Neither of them noticed that, not far away, standing outside a luxurious carriage, a young girl in a green dress had been watching the entire scene.