Chapter 7: Getting a job as a Watchman!

Early the next morning, Lu Xuan bundled up the wolf skin.

Shen Yuyan packed their belongings, the two of them locked the door of the Ancestral Home and led the lame donkey back toward Azure Sun City.

The twenty-mile journey took over two hours.

The gates of Azure Sun City were the same as ever... the two characters carved into the tall stone walls standing as indifferent as always.

The soldiers guarding the gate glanced at Lu Xuan, then at Shen Yuyan on the donkey, curled their lips, and said nothing.

They entered the city, people bustled through the streets, and the cries of vendors rose and fell around them.

Shen Yuyan sat on the donkey, veiled and with her head down, not daring to look at anyone.

Lu Xuan led the donkey, walking in front of her, he didn't go to the market, didn't stop at any stalls.

He headed straight for the west side of the city, his destination, the Iron Mountain Escort Agency was right in the alley ahead.

Lu Xuan took a deep breath... and stepped forward to knock on the door.

The Iron Mountain Escort Agency was tucked into an alley on the west side of the city.

The storefront wasn't large... just two wooden doors and a plaque hanging above that read "Iron Mountain Escort Agency."

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

"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 ring of stubble lining his jaw.

It was indeed Fang Tieshan.

He was stunned when he saw Lu Xuan. He sized him up several times, and then his brow furrowed.

"You are... Lu Xuan?"

"Uncle Fang."

Lu Xuan greeted him.

Fang Tieshan remained silent for a while before stepping aside and opening the door wider, "Come in."

Several escort wagons were parked in the courtyard, a few young escort warriors were wiping their blades and feeding horses, they whispered among themselves when they saw Lu Xuan.

"Who is this?"

"I don't know, he's dressed like a beggar."

"Someone the boss knows?"

Lu Xuan kept his head down and followed Fang Tieshan into the main hall.

Fang Tieshan sat down, poured two bowls of tea, and pushed one toward Lu Xuan.

"I've heard about what happened to you," Fang Tieshan said. "Lu Tianhe kicked you out?"

Lu Xuan didn't speak, he simply nodded.

"And you married the Shen Family's... daughter?"

Lu Xuan nodded again.

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Fang Tieshan sighed.

"Your father was kind to me back then. If not for him, I would still be sweeping floors at the Lu Family Martial Academy."

He paused. "You coming here must mean you've run into some trouble."

Lu Xuan nodded.

Fang Tieshan was a straightforward man.

"Speak. How much silver do you need? As long as I have it."

"I don't want silver."

Fang Tieshan was taken aback, his brow twisting into a knot.

"Do you want someone killed?"

Lu Xuan quickly shook his head, "No, no."

"Then what is it?"

Fang Tieshan was confused, he didn't want money, and there was no grudge to settle, It was a bit baffling.

Lu Xuan said, "Uncle Fang, I want to find a job here, any job will do... sweeping, moving goods, guarding the door."

Fang Tieshan glanced at him, doubtful.

Everyone in the city knew that the young master of the former Lu Family head had contracted a strange illness at age five, destroying his martial foundation. To this day, he was no different from an ordinary person.

Coming to an escort agency without knowing martial arts?

"Have you restored your foundation?"

"No."

As expected.

"Do you know how to keep accounts?"

"Not really."

Fang Tieshan was silent for a long time, thinking.

"Then how about guarding the door? Will you do that?"

"I'll do it."

This was exactly the job Lu Xuan had in mind.

"Two silver pieces a month, the work isn't heavy, meals and lodging are included, you just watch the door, clean the courtyard, and don't let strangers in, just ask their business and announce them."

"Done."

Fang Tieshan stood up, took a key from the wall, and tossed it to Lu Xuan.

"That little room by the gate is yours. Start today."

Lu Xuan caught the key and gripped it tight. "Uncle Fang... can I get a month's wages in advance? I want to rent a house."

"Rent a house?"

Lu Xuan nodded, "I brought my wife with me to the city. I need to take care of her."

Fang Tieshan slapped his forehead, "Look at my head... I forgot you've already started a family."

He paused and then said, "But why rent a house? There's a side room right next to the agency. You can just move in there. It'll be convenient for guarding the door and taking care of your wife."

Lu Xuan's eyes lit up, he hadn't expected that the problem he had been worrying about for days would be solved this easily.

Lu Xuan thanked Fang Tieshan.

"Thank you, Uncle Fang."

Fang Tieshan waved his hand, "Don't thank me. What your father did for me back then was worth much more than this."

Lu Xuan turned and walked toward the door, as he reached it, Fang Tieshan suddenly called out to him.

"Xuan'er."

Lu Xuan looked back, "Your father was a good man," Fang Tieshan said. "Don't shame him."

Lu Xuan didn't speak, he just nodded and pushed the door open.

In the courtyard, those young escort warriors were still watching him.

Lu Xuan kept his head down and walked past them, while listening to someone whispering behind him.

"Is this that trash from the Lu Family?"

"I heard so. Married an ugly woman and got kicked out."

"Tsk tsk... why would the boss take in someone like that?"

Lu Xuan didn't look back, but he committed those two voices to memory.

He walked outside, Shen Yuyan was standing by the lame donkey, holding their bundle close to her chest, quietly waiting for him... just like she had waited for him in front of the Shen Family gate on the day they married.

Lu Xuan looked at her and smiled, "Let's go home."

"Home?"

She sounded confused.

Lu Xuan didn't answer, he simply took her hand and led her around a corner to the side room, he opened the door with the key and stepped inside, the courtyard wasn't large, but it had a well and a tree.

Shen Yuyan looked at the courtyard before her, speechless with surprise.

Lu Xuan said, "I found a job as a watchman at the escort agency next door, this room is for us to live in for now, the courtyard is a bit small, so don't mind it. I'll make sure you live in a proper house someday."

Shen Yuyan shook her head frantically, "No, no... this is already so much more than I ever expected."

The two of them went to the room and pushed open the door, inside were a bed, a table, and a chair, simple... but more than enough.

Shen Yuyan set down the bundle, and her eyes filled with tears, she turned and threw herself into Lu Xuan's arms, burying her face against his chest.

"Thank you..."

Her tears wouldn't stop flowing, in all her life, this was the first time someone had cared for her so much, looked out for her and thought of her.

The seven days at the Ancestral Home had been happy, yes... the warmth of his arms each night, the quiet mornings waking up beside him... but the scare from the wild wolves had left her with lingering fears.

Right now, this little house... was the first place in her life that felt like a real home.

Lu Xuan held her close and gently stroked her hair.

"Be good. Life will be better from here... this is just the beginning."

Shen Yuyan nestled against him for a long moment before pulling back, wiping her eyes, and nodding.

"Alright."

Lu Xuan gently pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Tidy up a bit first. I have to go to the escort agency. I'll come back after they close for the evening."

Shen Yuyan nodded, her cheeks still flushed, then she added softly, "Don't stay too late... you need to rest."

The way she said "rest" made Lu Xuan's felt a itch in his throat, he cleared his throat, turned, and walked out before he lost the will to leave.