Xuanqing Guard

Chapter 334: Chapter 334: Wolf Pack

Tan Bin finally got the order from above. He left the secret training camp and, along with two other companions, each carrying a wooden token, arrived at Yu City Pier.

This was Tan Bin’s second time at Yu City Pier. He had a good impression of the place and felt this was his big lucky spot—his previous major accomplishment was inseparable from Yu City.

Coming back this time, Tan Bin felt another big merit was already waving at him.

The three stood on the dock, glanced around, and quickly spotted a crowded shop to the west with a big sign: Hongli Trading Company.

"Let’s go, over there."

This time, Tan Bin was the leader. The three originally didn’t know each other, but after half a month of various adaptation trainings, they were pretty familiar. With Tan Bin giving a shout, the other two followed him toward the Hongli Trading Company.

Unlike other stores, as soon as Tan Bin and the others approached the door, they instinctively gripped the short knives at their waists. All because of the pack of wolf-like, fierce eyes stabbing over from the crowd around them.

"Yo! Fresh meat, huh!"

"Goddamn it, bringing in new recruits again! No wonder they haven’t turned over my token lately!"

"Fresh meat, my ass! These three all have unfamiliar faces, but their hands probably aren’t green—definitely seen blood before. Just look, their eyes are fierce staring back at us."

All sorts of strange dialects, barely understandable, created a noisy ruckus. Clutching their knives, Tan Bin’s trio threaded through these dark-faced, sharp-eyed men into the shop.

"What business brings you three here?"

Just at the entrance, a black-clad Guard stretched out his arm to stop them.

"We’re here to report in." Tan Bin pulled out his wooden token and showed it. The other two did the same.

"Mm, go on in. Don’t wander around; head inside and turn left to that counter to hand in your token—someone will see to you. And don’t make trouble. Keep your eyes to yourself."

The three nodded and passed through the shop’s main door. Inside, they found it spacious. To the left, about fifty feet away, was a noticeable counter with a skinny, monkey-like guy buried in his writing. Outside the counter, six or seven people were queued up, each holding their own wooden tokens.

"New here? Queue up to register. What’re you looking at? I’m talking to you three. Come, line up behind me."

The last guy in line greeted the three, and they joined the queue. But he kept talking: "You three brothers look like you came together? Hehe, the name’s Old Rat. What about you? How do I call you?"

Tan Bin smiled. "I’m Liu San, he’s Qi Wu, and the one at the back is Zhang Si. We’re from the same place."

"Three, Four, Five? Tsk tsk, great names! Hahaha. Is this you three’s first time doing this kind of work?"

"What about you?" Tan Bin didn’t answer, just shot the question back.

"Me? My relative’s a Deacon at Hongli; he recommended me—been here four or five times, I’m an old hand. Want to tag along with me? I’ll lead you, and when you come back everyone’ll have a sheep to take home. How’s that?"

"Sheep?"

Old Rat smirked even more, leaned in and said, "See, you don’t even know what a sheep is and still won’t admit you’re new? Sheep are the Southern Barbarians—two-legged sheep. Bring back just one and your whole family eats and drinks for a year. Bring back two and you’ve struck it rich."

Hey, I know what you’re afraid of. But in this business, if no one brings you in and you rely on yourself, it’s hard to make money. You’ll go through all that hardship for a handful of scattered silver, isn’t that a loss?"

Tan Bin and his two companions exchanged looks, forced a smile, and said, "Let’s finish registering first. If we need something, we’ll find you."

"Heh, don’t trust me, huh? That’s fine, natural. Consider it just meeting each other. But when you’re outside the border, for sure, you’ll be looking for me."

Old Rat actually turned around and quit talking. The others in line stayed silent, cold-faced and clouded, a bloody edge to them—obviously no decent folks.

From when he first walked in, Tan Bin felt everyone in and out of this shop wasn’t normal, giving him the same vibe as the killers in the Xuanqing Guard’s Torture Department.

It wasn’t long before it was Tan Bin’s trio’s turn at the counter.

"Give me your token. State a name, then name a beneficiary for your death gratuity. Last, stamp your hand seal here on the life-and-death agreement."

Once the paperwork was done, they received a copper medal and could pick a room in the back to stay in.

In the back they found inn-like small compartments, five to a room, at least thirty or forty such rooms.

They picked one at random; the room wasn’t full. Some newcomers, seeing three already inside, retreated and picked other rooms.

Come evening, someone blew a whistle outside, others shouted loudly, ordering everyone inside to get up and assemble.

Tan Bin’s trio quickly got out; truth was, two of them slept very lightly in their clothes while the third kept watch. The moment the whistle blew, all three pushed open the door without a word.

"When your name is called, step forward—form a team. Now starting: Li Tietou... Wang Er Kui... Zhao Soldiers..."

After about a hundred people were named, ten or so were left, including Tan Bin and his mates.

"The rest of you are all assigned as vanguard scouts and mounted scouts. After reaching Zhuo Huo Pass and meeting up with the main force you’ll be re-grouped. Those just called, pick a team leader and board the ship in two Hours!"

The black-clad Deacon finished and left without a wasted word. The rest scattered—most were regulars who all knew the drill.

"Hey, Liu San! Over here! Me, Old Rat! You guys don’t have a team, right? Looks like fate; we’re all assigned as scouts. I tell you, this is a cushy spot—scouts make the most side money. Heh heh, not saying more now, I’m gonna grab some sleep, see you on the ship!"

Old Rat ran over, rattling off a string of words, and left again with a smug look.

"Boss, that guy’s suspicious."

"Yeah, noticed it. Shifty eyes and bad intentions. Plus, when those others saw him chatting us up, they just sneered like they were watching a show. That Rat’s up to something. Ignore him for now, once we figure out what’s what, we’ll deal with him. Come on, back to sleep."

Two Hours later, Tan Bin’s trio boarded a fast boat docked outside the pier. The boat was narrow, tall, not many cabins. Most people, after boarding, were told to sit out on deck.

No one made a fuss. Each looked fierce as demons, but all as docile as wolves. It was the sailors around who seemed all cheerful and cocky.

"Brother Liu San, I’m telling you, once you’re outside the Pass, it’s nothing like being inside. Rookies like you, easy to get killed, seriously. Why would I lie? You need to find someone reliable to follow... yeah, I’m reliable—I’ll teach you the ropes and lead you to get rich..."

Tan Bin and his companions, accompanied by the endless chatter of Old Rat, disembarked, passed Hai Xia, then Beach Stone, and finally, after crossing the border town "Shengri," arrived at Zhuo Huo Pass on the seventeenth of January.