Chapter 4235 — Setting Sail on the Escort
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
When the time came, Wei Zhao and the other three need only deliver these sealed boxes untouched to the Fang Family Estate on Xianpeng Island, and the task would be complete. Should the seal on any single box be broken, the responsibility would be theirs.
After the count was finished, Qi Wenmo gave Wei Zhao and the other three a map of the Wei Arc sea region. Unlike an ordinary sea chart, it bore a newly marked route, drawn by Qi Wenmo's own hand just moments before—the very route the four would take on this escort run.
This too was a rule of the trade. To guard against traitors within, the specific route of any escort run was an absolute secret, handed to the escorts only just before departure.
So long as the route was not leaked, then even if ill-minded men caught wind of the matter beforehand and learned the destination, they could not lie in wait in advance—for they had no way of knowing which route was the true one.
When all was in readiness, Wei Zhaotong came over and gave Wei Zhao and the others earnest instructions. "Our Hong Clan Trading Company entrusts everything to you this time! The goods are precious—I will not deceive you four, they are worth at least three hundred thousand spirit jade. That is an astronomical sum, and should anything go wrong, the consequences are unthinkable. So I beg you all to do your utmost. When you return, I shall host a feast in your honor and reward you handsomely besides!"
"Rest assured, Manager Wei, we would not dare be remiss in the slightest." Wei Zhao and the other three felt their hearts tighten at once. Three hundred thousand spirit jade and more—that was no small sum at all. This was indeed a major consignment.
"Follow the route I have given you, and if all goes well, you will encounter scarcely any pirates along the way—indeed, you should pass through regions nearly devoid of people. But that does not mean there is no risk." Qi Wenmo added his own warning from the side. "There is an old saying in our trade: danger always strikes when it is least expected. So you must heighten your vigilance and on no account let down your guard."
"Rest easy, Young Master. This is not our first escort run—we know what to be wary of," Li Yanji and Guan Zhiyuan answered with nods.
"Good. You two are seasoned escorts of long experience, and this time the responsibility is grave. Young Master Ling and Miss Huang are newcomers who know little of our trade. I hope you will not stint your guidance—consider it another service rendered to our Qingtian Escort Agency." Qi Wenmo cupped his hands and bowed. Seeing this, Wei Zhao and Huang Xiaotao likewise cupped their hands in salute.
"Mm. We know what we are about," Li and Guan said, exchanging a glance.
When the instructions were done, the four did not linger. After taking their leave of Qi Wenmo and Wei Zhaotong, they at once set sail from the harbor of the sea region.
The route Qi Wenmo had given them clearly indicated that they must travel by water, not by air.
"Brother Li, Brother Guan, I have a question in my heart and would ask you two to enlighten me: why must we go by water rather than use flying spirit beasts?" Wei Zhao asked, curious, and Huang Xiaotao was equally at a loss.
As the two of them understood it, traveling by air was not only faster and steadier but plainly safer than the water route. After all, the vessel they now rode was only an ordinary sailing ship, not a treasure ship built to withstand the attacks of sea beasts. With no protection whatsoever, to simply set sail like this was truly cause for worry. R1152