As soon as they left, The Bolton Family immediately collapsed into her chair. She pulled James Grant into her arms, gritting her teeth and saying, “James, did you see the humiliation your mother just suffered?

In a few days, I’ll have your uncle use his influence, take out all the family’s savings, and find a way to get you accepted into Baiyun Temple!

The title of the The Grant Family belongs to you. If the The Grant Family is to rise to prominence, it will all depend on you!

I want that old hag to see that the little brat she’s protecting is nothing but a useless waste. Only you can restore the The Grant Family’s reputation and bring honor to our ancestors!”

James Grant nodded fiercely. Although he was still young, the look on his face was already one of remarkable determination and ruthlessness.

Downstairs at the restaurant, the Daoist twirled the silver note in his hand and smiled smugly.

Even if this woman didn’t pay to hire an assassin, he would have acted anyway.

Since his heart-ghost had been disturbed, how could he possibly let that boy leave the capital unscathed?

Now that someone was paying him, and it would save him effort, why not go along with it?

……

On the official road from the capital to Donglin County, Edward Grant and three family retainers had been traveling for five days, but his heart grew heavier with each passing day.

Ever since leaving the capital, the three retainers had completely changed from their previous respectful demeanor. Their attitude was cold, they focused only on the journey, and kept a constant watch on him.

These three were all The Bolton Family’s people. To be precise, all the retainers guarding the Grant residence were The Bolton Family’s men—every one of them former soldiers under his second uncle in the Western Frontier. After being wounded or growing too old for service, they came to the Grant residence as retainers.

This was a common custom among some noble families in Great Qian who passed down military titles: it was both reassuring and a way to display their benevolence.

Along the way, Edward Grant vaguely sensed that someone seemed to be following him.

The official roads of Great Qian were extensive and interconnected; there was no reason for two riders to always be trailing behind them at just the right distance, never overtaking, always keeping a set space.

This realization made Edward Grant’s heart sink to rock bottom.

He glanced at the three retainers beside him. Edward Grant was currently at the early stage of ninth-rank external training, but these three were all retired soldiers. Even if they weren’t formal cultivators, they were much stronger than ordinary people and had plenty of combat experience.

The Martial Essentials only contained cultivation methods, not martial techniques. When Edward Grant left the Loyal and Brave Marquis’s residence, he brought only a dagger that was easy to conceal. Even if he managed to kill one of them in a surprise attack with his heart-ghost, in such an open area, everyone had horses—how could he escape?

At that moment, Edward Grant suddenly realized that as they walked, they seemed to have left the main road and were heading down a side path.

Edward Grant frowned and said, “This doesn’t seem right. We’ve already left the main road.”

One of the retainers grinned and said, “Young master, don’t worry. Taking the side path is faster than the main road.”

“But the side path is dangerous.”

“With us here, we’ll definitely keep you safe.”

As he spoke, the three riders subtly boxed Edward Grant in at the center.

Edward Grant said nothing more. After traveling for several more hours, dusk began to fall, and a small inn appeared ahead on the road.

“I’m hungry,” Edward Grant suddenly stopped his horse.

The three retainers exchanged glances, nodded, and said, “Alright, let’s get something to eat here.”

The inn was very small, with only a few tables on the first floor and a single innkeeper who doubled as both cook and waiter, catering specifically to merchants who didn’t like to travel at night.

Edward Grant and his group entered the inn. One of the retainers said, “Innkeeper, bring out your best dishes, quickly.”

The innkeeper rubbed his hands together, a bit embarrassed. “A big merchant caravan passed by earlier today and ate quite a lot. We’re a bit short on supplies—there are only two chickens and some leftover steamed buns left.”

“Bring it all out.”

Just as the innkeeper brought out the food, the inn’s main door was pushed open. Richard Foster of the Breaking Sword Hall and the ‘Ghost Hand’ Samuel Wright strode into the inn.

The innkeeper apologized, “Sorry, gentlemen, there’s no food left. The last of it was just ordered by these guests.”

“Do you have any wine?” Richard Foster asked.

“No wine left either.”

“Any cold water?”

“There’s definitely cold water, but…”

Richard Foster waved his hand and said coolly, “Then bring two bowls of cold water.”

The innkeeper nervously brought over two bowls of cold water, his instincts telling him these two were not to be trifled with.

Edward Grant was also secretly sizing up the pair, sighing inwardly. The situation could hardly be any worse.

Chapter Six: Turning the Tables in Adversity

Because of habits from his previous life, Edward Grant was very good at reading people.

To be precise, it wasn’t just a skill—it was a necessity. If he couldn’t read people, how could he talk clients into signing contracts?

From the moment those two entered and sat down, Edward Grant had already used his limited knowledge as a cultivator to analyze their approximate strength.

The one with the sword was likely a martial artist between ninth and eighth rank, most likely eighth rank.

Seventh rank was bone-forging, but Edward Grant hadn’t sensed the same oppressive aura from them as he had from Tie Tianying, so they couldn’t be seventh rank.

And since progress in ninth-rank external training was rapid, and the other party was here as an assassin, eighth rank was the most likely.