Shen Qinghuan nodded, feeling reasonably satisfied with the two girls.
He asked a few more questions about their family backgrounds. Once he confirmed there were no issues, he said to Broker Liu, “Let’s go with these two. Make sure their indentures are arranged properly for me.”
“All right!
Young master has a good eye!”
Broker Liu beamed with delight and hurried to instruct his assistants to prepare the contracts. “Chuntao, Dongmei, quickly thank the young master!
From now on, you must serve him well and not disappoint his favor!”
Chuntao and Dongmei quickly knelt and kowtowed. “Thank you, young master, for taking us in!
We will serve you faithfully!”
Shen Qinghuan raised a hand, signaling them to rise, and then said, “Broker Liu, besides these maidservants, I also need a few bodyguards skilled in martial arts.
Do you have suitable candidates?”
Broker Liu’s eyes lit up at this.
Martial bodyguards were far more expensive than maidservants, and usually only wealthy households could afford them. This was a big opportunity.
“Of course!
Absolutely!
Young master, you may not know, but our JuXian Pavilion has specifically recruited some of the best fighters from the jianghu. Each one is highly skilled and comes from reputable backgrounds—absolutely reliable!”
With that, he led Shen Qinghuan to a side chamber. “Young master, please, let me show you.”
Inside the chamber stood a dozen or so men, each tall, muscular, and exuding a rugged strength.
Seeing Broker Liu bring someone in, they all stopped, their eyes immediately fixing on Shen Qinghuan.
“These are the top bodyguard candidates we have,” Broker Liu said proudly.
He pointed to the men. “Some have been soldiers, some couriers, and others are heroes of the jianghu who came to our Brokerage House after misfortunes. Each has a special skill—you may test them as you like.”
Shen Qinghuan’s gaze swept across them, sharp as an eagle.
Having traveled the jianghu for years, he could assess a person’s martial ability and character from their posture, expression, and aura.
“Who among you is most skilled in lightness techniques?” he asked.
At once, a relatively slender man stepped forward. He appeared around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with lively eyes, wearing a gray short jacket. He cupped his hands. “Young master, I specialize in lightness skills. Jianghu people call me ‘Zhuifeng Rat.’ I can scale high walls and large courtyards in moments, and I excel at tracking and reconnaissance.”
Shen Qinghuan nodded and asked again, “Is there anyone skilled in unarmed combat?”
Immediately, three men stepped forward. One, a burly man with a full beard, boomed, “Young master, I am Wang Hu. I practice Iron Palm; three to five ordinary men cannot approach me!”
Another, a fair-skinned scholar-type, said, “I am Su Wen. I specialize in Tai Chi, using softness to overcome hardness. I can defend myself and ensure the young master’s safety.”
The third, a dark, stocky man, said in a low voice, “I am Li Niu. I am strong, with solid unarmed skills, capable of shielding the young master from knives.”
Shen Qinghuan then asked, “Who among you excels with weapons?”
Two men stepped forward. One held a long sword, his gaze cold. “I am Zhao Feng, skilled with the sword. I was once chief escort at a courier agency, traveling across the land with extensive experience.”
The other, tall and broad-shouldered, carried a large blade. “I am Chen Wu, skilled with the saber. My chops are powerful, and I am competent in battle.”
Shen Qinghuan examined the six men and already had a plan in mind.
Their skills complemented each other perfectly: lightness, unarmed combat, and weapons all covered.
He paused briefly, then said, “Step forward and show me your skills.”
“Yes!”
The six responded in unison and immediately demonstrated their abilities.
Zhuifeng Rat moved like the wind around the chamber, barely making a sound. He stopped steadily in front of Shen Qinghuan, breathing evenly, neither flushed nor panting.
Wang Hu struck a nearby pillar with a punch, producing a muffled “dong” sound. A shallow mark appeared, causing Chuntao and Dongmei to cover their mouths in astonishment.
Su Wen performed Tai Chi slowly and gracefully, each movement seemingly gentle yet filled with hidden power, every motion precise.
Li Niu picked up a nearby stone lock, weighing over a hundred pounds, and twirled it in his hands effortlessly, expression calm.
Zhao Feng drew his sword, the blade gleaming coldly. His swordsmanship was swift and deadly, each strike targeting vital points. After a flurry of attacks, he sheathed the sword with a soft click.
Chen Wu swung his saber, the wind howling around him, cutting through the air like a storm. After a few moments, he lowered the weapon, his gaze firm.
Shen Qinghuan watched with satisfaction. The six were clearly skilled, not just showy.
Broker Liu, grinning widely, said, “Young master, what do you think?
These six are our finest. Whether guarding the mansion or accompanying you outside, they are absolutely reliable!”
Shen Qinghuan looked at the six men. “Why are you willing to sell yourselves into service?”
Zhuifeng Rat sighed. “Young master, I offended enemies in the jianghu and had nowhere to hide. I came to the Brokerage House seeking only a safe place.”
Wang Hu said, “I was a soldier, offended my superior, and was expelled. I have an elderly mother to support and had no choice but to seek stable employment.”
Su Wen said, “I was a scholar, but repeatedly failed the imperial exams. My family is poor; I must sell my service to survive, hoping to find a benevolent master.”
Li Niu said, “I am a farmer. My hometown suffered disaster, my parents died. I have no choice but to seek work, hoping for a meal each day.”
Zhao Feng said, “My courier agency was attacked last year, my brothers killed or injured, and the agency dissolved. I came here with nothing to rely on.”
Chen Wu said, “I have trained in martial arts since childhood but never found a proper path. I heard JuXian Pavilion could arrange good work, so I came to try my luck, hoping to practice my skills and earn a living.”
Shen Qinghuan nodded slightly.
These men all had hardships and did not appear deceitful. With proper treatment, they could serve him well.
“I understand,” Shen Qinghuan said.
“I am taking you into my service not for anything else, but to protect my safety and manage my affairs. I will not mistreat you. You will be paid monthly, and there will be rewards for good performance.
However, I have one condition: you must be loyal. Betrayal will not be tolerated. Anyone with disloyal intentions will bear the consequences themselves.”