Glory

She didn't want others to perceive her as a delicate inner-household woman who couldn't endure hardship.

She said, "Since we're not pressed for time on the return journey, I'll arrange the itinerary reasonably—ensuring regular meals and rest so no one gets overtired."

"Additionally, there seems to be a young Herbalist at the Hall of Returning Spring with decent medical skills. We could hire him at a high price to accompany us and bring along some medicinal supplies. Having a Herbalist on hand would provide extra security in case of illnesses during the trip."

Though travel was arduous, young people were generally willing to venture out and broaden their horizons—provided safety was assured.

"As for security, if you feel Guan Biaotou's Security Company personnel aren't sufficient, we could have Da Bo hire the best Guards from the capital to join us. With more people, neither bandits nor other threats would matter much—at the very least, our lives would be protected."

"After all, the wool comes from the sheep's back. Once Minzhou develops, the returns could surpass even Lin'an's. Spending a bit more now isn't a big deal."

Ye Yaming's suggestions genuinely comforted Ye Chongming, easing his anxious heart significantly.

He nodded repeatedly in approval, saying, "Excellent ideas, truly excellent. Spending a little extra is nothing. Regardless of Minzhou's future profits, even without them, our family can afford this expense."

"Naturally, the cost should be shared among our three cooperating parties," Qi Ji quickly added.

Ye Yaming couldn't be bothered to haggle over such a small sum and said, "Then it's settled."

Immediately, Ye Chongming wrote a letter to Ye Hongchang, instructing him to return at once and accompany Ye Yaming to Minzhou, along with hiring ten top Guards from the capital.

With ten Guards from the capital, ten from Guan Canghai's Security Company, plus the Manor Guards, Pages, and maids brought by Ye Jia and Qi Ji, they would form a sizable entourage. Since they weren't carrying gold, silver, or jewels—only protecting three masters—safety was practically guaranteed.

After sending the letter by fast horse to the capital, Ye Chongming advised Ye Yaming, "It's best to take the land route, not the waterway."

By water, thunderstorms and tempests risked capsizing the boat—no number of Guards could prevent that. By land, with over twenty Guards and Manor Guards, protecting Ye Yaming and the other two would be manageable.

"Understood," Ye Yaming agreed with a nod.

Just as Ye Chongming worried about her, she also fretted over her family.

She urged him, "Grandfather, have someone keep watch in the capital. If there's any movement there, send word immediately. Take everyone to stay at the tea mountain villa for a while and lay low. Though Lin'an is far from the capital and likely unaffected, it's better to be cautious."

Ye Chongming didn't know how severe the capital's turmoil might become. Taking refuge in the mountains seemed wise.

His family's safety remained his utmost concern.

He nodded, "Agreed."

This reminded him to feel grateful that Ye Yaming and Ye Hongchang could leave Lin'an.

Unless the entire Jin dynasty descended into war, southern regions would likely avoid military chaos. If unrest did reach Lin'an, Ye Yaming and her uncle being away would at least preserve Ye Jia's lineage, preventing total collapse.

A few days later, Ye Hongchang returned from the capital. After packing, uncle and niece prepared to depart.

Yin Shi was naturally reluctant to see them go, and Ye Hongsheng was even more so.After returning from Huizhou last time, they had questioned Bai Rui and Lve E. Despite the journey being relatively smooth, it had still been arduous, and their hearts ached with distress at the thought.

While other girls comfortably stayed at home, waiting to marry with generous dowries, why did their daughter have to travel extensively?

What if something happened along the way—how would they survive?

Ye Yaming had no choice but to console them: "Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Since I aim to become the head of Ye Jia, how can I avoid hardship? Haven’t you seen how Da Bo has been traveling all these years? This time, he’s coming with me too. Da Bo hasn’t complained at all, so please don’t say such things anymore."

Yin Shi secretly curled her lips in disdain.

Ye Hongchang’s so-called "travels" were merely between the capital and Lin’an. Her own husband had also made several trips to the capital. How could that compare to journeys to Huizhou and Minzhou?

But since Ye Hongchang was indeed accompanying them to Minzhou this time, Yin Shi’s retort stuck in her throat, and she had nothing more to say.

Ye Yaming set off on the third day after the Mid-Autumn Festival and arrived in Minzhou over a month later.

The hardships of the journey went without saying. Despite diligently building up her health since transmigrating, she still fell mildly ill on the road.

Fortunately, they had brought a Herbalist, and her constitution was robust. A few doses of medicine later, she recovered.

Ye Hongchang, however, had pushed himself hard throughout the journey. Combined with the fatigue and the inability to adapt to the local environment in Minzhou, he fell seriously ill. Ye Yaming enlisted the best local Herbalist, who worked alongside the one they brought from Lin’an. Together, they carefully prescribed treatments and managed to restore Ye Hongchang’s health.

As for Qi Ji, perhaps because Old Master Lu had forced him to practice martial arts with Lu Guanyi since childhood, even though he often slacked off and lacked perseverance, his physique was still stronger than most. He did not fall ill.

Since there was no rush to return, the group rested in Minzhou’s prefectural city for ten days before following an Agent to inspect various tea mountains.

This place was very familiar to Ye Yaming from her previous life. She knew exactly where the best high-mountain Tea Gardens were located and what varieties of tea trees grew there.

Drawing on her experience buying land in Huizhou, she handled the process with even greater ease this time. She first obtained a map, identified the locations, went straight to inspect the mountainous areas, and then purchased them through the local government.

Before departing, the collaborating parties had pooled their dividends, amassing 200,000 taels. Financially, they were quite comfortable.

Most of the land they bought was undeveloped mountains, though some areas had villages or existing Tea Gardens. They offered high relocation fees or promised to employ villagers to plant tea trees and harvest leaves. By the time the New Year approached, they had successfully purchased all the tea mountains they had targeted.

After acquiring the tea mountains, upon the Agent’s recommendation, they bought a three-story building in the prefectural city to open a teahouse. Each party also purchased adjacent residential compounds for living quarters.

They celebrated the New Year in their new homes.

In February, Ye Yaming took her team up the mountains to select superior mother tea plants for tillering. By March, she directed them to carry out cuttings. Meanwhile, she used the existing Tea Gardens to teach Tea-making masters how to produce Tieguanyin tea.

She had come specifically for Tieguanyin tea, so she deliberately targeted the area corresponding to Anxi County’s Xiping Town in Quanzhou from her previous life when buying the tea mountains.

Tieguanyin is a tea that falls between green and black tea, known for its delicate fragrance and elegant charm. When brewed, it releases a natural orchid aroma, with a pure, rich taste and intense fragrance, making it one of the most favored teas among novice tea drinkers.While teaching her apprentice, she also produced a batch of Tieguanyin tea herself. As the weather grew warmer, they finally set off toward Lin'an.

She needed to hurry back to attend Ye Yaqing's wedding.

The climate was pleasant during this season, and no one fell ill along the journey. They smoothly returned to Lin'an City on the twenty-ninth day of the fourth month.

"Brother Shen!"

"Hmm!"

As Shen Changqing walked along the road, he would occasionally encounter acquaintances. They would exchange greetings or simply nod to one another.

Yet regardless of who it was,

every face bore no superfluous expression, as if indifferent to everything.

Regarding this,

Shen Changqing had grown accustomed.

Because this was the Demon Suppression Division—an institution dedicated to maintaining the stability of Great Qin. Its primary duty involved slaying demons, monsters, and supernatural beings, though it also handled some secondary operations.

It could be said

that every person in the Demon Suppression Division had countless bloodstains on their hands.

When one becomes accustomed to life and death, they grow indifferent toward many matters.

When Shen Changqing first arrived in this world, he found it somewhat unsettling, but over time, he grew accustomed.

The Demon Suppression Division was vast.

Those who could remain in the Demon Suppression Division were either powerful experts or individuals with the potential to become experts.

Shen Changqing belonged to the latter category.

Within the Demon Suppression Division, there were two main roles: the Garrison Envoy and the Demon Subduing Envoy.

Anyone joining the Demon Suppression Division started from the lowest rank of Demon Subduing Envoy,

then advanced step by step, with the ultimate prospect of becoming a Garrison Envoy.

Shen Changqing's predecessor was a probationary Demon Subduing Envoy within the Division—the lowest tier among the Demon Subduing Envoys.

Possessing the memories of his predecessor,

he was quite familiar with the environment of the Demon Suppression Division.

Without taking much time, Shen Changqing came to a stop before a pavilion.

Unlike other solemn and imposing areas of the Demon Suppression Division, this pavilion stood out like a crane among chickens, exuding an unusual tranquility amidst the pervasive bloodshed within the Division.

At that moment, the pavilion's door was wide open, with people occasionally entering and exiting.

After only a brief hesitation, Shen Changqing stepped inside.

Upon entering the pavilion,

the atmosphere abruptly transformed.

The scent of ink mixed with a faint trace of blood assailed his senses, causing him to instinctively furrow his brows before quickly relaxing them.

The blood-soaked aura that clung to every individual in the Demon Suppression Division was nearly impossible to wash away completely.