Although Xia Xiayin was young, only seventeen, she had been roaming the martial world with Xia Ci since she was seven years old. She was quite experienced and remained very vigilant, hiding the head well so it looked no different from an ordinary bundle.
Along the way, she encountered no unexpected incidents while guiding Xia Ci.
"Brother, I feel like you can somehow see?"
"Why do you say that?" Xia Ci asked.
"You're walking so steadily," Xia Xiayin said. "Yesterday morning when we set out, it took us a whole day to reach Mount Dabao, but today, returning from Mount Dabao, we've traveled for less than two hours, and I don't even need to deliberately slow down for you."
Xia Ci smiled slightly and said, "Last night I had an epiphany. My internal force has improved greatly, and I've already adapted to living as a blind person."
"I see," Xia Xiayin nodded and said, "That's good. But, brother, don't worry, I'll definitely find a way to heal your eyes in the future."
"Good."
Xia Ci smiled slightly. He wasn't too concerned about this issue.
Now that he had the system by his side, he wasn't too worried about whether his eyes could be healed. He planned to become a bounty hunter. First, he could earn money to hire famous doctors. This was a world where martial arts flourished, and as the saying goes, medicine and martial arts are inseparable. There wouldn't be a shortage of divine doctors, and he would eventually find someone who could treat his eyes.
Second, even if he couldn't find someone to treat him, as long as he continued to capture and kill wanted criminals, the system's rewards might one day include something that could heal his eyes.
"Brother, you look good when you smile."
"Then I'll smile more in the future."
"Mm, I like to see you smile. Since your eyes became a problem, you've been constantly gloomy, not talking and having a volatile temper. I was really scared."
"It won't happen again."
Xia Ci reached out his hand in a stroking gesture, and Xia Xiayin cooperatively tilted her head to rub against his palm.
This was a habit the siblings had since childhood.
Xia Ci was three years older than Xia Xiayin. Ten years ago, their parents suddenly disappeared, leaving the siblings to rely on each other. At only ten years old, Xia Ci began the journey of raising his sister and searching for their parents.
Fortunately, both siblings had practiced martial arts with their parents since they were three or four years old. Although they were young, they had some ability to protect themselves. But they were still very young and suffered many hardships. The siblings supported each other spiritually to get through it all.
And recently, unable to bear the blow of blindness, Xia Ci's mental state had nearly collapsed. His temperament became unpredictable, easily angered, making life truly tormenting for Xia Xiayin.
...
Linjiang City was the capital of Linjiang Prefecture, very prosperous because its geographical location at the confluence of several major rivers made it the commercial hub for several surrounding prefectures.
However, what made it thrive also caused its downfall. Commerce brought rapid economic development but also many problems. The most typical was that more and more martial world figures came to seek fortune. Since ancient times, heroes have had the common flaw of breaking laws with their martial prowess, resulting in the chaotic order of Linjiang City. Many wrongdoers liked to commit crimes here.
Although the imperial Six Panels Office tried hard to suppress this, they were always stretched thin with insufficient manpower. Therefore, the government had to resort to fighting martial arts with martial arts by issuing bounties, asking martial world figures to assist. As a result, bounty hunters flourished in Linjiang Prefecture.
For this purpose, the Six Panels Office specifically established a department to deal with bounty hunters.
Xia Xiayin brought Xia Ci to the magistrate's office, submitted the head of the rapist bandit Zhou Tong, and after verification, quickly received the three hundred taels of bounty.
Three hundred taels of silver was a huge sum. In the past, when Xia Ci worked as an escort at the Changfeng Escort Agency, with his daring and fighting spirit, he could only earn about one hundred taels a year. After various expenses, there wasn't much left at year's end.
So, three hundred taels of silver was a huge sum for them.
Xia Xiayin tucked away the money and happily came out of the magistrate's office, suggesting, "Brother, let's buy a carriage. It's inconvenient for you to walk, and you can't ride a horse. A carriage would be most suitable. We could return to our hometown in about half a month. Then, we can buy a small house. Hmm, we'll still have some money left, and I can start a small business or something. After I improve my martial arts, I can do bigger business and earn a lot more money, then get treatment for your eyes. By then, you can marry a sister-in-law for me, and she can give you several chubby sons!"
Xia Ci shook his head slightly and said, "I don't want to go back anymore."
"Huh?" Xia Xiayin asked puzzled, "Not going back? Are we staying in Linjiang City then?"
"Yes, staying in Linjiang City," Xia Ci said.
Xia Xiayin never opposed Xia Ci and immediately said, "That's fine too. However, housing prices in Linjiang City are very expensive. These three hundred taels can't buy a house, so we can only rent. It's not easy to do business here. I can find a job as a martial arts instructor at a martial arts school. Although the monthly pay is a bit less, it'll be enough for us to live on, and I'll also have time to practice martial arts properly."
Xia Ci smiled slightly and said, "I want to be a bounty hunter."
Xia Xiayin hesitated a bit and said, "That's fine too, as long as you're happy, brother. We can take on some simple bounty missions, which can also sustain us."
"Difficult missions are also possible."
"Brother, I can't win those fights!"
"It's alright, I'll do the fighting, you just guide me and collect the heads."
Xia Xiayin looked at Xia Ci's covered eyes, wanting to speak but hesitating. She wanted to dispel Xia Ci's unrealistic idea but was also worried about damaging his mental state, not wanting Xia Ci to revert to depression and collapse just when he had regained his spirit.
Although Xia Ci told her that his internal force had improved overnight, she didn't believe it could compensate for the defect of blindness.
"Alright, brother, I'll listen to you. Let's find an inn to stay first, and then I'll slowly look for a house."
Xia Xiayin thought to herself that since Xia Ci couldn't see, he couldn't really go out to be a bounty hunter, so there wouldn't be any danger. She decided not to debate the feasibility of being a bounty hunter with him.
The siblings chatted as they searched for an inn.
When passing by a small alley, Xia Ci suddenly stopped and spoke, "The two friends behind us have been following for quite a while. What guidance do you seek? Why not show yourselves and speak plainly?"
Xia Xiayin's expression changed slightly, and she immediately gripped her sword's handle, assuming an attack posture.
At once, a female voice came from the alley, "Mr. Xia, Miss Xia, please don't misunderstand. I mean no harm!"
Xia Ci couldn't see the person, only hear the voice. It was a very pleasant voice, not just for its melodious tone but for a kind of mysterious allure it carried. If the speaker's appearance matched this voice, she would definitely be a woman of great charm.
In fact, just as Xia Ci had guessed, the person who emerged was indeed a very beautiful woman with a graceful figure. She wore a moon-white silk gown that perfectly outlined her slender waist—so slim it seemed as if it could be encircled with one hand and would break at the slightest pressure. Every smile and frown was full of allure.
Behind the woman followed a tall, straight young man with a serious expression, dressed entirely in black, cradling a black longsword. He remained one step behind the woman, seeming like a bodyguard.
"I am Yan Sanniang of the Notsecond Manor," the woman bowed in greeting.
"So it's Manager Yan, the Bone-Scraping Knife. I've long heard of you. What can I do for you, Manager Yan?" Xia Ci bowed in return.
Xia Ci had been in Linjiang City for four years, always roaming the martial world, and was very familiar with the martial world of Linjiang Prefecture. He knew most of the notable figures.
This Yan Sanniang was an extraordinary person, one of the few women who had made a name for themselves in the martial world. She had a manor in Linjiang City that specialized in making wine. This woman was famously beautiful, captivating many men, but her style of action was ruthless, earning her the title of "Bone-Scraping Knife" in the martial world.
Upon hearing Yan Sanniang identify herself, the already alert Xia Xiayin became even more vigilant, almost to the point of nervousness.
Because she knew very well that anyone who could make a name in the martial world was never simple.
Xia Ci was considered a rising star in the Linjiang Prefecture area, with exceptionally exquisite sword skills, but after all these years, he still hadn't earned a resounding title.
Yan Sanniang bowed and said, "Mr. Xia, Miss Xia, I just saw you two submit the head of the rapist bandit Zhou Tong at the magistrate's office, and I wanted to ask if you two are planning to become bounty hunters? If so, we could cooperate."
Xia Ci smiled lightly and said, "Is Manager Yan no longer planning to run a winery, but changing to the Pursuit Tower business instead?"
Yan Sanniang said, "Mr. Xia, you've guessed correctly. The winery business isn't doing well these days, and I have indeed changed to the Pursuit business."
The Pursuit Tower was a type of intermediary organization specifically serving bounty hunters. Bounty hunters were special—they were martial world figures, most of whom didn't like dealing with government offices. Some bounty hunters were even wanted criminals themselves, so they needed someone to deal with the authorities on their behalf.
Additionally, bounty hunters typically operated alone, lacking intelligence to catch wanted criminals, which made them very inefficient. Sometimes they would miss a wanted criminal even if they were in the same place.
Under these circumstances, organizations like the Pursuit Tower emerged to serve bounty hunters.
Bounty hunters would affiliate with a Pursuit Tower, which would help negotiate prices with the authorities, provide accurate intelligence, and, when facing powerful wanted criminals, help contact other bounty hunters for cooperation.
Simply put, the Pursuit Tower was an organization that tried to help bounty hunters complete bounty missions more quickly and easily, while also trying to raise the prices for bounty hunters. After completion, the bounty would be split 50-50.
This model was a win-win cooperation for both Pursuit Towers and bounty hunters.
Although half of the bounty would be taken, bounty hunters definitely didn't lose out.
For example, if Xia Ci had a powerful Pursuit Tower behind him when he killed Zhou Tong last night, even if half of the bounty was taken, it would still be more than the three hundred taels from the authorities. This was because there would be other bounties from the martial world or from wealthy families harmed by Zhou Tong. All of these required a Pursuit Tower to inquire about and negotiate.
"I see," Xia Ci said. "However, Manager Yan, there are at least eight or ten Pursuit Towers in Linjiang City now. Why should I go to your newly established Pursuit Tower instead of those well-established ones?"
Yan Sanniang said, "I naturally have my advantages. First, I have very few bounty hunters under me now, so the network resources I can utilize are very abundant. If Mr. Xia and Miss Xia affiliate with me, I will naturally do my utmost to provide intelligence for you two. If you go to those large Pursuit Towers, it would be difficult to get firsthand intelligence.
Second, I take a smaller cut. I dare not break the industry rules, so officially it's still a 50-50 split, but I will return two-tenths in other ways, such as giving gifts. I only take three-tenths.
What do Mr. Xia and Miss Xia think?"
Xia Ci nodded and said, "That's acceptable. However, I am quite tired today. Please send someone with sincerity tomorrow to discuss details with me. Manager Yan, since you're in the Pursuit business, you should have no trouble finding where I'm staying, right?"
Yan Sanniang bowed and said, "See you tomorrow."
"Farewell."
Xia Ci bowed and left with Xia Xiayin.
Watching the siblings Xia Ci and Xia Xiayin leave, the black-clad young man standing behind Yan Sanniang asked, "Boss, that Xia Xiayin is just a little girl, and she's carrying a blind burden. Is there any point in recruiting them? That Zhou Tong was obviously a lucky catch for the siblings. Everyone knows Zhou Tong had been hunted for days, with only a tenth of his strength remaining."
Yan Sanniang shook her head slightly and said, "I'm not recruiting Xia Xiayin, but Xia Ci."
"A blind man."
"Yes, a blind man."
The black-clad young man laughed lightly and said, "Boss, I'm afraid you've misjudged this time. That blind man won't see tomorrow's sun."
"Why do you say that?"
The black-clad young man said, "A little girl and a blind man who got lucky and obtained three hundred taels of silver—now they've become the lucky catch. Three hundred taels is enough to buy several lives, let alone when it's just a little girl with a blind man."