Chapter 71: Bidding for the Escort Transport (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 71: Bidding for the Escort Transport (2)
The once-friendly atmosphere turned icy in an instant.
The noisy inn fell into a profound silence.
As Escort Leader Jang Gyeong stood speechless in his bewilderment, Hong Geol-gae—the "Back Opening" of the Beggar's Sect, who had been acting chummy with me to solidify his own standing—spoke in a somewhat chilled voice.
"A guest escort? What is the meaning of this, Brother So?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. I’ve decided to work as a guest escort for the Hwangyeong Escort Agency."
"Ha..."
Hong Geol-gae looked back and forth between me and the female escort leader of the Hwangyeong Escort Agency.
If this were true, Escort Leader Jang Gyeong’s previous actions would be an insult not only to the Hwangyeong Escort Agency but to me as well.
Whispers began to ripple through the surrounding crowd.
Conscious of the attention, Hong Geol-gae spoke to me without hiding his displeasure.
"Are you absolutely certain you are a guest escort?"
He then shifted his gaze toward the female escort leader.
Though momentarily startled, she nodded as if it were nothing and spoke up.
"That’s right. We hired him specifically for this transport bid."
She wasn't slow on the uptake. Even without a Secret Sound Transmission, she played along perfectly.
I couldn't let this opportunity slip by. I pressed Escort Leader Jang Gyeong even harder.
"I believe you mentioned earlier that our leader would be better suited for other types of work. Could you tell me exactly what kind of work you were referring to?"
"......"
Jang Gyeong stared at me with a hardened face.
No. He’s opened his Qi Sense and is scanning me.
I only realized it recently. After breaking through the wall, I can feel when an opponent is trying to gauge me.
Qi Sense allows one to estimate a person's martial arts level based on the energy they radiate. Right now, I was keeping all my energy tightly contained. Since I was hiding it intentionally, no one here could accurately measure my depth.
However, given my reputation as one of the Twin Heroes, anyone who wasn't a fool could guess that I was concealing my power.
'Should I give him a little poke?'
I could probably trigger his instincts. If I focused my energy toward him...
Twitch!
Jang Gyeong’s pupils shook.
Looking thoroughly startled and flustered, he turned his gaze toward Hong Geol-gae. It seemed he was seeking help from the man who was the successor to the Beggar's Sect's leadership.
Unlike the quick-witted Jang Gyeong, Hong Geol-gae—who was barely twenty and perhaps overconfident in his position—spoke to me with forced strength.
"Brother So. If you are a guest escort for the Hwangyeong Escort Agency, then I am also a guest escort for the Okyang Escort Agency. Pressuring our leader is the same as disregarding me, and by extension, disregarding the Beggar's Sect."
As expected, he brought up the Beggar's Sect. Well, an organization is a form of power, so it was a valid move.
It was a shame, really. Even though I had three organizations I could technically claim, the only one I could use right now was the Yikyang So Family, which I wasn't particularly fond of. And no matter how famous they were, compared to the Beggar's Sect—one of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang—they were a mere drop in the bucket, hardly worth mentioning.
That was when someone else stepped forward.
"The ideology of the Beggar's Sect is loyalty, patriotism, and justice in the Murim. I wonder since when they started putting their name on the line for the business of escort agencies."
The one who spoke was none other than Jo Seong-won.
Sama Yeong and Song Woo-hyeon were approaching with him. While not quite on the level of my master, Song Woo-hyeon’s massive, muscular frame—combined with his lack of hair and eyebrows—gave him a menacing appearance that was more than enough to be intimidating.
Wait, what is Song Jwa-baek doing?
'Good grief.'
He had been hidden behind Song Woo-hyeon, but his cheeks were bulging. It seemed his noodles had finally come out, and he had stuffed them into his mouth in a hurry before following the others.
Hong Geol-gae spoke to Jo Seong-won irritably.
"And who are you to lecture me about the Beggar's Sect?"
"I am Won Seong, and I serve Young Master So Woon-hwi as my lord."
I had been worried he might lose his cool and cause a scene, but fortunately, Jo Seong-won remained calm. He was even modulating his voice so that Hong Geol-gae wouldn't recognize his true identity.
Hong Geol-gae let out a smirk toward Jo Seong-won and then spoke to me sarcastically.
"Just a subordinate, then. It seems you don't have much control over your people, Brother So. Seeing how he meddles so tactlessly."
"It’s funny hearing a beggar talk about subordinates and superiors."
Of course, Sama Yeong wasn't one to stay quiet. She had been itching for a fight anyway.
Hong Geol-gae’s face flushed red as he glared at her.
"Ha! A beggar? Do you have any idea who I am to be spouting such nonsense?"
"It’s the first time I’ve seen a beggar get angry at being called a beggar."
She had a point.
"What!"
"Then again, it is problematic for a beggar to enter an inn and share a table with decent people instead of begging for food."
"You bastard!"
Finally losing his patience, Hong Geol-gae unleashed a palm technique toward Sama Yeong.
It was the Dragon Soaring Strike from the Descending Dragon Eighteen Palms. True to its reputation as one of the top three palm techniques in the martial world, it possessed immense power. Even if his talent was said to be lacking, the momentum of the strike was formidable.
The only problem was that Sama Yeong’s martial arts skills were far superior to his.
Swish!
Sama Yeong lightly shifted her upper body, effortlessly evading Hong Geol-gae’s palm strike.
Exclamations of awe erupted from the people inside the inn. The prestige of the Beggar's Sect's "Back Opening" was being dragged through the mud.
"Ah..."
The female escort leader also stared at Sama Yeong with sparkling eyes. Unlike the beggar Hong Geol-gae, Sama Yeong—disguised with a Human Skin Mask as a handsome young noble—must have looked quite dashing.
"You brat. You have some skill. Fine. I’ll crush that arrogant mouth of yours!"
Enraged, Hong Geol-gae tried to follow up with another move. This time, his technique was laced with killing intent.
I grabbed his wrist with lightning speed.
Thud!
"Let go!"
Hong Geol-gae circulated his internal power to force his wrist free, but I didn't budge. His pupils shook as if an earthquake were happening inside them. To me, who had reached the realm of superhumans, his internal power was nothing more than a drop in the ocean.
"Brother Hong. Let’s leave it at this," I warned him in a low tone.
Hong Geol-gae’s eyes darted around rapidly. Perhaps because there were so many witnesses, he eventually withdrew his energy. He likely knew better than anyone that continuing would only lead to further humiliation.
"......You said they were your companions? For this once, I will let this go out of respect for you, Brother So."
He still tried to save face even in this situation.
Sama Yeong looked like she wanted to snap back again, but I stopped her with a shake of my head. She smacked her lips in disappointment.
Their pride was already wounded, and doing anything more would just be bullying them with superior strength. To maintain the image of one of the Orthodox Twin Heroes, it was cleaner to end it here.
"Escort Leader Jang. Didn't you say you were busy?"
"That’s right."
"Then you don't have time for this."
"Ah! Indeed. It’s a shame, but let’s postpone the meal."
At Hong Geol-gae’s words, the quick-witted Jang Gyeong agreed. They hurried out of the inn as if the place were on fire, even though their duck broth noodles hadn't even arrived yet.
The other escorts and customers in the inn looked refreshed. Since we had the moral high ground, we even received the support of the onlookers.
[This is nowhere near enough.]
Jo Seong-won sent me a Secret Sound Transmission.
Right. I had no intention of calling this petty victory his revenge. Regardless, I had achieved my immediate goal, so it was time to talk to the female escort leader.
But Song Jwa-baek stepped forward first to speak to her.
"Miss. Are you alright?"
......Oh boy.
He hadn't been able to take his eyes off her, and now he finally made his move. The guy who had been busy stuffing noodles into his gut was acting as if he’d actually done something. He certainly had thick skin.
Just as the Lesser Conversation Sword said, while Song Jwa-baek was talking, his eyes kept stealing glances at the female escort leader’s chest. No matter how much he couldn't help it, that kind of behavior would turn any positive impression into a negative one.
The female escort leader walked right past him toward me and gave a fist-and-palm salute.
"I am Hwang Hye-ju, the leader of the Hwangyeong Escort Agency. Thank you for your help."
Song Jwa-baek’s expression crumpled. I told him he should have kept his voice normal and watched his eyes.
Ignoring Song Jwa-baek, the woman named Hwang Hye-ju continued speaking to me.
"You truly live up to your reputation for chivalry."
"It was nothing."
"However, I must ask... why did you help us?"
Her eyes were filled with suspicion as she looked at me. She had accepted the help given the circumstances, but it seemed she didn't trust us easily.
Escort Leader Hwang Hye-ju lowered her voice.
"If it’s because you have an interest in me..."
Behind Hwang Hye-ju, Sama Yeong was staring at me intently. Her gaze was emotionless, yet it made my skin crawl. I quickly cut Hwang Hye-ju off.
"It’s not like that. As you said, Escort Leader Hwang, we also have a favor to ask, so we took this opportunity to step in."
"Whew."
At those words, Hwang Hye-ju let out a sigh of relief.
What was that? I felt a bit slighted in a strange way.
While I was feeling odd, Hwang Hye-ju asked cautiously, "May I ask what that favor is?"
"Let’s move to a different location first."
There were too many eyes and ears here to talk.
And so, the escorts of the Hwangyeong Escort Agency and our group left the inn and moved to a secluded alley. Once we were away from prying eyes, the escorts' vigilance sharpened.
Their leader, Hwang Hye-ju, asked again.
"Can you tell us now?"
I replied with a gentle smile.
"I would like you to hire us as guest escorts for the Hwangyeong Escort Agency."
"What?"
Her eyes, previously full of wariness, went wide. She had been worried I might ask for something difficult, so she seemed genuinely baffled by the request to actually work for them.
One of the other escorts from the agency spoke up.
"What is your intention? Even if we are a small agency, we aren't something for someone of the Twin Heroes' stature to play around with."
I suppose it could be taken that way. It was only natural to be suspicious when someone asked to be a guest escort for no apparent reason.
"There are circumstances."
"Circumstances?"
I couldn't tell them the real reason—that we needed to contact the pirates of the Yangtze River Waterway Eighteen Strongholds. I had already thought of a plausible excuse.
I spoke to them seriously.
"Can I trust you all to keep this conversation strictly between us?"
"Keep it secret?"
"If this leaks out, you could all be in danger."
At that, the Hwangyeong escorts looked at each other, their expressions turning grave. Seeing their throats twitch, they were clearly discussing it via Secret Sound Transmission.
Eventually, Escort Leader Hwang Hye-ju spoke to me.
"Even if we don't accept you as guest escorts, we will keep this secret until the day we die."
She was still leaving herself a way out. It seemed I shouldn't underestimate her just because she led a small agency.
I lowered my voice and said, "Haven't you found it strange that the successor of the Beggar's Sect and its members are acting as guest escorts?"
"That is..."
They had no choice but to find it strange. It was odd for beggars to apply as guest escorts, but more importantly, they had no reason to do such work. The Beggar's Sect had a massive intelligence and manpower network across the Central Plains. They could do everything themselves without ever needing to partner with an escort agency.
"We are investigating that."
At this plausible reason, Escort Leader Hwang Hye-ju looked around and whispered to me.
"Is it... a secret order from the Martial Alliance?"
I hadn't thought that far, but it was a great excuse. I gave a slight smile as if to confirm it.
"Ahhh!"
She nodded as if everything finally made sense. I thought I had convinced her, but then she made a sharp point.
"But if it’s such an important secret mission, wouldn't it be better to ask for help from mid-sized agencies rather than a small one like ours?"
This woman seemed innocent, but she was surprisingly sharp. But then again, I’d dealt with plenty of people like her.
"That was the original plan. But we are only human, and we ended up causing you trouble."
"Trouble?"
"Because we intervened, the Okyang Escort Agency and the Beggar's Sect will likely hold a grudge against your agency, not just me and my companions."
"!?"
They clearly hadn't considered that.
That was part of it. It was also why I let Sama Yeong provoke him. I wanted them to want us there of their own accord.
As expected, Hwang Hye-ju and her escorts looked troubled. It was time to seal the deal.
"Escort Leader Hwang. My heart is heavy at the thought that you might suffer if it’s discovered that we aren't actually your guest escorts. So please, accept us as guest escorts so that we can be of at least some help to you."
"Great Hero So..."
At those words, Hwang Hye-ju and the other escorts looked moved. They were looking at me as if I were a true hero of justice.
On the other hand, my companions were shaking their heads at the lies flowing so smoothly from my mouth.
*
Having become guest escorts for the Hwangyeong Escort Agency, we headed with them toward the warehouse where the bidding would take place.
It was in front of the docks where the ships were moored, and the bidding for the transport was set to begin shortly. Since the Geumhwapyeong Merchant Group was a massive organization—one of the top five in the Central Plains, not just in Hunan Province—the competition was expected to be fierce.
However, a strange vibe had been flowing for a while now.
Song Jwa-baek seemed completely smitten with Escort Leader Hwang Hye-ju, unable to take his eyes off her for a second. Yet, the woman who had stolen his heart was stealing glances at Sama Yeong with the face of a smitten young girl the entire time we walked.
The sword and I were of one mind. Next time, I should tell Sama Yeong to avoid using such handsome Human Skin Masks. She was breaking hearts left and right. Maybe I should tell her she’s a woman later, just to prevent further damage.
Just then, Hwang Hye-ju’s Secret Sound Transmission reached my ears.
[Great Hero So...]
Why was she using sound transmission? While I was wondering, she said something completely unexpected.
[Why is the lady next to you dressed as a man?]
.......Huh.
How did she know?
When I looked at her in surprise, Hwang Hye-ju waved her hand dismissively and sent another transmission.
[If it’s because of the secret mission, you don't have to tell me.]
After saying that, she turned her head away shyly, her face flushing red.
'!?'
What did I just see? My head was starting to throb.
As we passed through the alley, the wharf square—teeming with people—came into view. Inside the open warehouses, I could see cargo that looked like large wooden crates, and a crowd of nearly a thousand people had gathered around them.
'Hmm.'
With a scale this large, it didn't seem like they would give the contract to just one agency. I started to wonder if we had jumped into a game that was too big.
Hwang Hye-ju spoke in a slightly intimidated voice.
"I don't know if we’ll be able to succeed in the bid. I hope we aren't a burden to your mis... I mean, your work."
"Not at all."
Seeing her like this made it hard to back out. Cargo of that size would certainly be a prime target for pirates. Of course, that was assuming we successfully won the bid and participated in the transport.
The biggest threat right now was the Okyang Escort Agency, backed by the Beggar's Sect. I hadn't noticed at the inn, but there were dozens of beggars here.
'Are they going for a numbers game?'
Still, the weight of the title "Twin Heroes" should be significant these days, so we had a chance.
It was while I was observing them.
A powerful ringing echoed in my head. For me to feel something like this, there had to be a legendary sword nearby.
Shudder!
I turned my head toward a presence so intense it sent shivers down my spine.
Among a group of escorts holding blue flags near the docks, I saw someone extraordinary. It was a middle-aged man whose entire face was covered in scars. He had two swords crossed on his back and a tiger skin wrapped around his waist, making him impossible to miss.
......He’s a master who has broken through the wall.
I’m certain. He’s concealing his energy, but it’s distinct enough to trigger my senses. He possesses a powerful energy, like a ferocious wild beast.
Just then, a shout erupted from the crowd.
"It’s the Wolf King!"
"The Wolf King has appeared!"
The crowd went wild. Thousands of eyes focused on him.
Sigh...
Wolf King Hyeok Cheon-man. One of the Eight Great Masters of the Central Plains and the man called the pinnacle of ronin. I had never seen him even before my regression, but to see him here...
What kind of cargo is the Geumhwapyeong Merchant Group moving that a giant like him would show up?
While I was wondering, the Wolf King’s gaze suddenly shifted toward me. Our eyes met directly.
"It’s the Twin Heroes!"
"The disciple of the Namcheon Sword Guest is here too!"
Thanks to a few shouts, the crowd's attention shifted to me as well. I didn't know what all this fuss was about. However, since the title of Twin Heroes was lower in status than the Eight Great Masters, most people still couldn't take their eyes off the Wolf King.
Even I could sense his presence. It would be impossible for someone like him not to sense me.
Then, the Wolf King moved.
Blur!
In the blink of an eye, he was standing in front of me. I hadn't realized it from a distance, but he was even larger than the twins. This was the first time I’d seen such a massive frame since my master, Haeakcheon.
But why did he come to me?
As I was wondering, the Wolf King spoke to me.
"Since when did someone who belongs among the Eight Great Masters come to be called a mere 'New Star'?"
'!!!'
In that moment, chaos erupted all around us.