Chapter 62
Chapter 62
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: The Easiest Escort
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Was escorting ever this easy?"
A broad smile bloomed on Bang Taeseok's lips as he led the caravan.
Before they knew it, half a month had passed since the escort mission began.
If one word could sum up the journey so far, it was a smooth highway.
'It's almost worrying how easy this has been.'
Warriors from the Seven Great Demon Clans protecting an escort? Even he, with decades in the merchant trade, had never seen the like.
That was why the current mission felt so effortless to him.
'So this is the might of the Blood Demon Squad... of the Hyeok Clan.'
No crazed fool from the Central Plains dared rob goods under the Seven Great Demon Clans' watch.
A few who couldn't read the room did try their luck, but they were small fry easily crushed by just one or two Blood Demon Squad members.
"Even the porters' faces are looking brighter now."
When the escort first set out, the caravan leader and porters had worn faces like they were enduring torture.
Who wouldn't tremble traveling with the Seven Great Demon Clans?
At the mission's start, some were so tense their legs shook, unable even to digest their meals properly.
But as the journey wore on, things changed.
The demon warriors of the Seven Great Demon Clans could slaughter thousands of common folk like him without breaking a sweat—that much was certain.
Yet in the end, weren't they comrades sharing the goal of protecting the cargo?
After seeing the Blood Demon Squad repel bandits and thieves several times, the group gradually relaxed.
'What matters most in an escort mission?'
Speed?
No.
Route?
No.
Scale?
No.
The answer was simple.
'Safety.'
On a new route through the jianghu, encountering a martial arts master could mean losing goods—or lives. That was the reality of this business.
The caravan leader and porters were staking their lives on every trip.
In that context, the Blood Demon Squad provided overwhelming security.
The firm assurance that, with them guarding, no one would die on the road.
Thus, the relieved caravan leader and porters now felt both wary of the Blood Demon Squad and strangely at ease.
And so, without incident, half a month passed, and they left the Yang River behind.
The moment they set foot in long-awaited Cheonghae Province, Bang Taeseok announced to all.
"From now on, treat the Blood Demon Squad heroes as reinforcements from Hyeokun Escort Agency, not the Hyeok Clan."
Having exited the Yang River region, they assumed their prearranged false identities.
They resumed marching.
'Truly uneventful.'
Even in the new region, their path remained smooth.
Hiding the Hyeok Clan name didn't erase their power.
Bandits blocking the way were crushed overwhelmingly, and villages passed without issue using their cover identities.
They traveled smoothly like this until—
"Halt."
Bang Taeseok raised one hand and declared to everyone.
"We'll stop here for today. Everyone, prepare camp."
The first day entering Cheonghae Province.
They chose to camp in the mountains rather than a village.
This was righteous sect territory, not the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's front yard.
Thus, should their identities be exposed, they opted to camp and move in rugged mountains where encirclement was hard and escape routes plentiful.
Moreover, with scarce human traces and treacherous woods, as sunset shortened visibility, Bang Taeseok deemed further travel risky.
"Porters, over here!"
"What ingredients do we have for cooking?"
"I'll gather firewood with the deputy leader."
"Don't go far. You're invisible ten paces from the caravan now."
"Got it."
At Bang Taeseok's order, porters grouped with porters, Blood Demon Squad with squad, to set up camp.
Scanning the porters efficiently handling their tasks, his gaze soon shifted to the Blood Demon Squad.
'They know what to do without being told.'
Bang Taeseok watched them fondly.
They were the true heroes of this long haul.
Not that they'd call it comfortable, but they were the most reliable on this mission.
As chief deputy leader, he could only be grateful for their support.
But when his eyes landed on one man, an eyebrow twitched.
'...Again today.'
The man urgently added to the escort, now temporary vice squad leader of the Blood Demon Squad.
Throughout the mission, odd, mysterious situations kept arising around him.
He didn't know why.
Yet every Blood Demon Squad member watched his mood.
Even Squad Leader Hyeok Chu seemed constantly concerned for his well-being.
'Look even now.'
The Blood Demon Squad bustled in meal, lodging, and guard teams.
Yet the vice leader appeared excluded from assignments from the start.
Before proper setup, squad members swiftly gathered dry branches and lit a bonfire.
And there he lounged by the warm flames, more relaxed than anyone, resting.
'Fine, say he's exempt as vice leader.'
But what about the squad leader's attitude?
Common sense said the leader outranked the vice.
Yet Hyeok Chu gave no orders, barely approaching.
Bang Taeseok had roamed the world as chief deputy on countless escorts, but he'd never witnessed anything so bizarre.
Curiosity overwhelming him, he swallowed hard, mustered courage, and approached the man.
"May I sit for a moment?"
"Go ahead."
The man, still lounging comfortably, replied casually.
He treated the chief deputy, squad, and porters all equally at ease.
No distance or hesitation in his actions or voice.
'Like serving nobility.'
Even in brief talk, hierarchy wafted subtly—not just because he was a Blood Demon Squad warrior.
Yet his speech and movements felt utterly natural.
Comfortable for both sides, as if he'd always been the superior.
'Who the hell is this guy?'
He'd met countless people on escorts and prided himself on reading them.
Yet he couldn't pin down this man.
A gentle aura of calm dignity emanated from him.
Would he ever again in life converse—no, even encounter—such a person?
Thinking it unlikely, he steadied his nerves and eagerly opened conversation.
Where from.
Age.
Weapons used.
Training routine.
Any discomfort on this escort.
Bang Taeseok fired off questions.
Hyeok Mulin answered suitably until, at some point, he turned the tables.
"Why did you become a caravan leader?"
"Reason for becoming leader?"
Caught off-guard, he pondered briefly before speaking.
"At first, it was just to make money, I suppose."
Orphaned young by illness, he'd worked as a waiter to feed his siblings.
But the pay was meager; poverty gnawed constantly.
"Then I heard from a merchant patron."
Porters on risky escorts earned multiples of a waiter's wage. He quit on the spot and joined a caravan.
Gaining experience, in ten years he became leader, in a dozen more chief deputy, responsible for entire missions.
"Satisfied with the work?"
"Less than five years with Myriad Li Merchant Group, but more than any previous firm."
A faint smile on his lips, Bang Taeseok continued.
"I hate shuttling short routes. Boring, somehow. Long hauls on new paths make my heart race."
"Well, new beats repetitive drudgery."
People usually prefer fresh thrills over monotony.
But escorts differed.
One mistake could cost life—yet he seemed to genuinely love long-distance runs.
"That's why I've watched Myriad Li since founding. No other Yang River firm specialized in them."
"I see."
Hyeok Mulin, listening to his life story, slightly lifted a corner of his mouth.
Reforming rather than dissolving Myriad Li had been right.
Finding someone who truly enjoyed the work wasn't easy.
Essential talent for the firm.
"Expectations ahead. Do well."
"Pardon? Yes, understood."
Bang Taeseok nodded, unsure what was expected but compliant.
"That's all. Mealtime soon."
At Hyeok Mulin's dismissal, Bang Taeseok rose and turned.
Glancing back after a few steps, he saw the squad leader carefully offering him deer meat stew.
The bowl brimmed impossibly with meat—stew or soaked chunks? Indistinguishable.
'Really... no idea.'
Shaking his head at the baffling scene, he walked away.
Time flowed on, ten days crossing Cheonghae Province.
The caravan neared its destination, Hojou.
After final camp meal, they bedded down one by one.
Deep night, all asleep save a few on watch.
"......"
Hyeok Mulin opened his eyes.
Rising, he gazed fixedly beyond the woods, then approached Hyeok Chu.
"Wake up."
"Yes? Huh?"
"Enemies approach from the left. Prepare for battle."
Hyeok Chu scrambled up, extending his senses leftward.
But...
'...Huh?'
No presence registered.
Puzzled, head tilted, but he couldn't ignore the Cult Leader's order. He told a nearby member to rouse the rest and waited.
Half an hour later...
"...!"
Presences began entering his senses.
One, two, five, ten, twenty, forty.
Dozens rushed toward them at speed.
Confirming the Cult Leader's words, Hyeok Chu gaped at him.
He hadn't sensed them at fifty paces.
How far could the Cult Leader detect? Hundreds?
Hyeok Chu could only marvel at the vast range.
(Of course, recent Pure Soul Divine Demon Art reaching four stars enabled it—but Hyeok Chu didn't know.)
"First team, guard the leader, porters, and cargo. Second team, engage head-on."
"Understood!"
The Blood Demon Squad split, forming to meet the foe.
Under orders, leader and porters hid in wagons or nearby brush.
Resensing, Hyeok Chu's eyes gleamed.
'Fast. Not amateurs.'
Their lightness skill matched the squad at full tilt.
Gripping his sword tight, alert, he watched left for their arrival.
Then—
Whoosh!
Something burst from the brush.
Human-shaped yet elusive, it vaulted a wagon lightly before vanishing into opposite woods—before the squad could react.
'What?'
Hyeok Chu's brief fluster passed as dozens of masked figures filled the night sky overhead.
'Assassins!'
He finally realized their identity.
Then, the lead assassin glanced at the caravan and spoke.
"Third team, finish these and follow."
"Understood."
The leader and most assassins stormed past like a gale into the opposite woods.
A dozen or so veered, hurling poisoned darts as they charged the squad.
Intending to silence witnesses.
"These pathetic assassins dare bare fangs? Slaughter them!"
Clang!
Assassins and squad clashed head-on.
Assassin shadows under moonlight passed over Hyeok Mulin.
They neither knew nor targeted him specifically.
Just saw no defense, so struck first to thin numbers quickly.
But fatal mistake.
From Hyeok Chu beside him, blue-black demonic energy surged from his sword.
"Who dares thrust daggers before me?!"
His blade whirled like wind-borne gale.
Fierce sword qi joined, shredding anything it touched.
Hyeok Chu's signature: Gale Cloud Wind Demon Sword.
"...!"
Assassins colliding head-on died soundlessly.
"Demonic qi...!"
"Demonic cult dogs?!"
Stunned by power and qi, assassins shifted tactics.
Scattering for individual fights.
Hiding presences, leaping trees, lurking shadows—they struck from impossible angles.
Clang!
Dart parries and flesh rending mixed chaotically.
Their lightness was ghostly: popping from nowhere, ambushing unseen.
Some darts pierced torsos, weapons sundered.
But foes weren't pushovers.
In melee, as time passed, the squad seized momentum.
Stealth ambushes would've favored assassins ten-to-one.
But forewarned and formed up, the squad responded calmly.
"Gah!"
Squad blades flashed; assassins' death cries deepened.
Gaining ground, the squad massacred mercilessly.
Even fleeing survivors were butchered. Hyeok Chu nodded.
"All clear. Come out."
Guard members led; hidden leader and porters emerged.
They trembled at mangled corpses yet sighed in relief at survival.
Assassins' skill was extraordinary at a glance.
Ordinary escorts would've perished.
Chief deputy Bang Taeseok bowed in thanks.
"Truly grateful. Without Blood Demon Squad and Hero Hyeok, we'd all be dead."
"Enough. Check headcount."
Brushing off thanks, Hyeok Chu eyed the assassins' escape direction.
'No ordinary foes.'
Having slain them, he knew.
Their dart control and stealth surpassed common assassins.
Not Three Evils Assassins, surely.
Unsettling thought flashed.
"At dawn, head straight to nearest village. No more camping."
Village exposure riskier than hidden raids? No—ambushes deadlier.
No guarantee of another Cult Leader warning.
As he mulled, Bang Taeseok approached.
"Minor scrapes from rush, no serious injuries. Please inspect wounded, Squad Leader."
After polite request and departure, Hyeok Chu ordered subordinate to tally personnel and wounded.
Soon, report came.
"No deaths. One severe, five minor. Abdomen, thigh, shoulder wounds—no life threats."
"Got it."
One severe was light damage.
Without Cult Leader's heads-up, far worse.
Nodding, Hyeok Chu waved him off.
But subordinate lingered.
"Um... but..."
Eyes averted, trailing off.
"But?"
Urged, he swallowed.
"One missing."
Missing?
Hyeok Chu scanned squad.
All seemed same.
Original Hyeok Clan departures all present.
"Who..."
Then, something struck him.
Whirling, sweat beading on whiskers, he spoke.
"Ah... he's gone."
Subordinate was right.
One Blood Demon Squad member missing.
Rubbing eyes, rescanning—no trace.
"Cult Leader...?"
His hollow voice echoed mournfully through the silent woods.