Chapter 229
Chapter 229
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 229
Chapter Title: Relentless March
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Hardly worthy of being the Tianxia Escort Agency directly operated by the Tianxia Merchant Group—the escorts and porters finished their preparations with impressive speed.
Around the four carriages loaded with cargo stood the Chief Escort and twenty escorts, along with thirty porters, all wearing tense expressions.
"Quite the large escort detail."
Cheon Ig-ae scanned them one by one as he spoke.
Four carriages and a total of fifty personnel.
Considering a typical escort numbered around thirty, this was an excessive investment.
"Valuable goods, huh. Looks like this is a pretty important job."
"That's why they asked for our help."
Cheonhwi responded indifferently to Cheon Ig-ae's piercing gaze fixed on the carriages.
What did it matter what the cargo was?
The important thing right now was the bandits.
'If it's the Mount Heng North Stronghold, we've still got a ways to go.'
As Cheonhwi recalled the nearest bandit stronghold he'd heard about from Supervisor Oh...
"Then let's depart."
Supervisor Oh gave the order.
At that moment, the tense Chief Escort turned to the lead porter and spoke.
"Everyone, mount up."
Confirming that the twenty escorts mounted their horses smoothly, the Chief Escort turned his head.
Gazing at the Plum Blossom Sword Guards standing awkwardly, as if unused to escort duties, he bowed his head once.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
No matter his position commanding the escort directly, the opponents were Mount Hua Sect's Plum Blossom Sword Guards.
"We'll depart now, so please mount up."
"Ah! Got it."
As Cheonhyang and the Flower Spirit Group finally grasped the situation and moved to mount...
"No need. No need for that."
A blocking voice rang out.
Cheonhwi fixed his gaze on the Flower Spirit Group, frozen mid-motion between mounting and dismounting, and spoke.
"We're all walking."
"What do you mean by that...?"
The Chief Escort blurted out in bewilderment.
They'd specially prepared high-quality horses for the Plum Blossom Sword Guards, yet they were refusing.
Cheonhyang was equally surprised.
From Taewon to the northernmost tip of Shanxi Province, Daedong, was a considerable distance.
And they were to cover it on foot?
"Junior brother, are you saying we walk all the way to Daedong right now?"
Cheonhyang stared at Cheonhwi in shock, but...
"Yes."
Only a firm reply came.
"Perfect for training lightness skills, right?"
"But the Tianxia Merchant Group even prepared horses for us..."
Cheonhyang urgently poured out words.
At that, Cheonhwi glanced toward the porters and countered.
"Come on, if ordinary folk without martial arts can walk it, surely we can too?"
"......"
"If not, that's disappointing. Is the Flower Spirit Group's skill really that lacking? Seems like they're still far behind the Sword Guards and No Flower Group."
"What...?"
Cheonhyang's eyes flashed in an instant.
"We can handle that much."
At the follow-up response, the Flower Spirit Group's faces turned pale as they hurriedly tried to stop her.
"L-Leader! No need to make things harder than they have to be."
"Agreed. Please reconsider after thinking it over."
The Flower Spirit Group desperately pleaded for a change of mind, but Cheonhyang showed no sign of wavering.
"Doesn't that piss you off?"
Cheonhyang's eyes blazed.
"If you can't, you're out of the Flower Spirit Group!"
Satisfied at Cheonhyang's immediate reaction after a slight prod to her pride, Cheonhwi inwardly approved.
Yes, that's the spirit.
Cheonhyang was a nuisance with her constant nagging, but her mindset as a martial artist was among the best in Mount Hua.
At the same time, the corner of his mouth twisted.
It was because of the Flower Spirit Group's atmosphere—treating the mission more like a fun outing than staying tense.
'Time to get their heads in the game.'
Cheonhwi turned to the Chief Escort and said,
"Let the porters ride the horses."
"P-Porters on horses?"
"Why not?"
"No, it's not that."
The Chief Escort shook his head side to side.
Porters were trained in mounted combat as a precaution against emergencies.
They rarely had occasion to ride, that was all.
"Understood."
"Oh, and can everyone ride?"
The Chief Escort wondered why he was asking but nodded after considering the numbers.
"If two per horse, it should be possible..."
At that moment, Cheonhwi's eyes gleamed with amusement as he spoke.
"Then load them all up."
"Is there a reason?"
"Faster the better, right?"
With those words, Cheonhwi grinned slyly and leaned close to whisper something to the Chief Escort.
Having heard the full explanation, the Chief Escort's eyes widened as his mouth worked soundlessly.
"I-Is that really okay?"
"No problem. If there's any backlash, I'll take responsibility."
The Chief Escort glanced at the Plum Blossom Sword Guards before nodding vigorously.
"Then we'll do that."
"Good."
Finishing with the Chief Escort, Cheonhwi walked to Supervisor Oh's carriage.
"Now that you're here, we can depart immediately."
Supervisor Oh greeted him warmly.
Supervisor Oh, Cheon Ig-ae, and Jin-gae were already inside the carriage.
"You're coming too?"
Jin-gae shrank back.
Cheon Ig-ae answered in his stead.
"Don't I need someone to wait on me?"
Cheonhwi narrowed his eyes and glanced between them before shrugging.
"Hmph, do whatever."
As Cheonhwi sat down, Jin-gae sighed in relief.
Then Danmurin, following Cheonhwi as usual, tried to board the carriage.
But someone firmly grabbed her shoulder.
It was Cheonhyang.
"Where are you going, junior sister?"
Danmurin flinched at Cheonhyang's words.
"We're walking together."
"......"
Danmurin looked up at Cheonhwi.
Her eyes were hidden by the cloth, but Cheonhwi could clearly see.
Sparkling eyes full of expectation.
However.
"Senior sister is right."
Cheonhwi shattered her hopes.
"......Senior brother?"
"You walk too."
As Danmurin stood there dazed, Cheonhyang seized the moment and dragged her off.
"What a heartless guy."
"Ha, haha."
As Cheon Ig-ae shook his head and Supervisor Oh laughed awkwardly...
"We're departing!"
The Chief Escort's booming shout rang out.
With the sound of hooves following, the carriages slowly began to move.
As they exited Taewon and entered the main road, Cheonhwi stuck his head out the window and spoke.
"Time to pick up the pace."
All eyes turned to him.
The escorts and porters had already been glancing nervously at the situation—riding horses themselves while the Plum Blossom Sword Guards walked.
Increasing speed further meant...
Reading their eyes, Cheonhwi looked at the walking Flower Spirit Group and said,
"Keep up on your own."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the lead Chief Escort shouted loudly.
"Pick up speed!"
The Chief Escort cracked his whip.
As the lead speed increased, those behind hurriedly accelerated.
"......!"
Caught off-guard by the sudden pace, the calmly walking Flower Spirit Group had to urgently deploy lightness skills.
Cheonhwi pulled his head back in.
Still, he watched the Flower Spirit Group chasing with lightness skills through the open window, smacking his lips regretfully.
"I wanted to have them tow the carriage too, but they said that's impossible."
At his words, the three in the carriage shot him venomous looks.
But that lasted only a moment before Cheon Ig-ae and Supervisor Oh's eyes deepened.
'Maybe this is how Mount Hua gained its current strength.'
'This could be the secret to Mount Hua's sudden rise...'
The two turned their gazes toward the training method with newfound interest.
Meanwhile, Jin-gae pitied the Plum Blossom Sword Guards chasing the carriage on lightness skills.
'Glad I'm from the Beggars' Sect.'
As he sighed in relief...
"Training lightness skills?"
Cheon Ig-ae asked Cheonhwi.
"Stamina training combined with lightness skills."
"Oh ho, is that so?"
Cheon Ig-ae grinned slyly.
As Jin-gae inexplicably shivered at the smile...
"You go too."
Cheon Ig-ae said to Jin-gae.
"Me? You mean me?"
Jin-gae pointed at himself in panic, but Cheon Ig-ae replied,
"Who else? Aren't you ashamed of your pathetic skills, you little beggar?"
With that, Cheon Ig-ae grabbed him by the scruff and kicked open the carriage door.
"Elder!"
Jin-gae's face drained of color.
Undeterred, Cheon Ig-ae added a threatening warning.
"If you run... you know what happens."
Cheon Ig-ae tossed Jin-gae out.
For a moment airborne, Jin-gae's eyes welled up before he screamed.
"Arghhh!"
Flailing, Jin-gae hit the ground and immediately deployed his lightness skill.
The Whirlwind Step steadied his stumbling balance from the throw.
Watching, the Plum Blossom Sword Guards eyed Jin-gae with admiration.
For his meager internal energy and skills, his lightness skill was astonishing.
"Kuh, kuh! Elder!"
Coughing from the sudden shock, Jin-gae chased the still-open carriage door while calling out, but...
"Then keep up."
Grinning, Cheon Ig-ae slammed the door shut demonstratively.
Watching blankly, Jin-gae tore at his hair and screamed.
"Arghhh! Why me...!"
Then Cheonhwi poked his face out the open window.
"S-Sir, please let me in..."
Seizing the chance, Jin-gae pleaded desperately, but Cheonhwi didn't even glance.
And that wasn't all.
From Cheonhwi's slowly opening mouth came thunderous words.
"Speed up even more."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ On the sixth day, the escort slowed.
They had arrived at Mount Heng, the place they'd worried most about during the journey.
The Chief Escort glanced back.
Seeing the Plum Blossom Sword Guards barely keeping up with lightness skills, nearly half-dead, he clicked his tongue.
"Impressive."
A distance that should have taken over ten days had been shortened dramatically by their nonstop pace.
The escort only rested when the horses tired or for sleep.
Otherwise, they kept moving.
And not just that.
As if even spare time was precious, the young master—no, the Plum Blossom Divine Sword—had ordered the Plum Blossom Sword Guards to train even during breaks.
Horse stance, martial arts practice, sparring...
It was a grueling regimen that made his body ache just watching.
'Probably thanks to that training that Mount Hua Sect's reputation has risen lately.'
The rumors didn't do the Plum Blossom Sword Guards justice.
Not just their skills, but their mental fortitude too.
He'd lost count of how many times he'd admired them pushing through such harsh training.
But that also worried him.
'Will they be okay like this?'
The Plum Blossom Sword Guards' condition was poor.
Deep, fatigue-shadowed darkness ringed their eyes.
'Facing the Mount Heng North Stronghold in this exhausted state might be tough...'
As he imagined the worst...
"Hm?!"
A massive figure appeared ahead. The Chief Escort yanked the reins and shouted with infused energy.
"Halt!"
At the command, everyone stopped instantly.
Thud!
A heavy sound followed.
All eyes turned forward.
A burly man with a broad frame blocked the wide mountain path.
Seeing him, the Chief Escort groaned.
"Mount Heng North Stronghold Chief..."
Mount Heng North Stronghold Chief Wi Jung-yeon slung his fangtian halberd over his shoulder and spoke.
"Pay the toll to pass through Mount Heng."
At the expected words, the Chief Escort bit his lip slightly before slowly asking,
"How much?"
"One gold ingot per person."
The Chief Escort's eyes widened.
Expensive, but manageable.
'No need to start a fight over it.'
He knew the bandits were allied with the Great Silver Merchant Group, but he wanted to avoid conflict if possible.
"......That covers it?"
"One word, no take-backs."
"Then here."
The Chief Escort pulled out a gold ingot and tossed it over.
"Hmm, as expected of the Tianxia Merchant Group—generous."
Wi Jung-yeon accepted it with satisfaction.
"Then we'll be off."
The Chief Escort advanced.
As the escorts and carriages followed...
Wi Jung-yeon swung his fangtian halberd down viciously.
Boom!
The ground behind the Chief Escort cracked, sending the horses into frenzy.
Neighhh!
The Chief Escort hurriedly calmed his horse and yelled at Wi Jung-yeon.
"What the hell was that?!"
"What do you think you're doing?"
Wi Jung-yeon retorted with incredulity.
"Where do you think you're all going?"
"We just paid the toll!"
"That was for one person."
"......!"
Wi Jung-yeon smirked crookedly and pointed at the mark behind the wide-eyed Chief Escort.
"If the rest want to pass, one gold ingot each."
The Chief Escort ground his teeth.
"You...!"
As he clenched his fists in rage, Wi Jung-yeon chuckled and raised his halberd.
Bandits poured out from both sides of the mountain path, blocking the way.
The ragged-faced spear-wielders sneered with murderous intent.
"Can't pay? Can't pass."
As Wi Jung-yeon finished laughing...
"Why not just say it straight?"
A mocking voice rang out.
Cheonhwi, now out of the carriage, met Wi Jung-yeon's gaze and spoke.
"You want to obstruct this escort. You're in league with the Great Silver Merchant Group, right?"
Wi Jung-yeon's eyes darkened.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Asking a question with a question. Bandits have no manners, huh."
Those who knew Cheonhwi well sighed inwardly in disbelief.
Who was lecturing whom on manners?
Oblivious, Cheonhwi smiled brightly.
"If you wanna fight, come on. Otherwise, I'm going first."
"This bastard!"
"How dare you speak to the Chief like that!"
As the bandits raged...
"My ears are gonna fall off."
Cheonhwi casually scratched his ear, brushing off their fury, then turned to the Flower Spirit Group.
"What are you doing? Not going?"
"Huh?"
"Y-Yes...?"
As everyone panicked at him urging Cheonhyang and the Flower Spirit Group after seeming ready to step in himself, Cheonhwi said,
"Should I handle these small fry?"
The Flower Spirit Group stared at him in absurdity as he spoke so casually.
"You handle this yourselves."
"......Understood."
"Got it... junior brother."
Cheonhwi smirked at their reluctant replies and added,
"Not like I'm ordering you for no reason. Deal—if you take them down, you can ride from now on. And no more training till we arrive."
Cheonhyang's eyes sparkled.
"R-Really?"
As Cheonhwi nodded firmly, Cheonhyang drew her sword and shouted.
"Alright! Let's go!"
At her command, the Flower Spirit Group's eyes lit up as they drew swords and charged.
"Waaaah! Let's go!"
"Take 'em down and we rest!"