Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Do You Want Power? (2)
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"What do you think?"
"It seems the Cheongsung Sect wants to properly ally with the Tang Clan in Sacheon."
"That..."
"Speak."
As Jin-seong hesitated, Dang Yu-wol nodded.
"Earning money in a sect isn't easy."
"I imagine so."
"Of course, Cheongsung is one of the Nine Great Sects, but they must be seeking stable income."
In that sense, allying with the Tang Clan, which was becoming Sacheon's hegemon, wasn't a bad opportunity.
-By dismantling the Sacheon Merchant Alliance, the Tang Clan had taken over many businesses.
Not just the Sacheon Escort Agency, but also the Tang Clan shops and the Crimson Merchant Group.
On top of that, they held the vast farmlands that Yukwol Hall owned across Sacheon.
The funds flowing in from all that were far from insignificant.
-They'll help operate and maintain them in exchange for a share of the funds.
Even Daoists need money to eat.
And with stable income, there'd be no need for the Daoists to be dispatched everywhere.
Besides, after the recent incident, outings would be difficult for a while anyway. It was only natural.
"Even playing the noble Daoist requires money."
"I see. Send them an appropriate amount of funds."
"Understood."
Ji Gong, No Sak, and Jin-seong nodded, and Dang Yu-wol rose from his seat.
All the issues seemed sorted, so it was time to head out.
"Where are you going?"
"I plan to make a quick trip to the Emei Sect."
"I see..."
"Why?"
"We just received an escort request to Ami County."
"Oh?"
"How about going with the escorts?"
"An escort mission, huh..."
"There are some escorts who wish for your guidance."
Dang Yu-wol nodded at Ji Gong's suggestion.
"Very well."
The Sacheon Escort Agency bore no trace of its former self.
The once quiet place bustled with people.
The training grounds were filled with those practicing.
Among them, the most diligent were undoubtedly the two escort leaders.
Yu Hwa of the Seven Star Spear.
Gi Cheol of the Overheated Claw Foot.
The two whom Dang Yu-wol had personally taught martial arts trained at the grounds every day when there were no missions.
"Hraaah!!"
With a fierce shout, the spear moved.
It looked like a simple thrust.
But the moment the spear pierced the straw dummy, its body shattered into pieces.
"Huu... This isn't it."
The power was incomparable to before.
Yet Yu Hwa was not satisfied.
"Isn't this level already impressive?"
"No. This isn't what I aim for."
'The lord said this is mere imitation. And according to the manual, this is...'
Not even imitation.
Just smashing with brute force.
"Ah! Escort Agency Head!!"
One of the trainees spotted Dang Yu-wol.
Who wouldn't know him?
The man who had lifted the crumbling Tang Clan to a position challenging Sacheon's hegemony in one go.
"My lord!!"
To Yu Hwa, he was no different from a benefactor.
She had been a mere sword-for-hire.
He had given her the chance to rise high.
Yu Hwa hurriedly ran to him and bowed.
"You've come."
"I heard from Ji Gong. You're stuck on something lately?"
"Yes. Um... Let's go inside."
She led him to the training ground reserved for escort leaders.
There, Yu Hwa explained her issue.
"It's the Evil Fang Spear Technique's Second Form: Swirling Heaven Strike."
"The rotation isn't fully manifesting, I see."
"Yes."
Swirling Heaven Strike maximized power by spinning the spear.
But no matter what, the power fell short of expectations.
"Show me."
She took a deep breath and readied her spear.
At that moment, her internal energy flowed into the spear, beginning to spin rapidly.
"Hah!!"
With a thud, the wooden dummy was destroyed.
But this wasn't it.
"The rotational force is weak."
"...No matter what I do, it won't spin stronger."
"It's because you're forcibly spinning it with your qi."
"Pardon?"
"Use repulsion."
Dang Yu-wol took the spear.
He lightly readied it, then thrust swiftly.
"...Gasp."
The dummy was intact.
But Dang Yu-wol's spear had pierced not just the dummy, but the rock behind it as well.
Without even infusing qi.
"This is just imitation."
"Pardon? Even this?"
"Yes. The internal art you're cultivating is Magnetic Flow Electric Art, isn't it? You must utilize that for maximum effect."
"How so?"
"Gather the Magnetic Flow Electric Art in your palm to create repulsive force."
"...That's difficult."
"Did you think the Evil Fang Spear Technique was easy?"
Dang Yu-wol grinned and lightly patted Yu Hwa's back.
For someone stuck, her progress was surprisingly fast.
At this rate, she'd soon break through to peak realm.
"By the way, you're leading the escort to Emei, right?"
"Yes."
"I'll go with you."
"Pardon? There's no need for you to go personally, my lord..."
"I've been buried in work lately. I feel like touring Ami Mountain."
"Uh... Yes. Understood."
How could she stop him if he insisted?
She simply nodded slightly.
A few days later, the escort to Ami County was prepared.
-Your first escort mission? You seem excited.
'Naturally. After awakening to my past life, I was captured by the Blood Cult and spent over twenty years there, excluding missions.'
-Practically your debut.
'Can't deny it.'
Dang Yu-wol had nothing to do on the escort.
He just needed to sit comfortably on his horse.
"Rest easy, Agency Head."
"We'll handle all the chores."
"No one dares assign useless tasks to our sky-like Agency Head."
Meals at mealtimes, beds at bedtime.
It was a journey where he didn't have to lift a finger.
"Um... Agency Head. I'm stuck on something lately."
"Show me."
"Yes!!"
The escorts were thrilled.
The great Dang Yu-wol was personally reviewing their martial arts.
That alone more than justified his presence.
"Agency Head, there's a good inn ahead. We'll head there."
It was an inn they had visited several times.
Yu Hwa, escorting the wagons, called out to the escorts and porters.
"We'll rest at Huiman Inn today."
"Yes!!"
The escorts and porters cheered.
Waking to the morning dew wasn't pleasant anyway.
"Welcome! Oh my, it's the Sacheon Escort Agency!!"
"Yeah. Got rooms?"
"Yes!! Of course!!"
"Prepare the best room. My lord, this way."
The innkeeper beamed at Yu Hwa's polite words.
If the Sacheon Escort leader was treating him so deferentially, he was surely a big spender.
-He looks expectant.
'Then I should spend generously.'
Dang Yu-wol smiled at those ordering food after settling in.
"I've been too busy with my affairs to look after you properly."
"Not at all!"
"We eat and live thanks to you, Agency Head!!"
"Today, it's on me. Eat and drink your fill."
"Woooow!!!"
"Agency Head!! Thank you!"
"As expected of the Young Clan Head!!"
"We believed in you!!!"
They truly had believed.
Everyone knew Dang Yu-wol was generous.
The Sacheon Escort Agency's monthly pay was nearly double other agencies to begin with.
"Glad I joined Sacheon Escort!"
"Training's tough, but..."
"Pfft, train to serve others?"
The escorts buzzed with excitement.
As Dang Yu-wol watched fondly, Ye-ui spoke up.
-You okay with this?
'Cheap price for high morale.'
The escorts and porters began ordering drinks and dishes enthusiastically.
As the inn filled with lively energy...
"What's this? Why so noisy?"
Rough-looking men entered.
Scowling as they looked around, they spotted Yu Hwa and grinned sleazily.
"Well, well. Why's a pretty lady holding a spear?"
"Hold a flower instead."
"How about coming over and pouring us a drink?"
They were openly picking a fight.
Even with all these escorts around?
They were confident in their skills.
"Who are they?"
"Oh? You don't know the Blue Sea Triad?"
Blue Sea Triad.
More precisely, Blue Sea Three Fiends.
Villains who committed all sorts of atrocities around the Blue Sea.
-You know them?
'Yeah. The eldest, Fierce Human Sword, is super peak realm, and the other two are peak level.'
-What'll you do?
'Leave trash like that be? That wouldn't be the Tang Clan.'
"Hey."
"Huh? Kid... Protecting your big sis?"
"Gutsy, but... Cough!!"
The youngest of the Blue Sea Three Fiends sneered and reached to tap his head.
He coughed up blood.
Black blood.
Wearing an incredulous expression, he collapsed.
-Crack!!
Dang Yu-wol mercilessly stomped his head, crushing it.
"For lowly unorthodox riffraff to dare touch the Tang Clan. That sin... Repaid by death."
The remaining two drew their weapons upon losing their youngest in an instant.
Dang Yu-wol laughed at the sight.
Locking eyes with him, the eldest of the Blue Sea Three Fiends, Fierce Human Sword, gritted his teeth.
'Damn it. Didn't expect Tang Clan bastards.'
The old Tang Clan wouldn't scare him.
But the current Tang Clan was different.
'That Young Clan Head killed Cheongsung's top swordsman. Even captured Yuk Geo-wang.'
Two super peak experts taken down.
One from the Nine Great Sects, no less.
And without a single wound.
'Fancy clothes. Green uniform is Tang Clan mark. Poison skill at that age...'
No sign of administering antidote either.
Who else but him?
That Dang Yu-wol.
'What now...'
Losing the youngest was fine.
But his own life was another matter.
"We failed to recognize your greatness."
His stomach began to churn.
Poison symptoms, perhaps.
A man who easily took super peak experts.
It all forced him to bend.
"My foolish brothers committed a sin. I know not how to atone."
This usually got them off the hook.
The offense wasn't too grave.
-Ridiculous.
'Tell me about it.'
But it didn't work on Dang Yu-wol and Ye-ui.
"Those dog eyes that failed to recognize greatness. Shall I gouge them out?"