Chapter 596
Chapter 596
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 596
Chapter Title: Glorious Ascension Path
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A demonstration escort team had been assembled.
The leader of the escort team was Seok Ji-don, the head of the Jikga Escort Agency. He was a burly middle-aged man with a wide sword strapped to his back and missing one ear.
He was a man of few words, which gave him an air of subtle charisma. All the escorts under his command looked at him with eyes full of respect.
Sung Ji-gon and I, along with the other warriors from the Meteor Sword Sect, watched Seok Ji-don with tense expressions.
Seok Ji-don's realm was the third stage of Emerging Will. Higher than Sung Ji-gon or me.
"I won't give special treatment just because you're Meteor Sword Sect warriors. Even though this is a demo run, we'll move like it's the real deal. I won't tolerate anyone refusing my orders during transport. If you don't want to follow my commands or do the escort work, leave now. No penalties."
"……."
No one said they wanted to leave.
No penalties? Bullshit. Backing out here would mean defying the Meteor Sword Sect's orders, so penalties were inevitable.
"You're all porters. Follow the escorts' instructions and load the cargo onto the wagons."
Porter.
The lowest rank in an escort agency. They handled menial tasks like loading cargo onto wagons.
The prideful Meteor Sword Sect warriors didn't rebel against Seok Ji-don's orders. He was the strongest here, and if he said load, they loaded.
The escorts checked the cargo piled on the wagons. It was all just easily obtainable animal hides. The porters also slung personal bundles on their backs—emergency rations and camping gear.
"Head Seok, preparations are complete."
"Let's move out."
The demonstration escort team set off. The destination was Panyang City, three days away. But the team would travel for nearly two weeks. The goal wasn't transporting cargo but familiarizing themselves with the surrounding terrain.
The escort team marched without rest. No one complained. Even porters in this world's escort agencies had to know basic martial arts to get hired. Walking all day was no issue. And porters could learn a few forms from escorts or the agency.
We kept walking. It was joyless work. If there'd been even one woman, maybe, but it was all men.
Seok Ji-don halted the team every two hours for short breaks. Not out of consideration for the weary escorts, but to update the maps.
"Yu-jin, you okay? You look off."
Sung Ji-gon handed me a canteen as he spoke.
"Huh? Nah, I'm fine. Just bored out of my mind."
I chugged the water from the canteen.
I really was fine. I'd been on autopilot until just now.
"It does get boring. Can't even chat freely with others around."
"Can't talk like we usually do."
Our usual chats with Sung Ji-gon revolved around sex. Plenty of problematic stuff there.
Sung Ji-gon glanced around. We were resting a bit apart from the others. No one was paying attention.
"Yu-jin, honestly, I'm already suffering."
"What happened to all that stamina from your diligent training?"
"Not physical. Mental. No women at all. And no chance for days... Haah."
"Just a few months ago, you didn't even know what pussy was, and now you're whining."
"Back then, I didn't know women existed. Now I can't sleep without one. Haah."
"Hang in there. Once we hit Panyang City, we can fuck some girls. You know it's a big city, right? Like Hudan City."
"Yeah, that's what I'm looking forward to. Wonder what kinda women... Maybe some like Fourth Mother?"
"With a city that size? Bound to be."
We chuckled over girl talk.
???
"Move faster. I got beat while learning as a porter."
Menial work was for porters. Naturally, dinner and camp setup too. But this one escort kept yapping in front of me.
Name was Go Du-mak. Youngest among the escorts.
'This cheeky bastard lost his mind?'
One or two tantrums, I could've ignored. But he came at me every time, nagging.
And for some reason, he always hovered near me.
"I'm moving fast enough, aren't I?"
"That fast? And don't talk back. Move instead of yapping!"
"You're in the way. Back off."
I said it nicely. Softened "get lost." But Go Du-mak took it as straight-up dismissal, veins bulging on his forehead.
"I'm here 'cause you're shit at it. How do you fuck up even boiling? Forgot those poor ingredients you charred on day one?"
"Ah, bound to mess up first time. That's why you've been nagging?"
"That fuck-up meant we didn't eat well that night. Still amazes me. How do you burn everything?"
"Didn't you suck at first too, Escort Go?"
"Nope."
"Ah, our backgrounds differ. I grew up as Meteor Sword Sect's son—servants handled this. I get it, Escort Go. Tough childhood, no servants. What'd your mom do? Farm? Market? Or..."
"You little..."
Go Du-mak's eyebrow twitched. I met his gaze without flinching. This porter gig was one-and-done. No reason to continue. Killing intent wafted from him. I clenched my fist.
"Go Du-mak. Check if the tents are set properly."
Head Seok Ji-don appeared from behind.
"Head Seok! Yes, sir!"
Go Du-mak startled and scurried off.
Seok Ji-don glanced at me briefly, then turned and left.
Sung Ji-gon, who'd watched, sighed and approached.
"Endure it. Starting trouble hurts only you."
"Yeah. All the escorts side with that punk. He knows I'm the sect master's son and picks on me for it, right?"
"Even as a son, you're the 38th kid. He knows our father ignores his children. And... if this goes south, Meteor Sword Sect takes the hit. Word is, sect gains a lot from this."
"Jikga Escort Agency's the big player here."
"Their force is at least three times ours."
"……But why only me? He leaves you and others alone."
"Dunno. Maybe just hates you... Or caught you badmouthing him..."
"Ha..."
I sighed.
Reason didn't matter. What mattered was he'd shown killing intent. And I'd reached my limit with his bullshit.
"Can't take it."
"Wha—? Just endure. It's important for the sect."
"Enduring makes me a punk. And if I don't get caught, fine. Just testify later I was with you."
When no one watched, I slipped into the woods, pulled a cheap disguise mask from my pouch, and put it on. Stolen from a shady merchant visiting the city, but with the voice modulator, it hid my identity easily.
Spear in hand—not my sword—I stepped before the demo escort team.
"Hey now. Who're you scrubs, lighting fires and roasting beasts in my turf?"
Spear over shoulder, I sauntered cockily.
"……State your identity."
Seok Ji-don drew his sword. Surrounding escorts and porters jumped up into combat stances.
"You're in my turf. You state yours first."
"We're Jikga Escort Agency. You state yours."
"You? Coming at me like that."
"Back off. No need for us to fight."
Snap.
A bolt of blue lightning crashed from the sky onto Seok Ji-don.
"Gaaargh!"
Struck, Seok Ji-don knelt, forehead to ground. He lived, but his fight was gone.
"This Seok Ji-don... failed to recognize... Senior..."
Seok Ji-don figured my realm was Five Qi or higher. Only then could one wield nature's power.
From his reaction, I realized: my body was Entry Form realm, but my actual skill surpassed Emerging Will.
"Ignorance excuse?"
"Forgive me! We'll compensate with money! Please spare us!"
Seok Ji-don slammed his head down. Thought he'd fight to the death after all that posturing. All bluff?
"You invaded my turf. Pay the price? If I show mercy, the underworld will mock me."
"We won't breathe a word. I'll seal their lips. No leaks. We'll leave now—mercy, please!"
"One."
"Pardon?"
"I'll kill just one of you."
"Th-then..."
Seok Ji-don's eyes darted. To the porters. Better one low-rank than a valuable escort.
"Rumors of killing a porter and retreating tarnish my rep. Escort or higher. One."
"Gasp! Senior! C-can't money work? Take all our goods!"
"Insulting me as a mere bandit?!"
"S-sorry!"
Thud thud.
Seok Ji-don headbutted the ground again.
"Escorts, step forward. Hmm. With the head, five total. Vote then."
Handed them rough paper, ink, brushes.
"One hour. Write separately who dies. Most votes dies. Self-votes fine. Blank votes? I hunt you down. All self-votes? Deception— all die."
"……."
Including Seok Ji-don, none spoke. No united front against me.
"Write."
They hesitated, eyeing each other, brushes still.
"No peeking. Or wanna all die?"
My threat got them writing. Surprisingly bold. All an act?
Less than an hour, collected papers.
"Ha."
I chuckled at the votes. Too scripted.
Seok Ji-don: 4 votes. Go Du-mak: 1.
All four escorts voted Seok Ji-don.
'Aiming for his spot. Vacant head position goes to an escort. He lacks popularity too.'
Crackle.
Lightning torched the papers.
"Results out. Who's Go Du-mak?"
"……."
All eyes on Go Du-mak.
"M-me?! No! Mistake! Not me!"
"Why so sure?"
"Well... obviously... urk..."
"Cheated behind my back? Clever. Truth: Seok Ji-don 2, Go Du-mak 3. Heh."
"Y-you...!"
Fury filled Go Du-mak's eyes. Laughably, at the escorts, not me.
"We agreed Seok Ji-don! You damn bastards!"
"Wh-what?!"
"When?!"
Didn't care how they fooled my senses—telepathy or hand signs.
"Shut it. Drama offstage."
The dead one was decided from the start.
"Gr-great hero! Sp-spare me! Anything! Just spare!"
I smirked, ignored, snapped fingers.
Snap.
Rumble!
Snap.
Crack!
Snap!
Boom boom boom!
Bolts hammered Go Du-mak. He'd breathe no more.
"I'm off."
"Safe travels!"
Seok Ji-don bellowed farewell.
His eyes blazed. Escorts' faces paled.
Seok Ji-don would hunt his one voter; escorts would eye the two who voted Go Du-mak.
'No boredom on this trip. Watch their politicking.'