Chapter 597
Chapter 597
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 597
Chapter Title: Radiant Ascension Path
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Seok Ji-don, the escort leader, and the other escorts' attitudes had shifted.
Seok Ji-don, who had been nothing but stern up until now, started treating the wagon drivers with unexpected warmth. He gave them more breaks and looked after their needs. In contrast, he piled all sorts of menial tasks on the escorts.
Escorts treated worse than wagon drivers.
Seok Ji-don openly tormented them.
Yet the escorts didn't voice a single complaint and followed every order. All three had written Seok Ji-don's name on their papers. Rebelling against him here could paint them as the sole betrayer.
'The moment that happens, their escort days are over. That bastard Seok Ji-don is a martial artist too. He won't stop at just stripping them naked.'
The three escorts weren't on good terms. They were the type to betray their superior, Seok Ji-don. No way they'd feel any camaraderie. If anything, they'd see each other as rivals.
The escorts began buttering up the wagon drivers too. They only gave orders for absolutely necessary tasks, skipped the nagging, and even bought them drinks at roadside inns now and then.
Of course, it wasn't free.
The wagon drivers had to listen to the escorts' excuses and gripes. And their slanders against their own comrades.
"You folks wouldn't know. How underhanded Escort Hwang Bi-geon is. I've worked with that guy for nearly five years and never got a fair shake once. And get this—I overheard it in passing, but... they say Hwang Bi-geon started out as a street thug. You know, the kind who threaten honest folk and shake them down for cash. Stay away from him. Three-year-old habits last eighty years, as they say... He might have his eyes on your goods."
"That Escort Young-tan was spouting nonsense earlier. Back in the day, his lies caused a huge mess. The chief spared him out of mercy and didn't kick him out, but... he's not someone you want close. Eight out of ten words from his mouth are lies. No need to pay him any mind."
The escorts schemed fiercely. Sucking up to the wagon drivers was just a bribe for their support.
I chuckled inwardly, watching their desperate flailing.
"Yu-jin, why are the escorts acting so weird all of a sudden?"
Naive Sung Ji-gon tilted his head and asked me. I pulled him aside and explained the situation.
"...Wait, you're the one who killed Go Du-mak while wearing that face mask. But they're not even holding a grudge against you...?"
"Because I'm stronger than them. Weaklings rarely hold grudges against the strong. They know revenge is a pipe dream."
"So the escort leader's hunting for the one who wrote his name? To get revenge?"
"Exactly. You gotta get payback on those weaker than you."
"But actually, all the escorts wrote his name..."
"They don't know that. They think one of them betrayed the rest. But that's not the point right now. What matters is they can't let it slip that they wrote his name if they want to survive."
"Why not just come clean and beg forgiveness?"
"Don't be an idiot. These are guys who tried to get him killed. Would you forgive that?"
"...Nah."
"Heh. We just sit back with our rice cakes and watch the show. Won't be bored till we get home. Though one of 'em might not make it back alive."
"Kinda disappointing. Weren't they comrades who'd worked together for years?"
"Ji-gon, the jianghu's colder than you think. Can't trust comrades easily. Even family stab each other in the back here. Folks like you and me with real brotherhood? Rare as hell."
"Hmm..."
"Heh. And if I stir the pot between the escorts, we'll get some real bloodshed. Wanna try?"
"Won't sowing discord be risky?"
"Just be subtle. Or..."
I grinned and laid out my plan. Sung Ji-gon stared at me in shock, then shook his head.
"Yu-jin, you're one scary bastard."
"Anyone could think of it."
Night fell.
The caravan pitched camp and bedded down as soon as darkness hit. Nights outside the cities belonged to the yokai, so they avoided moving unless it was urgent.
I slipped out of my tent under cover of night. Using Illusioner, I turned invisible and muffled my presence, then snuck into the escorts' tent to leave notes.
'Their rift's so bad they won't even sleep together.'
The notes claimed another escort had snitched to Seok Ji-don that you were the culprit. Classic divide-and-conquer. But the escorts couldn't just ignore it—they had written his name.
'Tomorrow's tension will spike.'
???
The rift between the escorts had reached a boiling point. They scowled and leaked killing intent at the slightest eye contact. Even unrelated wagon drivers tensed up and clamped their mouths shut.
Escort Leader Seok Ji-don had zero interest in mediating.
The caravan pressed on amid the hostile air.
"Nice view. We'll rest here."
The caravan halted atop a cliff.
I scanned the surroundings.
'This is the spot from the original story! Right here!'
I grabbed Sung Ji-gon and headed to the largest tree nearby.
"Yu-jin, why are we here?"
"Fortune awaits."
"What?! For real?!"
Startled, Sung Ji-gon looked around. But all he saw were cliffs and trees.
"You're messing with me? This ain't funny. I've been stressed enough lately."
"Quit whining. Everyone knows you're pent-up from no girls. Fortunes are usually hidden anyway. Like this."
I drew my dagger and stabbed the trunk. It felt hollow inside. I pried off a section, revealing three blooming flowers within.
"Flowers growing inside a tree?!"
"Wood Invading Flower. Looks harmless, but it's a spirit herb packed with fire essence."
It bloomed by siphoning the tree's life force and spiritual energy.
"I only need one. Take the other two."
"C-can I really? You found them!"
"We're brothers. And you're weaker than me. If you stay too weak, it cramps my style. I ain't babysitting you forever. Eat both and get stronger."
"Yu-jin...!"
Sung Ji-gon looked touched.
In this world, spirit herbs were treasures among treasures. Villages got wiped out over them, and even blood kin hoarded them selfishly.
"Stuff like this draws trouble if you carry it around. Consume on the spot."
"Here? Break's almost over."
"Eh, we'll probably be stuck here two hours at least."
"Huh?"
I pointed skyward.
A massive bird with blue feathers soared overhead.
Azure Light Bird.
A spirit beast that demanded at least the third realm of Manifestation to face.
"Can't move with that up there. Seok Ji-don's cautious enough as is."
"That monster won't attack us?!"
"Why would it? We're pebbles to an Azure Light Bird. Don't provoke it, and it'll pass. Hurry and eat your Wood Invading Flowers. Digest 'em."
I sat cross-legged on the ground.
Normally, I'd enhance the Wood Invading Flower with Radiant Ascension Path like the original protagonist before consuming. But right now, that technique was busy reinforcing Stormbreaker—my weapon and armor. No telling when it'd finish, so I couldn't wait.
'I'm stronger than the original protag anyway. And spirit herbs? I can snag more later.'
I plucked a flower and shoved it in my mouth. Bitter. Glancing over, Sung Ji-gon was nervously swallowing his.
'And I've got the Cheon-gang-seong system.'
I circulated Spirit Heaven Qi Gong to tame the flower’s fire energy. It worked better here than back in reality.
Maybe this world favored martial arts. Or the system’s influence. I leaned toward the latter.
As I absorbed the energy for a good while, I felt an invisible wall crumble.
I exhaled. Vitality surged through me.
'I've got 31 Heavenly Jades now. Need 69 more for VIP 1.'
Useless to me, already in Manifestation.
'Give it to Sung Ji-gon later.'
I stood. Sung Ji-gon was still cross-legged, absorbing diligently.
'Come on, Ji-gon. Level up quick so things get easier.'
Sung Ji-gon only rose as we were about to depart. His face beamed with joy.
"How'd it go? Level up?"
"Yeah! Hit Entry Form 8th stage! All thanks to you! You?"
"Manifestation."
"Whoa! For real?! Congrats! Man, Manifestation at your age? Folks would faint!"
"Keeping it quiet for now. You too—mum's the word."
"Why? Telling the sect could get us better support."
"Too much shine draws envy and suspicion."
"Fair. Lips sealed, your call."
The caravan moved out again.
???
One escort, Hwang Bi-geon, screwed up.
During break, in front of everyone, he accused Escort Young-tan to Seok Ji-don.
"Escort Leader Seok! It was Young-tan who wrote your name! He incited us to do it!"
"Escort Hwang's right!"
Escort Jang O-guk backed him up.
I clocked it instantly. Those two were in cahoots.
"Y-you lunatics! Escort Leader! They're lying! Framing me together! I never wrote your name! I swear on my dantian!"
Seok Ji-don clenched his fists. He trusted none of them.
"One of you is lying to me. Maybe all."
Bam!
Hwang Bi-geon and Jang O-guk dropped to their knees.
"Escort Leader! It's all true! We have a witness!"
"Witness?"
"When we wrote the names... a wagon driver in back saw Young-tan write yours!"
"Lies! All lies! Escort Leader!"
"Quiet, Young-tan. Best keep your mouth shut till I say. Witness, step forward."
"M-me!"
A tense wagon driver came up and knelt.
"Escort Young-tan wrote Escort Leader Seok's name! I saw it clear as day!"
Perjury.
Hwang Bi-geon had bought him off—cash or promises.
Seok Ji-don's eyes turned to Young-tan.
"Young-tan. Witness is here. Anything to say?"
Young-tan knelt and bowed low.
"All lies! Those maniacs are deceiving you!"
"Then who's the real culprit?"
"Hwang Bi-geon! He wrote your name!"
"Evidence?"
"Witness! A wagon driver saw it!"
"Hah... Your stories contradict. If all wrote my name, it'd be me dead, not Go Du-mak. Who's this witness? Step up."
No wagon driver budged.
Young-tan's face drained of color. He'd bribed one too, but the driver read the room and flipped.
"No Sik! What're you doing? Get out here! Escort Leader! Him, he's the witness!"
"N-no! I know nothing!"
"You bastard!!"
Young-tan roared, killing intent pouring out.
Seok Ji-don's eyes went ice cold.
"Case closed. Hwang Bi-geon, Jang O-guk. Seize him."
"Yes!"
Young-tan drew his sword and thrashed, but couldn't handle two at once.
"Escort Leader! It wasn't me! Conspiracy! Escort Leader!!"
"You've lied and caused trouble before. Can't trust you now. Taking you on was my life's biggest mistake. Time to fix it myself."
"Aaaargh! Seok Ji-don!!"
Young-tan's head hit the dirt.
The culprit was dead.
Officially, the matter ended there.
But Seok Ji-don and the escorts' rift lingered. Smart as he was, he'd suspect Young-tan wasn't the one.
'Heh. Dumbass Seok Ji-don. I'd have killed 'em all by now. Bound to be the traitor among the corpses.'
Their bonds were shattered. No going back.