Chapter 598
Chapter 598
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 598
Chapter Title: Radiant Ascension Path
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In this world, being an escort was one of the most grueling professions.
Their main jobs were transporting goods or protecting people. And it wasn't always about guarding against bandits or thieves.
Yokai.
From an escort's perspective, they were by far the most annoying foes. At least bandits and thieves could be reasoned with. Only a tiny fraction of yokai could hold a conversation. Even those that understood human speech deliberately ignored it.
"It's an Earth Ghost! Keep your eyes on the ground!"
Seok Ji-don shouted.
Earth Ghost.
A yokai that moved underground. In terms of cultivation level, they were roughly equivalent to Stance 6. Annoying because they burrowed beneath the earth, but not particularly strong.
I drew my sword and glared at the ground. I could sense the Earth Ghost's presence below. Two of them were near me.
"Aaaagh! S-save me!"
One of the porters had his leg seized by an Earth Ghost. Its long arm coiled around his body. A nearby comrade rushed to help him. The Earth Ghost dragged itself underground and fled. Fortunately, the porter survived.
'Here it comes.'
I stabbed my sword into the ground.
The blade mercilessly pierced the head of the Earth Ghost as it surfaced. Yokai or not, a pierced skull meant instant death.
Having reached the Outing Realm, I could easily pinpoint their presences and slay them.
I glanced to the side.
Sung Ji-gon had timed his swing perfectly as another Earth Ghost emerged, dispatching it without issue. His senses had definitely sharpened since reaching Stance 8.
Once the Earth Ghost ambush ended, Seok Ji-don scanned the surroundings and spoke.
"No fatalities. If you're injured, don't hide it—report to the escorts. Check the wagons' cargo too. Anyone with spare time, extract the Earth Ghosts' hearts. They're excellent for bone recovery."
Seok Ji-don swiftly took stock of the situation. He seemed well-accustomed to yokai attacks. No wonder he was the Escort Leader.
I looked at Sung Ji-gon. His body was trembling faintly. This had been his first real taste of combat.
"Hey, you okay?"
"Huh? Yeah. Just a bit disappointed."
"In what?"
"I didn't get to use any of the martial arts I've learned so far. It was just a basic overhead slash."
"Don't get too hung up on techniques. Kill them when you can."
"Yeah. Got it."
Sung Ji-gon wiped the blood from his blade with a dry cloth, his hands still shaking.
???
After fending off a few more yokai attacks, we ran into bandits.
Over a hundred of them had surrounded the caravan. It was a sizable group, but Seok Ji-don remained unfazed.
Not out of arrogance or underestimation. Playing it cool like that against bandits was the only way. Show weakness, and you'd be plundered in an instant.
"Your group's looking pretty ragged. Been fighting yokai? Earth Ghosts have been rampant lately."
The bandit leader, with his unkempt beard, guffawed.
He had a massive, muscular build. In his hand was a cleaver big enough to bisect a man in one swing.
I couldn't gauge his exact skill, but he felt on par with Seok Ji-don, maybe a touch stronger.
"I'm Seok Ji-don, Escort Leader of Jikga Escort Agency."
"Oh Son-mo, chief of Oryeong Stronghold."
I surveyed our surroundings. Excluding the chief Oh Son-mo, the rest were ragtag bunch. But over a hundred heads couldn't be ignored. More than thirty had bows at the ready.
'If we fight, we're wiped out.'
Assuming I didn't unleash my full power, anyway.
"We're on a trial run right now. Didn't realize this was Oryeong territory. We'll pay the toll, so let us pass."
Even if Jikga brought in their full armed force later to wipe these bandits out, avoiding battle now was wiser.
There was potential for negotiation. They'd shown themselves without attacking outright.
"Jikga Escort Agency, huh. Never heard of it."
"We're expanding our operations this time. The trial run is to scout routes. We put off death matches with bandit dens as a last resort. Jikga and Oryeong can coexist."
"Heh. People change between entering and leaving the john. You think I'm an idiot who'll buy that?"
"You wanna fight? Let me warn you—Jikga isn't pushover. We always settle our debts."
"...An agency like yours must have some backing. No point making enemies. Just the toll then. Ten silver taels per head. Thirteen of you—130 taels total."
"That's exorbitant for a toll. We don't have that much."
"What, Jikga a beggars' outfit?"
"Don't insult Jikga. You're the ones making outrageous demands."
The air grew tense. The bandits' killing intent thickened it, weighing on the escorts' chests.
Ten silver taels—over a million won in modern terms. Way too steep for a toll.
Oh Son-mo's stern face twisted into a smirk.
"Just kidding."
"...Not funny at all."
"Was to me. Toll's one tael per head. Thirteen total. Don't like it? Speak up. We'll take it by force."
The bandits raised their weapons in unison. The escorts gripped theirs and assumed stances.
"Who said no? Here's thirteen taels."
Seok Ji-don handed over the silver. Oh Son-mo verified it and nodded. The bandits lowered their arms, grinning sleazily.
"Pleasure doing business. Pass through the mountains as you like."
"Appreciated."
"See you around. Hah!"
Oh Son-mo bellowed a laugh and led his men back into the hills.
The escorts finally relaxed once the bandits were out of sight. A few porters looked dissatisfied, though—they were warriors from Meteor Sword Sect.
"...Phew. From your faces, I take it you're miffed we didn't fight."
"Leader Seok! They were just bandits! We'd have won!"
"Fools. Never underestimate bandits. They're human too—cunning as they come. Think bandits can't learn martial arts? Their chief Oh Son-mo is on my level."
"...!!"
"And didn't you see? They were armed with bows. Can you lot perfectly block or dodge arrows from all sides?"
"......"
"Advice: Don't overestimate yourselves. Martial arts aren't your exclusive domain."
Seok Ji-don sighed and checked his pouch. Thirteen taels—not a small sum.
"Move briskly. Bandits might change their minds and ambush us."
The caravan pressed on. But six hours later, at dusk, the bandits reappeared.
It was Oryeong's crew from earlier.
"Haha! Good to see you again!"
Chief Oh Son-mo laughed heartily. I frowned. Part of me wanted to smite them with lightning, but I couldn't reveal my power here.
"...Oh Son-mo. What is this? We paid the toll earlier."
"Don't be daft. Morning and evening are different. Same territory, sure, but tolls are separate. No more talk—one tael per head."
"Outrageous... Where's your bandit code?"
"Hahaha! No idea what code you're on about! As far as I know, this is the bandit way! Disagree? Draw your sword! We'll turn you into pincushions!"
The bowmen nocked arrows.
Seok Ji-don bit his lip. Instead of drawing, he opened his pouch.
"...Thirteen taels."
"Got it. You're cleared to pass. Lads! Head back!"
"Yes, chief!"
The Oryeong bandits departed.
Seok Ji-don and the escorts wore grim expressions.
Seok Ji-don sighed wearily and issued orders.
"Let's go. We'll travel a bit more, camp somewhere suitable. Keep moving even if tired. We'll reach Panyang City tomorrow or the day after."
But the ordeal didn't end there.
Next morning, after a quick meal and as we prepared to depart, Oryeong bandits showed up again.
"Hahahaha! Sleep well? Mountain air's invigorating—bet you did!"
"Why are you back?!"
"Toll collection."
"We paid yesterday! We haven't gone far from there!"
"Yesterday's toll and today's are separate!"
"This is pure extortion! Think you'll get away with it?!"
"Gonna attack? Fine. Bring it. We'll kill you and loot your undies!"
"...Tch."
Life was worth more than money.
Everyone knew that.
Seok Ji-don pulled out thirteen taels.
"Hold on. Two taels per head now."
"Why double?!"
"Today's different from yesterday. Don't want to pay? Draw."
"...We're short. I've only got seventeen taels left."
"What about the pouches on your men? Or are my eyes blind, seeing rags as pouches?"
Seok Ji-don turned to his escorts.
"...You'll need to chip in. I'll reimburse you at the agency."
"O-of course, Leader Seok."
"Here!"
The escorts opened their pouches. Bonds with Seok Ji-don aside, glaring bandits left no choice.
"Twenty-four taels... Short two."
"Quit stalling. What about those grunts?"
Oh Son-mo pointed at the porters. Seok Ji-don grimaced in humiliation but borrowed from them.
"...Twenty-six taels."
"Hahaha! Money's the best!"
The bandits left.
But by noon, Oryeong bandits encircled us again.
"Fourth time's the charm. Starting to grow on me."
"...Why keep doing this to us?"
"We bandits don't mistreat guests."
"Bullshit..."
"Two taels per head. Cough it up if you wanna live."
The porters pooled their remaining cash. Less than ten taels.
"That's all we have."
"You've got cargo in the wagons. Horses fetch a price... Your clothes and weapons too."
"...Those aren't money. We can't hand over the shipment. Even on trial, it's Jikga's pride on the line. Word gets out we yielded to bandits? No one'll trust us again."
"Then weapons and clothes."
"No clothes, we freeze at night. No weapons, yokai kill us. Might as well die fighting. We're trained warriors—Meteor Sword Sect alumni. Even if we fall, we'll take half of you to the afterlife."
Oh Son-mo narrowed his eyes. Then burst into booming laughter.
"Hahaha! Such defiance. Fine. No money? Pay in labor. Follow. I'll find work suited to you. Refuse? We fight."
Seok Ji-don clamped his mouth shut, pondering. Over ten minutes passed.
The encircling bandits eyed us hungrily.
"How long you gonna brood? Answer."
"...Fine. As you wish."
"Hahaha! Smart choice! Follow! I'll show you the stronghold!"
Dragged to their stronghold, we endured harsh labor. Washing mountains of laundry, chopping wood for firewood. Hauling logs for fences, lifting and carrying boulders within the fort.
Their intent was obvious.
Drain our stamina completely. Then ambush and slaughter us at midnight.
Minimize their own losses.
The caravan escaped the stronghold only after slaving till evening.
???
They'd made one mistake.
Showing us their stronghold.
Oryeong had women—bandits' families. Some were quite pretty. Even old ones matching Sung Ji-gon's tastes.
Sung Ji-gon and I got fired up at the sight. Days without so much as a glimpse of a woman. Forced celibacy had taken its toll. Our balls were swollen to bursting.
Late night.
We slipped out of the tent and donned our face-concealing masks.
"Ready, Jin?"
"Yeah... Of course, Gon."