Chapter 34
Chapter 34
Translator: Penny
Chapter 34
Into the Summer (1)
Regarding the practical training, Gong Suchan proposed an idea.
"There's an escort mission available. Recently, the Taizhou Merchant Guild from Jiangsu Province came here, but it seems things went sour with the Taean Escort Agency they were dealing with. They urgently need another agency, but haven't found a suitable one."
"Aren't there other escort agencies nearby?"
"Escort agencies usually fight like enemies, but when they need to cooperate, they act like brothers."
"So they're siding with the Taean Escort Agency?"
"Yes, it seems so. In any case, they can't afford to delay, which has driven up the price for this escort mission considerably."
"How much?"
"Two thousand taels."
The value of the cargo must be substantial.
"Therefore, this mission might be somewhat dangerous."
If they were only sending Sword Guard members, I would have refused. But since this is my first real-world mission, I intend to accompany them.
"Very well, I'll take this job."
I immediately went to the blacksmith shop and purchased twenty daggers for throwing practice. I was quite skilled in Dagger Technique, and nothing beats a dagger in a pinch.
Though I didn't show it outwardly, I was just as nervous as anyone else.
The next day, we took over the Taizhou Merchant Guild's cargo.
It was enough to fill three carriages.
We didn't hire any additional porters. The cargo wasn't particularly heavy, and one of our Sword Guard members had experience working at an Escort Agency, so we decided to handle it ourselves.
As we were preparing to depart, a merchant from the Taizhou Merchant Guild approached me.
"I heard you're not the official Sword Guard of the Byeok Clan Sword School, but a Minor Sword Guard."
We had clearly stated beforehand that we were the Byeok Clan Sword School's Minor Sword Guard.
"That's correct."
"These are valuable goods. Please take extra care."
They had chosen us out of necessity due to the urgency, but they clearly remained skeptical.
"Don't worry. The goods will arrive safely."
"Then I'll leave it in your hands."
How could his worries compare to the mountain of anxiety my parents carried? They were truly beside themselves with worry.
I calmly persuaded them, pushing the two arguments that always worked: I didn't want to live like a frog in a well, and they shouldn't raise me like a hothouse flower.
In truth, these arguments reflected my feelings about Sword Guard.
We couldn't keep him sheltered forever. A single real-world experience would be more beneficial than a hundred days of solitary training. He needed to withstand the storms outside the hothouse.
Our destination was Xuzhou in Jiangsu Province, where we were to deliver goods to the Taizhou Merchant Guild. The estimated travel time was ten days.
We set off smoothly.
Three carriages were each assigned five members, while the remaining five guarded the front and rear.
Of course, Gwangdu came along too. Since he didn't know how to ride a horse yet, I personally drove the first carriage and had him sit beside me.
"Am I really allowed to come?"
Gwangdu asked cautiously, clearly feeling self-conscious about traveling with the Sword Guard members.
"Of course. You're my right-hand man, aren't you?"
"Right?"
His stiff expression relaxed at the mention of "right-hand man." Lately, Gwangdu had been particularly concerned about Gwanhwi.
Gwanhwi commanded the Sword Guard members with disciplined precision, maintaining impeccable order within their ranks.
Watching this scene, Gwangdu whispered, "He acts like my older brother, even though he's two years younger."
"I see it too."
"No, Young Master, you shouldn't say that. I've abandoned my maturity for your amusement."
"Ha ha."
Yes, I have to admit it. You bring me joy.
In truth, Gwanhwi was also aware of Gwangdu's presence. He likely reacted naturally to Gwangdu's awareness, and perhaps also harbored a desire to earn my trust.
Perhaps Gwangdu's presence was pushing Gwanhwi to avoid mistakes.
This kind of constructive competition was exactly what I wanted.
For several days, nothing eventful occurred.
We mostly camped in the forest.
At night, we took turns standing watch in groups of four, rotating shifts according to a set schedule.
I believe this entire process will serve as the foundation for the Sword Guard's growth.
Internal energy can be increased instantly with Elixirs.
But experiences like these cannot be acquired in a single moment. The difference between hearing about something and experiencing it firsthand is as vast as the sky and the earth. Even something as simple as building a campfire becomes truly one's own only through direct experience.
Just as the tension of our journey began to ease, figures emerged to block our path.
Over thirty masked martial artists stood before us.
The apparent leader spoke coldly, "Hand over the goods and leave, and we'll spare your lives."
Their presence was formidable, far from the haphazard rabble of common bandits. This confidence explained why they dared to reveal themselves in broad daylight rather than ambush us under the cover of night. Fortunately for us.
"Form up as trained!" I commanded.
The Sword Guard members moved swiftly into formation. Their training covered various enemy types, and against a fully exposed force like this, they adopted the 人-shaped formation. The strongest member took the vanguard position at the apex, flanked by the second and third strongest on either side, with the remaining members arranged in descending order of martial skill.
Without another word, the masked man issued the attack order.
"Attack!"
The masked figures charged forward.
Normally, I would have let my Sword Guard members handle this, but this time, the enemy outnumbered us and their skills were on par with our own.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
Five masked figures twisted and fell as my surprise-thrown daggers struck home.
My aim wasn't just to reduce their numbers, but more importantly, to break their momentum.
As expected, the remaining masked figures faltered.
Seizing the moment, I roared, "Attack!"
Though it happened in an instant, our side's morale surged.
"Squad Leader Gwan, take the left flank! Gwangdu, cover the right! Just do what you've been trained for!"
Then I faced the enemy leader in the center.
I didn't use the Soul-Chasing Asura Sword Art. Instead, I engaged him with the White Moon Sword Technique, my family's martial art.
Whoosh!
Dodging the incoming sword, I angled my own blade upward, intending to end the fight swiftly.
The man twisted his body in surprise at my unexpected speed.
His predictable movement allowed my second strike to become a decisive blow.
Whoosh!
Clang!
My sword slashed deeply into his side, sending blood splattering.
As he collapsed sideways, he hurled a hidden weapon.
Clang!
Deflecting the projectile, I charged forward relentlessly.
Thunk!
My sword pierced straight through his heart. His eyes widened in disbelief at his own helplessness before he finally breathed his last.
I withdrew my blade and immediately turned around.
The chaos of the battlefield instantly came into focus. I had spent my entire life on battlefields, enduring countless bloody skirmishes.
It was immediately clear who was in the most danger.
Whoosh!
A dagger flew from my hand.
Thunk!
The dagger pierced the back of the man who was about to stab a Sword Guard member in the stomach.
I lunged toward the second most urgent threat.
One of the two men pressing the Sword Guard member turned toward me.
"Where do you think you're going?" he snarled, slashing his sword viciously.
Unfortunately for him, I wasn't someone who took kindly to being told "Where do you think you're going?"
I twisted slightly to evade the incoming blade, which grazed past my ear. But my sword was different.
Thwack!
My blade pierced his heart in a single, swift strike.
At the same moment, I channeled internal energy into my voice and shouted, "Snap out of it!"
The Sword Guard member, who had been reeling from my attack, snapped back to attention. He immediately lunged forward to assist his comrades.
I scanned the battlefield once more.
Three enemies had already fallen to Gwangdu's blade, while two more lay defeated by Gwanhwi's hand. The remaining combatants were locked in a chaotic melee.
Thanks to Gwangdu and Gwanhwi's exceptional skills, our side was gaining the upper hand.
From that moment on, I began to leisurely survey the battlefield, cutting down enemies as I went.
I ignored the fights we were clearly winning and intervened only in the most precarious clashes.
As I began to orchestrate the battle, the balance between the two sides rapidly crumbled.
With each swing of my sword, another enemy fell without fail. The White Moon Sword Technique was unleashing its full, devastating power.
Gwangdu struck down the final enemy.
Thud!
It was the fourth enemy he had killed. Having never taken a life before, he had now killed four men. This remarkable feat, achieved without proper internal energy, was a testament to the power of the South Sea Seven Forms. Gwangdu's hand, still gripping the blood-dripping blade, trembled violently.
I quickly surveyed the Sword Guard members.
"Any injuries?"
Several had suffered cuts to their arms and legs, but fortunately, none were life-threatening—thanks to my swift intervention.
"Treat your wounds with wound medicine. Those who are uninjured, maintain perimeter security!"
At my command, everyone moved swiftly. They were all in a daze. Some had experienced large-scale battles before, but over half were facing such carnage for the first time. Many, like Gwangdu, had even killed a person for the first time. Even Gwanhwi, who had displayed his full skill, had never taken a life before today.
After treating their injuries, I gathered them.
"Is everyone alright?"
"Yes."
I approached Gwangdu first.
"First time, isn't it?"
"Yes," Gwangdu's voice trembled. His hands and clothes were stained with blood. Though he was still in shock, even seasoned warriors found the stench of blood difficult to bear.
"Gwangdu."
"Yes."
"Turn around."
Gwangdu turned around.
"If you hadn't killed those four bastards, four of these people wouldn't be here right now."
Everyone stared at Gwangdu with renewed interest. They had thought him a mere jester, but he had displayed remarkable skill. Gwangdu's pupils trembled under their grateful gazes.
"Yes, I know this isn't easy. But becoming a Martial Artist means being willing to stain your hands with blood for righteousness and your comrades. Anyone can strap on a sword and call themselves a Martial Artist, but that's not the truth. The true Martial Artists in this world are those who have made that commitment, those who can overcome such hardship. Gwangdu, do you truly wish to become a true Martial Artist?"
Gwangdu took a deep breath and declared loudly, "Yes, I want to become a true Martial Artist."
"You fought exceptionally well today. Thank you."
"Young Master, thank you."
How could Gwangdu not understand? He was being so attentive, worried that the killing might have left a scar on my heart.
I called out to Gwanhwi.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes."
Having already heard what I said to Gwangdu, Gwanhwi's eyes now held a spark of life.
"This is something we must experience once, and something we will continue to overcome in the future. Now, everyone, turn to the person beside you."
The Sword Guard members turned to their comrades standing beside them.
"You fought well. Because of your excellent fighting, you were able to protect the lives of your comrades beside you. Let's all say a word of thanks to each other for the hard work."
The Sword Guard members exchanged words of gratitude.
Finally, I spoke.
"I'm truly grateful that we finished this fight without losing anyone. I'm proud of all of you."
My words moved everyone deeply. They had witnessed my actions firsthand and knew that without me, we would have been annihilated. The way they looked at me had changed.
"Thank you, Captain!"
"Long live the Minor Sword Guard!"
This was the moment our first battle ended in victory, and also the moment my authority and their respect for me solidified.
As the battlefield was cleared, the Sword Guard members meticulously removed the masks from the corpses, each one checking for recognizable faces.
An older member of the Sword Guard shouted, "These men are from the Beast Squad!"
"The Beast Squad?"
"Yes, they're a notorious bandit group that targets only the most valuable goods. They're infamous in Shandong."
The other Sword Guard members gasped in surprise.
"Could it be that the men we killed were the Beast Squad?"
"Good heavens! I can't believe it."
The Beast Squad was notorious, said to have caused the deaths of many escorts.
"I believe the Martial Arts Alliance has a bounty on them."
"How much?"
"I heard it's several thousand taels."
"Ha ha! Then we've struck gold!"
After the Beast Squad's attack, no further assaults occurred.
They safely delivered the goods and received their payment—a substantial sum of two thousand taels.
They handed over the corpses to the Martial Arts Alliance branch in nearby Jiangsu Province.
With the leader's body present and all thirty corpses accounted for, verification was swift.
The total bounty on the Beast Squad was a staggering seven thousand taels: five thousand for the leader and two thousand for the rest.
We had set out to earn two thousand taels, but seven thousand taels came as an unexpected bonus. It was truly like a pumpkin rolling in with its entire vine.
In a single mission, we had earned nine thousand taels.
I distributed thirty taels each to everyone as a special bonus, in addition to their regular mission pay from Gong Suchan. Gwangdu and Gwanhwi, who had played particularly crucial roles, received fifty taels each. Everyone was overjoyed.
While money is important, people remain our greatest asset.
After successfully completing our first mission, the reputation of the Minor Sword Guard soared. When it was revealed that our attackers were the notorious Beast Squad, some even refused to believe it. Needless to say, my father and mother were overjoyed.
I kept a few hundred taels from the earnings and gave the rest to Gong Suchan.
"Here are eight thousand taels. Use this as capital and grow it further."
Gong Suchan stared silently at the massive sum of eight thousand taels before asking, "But why do you trust me so much? Is it only because of my master?"
"At first, yes. But not anymore."
"What do you trust now?"
"My destiny. I believe my destiny wouldn't allow a mere steward to run off with the money."
"I see. Understood. I'll manage it well."
"Thank you."
Gong Suchan, who had already walked some distance away, stopped in his tracks.
"I'll ask you again next time. Then, I want to hear that what you trust... is me."
I smiled at him.
As Gong Suchan turned and walked away, heat haze shimmered around him.
The sunlight was scorching.
It was my first summer since being reborn.