Chapter 38
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Second Escort Mission
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"Conflicts between sects are breaking out everywhere without end. Most of them involve groups that have grown explosively over the past decade. We just got word from Sichuan that a sect called the Black Sand Pavilion has been wiped out."
"Black Sand Pavilion..."
The elders tilted their heads, as if the name was somewhat unfamiliar. It was true that while the Black Sand Pavilion might be notorious in Sichuan, its fame wasn't enough to reach the Martial Alliance.
It was a different story from the Fire Family Manor. They had drawn attention as descendants of the Thunderclap Sect, but the Black Sand Pavilion had no such prestige.
"What if I told you that until just recently, this Black Sand Pavilion had been pressuring not only the Tang Family but every sect across the entire Sichuan region?"
"Gasp! That's impossible!"
A startled cry burst from someone's mouth. Rude as it was, no one took issue with it. That was how shocking the Alliance Leader's words were.
"Pressuring the Tang Family, you say?"
"It's more accurate to say they were driving them into a corner."
The Alliance Leader's words grew ever more riveting.
"Th-then who on earth wiped out such a formidable sect? Ah...! The Tang Family!"
One elder ventured a guess and drew his conclusion, but the Alliance Leader shook his head.
"Have you heard of a place called the Henan Escort Bureau?"
"Henan Escort Bureau?"
The elders were well aware of the Henan Escort Bureau. It was one of the Five Great Escort Agencies under heaven, and it had fallen on hard times recently. Connected to the Jo Family Manor as it was, it was impossible not to know of them.
"What about this Henan Escort Bureau?"
Ha Won-hu, the Victory Dragon Unit Leader, stepped forward, his blood running hot.
The Alliance Leader glanced at Ha Won-hu. A glint of interest flashed in his eyes. Just the fact that Ha Won-hu was invested piqued his curiosity.
"The Henan Escort Bureau crushed the Black Sand Pavilion."
The impact of those words was tremendous. How could a fallen outfit like the Henan Escort Bureau take down a powerhouse like the Black Sand Pavilion?
"Of course, it's hard to take that rumor at face value. The Tang Family and other Sichuan sects likely played major roles. Still, the Henan Escort Bureau is undeniably involved. And according to the rumors, the Black Sand Pavilion possessed a True Heavenly Thunder."
"True Heavenly Thunder!"
The shout erupted from the elders' mouths almost in unison. The weight of that name far surpassed even the Thunderclap Bomb.
"Wh-who recreated that demonic weapon? D-don't tell me it was the Fire Family Manor...!"
It was a reasonable assumption. If the Fire Family Manor had succeeded in restoring the True Heavenly Thunder, some villain must have targeted them, wiped them out, and claimed it for themselves.
The Thunderclap Bomb alone might fall short, but with the True Heavenly Thunder, it was another matter entirely. A single one could obliterate a mid-sized sect in an instant.
"At any rate, it's a tangled mess of complications. The Tang Family might even be mixed up in it."
The room fell silent again at the Alliance Leader's words. They were inwardly astonished by his information network. How did he have access to all this? There might even be more he hadn't revealed yet.
"A Flying Phoenix has emerged from the Tang Family."
The assembly remained quiet. The Flying Phoenix was a once-in-a-century prodigy, or so the rumors went. For the Tang Family to send such a treasured genius into the martial world meant they had a clear purpose.
"This Flying Phoenix is staying in Hechang. More precisely, where the Jo Family Manor used to be."
"In that case..."
"Something's afoot. We don't know what yet."
Everyone in the room began racking their brains furiously. They strained their minds until it felt like their heads might melt.
The Fire Family Manor had been exterminated. The Black Sand Pavilion, which had tormented the Tang Family, had been exterminated. Then the Tang Family came to Hechang. And the Henan Escort Bureau was in Hechang. Fallen as it was.
"Oh, and the Henan Escort Bureau has reopened its doors."
The Alliance Leader's words planted certainty in everyone's minds. There was definitely something at the Henan Escort Bureau. Something big enough to sway the future of the martial world.
Shadowless was bowed deeply before the tent. He was still tense, but not as much as before. Today, there had been clear results.
A voice soon emanated from within the tent. It was infinitely kind, yet infinitely terrifying.
"Well done. You handled it cleanly."
"Thank you."
The Blood Demon fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
"Still no trace of those bastards?"
Shadowless made a troubled face at the Blood Demon's question.
"The Bird-Rat Party's conclusion was a bit odd, so I ordered them to double-check."
"Oh? What was so strange about it?"
"According to the Bird-Rat Party, the Heavenly Qi Master raised only one."
"One? That can't be right. He took a hundred with him."
"That's why I ordered a reinvestigation."
The Blood Demon pondered briefly. Shadowless might be at the top of the Bird-Rat Party, but Flying Shadow and Dark Shadow were the ones actually running it. They never jumped to conclusions. If they said so, there had to be a reason.
"Very well. Why did the Bird-Rat Party reach that conclusion?"
Shadowless answered without hesitation.
"They said there's only one trail from Mount Hyeong onward. The thing that crawled out of the Heavenly Qi Master's tomb was just that one. But clearly, we underestimated their abilities. Erasing tracks is child's play for them, isn't it?"
The Blood Demon nodded at Shadowless's words.
"True. Erasing tracks is easy enough. Still, I'd like to trust Flying Shadow and Dark Shadow's skills. What if there's really just one?"
"If it's just one, it's not worth our attention. What could a lone survivor do? We should focus on the Martial Alliance."
The Blood Demon nodded.
"Indeed. The Martial Alliance is the priority. For now, have the Bird Squad keep hunting their trail, and direct the Rat Squad to watch the Martial Alliance."
"Understood!"
Shadowless responded vigorously and withdrew. As he vanished like smoke, the Blood Demon's eerie voice filled the space.
"Just one? I don't know what happened, but this might be too easy."
The Blood Demon closed his eyes briefly, thought for a moment, then opened them.
"Blood Shadow."
At his call, a man clad in blood-red robes appeared before the tent. A crimson gleam flickered in his eyes.
"What has Demon Shadow been up to lately?"
"Drowning in booze somewhere in Henan."
"Hahaha. That's just like him. And the Demon Shadow Squad?"
"You know full well they never leave that guy's side."
The Blood Demon smiled faintly at Blood Shadow's reply.
"True. That's their way. Must be boring for him, no?"
Blood Shadow bowed at the Blood Demon's words.
"I'll send him to Hechang."
The Blood Demon nodded in satisfaction at Blood Shadow's response. Blood Shadow understood him best.
Blood Shadow's form faded away like a shadow.
The Blood Demon stared at the spot where he had been, then muttered as if struck by a sudden thought.
"Come to think of it... Hechang is where that child is now."
Hyeong Pyo burst into the office in a hurry. Jo Seol-yeon's current office always had its doors wide open, so anyone could enter at any time.
The moment he stepped in, Hyeong Pyo spoke in an excited voice.
"Miss, we've got a commission."
Jo Seol-yeon brightened at his words.
"Really? Our first one."
As Jo Seol-yeon smiled radiantly, Hyeong Pyo pressed on urgently.
"The client is Golden Wharf."
Jo Seol-yeon had heard the name before. In Henan, he was quite famous—a martial artist from a merchant background. True to his roots, he'd leveraged his savvy into owning several large inns, making him a wealthy man.
"What's the job?"
"Escorting his daughter, Golden Blossom, to Suzhou in Jiangsu Province."
Jo Seol-yeon fell silent at Hyeong Pyo's words. Person escort was one of the core services of an escort bureau, but in the Henan Escort Bureau's current state, it wouldn't be easy.
"Of course you investigated why they'd hire us, right?"
Hyeong Pyo nodded awkwardly at Jo Seol-yeon's sharp question.
"Yes. They're probably trying to use us a bit. Have you heard of the group Golden Wharf belongs to?"
Jo Seol-yeon shook her head. Hyeong Pyo paused, then spoke slowly.
"Golden Wharf is part of the Golden Lotus Alliance."
"Golden Lotus Alliance?"
"A coalition of merchants. Lately, they've been clashing with the Demonic Alliance. Or rather, the Demonic Alliance is pressuring them. For money, naturally."
Jo Seol-yeon's heart sank at the mention of the Demonic Alliance.
"The Demonic Alliance?"
"Yes. So he's planning to use his daughter as bait this time."
"Bait...?"
"The Golden Lotus Alliance's headquarters is in Suzhou, dominating the commercial world alongside the Umun Family. The commission is to escort Golden Blossom there."
Jo Seol-yeon nodded.
"The Demonic Alliance won't sit idly by."
"They'll definitely ambush us. The plan is to draw their attention there and strike the Demonic Alliance."
"B-but then his daughter will be in danger..."
"Not just her—we'll be in the crossfire too."
Jo Seol-yeon tilted her head. Even for merchants, this plan seemed too sloppy.
"For a merchant scheme, it's awfully crude. There's nothing to concentrate the Demonic Alliance's full might. I don't know Golden Wharf's standing in the Golden Lotus Alliance, but would they even target his daughter? And even if they do, keeping their focus would require serious force. As you know, the Henan Escort Bureau doesn't have that kind of reputation."
Dan Hyeong-u came to mind, but he was completely unknown to the outside world. And even he might not hold off a relentless Demonic Alliance assault.
Jo Seol-yeon's doubts were dispelled in an instant by Hyeong Pyo's next words.
"Golden Blossom is engaged to Yu Baek-sang, the next Golden Lotus Alliance Leader. And the Sword King is going with her."
Jo Seol-yeon jumped at the mention of the Sword King.
"The Sword King? Why would he...!"
"Money can hire even the Sword King, it seems. He's short on cash right now."
From what Hyeong Pyo had learned, the Sword King's granddaughter needed expensive treatment, and the Golden Lotus Alliance was footing the bill in exchange for his help.
"What should we do? Accept it?"
Jo Seol-yeon pondered briefly.
"But who could handle it?"
"Who else but that friend of ours?"
"Will Brother help?"
"He will. And with him, there's no worry."
In the end, Jo Seol-yeon had no choice but to nod. This commission was too big to pass up. It could very well be the springboard for the Henan Escort Bureau's next leap.
"I'll ask Brother."
And so, Dan Hyeong-u's second escort mission was set.
Chapter 6. Second Escort Mission
Jo Seol-yeon and Hyeong Pyo watched the carriage depart through the main gates of the escort bureau, their hearts pounding.
The first escort mission was underway at last.
Dan Hyeong-u and Jong Chil were in charge. They needed someone for odd jobs, and Jong Chil had enough experience to handle it competently.
Besides, Jong Chil was eager to learn more martial arts from Dan Hyeong-u during the trip. Though he hadn't fully mastered what he already knew.
The carriage was large and ornate, befitting the Golden Lotus Alliance's provision. Jong Chil drove it, with Dan Hyeong-u seated beside him.
Dan Hyeong-u, unused to sitting, kept grimacing. Each time, Jong Chil assumed it was his driving and tensed up even more.
Thanks to that, the passengers inside enjoyed an exceptionally smooth ride.
Inside the fully enclosed carriage sat two people. One was a man who appeared to be in his forties, eyes closed tightly as he cradled a sword in his lap. Across from him was a girl who looked just over twenty, unable to hide her tension as she kept stealing glances at him.
The girl's name was Golden Blossom. She was the fiancée of Yu Baek-sang, deputy leader of the Golden Lotus Alliance, and daughter of the prominent Hechang magnate Golden Wharf.
And the man making Golden Blossom so nervous was none other than the Sword King, Yeom Cheol-gun.