Invitation from the Blade Dragon Gate
Namsik kept glancing back at Uncheon as he drove the wagon.
Of everyone present, he had watched Uncheon’s martial arts at the closest range and in the greatest detail during the fight against the assassins of the Slaughter Shadow. He himself had seen countless battles and every kind of fighter, yet he had never witnessed a youth not yet twenty unfold his skills so flawlessly on his very first journey into the jianghu.
“Young Master Uncheon, that was truly magnificent. I understood once again why the Namgung Family is called the greatest under heaven.”
“You were no less impressive, Uncle. Armed with nothing but a crossbow, you still faced those assassins head-on.”
“I am nothing at all. That was simply the only thing I could do…”
“That is not true. You fought with your life on the line. Even if a man can use martial arts, if he is weaker than his opponent he will not step forward so easily.”
Uncheon looked at him and raised a thumb in open admiration.
“Heh-heh… thank you.”
Namsik’s mouth nearly stretched to his ears.
Is this natural talent?
Listening to their conversation from behind, Jang Hang studied Uncheon anew. The martial arts were remarkable enough, but the young man’s character was unlike any other scion of a famous clan. Anyone who had defeated masters of Salgwang Doksa’s level would normally swagger and boast until the heavens rang. Uncheon did nothing of the sort. He was not even putting on a show of humility; the way he treated the ordinary escorts was exactly the same as always. Young as he was, he was already a man worthy of respect.
Jang Hang drew his horse alongside the wagon.
“Young Master Uncheon, is your body all right?”
“Yes. No problem at all.”
“Glad to hear it. Taking Salgwang Doksa’s Serpent Heart Palm and remaining unharmed suggests your inner force is considerable.”
“I was simply lucky.”
No matter how carefully he looked, it was still strange. The inner energy radiating from Uncheon’s body still did not feel particularly strong.
“Are you wearing some kind of protective robe? Or have you trained a separate external art like the Diamond Body Skill?”
“Neither.”
“I see. Then perhaps Salgwang Doksa’s Serpent Heart Palm was not fully executed…”
Jang Hang still looked unconvinced.
I am curious myself.
Uncheon was curious as well. There was no doubt that some mysterious power he himself did not understand lay hidden inside his body.
Did I swallow some precious elixir when I was a child?
Meanwhile the escort continued across Mount Huangshan and turned toward Lion Mountain of Dongling.
Clatter-clatter.
The wooden wheels of the wagons rolled steadily over the road.
As darkness returned, the Hwangsan Escort Agency’s caravan entered Anqing. Situated on the northern bank of the Yangtze, Anqing was a vital commercial hub on the water route between Nanjing and Wuhan.
“Young Master, when we reach Zhongyang County we have a room reserved at the Jungyang Guest Pavilion.”
“I see. There are quite a lot of merchants here.”
“Anqing is the central logistics port linking Wuhan in Hubei with Nanjing in Jiangsu. Its docks are highly developed, so of course merchants gather.”
“Mm… many merchants means many merchant groups as well.”
“Exactly as you say. Among the three great merchant groups of southern Anhui, the Anqing Merchant Group is based here.”
“One of the three great groups—so it must be quite large.”
“Yes. Our Hwangsan Escort Agency does a good deal of business with them.”
The Jungyang Guest Pavilion stood in a village on the eastern edge of Anqing. Once inside the village the caravan followed the busy official road. The banners of the Hwangsan Escort Agency fluttered in the breeze. Peddlers, merchants, and even martial artists along the road all stared intently at the escort flags.
Namsik leaned toward Uncheon and whispered.
“Young Master, do you know who they have come to see?”
“I have no idea.”
From the wagon Uncheon’s eyes met those of three or four people who had stopped by the roadside to watch.
Blue Stream Sword Fragrance… that would be me. Why do they want to look at me?
For some reason most of the crowd seemed interested solely in him. The feeling was not unpleasant.
“They have come to see you, Young Master. The rumor that you defeated Salgwang Doksa has already reached this far.”
“Ah… is that really such a great matter?”
“Of course it is. On your first journey into the jianghu you defeated Salgwang Doksa! People are always waiting for a new star to appear.”
Namsik answered proudly, looking at Uncheon.
Just as the caravan was leaving the center of the village, a group of martial artists approached at speed. Jang Hang’s brow tightened ever so slightly. They were men of the Blade Dragon Gate, whose stronghold lay on Mount Jam in Anqing.
Im Dan, leader of the True Scarlet Unit, reined in with a smile already on his lips. Long hair streamed behind him in the wind. He raised both hands in a cupped-fist salute, face bright.
“Is this not Golden Domain Fist Master, Chief Escort Jang? A pleasure.”
“Unit Leader Im. A pleasure as well.”
Jang Hang returned the salute at once. The Hwangsan Escort Agency had little contact with the Blade Dragon Gate, and because it stood under the protection of the Namgung Family it paid no toll when passing through Anqing; there was normally no reason for them to meet.
Im Dan’s eyes swept over every member of the caravan one by one.
“You must have worked hard on this escort. Are you not tired?”
“It is the work we always do; there is no fatigue. But what brings the Blade Dragon Gate’s Unit Leader Im here in person?”
“Well, you see… our sect master learned that the Hwangsan Escort Agency’s caravan had entered Anqing. He suddenly declared that he wished to meet the Namgung Family’s Blue Stream Sword Fragrance, so I have come to invite him for a short while.”
“Blue Stream Sword Fragrance, you say?”
Jang Hang glanced back at the rearmost wagon that had halted.
So they wish to grow close to him.
Well, anyone who wanted to live comfortably in Anhui Province could not ignore the Namgung Family’s power.
“Rumor has it a new martial star has appeared in the jianghu. We wish to form a friendship with Blue Stream Sword Fragrance. Where is he?”
“…Follow me.”
Jang Hang rode toward the wagon where Uncheon sat. Im Dan followed and at once spotted the young man on the driver’s seat of the last wagon. The expensive blue robe was so eye-catching that at first he had not even thought the youth belonged to the caravan. Most people did not set out on escort duty dressed in silk. The boy looked exactly like a typical young noble of a powerful clan.
This… this little brat?
Disappointment hit him at once. Uncheon read the thought the moment it formed.
My clothes do not suit an escort run, true enough. Still, judging without even hearing the circumstances is not a good habit.
A man whose thoughts were rude would behave rudely as well. Uncheon already had the measure of Im Dan.
“Young Master Uncheon, this is Im Dan, True Scarlet Unit Leader of the Blade Dragon Gate. He says he has come to meet you.”
Uncheon met Im Dan’s eyes.
This fellow defeated Salgwang Doksa? Must be a false rumor.
The smiling youth before him did not look strong in the least. No powerful inner force radiated from his body either. There had clearly been some mistake in the reports.
Heh. Perhaps this is for the best. It may even be a chance to raise the Blade Dragon Gate’s name.
Sect Master Im Ju-o of the Blade Dragon Gate had long nursed a grudge. For how many years had they been forced to keep their heads down beneath the Namgung Family’s shadow? Merchant groups and escort agencies that carried the Namgung seal paid not a single coin when using Anqing’s docks. The lost dock fees alone came to roughly ten taels of gold each month. And now a perfect target had appeared right in front of them. The Blade Dragon Gate could never defeat the Namgung Family, but if they could at least humiliate one of its scions, the bitterness would ease a little.
He had no idea that the young man opposite him was reading every one of those thoughts.
So this man harbors quite a bit of resentment toward our family.
Still smiling, Uncheon watched as Im Dan spoke.
“Are you Blue Stream Sword Fragrance?”
“Namgung Uncheon. My father is the Law Enforcement Hall Master of the Great Namgung Family, known by the title Cold Wind Icy Heart.”
The deliberate mention of Cold Wind Icy Heart made Im Dan flinch.
“I was told you came to meet me.”
“That is so. Our sect master wishes to meet Young Master Namgung, Blue Stream Sword Fragrance.”
“I am sorry you came all this way, but I am currently on escort duty.”
“I understand the run ends today. Can you not spare a short while?”
“An escort ends only when the cargo is safely delivered to its destination.”
“You are not even a member of the Hwangsan Escort Agency.”
“Even if the assignment is temporary, once a man accepts a duty he must see it through to the end. That is only proper, is it not?”
Uncheon continued politely.
“I am indebted to the Hwangsan Escort Agency and cannot simply leave the caravan as I please. Chief Escort Jang is the one in charge.”
Listening, Jang Hang found himself in an unexpectedly good mood.
So this is the backbone that comes from being a son of the Namgung Family. The Blade Dragon Gate cannot compare to the Namgung, yet he refuses the sect master’s request without a second thought.
Im Dan’s face flushed. The young man had spoken indirectly, but the refusal was absolute. No matter how carefully he examined Uncheon’s entire body, the inner force still looked pitifully weak.
It is certain now. The story that he defeated Salgwang Doksa is a lie.
Yet in the end he turned to Jang Hang.
“Chief Escort Jang. Our sect master wishes to meet Blue Stream Sword Fragrance. Can you spare him for a short time?”
He asked with a forced smile, but his eyes were sharp. Even Jang Hang would not find it easy to brush aside Im Dan’s martial arts.
“I may be the one in charge, yet I am in no position to give Young Master Uncheon orders. If he wishes to go, I will not stop him.”
“Is that so? My thanks.”
Im Dan turned back to Uncheon with a bright smile.
“Chief Escort Jang says you may do as you please.”
“He is being considerate because I am a son of the Namgung Family. I am grateful, but I am still sorry—while on escort duty I cannot act on my own. That is the rule. If your sect master still wishes to meet me before the escort ends, he will have to come in person.”
Im Dan’s voice rose.
“Are you saying that for our sect master to meet you, he must come himself?”
“I merely said I cannot leave my post. If that is inconvenient, he need not come at all.”
Im Dan was left speechless.
Has this brat’s liver swollen past his belly? Even if he is a Namgung scion, does he dare look down on us?
Just as anger was about to erupt, Uncheon’s calm voice came again.
“Please do not take it as disrespect toward the Blade Dragon Gate. I am only saying that duty comes first. Once the escort is finished, I will stop by on my return from Hefei.”
From the side, Jang Hang offered Im Dan a cupped-fist salute.
“Unit Leader Im, I hope you will understand Young Master Uncheon. If we make an exception once, it may become twice. That would damage the rules of the escort.”
“…If the Chief Escort puts it that way.”
Uncheon bowed politely to Im Dan.
“Thank you for understanding. Chief Escort, we have been moving all day and everyone is tired. We should go and rest soon.”
In the end Im Dan could only watch the Hwangsan Escort Agency’s caravan pass by.
“Hah… what in the world is that fellow?”
Every answer had seemed to reply directly to the thoughts in his own heart. Yet he was certain the young man’s martial arts were nowhere near as strong as the rumors claimed.
I had better report this to Elder Brother the Sect Master first.
“Everyone, return to the sect!”
With a hollow laugh Im Dan shouted to his subordinates and sped back toward the Blade Dragon Gate.
One double-hour earlier they had arrived at the Jungyang Guest Pavilion and finished their meal. Because they would set out again early the next morning, the men rested individually. Jang Hang and Uncheon sat together drinking tea.
“I do not know whether Young Master Uncheon is already aware, but the Blade Dragon Gate does not look kindly upon the Namgung Family.”
“This is the first I have heard of it. Is there a reason?”
Uncheon had already read the man’s thoughts, yet he pretended ignorance.
“Because Anqing is one of the most important water routes even within Anhui. The Yangtze artery that links Jiangsu and Hubei passes right through here.”
“I was told it is a hub of transport and logistics.”
“You could put it that way. Every day countless merchant groups and escort agencies pass through. Most of them pay tolls or dock fees. Yet there are those who pay not a single coin.”
“Any merchant group or escort agency run by or connected to our family travels free of charge, I suppose.”
“Oh-ho. How did you know?”
“You said the Blade Dragon Gate dislikes us, so I guessed as much. Is it because the Namgung Family is so powerful that they have no choice but to forgo the money?”
“No. It seems the Blade Dragon Gate has forgotten the older history.”
“Older history?”
“Anqing was managed by the Namgung Family from long ago. Twenty-five years past, however, the Namgung Family transferred its administration to the previous sect master of the Blade Dragon Gate. The reason was simple. They did not wish to hear people say that a great orthodox sect of the Central Plains was too greedy for money.”
“I see. So that is what happened.”
It was a piece of history he had not known.
Wait—twenty-five years ago… that is the year of the Baekcheon Blood Sect Incident.
As a son of the Namgung Family, Uncheon knew aspects of the family’s atmosphere that ordinary people of the Central Plains did not. The Namgung were a great orthodox house, yet they were not without desire. They possessed a moderate ambition and sometimes displayed the family’s power within the martial world. When they saw something good they wanted it, and they were certainly not the sort to hand over what they already possessed without reason.
Perhaps they simply stepped back for a time, the way one shelters from a sudden shower. Knowing my family, they would never have surrendered it outright. There must have been some contingency plan.
Jang Hang seemed to know only the version circulating in the world.
“Humans are truly cunning and full of greed, are they not? It was the Namgung Family that protected the Blade Dragon Gate so it could prosper in Anqing, yet they appear to have forgotten that fact.”
“When the time comes they will remember again. Still, if any trouble arises when you pass through here, please contact our family.”
“I shall. Hmm… yet would it not be better if the Namgung Family itself knew of this matter?”
“Our family will reclaim what is theirs when the proper moment arrives. If they already know and have chosen to remain silent, it may be that they are waiting for the Blade Dragon Gate to make a move. In the jianghu, justification is everything. I only hope the Blade Dragon Gate does not cause a major incident.”
As the conversation continued, Jang Hang recalled something he had nearly forgotten. Calm and unhurried was by no means the same as slow.
Is this the composure of a great house?
A youth not yet twenty. Barely three days had passed since they met, yet he already felt that the young man was something special.
When I first saw him he looked so ordinary… Surely he cannot be a hidden dragon biding its time among ordinary men?
It seemed he had formed a precious connection.
Uncheon read the thoughts directed at him and scratched his head with a quiet laugh.
Heh-heh, a hidden dragon? Hardly… Wait—
At that moment a rough clatter of hoofbeats approached the guest pavilion at speed.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud—