Iron Bells in the Night
The man whose frame stood nearly twice the size of an ordinary adult—Jang Hang, chief escort leader of the Hwangsan Escort Agency—looked down with those massive eyes of his.
He had been born a man of overwhelming strength. Rumors had swirled since childhood that he could fell a bear with a single hand, and in the martial world he was known as the Gold Force Fist Hand, a name that carried real weight.
Only yesterday the steward Chae Shin had informed him that a member of the Namgung Family would ride along as a temporary escort guard on the run to Hefei. It was nothing out of the ordinary. A martial artist from the Namgung Family would only strengthen the convoy, so Jang Hang had welcomed the news. An overbearing personality might have been tiresome, yet he had not bothered asking Chae Shin about the youth’s temperament. When the decision came from above, one simply obeyed.
The young man who finally appeared wore a blue robe and possessed a face so youthful it seemed almost boyish. Even so, Jang Hang kept his speech respectful; this was still a scion of the Namgung Family.
“Young master, how old are you this year?”
“Eighteen. My name is Namgung Uncheon. Please speak freely, Chief Escort Leader.”
Jang Hang’s expression immediately relaxed.
Seems his personality’s decent enough.
A single greeting had been enough to read the youth’s character.
“Very well. I am Jang Hang, chief escort leader responsible for this run to Hefei. A pleasure to meet you.”
“Chief Escort Leader Jang, I look forward to working with you.”
Creating a good first impression was effortless for Uncheon. After that Jang Hang introduced the two deputy leaders and the ten escort guards one by one. Uncheon exchanged names and fixed each face in his mind. Though their time together would be short, these men would be his companions from the moment they left the agency gates until they reached Hefei.
At last Jang Hang’s voice rang out.
“Deputy Leader Seong, raise the agency banner!”
With a sharp snap of fabric, Deputy Leader Seong Woo-myeong at the head of the column lifted the Hwangsan Escort Agency flag high into the sky.
Uncheon’s first journey into the martial world. He was not traveling alone, yet excitement still fluttered in his chest.
The convoy that departed Mount Hwangshan was bound for the Hefei Merchants’ Guild in Samha Township. Ten carts laden with goods belonging to the Buwon Merchants’ Guild had to be delivered safely. Smaller trading houses like Buwon often lacked the means for long-distance transport and therefore relied on escort agencies.
In the pale light of dawn Uncheon rode the rearmost cart beside the driver Nam Sik. A man in his mid-fifties, Nam Sik had spent more than thirty years as a cart driver for the Hwangsan Escort Agency. At first the idea of sharing a seat with a young master of the Namgung Family—however youthful—had made him uneasy. Half an hour later he realized the worry had been groundless.
“Uncle Nam Sik, people say escort work is hard. Thirty years is a long time. That’s impressive.”
“Ha-ha-ha, not at all. I simply do as I’m told from above.”
“That can’t be right. Even if you follow orders, nothing could have gone smoothly for thirty years on these roads. You must have met plenty of bandits and river pirates. You overcame them all, didn’t you? In the Central Plains they say it isn’t the strong who survive, but the survivors who are strong. You’re not a trained guard, yet you’re clearly an outstanding cart driver.”
“Hahaha.”
Nam Sik laughed, watching the bright-spirited youth. No one, man or woman, young or old, disliked praise. The cheerful young man also seemed skilled at reading hearts; conversation flowed easily. From the personal bundle resting beside the driver’s seat Nam Sik drew out a strip of dried meat and offered it.
“Young master, I always keep some ready in case we miss a meal. Would you care to try it?”
“Thank you. I’ll gladly take some. Preparing even for such small things shows real experience. But this is emergency food—should I really eat it?”
“I always pack plenty.”
Uncheon accepted the jerky and chewed. Even dried, the meat was rich with juice and fragrance.
“This is truly delicious. The best jerky I’ve ever tasted. Where did you buy it?”
“I didn’t buy it. My wife makes it.”
“Is that so? With flavor like this she could sell it and do well.”
“Haha, thank you.”
While sharing the jerky Uncheon listened to various tales of the escort trade.
“Are there really that many mountain bandits and thieves who target convoys?”
“Yes, quite a few. That’s why one must always stay alert. Look ahead—the chief escort leader never stops scanning every direction. Danger is always crouching nearby. And lately I’ve noticed there seem to be more than when I was young.”
“Life must have grown harder than before.”
“Not quite. In the old days men turned to banditry because they could not eat. These days it feels different.”
“Different?”
“These past few decades the Central Plains have been as peaceful as a golden age. Commerce has flourished more than ever, and goods move more freely.”
Uncheon understood at once and nodded.
“More cargo means more volume, and more valuable goods being transported.”
“Exactly. You grasp it in a single breath.”
“If bandits have increased, the escort agencies must be struggling. More thieves would call for more guards.”
“Indeed. Every agency I visit these days frets over the shortage of manpower.”
“And the Hwangsan Escort Agency?”
“We’re better off than most. We steadily take on guards trained at the Azure Sky Martial Hall. And the Namgung Family’s renown keeps most bandits from daring to touch us.”
“That’s a relief. You stay careful too, Uncle.”
If guards were in short supply, the situation could only work in Uncheon’s favor.
Then a deep drumbeat rolled from the head of the column. Uncheon looked forward and asked Nam Sik,
“What signal is that?”
“It means we end the day’s travel. Before we enter the province we will spend one night in Cheonggye, the last village of Mount Hwangshan.”
“Ah… but the sun is still high.”
“Chief Escort Leader Jang never forces the pace. It’s the first day, Young Master—you’ve worked hard.”
“Hard work? All I did was listen to interesting stories.”
“Young Master, you…”
Nam Sik broke off, suddenly unsure whether he should speak freely. Uncheon already knew what the man wished to say.
“Heh. I don’t seem much like the scion of a great family, do I? Of course not everyone is the same.”
“Your eyes cannot be deceived… Forgive me.”
“It’s fine. I’m far younger than you—just speak comfortably.”
Nam Sik’s face flushed at having his thoughts read so easily, yet Uncheon only smiled, expression open and bright. Watching that easy manner, the driver’s liking for the youth steadily grew.
Right. Not every young master of a great house is arrogant and willful. I was being foolish…
The mountain peak, bathed in the dying red of sunset, looked as though it had been swallowed by flame. The convoy that reached Cheonggye entered the reserved annex of the Jinryuhyang Inn to pass the night.
Uncheon asked in mild surprise,
“Uncle, so we don’t camp outdoors?”
“Unless circumstances force us, we almost always spend the night at an inn or guest house.”
“Ah… I thought every escort run meant sleeping under the open sky.”
“Most people who know nothing of escort work think exactly as you did, Young Master.”
Once the last cart carrying Uncheon had rolled into the annex, Chief Escort Leader Jang Hang waited at the entrance until every member of the convoy had gathered.
“You all did well today. We depart at the Hour of the Rabbit tomorrow—rest until then.”
“Yes, sir!”
Jang Hang approached the cart Uncheon had ridden. Watching the youth roll his waist left and right to loosen stiff muscles, he asked,
“Young Master Uncheon, are you worn out?”
“I did nothing but sit in a cart. I’m fine.”
“Glad to hear it. Would you join me for the evening meal?”
Uncheon was still young, yet he was of the Namgung Family; more than that, his father was the Hall Master of the Cold Wind Cold Heart Law Enforcement Hall. One day the boy might hold a significant post. Cultivating goodwill now could do no harm.
“Yes, gladly.”
Uncheon walked with him toward the annex dining hall.
So they plan to spend the night there.
Dark silhouettes watched the courtyard of the Jinryuhyang annex with keen attention. The previous day Manjeong had disguised himself as a merchant and slipped into the Hwangsan Escort Agency to carry out the contract. Learning which convoy would leave Mount Hwangshan first had been simple. After that the Bloodkill Squad had trailed the Hefei-bound escort.
The convoy’s fighting strength consisted of the chief escort leader, two deputies, and the guards who could wield martial arts—thirteen men in all. Twenty cart drivers rode the ten loaded wagons. The figure who concerned them most was Chief Escort Leader Jang Hang, the Gold Force Fist Hand. The rest of the deputies and guards looked manageable enough. Following the terms of the contract, they waited for the chance to strike before the first convoy to leave Mount Hwangshan could escape its shadow.
Bloodkill Squad Leader Ak Do-gon glanced at the subordinate crouched behind him.
“We strike at the Hour of the Pig. Are the preparations complete?”
“Yes, Squad Leader.”
Time slipped by swiftly. One by one the lamps that had lit the annex went dark, until at last every light vanished.
Soft footsteps whispered through the gloom as the Bloodkill Squad advanced on the Jinryuhyang annex. Ak Do-gon pressed close to the wall and drew up his internal energy, searching for any presence inside the buildings. The place was silent; everyone had sunk into sleep. He could storm in, kill them all, and leave without trouble.
With a sharp gesture he signaled the men behind him, then vaulted the wall soundlessly together with the Slaughter Moon Squad. The moment Ak Do-gon took a low step toward the interior—
Tuk.
A cascade of tiny iron bells erupted throughout the entire annex, ringing wildly.
Damn!
His ankle had caught a thread so fine it was nearly invisible. The veteran chief escort leader knew better than anyone that ambushes were most common at the start of a journey and just before reaching the destination.
Ambush!
Uncheon snatched the Blue Silver Sword he had laid above his head and sprang from the bed. He had never expected thieves targeting the cargo to appear on the very first day of the escort. Moreover, this was his first real combat. An unfamiliar tension set his heart hammering.
“The most important thing when you wield martial arts is to keep a calm heart.”
In that instant his father’s words rose in his mind.
Haa…
Uncheon exhaled deeply and circulated his energy to quiet the racing heart. The internal force of the Azure Sky Great Expansion Divine Art—still only at the eighth stage—left his dantian and flowed through his body, steadying the frantic beat of his chest.
He could die. Yet no matter how many thieves there were, he could not simply hide in the room.
Outside, Nam Sik was already waiting, a short bow in his hands.
“Bandits?”
“Seems so. Will you fight as well, Young Master?”
The Blue Silver Sword in Uncheon’s grip flashed.
“Of course we fight together. Let’s go.”
Uncheon and Nam Sik moved toward the place where the carts stood. The night was dark, yet the clash of blades rang out from every direction.
At that moment—
A black-clad, masked figure erupted before them and brought a killing blade down in a vicious arc.
Danger!
With a sharp ring Uncheon drew the Blue Silver Sword and caught the descending steel. Had he dodged, Nam Sik following right behind would have been in peril.
The masked man glared at the youth who had deflected his sword. Even in the darkness the face looked remarkably young.
“Heh heh heh. Still a child.”
With a guttural laugh the assassin swung at Uncheon’s chest, a motion that carried absolute confidence he could cut the boy down with a single stroke.
Uncheon simply stepped left with a clean footwork technique and let the blade whistle past. The sword, robbed of its target, sliced empty air; the man’s body swayed off-balance.
In the same breath the Blue Silver Sword flashed across the assassin’s thigh.
“Agh!”
Regrettably the edge only parted skin; the wound was shallow.
“You little bastard!”
Eyes wide, the masked man slashed again. This time he poured everything into the blow, determined not to be caught off-guard a second time.
A sharp sword-wind, laced with internal energy, howled toward Uncheon from every side.
Killing wind…!
The gale of blades hemmed him in. Yet Uncheon neither panicked nor rushed; he calmly circulated his energy and read the path of the enemy’s sword.
“To block the blade of a stranger you meet for the first time in the martial world, you must read the sword’s path and know the sword’s heart.”
“How can one know the path and the heart of another’s sword?”
“By training. Thoroughly.”
“You don’t want to teach your own son?”
“I’ve told you before—it cannot be explained in words. Only through countless real battles will you come to understand.”
“Isn’t there at least some secret method?”
“Looking for shortcuts again? Nothing in this world is free. Only diligent training and experience open the way. Unless you can read the heart of the man swinging the sword, no such method exists.”
Read the opponent’s heart?
That much he could do.
In the darkness Uncheon looked not at the flashing blade but straight into the assassin’s eyes.
Steel crashed against steel. The Blue Silver Sword and the killing blade locked barely a hand’s breadth from Uncheon’s left waist. A satisfied smile touched Uncheon’s lips. In his first true combat he had stopped the enemy’s dazzling strike with the heavy form of Returning Stream Heavy Surge from the Great Expansion Sword Art.
The masked man’s eyes widened.
Heavy…
That solid, weighty sensation. His killing blade sped faster, now aiming for Uncheon’s throat.
Another ringing collision. Uncheon’s sword had seemed slow, yet somehow the path to the neck was already blocked.
I can see how he’s going to move.
The subtle application of forms. He had read the man’s thoughts only twice, yet already he could anticipate the next sword path. The assassin was about to withdraw his blade and retreat.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Uncheon spun the Blue Silver Sword, sealing the escape line so the enemy’s steel could not pull free.
This is actually fun.
The instant he read one move ahead, exhilaration surged through him. The masked man, by contrast, grew more and more rattled. The martial skill of the blue-robed youth he had dismissed as a green child was far stronger than expected.
“You bastard…! Let go!”
The assassin wrenched with all his strength; the hand gripping the hilt trembled violently.
“Shall I?”
At that moment Uncheon released his force. The masked man stumbled backward, thrown by his own desperate pull. Uncheon’s own hand tingled. It was the first time he had unleashed the power of the Azure Sky Great Expansion Divine Art against someone outside the family. Eighth-stage internal energy proved more than enough against this foe.
We… are strong.
For the first time he felt the strength of Namgung martial arts with his own body.
The masked man straightened and fixed Uncheon with a hard stare. Only now did he notice that the youth wore a blue scholar’s robe rather than an escort guard’s uniform.
“You’re not one of the Hwangsan Escort Agency’s guards?”
Their eyes met, and the man’s thoughts poured into Uncheon.
He didn’t come to steal the cargo. He came to kill us.
Not ordinary bandits—assassins.
“You’re an assassin, aren’t you?”
“……!”
At Uncheon’s question the masked man thought of the Killing Shadow. Uncheon immediately recalled his recent meeting with the Beggar’s Sect man Yeo Ju-gae.
So the ones who followed the Moonlight Scar and left corpses behind were the Killing Shadow.
Confirming it was simple. Uncheon looked into the man’s eyes and asked,
“What is your connection to the Moonlight Scar? Why do you trail him and commit murders?”
The sudden question made the assassin’s pupils quiver.
How… how does this brat know that?
Controlling his shaking voice, the masked man demanded,
“Who the hell are you?”
“Who knows?”
“……Kuh—I’ll capture you and find out how you learned of it!”
With a flurry of vicious strokes the assassin charged, blade screaming through the air.
“You forgot I’m not alone here.”
“What…?”
The moment the masked man faltered at Uncheon’s words, his gaze met the man who had been waiting behind Uncheon’s shoulder, short bow already drawn and ready. Uncheon stepped swiftly aside and shouted,
“Now! Shoot!”
A short bow’s range was limited; at long distance its power was modest. At close range the story changed. The arrow streaked toward the assassin’s chest—now only two jang away. Too late to dodge. Too fast to block.
The shaft slammed home. Twisting at the last instant, the assassin managed to shift his heart aside. The arrow buried itself in flesh rather than the vital organ.
“Kraah!”
Enduring the pain, he still brought his sword down toward Uncheon.
“I’ll kill you…!!”
Watching a man thrash even on the brink of death, Uncheon finally understood what the martial world truly was.
I have to give everything I have if I want to win.
Internal energy flooded into the hand that gripped the Blue Silver Sword.