Heading to Songshan (1)
“If you’re willing to help like that, I’m truly grateful.”
Hyeon Yucheon offered a sincere bow with clasped hands.
He was deeply thankful to Jeong Se-in.
No matter how great the favor from Gi Sehui, it wasn’t easy to uphold one’s duty like this.
Besides, Jeong Se-in hadn’t wavered or harbored any other thoughts despite seeing such immense wealth. She maintained her clear, intelligent gaze.
In truth, she wasn’t beholding the dazzling golden treasures before her eyes—she was looking only at Hyeon Yucheon.
“Help? I lost my lady and wandered in agony for so long. But today, I’ve met the young master, who is everything she left behind.”
Jeong Se-in bowed deeply to Hyeon Yucheon as he clasped his hands.
“Whoa!”
Her devotion, as if greeting her husband, made Hyeon Yucheon jump in surprise.
“Please, don’t do that.”
“I was a maid of the Mangeum Clan. Time has passed, the clan is gone, and few remember it now... But now that I’ve met you, young master, not only I, but this entire Haeha Guest House belongs to you.”
Hyeon Yucheon was young, but he understood what mattered.
He was profoundly moved by the loyalty and sincerity in Jeong Se-in’s words.
“Still... we’re not master and servant. I couldn’t do that, not even for the sake of the sister who’s protected this place all these years.”
“S-Sister?”
At being called “sister,” Jeong Se-in’s face flushed red this time.
She had burned with a sense of duty to guard the Mangeum Clan’s ruins, so even in her mid-twenties, she’d never been close to a man.
But hearing “sister” from a peerless beauty like Hyeon Yucheon made her cheeks heat up uncontrollably.
“Should I call you something else?”
“Just... call me comfortably.”
After pondering her title for a moment, Hyeon Yucheon looked into her eyes and said,
“Understood, sister.”
The two survivors of the Mangeum Clan spent the late night deepening their bond through stories.
Whenever the Gold Amount Escort Agency had no escort duties, Hyeon Yucheon stayed at the Haeha Guest House and had grown close to its leadership.
He even used the finest top-floor room for free.
Hyeon Yucheon insisted on paying fair compensation, but Jeong Se-in refused so firmly that he had no choice.
Then one day,
“Sister, I’ll be away for a few days.”
Hyeon Yucheon said this to Jeong Se-in, whom he saw every day, as he tidied his room.
“What? Why?”
Jeong Se-in’s eyes filled with worry, fearing he might leave for good.
“It’s nothing else... The Gold Amount Escort Agency has an escort mission.”
“Ah!”
She nodded in understanding.
She herself had received many favors from the agency, so she welcomed it.
“It’ll be quite a long journey.”
Hyeon Yucheon closed his eyes.
In his mind, he pictured one man: Hongbulgeom Jonghun.
It was from his childhood, but the memory remained vivid.
His words, and the sword strike aimed at his chest.
The more he thought, the more rage surged within him.
Even as a lay disciple, how could someone walking the Buddhist path unleash a killing blow on a child?
This was utterly unforgivable.
He knew Jonghun was merely a pawn of the Seok Family and the Murim Alliance, but he couldn’t set aside his personal grudge.
After all, Jonghun had killed his father and mother—and tried to kill him too.
Could this be... related to revenge?
Jeong Se-in wasn’t a master martial artist, but she could perform basic techniques, including transmission.
Hyeon Yucheon nodded.
Yes. I plan to meet Jonghun, the Hongbulgeom who led the Murim Alliance warriors that day.
This escort’s destination was the Buloe Hall, where Shaolin lay disciples gathered.
Barring any issues, meeting Hongbulgeom Jonghun would be straightforward.
“I understand. I’ll wish you good fortune in battle.”
Hyeon Yucheon’s revenge was as much hers.
So she sent him off with a willing smile.
“Are all the escorts and leaders prepared?”
Yeon Daecheon, leader of the Gold Amount Escort Agency, bellowed with infused inner power.
His profound energy, befitting a master, shook the main hall.
“Yes!”
Hyeon Yucheon, the guest escort, and even Yeon Jinjin, the leader’s daughter, shouted with full force.
It was a major escort, so their spirits were high.
Though targeting lay disciples, the client was mighty Shaolin, the Big Dipper of the Nine Great Sects.
The agency staked its all on this mission.
“This escort’s destination is the Buloe Hall at Songshan’s Shaolin Temple! We deliver supplies and food for their gathering to the hall leader.”
The task was simple, but the road from northern Hubei to Henan’s Songshan was far from easy.
Henan boasted not just Songshan, but peaks like Dabie Mountain and Beimang Mountain.
Famous mountains harbored bandits who claimed territories.
Many peaks meant many bandit groups—and they had to protect the cargo from them.
“We’re on good terms with Dabie Mountain Stronghold and Beimang Mountain Stronghold, so no major issues... But escorts always have variables! From the lowliest flag-bearer to leaders and executives, never loosen your vigilance!”
Yeon Daecheon shouted again.
He saw this as a huge opportunity.
Dealing with a prestigious orthodox sect like one of the Nine Greats is rare for us.
Succeed, and they might handle not just lay disciple runs, but formal disciple or full temple escorts.
Historically, agencies trusted with giant sects’ missions gained immense credibility.
“Depart!”
Thus began the journey to Songshan.
For Hyeon Yucheon, his second escort differed vastly from the first.
Having shown his prowess once, his treatment was extraordinary.
“Young hero Hyeon, this way.”
Even Yeon Jinjin, the leader’s daughter, called him separately to the lead procession reserved for top leaders.
The prideful escorts and leaders showed their displeasure, but with Yeon Daecheon welcoming him, they could do nothing.
“Come here.”
Hyeon Yucheon bowed politely and joined the vanguard.
“Have you been to Henan before?”
Yeon Daecheon asked, while Yeon Jinjin stared openly at Hyeon Yucheon.
She had reason to gawk.
He’s worlds apart from that ragged kid last time.
Even then, his striking, heroic looks shone through like a pearl in a sack, but the filth had dulled it.
Now, after days at the Haeha Guest House shedding grime and polishing up, he looked not like a mere escort, but a nobleman’s cherished son—refined and untouchable.
Handsome men abounded, but Hyeon Yucheon’s aristocratic, aloof aura was exceedingly rare.
“No, first time in Henan.”
Hyeon Yucheon answered honestly.
A Mangeum heir would normally roam as a merchant’s scion, but he’d been too young, confined to home.
Later, mastering Cheon No-ya’s arts left no time for travel.
“Puhahaha!”
“Greenhorn, eh?”
“Never even seen Henan, the closest province from Hubei.”
The jealous escorts piped up.
They frequented Henan like meals, as escorts roamed far like merchants.
They whispered, but Hyeon Yucheon—and the Yeons—heard clearly.
“Is that so? Henan has many famed peaks and scenic spots.”
“My daughter’s right. Henan’s pride is the Yellow River.”
Yeon Daecheon, broad-minded leader, shifted topics rather than scold.
Siding with Hyeon Yucheon would rile them; rebuking them would fuel envy.
The procession proceeded leisurely, without incident.
The cargo wasn’t rare or valuable enough to tempt thieves.
“Dabie Mountain Stronghold in sight!”
Entering Henan from Hubei, a massive peak appeared.
Dabie Mountain, famed for autumn leaves.
Its appearance heralded the stronghold.
Right then,
“You’ve arrived.”
Figures emerged near the stronghold.
Dabie Mountain bandits, naturally.
“We’ve long been on good terms with Dabie Mountain Stronghold. No worries.”
Yeon Jinjin kept considering the inexperienced Hyeon Yucheon.
But he brushed off her words, face grave throughout.
“Overdoing it for an outsider escort.”
“Ignoring the lady treating you kindly?”
As the escorts bristled at Hyeon Yucheon,
He ignored them and dashed forward—straight toward Yeon Daecheon.
“Leader, watch out!”
He bellowed at the top of his lungs.
They claimed old ties and safe passage—why was this outsider so on edge?
The reason revealed itself instantly.
Supreme ascending art, unleashing in an instant to shield Yeon Daecheon.
Not only that—
From the Formless Flash Quick Sword, scattering invisible sword blades in bundles.
BOOM!
Incredibly, in a blink, Hyeon Yucheon perfectly rescued Yeon Daecheon—his father’s friend and benefactor to the Mangeum Clan.
The formless blades bombarded the arrows, nullifying them.
The escorts, who’d mocked him, gasped in unison at his miraculous skill.
Ooooh!
Now they grasped his power.
Why the Yeons favored him so.
Hyeon Yucheon was a rare super peak master in the agency.
His true worth shone now.
“Are you alright?”
Hyeon Yucheon pulled the startled Yeon Daecheon back and asked.
His true performance was just beginning.