Chapter 17
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: First Escort Mission (3)
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Do-ryang of the Radiant Flashing Spear was a martial artist who wandered the streets of Taiyuan, drunk on liquor and women, captivated by his flashy nickname that evoked a spear gleaming with brilliant light.
Of course, he hadn't always been like that.
There was a time when he dreamed of becoming a master and roaming the Central Plains.
But dreams and reality are different things.
The Seven Joints Spear technique that Do-ryang had learned was a second-rate spear art, too insignificant to elevate him to the ranks of true masters even if mastered to perfection.
Moreover, with his ordinary background and no connections, he never had the chance to join one of the massive factions like the Nine Great Sects and One Gang to learn advanced martial arts.
By his own efforts alone, he could never rise above the level of an average first-rate martial artist in his lifetime.
'But now... things are different.'
That all changed after he met Kang Moo-jin.
The Iron Ox Art that Kang Moo-jin had passed on to him strengthened Do-ryang's body several levels beyond what it had been,
and the Star-Splitting Fist he had been taught contained profound insights from a high level of mastery, dramatically boosting his stagnant progress in martial arts.
Of course, the training had been a nonstop hell of agony. But Do-ryang even enjoyed that torment.
He had wielded the spear his entire life, yet a fist technique practiced for just a few months now felt more natural in his hands and produced greater results.
'To pass down such supreme arts without reservation. What greater benefactor could there be?'
The Nine Great Sects and One Gang or the Eight Great Families hoarded their secret techniques and peerless divine arts, rarely sharing them. But Kang Moo-jin was different.
He taught arts he had personally created to men he had known for only a short time, showed them efficient training methods, and even instructed them directly.
Of course, it was painful enough at times to make him curse Kang Moo-jin under his breath.
Anyway.
'Saving my life was just the start of his grace. This is true benevolence.'
He had pulled Do-ryang out of the abyss of despair. Kang Moo-jin was a true lifesaver.
'I, Do-ryang, swear off liquor and women forever. I will devote my loyalty solely to Hero Kang.'
Do-ryang clenched his fist with iron resolve.
Crack!
"Argh!"
As he steeled himself, a wooden sword came crashing down on his head.
"Get your head in the game, or you'll end up like Jo Yu."
"...!"
Do-ryang jolted upright, snapping to attention.
He had no desire to end up like Jo Yu, who had been beaten by Kang Moo-jin a few days ago and still couldn't chew properly.
"What were you daydreaming about?"
At Eun Do-hyun's question, Do-ryang replied with a solemn expression.
"I was thinking about devoting my loyalty to you, brother."
"Out of nowhere?"
"He's like a benefactor to me. From now on, I won't even glance at liquor or women."
"Oh? For real?"
A glint flashed in Eun Do-hyun's eyes.
It wasn't surprising that he would pledge loyalty to Moo-jin.
All thirty-two subordinates here felt the same.
What surprised Eun Do-hyun was that Do-ryang—a man who lost all reason around women—had sworn off them entirely.
"What if you so much as glance at one?"
"Hmph. If I do, I'll hop around on one leg for a whole month."
"Oh-ho."
Eun Do-hyun flashed a mischievous smile and pointed outside the training grounds with a surprised look.
"Whoa! It's Wol-hyang, Taiyuan's top beauty."
"...Gasp! Where!?"
Eun Do-hyun shook his head as Do-ryang whipped his head around before the words were even out.
"Hopeless idiot."
"Heh heh heh."
Kang Moo-jin grinned in satisfaction as he watched his subordinates sweat buckets under the blazing sun, throwing themselves into training.
"Brother, you look pleased."
Thud—thud—
Ma Du-gwang hopped over on one leg, his muscles sharply defined, and asked.
"Yeah. I am."
"I'd be happy too if I were you. Who could've guessed all thirty-two would train this hard?"
As the leader of his own group, Ma Du-gwang knew well how hard it was to train subordinates.
Most would slack off, fake effort, and call it a day when told to train.
In that regard, Moo-jin's men were truly loyal and diligent.
It was enviable—no, it made him sigh every time he looked at his own crew.
"Such excellent subordinates. I'm jealous, brother. Must feel great."
Moo-jin tilted his head at the words.
"What are you talking about?"
"Huh?"
"It's not their training that has me pleased."
His subordinates enduring training was a given. Fail, and they'd drop dead.
Moo-jin didn't get thrilled over the obvious.
"Ah, no... then why are you so happy?"
Moo-jin replied calmly to the flustered Ma Du-gwang.
"Obviously, because now I can use these guys to make money."
"...Pardon?"
"Heh. Think about it. How much cash could we rake in gambling on spars with them? Right?"
Moo-jin grinned wickedly, imagining the training ground piled high with gold.
"We'll be rich in no time. Right, Du-gwang?"
"... "
Stunned by Moo-jin's greed for gold, Ma Du-gwang hopped backward.
He'd been called a money-grubbing ghost running the Silver Push Sect, but facing the real deal made him feel like nothing.
'...If brother ran the King Yama Branch, Shanxi Province would be enslaved by now.'
Ma Du-gwang breathed a sigh of relief that Kang Moo-jin was Diamond Escort Agency stock, not King Yama Branch.
Crack!
"Ow! Why'd you hit me?"
"I can sense your disloyal thoughts."
"Ugh... Didn't think you'd catch that."
Ma Du-gwang took another step back from the monster with freakish senses—no, from Kang Moo-jin.
"Du-gwang, did you scam them or something?"
"Scam? What scam?"
"Like saying hopping on one leg is good training."
"Come on, brother. Why would I spread such nonsense? I'm not crazy."
"Then why's that guy doing it?"
Moo-jin nodded toward subordinate Doo-ryang.
Doo-ryang—no, Do-ryang was hopping on one leg toward the outhouse.
"... "
Spotting a fellow sufferer by chance, Ma Du-gwang blinked dumbly.
"...Does this actually work for training?"
Come to think of it... his leg did feel a bit sturdier?
As the sun dipped low, painting the sky gold in the late afternoon,
Kang Moo-jin stood before the Diamond Escort Agency gates, speaking with his father, Kang So-gong.
"My subordinates seem ready, so we're about to head out."
"Mm. Good. Where to first?"
"Thinking of starting with the Sichuan Yun Family, where brother vanished."
Kang So-gong shook his head darkly at the words.
"Not a good idea. We've sent people multiple times but found no clues. I think... maybe check the Beggar Clan first."
"Beggar Clan?"
The Beggar Clan.
One of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang, a core righteous faction.
The only organization in the Central Plains made entirely of beggars.
With beggars spread across the land, they gathered information unmatched by any other group.
"Yes. I know where Taiyuan's sub-branch leader is. Head there."
"Got it, Father."
The location led to a shabby, rundown house.
An old shack under a large bridge wide enough for carriages. It screamed "beggars live here."
"Who're you?"
A filthy beggar scratched his head with a stick and eyed Moo-jin.
"Here for a commission."
"Ah, a customer. Come on in."
Moo-jin followed the beggar inside.
Wider than it looked from outside, about a dozen beggars lounged around.
A glint flashed in Moo-jin's eyes as he scanned them.
Most were ordinary folk without martial arts, but a few looked quite capable.
"Golden Ghost Indestructible Kang Moo-jin. Welcome. Sit."
A beggar seated on the room's only chair greeted him.
Unlike the others, his face was clean, no soot.
Noting the three knots on the beggar's waist cord, Moo-jin said,
"You're the sub-branch leader?"
"That's me. Three-Knot Beggar."
"I need information."
Taiyuan sub-branch leader Nok-sam picked his nose and asked,
"What kind?"
"On Kang Moo-seon, who vanished from the Sichuan Yun Family."
"... "
Nok-sam paused his digging and said casually,
"A hundred."
"A hundred silver taels...? Whew. Fine."
His hand trembled at the thought of spending blood money, but Moo-jin endured.
Necessary for finding his brother, and he could afford it.
'Not gold, just a hundred silver taels... should be okay...'
But Nok-sam frowned at him.
"What're you saying? Gold taels, obviously. A hundred."
"...?"
Moo-jin wondered if the beggar had jabbed his brain while picking his nose and gone mad.
'G-gold taels!? A hundred!?'
No, not even silver—a hundred gold taels?
"Have you lost your mind?"
"Lost my mind? Harsh words. How do beggars eat without money?"
"Even so, a hundred gold taels? You're no better than a highway robber."
"Think about it. Sichuan's months away on foot. The manpower alone costs a fortune round-trip. Plus, near Geomgak Mountain where the Yun Family is, skirmishes make it dangerous—hazard pay required. And miscellaneous fees."
"Urgh."
A groan escaped Moo-jin's lips.
He'd suspected a rip-off at first, but the costs made sense.
"Don't like it? No sale."
Moo-jin shoved his chair back and stood, eyeing the leisurely nose-picking Nok-sam.
"Urk!"
The recoil shook him, and Nok-sam jammed his finger deep—blood streamed from his nose.
"I'll come back later."
Sighing, Moo-jin left the shack and headed straight for the red-light district.
The street lined with brothels and pleasure houses, glowing red lanterns—he aimed to commission the Underground Network.
'They won't charge like that crazy beggar.'
The Underground Network gathered and sold info from thieves, pickpockets, prostitutes, and the like.
Second to the Beggar Clan but solidly so, they likely had what Moo-jin wanted.
"Who're you?"
The grim-faced guard at their tavern looked annoyed.
"Kang Moo-jin of the Diamond Escort Agency. Here to buy information."
"...Huh? W-who?"
"Kang Moo-jin of the Diamond Escort Agency."
"H-heek!"
The guard paled, legs giving out as he collapsed.
"You okay?"
Moo-jin reached to help him up. The guard screamed and bolted inside.
"M-monster! The monster who smashed the Crimson Flame Gang is here!"
"Aaagh! Golden Ghost Indestructible!"
"R-run! Hide the money! Hide everything!"
Moo-jin stared dumbfounded as chaos erupted inside.
Wait. He was just here for information...?