Chapter 19
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: First Escort Mission (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
‘Has he finally lost his mind?’
Even if the escort agency was hurting for customers, come on.
Welcoming a guy that suspicious with open arms?!
‘It’s not just madness—he’s mad for money, that’s for sure.’
Should’ve seen it coming the moment he shrieked over a torn shirt.
“Boss, that guy’s off. Let’s just send him packing.”
Not everyone in a black coat and cape is a bad guy.
But someone in a black coat and cape reeking of deceit? Definitely bad news.
Ma Du-gwang knew it better than most, having once dipped his toes in that world himself—before a fist brought him to repentance.
“It’s fine.”
“No, boss. If something goes wrong…”
“It’s fine.”
Kang Moo-jin stood tall, chest puffed out, his expression brimming with confidence.
“If he’s shady, we take the advance and give him a beating. Problem solved.”
“...?”
Ma Du-gwang was speechless at the bold nonsense.
That’s how escort agencies work…?
Mad for money or not, really?
‘But… it kinda… makes sense?’
Maybe it was the chiseled face delivering it so earnestly, but there was logic there.
Before that fist, no schemer, no tough guy, no villain had walked away unscathed.
“Th-thank you for the welcome.”
The black-clad man with the gravelly voice bowed, cupping his hands in respect.
“Those sharp eyes… You must be the Golden Ghost Indestructible, Great Hero Kang Moo-jin.”
“That’s right. Welcome.”
“...?”
Ma Du-gwang tilted his head, unable to hold back.
“...Welcome? For real?”
Doubt filled Ma Du-gwang’s eyes as he stared at the black-clad man.
Sharp eyes? Seriously?
Was the guy blind or something?
In the reception room, Kang Moo-jin shot Ma Du-gwang a displeased look.
“Tch.”
“...”
Ma Du-gwang’s shoulders hunched further at the tongue-click.
“Sorry, boss. No idea he was from the Black Market.”
The suspicious guest turned out to be No Yu-dal, a warrior from the Black Market.
“That’s why you’re still a shady unorthodox type. You think everyone from the unorthodox sects is as slimy as you?”
“...Well, the Black Market is unorthodox, but…”
Ma Du-gwang mumbled.
The Black Market dealt in everything from everyday goods to forbidden martial arts manuals, rare herbs, antidotes, poisons—anything illegal under the sun.
In short, a black market.
No Yu-dal had come to the Diamond Escort Agency with an escort commission.
“Sorry for my son and subordinate’s rudeness, Warrior No.”
“No offense taken. Standard procedure.”
No Yu-dal waved it off at Kang So-gong’s apology.
The Black Market couldn’t exactly operate in broad daylight, so he was used to this.
“So, what commission do you have for us?”
“What we’re entrusting is a secret escort.”
“...A secret escort!”
Kang So-gong’s face hardened at the words.
A secret escort meant delivering a package in utmost secrecy, contents unknown.
Usually for dangerous or shady cargo. The polar opposite of a standard open escort—and priced five to ten times higher.
The risk justified the fee.
“From the Black Market, no less…”
Shadows fell over Kang So-gong’s brow as he shook his head.
No matter the payout, they couldn’t take this.
‘Too dangerous.’
An open escort was one thing, but a secret one risked losing another son.
“Sorry, we can’t accep—”
As Kang So-gong moved to refuse firmly, Moo-jin’s voice whispered directly into his ear.
—Father. Take it.
“...?!”
Sound transmission: conveying words to one target alone, unheard by others.
A feat only masters with profound qi mastery could perform.
Kang So-gong shivered, watching Moo-jin transmit so casually—a skill rarer than hen’s teeth even in Shanxi Province.
His youngest son’s martial prowess and qi insight never failed to astonish.
—I’ll handle it, Father.
“...”
Kang So-gong stared at the floor, biting his lip, then turned to No Yu-dal.
“How big is the item?”
“Box-sized. Backpack carry.”
“Tight deadline?”
“No. A month’s leeway.”
“Good. We’ll take it.”
Kang So-gong gazed at his son with trust.
A Black Market secret escort was undeniably perilous.
But he believed in his son.
Kang Moo-jin could smash any foe’s skull—er, complete the mission, no matter what.
“Excellent! The Diamond Escort Agency doesn’t mess around!”
No Yu-dal grinned broadly, setting down the box.
“Half upfront, rest on completion. Pleasure doing business.”
Business done, he dropped the money pouch and left.
“Hmm.”
Ma Du-gwang frowned, sensing an ominous aura from the box.
“Boss, this feels bad.”
“It’s a secret escort. Of course it does. No one pays extra for ordinary cargo.”
Moo-jin eyed the box calmly.
“You sure?”
“No issue.”
A mere box couldn’t faze Moo-jin.
To worry him, you’d need monsters from the Nine Mountains and Eight Seas.
“Agency head?”
Kang So-gong nodded at Ma Du-gwang’s question.
“Fine by me. I trust my son.”
He looked at Moo-jin with unwavering conviction.
Last night’s events had forged ironclad faith, leaving no room for doubt.
“...”
…Am I just a coward?
Ma Du-gwang tilted his head.
Watching their calm, he felt like the odd one out.
“Alright then. Off you go. I’ll hold the fort.”
“Yes, Father. I’ll be back.”
“Uncle! Safe travels!”
Kang Soo-yeon waved with a warm smile.
Since the agency’s revival, her face stayed lit with joy.
The shadow of unorthodox thugs was a distant memory.
“Boss, we’ll guard the Diamond Escort Agency while you’re gone.”
Behind her stood Silver Flash Sword Eun Do-hyun and thirty-one subordinates, bowing in unison.
Thirty-two stalwart warriors pledging loyalty was a sight to behold.
‘Good.’
Moo-jin nodded, smiling unconsciously at their reliability.
Those who endured his brutal training halfway through had sharper eyes now.
No longer greenhorns who could swing a bit—they were true warriors, safe anywhere.
‘Should be fine.’
Even if Taiyuan faced trouble, they’d protect family and agency.
He was certain, having forged them himself.
“Take care.”
As Moo-jin turned to leave, a familiar ugly mug came hopping up.
“Boss!”
Ma Du-gwang, still on one leg—some twisted training?—was faster than before.
“Heard you were heading out, so I came to say goodbye.”
“What kept you?”
“Training the Crimson Flame Gang. Got delayed.”
Once Silver Push Sect leader, Ma Du-gwang now oversaw the Crimson Flame Gang’s reformation.
A big promotion from groveling for King Yama Branch.
“Good. Stay focused, no funny business.”
“Come on, boss. I’m reformed. You know that.”
“You are. But not the others.”
Moo-jin clenched his fist lightly.
“If Crimson Flame or any unorthodox punks screw up, you’re all in it together. You know what happens?”
Ma Du-gwang paled at the fist bigger than a noodle bowl.
“You’ll turn my thirty-three vertebrae into sixty-six, fold ’em up, swap and reattach my limbs. Got it. I’ll drill them harder.”
He hopped off to thrash the Crimson Flame Gang.
“...?”
Moo-jin stared, baffled.
“Wait, I didn’t mean—”
…Did I go too far?
Kang Moo-jin’s destination from the Diamond Escort Agency: Shaanxi Province, southwest from Shanxi.
The secret escort’s drop-off was Mount Zhongnan Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang dominating righteous murim.
‘Roughly 2,000 li (1,150 km) to Zhongnan. Textbook pace: 13 days.’
Standard escort protocol factored horse rest at night, stretching it to two weeks.
‘No need for that.’
Long hauls usually meant horses over lightness skill for stamina.
Not for Moo-jin.
He chose running on foot, nonstop.
‘This body can cover 1,000 li a day.’
Moo-jin had fused the external art Diamond Art—overlooked in the central plains—with Linked Qi Realm sorcery, the Immortal Forbidden Art.
The result: his unique Immortal Diamond Qi Art.
His flesh transcended mortal limits.
Thus, all-day running without rest posed no issue.
Night-day vision, superhuman senses, near-infinite stamina.
Combined, a two-week trek became three days for him.
‘Any plots they hatch? Useless.’
This secret escort screamed ulterior motives.
Why pick the Diamond Escort Agency otherwise?
But plots meant nothing if he outran them all.
“Can’t do that, though.”
Moo-jin shook his head firmly.
Ignoring traps and blitzing to Zhongnan in three days was tempting, but a better play existed.
Dig a trap in their trap.
Linger on a speed-run route, pretend to fall for their scheme—uncover their identities.
“Brilliant plan, if I do say so. Zhuge family material.”
Ma Du-gwang, if listening, would’ve scoffed.
“...Boss, that’s just ‘punch through whatever’ talk, right?”
Luckily, no Ma Du-gwang here to ruin his sturdy(?) scheme.
“Time to take it slow.”
Arriving in Yunseong, southwestern Shaanxi, Moo-jin halted his lightness skill, easing his feet.
‘One night here.’
Spotting an inn, he strolled toward it leisurely.
“Welcome!”
The squinting waiter bent double in greeting.
“Soba and baijiu, please.”
“Right away!”
The grinning waiter vanished into the kitchen.
“Hm.”
Moo-jin leaned back in his chair, waiting relaxed.
Like a fisherman, bait set, watching for the bite.