Chapter 38
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: I'm in a Bind (4)
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Imperial Capital. Prosperity Pavilion.
Following the masked man's guidance, Moo-jin arrived at a sprawling estate and let out a low whistle.
The majestic redwood structures that seemed to prop up the heavens, topped with gleaming golden tiles, made Yan Song's power feel all the more tangible.
'He really poured money into this.'
Moo-jin inhaled the faint fragrant air as he passed silk curtains swaying in the breeze and entered the banquet hall.
The vast hall, large enough to hold hundreds, was filled with beautiful dancers performing graceful routines.
And at the far end of the banquet hall, upon a chair emblazoned with a golden dragon motif,
sat Yan Song.
'Hmph.'
Kang Moo-jin's eyes flashed as he took in Yan Song, seated with impeccable poise.
'More impressive than I thought.'
He'd dismissed him as a mere sycophant.
But the Yan Song before him was far beyond that.
Even restrained, the subtle aura he exuded belonged to a martial artist of profound cultivation.
'And at quite a high level, too. Just a hair below that glutton demon.'
The Food Demon Baek Rin-hu, confined in Shaolin Temple's Repentance Cave, was a Transcendent Realm master.
In other words, Yan Song—the infamous top sycophant—was also a Transcendent Realm expert!
'A sycophant in the Transcendent Realm.'
Moo-jin approached Yan Song without dropping his guard.
"Everyone, withdraw."
With a mere gesture, Yan Song dismissed the dancers and attendants. His gaze swept over Moo-jin, sharp as a serpent's fangs and fierce as a tiger's glare.
"I'd wondered who this Golden Ghost Indestructible was that ruined my plans. It's no easy feat to botch things so thoroughly."
Smooth—
"I expected a man to show up... but a monster arrived instead?"
True to his Transcendent Realm prowess, Yan Song faintly sensed Moo-jin's presence.
A supreme expert unmatched save by a scant few in the Imperial Palace.
Greed flickered in the corners of Yan Song's eyes as he regarded such a master.
"Golden Ghost Indestructible... So they call you the money ghost for your love of gold."
Snap—!
Yan Song spread his arms wide, flashing a confident smile.
"As you can see, I'm the richest man in the realm after the Emperor himself. The only one who could fill the Diamond Escort Agency to the brim with gold."
Clink—
The bracelets on his arms jingled as they collided.
Each one, crafted by master artisans with gems worth dozens of estates.
"Join me. I'll change your moniker from Golden Ghost to Golden God."
Moo-jin turned his head indifferently. He spat a curt reply that needed no elaboration.
"Not interested."
"...Why? Aren't you the type who values money above all?"
Moo-jin lifted one corner of his mouth and murmured lowly at the flustered Yan Song.
"How could a wolf serve under a dog?"
"...!"
Humiliation crashed over Yan Song like a storm, his fists trembling with rage.
How dare he inflict such shame.
To humiliate him, whom the entire palace feared!
He wanted to unleash all his power to crush the bastard right then.
'Endure. I must endure.'
But he couldn't. He wouldn't.
'I'd be the one to die first.'
Forcing a calm expression, Yan Song swallowed dryly.
He couldn't see it, but he felt it.
The monster's invisible fangs hovering right at his throat.
The moment he ordered his men to attack, he saw his own severed head clearly in his mind's eye.
"Fine... I like that spirit. But can you say the same knowing I hold information on your brother?"
Information on Kang Moo-jin's second brother, Kang Moo-seon.
It was one of the cards Yan Song had prepared to deal with Moo-jin.
"I'll find out myself."
Moo-jin's feral gaze, like a tiger's, fixed on Yan Song.
"If you're involved in what happened to my second brother..."
Roooar—
The aura pouring from Moo-jin shook the vast banquet hall.
"You're dead."
"Hahaha. Worry not. I have no connection to your brother's matter. It was merely an unfortunate accident, no conspiracy."
Yan Song settled back into his chair with a relaxed expression.
"I could just let you go, but as a special favor, I'll tell you this: your brother lives. I don't know his location, but that's certain."
"...Good intel."
Moo-jin's rigid face softened slightly.
Relief that his second brother was alive eased his savage aura a touch.
"That intel just saved your life."
Moo-jin shot Yan Song one final glare before departing the Prosperity Pavilion.
"Whew..."
Watching Moo-jin's retreating figure, Yan Song exhaled in relief.
Cold sweat beaded on the nape of his neck, and his hands dug deep into the ivory armrests.
He'd had no choice to withstand Moo-jin's pressure.
"Truly... a monster."
When Moo-jin returned to the Autumn Cloud Pavilion, the morning sun was already cresting the sky.
"Tch. Wasted time."
Dismissing his meeting with Yan Song—the man boasting authority second only to the Emperor—as a mere waste, Kang Moo-jin pushed open the door and entered.
"Chief!"
"Escort Leader."
The Diamond Escort Agency's escorts, already at breakfast despite the early hour, greeted him warmly.
Having finished dawn training, their hair was drenched in sweat.
"Did some training, I see."
"Yes! Of course. Just as you ordered, Chief—we do it every day."
"Training going well?"
Do-ryang gulped down a slab of chicken breast and flexed his arm, bulging his muscles.
"Thanks to you, Chief, we've gotten this strong. Haha!"
Do-ryang had once been a first-rate warrior famed as the Radiant Flash Spear.
Upon joining the Diamond Escort Agency, he'd abandoned his spear and moniker—and in exchange, ascended to the Pinnacle Realm.
Crossing the Pinnacle wall that most warriors never breached in a lifetime, all in under a year.
'All thanks to the Chief.'
What if he hadn't clasped Moo-jin's hand after that spar back then?
'I'd have wandered as a first-rate forever, living pessimistically.'
Before meeting Moo-jin, Do-ryang's talent and effort had both been middling—almost inevitable, really.
And that's why the agency's escorts harbored such deep loyalty, unlike those of other agencies.
To them, Moo-jin wasn't just an escort leader or chief—he was the benefactor who'd shown and led them the warrior's path.
"Hm. Good. When we get back, I'll test how much stronger you've gotten."
"Pardon?"
Do-ryang blinked in bewilderment.
Why bother...?
"I-Is that necessary? We're plenty busy holding our own against that iron pillar."
"R-Right, Escort Leader. No need when you're so busy."
"Calm... I mean, please calm down."
The escorts paled and tried to dissuade him frantically. But Moo-jin's resolve was firm.
"No. I felt it again this time—you're still lacking. At that level, you could die to some blind sword on the road. You need to get stronger."
"N-No, Chief, that's not fair!"
Do-ryang stepped forward in protest.
"I'm at Pinnacle, and most of these guys are at the cusp of first-rate. Honestly, how many warriors in this inn are stronger than us?"
The Autumn Cloud Pavilion was one of the capital's famed inns, drawing plenty of warriors beyond the agency's escorts.
But Do-ryang saw no worthy rivals among them.
Not arrogance—the Pinnacle Realm was that elite in the Central Plains.
"Plenty."
"Who? Anyone like that while we've been here? Name them. I guarantee there aren't..."
"Eastern Depot."
The Emperor's surveillance organ, staffed entirely by eunuchs.
The ones who'd visited before were all super Pinnacle elites.
"W-Well, the Eastern Depot's an exception..."
"Embroidered Uniform Guard."
"...!"
The Emperor's personal guard outclassed Do-ryang by several levels.
"...!"
Speechless, Do-ryang just worked his mouth.
"And five right here. Baduk and Mong-shil. Cheol-su and Gwang-su."
"...Pardon?"
Do-ryang narrowed his eyes at the friendly names, more suited to stray dogs, and glanced rightward.
There sat the two peerless experts dubbed the Black-and-White Twins.
The Ghost Dream Scholar Ha-ran, now Mong-shil.
The Iron-Blooded Young Lord Un-yeop, now Cheol-su.
The Mad Dragon Blade Shim Jung-cheon, now Gwang-su.
The five forced awkward smiles.
"Uh..."
Sensing the escorts' glares, Do-ryang racked his brain for a retort.
But nothing came. Moo-jin was spot-on.
"...We'll train harder."
Do-ryang bowed his head in defeat.
The escorts' resentful stares poured onto him as a bonus.
"Good. Train harder. Especially you—stop eyeing women."
"When did I ever...?"
"Your eyes spin whenever female warriors show up."
Won Yu-hwa stretched as she descended the stairs, beaming.
"I saw it all."
"W-Won, Miss Won, that was..."
"Sleep well?"
Moo-jin cut off Do-ryang's excuse and regarded her.
Unwashed from the early hour, she still captivated every gaze in the inn with her beauty.
"Yes. Thanks to you, Strong Hero Kang."
"Feeling better?"
"Yes. Thanks to you."
Won Yu-hwa smiled, cheeks faintly flushed, while Moo-jin looked on impassively.
The escorts rolled their eyes, intrigued by the subtle tension.
"Then let's head out. If you're up for it, we could leave today."
"Already?"
"Safer to go sooner, just in case."
He'd warned Yan Song, but no telling if the snake would stay put.
Moo-jin figured it wiser to leave the capital—within reach of that venomous grasp—and return to the agency.
'Plus, now I know second brother’s alive. All the more reason to hurry.'
There was another reason, too. Palace eunuch Jeong Oh's pouch was running dry.
'Can't spend my own money with a government sucker around.'
Absolutely not. Why burn cash with a free ride available?
"Sounds good. Shall we depart now?"
"Perfect."
"Ah, but first..."
Won Yu-hwa turned, her glossy black hair cascading elegantly along her jade-like features.
"That night, we couldn't finish because of the attackers. You'll do it this time, right?"
The escorts' eyes bulged at her words.
Couldn't finish what?! And do what now?!
"Ah, that. Of course."
Moo-jin nodded readily, recalling how the covert assassins had interrupted her martial arts demonstration.
Not a big deal to check her form—and she'd be prime labor for the agency going forward.
"Gasp! What is it? What exactly, Chief?!"
Do-ryang's eyes widened to slits as he stared at Moo-jin.
His gaze brimmed with profound respect.
"As expected... Chief."
The proverb said the meek cat reaches the hearth first.
No old saying had ever been wrong.