Chapter 50
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Here It Is, You Bastard (6)
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"Uwaaaah! Fresh air!"
"Fi... finally...!"
"G-ground! It's dirt. Warm soil!"
The four escorts who had escaped Ghost Cloud Ridge wept and laughed as they let out cheers of joy.
It was the first ground they'd stepped on in a full year, the first warm sunlight they'd felt in a full year.
They were so overjoyed that Escort Gam-jo rubbed his face against the dirt, shedding tears of gratitude.
"...Understand. They've been trapped for far too long."
"It's fine. That makes sense."
Kang Moo-seon scratched the back of his head awkwardly. Kang Moo-jin shrugged with a calm expression.
It was a world they'd longed for after a full year. Their reactions were only natural.
"But the cargo's intact, right?"
"Yeah. Don't worry. We've kept it safe so even the serpent spirit couldn't touch it."
"Good."
Even if the Sichuan Yun Family wouldn't complain now about a failed escort, Moo-jin wanted to complete it successfully.
For the sake of the fallen escorts, the survivors, and his eldest brother's efforts on this journey, the escort had to end in success.
"It'll be tough, but let's deliver the cargo to the Yun Family and rest."
"We can handle that much, so don't worry. It's not far anyway."
"Sword Horn Mountain's right next to the family grounds, after all."
"More than that... I'm worried. The escort's way overdue past the contract. No way they'll let it slide easily."
Kang Moo-seon frowned as he gazed at the clouds.
The famously stiff-necked Sichuan Yun Family wouldn't just accept cargo delayed by a full year.
A powerhouse like them would nitpick even upon receipt, demanding massive compensation, or make an example by killing someone.
"Don't worry, brother. They'll let it slide."
"...?"
Kang Moo-seon tilted his head at Moo-jin's confident words.
Did that guy know someone in the family?
"Sob sob... Young Master Moo-jin. This is all thanks to you."
Escort Gam-jo, his face caked with dirt, approached Moo-jin with arms wide open.
"We're so grateful, Young Master!"
"Don't come closer."
Moo-jin turned serious and stepped back.
If that filthy mess hugged him, his carefully kept clean clothes would get ruined!
"Y-Young Master?"
"Come closer and you're dead."
Gam-jo, about to embrace him, deflated sadly.
"Tsk tsk. That's why you should've wiped your tears first."
Clicking his tongue and shaking his head, Kang Moo-seon spread his arms toward Moo-jin.
"Come on, Moo-jin. I didn't cry. Let's have a proper brotherly hug after so long."
He was teasing Gam-jo while also wanting to reunite properly with his little brother.
But.
"You stay back too, brother. I warned you."
"M-Moo-jin?"
Kang Moo-seon's panicked gaze turned to Moo-jin. He thought it was a joke, but Moo-jin's face was more serious than ever.
"You'll dirty my clothes. Don't come near."
Sichuan. Sichuan Yun Family.
"Already back?"
The elders scowled at the report from their subordinates.
"Didn't that bastard go into Ghost Cloud Ridge?"
"Yes, Elder."
"Then how the hell is he back in one day?! Did he break through that vicious formation and return in a single day?!"
"... "
The subordinate bowed silently, head down.
He'd learned from experience that when the elders raged like this, silence was best.
"Calm down, Third Elder. He must've seen the ridge's deadly mists and turned back."
"Ah, right! Sorry, First Elder. I didn't think of that."
The elders never imagined Kang Moo-jin escaping Ghost Cloud Ridge in a day.
Even the Yun and Tang Families had sent elite teams multiple times to retrieve bodies, all failing.
No way a mere escort leader could escape in a day.
Not even with years to try.
"Um... Elders. Golden Ghost Indestructible did enter the formation and come back out."
"...What?!"
"He entered, rescued the escorts, and escaped."
"Nonsense!"
The Third Elder raised his voice at the absurd report.
"Even our family's elites died failing to escape that formation! And this escort leader did it?! In one day?!"
His face flushed red, snorting in fury.
"It's a deception! Trying to fool our Yun Family! Punish him for misleading us without proof!"
The subordinate sweated profusely, bowing until his forehead touched the floor, but spoke anyway.
"E-Elders, forgive me, but Golden Ghost Indestructible returned with the missing escorts. And... he brought the cargo too."
"...What!?"
The elders' faces filled with shock.
He brought the cargo too? That meant it was real!
Entered the formation in a day, rescued the escorts, and escaped!?
"Unbelievable! Where is he? I'll see for myself."
"Me too. Can't believe this nonsense."
"Lies. Typical escort scum spouting pretty words!"
Denying reality, the elders rose and headed out.
"Report to the Family Head immediately. Bring him out too. He'll want to see this himself."
Everyone knew Family Head Yun Byok-jin favored Kang Moo-jin.
That's why they needed him there.
If it was false, expose it before the Family Head to shatter their bond.
"Um... Elders."
"What now?! Did he slay a dragon this time?!"
The subordinate bowed hastily at the Third Elder's bellow.
"Th-the Family Head's already gone to meet Great Hero Kang."
"...?"
The elders blinked in stunned silence.
"Our... Family Head?"
"Yes, Elder."
"Without us?"
"Yes... Elder."
"... "
The elders blinked like broken dolls.
"Why?"
"I-I don't know either..."
The elders ran until their feet blistered.
They couldn't let the Family Head meet Kang Moo-jin alone, not knowing how he'd sway him.
"...! There he is!"
Seeing Yun Byok-jin waving at Kang Moo-jin, they unleashed lightness skills to block them.
"...? What is this?"
Yun Byok-jin frowned at the elders suddenly forming a wall.
"Family Head, we've come to punish one who dares lie to our great Sichuan Yun Family."
"Lie?"
Yun Byok-jin bared his fangs with a growl.
"Which arrogant fool dares insult our family?"
"That one, Family Head!"
The elders pointed at Kang Moo-jin.
"Brother Kang?!"
"Yes! He's insulting us right now! Claiming he broke the formation in a day without even stepping in!"
"Ha!"
Moo-jin snorted after listening quietly.
"Who's lying?"
"You bastard! Think this Yun Ui-kyung won't know you're spouting lies?!"
Third Elder Yun Ui-kyung jabbed a finger at Moo-jin, raising his voice.
"You told the underlings you entered Ghost Cloud Ridge?"
"Yeah. That's what I said."
"Ha! Proof you're lying. You're saying you escaped that naturally formed formation in one day?!"
"Broke it, more like. No formation left there now."
"What?!"
"I shattered it."
Ghost Cloud Ridge's natural formation stemmed from massive death qi accumulated there, centered on the lake serpent spirit and jiangshi.
With them smashed, no death qi remained—just slightly thicker mists than usual.
"You... undid Ghost Cloud Ridge's formation!?"
"Yeah. These escorts are proof. They were trapped inside."
"...!"
The elders finally noticed the escorts behind Moo-jin, their eyes widening.
"Heh! He really broke through that hellish place?!"
"Even our elites and the Tang Family's lost lives there...!"
"Incredible. So the rumors of Golden Ghost Indestructible are true!"
The elders blurted in astonishment.
No one here could doubt Kang Moo-jin's words.
The formation's aura lingering on the Diamond Escort Agency escorts proved it true.
"I-impossible. How did he breach that forbidden zone!?"
Third Elder Yun Ui-kyung stared at Moo-jin, pupils trembling in disbelief.
"Th-there must've been eerie things inside?"
The others didn't know, but he did—strange monsters lurked within.
'He defeated them all?!'
As Yun Ui-kyung gaped in disbelief at Kang Moo-jin.
Thud.
Moo-jin tossed something to the ground: black serpent scales and a jiangshi hand.
"Things from inside the formation."
"...Th-that red-black jiangshi?!"
"Those scales... the aura's viciously evil. A serpent spirit's?!"
The elders' eyes bulged, mouths agape in shock.
Too stunned for words.
The existence of such monstrosities was shocking enough, but Moo-jin slaying them unscathed was far more so.
"Still don't believe? That I broke the formation?"
"... "
The elders fell silent.
Their gazes now held recognition, not doubt.
Only a fool would deny Kang Moo-jin after this.
His feats were unprecedented, even in the mighty Sichuan Yun Family.
"Brother Kang. Splendid. You're a true treasure of the Central Plains, one of a kind."
A smile crept onto Yun Byok-jin's lips.
Brother to such an exceptional warrior.
Glad he'd insisted on brotherhood last time.
"The Sichuan Yun Family owes you and the Diamond Escort Agency a great debt. Thank you for dispelling Ghost Cloud Ridge's formation."
Simply surviving would have been legendary.
No one from Yun or Tang had escaped alive.
But Moo-jin destroyed the evils within and shattered the formation.
Now, they could recover their comrades' bodies.
"Without you, Brother Kang, our kin's corpses would rot there forever."
Yun Byok-jin stood solemnly, bowed, and cupped his fists.
"Thank you. On behalf of the Sichuan Yun Family, I express sincere gratitude to Golden Ghost Indestructible Kang Moo-jin."
Snap.
Following the Family Head, elders and Yun warriors cupped fists and bowed to Moo-jin.
Seeing the entire family bow before Moo-jin left Kang Moo-seon and the escorts speechless, mouths agape.
Overwhelmed, Escort Gam-jo teared up.
"W-wait. Fine, everything else checks out. But... the cargo!? You lost the cargo, right?!"
Unlike the others acknowledging Moo-jin, Third Elder Yun Ui-kyung still grasped for flaws.
His pride stung too much to yield.
"Even if the rest is true, you lost our precious cargo! Right?!"
"... "
Moo-jin turned to Yun Byok-jin instead of answering, his gaze seeking permission.
"... "
Yun Byok-jin nodded in approval.
Whoosh.
Moo-jin pulled an iron box from his bosom, raised it overhead.
"Cargo's right here. You bastard."
Crack!
The box's corner smashed straight into the Third Elder's skull.