Chapter 55
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Grow Big and Strong (5)
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"...I'm sorry, Brother."
Yu-hwa buried her flushed face deep under her sleeve.
She felt ashamed coming back without having helped at all.
"It's fine. Don't worry about it. These things happen in life."
Though Yu-hwa was deeply embarrassed about not being useful, Moo-jin truly didn't mind.
This job hadn't been that difficult anyway, and Yu-hwa was helping with something far bigger that even Moo-jin couldn't handle.
That was tending to the baby Mongrang.
"Mongrangs are usually pretty picky about people, but this one takes to you right away."
Moo-jin gazed in wonder at the baby Mongrang clambering over Yu-hwa's hands and shoulders.
"It likes you too, Brother."
"It ignores me completely, so that's why it's so fascinating."
The baby Mongrang, at the age where it was teething, loved gnawing on Moo-jin's body everywhere.
Finding something that could withstand the Mongrang's bite force—which could crush rocks—was no easy task.
"See? Just stick out a finger, and it goes for it."
As Moo-jin extended his finger, the baby Mongrang latched on eagerly, dangling from it like a toy.
The sight was so adorable that a high-pitched squeal escaped Yu-hwa's lips.
"But the mother Mongrang likes you too..."
Yu-hwa trailed off as she looked at the mother.
The mother Mongrang, walking behind Moo-jin with its neck rigidly extended and fully alert, seemed less like it followed him out of affection and more out of fear.
"I'm used to this. Let's head in."
Moo-jin glanced sideways at the wary mother Mongrang and stepped into the Diamond Escort Agency compound.
"You're back, Moo-jin."
As he entered the agency, his father and two brothers greeted him warmly.
"You did great. Really great work."
Escort Leader Kang So-gong, grinning from ear to ear, gently patted Moo-jin's shoulder.
"I heard you successfully handled a private commission from the Iron Gold Hall."
"Word reached here that fast?"
"They sent someone to say they'll entrust all their cargo transport to us from now on. Haha."
It was only natural for Kang So-gong's mouth to reach his ears.
Taking on commissions from a major group like the Iron Gold Hall meant the Diamond Escort Agency was no longer just the top in the city—it was becoming one of the premier agencies in all of Shanxi Province.
A top agency in one city and a top one in a province were worlds apart in reputation and honor.
Becoming the leading agency in a province earned recognition as a major agency, granting wealth and power that even the great families and sects of the martial world couldn't ignore.
Not even in the Diamond Escort Agency's heyday had it achieved such dominance.
In short, the agency was experiencing unprecedented growth.
"This is all thanks to you. I'm truly grateful, Moo-jin."
"It's nothing. Though we'll need a lot more escorts from now on."
The jobs coming into the Diamond Escort Agency were already keeping everyone busy.
With Iron Gold Hall's commissions doubling that volume incoming, they'd need far more escorts than now.
The silver lining was the experts Moo-jin had brought, like the Imperial Palace Guards, and those who'd gained experience under him—Do-ryang, Jo-yu, Eun Do-hyun—who could serve as caravan leaders.
Hiring caravan leaders was dozens of times harder than hiring regular escorts.
"We'll handle the rest later. Rest up first. You need to recover from the escort run."
"Yeah, Moo-jin. Take it easy."
"You'll wear your bones out at this rate."
His two brothers, dark circles under their eyes, chimed in one by one.
Kang Moo-woong handled everything from managing escorts to serving as Chief Caravan Leader.
Kang Moo-seon oversaw cargo valuation, fee assessment, and overall accounting as the Quartermaster.
Both looked exhausted, barely sleeping amid the agency's busyness.
"You two look like you'll collapse first."
Unlike his brothers, who held the two highest positions after the leader, Moo-jin had no official role beyond caravan leader.
This was their consideration, letting him act freely as he wished.
His brothers had volunteered for support roles to handle the aftermath of Moo-jin's bold moves leading the agency.
They couldn't chain someone charging ahead like Kang Moo-jin with a title.
"We're fine."
"I'm fine. Big Brother's the one on his last legs."
"...!? You little punk?"
"What? Did I say something wrong?"
Moo-jin smiled unwittingly at his bickering brothers, then belatedly noticed Yu-hwa and guided her and the spirit beasts inside.
"...!"
"...!"
People's eyes widened at the majestic Mongrang.
The Mongrang, exhaling a subtle, iridescent mist, was mysterious and elegant in appearance from the start.
Krreung-
The Mongrang puffed up under the stares, chin held high.
But its missing fang where one should be only puzzled onlookers.
"Oh... no teeth?"
"Huh? Isn't that a bruise?"
"Looks like it."
"Man, even the Golden Ghost Indestructible is taming spirit beasts now..."
People pitied the large lump on the mother Mongrang's head.
Especially the escorts who'd taken at least one hit from Moo-jin had tears welling in their eyes.
"Poor thing... you got hit too."
"One good smack and done. Poor guy."
"Does it hurt...? It hurts me too."
"...?"
Moo-jin let out a hollow laugh at the sidelong glances.
"What? Why's everyone acting like I did something wrong?"
"...Brother, you can't play innocent here."
Yu-hwa said in disbelief.
"How can you pull its fang and say that...?"
"That was self-defense."
"It doesn't even leave a mark when it bites."
"... "
Ignoring her pointed remark, Moo-jin approached Gui-mong-sa Ha-ran, sprawled on the floor.
"...! N-no slacking! I set up the formation!"
"I didn't say anything."
"...W-well, true..."
Ha-ran scratched her head, having jumped to the wrong conclusion.
Even that simple gesture looked beautiful with her features.
"Let me introduce you. This is Mongrang. Suits you, right?"
"Me?"
Ha-ran tilted her head, confused.
Moo-jin pointed alternately at her and the Mongrang.
"Mong-sil. Mong-rang. Similar, huh?"
"How does a Gui-mong-sa become Mong-sil...? Never mind. Got it. What's next?"
"Planning to raise them here. But this environment won't do, so we'll make a space with a formation."
Ha-ran nodded in understanding.
Spirit beasts grew faster and stronger in places matching their innate energy, so inside a formation was ideal.
"Thought about hiring a formation master, but figured you'd do it. You can handle that much, right?"
"Heh, of course. I'm Gui-mong-sa Ha-ran. Basic formations like that? One day, easy."
Her shoulders squared, finally acknowledged.
"Hiring me instead of a formation master means you trust my skills, right?"
"Huh? What nonsense is that?"
Moo-jin stared at her flatly.
"It's just 'cause you're free."
A week had passed since Gui-mong-sa Ha-ran created the mist-filled formation space.
Moo-jin, busy teaching martial arts to escorts and Yu-hwa while running a few escort jobs, hurried into the formation upon hearing the news.
"Where is it?"
"Here. Just finished."
"Damn. Too late to see."
Moo-jin clicked his tongue and looked aside.
Ha-ran and Yu-hwa, now like sisters, stared at the baby Mongrang that had just finished molting.
"Looks like a wolf but molts? Spirit beasts are amazing. How does that even happen, Sister?"
"... "
Ha-ran licked her dry lips, unable to answer.
She was skilled in formations and illusions, not spirit beasts.
"Mongrang fur isn't ordinary fur—it's made of their Dream-Eye Mist. It gets stronger with each molt."
Initially weak enough for only puppies, a mature Mongrang's mist could put even skilled martial artists to sleep.
"Good timing. This stuff fetches a high price."
Moo-jin collected the shed fur clump into a prepared wooden box.
"What're you gonna do with it, Brother?"
"Sell it. Mongrang fur's a rare herb ingredient."
"What kind?"
Rubbing his nose at Yu-hwa's curious eyes, Moo-jin hesitated.
"Mongrang fur... really good for men. Like, really good for men. Hard to put it nicely."
Hard to say outright...
Nearly a hundred people crowded before the Diamond Escort Agency's main gate.
Agents of wealthy tycoons, herbalist Taoists from pill-making clans— all there to buy Mongrang fur.
"Alright! Everyone line up! Line up! Damn it! I said line up! You bastards don't know how to line up?! Who the hell lines up in five rows?!"
Ma Du-gwang alone struggled to organize the near-hundred into order before the firmly shut gate.
He started politely, agency-style, but as they ignored him, his old evil faction habits emerged.
"Brother, should I go out?"
"Leave it. That's why I sent Ma Du-gwang."
"Even like that?"
"Gotta establish dominance early. Makes haggling easier."
"...? Didn't we set the price already?"
Moo-jin had spread word via the Beggars' Clan and Hao Clan, announcing the price too.
A fingernail-sized fur clump: 10 gold taels!
The molt yielded ten times that—100 gold taels straight to Moo-jin.
"Heh, normally yes. But we only have ten clumps. Some'll pay more."
"...Ah! How about an auction?"
"Auction?"
Moo-jin's ears perked up.
An auction could inflate prices hundreds-fold.
"Hm, but no one here knows how. We'd need to hire out, and the fees sting."
"Don't worry, Brother. I can run an auction."
"Really?"
"Sure. Read about it in books, and I've seen Grandpa's a few times."
"Oho!"
Fitting for the granddaughter of Grand Secretary Yuan, Yu-hwa was used to elite auctions.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
"No big deal. Be right back, Brother."
Watching Yu-hwa leap from the roof toward Ma Du-gwang, Moo-jin turned aside.
Beside him sat the baby Mongrang, tail wagging.
"Eat up."
Moo-jin tossed pre-packed jerky into its mouth.
Chomp-!
It devoured ten pieces in a flash, then stretched contentedly.
"Grow big and strong. And keep shedding like this for me."
The baby Mongrang nodded as if in reply. Watching it, Moo-jin thought.
'Should I just beat and capture every spirit beast I meet from now on?'