Chapter 60
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Wanna Have a Go? (5)
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Half a year had already passed since the escorts began their training in the Six Paths Heavy Heaven Array.
Building their inner energy with the Diamond Art while practicing external techniques, toughening their bodies further with the Iron Ox Art, and honing the Star-Splitting Fist—all the new escorts had now become proper first-rate experts or better.
Kang Moo-jin's special training regimen was exceptional enough to elevate even a third-rate warrior to first-rate status in just half a year.
And it wasn't just first-rate escorts that had emerged.
A few escorts with deep martial insight had swiftly mastered the foundational Diamond Art, then progressed to the profound Diamond Muscle Nourishing Art derived from the Yijin Jing, breaking through to peak expert level.
Considering how most warriors spent their entire lives unable to cross the wall from first-rate to peak, this was growth at an astonishing speed.
The guidance of Kang Moo-jin, who had already reached the pinnacle of martial arts. The supreme profundity of the Yijin Jing, one of the top techniques in the Central Plains. And a special training method utilizing formations.
Without any one of these three elements, the escorts wouldn't have reached even first-rate, let alone peak.
"Uwaaaah! Give me my meat!"
"No way! This is mine!"
"You bastard! Don't touch this!"
Three new escorts were locked in a fierce duel, each gripping a massive pork leg.
Around them, new and veteran escorts alike tangled in chaotic brawls over chunks of meat.
This was Kang Moo-jin's special training method conducted inside the Six Paths Heavy Heaven Array.
Every mealtime, under the array's tripled gravity crushing their bodies, they fought—and only the victors received meat, while the rest starved.
"Using food as the reward really is the best approach."
A person might not miss meat for a day or two, but after a week or two without it, their eyes start to glaze over with hunger.
And those with crazed eyes grow stronger than ever. Ferocity awakens, along with the primal instincts buried beneath reason.
"Leader, this training is fantastic. I can feel the Iron Fist Squad members getting stronger every single day."
Do-ryang remarked as he kicked away an Iron Fist Squad member trying to snatch his pork leg.
"Humans turn into beasts before food. Experiencing this kind of primal combat daily leaves them no choice but to grow stronger."
Kang Moo-jin believed only training akin to real battle could unleash true power in actual combat.
After all, hadn't he himself forged his current strength through over a thousand real fights?
"As expected of the Leader...! Truly magnificent!"
"But why are you just holding onto that meat?"
"Huh?"
Thwack—!
Kang Moo-jin surged forward in a surprise attack, kicking Do-ryang and snatching the pork leg.
"Heh. This leg is mine now."
Moo-jin tore into it with a satisfied smile. The soy-braised pork melted in his mouth the instant it touched his tongue.
"Hey, why the hell is the Leader jumping in on this?!"
A newbie escort, licking scraps off a chicken bone someone had left behind, grumbled.
"He said it tastes better this way."
"Hah! Whatever. What about our share? Damn it, this is too much!"
Thud—!
Overhearing, Black Escort veteran Beom-heuk drove a fist into the newbie's jaw.
"How dare you badmouth the Leader! Watch your mouth."
"N-no, that's not what I meant..."
"Shut it! If you're hungry, steal some meat and eat. What's with all the yapping?!"
"You're not getting any either—what right do you have to talk?!"
"Me?"
Beom-heuk snorted and rolled up his sleeves.
"I'll show you. Watch this Black Escort snag meat from the veteran escorts."
Scanning the chaotic interior of the array, Beom-heuk's gaze landed on Rehabilitation Squad Leader Ma Du-gwang.
Thud—!
Parting the crowd like a leopard, Beom-heuk darted forward and reached for Ma Du-gwang's meat,
"Where do you think you're going?!"
Whoosh—!
Ma Du-gwang's swift Powder Soul Finger struck his jaw, knocking him out cold.
"..."
The new escorts shook their heads at Beom-heuk, who had boasted big only to crumple in one hit.
Pick your opponents carefully when you charge in.
What kind of idiot dives straight at the Rehabilitation Squad Leader?
"Sigh. That moron."
Another month passed after that.
In the total of seven long months, Kang Moo-jin not only imparted martial arts to the escorts but also led numerous escort missions, raising the Diamond Escort Agency's renown as escorts.
In those seven months, he had successfully completed a whopping thirty missions—equivalent to a small agency's entire yearly workload.
"You hear? Our Iron Fist Leader pulled off another successful escort."
"Of course! He's succeeded on all thirty— that's no small feat!"
"Yeah, with Ma Squad Leader boasting about it over drinks. You'd have to be living under a rock not to know."
Even generously, escort success rates rarely exceeded sixty percent.
From unorthodox bandits targeting the goods to weather and natural disasters, failure factors abounded.
A fifty percent rate already marked a reliable agency.
Yet Kang Moo-jin had flawlessly completed all thirty.
This monumental record had the industry buzzing that he deserved the title of Master Escort.
"Kuh! Master Escort—does that mean our agency's finally got one?!"
"Not just any— he'd be the youngest ever! The first in escort history!"
"Could happen soon. He's already our priciest top-grade escort."
Escorts prove their worth through successes, inflating their own value.
Now hailed as the Flawless Escort for his perfect record, Kang Moo-jin's fees weren't just the highest at Diamond Escort Agency—they topped all of Shanxi Province.
Not just warrior Kang Moo-jin, but escort Kang Moo-jin was beginning to echo across the Central Plains.
"Man, Flawless Escort Kang Moo-jin! Impressive."
Kang Moo-seon, the agency's second son riding high on favorable winds, appeared with a lip-smacking grin.
"Gonna join the Five Great Master Escorts soon? Wait, that'd make it six."
The elite title of Master Escort went to only five in the Central Plains, all from the five premier agencies.
If Kang Moo-jin earned it, he'd be the first from a mid-sized agency in history.
"Think that'll fly? The big five agencies will fight tooth and nail to stop it."
"They're protecting their rice bowl, sure. But you can't cover the sky with one hand."
"Hm. Maybe."
Moo-jin harbored no great ambition for the Master Escort title.
His goal wasn't fame as an escort, but his clan's prosperity.
"What's up?"
"Came to share more good news, thanks to you."
"Good news?"
Moo-seon beamed proudly at his younger brother.
"Your growing fame has bandits shying away from our agency's goods."
Bandits might live lawlessly, fearless—but they had eyes.
They didn't touch guys who screamed, "Mess with me, and your head's rolling."
Unorthodox nature: bully the weak, avoid the strong.
"Didn't think those bastards knew fear."
"They hit Eight Great Families' shipments fine, so I was surprised too. Escorts say bandits drop everything and bolt at our flag."
"...?"
Moo-jin wore an odd expression.
Dropping everything and fleeing? Felt familiar...
"Anyway, fewer bandit hits means higher success rates. More clients entrusting goods."
"Nice virtuous cycle. Good time to work the new recruits hard."
"That's not all. Goods volume exploded, so we raised fees above industry standard."
"That okay?"
Moo-jin worried.
Merchants prized every coin like mountains of gold; botch the fees, and deals dried up forever.
"Of course. Even two extra taels of silver, they still line up. That's our agency's stature now."
Pride and satisfaction laced Moo-seon's smile.
A far cry from fretting daily over bankruptcy—he looked truly happy.
"Father must be thrilled."
"Thrilled? Yesterday he was dancing in his room."
"Father?!"
The image clashed with his stern, serious dad—Moo-jin's eyes went wide.
"No joke?"
"Swear. Ma Squad Leader saw and dragged him to his favorite pleasure house."
Moo-jin gaped in disbelief.
Took who to a pleasure house?! Father?
"What kind of lunatic...?"
A pleasant afternoon bathed in warm sunlight.
Ma Du-gwang—former Silver Push Sect Leader, current Rehabilitation Squad Leader of Diamond Escort Agency—had been kowtowing for an hour straight.
"Hey, you idiot. Taking the Agency Head to a pleasure house? A pleasure house?!"
Moo-jin flicked Ma Du-gwang's crown hard.
It looked light, but from the man who shattered mountains with fists, it wasn't.
"N-no, Brother! The Head enjoyed it."
"Don't lie. They say he refused, and you dragged him anyway."
"That's not true! He said no, but just with words!"
"...?"
"I read faces like a book. He was thrilled. Brother, don't you know Flavor Tower's fame for booze and food?"
"Never been, so no."
"Kuh! Still a virgin to the place."
Ma Du-gwang twisted his head while still planted, eyeing Moo-jin.
"Let me take you tonight?"
"What kind of lunatic...?"
As Moo-jin rolled up his sleeves for another flick,
"Hey! Is Golden Ghost Indestructible there?!"
A voice bellowed Kang Moo-jin's title from outside the slightly open gate.
Calling from afar instead of entering meant no business client.
"Great Hero Kang! Kang Moo-jin, Great Hero!"
"What the...?"
Kang Moo-jin rose and headed out. Ma Du-gwang, peeking slyly, followed.
Outside stood Taoists in white robes embroidered with a single plum blossom on the chest.
Hands near loosely sheathed swords at their waists—these were disciples from a major sect Moo-jin knew well.
"Mount Hua Sect?"
Famed for sword arts amid falling petals, holding a seat among the Nine Great Sects and One Gang.
Here they were, at the Diamond Escort Agency in broad daylight, calling for Kang Moo-jin.
"What brings you here?"
Normally, Moo-jin would've snapped about the early noise, but he asked politely.
Wealthy clients around—he had to mind manners.
Couldn't scare off merchants or moneybags.
"I am Myeong-hwi of Mount Hua Sect."
"...! Sword of Radiant Light?!"
Merchants murmured, recognizing the middle-aged man.
The man who single-handedly crushed thirty Black Ram Mountain bandits—his name rang far and wide.
"Mount Hua Sect hereby challenges Great Hero Kang Moo-jin, Golden Ghost Indestructible, to a formal spar!"
"...? Wanna have a go?"