001. The Expert Who Dropped from the Sky
001. The Expert Who Dropped from the Sky
The Tower.
A kind of labor camp that randomly kidnaps residents from other worlds and forces them to conquer it.
The Heavenly Killing Star was about to awaken.
But before his ego was devoured by the killing intent, going there was a stroke of luck for Dam Cheon. Before the blood-soaked flower fully bloomed, he entered the Tower and restrictions were imposed on the Heavenly Killing Star.
The Heavenly Killing Star has always been designated as a martial arts public enemy in every era. If left unchecked, he would go mad and cause massacres—who would dare risk danger to protect him?
'I was lucky.'
Additionally, he met people from various worlds, built connections, grew stronger, and now has become free from the Heavenly Killing Star.
It was sad to have to bid farewell, forced by conquering the Tower and returning to their respective worlds, but what could be done?
If he didn't return to his original world immediately after the Tower was conquered, he would have been caught in a dimensional collapse phenomenon and died a miserable death.
"But at least I avoided looking like a beggar."
The pouch enchanted with subspace and the martial prowess he had when conquering the Tower were still intact.
Dam Cheon confidently believed that, no joke, he could handle half of the Ten Great Experts of the martial world alone.
The Tower kidnapped individuals from multiple dimensions. Among them were even those who were the world's number one in martial worlds of other dimensions. Of course, the level of strength varies by dimension, so it couldn be clearly judged based on that, but at least he was confident he could defeat about five of them.
Actually, he was confident he could defeat all Ten Great Experts if they attacked together, but since he couldn be certain, he only said five.
In other words, in this world, he was free.
There would be no problem no matter what he did, unless he became a martial arts public enemy and caused incidents indiscriminately, getting caught in the Heavenly Net.
There was nothing in this world that could obstruct him.
"......So, what should I do from now on?"
His life had been a continuous series of struggles.
Since being dragged into the Tower from childhood, he only fought. To survive, he studied martial arts, received help from others, and stubbornly endured a fate that should have led to death.
Like water droplets piercing through rock, he gradually grew stronger and eventually obtained unbelievable martial prowess.
"Maybe I'll just become a guest at some wealthy family's house and live leisurely."
He had fought too much until now. While climbing the Tower, it wasn't that he didn enjoy it, but fighting occupied too much of his life.
"Or maybe I'll settle in some mountain and live a secluded life?"
He had enough resources for that.
The overflowing wealth accumulated while climbing the Tower hadn't been fully disposed of. Although most was consumed in the final battle, what remained was enough to live comfortably for the rest of his life.
Still, he thought he should first go to a nearby urban area. After exiting the Tower, he had abruptly fallen into a mountain.
Fortunately, the place he returned to was a well-maintained mountain path.
If he followed it straight, he would surely arrive at an area thick with the scent of human habitation.
Thus, Dam Cheon walked.
"Huhuhuhu. If you strip obediently, we won't harm you!"
He eventually discovered the scene of ugly-looking men, likely Nokrim Bandits (Green Forest Eight Strongholds), threatening people who seemed to be an escort convoy.
This escort mission of the Wicheon Escort Agency was extremely important. That's why Geum Wi-un, a renowned expert in the martial world and the agency leader, personally stepped forward.
It was truly an escort mission that determined the agency's survival. Besides him, the agency leader, all escort heads and guards were mobilized for this mission.
They were evaluated as belonging to the Ten Great Escort Agencies in the Central Plains, so they were definitely not weak.
Nevertheless, the ones forcibly stopping them in front of them were from the Black Tiger Stronghold, which had a stronghold leader considered second only to the Nokrim King among the Nokrim Eight Strongholds.
Even though the Wicheon Escort Agency was stronger than ordinary small and medium-sized factions, the Black Tiger Stronghold was a bandit group with strength comparable to the martial forces of the Five Great Clans or the Nine Schools and One Sect.
Geum Wi-un wanted to reach a smooth agreement, even if it meant paying double the passage fee.
"Black Tiger (Heukho) Daehyop. I have always greatly admired the vigor and manly spirit of the Nokrim brothers. I am willing to pay a bit more passage fee, so could you please let us pass?"
"Kehahahaha!"
At Geum Wi-un's request, a burst of laughter erupted from the Black Tiger Stronghold.
The owner of that voice was a man with a massive physique, taller than others by at least a head.
"Geum family. Geum family. If you're smart, you should know why we blocked the road, right?"
The one disrespectfully calling Geum Wi-un was Heuk Dang, the stronghold leader of the Black Tiger Stronghold.
He was known as an external martial arts expert who could tear apart bears bare-handed and withstand sword energy with his bare skin.
Rumors abound that if he weren't overshadowed by the Nokrim King, he would have been elected as the overall stronghold leader due to his martial prowess.
As if clothes were unnecessary, he exposed his upper body fully, flexing his thickly furred pectoral muscles and stepped forward before his subordinates.
"We already know you're returning from the Hwangbo Clan."
"What problem does that pose? The Sama Clan has long been in close relations, trading with the Hwangbo Clan."
"Covering the sky with a palm. Do you think we don't know the fact that you handed over a secret manual containing a formation method to the Hwangbo Clan and received elixirs!"
"...Everyone, prepare for battle!"
He tried to act as calmly as possible and get through.
But as Heuk Dang shouted that their goal was precisely the elixirs, Geum Wi-un immediately drew his sword.
At the same time, the escort guards instantly reacted to the command and took formation stance. They skillfully deployed a simple combined formation advantageous for defense, guarding the carriage containing the escorted goods.
"Protect the goods even if it means sacrificing our lives!"
Geum Wi-un said with a resolute expression at the center.
The escort guards steeled their resolve.
Originally, in such a situation, there would definitely be at least one person trying to escape, but in the Wicheon Escort Agency, if one dies while performing an escort mission, a corresponding life compensation is paid to the family. Since they provide a certain guaranteed reward even if they die, the Wicheon Escort Agency's guards had higher loyalty compared to other agencies.
"Kehuhuhu. These slender fellows like scholars have a mindset worth seeing."
Heuk Dang took a step forward.
The Black Tiger Stronghold followed their leader's lead and tightened the encirclement.
As the confrontation between the Black Tiger Stronghold and the Wicheon Escort Agency gradually intensified—
"Hey."
A youth who had appeared unnoticed.
"...Uh, huh?"
"...Hmm?"
Geum Wi-un and Heuk Dang were bewildered by this sudden person's appearance.
A person who didn't trigger their qi senses at all. The fact that they didn't even sense his presence until he approached so closely made Geum Wi-un's mind snap awake as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head.
Regardless.
Dam Cheon proposed to Geum Wi-un.
"Escort Head Sir. Seems like a critical situation—if I handle them, how much can you offer?"
"What, what are you saying?"
"What else could it be? This. This."
He joined his index finger and thumb, drawing a circular sign.
An expression clearly indicating money to anyone.
"I'm not a passing righteous warrior. But if I receive proper compensation, there's no reason I can't help. I happen to need money too, so I'll specially accept it cheaply."
Geum Wi-un couldn't regain his senses.
He was dumbfounded by Dam Cheon's claim.
Until now, the experts he had seen were busy putting on a dignified air and polishing their own faces. They could plead and beg if they discovered a passing expert, but someone like Dam Cheon who wanted to sell his martial prowess for money was the first.
What answer would be correct here? While confused and delaying his response, the answer came first from the Nokrim side.
"Such a brat whose blood hasn't even dried in his head!"
Heuk Dang's angry shout struck the area.
"Boldly interfering with the affairs of the great Black Tiger Stronghold. I understand you want to play righteous warrior at a young age, but you should clearly distinguish when to join and when not to!"
Having said that, Heuk Dang stomped with force enough to break the ground. Using the recoil, he charged towards Dam Cheon like a fired cannonball.
An incident that unfolded instantly.
Heuk Dang deployed his external martial arts, rooted in insights gained from observing martial artists of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace.
Like a tiger ambushing people on a mountain path.
Clenching his fingers like claws, he intended to tear apart the brat who intervened.
Due to that overwhelming aura, Geum Wi-un and the escort guards' expressions hardened for two reasons.
First, Heuk Dang's martial prowess was more formidable than expected.
Second, that killing intent would soon pour upon them.
At the impending tragedy, they—!
Squelch.
-They could see Heuk Dang's head flying.
As if torn off by force, perhaps excessively twisted before being severed, the head of the Black Tiger Stronghold leader flew while spraying blood fountain. If it weren't for the metallic smell spreading everywhere and Heuk Dang's headless body collapsing heavily, they wouldn't have recognized the scene before their eyes.
"""......."""
Both the escort guards and the bandits.
Couldn't close their mouths at the result that occurred in an instant.
"Oh. This."
In that silence, Dam Cheon, standing awkwardly in a posture like he had swung a fist, muttered as if embarrassed.
"I unconsciously hit too hard. Shouldn't have killed before getting paid."
It was an excessively bland impression uttered by someone who lightly killed an external martial arts expert with a punch. It was so chilling.
Even though the neck was twisted, torn, and pulled out, not a single drop of blood stained Dam Cheon.
It meant that even unconsciously, his body was accustomed to killing opponents without dirtying himself.
Geum Wi-un felt goosebumps rising but.
On the other hand, he thought it was an opportunity.
Could it be that he died so pathetically that he's trash? But Heuk Dang is genuinely an expert discussed as a candidate for overall stronghold leader of the Nokrim Eight Strongholds. Even if the sect leader of the Nine Schools and One Sect came, it's impossible to kill him like catching an insect.
Of course, the bandits of the Black Tiger Stronghold under him were different from other Nokrim groups, having some skill.
Even if Heuk Dang died, the remaining potential was enough to kill the escort agency party present here.
In such a situation, if Dam Cheon said he'd leave because he wasn't paid?
'Bandits rush towards immediate gain like moths to flame... Even knowing they could die attacking the secluded expert before them, they'll charge. Without that expert who dropped from the sky, we all die.'
In other words, letting Dam Cheon go meant obtaining a special express ticket crossing the path to the underworld.
Once judgment was made.
Action was swift.
"Daehyop! If you protect us from these Nokrim bandits now, the Sama Clan will give a great reward!"
"The Sama Clan?"
"Yes. We are guards of the Wicheon Escort Agency, transporting goods received from the Hwangbo Clan to the Sama Clan. If you assist this escort mission, the Sama Clan will give a great reward."
"I don't understand. Does the escort agency have authority to decide the Sama Clan's reward?"
"I am the adopted son-in-law of the Sama Clan. As the husband of the clan head, I have that much authority!"
"Oh."
Dam Cheon understood.
His hand swung like lightning.