Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: First Escort Duty
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From the very first day, they were treated to an extravagantly luxurious feast of drinks and dishes.
Yi Hwan savored famous liquors and rare delicacies from land and sea that he had never tasted since his reincarnation.
The woman, however, refused.
“It all seems too easy.”
“We haven’t even started yet.”
“Isn’t stepping into the tiger’s den half the battle won? So what now?”
“I need to change my approach.”
“How so?”
“Instead of killing the bastard, I’m thinking of bringing him to my side. If it works, he’ll be a reliable source of funds. If not, I can always kill him later.”
“Do you think that’s possible?”
“If it’s not, I’ll make it so. Seeing Wang Ji-kyeong today, if luck’s on my side, it doesn’t seem all that hard. So for now, drink your fill.”
“Understood.”
There was a money pouch in one corner of the room.
They had received one month’s pay in advance—twenty thousand nyang in silver taels. The hazard pay would come later.
“At this rate, we’ll end up rich.”
“It’s not a bad idea to secure funds in advance when you don’t know what’s coming. By the way, I wonder if that ronin really followed us all the way here.”
“You mean the wanderer?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s a shame. Since we have no way to find him, we can only wait for him to show up first.”
Yi Hwan thought the same.
He was certain the ronin had gotten information through the East Depot and come to the Southern Legion. But as Cheol Mu-ok said, if he didn’t appear first, there was no way to track him down.
“I hope he really is from the Sword King’s lineage. Then we could learn what His Highness is curious about.”
“Who knows. They might be as clueless as your own lineage. For now, we’ll just do our best at what we set out to do and wait for him to appear.”
“Understood.”
* * *
On the rooftop opposite Wang Ji-kyeong’s mansion.
The ronin stood there under the moonlight, his eyes filled with bewilderment and disappointment.
“Escorting a corrupt rich man? Is he really not the one I’m looking for? Or has time twisted him?”
Whoosh!
The night breeze gently swept over the ronin’s body. He stared at Wang Ji-kyeong’s mansion for a long while before vanishing into the night.
* * *
The next morning.
The first escort duty began.
The destination was a grand manor on the outskirts of the city, where people in similar lines of work to Wang Ji-kyeong were gathering.
Having shaken off some of his unease thanks to Cheol Mu-ok’s display of strength, Wang Ji-kyeong set out once more with twenty escorts.
Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok brought up the rear.
[First, we need to subdue the escorts. Make them obey any order we give. So go strong from the start.]
[Understood.]
Yi Hwan rode with his arms crossed, eyes closed. He didn’t even hold the reins, yet he moved as one with the warhorse, as if they had been together for years.
How much time passed like that?
[That’s the Princess’s mansion.]
At Cheol Mu-ok’s transmission, Yi Hwan opened his eyes. Cheol Mu-ok pointed to the left.
It was an elegant old mansion.
Above the main gate, a plaque clearly bore the characters for Song Family.
Yi Hwan felt a strange sensation, as if he were passing by his own sister’s home.
‘I’ll have to drop by soon.’
That was when it happened.
Creak...
The mansion’s main gate opened, and people emerged. In that instant, Yi Hwan’s eyes flickered.
He had spotted a woman with a slender figure, ivory-white skin, and peerless beauty.
It was his sister, Yi Yeong.
Song Cheon-ho was behind her.
[Is that her?]
[Yeah.]
Yi Hwan couldn’t tear his eyes from Yi Yeong’s face. She looked even more fragile than in his memories, and it sank his mood.
Just then, Yi Yeong turned toward Yi Hwan.
Even though he wore the human skin mask, Yi Hwan instinctively turned his head away.
[She’s coming this way.]
Yi Hwan looked back at Yi Yeong. Sure enough, she was walking straight toward them.
‘No way.’
Yi Yeong blocked the path of the carriage.
“Please stop for a moment.”
The carriage didn’t stop at her words and kept going, so Yi Hwan called out softly.
“Halt.”
The escort driving the carriage turned to Yi Hwan. His eyes seemed to say, ‘Who the hell are you to order me around?’ But under Yi Hwan’s icy gaze, he quickly pulled the reins.
“Whoa!”
As the carriage stopped, Wang Ji-kyeong’s voice came from inside.
“What’s going on!”
“The lady of the Song Family demands you stop.”
At those words, Yi Hwan’s eyebrow twitched upward.
‘He knew who it was and still didn’t stop?’
Then the carriage window opened, and Wang Ji-kyeong stuck his head out. Yi Yeong approached him.
“Can we talk for a moment?”
“I don’t know what it is, but I’m busy and don’t have time, Your Highness.”
“It’ll only take a moment, so please step down.”
Surprisingly, Yi Yeong’s eyes and demeanor were nothing like her delicate appearance. Yi Hwan was inwardly surprised by her firm attitude.
Wang Ji-kyeong finally stepped out of the carriage.
“What is it?”
His words were polite, but his gaze on Yi Yeong was laced with irritation.
“Why did you move up the repayment date?”
“I already explained everything to Lord Song.”
“Whatever my father said, we’ll repay the principal on the agreed date. If you try to force it, I won’t sit idly by, so remember that.”
“Then you should start with the interest. Your Highness knows how much is overdue, don’t you?”
“We’ll pay the overdue interest in full in a fortnight as well. Goodbye.”
With that, she turned and left briskly. Yi Hwan stared at her retreating figure and smiled faintly.
‘She’s grown quite tough.’
“I gave her leeway because she’s a princess, but she doesn’t see it that way. Fine, let’s see what happens when she can’t pay the overdue interest on time.”
Bang!
Wang Ji-kyeong vented his frustration and climbed back into the carriage, and they immediately set off again.
Yi Hwan watched Yi Yeong until she vanished from sight.
A sudden question arose in his mind.
[The demon eye stone I gave her should be worth a fortune. How much could the principal and interest be that they still haven’t paid it off?]
He already knew from Go Mi’s information that the Song Family had taken over two inns. Even so, a substantial amount should have remained.
‘Were there more debts to pay off?’
* * *
It was truly a magnificent manor.
Several carriages lined up in front of the main gate, and escorts gathered in clusters here and there.
The carriage stopped, and Wang Ji-kyeong stepped out.
He said to Yi Hwan,
“The escorts can’t go in, so wait here.”
His tone had changed since the hiring, but Yi Hwan didn’t mind.
Yi Hwan peered through the opening doors into the interior.
Tables were set in the vast courtyard, where men in expensive silk robes were noisily feasting.
Thud!
The doors closed, and Yi Hwan walked to the side of the main gate and sat on a rock.
Everyone stared at him and Cheol Mu-ok.
Probably because they were unfamiliar faces. Then someone asked one of Wang Ji-kyeong’s escorts.
“Why aren’t the Black and White Twin Swords here?”
“They’re dead.”
“Dead? When?”
“They fell to an assassin’s ambush.”
“Then who are those guys?”
“If you’re curious, ask them yourself.”
Wang Ji-kyeong’s escorts didn’t welcome Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok. They had heard the terms.
“What are your nicknames?”
Cheol Mu-ok answered.
“Mind your own business, tubby.”
“What?”
“Keep glaring like that, and that big head on your shoulders might go flying.”
“You bastard!”
“Enough!”
At the low shout from behind, the man who had been about to charge backed off.
Yi Hwan looked back.
A man sharp as a sword was watching them with a faint smile.
Yi Hwan’s gaze shifted to the flag fluttering on a carriage roof. His eyes flashed.
‘The Yellow Dragon Merchant Group is part of this gathering too?’
He had finally laid eyes on them—the ultimate target of this mission.
Cheol Mu-ok asked,
“Want me to give them a hand?”
“Nah. It’s the first day—let’s keep it quiet.”
Yi Hwan crossed his arms and closed his eyes.
He began sketching out in his mind what needed to be done next.
* * *
“Those fools are poking the tiger.”
“Indeed. Daring to irk Mount Sang Blood Blade. Trouble’s brewing soon. Heh heh heh.”
Wang Ji-kyeong’s escorts whispered while staring at Yi Hwan. One of them was glancing their way—the middle-aged man who had stopped the near-fight earlier.
Mount Sang Blood Blade.
The very man the inn server had compared to the Black and White Twin Swords. He was here now as the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group leader’s escort warrior.
He wasn’t watching Yi Hwan but studying Cheol Mu-ok intently. His first impression was that Cheol Mu-ok was the stronger one.
‘New faces. They must be hires to fill the Black and White Twin Swords’ spots.’
He looked around and asked,
“Anyone know about those guys?”
“First time seeing them.”
“Same here.”
With no one knowing, Mount Sang Blood Blade crossed his arms and smiled leisurely.
“We’ll find out soon enough. When they pay the price for picking a fight with us first. Heh heh heh.”
“With the Black and White Twin Swords dead, we outmatch Wang’s side now. We’ve got Blood Blade on ours. Wonder who killed the Black and White anyway?”
“Who knows. Whoever it was, we owe them thanks.”
“Exactly. They were a thorn in our side for so long. Good riddance now that they’re gone.”
“Quiet down. They might hear.”
“No worries. Even if they do, they won’t dare say a word with Blood Blade here.”
“Heh heh heh.”
“Heh heh heh.”
* * *
Yi Hwan, sketching plans in his mind.
After pondering various paths from the original goal, he had found a completely different route.
‘This is going to be fun.’
Yi Hwan opened his eyes.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
“Oh, this and that.”
Cheol Mu-ok nodded toward the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group side.
“That guy’s Mount Sang Blood Blade.”
“I heard. Got me curious...”
“About what?”
“How much is that guy getting paid?”
“...Why do you care?”
“Kidding. Give me some booze.”
“Didn’t bring any. Figured even on escort duty, drinking wouldn’t fly.”
That was when it happened.
The main gate opened, and Wang Ji-kyeong stormed out. His face was flushed red, breath ragged—he looked furious.
“Those damn bastards!”
Spitting curses, Wang Ji-kyeong waddled toward the carriage, his massive belly jiggling. Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok headed to the carriage too.
As he walked, Yi Hwan eyed the manor. The other attendees were emerging one by one.
‘Who’s the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group leader?’
Not knowing the face, he’d have to watch until boarding the carriage.
Just then, a figure hurried toward where Mount Sang Blood Blade stood. Yi Hwan’s eyes turned icy.
‘That’s the one.’
The Yellow Dragon Merchant Group leader’s greasy face was etched clearly in Yi Hwan’s mind.
Wang Ji-kyeong glared at Yi Hwan.
“Let’s go already!”
Bang!
The carriage door slammed shut.
Yi Hwan mounted his horse slowly. As he did, he glanced at Mount Sang Blood Blade, who was mounting his own horse and staring back.
Smirk.
Mount Sang Blood Blade bared his teeth in a grin.
Then Yi Hwan’s voice transmission flowed into his ear.
[Smile like that one more time next time, and I’ll knock out every tooth.]
Twitch.
Mount Sang Blood Blade’s eyebrow curved like a blade, as Yi Hwan turned his horse with a faint smile.
Snort.
Mount Sang Blood Blade smirked.
“You have no idea who I am, do you?”