Chapter 16
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Heading to Sichuan
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A long procession of carriages stretched out ahead.
"We're setting off!"
A booming voice from a burly man rallied their spirits.
Even without any internal energy behind it, the shout wrapped around the wagons right up to the rear guard, and finally, even the last packhorse left Shandong behind.
Sichuan. Chengdu.
That was my destination.
Sichuan was originally a land of plateaus and basins, inherently insular in nature, but after trade flourished, it achieved unprecedented prosperity hugging its four great rivers.
These days, it wasn't uncommon to spot not just Central Plains folk but even merchants from the Western Regions.
With such a diverse mix of people, Sichuan's specialties were legion, and among them were its master craftsmen.
Qingcheng and Emei.
Two of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang had taken root there, and Chengdu was home to the Sichuan Tang Clan, one of the Six Great Clans.
Three factions that symbolized the martial world of the hundred schools.
Every warrior who had mastered poisons and hidden weapons hailed from the Tang Clan, and most of the renowned swordswomen came from Emei.
And the history and prestige of Qingcheng topped even the rest of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang—no need to elaborate.
"So that's why Sichuan has so many skilled artisans? Even more than Shandong?"
"Exactly."
Crafting hidden weapons demanded even finer workmanship than forging swords. The blades wielded by Emei's women had to be both light and sturdy, and Qingcheng's signature Qingyun Chixia Sword relied on fluid motion as its core.
It was only natural that artisans would flourish there in droves.
"But, Young Master."
"Yeah?"
"I get why you're heading to Sichuan."
A-so latched onto an unexpected angle. I'd given him a brief rundown the day before, but it wasn't unreasonable for him to circle back to it.
"Wouldn't it be faster to head south to Anhui and take a boat down the Yangtze?"
We were heading north, not south.
"This is the road to Hebei, isn't it?"
"Sichuan is the final destination. Ultimately."
Not Sichuan, but Hebei first.
"What's the reason for going to Hebei...?"
"You think Sichuan's prideful artisans will just hand over custom blades on demand?"
"Ah..."
I needed money. Obviously. Hebei was my first stop to secure funds.
And if I could snag some premium herbs along the way, even better.
Demonstrating the Mountain Shattering Heavenly Spirit Sword had driven home how urgently I needed to boost my inner energy. Rather than relying on the clan's uncertain aid, I'd decided to take matters into my own hands.
"Then by the time we reach Sichuan, it'll be a whole new year."
"Probably."
The smirking little rascal added that I was turning eighteen now, too.
"Baek Ri-seol must be waiting in Hebei, right?"
"Who?"
"Come on, no need to play dumb. The connection you mentioned has to be Lady Baek Ri-seol. I'm pretty sure you're going to see your fiancée..."
Suddenly, A-so clamped his mouth shut and bowed his head. Since that day, he hadn't said much else, so the boy must still see me as reluctant about the marriage.
"Don't worry. No hard feelings there."
"Oh, what a relief!"
I'd have to revisit that unfinished conversation someday, but plenty of time remained, and truth be told, I had little interest in the betrothal itself.
Regardless of the woman named Baek Ri-seol.
Better than wasting time sheltered in the clan while marriage talks dragged on with this house or that. Still, I had zero intention of blindly following the family's wishes.
"And that's old news anyway. No reason she'd still be hanging around Hebei."
Even if the Seo Mun Clan's path matched my endpoint. Overdoing it is as bad as falling short—expecting the journeys to align perfectly would be greed.
"Didn't you ask why she went there?"
"Should I have?"
"According to Uncle Jeok-myeong..."
"No time for that. I'll keep it in mind next time."
A-so shook his head side to side, in time with the jolting carriage.
"On second thought, maybe no need. Sis Sa-wol was always cold to Uncle anyway."
On this long journey of march and rest, crammed in the tiny carriage where proper meditation was impossible, idle chit-chat filled the air.
Clatter.
Along with one new duty added to the mix.
"Who could the Young Master's connection be?"
A-so muttered to himself, lost in thought, but excluding Baek Ri-seol, no suitable name came to mind.
"Whether it's a connection or a target."
Inevitably so.
"We'll see."
This was my path as Yi Mok-yeom, seeking ties from my past life.
"H-Here, let me take that, Young Master. I'll handle it."
Yang Jeong recoiled in horror, trying to snatch the bundle from my hands.
"It's fine."
Gu Chil and Yang Jeong, the two who'd volunteered as my subordinates. Gu Chil stayed in Shandong; Yang Jeong came along.
"How's the merchant side?"
"Checked it out—looks like Brother Gu handled everything smoothly."
Faster than a rumor on the wind was a carrier pigeon. Cheon Eung Merchant Association, with branches across the Central Plains, made message delivery its main trade.
"No issues. Would've been better if we could use the express pigeons, though."
Gu Chil seemed to be fulfilling his role well back in Shandong. Collecting payment from Ha Eun-ye, coordinating with Cheon Eung Merchant Group—that's why I'd left him with the clan: to keep tabs on home via couriers.
"Maybe I should've pushed for a higher payout."
A lingering regret, as he said.
"Then it would've been more like express than..."
More urgent matters, he gestured at the bustling crew around us.
People hustling breathless.
Sturdy porters shouldered loads, feet flying—these were our porters for the coming days.
Though calling them close allies was a stretch; we'd barely exchanged names.
"If I may say so now, is it really necessary to join the escort caravan?"
"Didn't your brothers say their first taste of the jianghu was on an escort run?"
"Ah, yes, Young Master."
A-so nodded along, filling in the details.
"Heard they gained experience through clan-backed escort or merchant runs. Too young for major duties, so it's like a tradition."
"So it seems."
There were differences, though.
Unlike theirs, our temporary gig had no clan ties. As a warrior escort, I'd joined Sang Man Escort Agency as a guest escort master.
Riding gratis, getting paid to boot.
This is a triple win if there ever was one.
Yang Jeong stood ramrod stiff, clearly unconvinced.
"Not Shandong here—no prying eyes to worry about."
Tension coiled tight in Yang Jeong.
Anyone fired up for a new role was normal enough, but the more zealous, the quicker the burnout.
"No need to fret; I'm not aiming to be top escort master or ace porter."
"Haha..."
Yang Jeong's dilemma was plain as day.
If you're an escort master, what does that make me, your attendant...? His furrowed brow screamed it.
"Unless it's some grandmaster, mid-escort reinforcements aren't rare."
No complaints here. What they wanted from me was status. Lacking Shandong clout, but without flashing any martial arts, just being Seo Mun Clan's third young master covered one escort slot as insurance.
"Only a few days in, but you're nothing like the rumors, Young Master."
"Rumors gonna rumor."
On this Hebei-bound escort run, only the chief escort master and a few leads knew me.
Yang Jeong meant the whispers among escorts and porters over my surprise addition. For all the attention, I was saddled on a packhorse—no red-carpet treatment.
"If you're fine with it, so am I. Courier, porter, whatever. Just caught me off guard."
"Good to hear."
Just seizing the opportunity at hand.
"But don't go advertising us."
"Can't win with you. Thought you hid your intentions well."
I had no burning interest in the escort agency's or merchants' books—slipping through quietly was ideal.
"Guess my nickname came from somewhere."
He relaxed his shoulders with a wry smile.
"Didn't see the big picture, Young Master."
And just like that, his deflated resolve surged back full force.
"No big picture."
Maybe should've brought Gu Chil instead, but he'd probably gripe just as much.
"I'll serve you with utmost sincerity!"
"That's overkill."
Yang Jeong and Gu Chil, aspiring warriors.
Setting aside their rocky paths, at least it warded off boredom.
Even without guest quarters, an escort master's duties were light.
Protecting the cargo meant occasional checks on horses and wagons with porters—otherwise, smooth sailing.
"Never heard of Sang Man Escort Agency, but they're thorough."
Yang Jeong noted the drawn-out mealtimes.
Escorts never took eyes off the goods outside, rotations keeping the inn uncrowded for the caravan's size.
"Most caravans to the capital are."
Considering Beijing's status, extra caution was warranted.
The Emperor resided there, with the Forbidden City.
Not that I knew their cargo's exact destination.
Even in Hebei, vigilance held firm.
They treated it like precious freight, nameless escort masters walking a tightrope.
"Hm..."
"Young Master?"
"Nah. Just realizing it's been ages since I was in Hebei."
"Not your first time?"
"First time."
Like them, I felt a bit rattled.
Thought it'd be no big deal.
But nostalgia hit, and I found myself retracing old steps on familiar soil.
"Try some of these pancakes. Delicious."
"Sure."
"You too, Uncle Yang Jeong."
"Thanks. But call me brother, if you would."
Mood aside, the small talk stayed mundane.
Scanning the inn's tables.
Then one odd fellow caught my eye.
That guy's...
Yang Jeong followed my gaze.
"Something up?"
"Nothing much."
"Oh, right. That one's a fresh porter from Shandong like me. Name escapes me, though."
He stood apart from the group, drawing notice.
"Kinda suspicious now. What if it's a woman in disguise? They say jianghu's full of those."
Out of left field, thin evidence, but such warriors did exist.
"...Not that."
Stooped shoulders, hunched back—features galore.
"Nice hands."
For a porter, remarkably refined—I glanced at them briefly.