Chapter 36: First Solo Mission (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 36: First Solo Mission (1)
For his first solo mission, Namgung Jun quietly infiltrated a merchant group in Hefei, acting on information from the Ink Fragrance Department.
The Yeongjun Merchant Group.
It was a mid-sized merchant group in Hefei that had recently fallen on hard times after a series of failed trade expeditions.
The consecutive failures felt too deliberate to be dismissed as mere bad luck; a faint, lingering malice seemed to be at work.
The Yeongjun Merchant Group was wary of this as well, but they couldn't find any viable solution.
Ultimately, they scraped together their remaining resources to prepare for one final trade caravan. If this expedition failed, the merchant group would be finished, so their preparations were meticulous.
As Namgung Jun stood for a moment, assessing the scale of the caravan, a middle-aged man beside him urged him on.
"Hey, Nam. Hurry up and carry this box."
"...Right away."
Having become a porter for the Yeongjun Merchant Group, Namgung Jun dutifully carried their goods.
'I could have revealed my identity and formally requested their cooperation...'
But that risked leaking information. If the suspicious party grew wary, they might not show themselves, which would only drag out the mission—something he couldn't afford.
In Namgung Jun's estimation, this mission had to be resolved quickly. Settling it as fast as possible would give the Yeongjun Merchant Group some much-needed breathing room.
The merchants of the Yeongjun Merchant Group watched with satisfaction as Namgung Jun diligently hauled the boxes and goods.
"He's incredibly diligent. You wouldn't think so just by looking at him."
"Indeed. He has the face of a noble young master. I doubted he could handle such rough labor."
Lately, the Yeongjun Merchant Group had found it nearly impossible to hire hands. Every time they mounted a trade expedition, unexpected accidents occurred, resulting in casualties.
The toll was particularly heavy on the laborers who handled menial work, making it hard to find anyone even with the promise of higher wages.
In such times, Namgung Jun, who did the work of more than three men by himself, was like a welcome rain in a drought.
However, the merchants' expressions quickly darkened.
"I'm worried about this time as well, Merchant Guild Leader."
"Don't worry. Besides, didn't we hire a reliable wandering warrior this time?"
Recently, the Yeongjun Merchant Group had faced too many hurdles.
The string of accidents was too perfectly timed to be explained away as mere bad luck or a lack of preparation.
'Is it the Clear-Center Sect after all?'
The expression of the Merchant Guild Leader, Jang Il-su, hardened.
Ever since he rejected the Clear-Center Sect's proposal, the merchant group's affairs had taken a bizarre turn. The timing was too convenient to be a coincidence, and the circulating rumors were far from pleasant.
As Jang Il-su worried inwardly, another merchant asked, "Merchant Guild Leader, are we rejecting their offer again?"
"Yes. If we accept their proposal, we're finished. Demanding the rights to the tea leaves we bring from Henan for a mere pittance!"
"That's true, but demanding our escort consist solely of martial artists from the Clear-Center Sect is also absurd. It's not as if their rates are cheap, either."
"The Clear-Center Sect has no intention of letting us survive. They are consumed by greed and want to swallow our merchant group whole."
The surrounding merchants could only sigh, unable to refute him. Everything Jang Il-su said was true.
"Merchant Guild Leader, perhaps it would be better to reach out to the unorthodox factions..."
"We can't run to a tiger to escape a wolf. In fact, they might as well be one and the same."
"We are truly caught between a rock and a hard place."
Jang Il-su steeled his resolve.
If they succeeded in this trade expedition, they could negotiate with the Clear-Center Sect from a position of strength or at least establish a foundation to resist them.
With the very survival of the Yeongjun Merchant Group hanging in the balance, a grim determination was etched on the faces of everyone in the caravan.
"Then, let us depart."
"Yes, Merchant Guild Leader."
From a short distance away, Namgung Jun, still carrying luggage, caught every word of the conversation between the Guild Leader and his merchants.
'The Clear-Center Sect.'
Without any outward sign, Namgung Jun quietly moved behind a carriage.
*
'No issues so far.'
As Namgung Jun quietly followed behind a carriage, a wandering warrior approached him.
He was a man known by the moniker "Steadfast Blade" and was the strongest martial artist among the hired escorts. Consequently, Steadfast Blade's presence was quite significant. It was this man who now approached Namgung Jun.
"Hey there, young brother."
"Yes, Great Hero."
When Namgung Jun flattered him by calling him "Great Hero," Steadfast Blade's lips twitched. He fought back a smile and maintained a solemn expression.
"Looking at you, you have a good frame. Have you trained before?"
"No, sir. I've just done manual labor my whole life, so there's no fat on me."
"Hmm. Is that so?"
Steadfast Blade gave him a skeptical look, scanning him from head to toe before asking again, "By any chance, are you interested in martial arts?"
"Martial arts?"
"How would you like to become my sword attendant? You can think of it as being my disciple. I won't just give you menial chores; I'll actually teach you martial arts."
Currently, Namgung Jun was deliberately suppressing not only his internal energy but also his physical movements. His actual realm aside, this was a simple task for him, given his experience as the former Sword Emperor.
Thus, it was only natural for Steadfast Blade to assume Namgung Jun had never learned martial arts. Namgung Jun pretended to ponder for a moment before clasping his hands in a polite bow.
"Thank you for the generous offer, Great Hero. It's rather sudden, though. Would you mind if I gave you an answer after this expedition is over?"
Steadfast Blade smacked his lips in brief disappointment. However, believing that Namgung Jun was already halfway convinced, he nodded readily.
"Of course. Take your time."
Just as Steadfast Blade was about to return to his position with a satisfied look—
Slash!
The heads of a wandering warrior and one of the merchant group's own martial artists flew into the air. Shocked by the sudden bloodshed, the escorts of the Yeongjun Merchant Group hastily drew their weapons.
"Gasp! What in the world—!"
But in an instant, three more men were cut down by a middle-aged man who had ambushed them from the flank.
As the middle-aged man lightly flicked his sword, a vermilion Sword Qi shimmered along the blade.
"A Peak Expert!"
Steadfast Blade let out a low groan, his face twisting in dismay.
The attacker was flaunting his Sword Qi for a reason: to break their morale from the very beginning. Since the strongest person in the caravan—himself—had reacted this way, the impact on the others would be even more devastating.
"Ah!"
"We can't face him!"
Indeed, the martial artists at the front grew pale and retreated with every ripple of the vermilion Sword Qi.
As their formation crumbled without him needing to lift a finger, the middle-aged man's sword strikes grew even bolder. After cutting down seven people in the blink of an eye, he shook his sword lightly, seeing that no one else dared to approach.
Flicking the blood from his blade, the middle-aged man raised his head and looked at Jang Il-su and the other merchants.
Under the murderous gaze of the Peak Expert, Jang Il-su and the merchants froze like statues.
"Merchant Guild Leader. You should have just accepted the proposal. Why make things so difficult?"
"The proposal? Don't tell me...!"
"Enough. All of you die here."
As the middle-aged man took a stance to charge straight at Jang Il-su, Steadfast Blade bit his lip.
"Dammit."
Throwing himself forward with a curse, Steadfast Blade blocked the path, shielding Jang Il-su and the merchants.
He knew he was going to die.
At best, his martial arts were only at the entry level of the First-Rate realm. It was nowhere near the level of a Peak Expert. Yet, he had to step forward.
Not only had his sworn brothers just died at this man's hand, but as the one responsible for the caravan's escort, he couldn't bear the thought of fleeing alone.
"Phew."
As Steadfast Blade took a trembling step forward, the middle-aged man sneered in amusement.
"And what do you think you can do?"
"I have to earn my keep, you bastard."
"Ha."
Snorting, the middle-aged man unleashed a torrent of killing intent. The murderous aura pricked sharply at Steadfast Blade's skin, putting his nerves on edge.
He reached for the saber hilt at his waist. Perhaps because his palms were slick with sweat, the hilt felt unusually cold today.
Drawing his saber with a sharp ring, Steadfast Blade stepped forward.
'You only live once. I won't live with regrets.'
Taking a deep breath, he prepared to charge.
"Great Hero."
A low voice from behind rooted Steadfast Blade to the spot. It was Namgung Jun's calm voice.
"You?"
Even as the middle-aged man's suffocating killing intent blanketed the area, Namgung Jun walked forward as if he felt absolutely nothing.
At his sheer composure, everyone's eyes locked onto him. Since he was the only one moving without freezing up, the middle-aged man's gaze also shifted in his direction.
'A sword?'
Steadfast Blade noticed something strange. At some point, a sword had been fastened to Namgung Jun's waist.
Even if he had a sword, did he intend to fight without knowing any martial arts? His courage was admirable, but this was reckless. A young life would be thrown away in vain.
Just as Steadfast Blade was about to stop him—
Namgung Jun slowly shrugged off his worn laborer's clothes, revealing a brilliant blue martial uniform beneath. White clouds were embroidered on the sleeves, which unfurled smoothly.
Catching sight of the embroidered clouds, Steadfast Blade's eyes trembled.
"Could it be...? The Azure Heaven Association?"
Namgung Jun placed a hand on Steadfast Blade's shoulder and gently pushed him back.
"It's my turn now. Please step back."
"Who are you...?"
Namgung Jun gave Steadfast Blade a reassuring smile, then turned to face the middle-aged man.
"So you're the Blood-Pearl Sword. I finally get to meet you."
Even though Namgung Jun had instantly seen through his identity, the Blood-Pearl Sword maintained his confident demeanor.
"The Azure Heaven Association. Did you come here targeting me?"
"You've been quite active lately. Spilled a fair amount of blood, too."
Namgung Jun recalled the information from the Ink Fragrance Department. Among the unorthodox martial artists and wandering warriors they were monitoring, the moniker "Blood-Pearl Sword" was clearly listed.
"Hmph. Is it so strange for a man of the martial world to spill blood?"
Slowly scanning Namgung Jun from head to toe, the Blood-Pearl Sword scoffed when he spotted the two clouds embroidered on his sleeve.
"But do you intend to face me alone? The Azure Heaven Association's intelligence is sorely lacking."
At best, a Second Cloud of the Azure Heaven Association was at the entry level of the Peak Stage. To face someone like him, who had mastered the Peak Stage, would require a Third Cloud at the very least. Yet, the boy before him looked so young that he seemed to have only just earned his two clouds.
'Still, it's best not to drag this out.'
The Blood-Pearl Sword suddenly thrust his sword forward, a fierce strike aimed straight at Namgung Jun's chest.
Namgung Jun neither blocked nor dodged. Gripping his hilt, he leaned his body slightly forward.
Though he moved a breath later, the way he drew his sword was impossibly natural.
Flash!
A brilliant blue flash tore through the air, slicing diagonally.
'Huh?'
The Blood-Pearl Sword's eyes widened mid-thrust.
An incredibly swift sword. It was like a bolt of lightning given form, and the arc of the blade was so fast that his body flinched on pure instinct.
He sensed the threat of death.
'Even though I struck first!'
The Blood-Pearl Sword realized it instinctively. At this rate, it wouldn't be mutual destruction; his own heart would be pierced first.
"Ugh!"
In a panic, the Blood-Pearl Sword twisted at the waist and threw his sword up in a desperate block.
Was it because his posture was off, or was this brat's strike simply too fierce?
Clang!
A heavy impact rippled up his blade, violently shaking his right shoulder.
Having barely blocked Namgung Jun's strike, cold sweat broke out on the Blood-Pearl Sword's forehead. He felt as though he had just brushed past the gates of death.
'A mere boy can unleash a sword strike like this?'
In stark contrast to the bewildered Blood-Pearl Sword, Namgung Jun simply gave his hand a light shake, as if he had just performed a casual warm-up instead of unleashing such a terrifyingly swift attack.
At that effortless movement, the cold sweat on the Blood-Pearl Sword's forehead began to trickle down his neck.
He realized something was going terribly wrong.
As the Blood-Pearl Sword hesitated for the first time since his arrival, Namgung Jun brought his sword to a middle stance.
"It seems your discernment and judgment are the only things lacking here."
Silence fell at Namgung Jun's sharp retort.
