Midnight Guest (2)
I had a pretty good idea what that eerie sound was, so I quietly calmed Palgap down.
“Relax. It’s not an enemy.”
“Pardon? Not an enemy?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded.
“It’s the sound of someone doing a good deed.”
The path we were on wound through the mountains, but it was a managed trail connecting official roads.
In other words, it was a safe route maintained to some degree by the state.
Plus, there was no killing intent or dark energy emanating from it, so it wasn’t someone targeting us.
“Then what is it?”
As he asked, I stood up and said,
“Jiangshi.”
“Huh?”
Palgap jumped in surprise at my words.
“J-J-J-Jiangshi? You mean those…….”
He swallowed hard and continued.
“Corpses, right?”
“Exactly. That sound is a Mosan Sect Taoist leading jiangshi.”
That’s why I was so calm about it.
The Taoists of the Mosan Sect made it their mission to return the bodies of those who died far from home back to their hometowns.
They used spells to animate the corpses, but the thudding, shambling procession inevitably terrified anyone who saw it.
To avoid drawing attention, they traveled mountain paths like this one in the dead of night.
I knew all this from my past life’s extensive merchant travels.
And sometimes, escort leaders from transport agencies would come to us saying, “Sorry, but we’ve gotten a request from a Mosan Sect Taoist,” and ask for our understanding.
When they absolutely needed the agency’s help, it was an unwritten rule not to refuse.
They’d prepare carts, load the bodies, and move them along.
Transporting corpses might seem creepy, but no one turned them down because that was the life of merchants and escorts—death could strike anywhere, anytime.
It was about accumulating merit in hopes that, if misfortune befell you, your own body would make it back to your family.
For similar reasons, it was customary among merchants and escorts to treat Mosan Sect Taoists well when they crossed paths.
“For real?”
“Yeah.”
Palgap tilted his head skeptically.
“But from what I know, Young Master, you’ve never actually met a Mosan Sect Taoist on any of your trips. How do you know this?”
… sharper than I thought.
I brushed it off vaguely.
“I’ve never met one myself, but I’ve heard about it from other managers and my brothers. And they say if you don’t treat a Mosan Sect Taoist well, demons will plague your journey.”
Just then, Seo-u Warrior’s voice came from behind.
“Your words are correct, my lord.”
I turned to see him rising to his feet.
“Oh? You’re up?”
“Yes. How could I sleep through that bell toll?”
Fair enough—Seo-u Warrior was at the peak realm, after all.
His senses were sharp enough that even deep sleep wouldn’t block out a sound like that.
“From the sound of the bell, they’re heading this way.”
I nodded at Seo-u Warrior’s words.
“Let’s wake the others and prepare to greet them.”
A moment later,
Ting-a-ling.
Ting-a-ling.
“The wandering souls of travelers tread their homeland soil—what could bar their path? Come, come.”
Ting-a-ling.
Ting-a-ling.
Sure enough, a Mosan Sect Taoist in yellow robes approached, shaking his bell and chanting an incantation.
It was a ritual to soothe the spirits of the dead.
Trailing behind him were five jiangshi.
Seo-u Warrior glanced at me quietly.
“It’s your first time seeing a Mosan Sect Taoist and jiangshi. Are you alright?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m fine.”
I must have looked too calm.
“As expected… I’ve sensed it before, but my lord, you’re no ordinary man.”
“Hahaha. Is that so?”
I scratched my head.
Most people would faint from shock at the sight.
I’d been pretty startled myself the first time I saw it in my previous life.
Just like Palgap, who was trembling right beside me.
The guy had the talent of a slaughter king, yet he was scared of corpses!
And bears were supposed to be brave animals.
You’re scared the first couple times, but after seeing it a few more, the pity outweighs the fear or creepiness.
Come to think of it, in my previous life, a Mosan Sect Taoist had visited our merchant group.
He’d brought back the bodies of our missing members.
I’d been so grateful back then.
Right then, the Taoist’s bell stopped as he approached us.
My group and I went to him and cupped our fists in greeting.
“Greetings, Taoist of the Mosan Sect. We’re from the Eunhae Merchant Group—me, my guards, and my attendant.”
The Mosan Sect Taoist returned the courtesy.
“Ah, people from the Eunhae Merchant Group.”
I suppressed my delight as I looked at his face.
He looked familiar—he was the very Taoist who’d brought back our missing members’ bodies in my previous life.
This life, I’d prevented the incident by giving a heads-up, but gratitude from the past didn’t fade that easily.
His name was…
“I am Cheongsu of the Mosan Sect.”
“Guiding the unfortunate back to their hometowns, I see.”
“Yes. You were resting here, and I apologize for startling you.”
“Not at all. It’s only natural. Please, have some tea before you go.”
Cheongsu Taoist shook his head at my offer.
“I appreciate the kind offer, but as you know, we must move before dawn.”
I nodded and handed him a pouch I’d prepared earlier.
“Understood. I get your situation, so no helping it. It’s not much, but I hope it helps appease the souls.”
The Taoist accepted it graciously without refusal.
“Thank you. May fortune bless your journey.”
With that, Cheongsu Taoist tucked the pouch away and said,
“Then we’ll be on our way.”
He shook the bell again, chanted the incantation, led the jiangshi onward, and vanished.
It was like a storm had swept through.
“Whew!”
Only then did Palgap relax, collapsing to the ground and wiping cold sweat.
“Th-they’re gone?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded and asked,
“Was it that scary?”
“Don’t even ask! Moving corpses in the dead of night? Of course it’s terrifying.”
“Wasn’t scary for me.”
“Well, Young Master, you’re just so fearless… ahem, you’ve got no fear.”
He’d almost said “gutless” or something.
I just chuckled.
Anyway, we straightened up camp, and Palgap and I sat by the fire.
The awakened guards went back to sleep.
Morning came.
Seo-u Warrior and Yi-pil Warrior, who’d taken the last watch, had somehow hunted mountain game and prepared a steaming soup with herbs.
Yeo Eung-am Warrior took a spoonful and sighed contentedly.
“No booze, but it feels like a hangover cure.”
“Tell me about it.”
Everyone nodded.
“Seo-u Warrior, you’re great at cooking.”
He smiled bashfully.
“The accountant where I worked was an amazing cook. I picked up a few things—just in case, you never know what life throws at you.”
“Thanks to you, we’re having a delicious breakfast. Much appreciated.”
We finished our cheerful meal and prepared to depart.
Everyone moved efficiently, so we were ready in no time.
We mounted up and headed toward our destination.
About three or four hours later?
I heard a strange sound.
“What is it?”
At Seo-u Warrior’s question, I pointed ahead.
“Sounds like someone groaning.”
Seo-u and Jin Yu Warriors closed their eyes briefly, focusing, then nodded.
“As you say, my lord.”
“Coming from over there. But… it feels familiar somehow.”
“Yes.”
It was definitely the energy of Cheongsu Taoist from last night.
We hurried to the source and found a man collapsed.
Bloodied and moaning faintly—it was Cheongsu Taoist.
“Taoist, come to. Taoist!”
“Ugh……”
“Taoist.”
We carefully laid him flat and spotted sword wounds all over.
“This won’t do. We need a physician.”
We had a set route, but how could we leave a dying man?
Besides, Cheongsu Taoist had returned our missing members’ bodies in my previous life.
Luckily, there was a village en route, so we stopped and found a doctor.
.
.
.
That afternoon.
Cheongsu Taoist regained consciousness.
“You’re awake?”
“Mm. The young benefactor from last night.”
“Yes. We found you collapsed and covered in blood on the road, so we brought you to the physician.”
He tried to sit up at my words but grimaced—still not fully recovered.
“Please, lie still.”
But Cheongsu Taoist insisted on rising and cupped his fists to me, bowing his head.
“Thank you for saving my life.”
“Just doing what anyone would. And I think you were found because of all the good karma you’ve built up.”
He looked at me with a faint smile.
I couldn’t help but look sheepish.
“What happened, anyway?”
Cheongsu Taoist sighed deeply.
“The jiangshi were stolen.”
“What?”
He explained everything: After meeting us, he’d hurried toward his destination.
He had to hide the bodies before dawn.
But just before reaching the spot, a group ambushed him and took the jiangshi.
Finishing his tale, he bowed to me.
“You said you’re a Eunhae Merchant Group trader, but I can tell you and your guards aren’t ordinary.”
“Pardon?”
How’d he know?
“You’re wondering how I knew.”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Doing this work hones your eye for martial prowess. Even if hidden, it shows through somehow.”
“I see. Well, we’re not that lacking, as you say.”
“That’s why I ask your help. Please, retrieve the stolen jiangshi so these poor souls can reach their homes.”
.
.
.
I told Cheongsu Taoist I’d think it over and stepped outside.
Hearing about stolen jiangshi rang a bell, and it worried me.
Plus that foul energy at the scene where he’d collapsed.
In my previous life, a group rampaged through Shandong and Hubei.
They called themselves the Huencheondan.
They planned to invade Beijing with an army of jiangshi.
But they were stopped by the Hubei Paeng Clan, Jinju Eon Clan, Hwangbo Clan, and Shandong Ak Clan.
The problem was the countless civilians who suffered in the process.
We couldn’t prevent that.
That mess was about ten years from now, but were they already gathering jiangshi?
Makes sense—they couldn’t amass them overnight.
In my memory, they deployed over fifty thousand.
How? By robbing Mosan Sect Taoists traveling Central Plains routes of their jiangshi in transit.
Mosan Sect Taoists were reclusive, often working solo.
That’s how they got hit without anyone knowing.
They probably kidnapped mountain folk or refugees too.
Places beyond official or sect reach.
Anyway, if they were starting now, best to nip it in the bud.
A venomous weed can be yanked with two fingers as a sprout, but once grown, you need a whole crew.
But it was huge-scale, high-risk—not something to rush into.
Then Jin Yu Warrior approached from behind.
“How’s the Taoist?”
“He’ll recover with rest.”
“Then why the worried look?”
I rubbed my furrowed brow.
“Haha, caught me.”
“If something troubles you, say the word anytime.”
“Well, it’s about us……”
I started cautiously but paused.
No, we didn’t have to handle the Huencheondan alone, right?
Best if the stakeholders dealt with it themselves.