Let's Strike It Big Once (5)
He kicked the Myeongjong warrior standing right in front of me without warning.
"Ugh!"
Caught off guard by the sudden attack, the Myeongjong warrior started to yell but froze mid-breath.
"What the hell... Muhyeon?"
"Yeah! It's me, Muhyeon, you idiot!"
I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
I wasn't far from the Myeongjong warrior myself, so I could've easily stopped this Muhyeon guy from kicking him—but I didn't.
There wasn't a shred of killing intent in that strike.
That's why the Myeongjong warrior took the hit without issue.
Muhyeon grabbed the Myeongjong warrior by the collar and shook him vigorously.
"I heard what happened. But still, not even showing your face once? You could've at least sent a letter!"
"Sorry."
"Sorry? Is that all? You rotten bastard! After all we've been through—facing death together, training side by side—did you just toss all that affection in the gutter? You punk!"
"Sorry."
"Sorry doesn't cut it!"
At that moment, several disciples who were guarding the inn heard the commotion and rushed over.
"What's going on? Muhyeon? This isn't like you to get so worked up... Yeah, I get it. Damn."
"Gasp! Senior Brother Myeongjong?"
The Myeongjong warrior gave them a wry smile.
"It's been a while, huh?"
But he was still caught in Muhyeon's grip.
Which meant he couldn't dodge the enthusiastic welcome that followed.
"You bastard! Why'd you take so long to show up?"
Thwack! Pow!
"Do you have any idea how worried we were, you jerk?"
Pow!
"Senior Brother! This is too much!"
Thwack thwack!
"Argh! You punk! Don't you know a junior beating a senior is insubordination?"
"No clue!"
The Seo-u warrior laughed at the scene.
"Quite the flashy welcome."
"Tell me about it."
I replied with a nod, then glanced at the Cheongun warrior.
He was from a different sect than the Myeongjong warrior, but he was in the same boat.
Watching this, he seemed deep in thought, feeling a lot.
"Time to go fetch my other guard. He's gonna end up with a complex at this rate."
I headed toward them as I spoke.
"I think that's enough welcome for now."
"Who... are you?"
The Myeongjong warrior quickly stood, straightened his clothes, and said,
"He's my lord."
"Your lord? The Seonhyeopmirang Daehyeop?"
"That's right."
The Myeongjong warrior replied with evident pride.
"He's my benefactor too. He stopped an irreversible disaster caused by my mistake and saved me from expulsion and the destruction of my dantian."
Muhyeon nodded.
"We know that too. We heard about you through Grand Martial Uncle."
"It's an honor to meet the fellow disciples of Myeongjong warrior."
I gave them a cupped-fist salute, then turned to Jinho hyung.
It was too late to head back to Luoyang now anyway.
And I wanted the Myeongjong warrior to catch up with his old comrades.
Jinho hyung was talking with Escort Leader Gi.
From what I overheard, hyung wanted to give half the escort fee as thanks for safely getting them here, but Escort Leader Gi was refusing, and they were going back and forth.
I slipped in smoothly.
"I appreciate the gesture, Escort Leader, but we can't take the money."
"But..."
"We're fine. Please use it as condolence money for the escorts who died on this job. Right, hyung?"
"Of course! That's exactly what I was thinking."
"So please, withdraw your offer of extra payment."
He'd lost four escorts this time. Taking reward money from a man like that?
I love money, but I have some shame.
"..."
He bit his lip at my words.
"Truth be told, I'd been agonizing over those fallen escorts myself. For you to care about our agency's men too... thank you so much."
He tucked the money pouch back into his bosom.
"We'll use it as you say, daehyeop."
"Yes."
"Please do."
"Thank you again for helping our agency."
"The four seas are one family, and we've simply formed a bond."
Escort Leader Gi bowed politely and headed to his remaining escorts.
I turned to Jinho hyung.
"Hyung, let's rest here tonight and leave early tomorrow morning."
"Sounds good. But Mom, Dad, and the outer steward must be worried."
I sighed at his words.
"You just now think of that?"
"...Hahaha."
I smirked.
"I already sent a letter to Father. Told him I had to escort some kids to the Huasan Sect, but I'd wrap it up fast and head to Luoyang."
Of course, I'd asked Geumryeong to handle it.
Can't go back on a promise empty-handed.
"Two nyang of silver."
"Huh?"
"Cough up two nyang. That's what I spent on you, hyung."
Jinho hyung deflated and pulled two silver nyang from his pouch, handing them over.
I snatched them quickly.
"Alright, let's head into the inn and rest. I'm beat."
"Y-yeah..."
A short while later.
We took rooms at an inn close to where the women were staying.
The Myeongjong warrior had a ton to catch up on with his long-lost sect brothers, but he couldn't stray too far from me, his charge.
I'd ordered him to go out and at least share a meal together after so long.
Unlike the other guards, I didn't plan to keep the Myeongjong and Cheongun warriors with me forever.
I'd taken them on to save them when they were innocent.
Eventually, they had to return to their sects.
It'd be bittersweet sending them off after growing so fond, but they'd do greater things back home.
I sat on the bed and called Geumryeong.
"Geumryeong."
"Kkwi!"
Geumryeong's eyes sparkled, already knowing why I'd called.
"Good work this time."
I smirked and held out the silver—the two nyang from Jinho hyung.
One for finding hyung, one for delivering the letter to Father.
Geumryeong hugged the two nyang and rolled around on the bed happily.
Really loves it.
Me too.
Since it wasn't my money.
Myeongjong was at a noodle shop near the inn where Eun Seo-ho was staying.
Eun Seo-ho had booked the place for him to eat with his Huasan Sect brothers, even ordering and paying for the food.
Muhyeon, his peer and close friend, said,
"Man... your lord is something else. How can you not eat now?"
"Even I think my lord is amazing."
"Anyway, dig in."
Muhyeon picked up his chopsticks and started eating, and only then did Myeongjong follow suit.
The others were already chowing down beside them.
Not all Huasan Sect disciples were eating, of course.
They were on three-shift guard duty at the inn, so the current guards would eat later.
"Seriously, that was too much. I figured you'd at least send me a letter."
Muhyeon grumbled at Myeongjong.
He'd gone to the Yongbong Martial Tournament because he was the top among peers back then.
No one imagined such a disaster when he left for Luoyang with Grand Martial Uncle.
'I thought he'd proudly show the world Huasan's sword.'
Some gloated at Myeongjong's fall.
But most Huasan disciples, Muhyeon included, grieved it like their own tragedy.
Proof of Myeongjong's upright character.
"Ah! Let's head up to Huasan now! Grand Martial Uncle and Elder Yeongjeong will be thrilled."
Myeongjong shook his head.
"No, can't. I can't stray far from my lord. Don't want to either."
"You really follow him loyally."
"Of course."
"Makes sense since he's your benefactor, but... feels like there's more."
Myeongjong set down his chopsticks.
"Dunno. But he's definitely special. No idea what exactly, though."
"Boring guy."
Muhyeon smirked, but Myeongjong gave a bitter smile.
"And... I can't enter the main hall yet."
"Ah..."
Currently, Myeongjong was a secular disciple, not inner mountain.
Huasan secular disciples couldn't enter the main hall without special cause.
"Sorry. I was too thoughtless."
"No biggie. Not your fault."
Then—
Bang!
The noodle shop door flew open, and someone entered.
Myeongjong and Muhyeon's faces soured at the sight. He approached Myeongjong with a sneer.
"What brings you here? Thought you'd fled in shame after your high-and-mighty fall."
"Here to pick a fight, Cheongjin?"
He was a peer disciple, but not close.
Cheongjin had always envied and resented Myeongjong.
They'd tried to get along as peers, but he rejected it.
And rejoiced at Myeongjong's downfall.
"Pick a fight? Just stating facts?"
"Leave."
"Who are you to order me around? Think you're in a position to?"
He prodded Myeongjong's chest with his finger.
"I'm inner mountain, you're secular."
"..."
"A secular disciple reduced to a merchant's bodyguard."
Bodyguards weren't highly regarded in the martial world.
Seen as selling skills for coin.
"Fits you perfect."
"Thanks for the compliment."
Cheongjin scowled at Myeongjong's response.
"Crazy?"
"Said it fits me perfectly? That's the highest praise to me."
"..."
Cheongjin looked displeased.
"Bodyguard for a filthy merchant who'd rip out your guts for cash? Suits you."
Myeongjong met Cheongjin's eyes squarely.
Cheongjin flinched involuntarily.
"Insult me all you want. But don't badmouth my lord!"
"W-what, you punk!"
Refusing to admit he'd been overwhelmed, Cheongjin doubled down.
"Don't like it? Come at me! We were never the type for polite chit-chat anyway."
"True."
Myeongjong stood.
"Wait a sec."
"...?"
"Need my lord's permission."
I was finishing dinner when I saw the Myeongjong warrior returning to the inn. I tilted my head.
Too soon to be done eating.
"My lord."
His expression was off. Something happened?
"What is it?"
"I need to spar. Requesting your permission."
Spar?
Why suddenly?
"Mind explaining?"
He nodded and began.
A guy who'd envied him since joining Huasan Sect had insulted me.
"If it's for your honor, no need to push."
"It's for you too, my lord. But also for me."
"More to the story."
He nodded.
"Yes. He bullied me and others... still does."
"Why don't sect elders step in?"
"Too sly. Not overt enough for seniors to intervene."
Fair enough.
"He's top-tier among peers too. No one to rein him in."
"..."
"I'm distant from the sect now, but I'm still their senior brother. I want to settle it myself."
I thought a moment, then nodded.
"Fine. But you must win."
"Thank you. I accept the order."
"Let's go."
"Pardon?"
"My bodyguard's sparring—think I'd sit inside twiddling thumbs?"
I gathered the others and headed out.
The front yard of our inn had been set up for the spar.
I eyed Cheongjin dojang.
He'd prepared an arena here... really wanted to humiliate Myeongjong.
Busy street drew crowds—not just us, but plenty of onlookers.
But... idiot?
Didn't consider it could backfire on him.
Arrogant fools like that never do.
I glanced at Cheongjin dojang, then Myeongjong warrior.
Worried.
Not for Myeongjong—for Cheongjin.
The spar began.
Myeongjong warrior raised his sword in ready stance.
I felt a breeze carrying plum blossom scent.
He's dead serious.
I smirked at Cheongjin dojang.
You're done for, punk.