Chapter 05….
Invincible Sword Spirit (5)
Wangak Mountain Stronghold
“The real problem lies ahead.”
The head of Gangnam Escort Bureau, Jin Seol, and the chief manager, Seo Namchun, were sitting across from each other, drinking wine.
It was because of the events that had happened earlier that day.
Not only had they lost all the escorted goods, but from now on, every time they crossed Wangak Mountain, they would have to pay an even higher toll to the Wangak Mountain Stronghold.
To avoid paying the toll to the bandit chief Ak Jeong, they would need to hire a head escort stronger than him. But from the standpoint of the Gangnam Escort Bureau, that was nearly impossible.
Such top-level experts would never serve as head escorts for a small bureau, and even if they could hire one with a huge monthly salary, it would still be cheaper to just pay the toll each time they crossed the mountain.
“Since Head Escort Naguk lost to Ak Jeong, Ak Jeong will now openly demand tolls from us, or even seize our cargo outright.”
“That’s right.”
Jin Seol drained his cup in one gulp. The more he thought about it, the heavier his chest felt.
“For now, to recover the cargo, we should prepare some money and show our sincerity.”
“We have to. This business runs on trust. We can’t just abandon the clients’ goods.”
That was the duty of an escort bureau: even at great loss, they had to deliver the customers’ property to the promised destination.
This incident might cause the Gangnam Escort Bureau to stagger, but thinking ahead, there was no way around it.
“Perhaps we can reach a settlement with five hundred taels of silver.”
Considering that Sword Spirit’s monthly wage as an escort was just two taels, five hundred was an enormous sum.
Jin Seol nodded grimly at Seo Namchun’s words. Not because the silver was painful to part with, but because if they failed to mend relations with Wangak Mountain Stronghold, future escort operations would face tremendous obstacles.
“Why did Head Escort Naguk create such trouble…”
When Seo Namchun began cursing Naguk, Jin Seol stopped him.
“That’s enough. Do you think Head Escort Naguk wanted this? From what I hear, Ak Jeong was determined to pick a fight no matter what he said. It wasn’t his fault. And he even lost his arm while trying to protect the cargo. Instead of blaming him, we should comfort him.”
Seo Namchun felt the same way as Jin Seol. It was just frustration that made him speak out.
“When he returns, I will go to Wangak Mountain Stronghold. While I’m away, take good care of the injured.”
“Yes, Bureau Chief!”
After the Black Tiger Gang disappeared, the marketplace and street merchants enjoyed their relief—only to frown again at new troubles.
With no one controlling the back alleys of Xianggang, rival gangs began fighting constantly to seize control.
Watching those fights, Sword Spirit realized something.
Even if he eliminated one gang, another would just rise to extort the merchants under the name of “protection money.”
“So that’s why Ghost Grandfather always said people are the same everywhere.”
—Do you think the martial world is any different? In the end, it’s the same wherever humans live. The strong oppress the weak. That was true in the past, it’s true now, and it will continue to be true in the future. So you must learn to live not with a fate decided by others, but with a life where you decide the fates of others.
His words seemed true.
In the end, nothing changed. Someone would always fill the empty seat.
“I should just think of it as a good lesson.”
“Damn bastards! What are the authorities doing? They should deal with them…”
“Exactly. What good are the constables? They’re too scared to touch those thugs.”
Sword Spirit chuckled at the merchants’ complaints.
Whatever happened, his daily routine never changed. He ran the errands the merchants requested in the marketplace and on the streets, then returned to the escort bureau.
At the main gate, he saw Jin Aseol loitering, and waved, calling her name.
“Why are you so late?”
“Did something happen?”
“Yes! Something big happened at the bureau. The escorts and guards all came back injured!”
Sword Spirit narrowed his eyes at the word “injured.”
“Why?”
“Bad men threatened them and tried to steal our goods.”
From Jin Aseol’s words, Sword Spirit could guess what had happened.
“Let’s go inside.”
He took her hand and entered the bureau. The atmosphere inside was heavy and grim.
Though the Gangnam Escort Bureau might seem large in Xianggang, within Guangdong Province it was just one of many middling bureaus.
“Uncle Sword Spirit, you really are a martial expert, right?”
As they stepped inside, Jin Aseol asked.
“Yes, I am.”
“Then you should punish those bad men who hurt the escorts!”
Sword Spirit thought to himself that she was still just a child.
His gaze landed on Seo Namchun, who was giving orders to the remaining escorts.
“I heard the escorts were injured,” Sword Spirit said.
Seo Namchun frowned.
“That’s none of your concern.”
He thought it was better Sword Spirit didn’t know. Reliable workers like him were hard to find. If this incident made him quit, the bureau would suffer greatly.
“But I’m part of the bureau too.”
“The Bureau Chief will handle it. You just focus on your own work.”
Realizing he wouldn’t hear more from Seo Namchun, Sword Spirit bowed slightly and headed toward the annex.
“Uncle, where are you going?”
“I finished my work, so I need to rest.”
“You have to punish those bad men!”
She shouted after him as he walked.
“After I rest a little,” he answered half-heartedly.
But as he entered the annex, faint groans reached his ears—sounds too soft for ordinary people to hear.
“Ughh…”
It was the sound of men unable to bear their pain.
“They seem badly hurt…”
Following the sound, Sword Spirit opened the left-hand door among the two rooms in the annex.
Inside, three escorts lay wounded, while the others watched over them with worried expressions.
“What exactly happened?” Sword Spirit asked as he stepped inside.
“They say they were attacked by the bandits of Wangak Mountain Stronghold,” one escort replied.
Wangak Mountain was not especially rugged, but it was the unavoidable pass from Xianggang to Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong.
Until now, the Gangnam Escort Bureau had paid a set toll to the Wangak Mountain Stronghold whenever they crossed. But this time, the stronghold’s chief, Ak Jeok, had changed his demands. When Head Escort Naguk argued against the unfairness, a quarrel broke out, and things escalated.
“By bandits, you mean mountain thieves?”
“That’s right.”
Sword Spirit nodded, recalling the words of Ghost Demon Lord Gu Yeongcheol.
Though Sword Spirit didn’t know much about ordinary life, he knew far more about the martial world than most people.
The wisdom and knowledge of three great masters had been passed down to him: Yak Bing, who represented the orthodox sects; Ghost Demon Lord Gu Yeongcheol, who represented the unorthodox; and Cheon Namyeon, the solitary unrivaled master of the world.
—The Green Forest bandits are nothing but cowards hiding in the mountains. You needn’t pay them any mind.
That had been Ghost Demon Lord Gu Yeongcheol’s advice.
‘Maybe Ghost Grandfather could say that because he was strong. But others aren’t like him.’
“Then why did the quarrel start?”
“That I don’t know. I heard that Ak Jeong demanded a higher toll.”
“And when they refused, they fought?”
“Seems so. Head Escort Naguk tried to pay a little more, but Ak Jeong demanded far too much, so a fight broke out.”
“Let’s just say their luck was rotten today.”
Sword Spirit spoke lightly, then glanced at the groaning escorts.
“Is the stronghold close to here?”
“Why do you ask?”
“No reason. Just so I know to avoid it.”
The escorts chuckled at his words.
“It’s two days’ journey from here. No need to worry.”
Sword Spirit nodded.
“What about Head Escort Naguk?”
“They say Ak Jeong severed his right arm.”
“I see. Well then, I need to step out for a while. If anyone asks for me, just tell them I went to take care of some matters.”
