Chapter 51
First Escort Mission
From the very first day, he was greeted with an extravagantly luxurious banquet.
Yi Hwan indulged in fine wines and rare delicacies he had never tasted before since his reincarnation.
However, the woman refused.
“It seems things are going too smoothly.”
“It hasn’t even started yet.”
“Wouldn’t entering a tiger’s den already count as half a success? What do we do now?”
“I need to change my approach.”
“How so?”
“Instead of killing him, I’ll try to turn him to my side. If it works, he could become a reliable source of funds; if not, I can kill him later—it won’t be too late.”
“Do you think that’s possible?”
“If it doesn’t work, I’ll make it work. Seeing Wang Jijing today, it doesn’t seem too difficult as long as luck is on our side. For now, just enjoy your drink.”
“Yes.”
On one side of the room lay a money pouch.
He had received one month’s wages in advance, containing silver equivalent to 20 nyang. The hazard pay would be given afterward.
“At this rate, we’ll be rich.”
“Better to secure funds in advance; we don’t know what will happen later. Still, I wonder if he followed us this far.”
“Do you mean the ronin?”
“Yes.”
“What a pity. Since we can’t track him, we have no choice but to wait for him to appear first.”
Yi Hwan shared the same thought.
He was confident the ronin had come to the Southern Legion after gathering information through former classmates. But as Cheol Muok had said, if the man didn’t show himself first, there was no way to find him.
“I hope he really belongs to the Sword King faction. Then we could learn what our lord is curious about.”
“Who knows? They might be as clueless as your faction. We can only wait and do our best in our own plans.”
“Yes.”
On the rooftop opposite Wang Jijing’s mansion, a ronin stood under the moonlight. His eyes were filled with confusion and disappointment.
“To end up as a bodyguard for a corrupt rich man… am I not looking for the right person? Or has time changed him?”
Whooosh!
The night wind swept gently across his body. After staring at Wang Jijing’s mansion for a long while, the ronin suddenly disappeared.
The next morning, the first escort mission began.
The destination was a manor on the outskirts of the city, where a gathering of those in similar business to Wang Jijing was taking place.
With some anxiety quelled by Cheol Muok’s show of force, Wang Jijing set out again, accompanied by twenty bodyguards.
Yi Hwan and Cheol Muok stayed at the rear.
[First, we need to subdue the escorts. Make them obey any order. Let’s start strong from the beginning.]
[Understood.]
Yi Hwan crossed his arms and closed his eyes while riding. Even without holding the reins, he moved in sync with the horse as if they had been together for a long time.
After some time…
[This is Princess Ma-ma’s residence.]
Yi Hwan opened his eyes at Cheol Muok’s telepathic message. Cheol Muok raised his hand, pointing to the left.
It was an antique mansion, and the sign above the main gate clearly read “Song Family.”
A strange feeling enveloped Yi Hwan, as if he were passing by his own sister’s house.
‘I should pay a visit soon.’
At that moment…
Creeeak…
The mansion’s main gate opened, and people appeared. Yi Hwan’s eyes shifted slightly.
Before him stood a woman with a slender figure, ivory-white skin, and extraordinary beauty.
It was his sister, Yi Young.
Behind her was Song Cheonho.
[Is that her?]
[Yes.]
Yi Hwan couldn’t take his eyes off Yi Young. She appeared even more delicate than he remembered, which made him feel uneasy.
Yi Young turned toward Yi Hwan.
Though she wore a mask, Yi Hwan instinctively turned his head slightly.
[She’s coming this way.]
Yi Hwan turned back to watch Yi Young approaching.
‘Could it be…’
Yi Young stopped in front of the carriage.
“Please stop for a moment.”
Even as she spoke, the carriage continued forward. Yi Hwan spoke in a low voice:
“Stop.”
The bodyguard driving the carriage looked at Yi Hwan, his gaze asking, “Who are you to give orders?” But Yi Hwan’s cold eyes made him pull the reins immediately.
“Whoa, whoa!”
The carriage halted, and Wang Jijing’s voice came from inside:
“What’s going on?”
“The Song family princess demands that you stop.”
Yi Hwan’s eyebrows rose slightly.
‘They knew who she was but didn’t stop?’
The carriage window opened, and Wang Jijing leaned out. Yi Young approached him.
“Can we talk for a moment?”
“I don’t know what this is about, but I’m busy, Ma-ma.”
“It’ll only take a moment; please get down.”
Unexpectedly, Yi Young’s gaze and demeanor were nothing like her delicate appearance. Yi Hwan was secretly surprised by her firmness.
Wang Jijing eventually stepped out of the carriage.
“What is this about?”
His tone was polite, but his eyes revealed irritation.
“Why was the repayment date moved forward?”
“I already informed Lord Song about that.”
“No matter what your father says, the principal will be repaid on the promised date. If you resist, I won’t stay silent—remember that.”
“You need to pay the interest first, right? You know how much is overdue.”
“All overdue interest will also be repaid in full in fifteen days. That’s all.”
With that, Yi Young turned and walked away. Yi Hwan watched her retreating figure and smiled faintly.
‘She’s become quite strong.’
“She thinks she can get away with it because she’s a princess. Let’s see what happens if she can’t pay the overdue interest on time.”
Bang!
Wang Jijing entered the carriage in irritation, and the journey resumed.
Yi Hwan watched Yi Young until she disappeared from view.
He wondered silently:
[If she received my tip, it must be a considerable sum, so how much principal and interest is left unpaid?]
From previous intelligence, he knew the Song family had acquired two inns. Even so, there should have been enough funds remaining.
‘Was there more debt to pay?’
The manor was truly magnificent.
Several carriages were lined up in front of the gate, and bodyguards gathered here and there.
When the carriage stopped, Wang Jijing stepped out and said to Yi Hwan:
“The escorts cannot enter; you must wait here.”
Though his tone had changed since employment, Yi Hwan paid no mind.
He peered through the open door.
A vast courtyard held tables where people in expensive silk robes were noisily drinking.
Thud!
As the doors closed, Yi Hwan walked to the side, sitting on a rock.
All eyes turned to him and Cheol Muok, likely because they were strangers.
Someone asked Wang Jijing’s bodyguard:
“Where is Heukbaek-igeom?”
“They’re dead.”
“Dead? When?”
“They were ambushed by assassins.”
“Then who are these people?”
“If you’re curious, ask them directly.”
Wang Jijing’s bodyguards did not welcome Yi Hwan and Cheol Muok, aware of their conditions.
“What are your aliases?”
Cheol Muok replied:
“Mind your own business, big guy.”
“What?”
“Careless eye-opening like that, and your head might just fly off.”
“That bastard!”
“Enough!”
A low voice from behind made the attacker hesitate.
Yi Hwan looked back.
A sharp-looking man smiled faintly at him, like a drawn sword.
Yi Hwan’s gaze shifted to a flag fluttering atop the carriage roof. His eyes sparkled.
‘So the Yellow Dragon Guild is a single organization after all.’
He was finally seeing the target of this operation.
Cheol Muok asked:
“Shall I handle them?”
“No. First day—let’s pass quietly.”
Yi Hwan crossed his arms and closed his eyes, mentally mapping out the steps ahead.
“They’ve provoked the tiger.”
“Indeed. How dare they upset Sangsan Blood Blade. Trouble will come soon, hohoho.”
Wang Jijing’s bodyguards whispered about Yi Hwan. One, the middle-aged man who had stopped a fight earlier, glanced sideways.
Sangsan Blood Blade.
The very man whose inn clerk had once rivaled Heukbaek-igeom. He was now bodyguard to the Yellow Dragon Guild master.
He watched Cheol Muok closely, not Yi Hwan, because Cheol Muok made a stronger first impression.
‘These are unfamiliar faces—likely hired to replace Heukbaek-igeom.’
Looking around, he asked:
“Does anyone know these men?”
“We’ve never seen them.”
“Same here.”
Finding no one knew them, Sangsan Blood Blade smiled confidently:
“You’ll know soon enough, when they learn the cost of provoking us first, hohoho.”
“Now that Heukbaek-igeom is dead, we can dominate Lord Wang’s side. With Blood Blade here, it’s possible. But who killed Heukbaek-igeom?”
“Who knows? We don’t, but we’re grateful regardless.”
“Yes. That pest Heukbaek-igeom—he’s gone. Feels good.”
“Quiet. They’ll hear everything.”
“Don’t worry. They won’t dare say a word against Blood Blade.”
“Hohoho.”
“Huhoho.”
Yi Hwan, still envisioning plans, had found a completely different path after weighing all options.
‘This is going to be fun.’
He opened his eyes.
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
“Just some things.”
Cheol Muok pointed toward the Yellow Dragon Guild:
“That’s Sangsan Blood Blade.”
“I heard. I wonder… how much does he get paid?”
“…Why do you care?”
“Just joking. Give me some wine.”
“I didn’t bring any. Even as a bodyguard, drinking isn’t allowed.”
At that moment, the gate opened, and Wang Jijing stepped out, face flushed and breathing heavy, clearly angry.
“Damn them!”
With a shout, he shook his belly and headed to the carriage. Yi Hwan and Cheol Muok followed.
Yi Hwan looked at the manor as he walked, noting that others from the meeting were coming out one by one.
‘Who owns the Yellow Dragon Guild?’
Since he didn’t know their face, he would watch until they got into the carriage.
A figure hurried toward Sangsan Blood Blade. Yi Hwan’s eyes turned icy.
‘That’s him.’
The Yellow Dragon Guild master’s plump face imprinted clearly in Yi Hwan’s mind.
Wang Jijing glared at Yi Hwan.
“Don’t go any further!”
Bang!
The carriage door slammed shut.
Yi Hwan mounted his horse slowly, looking back at Sangsan Blood Blade, who was also on horseback, smiling broadly.
He heard Yi Hwan’s telepathic voice:
[Next time you smile like that, I’ll pull all your teeth out.]
Sangsan Blood Blade’s eyebrows curved sharply like blades. Yi Hwan smirked faintly and turned his horse.
He snickered.
Sangsan Blood Blade chuckled.
“You don’t know who I am, do you?”
