Chapter v12c19

Jang Woo-yang turned to his son and said,

“He’s the young master, so you go.”

He couldn’t possibly face the young master himself, being the leader of the agency. Even though they were smaller than the Central Plains Escort Agency, the Mount Zhongyang Escort Agency had risen to become one of the four major escort agencies in the land. They couldn’t be looked down upon or undervalue themselves. Of course, he couldn’t deny that a sense of inferiority complex was also at play.

As his son stepped forward in his place, Jong Mu-yun, the successor of the Central Plains Escort Agency and known as “Little Heaven,” frowned slightly, feeling slighted, but his expression quickly smoothed over.

“Hahaha, it’s been a while, Escort Leader Jong.”

Jang Woo-Kang greeted Jong Mu-yun with a cupped-fist salute from atop his horse. The children of escort agency leaders, even if they were the sons of leaders, addressed each other as “Escort Leader” instead of “Young Master” or “Young Hero.” It was a symbolic title rather than an actual position.

“It’s been a while, How is Leader Jang doing? It seems like it’s been a while since your father’s seventieth birthday celebration.”

It seemed Jang Woo-Kang was nothing more than a passing breeze to this young master. He barely acknowledged Jang Woo-Kang’s greeting and immediately turned to Jang Woo-yang, as if Jang Woo-Kang didn’t even exist.

“We were treated well that day. Thank you.”

Jang Woo-Kang couldn’t help but answer the question. His face flushed red. Jang Woo-yang stopped his son with a look. He knew his son was still no match for this young, cunning fox.

His son, Jang Woo-Kang, was awkwardly left standing there, like a spare part. Jang Woo-yang, realizing that his son would never escape the shadow of the Central Plains Escort Agency at this rate, felt a surge of passion for his son’s education. He silently vowed to provide him with more rigorous and strict training.

“Who is that gentleman?”

Jang Woo-yang pointed to the tall, sturdy warrior standing beside Jong Mu-yun, radiating an intimidating aura. Judging from his presence, he was at least a chief escort. Jong Mu-yun, realizing his oversight, quickly introduced him.

“Ah, my apologies. This is Song Cheok, the North Wind Saber, our chief escort.”

Jang Woo-yang’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Ah! One of the Eight Guardians of the Central Plains Escort Agency! I’ve heard of your reputation.”

“You flatter me.”

Song Cheok replied politely, but his voice was rather curt. The Central Plains Escort Agency, widely recognized as the best escort agency in the land, had eight chief escorts who ranked above all other escorts, including branch leaders. Each of them was renowned for their exceptional martial arts skills.

They were the embodiment of the “escorts’ dream.” It was said that they never failed a mission once they were involved (whether it was true or not was another matter).

‘I heard they only take on special, top-class missions these days. What kind of treasure are they transporting to have someone like him involved?’

Jang Woo-yang felt uneasy. He was curious, but he couldn’t ask directly. They were competing with the Central Plains Escort Agency on speed, not the value of their cargo.

Another thing that bothered him was that Song Cheok, a prominent figure in the industry, had been deferring to Jong Mu-yun throughout their conversation, standing half a step behind him like an assistant. And he didn’t seem to have any objections to Jong Mu-yun taking the lead.

‘Is this young master’s skill so exceptional that even one of the Eight Guardians is willing to serve him? Or is it simply the prestige of the Central Plains Escort Agency?’

But Jong Mu-yun remained confident and composed, despite having one of the Eight Guardians as his assistant. He couldn’t help but compare him to his own son, who was still lacking. His passion for his son’s education doubled.

As Jang Woo-yang’s mind raced with thoughts of education, he scanned the Central Plains Escort Agency’s procession and noticed something strange. His eyes gleamed.

“Huh, it seems you had a bit of an accident.”

Upon closer inspection, he noticed that while the carts at the front of the procession seemed fine, the ones further back were scorched, and some of the flags were singed black.

Jong Mu-yun scratched his head and said,

“Hahaha, it was quite a predicament. We were caught in a massive wildfire on our way here. We almost lost all our cargo. We’re lucky the damage was minimal.”

He laughed and feigned distress, but his true feelings were different.

‘Why? Are you disappointed that we didn’t lose everything?’

His outward expression didn’t match his inner thoughts, but he was surprisingly good at concealing his true feelings for someone his age. He had already mastered the art of deception at such a young age. It was an essential skill for anyone in business.

Jang Woo-yang was no different.

‘Yes! Why didn’t they lose everything? What a shame… If only the fire had been a bit stronger…’

But his words flowed smoothly, contradicting his inner thoughts.

“Oh my, oh my. That must have been quite an ordeal. You were almost in serious trouble. If you had tried a little harder, you might have ended up begging on the streets. Hahaha!”

Jang Woo-yang’s mastery of deception was also impressive. But the final blow, as expected of a veteran, was sharper. Jong Mu-yun’s temple twitched at Jang Woo-yang’s sly remark.

“By the way, I heard a rumor that you encountered the Green Forest King on your way here. Is that incredible rumor true?”

Jang Woo-yang was momentarily surprised by the Central Plains Escort Agency’s information network. They had been traveling in the opposite direction at the time, so it shouldn’t have been easy for them to obtain such information.

“Hahaha, it’s true. We encountered the Green Forest King, whom no escort agency can avoid, in the mountains, and managed to escape without any damage to our cargo. We’re proud of our escorts. Soon, everyone in the martial world will know of this remarkable achievement and our proven reliability.”

Of course, “no escort agency” included the Central Plains Escort Agency. Moreover, Jang Woo-yang subtly took credit for the achievement, boasting about his own agency’s capabilities. It was infuriating to the arrogant young master, who was proud of his own agency.

“Hahaha, your agency managed to escape unscathed after encountering the fearsome Green Forest King… You must be incredibly lucky. You should thank the heavens.”

It was a polite way of saying, “It was luck, not skill. Don’t get cocky.”

“Tsk, tsk, Escort Leader Jong, you’re still young. In this world, only results matter. No matter how much those narrow-minded fools chatter, the fact remains that our Mount Zhongyang Escort Agency encountered the Green Forest King and successfully delivered our cargo.”

“Leader Jang won that round. Tsk, tsk, why bother with words when you have a good sword…”

Jang Hong commented on Bi Ryu-yeon’s observation.

“Indeed, old ginger is spicy.”

(TLN: my heart skiped a beat reading ‘old ginger’ :/)

Jang Woo-yang’s smug smile looked like a sneer to Jong Mu-yun. His fists clenched in humiliation, and he struggled to suppress his rising anger.

‘Old fox!’

‘Cunning bastard!’

Their gazes clashed, sparks flying. The flames of their rivalry were still burning bright.

“Hey, how long are you going to keep this old man standing here?”

The old man in the bamboo hat, who had been riding beside Jang Woo-yang, finally spoke up, his voice laced with impatience.

“Oh, my apologies, Senior. I’m so sorry. But this young man is blocking the road and won’t let us pass. I had no choice but to be rude.”

His tone was filled with genuine respect and deference. He seemed almost afraid of the old man. Jong Mu-yun’s gaze naturally shifted to the old man. He was curious about the identity of the man who commanded such respect from the sly old fox.

“Hey, young man. Stop glaring at me like that. You’re going to hurt your eyes. Youngsters these days are getting more and more disrespectful. They have no respect for their elders. Don’t you agree, Leader Jang?”

The old man subtly addressed Jang Woo-yang.

“You’re absolutely right, Senior. Your words are wise.”

Jang Woo-yang chimed in, as if he had been waiting for the cue. He smiled brightly, enjoying Jong Mu-yun’s sour expression, and silently thanked the old man.

The young master, unaccustomed to humiliation, wanted to shout in anger, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Jang Woo-yang, the leader of an escort agency who was now even challenging the Central Plains Escort Agency’s reputation, was showing such respect to this man. He couldn’t be an ordinary person.

“What are you waiting for? Move out of the way! We’re in a hurry.”

At the old man’s urging, Jong Mu-yun almost shouted but quickly swallowed his words. He forced a smile, smoothing over his furrowed brow.

“Haha… Wouldn’t it be more efficient and convenient if Leader Jang, with your smaller procession, kindly stepped aside?”

As the saying went, “Words can be sharper than swords.” To Jang Woo-yang’s ears, it sounded like he was saying that the Mount Zhongyang Escort Agency, which was no match for the Central Plains Escort Agency in size, should know their place and step aside.

“Hahaha, youngsters these days have no manners… Tsk, tsk, tsk, since when did the Central Plains Escort Agency become so disrespectful! Even your grandfather, Jong Mu-geuk, the Heavenly Mark, wasn’t this rude in front of me. Did Heavenly Mark teach you to treat your elders this way?”

“Y-You knew my great-grandfather?”

Jong Mu-yun’s jaw dropped, and he asked in a trembling voice.

“Oh? Great-grandfather? I knew him since he was a kid, following his father around on escorts. He used to visit our mountain often.”

Jong Mu-yun was beyond shock.

“S-Senior, who are you…?”

“You’re a curious young man. I have no name to give you. Ask your great-grandfather when you see him.”

“B-But he passed away ten years ago.”

“Oh right! I forgot. Well, keep acting up, and you can ask him in the afterlife.”

It was hard to tell if he was joking or serious. The old man leaned closer to Jong Mu-yun and whispered,

“People call me… You probably don’t…”

He was about to say “know me,” but Jong Mu-yun reacted before he could finish.

“Gasp!”

Jong Mu-yun’s soul almost left his body at the old man’s words. It was a miracle he didn’t faint and fall off his horse. He was clearly terrified.

“Who is he really?”

Bi Ryu-yeon was still puzzled.

“I’m sure, definitely, absolutely sure… I’ve met that old man before…”

Bi Ryu-yeon muttered to himself. He seemed to be getting more and more confused.

“It wasn’t in a past life… and it wasn’t in the afterlife…”

It wasn’t déjà vu. It was definitely a connection from this life.

“What’s wrong?”

The old man with the silver beard, who had also been observing the confrontation between the two escort agencies, asked.

“Oh, it’s nothing. I just feel like I’ve met that old man in the bamboo hat before.”

“Now that you mention it… I feel like I’ve met him somewhere too.”

It was true. He had a feeling he had met the old man before. But their contemplation was interrupted by another commotion.