episode_0050

A massive manor stood in the middle of the commercial district, bordering the eastern main road of Cheongju Castle.

The signboard above the main gate had the four characters ‘Ten Thousand Dragon Escort Agency’ firmly engraved on it.

And deep within the headquarters of the Ten Thousand Dragon Escort Agency, Escort Agency Head Lee Gunbaek sat facing a man.

Unlike the noisy outside, the interior was utterly silent.

Neither of them spoke first.

After a long silence, the man, with his head bowed deeply, opened his mouth.

“I apologize, Gukju-nim. I didn’t know that the Chengdu branch would be utterly ruined by just two men.”

Lee Gunbaek nodded.

If he, the Gukju, hadn’t known, how could anyone else have known?

“What did you say the identities of those two men were?”

“They are called Mad Heaven No Sword, and Bang Jongdae, a disciple of the Justice Alliance Leader.”

“……They are not easy men to provoke.”

“I am ashamed.”

Mad Heaven No Sword was a master who had seemingly fallen from the sky.

He first appeared at the Qingcheng Mountain Justice Alliance branch and made his name known by instantly discerning and capturing a spy who had cultivated demonic martial arts.

He had saved the life of Namgung’s only precious daughter, and he had personally captured the spy whom no one else could find, so it was indeed correct to see the Namgung family and Mad Heaven No Sword as being bound by a deep debt of gratitude.

Moreover, wasn’t he the direct disciple of the Red Night Sword Sovereign, one of the Ten Great Masters of the World, who was said to have reached the heavens with his sword?

Initially, there were only rampant rumors, but his true skill was revealed to the world at the recent Tang Family gathering.

He had consecutively defeated the dazzling young masters of various sects without even using a sword.

How could it be that Seo Jeongah, the famously strict Abbess Miwol of the Emei Sect, upon witnessing the young man’s martial arts competition, evaluated his martial talent as unparalleled in the world?

Lee Gunbaek sighed and muttered.

“If we provoke them wrongly, we could make enemies of the Namgung family and the Sword Sovereign.”

“But if we do nothing in this situation, wouldn’t the reputation of our Ten Thousand Dragon Escort Agency be in tatters?”

“What reputation is there left to protect here?”

Rumors about the Ten Thousand Dragon Escort Agency had already spread throughout Chengdu.

The fact that a branch of the Ten Thousand Dragon Escort Agency, one of the ten great escort agencies, had been completely ruined by just two people was a hot topic in every inn.

It would be different if they had a just cause on their side, but because of the karma accumulated by the former Daepyo-du Namhyuk, many people were actually praising Cheongun, who had devastated them, as a righteous hero.

Lee Gunbaek himself had never dreamed that his subordinates would dare to commit such acts without his knowledge, the Gukju.

“Being ruined by just two men is not the problem. The bigger problem is that it has been revealed that the Chengdu branch dared to violate the Escort Agency headquarters’ policy, acted as they pleased, pursued their personal interests, and exploited the common people.”

“That is true, but…”

“Silence. From now on, manage thoroughly to prevent such incidents from happening again. If similar behavior is observed, immediately impose strong sanctions.”

“Yes, Gukju-nim. Then what shall we do about those two men?”

Lee Gunbaek, deep in thought, frowned and spoke.

“What do they want, you said?”

“I don’t know either, sir. They just kept spouting incomprehensible things…”

“Tell me in detail.”

The reporting man carefully added a word.

“He abruptly declared that he would be the Daepyo-du of the Ten Thousand Dragon Escort Agency from now on.”

“What…? Was this an act orchestrated to target the Daepyo-du position from the start?”

“Since the opponent is no ordinary madman… we cannot know his clear intentions, but we cannot rule out that possibility either.”

Lee Gunbaek, after a moment of thought, burst out in admiration.

“If that is truly the reason, then it can be considered a blessing.”

“Pardon?”

The man blinked stupidly.

A madman ruined a whole branch, and that’s a blessing? What kind of blessing?

Had the Gukju gone mad along with that fellow?

Just as he was thinking that, Lee Gunbaek’s words continued.

“The Daepyo-du is the face of the Escort Agency. If a martial artist with such a background and skill comes forward on his own to become the Daepyo-du and elevate the name of the Ten Thousand Dragon Escort Agency, wouldn’t it rather be a cause for gratitude?”

“Pardon? No, Gukju-nim. How can you say such a thing when you don’t know if he wants the Daepyo-du position, or a position even higher than that?”

“If he wants a position, wouldn’t it suffice to just give it to him?”

“…Are you thinking of giving him even the Vice-Gukju position if he wants it?”

“That wouldn’t be bad either.”

“Are you serious?”

“I am.”

Lee Gunbaek confirmed.

Rather than letting incompetent fellows occupy positions, it was better to appoint someone capable, even if he was a bit mad.

Moreover, he wasn’t completely insane.

After all, putting everything else aside, wasn’t it true that the young man Cheongun was outraged by the Escort Agency’s exploitation of civilians and stepped forward?

Lee Gunbaek, after a moment’s thought, gave instructions to the man.

“First, I need to meet that young man in person. Prepare to depart immediately.”

****

Meanwhile.

“Ugh…”

Wails echoed through the Chengdu branch of the Ten Thousand Dragon Escort Agency.

Most of them were men who had been beaten by Cheongun, tied up with fishing lines and thrown around, or injured by the rosary beads hurled by Bang Jongdae.

This was because Cheongun and Bang Jongdae had held back their strength appropriately.

Groaning, they slowly dragged their bodies and gathered in the central training grounds of the manor.

Cheongun sat on the chair placed at the head of the central training grounds, looking at the men, and spoke.

“Is everyone here?”

Cheongun toyed with the gold token pinned to his chest.

It was the Ten Thousand Dragon Gold Token he had taken from Namhyuk.

“Alright, greet me. I am the Daepyo-du.”

“……”

An eerie silence descended at Cheongun’s words.

Everyone present only glanced at each other, none daring to answer.

“No answer?”

“……”

“Are you ignoring me now? Me, the Daepyo-du?”

“……”

The silence continued.

Just then, Bang Jongdae, who had been watching with a hearty laugh, flicked his finger.

A rosary bead flicked from his fingertip struck the forehead of a man at the far end, who had been muttering with a dissatisfied expression, ‘Daepyo-du, my ass…’ with a loud *thwack*!

The man immediately lost consciousness and fell backward.

“Haha, show proper respect to the Daepyo-du.”

Bang Jongdae said with a hearty laugh.

Just then, a man sitting in front, who had been observing carefully, cautiously spoke.

“Everyone is gathered.”

“Good. Then, let’s have an introduction.”

“…An introduction?”

“Yes. You, what’s your name?”

“My name is Jang Hyuk.”

Cheongun nodded and said.

“I hear that you scoundrels have been playing tricks with land deeds and very cleverly exploiting the common people. I’ve heard that more than a few families have gone bankrupt because of you. Is that true?”

“N-not all of us did that.”

“Oh? Then who did? Speak up.”

“Pardon? Daepyo-du Namhyuk’s teeth have already been broken by the Great Hero, haven’t they?”

“I told you to name the ones who associated with him. Don’t you want to speak? And I am the Daepyo-du, not that guy. What kind of Daepyo-du is a toothless man?”

At those words, Jang Hyuk profusely sweated and made excuses.

“T-then, Daepyo-du-nim. What power do subordinates have? If we had committed insubordination, wouldn’t our end have been obvious? We had no choice but to obey.”

“That is a truly reasonable point.”

Cheongun nodded.

“Good. Following orders from superiors, what a resonant phrase.”

“Th-thank you for understanding.”

“Then I, too, shall give an order as the Daepyo-du. Report them immediately. And break their teeth.”

“P-pardon? What do you mean by that…”

“Why? Don’t you know ‘obedience to superiors’?”

“……”

“No answer again?”

“……”

“Good. Let’s all just die.”

Cheongun abruptly stood up.

He then drew the Red Night Sword, raised its tip towards the sky, and enveloped its blade in azure lightning energy.

Crackle—!

Sword energy crackling with lightning soared towards the sky.

It was so hot that the surrounding air shimmered and heat radiated in all directions.

The eyes of the escorts widened in shock.

It was surprising enough to unleash sword energy of that size, but seeing streaks of lightning wrapped around it was simply astonishing.

Cheongun said with a hint of pity.

“Alright, let’s die.”

Just as he was slowly tilting the sword tip downwards.

“It’s Escort Jang Hyuk!”

Someone shouted those words.

“Haha.”

As Bang Jongdae laughed and flicked his finger.

—Thwack!

“Ugh!”

Jang Hyuk, whose teeth were shattered by the rosary bead that flew instantly, clutched his mouth and groaned.

But Cheongun did not stop.

As if still not satisfied, Cheongun’s sword tip slowly pointed towards them.

The escorts had already witnessed Cheongun’s madness with their own eyes.

That fellow would do what he said he would.

He would really do it, and then some.

In other words, if they left things as they were, they would be thoroughly roasted by those fierce blue lightning bolts.

Frightened by this, the escorts immediately started blurting out whatever came to mind.

“This guy here also participated!”

“Escort Park, sitting next to me, also colluded with Jangyu Merchant Group to embezzle land near Chengdu’s South Gate!”

“This bastard privately extorted protection fees by threatening commoners!”

A bizarre phenomenon of people accusing each other.

Each time, Bang Jongdae busily flicked his finger, and each time, a rosary bead flew out and shattered the teeth of the accused man.

In an instant, their screams mingled, and Cheongun, watching the scene, smiled contentedly and retracted his sword energy.

Among them were a few men who still had their teeth.

Cheongun looked at them and asked.

“What is an Escort Agency?”

Among them, a man with a closely shaven head replied.

“It is a place that protects the wealth and lives of its clients.”

Cheongun nodded.

“Then what is an escort?”

“They are those who protect clients and uphold trust.”

“Good. Then what are those fellows?”

“I don’t know, sir.”

“Those are bandits. They are not escorts, nor are they merchants. They are merely bandits who committed robbery under the signboard of an Escort Agency.”

Cheongun clicked his tongue disapprovingly.

“Those who abandon trust are not human. If you betray trust, everything crumbles. If an Escort Agency loses trust, who will entrust their goods? If a merchant lies, who will buy their goods? Ultimately, what they did was not just break their own rice bowls, but shake the very foundation of the entire Central Plains.”

“I see.”

“And I personally stepped forward and broke the teeth of those damned scoundrels. What does that mean?”

“W-what does it mean?”

Cheongun looked up at the sky.

“It means I saved the entire Central Plains.”

“……”

“Therefore, the Ten Thousand Dragon Escort Agency can also be seen as owing me a debt. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Y-yes, it seems so.”

“What’s your name?”

“I am Yeonbaek.”

“What did you usually think when you saw the actions of those men?”

“I thought it was pathetic.”

“Then why did you just stand by and watch that situation all this time?”

“I spoke up once and was demoted from an escort to a porter.”

Oh?

Then that’s a different story.

“A porter, you mean a baggage handler?”

“Yes, Daepyo-du.”

“Then from now on, you are a Pyo-du.”

“Pardon? A Pyo-du?”

“Yes. You could say you’ve been promoted by two whole ranks, from porter.”

Gulp.

Yeonbaek swallowed hard at the sudden turn of his life.

“This is your first order.”

“What is it?”

“I personally shattered the teeth of those trashy scoundrels. From now on, you are to deal with those who have broken teeth.”

“Kill them?”

“Don’t kill them. Drag them around, take them to the people they exploited, make them bow their heads and apologize, and then make them pay compensation.”

“I will do that.”

“And any leftover hidden treasury notes and wealth in the vault, I, the Daepyo-du, will personally handle.”

“……”

Cheongun nodded.

There was no particular reason to go this far, but if one were to argue that, there was no reason to attack this place in the first place.

But it’s fine.

If there’s no justification, you just create one.

His stifled feelings were relieved, money was gained, and his influence grew.

This was true justice. True education. Righteousness and chivalry. The true duty of a righteous hero is to eliminate evil and establish good.

Cheongun turned his head.

Bang Jongdae was gleefully flicking his fingers, shattering the men’s teeth with rosary beads.

Watching that, he looked up at the sky.

“It’s summer.”

“B-but it’s autumn, not summer…”

“Don’t argue.”

“Ah, yes…”