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chapter 06
Mu Jeong-chang, known as Gong Myeong-do, was a martial artist belonging to the central ranks of the righteous sect. In Guangdong Province, he had earned some recognition.
Although he was considered part of the central ranks, in many ways he was closer to a wandering swordsman.
This man had appeared in Hong Kong, and his destination was none other than the Gangnam Escort Bureau. Jin Seol had summoned him there.
Since they were going to retrieve goods seized by the Wangak Mountain Estate, it made sense to have a security measure in place. Gong Myeong-do had been called as that safeguard, accompanying them to negotiate with the Wangak Mountain Estate owner, Ak Jeong, to reclaim the seized goods.
“Thank you for coming all this way. I am Jin Seol, head of this escort bureau,” Jin Seol said, bowing deeply to Gong Myeong-do in front of the Gangnam Escort Bureau.
Gong Myeong-do didn’t even glance at him, simply nodding.
“I’ve skipped meals rushing here. Prepare a proper meal for me.”
Jin Seol’s expression shifted slightly, then returned to normal.
“Of course. Please come inside.”
If one lacked strength, the humiliation of being taken advantage of was indescribable. Jin Seol considered this to be one of those necessary precautions.
He led Gong Myeong-do to a side building. Meanwhile, Geom-ryeong left the bureau to carry out his duties.
“Why pay for someone to go where there’s only corpses? If I had that money, I’d hire myself,” Geom-ryeong muttered as he walked toward the marketplace.
“Mu Jeong-chang… an impressive alias for someone not in the genealogies,” he murmured.
The genealogies he referred to were the records of the top one hundred martial artists in the martial world.
Geom-ryeong had learned about many martial artists from his three masters, including their aliases, skills, strengths, and weaknesses—but he considered most of them ordinary, except for the top one hundred.
And Mu Jeong-chang Gong Myeong-do, who wasn’t even mentioned by name by the three masters, certainly didn’t impress Geom-ryeong.
Yet there was something Geom-ryeong didn’t know: the three masters had been active in the martial world fifty years ago.
“Well, it doesn’t concern me.”
Upon reaching the marketplace, the first thing Geom-ryeong did was visit the Continental Battlefield, depositing the travel vouchers he carried. The clerk looked him over suspiciously.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think I stole these?”
The clerk, taken aback, quickly smiled and handed him a receipt.
Geom-ryeong narrowed his eyes and said:
“If you make that face again, I’ll withdraw all the money and place it in another battlefield.”
“My apologies, sir!”
Geom-ryeong had deposited a significant sum, boosting the battlefield’s performance, so the clerk knew that making him angry could cost him his job. With a forced smile, he bowed and escorted Geom-ryeong out.
Geom-ryeong left the battlefield calmly, a small smile playing on his lips, and headed to the Wang butcher shop.
Geom-ryeong completed his assigned task in just one hour and returned to the Gangnam Escort Bureau.
Upon returning, he saw Jin Seol preparing to leave for Wangak Mountain, speaking with Mu Jeong-chang Gong Myeong-do. Behind them stood other escorts and clients, ready to safely transport the recovered goods to their destination.
Since Jin Seol had to finalize negotiations and return, it would take a while.
Geom-ryeong went through the courtyard to Chief Seon Nam-chun, handing over the vouchers he had retrieved. Having observed Geom-ryeong’s efficiency for several days, Seon Nam-chun no longer said much.
“Should I come along?”
“If you go, who will handle the marketplace and streets? Besides, we’re short-staffed—you’ll have to help with other tasks starting today.”
Some of the escorts had been injured, so additional help was needed to manage the goods coming in.
“That’s not my job. I work fast to finish quickly and rest. And you said I only need to handle my tasks, right?”
Though his words sounded a bit cold, the tasks Geom-ryeong handled would take an ordinary person a whole day.
“What can we do under these circumstances?”
“Then pay me overtime, and I’ll help.”
Seon Nam-chun made a shocked face.
“If you come at me like that, you won’t be able to work here!”
Most people would reluctantly comply after such a warning.
“Well, then I’ll look for other work. Uncle Jeon suggested I work with him, so I’ll go to him.”
Seon Nam-chun twitched his cheek.
“Pay the wages for the work you’ve done so far.”
Faced with Geom-ryeong’s firm stance, Seon Nam-chun relented.
“Geom-ryeong, why speak so coldly? Don’t you have compassion? People get hurt, goods get lost…”
Seon Nam-chun appealed to sentiment, but he didn’t truly understand Geom-ryeong.
“That’s the bureau’s problem. If I’m in trouble, can you help?”
“Of course,” Seon Nam-chun replied confidently.
“Then give me five hundred gold coins.”
Seon Nam-chun froze.
“See? You can’t help.”
Geom-ryeong knew he was being teased, but he was the one benefiting, not Seon Nam-chun, so he left him be.
“That’s different. Geom-ryeong! And what do you need 500 gold coins for?”
“Why not? I need a house, a wedding… there’s so much to spend on.”
“That’s not urgent right now, is it?”
“I know you were going to skimp on paying me later.”
Seon Nam-chun shook his head vigorously.
“Fine. I’ll pay you overtime. Ten iron coins per hour.”
In the end, Seon Nam-chun had no choice but to pay Geom-ryeong, who was exceptionally efficient.
Most newcomers would make mistakes or steal goods, but Geom-ryeong had never done so. Though focused only on his own tasks, he was irreplaceable, especially in such a difficult period.
Paying overtime was better than losing such a valuable worker.
News that the Gangnam Escort Bureau had lost goods to the Wangak Mountain Estate spread in Hong Kong. However, when it became known that Jin Seol had gone to retrieve the goods, more clients rushed to the bureau.
One man against a hundred!
This referred to Geom-ryeong.
He would leave early, complete deliveries in one hour regardless of volume, and return to organize the goods faster and more accurately than others.
Working alongside him, Seon Nam-chun realized Geom-ryeong’s memory was exceptional. Once taught, he rarely forgot. Moreover, he organized items efficiently, making Seon Nam-chun’s own work easier.
“Geom-ryeong!”
“Yes?”
“Why not join the bureau officially and learn the work properly?”
Seon Nam-chun often suggested this, but Geom-ryeong shook his head.
“I wish to travel the Central Plains freely, unbound. I work now only to fund my travels.”
Though young, he had a romantic view of life. Seon Nam-chun decided to gradually persuade him without offending him, knowing time and patience were key.
“Think about it.”
“Yes, I’ll just think about it.”
After finishing his tasks, Geom-ryeong would always play with Jin A-seol.
Sometimes Geom-ryeong teased first; sometimes Jin A-seol did. They bickered daily, but enjoyed it nonetheless.
“Really! I leapt five floors and scattered sword energy, yet Grandpa Ghost used Transformation Technique to dodge my attack.”
Geom-ryeong recounted martial arts stories learned in the Black Darkness Hall.
“I sensed hostility from behind and used Transformation Technique myself to create distance…”
Jin A-seol listened eagerly, fascinated by the stories.
“So that’s how I barely managed to win.”
“Wow, you really tell stories well. You could be a comic storyteller.”
Geom-ryeong just blinked.
“Comic storyteller?”
“Yes! Sometimes a traveling troupe comes to the marketplace and performs, with a storyteller telling amusing tales—but your stories are more fun.”
Geom-ryeong felt a bit deflated.
“You think I’m lying again, don’t you?” he challenged.
“Of course! How could I believe you can perform such techniques?”
Though Jin A-seol hadn’t formally studied martial arts, she understood enough from listening to others to know Geom-ryeong’s claims sounded incredible.
“I told you, I’m the greatest martial artist in the world. How could someone who can’t do this be the best?”
“When did you ever say that? You said a martial arts master, not the greatest in the world. Always lying.”
He realized he hadn’t explicitly claimed to be the greatest in the world yet.
“That’s the same thing. Martial arts master or world’s greatest, it’s alike.”
“How is that alike? There are a hundred top martial artists, all martial arts masters. But there’s only one greatest in the world.”
Jin A-seol recounted what she had heard.
“Fine. Who is that person? I’ll go and defeat them myself.”
