Ah, I See.

Originally, the bandit chief was a martial artist who operated in southern Zhejiang Province.

He was a fairly well-known expert in the south.

But bewilderment rose on the bandit chief’s face.

A foot came up from below.

When he swung his saber, this time the man hopped up and drove out a fist.

‘This, what in the…’

Had there ever been anyone who fought like this?

He could not predict the attacks. It felt like he was not fighting a person but a colt.

Yet the bandit chief’s experience was not shallow either.

“You think you are the only one who can use kicking techniques!”

He launched a kick at Gyo-ha as he ducked down.

It was not some wild, random kick. It was a proper technique.

One could not survive in this harsh Central Plains with saber arts alone.

Kwaang!

Gyo-ha’s body bounced away.

But that was the bandit chief’s downfall.

Even after taking a blow to the head, Gyo-ha was grinning brightly.

He dodged the saber that came in even more savagely and slipped in beneath the bandit chief.

Another kick came flying in.

Gyo-ha reached out toward the incoming leg.

At that menacing momentum, the bandit chief’s pupils quivered.

Only then did Gyo-ha realize his mistake.

Kwadudeuk!

The moment his palm touched the leg, a horrible sound rang out.

“Khaaaagh!”

The bandit chief collapsed, clutching his ruined leg.

Flesh had been ripped away here and there.

An awkward look came over Gyo-ha’s face.

“…Ah.”

He had gotten too excited and failed to control his strength.

But the water was already spilled. The opponent had already lost his will to fight.

Few martial artists could keep fighting with one leg in such a state.

All the more when he had not only lost his fighting spirit.

“Kuhk. I, I failed to recognize this great one. Please, at least spare my life…”

He clutched his blood-soaked leg and bowed his head.

‘I was just starting to get into it.’

Gyo-ha sighed inwardly.

Before he knew it, the fighting had stopped.

It was because they had heard the bandit chief’s scream.

The escorts and even the bandits were all staring at Gyo-ha with pale faces.

They were looking at him as if they were seeing a great leader of the unorthodox faction.

The move he had just shown was so cruel it made even the bandits shudder in fear.

“Mm.”

Gyo-ha scratched his head with a troubled expression.

It was a dopey-looking gesture, but with blood dripping from his hand it only looked more ominous.

“You will not keep fighting, right?”

His voice was tinged with regret.

At that, the bandits and escorts all nodded in unison.

And just like that, the fight was over.

The bandits left, carrying their chief with them.

Neither Hyeok Du-sim nor the escorts stopped them.

“…Great hero, thank you for your help.”

Hyeok Du-sim bowed his head. For some reason the escorts and wagon hands were standing far away.

They were even holding their breath, afraid of going against Gyo-ha’s mood.

‘I should not use that too often.’

It was his first time actually using that technique on a person.

It had not just left a wound, it had shredded the limb. Even to Gyo-ha it did not look very pleasant.

Radiant Burst Strike is more violent, but…

‘With that one, there are no wounds or even traces left.’

At least the result was easier on the eyes.

On top of that, the fight had ended far too quickly.

He had practiced it until it was familiar, so it had burst out of him on reflex.

Just then, Hyeok Du-sim’s face, gauging his mood, came into his view.

“Ah!”

When Gyo-ha let out a small exclamation, Hyeok Du-sim flinched.

“It seems the chief was aiming for it on purpose.”

“Huh?”

It was only natural for bandits to raid cargo.

It did not sound like something you would say was deliberate. When Hyeok Du-sim looked puzzled, Gyo-ha cleared his throat and lowered his voice.

‘…What are you? I have never heard of someone like you, is what he said.”

His imitation of the bandit chief was rather comical, but Hyeok Du-sim’s expression grew grave as he listened.

The looks on the faces of the escorts and wagon hands listening in behind him changed as well.

Seeing them, Gyo-ha tilted his head.

It was because the expressions of a few of them seemed strange.

But he could not quite put a finger on it.

“It might have something to do with this incident.”

One of the escorts spoke up cautiously.

When Gyo-ha looked puzzled, Hyeok Du-sim let out a small sigh and began to speak.

“It’s the scroll that was stolen. If there is anything a martial artist would target, it is only that scroll. On it is written the words of Zuiweng.”

“Zuiweng.”

‘An old man drunk on wine?’

Gyo-ha nodded roughly. Then Hyeok Du-sim added an explanation.

“It’s Guyang Youngsuk. Guyang Gi¹.”

“…Mm. Is he famous?”

‘Is he a martial artist?’

When Gyo-ha blinked, Hyeok Du-sim spoke in a weary voice.

“He was a man of letters from the Song dynasty.”

“Ah.”

Gyo-ha nodded. In that case it was only natural that he did not know him.

Watching Gyo-ha lose interest so quickly, Hyeok Du-sim was able to let go of the last thread of suspicion he had.

He had wondered if Gyo-ha might have had a hand in this matter.

But that expression was not something you could fake.

“It must have been expensive.”

“…The damage is severe, so its value as a product is low. But for the literati it is a symbolic object.”

“Ah, I see.”

“…Even so, it could fetch five gold taels.”

“Oh?”

Of course, compared to the worth of Guyang Su’s name, it was nothing but pocket change.

But for common folk it was a fortune they would never touch.

Gyo-ha showed interest for a brief moment, then soon returned to his usual expression.

‘He is honest with his feelings.’

Most people would have their eyes go wide at the mention of gold coins, even if they usually did not care.

But Gyo-ha seemed uninterested.

“You said you were headed for Soheng, Great Hero?”

“Yes.”

“In that case, may I ask you to act as an escort for us. We will reward you generously.”

It was not unusual for an escort agency to ask martial artists for protection.

After all, many things happened during an escort run.

But Gyo-ha looked at Hyeok Du-sim in puzzlement.

The bandits had already been driven off.

The escorts’ fighting strength was also intact.

So would they really need additional protection?

Gyo-ha could guess the reason.

“Do you think there will be another attack?”

“…Yes. This escort run was confidential. Even the escorts did not know what the cargo was until we set out.”

At those words, Gyo-ha blinked.

Five gold taels.

It was certainly a large sum, but even so it seemed excessive.

Hyeok Du-sim explained the reason.

“The same item does not hold the same value for everyone.”

When Gyo-ha did not understand, Hyeok Du-sim glanced around and spoke carefully.

“That scroll is a gift from the Jagae Trading Company for the branch chief.”

“Branch Chief.”

Even Gyo-ha knew that meant someone of high rank.

“The branch chief’s name is Guyang Hong.”

“Ah. Is he that Guyang-whatever’s?”

“…He is not a descendant. But he mentioned him often.”

Only then did it make sense.

Since they had the same surname, he could not help but be interested.

On top of that, the Jagae Trading Company wanted to get on the branch chief’s good side and gain some rights or concessions.

Gyo-ha could now guess the situation.

But.

‘It doesn’t sound very fun.’

From how things looked, it did not seem like anyone stronger than the bandit chief he had just fought would show up.

“…Can you not just say it was stolen?”

“They not only sent thieves but even assassins, so they will not back down easily. We will have to pay the price for losing the item, but we cannot afford to lose our men as well.”

Gyo-ha’s eyes widened. He could feel the sincerity in Hyeok Du-sim.

It was a reason he had not expected.

“All right.”

In that case, he could not turn away.

At Gyo-ha’s words, Hyeok Du-sim’s face brightened.

Despite his brutal hands, Gyo-ha’s nature was not violent.

The escorts and wagon hands began tidying up the area.

Since the fight had ended so quickly, there was not much to clean up.

And so Gyo-ha set off walking alongside the carriages.

Hyeok Du-sim urged him to ride a horse, but Gyo-ha refused.

It was because he did not know how to ride.

It was not that he had no interest.

But.

“Hiiing!”

When Gyo-ha approached, the horse shied away as if it had encountered a predator.

With things like that, he could not very well force himself onto it.

‘I am faster than a horse anyway.’

Not only in speed but in stamina as well, Gyo-ha was superior.

So when Gyo-ha declined to ride, Hyeok Du-sim also walked beside him.

Even if he rode, the wagon hands were walking, so their overall pace would not change.

Since the other escorts were afraid of Gyo-ha, Hyeok Du-sim at least had to keep him company.

“Qinghai. You came all the way from Qinghai Province to here?”

“Yes. More importantly, have you found no clues about the thief?”

Qinghai Province and Zhejiang Province were at opposite ends of the continent.

Hyeok Du-sim was very curious about that, but he could not bring himself to ask.

Instead, he spoke with an awkward look on his face.

“There are witnesses, if you can call that a clue.”

There was more than one witness.

When Gyo-ha looked at him, Hyeok Du-sim let out a small sigh and spoke.

“It’s said to have been stolen by a fox.”

“A fox?”

“Yes. A fox as big as a tiger, they said.”

Gyo-ha tilted his head.

Just then, one of the escorts who had been watching Gyo-ha from a distance cut in.

“It is definitely a yokai.”

“Gwan Heung.”

Hyeok Du-sim rebuked him quietly, but the escort did not stop.

“Is the Jagae Trading Company not notorious for its ill reputation? Heaven has visited divine punishment upon them.”

“Enough. Where would there be yokai in this world? Could you even say such a thing to the escort master?”

At Hyeok Du-sim’s scolding, the escort shut his mouth, but his eyes were still full of dissatisfaction.

“…Sir?”

Tearing his gaze away from the escort, Hyeok Du-sim saw a strange sight.

Gyo-ha was sniffing at the air.

Soon, Gyo-ha nodded.

“It doesn’t seem to be a yokai.”

“…I thought so as well.”

Hyeok Du-sim replied as calmly as he could.

There were said to be many strange people among the people of Murim, and it seemed Gyo-ha was one of them.

But that was not the end of what Gyo-ha had to say.

“It is not a fox’s doing either.”

“Eh?”

Gyo-ha looked at the escort standing beside Hyeok Du-sim.

Under his gaze, the escort flinched and drew back.

He had spoken up, but he was still scared of Gyo-ha.

The escort went back to his place and started talking with the other escorts.

It looked natural enough.

But as he watched those escorts, Gyo-ha’s ears twitched.

Then he nodded, as if he had figured something out.

“Did you check the cargo properly?”

“Yes. I checked it before we set out, and the escorts checked it afterward as well.”

“That escort over there and that one, right?”

Hyeok Du-sim’s eyes widened when he saw which escorts Gyo-ha was pointing to.

It was because he was exactly right.

“The scroll. I think I’ve found it.”

At Gyo-ha’s words, Hyeok Du-sim’s steps came to a halt.

The line of carriages naturally came to a stop as well.

“How in the world? No, is that true?”

To the startled Hyeok Du-sim’s question, Gyo-ha nodded.

“I have good ears.”

If it had been a yokai, there was no way Gyo-ha would not have noticed.

“Surely you don’t mean those from before?”

Gyo-ha nodded. Hyeok Du-sim’s face hardened.

“No matter how much of a benefactor you are, I will not sit by if you insult our escort agency.”

Hostility entered Hyeok Du-sim’s gaze.

It was partly because he trusted his comrades, but there was another reason as well.

“I heard not only those two, but the other escorts and wagon hands as well.”

“That bearded man there and the man with the limp, right?”

“…”

Hyeok Du-sim fell silent.

He looked at Gyo-ha as if he were seeing a ghost.

But soon he realized something.

“You were watching us. They say masters can hear the sound of a needle dropping ten li away.”

“It is not that much, but my hearing is better than other people’s.”

Seeing Gyo-ha say it so casually, Hyeok Du-sim frowned.

‘Is he toying with me right now?’

Just then, Gyo-ha went on.

“But it seems those men are not aware of that fact.”

Gyo-ha shrugged his shoulders.

“I was not spying on them beforehand. Those men were just talking however they pleased a moment ago. They were matching their stories with one another. You call that plotting together, right?”

Hyeok Du-sim turned his head.

He too could see people gathered in little groups, chatting.

While on an escort run, it was common for escorts and wagon hands to talk among themselves.

But the ones gathered were the very men Gyo-ha had pointed out.

Only then did a thread of suspicion rise in his own eyes.