Chapter 36
First Solo Mission (1)
Embarking on his first solo mission, Namgung Jun quietly infiltrated a merchant caravan in Hapbi based on intelligence provided by the Ink Fragrance Division.
The Yeongjun Merchant Company.
It was a small-to-medium-sized merchant group operating in Hapbi, but recently it had suffered a string of failed trading expeditions and was facing severe hardship.
The failures were so consecutive and precise that it was difficult to dismiss them as mere bad luck.
A subtle malice seemed to lurk behind every setback.
The Yeongjun Merchant Company had sensed this as well, but they had been unable to find a solution.
As a result, the company had gathered its remaining resources and was preparing one final trading expedition.
If this journey failed, the merchant company would collapse.
Naturally, the preparations were exceptionally thorough.
As Namgung Jun stood quietly observing the size of the caravan, a middle-aged man beside him urged him on.
“Hey, Nam. Hurry up and move those crates.”
“I'll do so.”
Disguised as a laborer, Namgung Jun carried the company's cargo.
I could reveal my identity and request formal cooperation.
But information could leak.
Or the suspicious party might become wary and refuse to reveal themselves.
That would only prolong the mission.
In Namgung Jun's judgment, this matter could not be allowed to drag on.
The sooner it was resolved, the sooner the Yeongjun Merchant Company could breathe again.
The merchants watched with satisfaction as Namgung Jun diligently hauled crates and goods.
“He's remarkably hardworking. You wouldn't think so just by looking at him.”
“Exactly. He looks every bit the young master of a noble family. I honestly doubted he could handle rough work.”
Recently, the company had struggled terribly to hire workers.
Every trading expedition seemed to end in accidents and casualties.
The greatest losses had consistently fallen upon the laborers who handled the menial work.
Even increasing wages had failed to attract people.
Under such circumstances, Namgung Jun—who worked harder than three men combined—was like rain after a drought.
Yet the merchants' expressions soon darkened.
“I'm worried about this trip as well, Guild Master.”
“Don't worry. We've hired reliable wandering martial artists this time.”
The Yeongjun Merchant Company had encountered far too many difficulties lately.
There were simply too many perfectly timed incidents to explain away as bad luck or poor preparation.
As expected... Hyeongjung Sect.
Guild Master Jang Ilsu's expression hardened.
Ever since he had rejected the Hyeongjung Sect's proposal, strange things had begun happening to the company.
The timing was too precise to be coincidence.
And the rumors reaching his ears were far from reassuring.
While Jang Ilsu wrestled with his concerns, another merchant asked,
“Guild Master. Are you rejecting their latest proposal as well?”
“I am. If we accept it, we're finished. They're demanding the tea trade rights we import from Henan at a fraction of their value.”
“And insisting that all our escort personnel be replaced with martial artists from the Hyeongjung Sect. It's not as though they're offering cheap rates either.”
“The Hyeongjung Sect has no intention of giving us a path to survival. They simply want to swallow the entire merchant company whole.”
The surrounding merchants could only sigh.
Everything Jang Ilsu said was true.
“Guild Master... perhaps we should seek assistance from the unorthodox factions...”
“You don't escape a wolf by throwing yourself to a tiger. Then again, perhaps they're the same thing.”
“A true dilemma.”
Jang Ilsu steeled his resolve.
If this expedition succeeded, the company would finally possess the resources needed either to negotiate with the Hyeongjung Sect or resist them.
The fate of the entire merchant company depended on this journey.
The expressions of the merchants carried an almost tragic determination.
“Then let us depart.”
“Yes, Guild Master.”
While carrying cargo some distance away, Namgung Jun heard every word of their conversation.
Hyeongjung Sect.
Without revealing any reaction, he quietly moved toward the rear of the caravan.
No problems so far.
As he silently followed behind the wagons, a wandering martial artist approached him.
It was a man known by the title Steadfast Saber.
Among the hired escorts, he possessed the highest level of martial skill.
The overall quality of the mercenaries hired by the merchant company was respectable, but none were comparable to him.
As a result, Steadfast Saber's presence was substantial.
Even Jang Ilsu, who was overseeing the caravan, occasionally found his gaze drifting from Steadfast Saber to Namgung Jun.
“You there, young brother.”
“Yes, Great Hero.”
The moment Namgung Jun addressed him respectfully as Great Hero, Steadfast Saber's lips twitched.
He seemed pleased but forced himself to maintain a dignified expression.
“Your physique and bones look promising. Have you trained before?”
“No. Years of manual labor have simply kept excess fat off my body.”
“Hmmm. Is that so?”
Steadfast Saber looked unconvinced.
He continued studying Namgung Jun from head to toe.
“Do you happen to have any interest in martial arts?”
“Martial arts?”
“Would you consider becoming my sword attendant? You may even think of yourself as my disciple. I'm not merely offering you chores. I would personally teach you martial arts.”
At present, Namgung Jun was deliberately controlling not only his aura but even the movements of his body.
For someone who possessed the experience of the Sword Emperor from his previous life, such concealment was trivial.
It was only natural that Steadfast Saber believed him to be an ordinary laborer.
Pretending to consider the offer, Namgung Jun clasped his fists.
“Thank you for the generous offer, Great Hero. However, it is rather sudden. Would it be acceptable if I gave my answer after this trading expedition concludes?”
For a moment, Steadfast Saber looked disappointed.
Yet he seemed to believe he had already won Namgung Jun halfway over.
“Of course. Take your time and think it through.”
Just as he turned to return to his position—
Pshhhhk!
The heads of a mercenary and a merchant guard at the front of the caravan shot into the air.
The sudden spray of blood caused the caravan's escorts to hurriedly draw their weapons.
“W-What is this?!”
But a middle-aged swordsman who had burst in from the flank cut down three more men in an instant.
Every casual swing of his sword left behind a shimmering crimson sword qi.
“A Peak Realm expert!”
Steadfast Saber's voice emerged in a strained whisper.
His face darkened immediately.
Displaying sword qi so openly at the very beginning served only one purpose:
To crush morale.
And since he, the strongest person in the caravan, had reacted this way, the effect on everyone else was even worse.
“Damn it!”
“We can't fight someone like that!”
Indeed, each time the crimson sword qi flickered, the martial artists near the front grew paler and unconsciously retreated.
The formation was already beginning to collapse without the attackers doing anything more.
As a result, the middle-aged swordsman's attacks became even bolder.
After cutting down seven men in quick succession, he casually flicked his sword when no one else dared charge at him.
The blood flew from the blade.
Then he raised his head and looked at Jang Ilsu and the merchants.
The gaze of a Peak Realm expert overflowing with killing intent fell upon them.
Jang Ilsu and the others froze like statues.
“Guild Master. You should have simply accepted the proposal. Why make things so troublesome?”
“A proposal? Don't tell me—!”
“Enough. Everyone here dies today.”
The middle-aged man shifted into a stance as though he were about to advance directly toward Jang Ilsu.
Steadfast Saber bit his lip.
“Damn it.”
He rushed forward and positioned himself in front of Jang Ilsu and the merchants.
He knew he was going to die.
At best, he had only just entered the First-Class Realm.
His martial skill was nowhere near that of a Peak Realm expert.
Yet he had to step forward.
One of his sworn brothers had already been killed by this murderer.
And as the person responsible for protecting the caravan, he could not simply run away.
“Hooo...”
As Steadfast Saber forced himself to take a trembling step forward, the middle-aged man laughed mockingly.
“And what exactly do you think you'll accomplish?”
“Gotta earn my pay, you bastard.”
The man snorted.
An overwhelming wave of killing intent erupted from his body.
The sharp pressure prickled against the skin.
Steadfast Saber moved his hand toward the hilt of his saber.
Perhaps because sweat had soaked his palm, the weapon felt unusually cold today.
Drawing the saber forcefully, he stepped forward.
You only live once. Better no regrets.
Taking a deep breath, he prepared to charge.
“Great Hero.”
A calm voice from behind stopped him in his tracks.
It was Namgung Jun.
“You?”
The middle-aged man's killing intent blanketed the surroundings.
Yet Namgung Jun walked forward as though he felt nothing at all.
Everyone's attention shifted to him.
He was the only person still moving normally.
Naturally, the middle-aged swordsman's gaze followed as well.
A sword?
Steadfast Saber noticed something strange.
At some point, Namgung Jun had acquired a sword at his waist.
Even if he carried a sword, what could he possibly do against such an opponent without martial arts?
The courage was admirable, but it was futile.
All that would happen was the loss of a young life.
Just as Steadfast Saber was about to stop him—
Namgung Jun slowly removed the worn laborer's clothing he had been wearing.
Beneath it appeared a brilliant blue martial robe.
White clouds were embroidered upon the flowing sleeves.
The moment Steadfast Saber saw the cloud embroidery, his eyes trembled.
“Don't tell me... Changcheon Society?”
Namgung Jun placed a hand on Steadfast Saber's shoulder and gently pushed him back.
“This is my turn.”
“...You?”
Namgung Jun smiled reassuringly before turning toward the middle-aged swordsman.
“So you're Blood Vermilion Sword. I've finally met you.”
Even though Namgung Jun had immediately identified him, Blood Vermilion Sword remained completely confident.
“Changcheon Society. You've come for me?”
“You've been quite active lately. Looks like you've spilled a lot of blood.”
Namgung Jun recalled the intelligence report he had received from the Ink Fragrance Division.
Among the wandering and unorthodox martial artists under surveillance, the title Blood Vermilion Sword had been specifically listed.
“Hmph. Is it strange for a martial artist to shed blood?”
Blood Vermilion Sword slowly examined Namgung Jun from head to toe.
Then he noticed the two clouds embroidered on the sleeves and let out a laugh.
“And you're trying to face me alone? Changcheon Society's intelligence is sorely lacking.”
A Second-Rank member of the Changcheon Society would at most be at the initial stage of the Peak Realm.
To deal with someone like him, who had already reached the mature stage of the Peak Realm, at least a Third-Rank member should have been dispatched.
But the youth before him appeared to have only recently earned his second cloud.
Still, it's best not to drag this out.
Without warning, Blood Vermilion Sword thrust his sword forward.
The strike carried a clear intent.
To pierce straight through Namgung Jun's chest in a single move.
Namgung Jun neither blocked nor dodged.
Instead, he grasped his hilt and leaned forward slightly.
Though his movement came a breath later, the act of drawing his sword felt impossibly natural.
SHHHK!
A blue flash tore through the air.
It shot diagonally upward like a bolt of lightning.
“Huh?!”
Blood Vermilion Sword's eyes widened instantly.
An incredibly fast sword.
A true lightning-fast strike.
The trajectory resembled a bolt of lightning being severed in two.
Merely seeing it made his body recoil.
His instincts sensed death.
I moved first!
Blood Vermilion Sword understood immediately.
If things continued like this, it would not be a mutual kill.
His own heart would be pierced first.
“Kh!”
In a panic, he twisted his waist and angled his sword sideways.
Was it because his posture had become unstable?
Or because the youngster's strike was simply that fierce?
KAAANG!
A tremendous impact surged through his blade.
His right shoulder shook violently.
Having barely managed to block the thrust, Blood Vermilion Sword felt cold sweat forming on his brow.
For an instant, he had stood on the edge of death.
An attack like this... from a brat?
Unlike Blood Vermilion Sword, who was rattled to the core, Namgung Jun casually flicked his wrist as though he had merely thrown out an ordinary strike.
That effortless gesture only caused the cold sweat on Blood Vermilion Sword's forehead to run down his neck.
For the first time since appearing here, Blood Vermilion Sword realized something.
Something had gone terribly wrong.
As Blood Vermilion Sword hesitated for the first time, Namgung Jun raised his sword to the middle guard position.
“Isn't it your eyesight and judgment that are lacking?”
Silence descended at Namgung Jun's sharp rebuke.