Chapter 34 – Into the Sumr (1)
Regarding practical training, Kong Su-chan proposed one task.
“There happens to be an escort job. Recently, the Taizhou rchant Guild[1] from Jiangsu Province ca here and seems to have had issues with the Tai’an Escort Agency[2] they usually deal with. They urgently sought another escort agency but apparently couldn’t find a suitable one.”
“Aren’t there other escort agencies around?”
“Escort agencies fight like enemies usually, but act like brothers when they need to join forces.”
“They’re siding with the Tai’an Escort Agency?”
“Yes, it seems so. Anyway, they can’t afford to waste ti, so this escort job is paying very well.”
“How much?”
“Two thousand taels.”
The value of the goods to be escorted must be considerable.
“Therefore, it might be a bit dangerous.”
If I were sending only the squad mbers, I would have refused this job. But since it’s the first practical mission, I plan to go along.
“Alright, we’ll take this job.”
I went straight to the armory and bought twenty daggers used for throwing. I was quite skilled in flying dagger techniques, and there’s nothing better than a dagger in urgent situations.
Though I didn’t show it outwardly, I was just as tense.
***
The next day, we took charge of the Taizhou rchant Guild’s goods.
It was enough cargo to fill three carriages.
We didn’t hire separate drivers. The load wasn’t too much, and since one of our squad mbers had experience working in an escort agency, we decided to handle it ourselves.
While we were preparing to depart, a rchant from the Taizhou rchant Guild approached .
“I heard you’re not the official sword squad of the Byeok clan, but a small sword squad.”
We had clearly stated in advance that we were the small sword squad of the Byeok clan.
“That’s correct.”
“These are precious goods. Please take good care of them.”
They chose us because they had no choice due to ti constraints, but it seems they still don’t fully trust us.
“Don’t worry. The goods will arrive safely.”
“Then I’ll entrust them to you.”
How could his worry compare to my father and mother’s concern? They were truly mountains of worry.
I calmly persuaded them both. I pushed forward with the two argunts that always work well: not wanting to live like a frog in a well, and not raising soone like a flower in a greenhouse.
In fact, this mindset was also my attitude towards the sword squad.
We can’t keep them like flowers in a greenhouse forever. One practical experience can be more helpful than a hundred days of training alone. They need to withstand the wind and rain outside the greenhouse.
Our destination was Xuzhou[3] in Jiangsu Province. We just needed to deliver the goods to the Taizhou rchant Guild people there. The estimated travel ti was ten days.
We set off smoothly.
I assigned five people to each of the three carriages, and the remaining five were on alert at the front and rear.
Of course, I brought Gwang-du along. For Gwang-du, who still didn’t know how to ride a horse, I personally drove the first carriage. I seated Gwang-du next to .
“Is it really okay for to co along?”
Gwang-du asked cautiously. He seed to feel awkward about going with the squad mbers.
“Of course. Aren’t you my right-hand man?”
“That’s right, isn’t it?”
His tense expression relaxed at the words “right-hand man”. These days, the person Gwang-du was most conscious of was Gwan Hwi.
Gwan Hwi commanded the squad mbers with discipline. The squad mbers’ discipline was properly maintained.
Watching this, Gwang-du whispered,
“He’s like an older brother. Even though he’s two years younger.”
“I think so too.”
“No, you shouldn’t say that too, Young Master. I’ve just given up being mature for your enjoynt.”
“Haha.”
Yes, I have to acknowledge that. That I’m happy because of you.
In fact, Gwan Hwi was also conscious of Gwang-du. He probably naturally responded to Gwang-du’s awareness. Plus, he must want to gain my trust.
Probably because Gwang-du is here, Gwan Hwi is trying harder not to make mistakes.
This kind of productive competition was what I wanted.
Nothing happened for several days.
We mainly camped in forests.
At night, four people took turns standing guard. We set the order and ti.
I believe all these processes will beco the foundation for the growth of a sword squad.
Inner energy can be increased all at once with elixir.
But experiences like these can never be achieved at once. There’s a world of difference between hearing about sothing and experiencing it directly. Even sothing as simple as lighting a campfire only truly becos one’s own when experienced firsthand.
Just as the tension of the journey was easing, figures appeared blocking our path.
It was about thirty masked martial artists.
The one who seed to be the leader spoke coldly.
“Hand over the goods and leave, and we’ll spare your lives.”
Their aura was indeed formidable. They weren’t just randomly gathered bandits.
That confidence is why they showed themselves openly in broad daylight instead of ambushing us at night. This was fortunate for us.
“Form up as you’ve been trained!”
At my command, the squad mbers moved quickly. The squad’s training included ways to deal with various types of enemies. In cases like this where all enemies appear in front, we form a human-shaped (人) formation. The strongest stands at the top front, the second and third strongest on the left and right, and the rest are arranged according to their martial arts skill.
The masked man gave the attack order without further words.
“Attack!”
The masked n charged.
Normally, I would have left it to them, but this ti the number of enemies was large, and their skills were no less than our squad mbers’.
Swish swish swish swish swish!
Five masked n fell, flipping over from the daggers I threw suddenly.
It was partly to reduce their numbers, but more to break their montum.
Sure enough, the following masked n hesitated.
At that mont, I shouted,
“Attack!”
Though it happened in an instant, our side’s morale had risen.
“Squad Leader Gwan, take the left, Gwang-du, take the right! Just do as you’ve been trained!”
And I faced the enemy leader in the center.
I didn’t use the Soul-Chasing Asura Sword Arts. I faced him with my clan’s martial art, the White Moon Sword Technique.
Swish!
I dodged the incoming sword and raised my sword diagonally. I intended to finish it quickly.
Surprised by the faster-than-expected speed, the man twisted his body in confusion.
As this movent was what I had anticipated, my second attack beca a fatal strike.
Swish!
Slash!
The man’s side was deeply cut, and blood sprayed.
As he fell to the side, he threw a hidden weapon.
Clang!
I deflected the hidden weapon and rushed in.
Thuk!
My sword pierced straight through the man’s heart. He opened his eyes wide, as if unable to believe he had been defeated so helplessly, then quickly died.
I pulled out my sword and imdiately turned around.
The entire battlefield entered my eyes in an instant. I’ve spent my whole life on battlefields. I’ve experienced all kinds of chaotic fights.
I imdiately saw who was in the most dangerous situation.
Swish!
A dagger flew from my hand.
Thuk!
The dagger lodged in the back of a man who was about to stab one of our squad mbers in the stomach.
I threw myself towards the second most urgent situation.
One of the two n cornering a squad mber turned towards .
“How dare you!”
The man swung his sword fiercely.
Unfortunately for him, I wasn’t soone who should hear the words “How dare you!”
I slightly twisted my body to dodge the incoming sword. The sword brushed past my ear. But my sword was different.
Thuk!
My sword pierced through the man’s heart in one go.
At the sa ti, I shouted, infusing my voice with inner energy.
“Snap out of it!”
At my words, the squad mber who was being attacked snapped to attention. He imdiately threw himself to help another comrade.
I surveyed the battlefield again.
Already, three n had fallen to Gwang-du’s hand, and two to Gwan Hwi’s. The rest were engaged in chaotic fighting.
Because Gwang-du and Gwan Hwi had displayed their skills, we were fighting advantageously.
From now on, I started to calmly observe the battlefield and cut down enemies.
I left the fights we were sure to win alone and intervened in the close ones first.
As I started to coordinate the battle, the balance between both sides collapsed rapidly.
Every ti I swung my sword, without fail, one enemy fell. The White Moon Sword Technique was demonstrating its extre power.
The one who struck down the last enemy was Gwang-du.
Thuk!
It was the fourth enemy he had killed. It must have been his first ti killing people, yet he had killed four. Despite not having proper inner energy yet, he achieved such results due to the power of the Seven Forms of the Southern Sea. Gwang-du’s hand holding the saber dripping with blood was trembling.
I first checked on the squad mbers.
“Anyone injured?”
Several had cuts on their arms and legs. But fortunately, they were just flesh wounds, not critical injuries. It was thanks to my quick response.
“Treat the wounds with wound-closing dicine. Those who are unhard, guard all directions!”
At my order, everyone moved quickly. They were all in shock. So had experience with large-scale fights like this, but more than half were experiencing it for the first ti. Even Gwan Hwi, who had perford well, had killed people for the first ti today.
After treating the injuries, I gathered them.
“Is everyone alright?”
“Yes.”
I approached Gwang-du first.
“First ti?”
“Yes.”
Gwang-du’s voice trembled. His hands and clothes were covered in blood. He was just in shock, but normally people find it hard to endure this sll of blood.
“Gwang-du.”
“Yes.”
“Turn around and look.”
Gwang-du turned around.
“If you hadn’t killed those four n, four of these people would be gone now.”
Everyone was looking at Gwang-du with newfound appreciation. They thought he was just soone who made silly jokes, but he had demonstrated remarkable skill. Gwang-du’s eyes wavered at their gazes filled with gratitude.
“Yes, I know it’s not easy. But becoming a martial artist ans being willing to get blood on your hands for righteousness and for your comrades. It might seem like anyone carrying a sword is a martial artist, but that’s not true. The real martial artists in this world are those who are prepared for this. Those who overco these difficult things. Gwang-du. Do you want to beco a real martial artist?”
Gwang-du took a deep breath and said loudly,
“Yes, I want to beco a real martial artist.”
“You fought really well today. Thank you.”
“Young Master. Thank you.”
How could Gwang-du not know? That I was taking such care of him in case he might have been traumatized by killing.
I called Gwan Hwi.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes.”
Having already heard what I said to Gwang-du, Gwan Hwi’s eyes were also alive.
“This is sothing you have to experience once, and you’ll have to overco it repeatedly in the future. Now, everyone look at the person next to you.”
The squad mbers turned to look at their comrades standing next to them.
“You fought well. Because you all fought admirably, you were able to protect the lives of the comrades next to you. Say a word of appreciation to each other for your hard work.”
The squad mbers exchanged words of thanks with each other.
Finally, I said,
“Thank you for finishing the fight without anyone dying. I’m proud of you all.”
At my words, everyone had moved expressions. They had witnessed my performance. So they knew that if it weren’t for , it would have been our side that was annihilated. Their gaze towards had changed.
“Thank you, Master!”
“Long live the Small Sword Squad!”
It was the mont of our first victorious battle, and also the mont when their respect for beca firmly established.
As the battlefield was cleared, the squad mbers removed the masks from each corpse one by one. Everyone ca forward to check if there were any recognizable faces.
One of the older squad mbers shouted,
“These n are from the Wild Beast Squad[야수대(野獸隊)]]!”
“The Wild Beast Squad?”
“Yes, they’re a bandit group that only targets valuable goods. They’re very famous in Shandong.”
The other squad mbers were shocked.
“You an we just killed mbers of the Wild Beast Squad?”
“Good heavens! I can’t believe it.”
The Wild Beast Squad had quite a notorious reputation. It was said that many escort agents had lost their lives because of them.
“I believe there’s a bounty on them at the Martial Righteous Alliance.”
“How much?”
“I think it’s several thousand taels.”
“Haha, then we’ve hit the jackpot.”
After the Wild Beast Squad’s attack, there were no more assaults.
We safely delivered the goods and received the paynt. We had earned the large sum of two thousand taels.
We handed over their corpses to the nearby Jiangsu branch of the Martial Righteous Alliance.
Since the leader was among them and we had all thirty corpses, the confirmation didn’t take long.
The bounty on them was a whopping seven thousand taels. Five thousand for the leader, and two thousand for the rest combined.
We set out to earn two thousand taels, but seven thousand taels ca along as a bonus. It was truly like a pumpkin vine rolling in with its fruit.
We had earned nine thousand taels from one mission.
Through Kong Su-chan, I gave everyone a special bonus of thirty taels each, in addition to the mission allowance they were to receive. I gave fifty taels to Gwang-du and Gwan Hwi, who had perford exceptionally well. Everyone was overjoyed.
Money is important, but for now, people are the real asset.
After successfully completing our first mission, the reputation of the Small Sword Squad rose. Moreover, when it was revealed that those who attacked us were the famous bandit group, the Wild Beast Squad, so people even found it hard to believe. I don’t need to ntion how happy my father and mother were.
From the money we earned, I gave the rest to Kong Su-chan, keeping a few hundred taels aside.
“Here’s eight thousand taels. Use this as capital to grow it more.”
Kong Su-chan, who had been silently looking down at the large sum of eight thousand taels, asked ,
“But why do you trust this much? Is it just because of the master?”
“At first, it was. But not now.”
“What do you believe in now?”
“My fate. The belief that in my fate, there’s no chief administrator who would just steal money and run away.”
“I see. Alright, I’ll manage it well.”
“Thank you.”
Kong Su-chan, who had been walking away, stopped his steps.
“I’ll ask again next ti. Then, I hope to hear that what you believe in… is because of .”
I gave him a smile.
Around Kong Su-chan walking away, heat haze was rising.
The sunlight was hot.
It was the first sumr I was facing after reincarnating.
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