Chapter 740: Because Those Three Characters Represent Who He Is

TL: FoodieMonster007

"I don't know," Tae Su said.

Geom Mugeuk pressed him. "You stole from someone you don't even know? I thought you only targeted villains?"

Tae Su hung his head. "I broke my principles this time."

When rumors spread about a treasure map appearing in the murim, his father had warned him to stay away. But he'd said hurtful things to his father and jumped into the fray anyway.

"By the time I went after it, the map had already changed hands several times. There was killing and dying everywhere - pure chaos. I practically picked it up from the middle of that mess, so I have no idea who originally owned it."

Geom Mugeuk nodded. "Well, we'll find out eventually. They'll chase you to the ends of the earth."

Something about those words chilled Tae Su. "If you torture me for the exact location of the Grave of Swords and then kill me, you could avoid their pursuit."

Geom Mugeuk grinned. "That's a good idea, isn't it?"

Right, this is probably better than him promising not to kill me and then stabbing me in the back.

"That's exactly why I'll never tell you the detailed location. You'll have to protect me until we get there."

Geom Mugeuk turned to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. "Looks like we'll be escorting a precious person."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon replied without interest. "Is it just one precious person, or two?"

He was referring to Geom Mugeuk, but Tae Su misunderstood and thought he meant the Flower Sword Supreme.

"I'm just looking forward to the pork in five-spice sauce at the place you're taking us," the Flower Sword Supreme grumbled.

The completely wrong hierarchy formed in Tae Su's mind.

The woman's at the top, then the old man, then this guy.

As they rode in the carriage, Tae Su's misunderstanding deepened.

"I think I know what kind of family you're from now."

"And where's that?"

"An escort agency, right?"

Geom Mugeuk went speechless with shock.

That convinced Tae Su his guess was correct. "The way you drive the carriage so well, how you can make it jump over obstacles, and how you know the roads perfectly."

If they were masters from ordinary sects, he would've surely heard rumors about these three. But masters from escort agencies or the merchant world? They were generally less known than those from murim sects.

"What's the name of the escort agency?"

Geom Mugeuk smiled. "Have you heard of the Heavenly Demon Escort Agency?"

"Never heard of it."

"It's not well-known yet, but it's about to become the best."

"Why is it called the Thousand Horse Escort Agency?"¹

Geom Mugeuk smirked. He had come up with this easily misunderstood name specifically to say this. "Because we have a thousand horses."

"A thousand horses!" Tae Su's eyes widened in surprise. A thousand horses, really? He thought it was a bluff but showed surprise anyway.

"If I get the chance later, I'll give you an opportunity to meet our escort agency's director."

"The director of the Thousand Horse Escort Agency?"

"That's right."

Inside the carriage, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Flower Sword Supreme laughed at the same time.

[We've suddenly become escorts!] the Flower Sword Supreme giggled.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon replied to her telepathy. [I don't know why he loves playing pranks so much.]

[It's because he's young.]

[Young? He's an old man in a young body.]

The Flower Sword Supreme laughed in agreement. She recalled the past. [Think about when we were young. How much we wanted to have fun when we were together.]

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded. The Cult atmosphere back then was completely different from now. The previous Cult Leader and Demon Supremes were far more terrifying.

Nevertheless, those were enjoyable times. They acted without thinking about consequences. Meeting people was so interesting and fun.

But at some point, meeting someone became incredibly tiring.

[Compared to our time, the punks these days have it really easy.]

[Don't you dare say that to the kids. They'll call you old-fashioned.]

[I won't.]

Normally, she would've just laughed it off, but the Flower Sword Supreme added one more thing. [Don't be like that anymore. The Young Cult Leader gave you a chance.]

She meant that Geom Mugeuk had given him a chance to live a more vibrant and healthier life.

[Live youthfully. More youthfully than the young ones.]

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon's gaze deepened as he looked out the carriage window.

CLIP CLOP CLIP CLOP!

Some time later, Tae Su carefully asked Geom Mugeuk, "Now that they've seen your skills, they'll bring back stronger masters."

"I suppose so."

"Aren't you scared, not knowing who they'll bring?"

Geom Mugeuk smirked. "We found you in that complicated Cave of Ten Thousand Paths and drove off those who attacked the carriage. We even convinced you, who burned the treasure map, to tell us the location of the treasure. Also, there's something you're forgetting."

"What's that?"

"During this entire time…"

This was what Tae Su hadn't realized.

"We haven't even drawn our swords yet."

In the restaurant that Geom Mugeuk's group had left, an old man ate beef noodles.

The person sitting across from him was the leader of the masked men who'd been tracking Geom Mugeuk. His name was Ji Han.

Ji Han waited until the old man finished his meal. He was anxious, but the old man was worth the wait.

"Why don't you eat too?" the old man asked.

"I'm fine."

"If it's because of the mask, you can take it off for a bit. It's not like we don't know each other's faces."

Ji Han always wore a mask on missions. For some reason, wearing it put his mind at ease. The mask made him feel like he'd become a different person.

When the old man finished eating, Ji Han finally took out an envelope containing bank notes from his robes. "I need information about him."

The old man didn't even check the amount before replying, "I don't know anything."

Ji Han's eyes glinted sharply. "To think the words 'I don't know' would come from your mouth."

This old man was called Old Song, the most famous information broker in the region. Coming from a family of information brokers spanning several generations, there was nothing he didn't know. Especially since the current battle for the treasure map was happening in his territory, he knew all the related information. He was probably making a fortune from it.

Ji Han had done business with Old Song for quite some time. Old Song always provided the desired answer. There was only one case where he couldn't get what he wanted - when he didn't have enough money to buy the information.

He took out another envelope and placed it next to the first.

Still, Old Song shook his head. "I don't know."

A third envelope appeared.

Like a true information broker, Old Song knew the exact nature of this envelope. "I know your system. The first two envelopes are your organization's money, but the third one's your personal money, isn't it?"

Ji Han didn't deny it.

"Why are you going this far to buy information on them?"

Ji Han recalled the image of the young man standing on the carriage, looking down at him.

"Because I have a bad feeling."

Old Song stared at Ji Han silently for a moment. They'd always met for business and parted after business, but today, his gaze toward Ji Han held personal sentiment. "How many years have we known each other?"

"About nine years."

"Has it been that long already?"

Sighing, he decided to share a thought he'd never voiced before.

"Honestly, I've taken a liking to you. You were more polite and decent than the countless predecessors who held your position." Old Song's gaze deepened. "So I hope you'll take your hands off this matter."

"!" Ji Han could tell that Old Song knew about his target. "Please, just tell me his name."

Again, Old Song shook his head. "I can't do that, because those three characters represent who he is."

Ji Han was startled. This was a first. A case where Old Song knew the information but refused to sell it. Just who was that man?

"You know I can't just walk away from this, don't you?" he pleaded.

"What can't you do when your life's on the line? Leave your organization right now. Hide for about ten years, then come out and live a new life. You, of all people, should be able to hide better than anyone, right?"

Yes, I could hide so that no one could ever find me.

Ji Han's role in the organization was the Soul Chasing Corps Commander, and as the name suggested, his specialty was tracking people. Using Soul Tracking Incense and pursuing it was the job of the organization he led.

He never expected Old Song to say something like this to him. It clearly meant the opponent was someone he couldn't handle, and Old Song was trying to save his life.

When Ji Han didn't answer, Old Song stood up first. "I suppose this will be our last meeting. The meal's on me. Thank you for everything until now."

He made to leave.

Ji Han whispered, "Is there any other choice I can make besides leaving?"

"If you cannot leave…" Old Song delivered a cryptic message. "Then run headfirst to your death."

A man with a massive build and an aura like blazing fire stood on a cliff.

He was the Flame Dragon Commander Cheon Daewoong. Famous for his fiery temper, he was in charge of retrieving the treasure map this time.

Ji Han appeared behind him. "We've failed to retrieve the treasure map."

Cheon Daewoong asked without turning around. "I heard you gave up the chase even though there were only three casualties."

"That's correct."

"Why did you run away like a coward?"

"I had a bad feeling," Ji Han said. He knew he shouldn't answer like this, but he couldn't help it. There was no more accurate answer.

"A bad feeling?" As expected, Cheon Daewoong's expression hardened as he repeated the words. "Since when did my orders become less important than your feelings?"

Ji Han couldn't make any excuses.

Cheon Daewoong turned his head, unleashing a swirling aura like a fierce gale, like the roar of a tiger. "Answer me!"

Ji Han bowed his head. "I apologize."

Cheon Daewoong looked as if he was about to smash his skull in, but fortunately, he didn't raise a hand. Only the Soul Chasing Corps could track Soul Tracking Incense.

"Remember this. The Soul Tracking Incense saved you." Turning to his subordinates, Cheon Daewoong shouted, "Hey! Four Blood Wind Swordsmen!"

At his call, four martial artists appeared.

Cheon Daewoong gave an order to Ji Han. "Take the Four Blood Wind Swordsmen to them!" He turned back to the cliff and added, "We'll talk again about that unpleasant feeling of yours after we find the treasure map."

Tae Su tossed and turned in his sleep. Ever since he heard that Soul Tracking Incense was on his hand, he couldn't stop worrying. He closed his eyes to sleep, but sleep wouldn't come. In contrast, the carefree trio were all sleeping soundly.

What would they do if someone attacked? I'll have to keep watch myself… but what's the point of me being awake? I wouldn't notice anyone approaching until they were right on top of me!

SWOOSH!

Before he knew it, a cold blade was pointed at his neck.

Tae Su's heart sank. When did they…?

Tae Su glanced over at the trio. Martial artists stood over their sleeping forms as well, swords aimed. They were the Four Blood Wind Swordsmen.

Even with swords at their necks, the three were still sound asleep.

They're stronger than them! Aren't they worried at all? What if these guys brought real masters? Why are they so carefree and arrogant!

He had to scream, even if it meant his own death. If even one of the three could dodge the sword aimed at them and counterattack? At least they could avoid a dog's death.

But with a sword at his throat, no scream came out.

Please! Please wake up!

The Blood Wind Swordsman who had his sword at Geom Mugeuk's neck whispered, "To think he ran away because he couldn't kill pathetic fools like these."

They were the type who never let their guard down when facing an enemy. But if their targets didn't wake up even when a sword was close enough to touch their necks, they were opponents they could afford to be careless with. Even now, if he just put a little force into his hand and jabbed, this guy would be dead.

Then, another Blood Wind Swordsman standing next to the Flower Sword Supreme chuckled, "Aren't they just a bunch of dogs who chase after incense?"

"Did these guys get drugged or something? They're still not waking up."

They were now talking at normal volume, but the trio remained deep in sleep.

"What kind of weapon is this, all wrapped up so tightly?" One of them reached out to untie the knot on the propped-up Heaven Destroying Dao.

"Untie that, and you die," someone warned.

The Blood Wind Swordsman was so startled he felt his heart would leap out of his mouth. He hadn't noticed someone approaching until they spoke right next to his ear.

The next person to be surprised was the one holding a sword to Geom Mugeuk's neck. The lying Geom Mugeuk had vanished and was now standing next to his colleague who'd been about to untie the knot.

"Kill them all!" the Blood Wind Swordsman holding Tae Su hostage commanded.

"……" Tae Su saw twins again. No, this time, they were quadruplets. Simultaneously, the necks of three of the Four Blood Wind Swordsmen were snapped.

Because they were snapped at the same time, there was only one sound. In Tae Su's eyes, three Geom Mugeuks had truly appeared at once and snapped their necks simultaneously.

This was the power of the Four Strides of the Wind God, which had reached its ultimate state as Geom Mugeuk's martial arts proficiency had risen even further.

Why were there quadruplets? Because a Geom Mugeuk had also appeared next to the Blood Wind Swordsman holding a sword to Tae Su's neck.

"I've killed them as ordered," Geom Mugeuk said coldly, as if he were carrying out the order to 'kill them all'.

The swordsman turned to the Geom Mugeuk standing beside him with trembling eyes. He truly couldn't have imagined that there was a master who could kill three, no, all four of them in an instant.

Geom Mugeuk added, "Oh, right. You said to kill them all, didn't you?"

SWOOSH!

Even though he saw it from right beside him, Tae Su's eyes couldn't see how Geom Mugeuk snapped the man's neck. The last remaining member of the Four Blood Wind Swordsmen collapsed, now a corpse.

"Aaaaaah!" he screamed belatedly, then quickly covered his mouth. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was stirring, getting up with an annoyed expression.

"How long are you going to be so noisy? People should be sleeping at this hour!" he complained.

Geom Mugeuk laughed. "Yes, so go back to sleep. We'll sleep too after we clean up the bodies."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon lay back down.

Tae Su tiptoed over to Geom Mugeuk's side and whispered, "Sometimes there are treasures that look ordinary because they're too precious."

His gaze was fixed on Geom Mugeuk. This young man had dealt with the assassins so quickly that he made them seem weak. He'd probably find out how formidable those enemies were when the sun came up.

Geom Mugeuk looked into the distant darkness and waved in that direction. "That masked man who was following us was watching from afar, but he just left."

Tae Su looked in that direction, but all he could see was darkness. "If he was watching, shouldn't you have hidden your skills? Now that he's seen this, won't a truly terrifying person come next?"

At Tae Su's worry, Geom Mugeuk wore a 'what can I do' expression and shrugged. "Ah, but this is me hiding my skills as much as possible!"

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