"Spend the rest of your life repenting your sins in the endless darkness."
Hyeon Yucheon issued the cold command and struck Yeo Ilsang's sleep acupoint.
Clang!
Shockingly, Yeo Ilsang—who had been screaming at the top of his lungs and spewing blood—immediately fell into a deep slumber.
He had toyed with a super first-rate master as easily as a child.
It was a perfect demonstration of Hyeon Yucheon's martial prowess.
"Ugh… uh… uh…"
When people are utterly shocked, they don't cheer or cry out—they swallow their voices instead.
Jeong Gap, the leader of the porters, was doing just that.
What… what the hell did I just see?
He couldn't believe his eyes.
To Jeong Gap, a third-rate martial artist, all he saw was Hyeon Yucheon's slender hand waving once in the air.
But what happened next?
Suddenly, long gashes appeared across both of Yeo Ilsang's eyes, and he collapsed.
This was, of course, due to Hyeon Yucheon's Formless Flash Quick Sword technique—a Formless Gas Sword that no one below the peak realm could even perceive.
"No way!"
"This… this can't be!"
The other porters were just as stunned.
After the escorts fled, they had frozen in place like statues mourning their fathers.
This was Hubei province, the peaceful stronghold where no one dared touch Gold Amount Escort Agency's goods.
But with the escorts running and a villain from Liaoning province rampaging, they lost the will to flee.
When Jeong Gap stepped up, they flinched—but they figured their lack of lightness skills made escape futile anyway.
Just as everyone gave up, a miracle occurred.
Performed by the very boy they had mocked.
"I've sealed his acupoints so he won't regain consciousness for a full day. You can hand him over to the authorities or deal with him as the Gold Amount Escort Agency sees fit."
Hyeon Yucheon wanted to kill him himself.
He didn't enjoy killing, but he didn't hesitate either.
In the ruthless world of murim, dreaming of revenge meant he had vowed to break the taboo against murder—but only against villains.
Still, he remembered Yeo Ilsang's words.
"I hope this brings some comfort to the Gold Amount Escort Agency's third steward, at least."
The one who wanted to kill Iron Fist Mad Ghost Yeo Ilsang more than anyone—more than even Hyeon Yucheon or Jeong Gap—was surely the third steward, who had lost his son.
Having lost his own family and loved ones, Hyeon Yucheon understood that pain better than most.
That was why he spared Yeo Ilsang's neck.
"…Thank you. Truly, thank you, young hero!"
Unlike others, Jeong Gap—personally acquainted with the third steward—clasped his fists formally and bowed deeply to Hyeon Yucheon.
It was a far cry from how he'd treated him at first. He even used honorifics, calling him "young hero."
He had realized Hyeon Yucheon was a true murim warrior—and an exceptionally skilled one at that.
"Gold Pouch Ok Chuyun, the third steward, will be overjoyed to hear this."
"…!!"
Ok Chuyun?
This time, it was Hyeon Yucheon's turn to be surprised.
A memory from the past flashed through his mind.
He vaguely recalled the Gold Amount Escort Agency entourage visiting his father, Man Jungho, when he was around seven or eight.
He clearly remembered meeting Escort Leader Yeon Daecheon and his daughter Yeon Jinjin multiple times, as well as a young man just starting to handle the agency's internal affairs.
—Aigoo~ So cute! Want Uncle to give you some candy?
A young man who especially loved children—his name was Ok Chuyun.
As the child prodigy Mangeum Gongja, Hyeon Yucheon still remembered him vividly.
He felt glad all over again for capturing Yeo Ilsang alive.
"Then let's hurry and finish the escort run."
Hyeon Yucheon opened his eyes, having briefly closed them to reminisce about Ok Chuyun.
With Yeo Ilsang captured and the stolen gold recovered, all that remained was cleanup.
* * *
"Thank you, truly thank you. Sob!"
Ok Chuyun, the third steward of the Gold Amount Escort Agency, gripped Hyeon Yucheon's hands tightly, tears streaming down his face.
He had heard the full story from head porter Jeong Gap and come straight to find him.
"It was nothing. Just doing what needed to be done."
Hyeon Yucheon scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.
"Thanks to you, I could finally avenge him."
Ok Chuyun bowed repeatedly, expressing his gratitude.
"Is there anything I can do to repay you, young hero?"
He approached Hyeon Yucheon, eager to show his sincerity.
Having enabled vengeance against his mortal enemy's killer, he naturally wanted to return the favor.
Now's the time!
Hyeon Yucheon saw this as the perfect chance to ask why the Gold Amount Escort Agency had taken over his old Mangeum Clan site and leased it out.
"Nothing much, but there's one thing I'd like to ask…"
"Ask anything. I'll answer everything I know."
As Hyeon Yucheon hesitated, Ok Chuyun urged him on.
"Truth be told, I'm a local who's been away for a long time. Coming back, I saw the old merchant clan's estate gone, replaced by an inn. I heard the Gold Amount Escort Agency took the land and leased it out. I'm curious about the story behind that."
Hyeon Yucheon phrased it wisely.
To avoid suspicion as a Mangeum Clan survivor, he posed as a nosy local asking casually.
"Ah, that makes sense if you've been gone a while. You know how that… merchant clan was wiped out, right?"
"Yes, I know up to that point."
"Afterward, the site became property of the Seok Family Village."
"What?!"
Hyeon Yucheon was stunned beyond belief.
He never dreamed the Seok Family Village's name would come up.
"I don't know why it became theirs, but there were plenty of rumors. Not for me to say, though… Anyway, our Escort Leader bought the land from the Seok Family head at a steep price."
"Why go to such lengths…?"
Hyeon Yucheon was puzzled.
The old Mangeum Clan site was a bit far from the Gold Amount Escort Agency—no real reason to buy it.
"You might not know, but that merchant clan and our agency were very close. The Escort Leader feels immense guilt for not helping them. So he bought it back from the Seok Family at any cost."
Ok Chuyun was right.
Mangeum Clan Lord Man Jungho and Escort Leader Yeon Daecheon were best friends; news of his friend and family's tragic deaths left him unable to eat or sleep.
Moreover, he remembered the fierce rivalry between Mangeum Clan and Seok Family.
He couldn't tolerate the Seok Family owning it, so he bought it no matter the price.
"I see. But why lease such an important site to the Haeha Guest House owner?"
One question remained.
Why rent a spot so meaningful to his friend to an outsider?
"Well…"
Ok Chuyun hesitated.
There was a significant secret behind it.
As his benefactor's unusual reluctance made him pause, Hyeon Yucheon encouraged him.
"I swear on heaven and earth never to tell a soul."
Hyeon Yucheon raised his hand in a solemn oath.
"Sigh… Alright, I'll tell you."
Ok Chuyun wavered a few times before finally speaking.
"Truth is, the merchant clan—Mangeum Clan—has one survivor no one knows about."
What followed was truly astonishing.
"…!!"
Hyeon Yucheon was so shocked he could barely control his expression.
"Is that true?"
"Yes. The Haeha Guest House owner is that survivor. Contrary to rumors of a high rent, our Escort Leader leased it at a very low price."
This was the hidden truth.
Incredibly, besides Hyeon Yucheon, Mangeum Clan had another survivor—and the Escort Leader had concealed their identity while ensuring they could live off the old estate.
"Remember, this is a secret. Got it?"
"Of course. I won't breathe a word to anyone."
As the two exchanged solemn promises, Escort Leader Yeon Daecheon, Yeon Jinjin, and the escorts and porters from the run entered.
"I've come to meet my agency's benefactor."
The robust middle-aged man with an impressive beard was Gold Light Saber Yeon Daecheon, Escort Leader of Gold Amount Escort Agency and close friend to Mangeum Clan Lord Man Jungho.
Was Uncle Yeon's martial arts always this strong?
Hyeon Yucheon couldn't hide his surprise at seeing Yeon Daecheon after so long.
Things invisible in his pre-martial days were now clear.
Yeon Daecheon was at the early peak realm—a formidable skill level.
"Thanks to you, young hero, we avoided disaster. I've come to express my gratitude."
Yeon Daecheon clasped his fists politely toward Hyeon Yucheon, young enough to be his son.
Hyeon Yucheon returned the gesture.
"Even as a porter, protecting the cargo was my duty."
Hyeon Yucheon downplayed it.
"I'm sorry. To think we didn't recognize a master like you and made you a porter…"
Yeon Jinjin apologized with a guilty face at the mention of "porter."
She was the one who assigned him, so her regret ran deeper.
They had failed to spot a true expert.
"It was a good experience. And I learned porters have it far from easy."
This wasn't a lie.
When trouble struck, it was the porters—not the escorts—who guarded the cargo to the end.
Hyeon Yucheon had gained much from this short escort run.
Flinch!
The escorts present—Escort Wind Sword Gong Uuryang and the other two—shrank back and hung their heads in shame.
They felt the weight of their disgrace.
"If I may ask… which sect taught you your arts?"
Yeon Daecheon inquired cautiously.
Even between close friends, asking about one's sect was impolite.
"Family arts. Picked up a few secret techniques."
Hyeon Yucheon joked lightly.
He specified "secret techniques" to hide the distinctive Formless Flash Quick Sword—and because the porters would report how the enemy fell the instant his hand moved.
"I see. I heard you want to become an escort. If it's not too much trouble… would you help with our agency's work for a while?"
Iron Fist Mad Ghost Yeo Ilsang, felled by Hyeon Yucheon, was a super first-rate master at his peak—enough to make even Yeon Daecheon tense.
For an escort agency always short on experts, such a young powerhouse was invaluable.
And there was another reason they wanted him so badly.
"Right. We have a big escort run to Mount Song soon."
Yeon Jinjin added.
Heading to Mount Song meant one thing.
Shaolin Temple, leader of the Nine Great Sects.