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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Standing Vigil
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Jong Chil glared at Dan Hyeong-u with fierce eyes, only to spot the sword hanging from his waist.
"Eh? Would you look at this guy?"
Jong Chil hesitated for a moment. He wasn't afraid of the sword itself. But fighting someone wielding a blade meant he'd have to stay on high alert, and that could lead to overexerting his inner power. Jong Chil's control over his qi wasn't perfect yet.
One slip, and he might seriously hurt the guy. And that was something he absolutely couldn't allow. After all, this was someone the Bureau Chief had personally brought in.
'Though he's just a porter anyway.'
With that thought, Jong Chil nodded.
"Just sleep quietly tonight. I'll tell you tomorrow's tasks."
As Jong Chil turned away, the other porters looked back and forth between them in surprise. They'd never seen Jong Chil hold back like this before. Some even thought he might be scared, staring at him intently.
"What are you lot gawking at? Get to bed!"
The porters snapped their heads away at Jong Chil's outburst. No matter how you sliced it, he didn't look scared. That left only one explanation: he was watching out for the Bureau Chief's gaze from behind.
Lying on his bunk, Jong Chil ground his teeth. If he could just snatch that sword, he'd be confident. And if he'd ambushed before the sword came out earlier, he could've wrapped things up much more satisfyingly. He shook his head.
"Better to play it safe and sure."
Muttering to himself, Jong Chil closed his eyes. But he didn't sleep. He couldn't afford to now. Only after the newbie dozed off first. And by then, that sword at his waist would be gone too.
Deep into the night, Jong Chil slyly opened his eyes. The steady breathing from all around signaled everyone was asleep. He slowly rose. First things first: find where the newbie was lying.
"Gasp!"
Jong Chil nearly yelped in shock. Someone stood in the middle of the room. It was still too dark to make out details clearly, but Jong Chil had learned basic breathing techniques and cultivated some inner power.
It wasn't bright, but he could vaguely discern the outline. The figure stood utterly still, not moving an inch.
Jong Chil cautiously got up. Still, the figure just stood there. Mustering courage, Jong Chil approached. And he was shocked again. It was the newbie who'd arrived today.
"Damn it. You scared me."
Jong Chil grumbled softly, carefully observing the newbie. Eyes closed, not a twitch—he seemed asleep.
"Ha, really. Sleeping standing up? What a weirdo."
Jong Chil drew closer. He needed to confirm, then snag the sword. But the nearer he got to Dan Hyeong-u, the more his body shivered at the eerie blue sword aura emanating from the bladeless scabbard.
"Damn it all."
Jong Chil grumbled low, bringing his face close to Dan Hyeong-u's. Eyes definitely shut, breathing steady—he was asleep, for sure.
In that instant, Dan Hyeong-u snapped his eyes open. Like lightning flashing, a fierce blue gleam burst from them.
"Urk!"
Crash!
Startled beyond measure, Jong Chil stumbled back and sprawled awkwardly on the floor.
"Uuuugh."
Mouth agape, finger pointing at Dan Hyeong-u, Jong Chil let out an incomprehensible noise.
Dan Hyeong-u impassively looked down at him, then closed his eyes again. Jong Chil stared blankly at him for a long while before painfully hauling himself up.
His legs trembled, his body drained of strength. The moment their eyes met, that lightning bolt had felt like it melted his mind away.
"Uuuuugh."
Chills wracked Jong Chil's shivering body. He never wanted to meet those eyes again. He turned his head, peeking cautiously at Dan Hyeong-u. He still stood motionless.
Jong Chil shuddered once more. On second thought, no one sleeps standing up. He must've known I'd come and waited. Which meant he was still awake.
Jong Chil hurried back to his bunk and pulled the blanket over his head. Sleep wouldn't come. In the end, he stayed up all night, stealing glances at Dan Hyeong-u. He didn't move a muscle till morning.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
While Jong Chil tossed sleeplessly from the scare, Jo Seol-yeon writhed in bed for entirely different reasons. Unable to sleep, she finally bolted upright.
"What on earth did he mean by that?"
Dan Hyeong-u's words from earlier kept circling her mind.
"Never apologize... what could that mean?"
She could've brushed it off as nothing, but Jo Seol-yeon couldn't. Recalling his expression when he said it, it clearly carried deep meaning. Yet she had no clue what.
Maybe it tied to the friend he'd mentioned. That thought brought back the whole scene.
Dan Hyeong-u's face, saying he'd be fine alone—it had looked lonely to her. That must've been why he could so boldly say such brazen things.
"Haa."
Jo Seol-yeon sighed softly. There was no answer anyway. Or rather, there was, but she couldn't grasp it. Only way was to ask him directly.
"Right, I'll ask him myself."
She lay back down. To question him, she needed sleep now. She'd dash to the Henan Escort Bureau first thing tomorrow, she resolved, closing her eyes.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Dan Hyeong-u sat awkwardly in the chair, thinking it'd take considerable time to get used to this. He'd never sat or lain down before.
In that hell, he couldn't afford even a moment's rest or lapse. No wonder he slept standing.
The fortunate part was that his martial art, the Three Talents Miraculous Art, was based on standing meditation. The Three Talents—heaven, earth, and man—unified in one.
It drew heaven's qi and earth's qi into the body simultaneously—a true miraculous technique.
Thanks to it, Dan Hyeong-u could circulate qi even while sleeping or resting. At higher realms, even walking worked, but he didn't bother. Standing sleep sufficed.
Anyway, this place wasn't hell—it was peaceful. No need to fear sitting or lying anymore. Though lying down still eluded him. This was just for meals.
Dan Hyeong-u stared blankly at the food on the table. Breakfast: two large steamed buns. Coming to the Henan Escort Bureau, he'd tried various foods—all amazing to him.
In hell, food was scarce. At best, tough, bloody monster meat. Early on, he couldn't even cook it.
Only after growing stronger did he have leisure to cook sometimes, but mostly raw. He was used to it.
Now, out of hell and eating proper food—it was joy enough. Having food before him always made him glad he'd escaped.
"You gonna pray over your food or what?"
Dan Hyeong-u didn't bother turning. He knew who without looking. One of yesterday's porters. He bit into a bun. The atmosphere was peaceful anyway. No matter who chattered beside him.
There wasn't just one porter by Dan Hyeong-u—three of them. With Jong Chil showing no reaction, they'd decided to step up. Discipline had to be maintained.
"This punk must not understand human speech."
One reached for Dan Hyeong-u. Plan: snatch the bun, smash it on the floor, sour the mood. But he failed.
Dan Hyeong-u suddenly looked up. More precisely, their eyes met.
"Gasp!"
His hand frozen mid-reach, the porter's body stiffened. Dan Hyeong-u hadn't restrained him. Just the eye contact felt like his soul freezing over.
Indescribable terror hammered his brain. Get out of here—now.
Dan Hyeong-u turned back, slowly savoring the bun. The porter finally retracted his hand inch by inch and backed away.
He fully understood Jong Chil's behavior now. This guy was untouchable. Porters risked life on escort runs too. Bandits rarely bothered them, but danger lurked unknown.
Hardened by that, they read people's auras better than most. Weakness sharpened instincts.
One backed off, but the remaining two couldn't comprehend. Why was he acting like that? They moved to finish the job. But they couldn't either. The retreated porter gripped their arms with iron strength.
Their instincts were sharp too. A comrade's action had reason. They quietly withdrew. Dan Hyeong-u ignored them, focusing on his bun.
Finishing both, Dan Hyeong-u rose with a wistful look. Time for work. To earn money, he had to.
And he loved it.
"Knew coming out was the right call."
Muttering softly, he headed where the other porters gathered.
The Henan Escort Bureau always brimmed with big and small jobs.
The porters decided to accept Dan Hyeong-u as is. Thanks to the one zapped by his glare, like Jong Chil. Others had sharp instincts too.
They knew he wasn't ordinary, but lacked guts to provoke. So they avoided him while acting friendly. Thus, Dan Hyeong-u easily learned his tasks.
Simple work: load and unload cargo. Moving loaded wagons was other porters' job; guarding, the escorts'. Overseeing all: the Escort Leader.
Dan Hyeong-u started carrying loads.
And tore the porters' eyes wide.
He lifted the heavy crates like toys, tossing them effortlessly onto wagons.
Porters usually divided tasks: unloader, carrier, stacker. But Dan Hyeong-u handled carrying and stacking solo. Effortlessly.
In a flash, all cargo was neatly stacked. All his doing. Porters sighed in relief, glad they'd chosen wisely. No good fighting that monster.
"With that strength, why porter instead of escort?"
They whispered behind his back. Baffling.
"You think escort's easy? Strength alone ain't enough."
"True, but... he even carries a sword..."
Come to think, he did. A sword-bearing porter.
Job done sooner than expected—thankfully easy—Dan Hyeong-u stood by the wagon. Escorts hadn't shown yet. Custom: they appeared after loading finished.
Then, a familiar aura approached. Dan Hyeong-u turned as usual, waiting. Soon, Jo Seol-yeon appeared.
"Brother, I'm here!"
Spotting him, she beamed. Porters blanched at the sudden girl calling him "brother." No one didn't know Jo Seol-yeon: the Jo Family Manor's only daughter, de facto owner of the Bureau.
If she called him "brother" and followed him, they were surely promised for the future.
Her expression screamed it. Instincts forbade tailing them.
'Damn, so they planned to grind him from the bottom, teach him the ropes. Nearly got punished.'
That thought hit all porters simultaneously.
Ignoring their thoughts, Jo Seol-yeon approached Dan Hyeong-u. She'd ask about last night's worry. But somehow, words stuck. Rehearsed questions in her head morphed on her tongue.
"How's it going? Any discomfort?"
Dan Hyeong-u nodded. Not it, she thought, steeling herself. But she couldn't ask.
"Wh-what does brother like?"
Her cheeks flushed. Close enough, sort of. Her private victory. Dan Hyeong-u stared at her, then turned to the distant sky, speaking calmly.
"Peace."
Jo Seol-yeon startled, looking up. Unexpected. Unique. Who answers "peace" to what you like?
Gazing at him staring at the sky, it didn't feel like a joke. Unthinkingly, she asked more.
"Then what do you hate?"
Dan Hyeong-u pondered long before answering.
"This peace breaking."
Jo Seol-yeon's mouth parted slightly. So consistent.
Suddenly, Dan Hyeong-u turned, staring piercingly at her.
Her breath caught in shock. Her face reddened.
"And hearing 'sorry' from a friend."
He was gazing skyward again. Jo Seol-yeon couldn't calm her pounding heart. Was it his stare, or those final words? Indistinguishable.
That day, she stood quietly by him till escorts arrived, then slipped back to the Jo Family Manor.