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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: The Sheath and the Escort
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The blacksmith, having taken all the measurements, cautiously extended the sword. Dan Hyeong-u snatched it up and hung it at his waist.
"How long will it take?"
"At l-least three days, no less."
"Three days?"
Hyeong Pyo frowned slightly. What could possibly take three days just to make a scabbard? Scabbards were usually crafted from leather or wood, so there wasn't much work for a blacksmith anyway.
"The sword is so extraordinary that even three days might be cutting it close to make a proper scabbard for it."
Hyeong Pyo nodded. They had plenty of time anyway. A few more days without a scabbard wouldn't change much.
"Very well, then. Make it so."
As Hyeong Pyo and Dan Hyeong-u turned to leave, the blacksmith struggled to calm his pounding heart.
"A sword like that... I've never seen its like in my life. I can't even tell what it's made of..."
The blacksmith hurried into action. Making a scabbard from ordinary wood or leather would be a disaster. He could never forge a sword like that even in his dreams, but he was determined to craft its sheath himself.
The clang of hammers from the forge grew ever louder.
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Jo In entered the Henan Escort Bureau with a stern expression. The escorts guarding the main gate, the servants doing odd jobs nearby, and even the porters all fell silent upon seeing his face, quietly returning to their tasks.
Normally, everyone greeted Jo In with bright smiles. He was popular among the bureau's people. But when he wore that hardened look, no one dared approach—not even to offer a greeting. It was an unspoken rule.
Jo In strode purposefully toward where Sama Cheol was. Reaching the bureau chief's office, he called out in a firm voice.
"Uncle, it's Jo In."
"Come in."
Sama Cheol watched Jo In enter with a rigid expression and tilted his head in curiosity.
"Is something the matter? You don't look well."
"Uncle, I'm worried about Seol-yeon."
"Seol-yeon?"
Sama Cheol's eyes sharpened at Jo In's words. He could already guess what it was about.
"Don't just stand there—come sit."
As Jo In took a seat, Sama Cheol approached and sat across from him.
"The way Seol-yeon treats that friend of yours... it didn't seem quite right, did it?"
"Yes. He seems unusual, so she's probably just a bit more interested. We can overlook it for now, but from the atmosphere, it might turn serious."
Sama Cheol nodded at Jo In's words.
"You have a point. I've already heard strange rumors circulating among the porters, so I was planning to take action soon. Don't worry about it anymore—just focus on your training."
"Strange rumors?"
"Good grief. Word is going around that he's Seol-yeon's fiancé. I don't know how it started..."
Jo In's eyes flashed with anger at Sama Cheol's words.
"The nerve! That friend of yours must have spread the rumor on purpose. There's no other way it would circulate among the porters."
"Don't jump to conclusions without proof."
Sama Cheol had suspected the same, but no matter how he thought about it, Dan Hyeong-u didn't seem the type. It wasn't just his character—even if he wanted to, he lacked the ability to manipulate those around him so skillfully.
'If he's been hiding that kind of talent... that would be truly frightening.'
"Don't act rashly. Guests are coming to Jo Family Manor soon, so focus on your training. You can't afford to look weak in front of them."
Jo In nodded gravely at Sama Cheol's words, though his mind was too tangled for training to go smoothly.
"There's an escort mission coming up in a few days. It's a long haul, so it'll take quite some time. Don't worry."
Only then did Jo In's expression soften slightly. He understood what Sama Cheol meant.
"As expected of you, Uncle. I'll take my leave then."
After Jo In bowed and left, Sama Cheol let out a quiet sigh.
"Hoo... I wanted to teach him steadily for a couple more months, but things have turned out this way. No helping it."
Sama Cheol's face showed a flicker of regret before he returned to his desk as if nothing had happened, resuming his work. Soon, only the soft rustle of turning pages filled the room.
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"What do you mean? An escort mission all of a sudden?"
Hyeong Pyo couldn't hide his shock at Escort Leader Ma Yuk's words about commanding the next mission. Escort missions were routine for the Henan Escort Bureau—no surprise there. But if Dan Hyeong-u had to join, that changed everything.
"He still needs two more months of experience here at the bureau. An escort mission already?"
Hyeong Pyo raised his objection, but Ma Yuk just shook his head.
"That's not for me to decide. We depart in five days, so prepare accordingly. You'll be going too, so what could go wrong?"
Hyeong Pyo frowned slightly at Ma Yuk's words but had no choice but to comply. After a perfunctory bow, he left and immediately sought out Sama Cheol.
He had to speak with the chief directly. On his way, Hyeong Pyo considered mentioning Dan Hyeong-u's skills but gave up. It would only backfire in this situation, and he doubted the chief would believe him anyway.
Hyeong Pyo emerged from the chief's office with a defeated look. No matter what he said, Sama Cheol wouldn't budge. The chief's resolve was ironclad. Hyeong Pyo even felt like this mission was contrived to remove Dan Hyeong-u from the bureau.
In the end, he went to find Dan Hyeong-u.
Dan Hyeong-u stood motionless in front of the porters' quarters. The moment Hyeong Pyo spotted him, he froze. It was an uncanny sight—as if he was standing there yet not truly present.
Hyeong Pyo caught his breath and approached cautiously. Dan Hyeong-u had his eyes closed. He kept them shut even as Hyeong Pyo drew right up to him, looking for all the world like he was sleeping on his feet.
Flash!
When Dan Hyeong-u opened his eyes, it was as if lightning shot from them. Hyeong Pyo jolted to a halt in surprise.
"Y-you... when did you start learning martial arts?"
"At ten."
Dan Hyeong-u answered Hyeong Pyo's question. He was making an effort to respond when people asked—another way to live among others, as Hyeong Pyo had taught him.
Hyeong Pyo stared in disbelief. Even if he'd started young, Dan Hyeong-u looked no older than twenty. Ten years wasn't short, but it wasn't long either. Hyeong Pyo himself had trained for over twenty years, though his mediocre talent kept him from true mastery.
"Just... how old are you?"
Dan Hyeong-u paused at the question, then shook his head.
"Forgot."
Hyeong Pyo tilted his head at the claim of forgetting one's age but figured it was possible. Living isolated from the world, such details would seem trivial.
He mulled it over, then shook his head. Time would reveal Dan Hyeong-u's secrets. That wasn't the priority now.
"Your first escort mission has been decided."
"Escort mission?"
"Yes. It's worrisome in many ways, but we have to go. We leave in five days for Sichuan."
"Sichuan?"
"You should stay with me for the next five days. There's much I need to teach you. Follow me."
Hyeong Pyo led Dan Hyeong-u to his own residence.
The bureau had quarters for escorts, but there was no need to live inside. Those with families or special circumstances often moved out, and Hyeong Pyo had his own place nearby.
It was a spartan setup—fitting for a single man. Hyeong Pyo gave Dan Hyeong-u his own room.
Then he poured every waking hour into instructing him.
It was a revelation for Hyeong Pyo. Dan Hyeong-u's mind was sharp as a tack, absorbing lessons like a sponge. But three days wasn't much time.
And just like that, the three days flew by.
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In a room draped with ornate decorations, a man knelt prostrate, head bowed low. A thin curtain hung before him, casting a silhouette of a figure beyond.
"Ho, is that so? They were wiped out?"
The man shuddered at the voice drifting from behind the curtain. Its tone gave no hint of gender or age.
"Y-yes."
"The likes of the Martial Alliance's Black Tortoise Unit couldn't have stopped them... Who did it?"
The man steadied his trembling body and forced out a reply.
"W-we couldn't find out."
"You couldn't find out? Do you think that makes sense?"
"W-with my abilities..."
"Are you admitting your incompetence?"
The man's body shook visibly. Terror filled his eyes. He was too frightened to even respond.
The voice from the curtain enveloped him softly.
"Enough. Did you recover the bodies of the Heaven-Shaking Squad?"
The man mustered his strength and slammed his forehead into the floor with a thud.
"Yes!"
"Bring them."
No sooner had the words ended than the man vanished into the ground. Moments later, thirty corpses appeared in his place.
He prostrated himself again before them.
The curtain lifted slightly, revealing legs. As the silhouette's hand rose faintly, the thirty bodies floated into the air.
Swoosh.
They all slipped behind the curtain. The man showed no surprise, remaining utterly still. He'd already examined the bodies himself.
But no matter how he looked, he couldn't identify who'd done this. No traces lingered around where they'd been found, making it even harder.
"Ho, this is impressive."
The man's eyes widened slightly. The figure had never called anything impressive before. Everything had always gone according to plan, everyone dancing in his palm.
"Wiping out the Heaven-Shaking Squad in a single day. And with a martial art unknown to the world."
The man could only gape in shock. What was the Heaven-Shaking Squad? Elites personally trained by the curtain's master to counter the Martial Alliance. Few in number, but their power could easily crush the Black Tortoise Unit. That's why they'd been deployed.
Yet they'd fallen to one person. Impossible for anyone—even the Alliance Leader.
"More capable than expected. This is getting interesting. As expected of the Heavenly Qi Master. A hundred like him, they say. Fascinating... truly fascinating."
The man bowed even lower. Worthy indeed of his master. His abilities knew no bounds.
"Still, caution is needed. Know your enemy first. Shadowless."
"Yes! Your command!"
At the name, the man snapped his head up and replied. His eyes burned with zeal as he awaited orders.
"Find them. Search every inch around Mount Heng. Investigate everyone who moved with the Martial Alliance too. Coordinate with the Bird-Rat Party."
"Understood!"
Shadowless bowed deeply with confidence. The Bird-Rat Party controlled all information, day and night. In his view, it was his master's greatest asset.
Shadowless rose carefully, then vanished in a faint afterimage. With orders given, speed was essential.
As he departed, an eerie laugh echoed from behind the curtain.
"Kukukuku. The Heavenly Qi Master struggles. I wonder how long that will entertain this Blood Demon. Kukukuku."
With the sinister laughter, the shadow behind the curtain melted into darkness.
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"Today, we pick up the scabbard."
Dan Hyeong-u nodded at Hyeong Pyo's words. For three days, they'd stayed holed up at home. In that time, Dan Hyeong-u had learned much of the world from Hyeong Pyo. Decades of experience and knowledge weren't absorbed lightly. They'd barely slept, yet much remained to learn.
Of course, words alone couldn't make it his own. Experience was irreplaceable. But it helped immensely all the same. One layer of shell around Dan Hyeong-u's body and mind had peeled away.
The two left for the forge. It wasn't far, so they arrived quickly.
As Hyeong Pyo and Dan Hyeong-u entered, the blacksmith rushed over as if waiting, holding what looked like an ordinary scabbard.
"I've been expecting you."
The blacksmith extended it carefully. Dan Hyeong-u took it, examined it briefly, then drew his sword from his waist and slid it in smoothly.
Not a sound as the blade was swallowed by the scabbard. The blacksmith's eyes gleamed.
"It might not hold up. If you use it very carefully, maybe a year."
Hyeong Pyo's eyes widened at the blacksmith's words.
"Is that what you call it?"
The blacksmith bowed repeatedly with an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry. That's the limit of my skill. Better materials might improve it, but..."
He trailed off without further excuses. Hyeong Pyo fell silent. What could he say?
"The edge doesn't even touch."
Dan Hyeong-u, who'd been quiet, spoke up. Surprising words, but the blacksmith just shook his head wearily.
"Whether it touches or not doesn't matter. The sword's energy is too intense. It'll wear down bit by bit regardless."
Hyeong Pyo looked at Dan Hyeong-u in astonishment. Dan Hyeong-u seemed indifferent, merely nodding faintly before turning to leave.
Hyeong Pyo hurriedly paid the blacksmith and chased after him. His gaze fixed on the sword at Dan Hyeong-u's waist.