The carriage was different from the one I usually rode in.
It was a special carriage used by the Heavenly Demon Hall’s escort unit. Though light, it was sturdy, and would not break from ordinary external impacts. It was pulled by powerful horses, and even had horse armor ready to be fitted in an emergency.
As the day-shift guards rode alongside the carriage to escort it, Jeokyeon rode inside with me and explained the details of the escort mission.
“The night shift is riding in the carriage behind us. They will take turns resting, then switch duties with us in the evening.”
The same applied to the day shift, but I had no need for guards at night either. If someone approached while I was sleeping, the Heavenly Demon Protection Art would wake me.
Even so, I left things as they were. What Hwi wanted was for these men to become excellent guards, and the thing they needed most to achieve that was experience.
Of course, there was something I had to do to speed up that process.
“Have the carriage stopped for a moment.”
Jeokyeon ordered one of his subordinates on the coach box to stop the carriage.
Once the night-shift carriage had joined us, he gathered everyone in front of me.
Then I walked over to the carriage. The Heavenly Demon Hall’s emblem had originally been carved into its exterior, but that part had been covered up for now.
Shrrrraaaak!
I tore off the covering in one clean motion. The figure of a terrifying demon was revealed.
“From now on, we will travel without concealing our identities. You are to change into the official uniforms of the Heavenly Demon Hall’s escort unit as well.”
The guards had been wearing ordinary martial robes.
Jeokyeon said in surprise, “That is not permitted by regulations.”
“We make our own regulations. Do as I command.”
Conflict flickered in Jeokyeon’s eyes as he looked at me, but he did not deliberate for long. While guarding me, they had already strayed far beyond the existing rules.
He ordered his subordinates to change their clothes.
Jeokyeon and all the guards changed. The official uniform of the Heavenly Demon Hall’s escort unit was simple yet striking. A shield was embroidered over the left chest of their black martial robes, and within it was the demon symbolizing the Heavenly Demon Hall. The black masks they wore were embroidered with the single character 魔, “Demon,” in a bold hand. That alone was enough.
The moment they put on their official uniforms, their entire atmosphere changed.
I looked at them one by one and said,
“You look good. Of all the uniforms in our cult, I think yours are the finest.”
They smiled faintly and glanced at one another.
“I know that moving around like this will make things much harder for you. It will be more dangerous, and unexpected variables will arise. If you were ordinary guards, I would not go this far. But you are the men who will guard the Heavenly Demon from now on.”
At the mention of the Heavenly Demon, their eyes sharpened.
“When my father moves officially, has he ever concealed his identity? That is why. From this moment on, you will gain experience and practice as well. You are openly guarding the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”
“Yes! We will protect you with our lives!”
“Please don’t give your lives. Just protect me. Understood?”
My joke eased the tension a little.
Perhaps Jeokyeon thought this was a good opportunity, with everyone gathered, because he told me the numbers each man had been assigned.
“During escort operations, we address one another as Guards One through Twelve. Young Cult Leader, please call us that way as well.”
Jeokyeon was Guard One, and the numbers had been assigned according to their years of service in the escort unit. The youngest was Guard Twelve. He looked young at a glance and said he was only eighteen.
I walked over and stood in front of Guard Twelve. He was far too young to die protecting someone else.
“Do your seniors bully you because you’re the youngest?”
“It’s hard because they treat me too well just because I’m the youngest!”
After patting the youngest man’s shoulder once for giving the right answer, I climbed into the carriage.
“Let’s go!”
The carriage set off again.
Jeokyeon could have ridden in the carriage with me, but he rode alongside the other guards on horseback. It seemed he had only boarded the carriage earlier to explain the escort mission.
Though he was their leader, he worked on equal terms with his subordinates. In fact, he took the lead and worked even harder. Perhaps Hwi had thought highly of Jeokyeon because of that aspect of him, and had come to meet me personally after seeing his potential to become an excellent guard.
Our first destination was the Hunan Branch of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
It would take a considerable amount of time to get there by carriage, so I settled in for a leisurely journey.
It was a good opportunity to practice the Heavenly Demon Protection Art.
The carriage was of such excellent quality that it barely shook. I should be able to focus comfortably on the Heavenly Demon Protection Art.
Only two stages remained before I completed it. My goal on this journey outside the cult was to advance by one stage.
How long had we been traveling like that?
Jeokyeon shouted from outside.
“We’ll take a short rest.”
The carriage came to a stop.
While the horses rested, I also climbed down from the carriage and sat on a rock.
The guards stood watch in every direction around me. They were concentrating fully as they scanned their surroundings.
What did I honestly feel?
If they were spread out in every direction like that, how was I supposed to protect them?
“Jeokyeon.”
“Yes, Young Cult Leader.”
Jeokyeon, who had been standing guard in front, approached me.
“Show me the martial arts you’ve learned.”
At my words, Jeokyeon was startled. He realized that I intended to examine his martial arts.
“This isn’t an opportunity that comes often, so hurry.”
“Yes, Young Cult Leader!”
The mission was important, but he was not foolish enough to let such an opportunity pass.
“The martial art I have learned is the Secret Shadow Sword Art.”
After stating the name of the sword art he had learned, he began performing its techniques.
As it was considered proper etiquette not to watch another person’s signature martial art, the guards turned their backs.
Jeokyeon performed all the techniques of the Secret Shadow Sword Art.
“It is a good sword art.”
I corrected his bad habits and posture, then told him how he should train from now on. I did not tell him many things. I pointed out only one thing—the single most important thing.
“Thank you!”
Jeokyeon expressed his gratitude with a deeply moved look, while the other guards could not hide their envy.
“There’s no need to be so envious. Guard Two, step forward!”
When I said I would examine everyone’s martial arts, Guard Two spoke in confusion.
“You’re busy. You can examine ours later.”
“You’re the ones who are busy.”
“Pardon?”
“The branch leader can be seen at leisure. We’re only visiting to pay our respects, after all. But your martial arts need to be improved as quickly as possible. If sword qi came flying at your back right now, could you block it? So come on—show me your martial arts!”
Without wasting any more time, Guard Two performed his martial arts. As I had done with Jeokyeon, I told him what he absolutely needed to correct and how he should train from then on.
I examined the other guards in turn as well. It did not take long. I could tell the answer the moment I saw them.
I could feel their excitement. They had never before received instruction at such a high level. They still had so much to learn that, with a little exaggeration, they would grow stronger with every word I said.
“Thank you. We will work harder and improve ourselves from now on.”
I was telling them not to die this time.
That night, I pointed out the same flaws to the night-shift guards and told them what they needed to correct.
* * *
On the third day after leaving the cult—
Krrrrumble!
Thunder rang out, and then rain began pouring down. There was so much rain that it became impossible to drive the carriage.
“We’ll have to stop for a while.”
Jeokyeon stopped the carriage beneath a great tree.
The guards stood around the carriage in the rain.
“Don’t stand there getting soaked like fools. All of you, get inside the carriage.”
“We’re fine.”
“That is an order.”
Jeokyeon tried to resist, but in the end he could not defy my will and came inside.
Six men entered, but it was a large carriage, so everyone could sit facing one another. I handed them things to dry themselves with and said,
“There’s no need to feel uncomfortable. Don’t worry about me. Just watch the rain outside.”
I heated the water in the kettle with the Samadhi True Flame and brewed warm tea for them. At the sight of this, they all opened their eyes wide.
“Thank you. We’ll drink it gratefully!”
They were still stiff and found it difficult to deal with me. Even when they looked out the windows, every one of them stared through the window opposite me.
We watched the falling rain in silence.
Whoooshhhhhh!
Sitting huddled together, sipping tea and watching the rain, had a certain charm to it. After dealing with the elderly Demon Venerables, being surrounded by these young men felt refreshing.
Jeokyeon spoke cautiously.
“We are supposed to protect you, Young Cult Leader, but for some reason, it feels as though we are the ones being protected.”
I smiled faintly and asked Jeokyeon,
“With enough skill to enter the Heavenly Demon Hall’s escort unit, you could have joined another organization as well. Why did you apply to become a guard?”
He answered without hesitation.
“I wanted to become a guard from a young age. Whenever I saw guards, they looked impressive. I thought protecting someone was an honorable thing.”
“Do you still feel the same way?”
Jeokyeon’s answer did not come as quickly as it had the first time.
“I feel the same.”
Because of the pain in his eyes, I wondered if he might regret his choice. It was difficult work even without that, and his eyes hurt so badly they felt as though they might die.
Just then, my eyes met Guard Three’s. Of the day-shift guards, he had the gentlest appearance.
“What about you?”
“I thought I had more talent for protecting people than killing them.”
“What does it mean to have a talent for protecting?”
“I don’t find protecting someone boring. I think it may be because I’m introverted by nature.”
Then Guard Nine answered without even being asked.
“I decided that escort duty was relatively safe. I want to live a long time.”
His companions must have heard him say that before, because they all smiled. Judging by his manner, he seemed to enjoy making his comrades laugh and bantering with them.
In any case, those were words I could never have heard from Hwi. He had lived through the Age of Devotion, and he was still living in it.
But these young martial artists were certainly different from their seniors. That did not mean I thought they had less of a sense of duty than Hwi, nor did I think Hwi old-fashioned compared to their rational and individualistic attitudes. I simply felt that the times were changing.
As I sat there with all sorts of thoughts running through my mind, the downpour began to ease.
As if he had been waiting for that moment, Jeokyeon said,
“We’ll depart now.”
Before they got out, I asked,
“Is anyone from Hunan Province?”
They looked bewildered at the sudden question.
“No one?”
Then Guard Three, who had earlier said that protecting people suited him, stepped forward.
“My hometown is here in Hunan.”
“Are your parents there?”
“My mother lives there alone.”
“When was the last time you saw her?”
“It’s been about three years.”
“Let’s stop by.”
Guard Three was startled.
“No, it’s all right. We’re on a mission. We can’t do that.”
“It’s fine if we’re a few days late. How eager could the Hunan Branch Leader be to see me? But how much must your mother want to see you? It would be rude to come all this way and leave without stopping by. This isn’t a request. It’s an order, so let’s go!”
And so the carriage began rolling toward Guard Three’s hometown.
I know well that all kinds of people live in every corner of the Central Plains, and that all sorts of things happen there. I know every kind of conspiracy and scheme, how far people can fall, and how cruel they can become. I also know how many martial artists lose their way and wander through that forest of drawn swords and perilous blades.
My martial world is not far away. Jochunbae at the Romantic Tavern is my martial world, and the hometown of Guard Three, who protects me, is my martial world. This is how I keep from losing my way in the martial world.
The carriage continued on, cutting through the clear sky as though it had never rained.
* * *
The carriage, traveling not far from Guard Three’s hometown village, began to slow down. I lifted the curtain and looked outside. A carriage lay smashed to pieces beside the road. Bloodstains remained here and there on the ground, along with traces of a fierce battle.
Jeokyeon’s voice came from outside.
“I’ll find out what happened.”
Guard Two went to ask a nearby resident what had happened here and returned with an answer.
“A few days ago, a convoy from the Hunan First Escort Agency was attacked and robbed. Several escort leaders, escort warriors, and convoy porters were reportedly killed in the process.”
“Isn’t the Hunan First Escort Agency the largest escort agency in this area?”
“That is correct.”
Ordinarily, no one dared to interfere with the escort convoy of the largest escort agency in the region. An establishment on the level of the Hunan First Escort Agency had deep ties with various martial arts sects, and anyone who rashly provoked it would face retaliation.
Something extraordinary had happened—something that normally would never occur.
Of course, it was not our concern, so I immediately said to Jeokyeon,
“Come, let’s pick up the pace.”
“Yes!”
The carriage began racing along at an even greater speed.
* * *
The carriage arrived at Samho’s hometown village.
“It’s over there.”
In the direction Samho pointed stood a small inn.
It was the Dohyeon Inn, named after him. On the way, I had heard that he had opened it for his mother with the money he earned after joining our cult.
“Running an inn was Mother’s dream.”
Just because someone was a demonic cultivator, did that mean there were no filial sons among them?
We stopped the carriage in front of the inn.
When we entered, there was neither a customer nor an owner in sight. Startled, Samho called out loudly for his mother.
“Mother!”
But no one answered. Since it was rare for an inn to close, worry flashed across Samho’s face.
I went into the kitchen and examined the traces left by the fire in the stove.
“This kitchen was still in business until yesterday. So do not worry.”
Just then, a bright-looking child entered the inn.
“We’re not open today. The proprietress and the cook are at Fengshui Manor.”
The child introduced himself as someone who came to work as a waiter whenever things got busy.
I asked him in a friendly tone,
“Do you know why they went there?”
“Martial artists from Fengshui Manor came this morning and took them there because they needed someone to prepare food.”
If that was the reason they had closed the inn, then it was actually a relief. When a martial arts sect needed a cook, they sometimes mobilized the people from nearby inns in this manner.
“Where is Fengshui Manor?”
“It’s at the end of the road to the west.”
“Thank you.”
When I pressed a coin into the child’s hand, he happily thanked me and left.
This time, I asked Samho,
“Do you know anything about Fengshui Manor?”
“Not much. After leaving my hometown when I was young to train in martial arts, I only visited Mother once every two or three years.”
He lowered his head deeply, but no one would think he had done anything wrong. Even amid his busy life, he had faithfully come to see his mother once every two or three years. He was the most filial son of all.
“Young Cult Master, please wait a moment. I will clean the guest room first.”
Samho acted calm, as though nothing was wrong, but how could I not know what he was thinking? He must have wanted to run straight to his mother’s side. Hearing that she had been taken by a martial arts sect, he must have been worried in more ways than one.
I rose from my seat and said,
“Mother is working while we young people sit around doing nothing. We should go help her and bring her back early.”
At my unexpected words, Samho waved his hands, insisting that it was all right, but I climbed into the carriage. All the guards mounted their horses, and Samho mounted his as well. Though he continued saying it was unnecessary, irrepressible joy briefly crossed his face.
“Let’s go—to Fengshui Manor!”
The carriage began racing toward Fengshui Manor.