The carriage was different from the one I usually rode.
It was an exclusive carriage used by the Heavenly Demon Hall Guards, made of a material that was both light and sturdy.
It wouldn't break from most external shocks and was pulled by powerful horses.
In an emergency, it even came equipped with horse armor.
While the day guards escorted the carriage on horseback, Jeok-yeon rode with me inside and explained the escort mission.
“The night guards are in the carriage following us. They will take turns resting and will switch shifts with us in the evening.”
Just as I didn't need a day guard, I didn't need a night guard either.
If someone approached while I was sleeping, the Heavenly Demon Body-Protecting Art would wake me up.
Nevertheless, I let them be.
What Hwi wanted was for them to become excellent Escort Martial Artists, and for that, experience was the most necessary thing.
Of course, there was something I needed to do to hasten that process.
“Stop the carriage for a moment.”
Jeok-yeon had his subordinate in the driver's seat stop the carriage.
After having the night guards' carriage join us, I gathered everyone before me.
Then I walked to the carriage.
Originally, the symbol of the Heavenly Demon Hall was engraved on the outside of the carriage, but that part was now covered.
Shwaaaaaak.
I tore off the cover with a satisfying sound.
The image of a fearsome evil spirit was revealed.
“From now on, we will not travel hiding our identities. All of you, change into the official uniforms of the Heavenly Demon Hall Guards.”
The guards were wearing ordinary martial robes.
Jeok-yeon said in surprise, “We cannot do that according to regulations.”
“We make our own regulations. Do as I command.”
Conflict flickered in Jeok-yeon’s eyes as he looked at me, but his hesitation was not long.
While escorting me, they had already deviated from the existing framework as much as possible.
He ordered his subordinates to change their clothes.
Jeok-yeon and the guards all changed their clothes.
The official uniform of the Heavenly Demon Hall Guards was simple yet intense.
On the left chest of their black martial robes, a shield was embroidered, and within it, an evil spirit symbolizing the Heavenly Demon Hall was drawn.
Also, on the black masks they wore, the single character for ‘Demon’ was embroidered in a powerful script.
That was enough.
Once they wore their official uniforms, their atmosphere changed completely.
I looked at them one by one and said, “You look sharp. Of all the uniforms in the Main Sect, I think yours are the most handsome.”
At that, they smiled faintly and looked at each other.
“I know that moving like this will be much harder for you. It will be more dangerous, and unexpected variables will arise. If you were ordinary guards, I wouldn't do this. But you are the ones who will escort the Heavenly Demon in the future.”
At the words ‘Heavenly Demon,’ strength entered their eyes.
“When my father moves officially, has he ever hidden his identity? That’s why. You too will experience and practice from now on. You are openly escorting the Young Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect.”
“Yes! We will protect you with our lives!”
“Please protect me without sacrificing your lives. Understood?”
My joke lightened the mood a bit.
Jeok-yeon, perhaps thinking this was the chance now that everyone was gathered, informed me of the numbers assigned to each of them.
“During escort operations, we will call each other by numbers, from Number One to Number Twelve. Please call us that way as well, Young Cult Master.”
Jeok-yeon was Number One, and the numbers were assigned according to their experience in the guard unit.
The youngest was Number Twelve.
The youngest member, who looked obviously youthful, was said to be eighteen.
I went and stood before Number Twelve.
He was too young to die protecting someone else.
“Do your seniors bully you for being the youngest?”
“It’s distressing because they treat me too well for being the youngest!”
I patted the shoulder of the youngest member, who gave the right answer, then got back on the carriage.
“Let’s depart!”
The carriage started moving again.
Jeok-yeon could have ridden with me, but he rode on horseback with the other guards.
It seemed he had been in the carriage earlier only to explain the escort mission.
He was the leader, but he worked on equal footing with his subordinates.
In fact, he took the lead and worked even more.
Perhaps Hwi had come to see me personally because he held this aspect of Jeok-yeon in high regard, seeing the potential for him to become a great Escort Martial Artist.
Our first destination was the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect’s Hunan Division.
Since it would take quite some time to get there by carriage, I settled in with a relaxed mind.
It was a good opportunity to train my Heavenly Demon Body-Protecting Art.
The carriage was so good that there was almost no shaking.
I would be able to comfortably focus on the Heavenly Demon Body-Protecting Art.
The Heavenly Demon Body-Protecting Art now has two stages left.
My goal during this trip out of the sect is to raise it by one stage.
How long had we been running like that?
Jeok-yeon shouted from outside, “We will take a short break.”
The carriage came to a stop.
While the horses rested, I also got out of the carriage and sat on a rock to rest.
The guards stood watch in all directions, centered around me.
They were truly concentrating all their senses on observing the surroundings.
My honest thoughts?
If you all spread out like that, how am I supposed to protect you?
“Jeok-yeon.”
“Yes, Young Cult Master.”
Jeok-yeon, who had been standing guard in front, approached me.
“Show me the martial arts you have learned.”
Jeok-yeon was startled by my words.
He realized that I intended to observe his martial arts.
“This isn't an opportunity that comes often, so hurry!”
“Yes! Young Cult Master!”
The mission was the mission, but he was not foolish enough to miss such an opportunity.
“The martial art I have learned is the Secret Shadow Sword Technique.”
After revealing the sword technique he had learned, he began to perform the forms.
It was customary not to watch another person’s signature martial art, so the guards turned their backs.
Jeok-yeon performed all the forms of the Secret Shadow Sword Technique.
“It’s a good sword technique.”
I corrected his bad habits and posture, and told him how he should train in the future.
I didn't say many things.
Just the most important one! I pointed out just one thing.
“Thank you!”
Jeok-yeon expressed his gratitude with a moved face, while the other guards couldn't hide their envy.
“There’s no need to be so envious. Number Two, step forward!”
When I intended to check everyone's martial arts, Number Two became flustered and said, “You are busy, so you can check on us later.”
“You’re the busy ones.”
“Pardon?”
“The Division Lord can wait. It’s just a courtesy visit, right? But your martial arts need to be improved as quickly as possible. If a Sword Qi flew at your back right now, could you block it? So, come on, your martial art!”
Without wasting any more time, Number Two performed his martial art, and just as I did for Jeok-yeon, I told him what he must fix and how he should train in the future.
I went through the other guards in the same way.
It didn't take much time.
One look was enough to see the answer.
I could feel their excitement.
It was a level of teaching they had never heard before.
Since they still had so much to learn, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they would get stronger with every word.
“Thank you. We will strive to improve further in the future.”
This time, I was teaching them so they wouldn't die.
At night, I pointed out the things the night guards needed to fix as well.
On the third day after leaving the sect.
Rumble!
Thunder roared, and rain began to pour.
The rain was so heavy that it was impossible to drive the carriage.
“We need to take a break.”
Jeok-yeon stopped the carriage under a large tree.
The guards stood in the rain, surrounding the carriage.
“Don’t stand there looking pathetic in the rain. Everyone, get inside the carriage.”
“We are fine.”
“That's an order.”
Jeok-yeon insisted it was not okay, but in the end, he couldn't break my will and came inside.
Six people came inside, but since it was a large carriage, they could all sit facing each other.
I handed them something to dry themselves with and said, “There's no need to feel awkward. Don’t mind me, just watch the rain outside.”
I heated the water in the kettle with Samadhi True Fire and made them warm tea.
At that sight, everyone's eyes widened.
“We will drink it well!”
They were still stiff and found it difficult to treat me.
Even the way they looked out the window, they all looked at the window on the opposite side from me.
We watched the falling rain in silence.
Shwaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Huddled together like this, sipping tea and watching the rain, had its own charm.
After dealing with the old Demon Sovereigns, being with these young fellows felt refreshing.
Jeok-yeon spoke cautiously, “We are supposed to be protecting you, Young Cult Master, but it somehow feels like we are the ones being protected.”
I smiled faintly and asked Jeok-yeon, “If you had the skills to enter the Heavenly Demon Hall Guards, you could have entered other organizations as well. Why did you apply to be an Escort Martial Artist?”
He answered without hesitation, “I wanted to be an Escort Martial Artist since I was young. I thought the guards looked cool. I believed that protecting someone was honorable.”
“Do you still think the same?”
Jeok-yeon’s answer didn't come as quickly as the first time.
“I think the same.”
It occurred to me that he might be regretting it because of the pain in his eyes.
It was already a difficult job, and his eyes must hurt to the point of death.
Just then, my eyes met with Number Three.
He had the gentlest impression among the day guards.
“What about you?”
“I thought I had more talent for protecting than for killing.”
“What is a talent for protecting?”
“I don’t find it boring to protect someone. I think it’s also because I have an introverted personality.”
At that moment, Number Nine chimed in without being asked, “I judged that escort missions were relatively safe. I want to live a long life.”
His comrades, who seemed to have heard this before, all smiled.
It felt like he was the type who enjoyed making his comrades laugh and telling jokes.
In any case, it was something I would never hear from Hwi.
He had lived through an era of devotion and was still living it.
But these young martial artists now were certainly different from their predecessors.
Of course, that didn't mean I thought they lacked a sense of duty compared to Hwi.
Nor did I think Hwi was old-fashioned compared to their rational and individualistic attitudes.
I just felt that the times were changing.
As I sat there with these thoughts, the downpour began to subside.
As if he had been waiting, Jeok-yeon said, “We will depart now.”
Before they got off, I asked, “Is anyone’s hometown in Hunan Province?”
They looked bewildered at the sudden question.
“No one?”
Then Number Three, who had previously answered that protecting suited him, stepped forward.
“My hometown is here in Hunan.”
“Do your parents live in your hometown?”
“Yes, my mother lives there alone.”
“When was the last time you saw her?”
“It’s been about three years.”
“Let’s stop by before we go.”
Number Three was startled.
“No, it’s alright. I can't do that during a mission.”
“A few days' delay is fine. Why would the Hunan Division Lord be so eager to see me? But how much must your mother miss you? It’s not polite to come all this way and just pass by. This isn't a request, it's an order, so let’s go!”
And so, the carriage began to run towards Number Three’s hometown.
I know well that all sorts of people live in every corner of this Central Plains, and all sorts of things happen.
All sorts of conspiracies and schemes, how far humans can fall, and how cruel they can become, I know it all.
And how many martial artists lose their way and wander in that forest of swords and mountains of blades.
My martial world is not far away.
Jo Chun-bae of the Flowing Wine Tavern is my martial world, and the hometown of Number Three, who escorts me, is my martial world.
This is how I do not lose my way in the martial world.
As if denying that it had ever rained so hard, the carriage continued to run, cutting through the clear sky.
Not far from his hometown, the running carriage slowed down.
I lifted the curtain and looked outside to see a shattered carriage lying overturned on the side of the road.
There were bloodstains on the ground here and there, and signs of a fierce fight remained.
I heard Jeok-yeon’s voice, “I will find out what happened.”
Number Two went to a nearby resident to find out what had happened here.
“They say that a few days ago, the goods of the Hunan Number One Escort Agency were attacked and stolen. In the process, several Escort Leaders, escort warriors, and porters were killed.”
“Isn't the Hunan Number One Escort Agency the largest in this area?”
“That is correct.”
Usually, one couldn't rashly touch an escort mission from the largest agency in the region.
A place like the Hunan Number One Escort Agency would have deep connections with various sects in the martial world, so messing with them would lead to retaliation.
An unusual event that wouldn't normally happen had occurred.
Of course, it wasn't our place to intervene, so I immediately told Jeok-yeon, “Alright, let’s pick up the pace.”
“Yes!”
The carriage started running at a faster speed.
The carriage arrived at Number Three’s hometown village.
“There it is.”
Where Number Three pointed, there was a small inn.
It was the Dohyeon Inn, named after him.
I had heard on the way that it was an inn he had set up for his mother with the money he earned after joining the Main Sect.
“It was my mother’s dream to run an inn.”
Just because someone is a demonic practitioner, does that mean they can't be a filial son?
We stopped the carriage in front of the inn.
When we entered, there were no customers or owners, no one at all.
Number Three was surprised and called out for his mother in a loud voice.
“Mother!”
But no one was there.
Since an inn rarely closes, a look of worry crossed Number Three’s face.
I went into the kitchen and checked the traces of fire in the stove.
“This kitchen was used for business until yesterday. So don’t worry.”
Just then, a bright-looking child entered the inn.
“They’re not open today. The owner lady and the chef are at the Wind Water Mountain Villa.”
The child introduced himself, saying he comes to work as a waiter when it's busy.
I asked the child in a friendly manner, “Do you know why they went there?”
“This morning, martial artists from the Wind Water Mountain Villa came and took them, saying they needed them to cook.”
If that was the reason it was closed, it was a relief.
When martial arts sects needed a chef, they would sometimes mobilize people from inns like this.
“Where is the Wind Water Mountain Villa?”
“It’s at the end of the west road over there.”
“Thank you.”
I gave the child a coin, and he bowed happily and left.
This time, I asked Number Three, “Do you know about the Wind Water Mountain Villa?”
“I don’t know much about it. I left my hometown at a young age for martial arts training, and I only saw my mother once every two or three years.”
He bowed his head low, but no one would think he had done anything wrong.
Even in his busy schedule, he was the most filial son for coming to see his mother once every two or three years without fail.
“Please wait a moment, Young Cult Master. I will clean a guest room for you first.”
Number Three acted calmly as if nothing was wrong, but how could I not know his inner thoughts? He must want to run and see his mother right away.
He must also be worried for various reasons since a martial arts sect had taken her.
I stood up from my seat and said, “While your mother is working, we young people can't just be playing around, can we? Let’s go help her and bring her back early.”
At my unexpected words, Number Three waved his hands, saying it was fine, but I got on the carriage.
All the guards mounted their horses, and Number Three mounted his as well.
Although he said it was not necessary, an undeniable joy crossed his face.
“Let’s go, to the Wind Water Mountain Villa!”
The carriage began to run towards the Wind Water Mountain Villa.