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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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Wuan County, Northern Zhili.
The town, nestled at the foothills of the Taihang Mountains and bordering Shanxi Province, was thrown into chaos, overwhelmed by fear.
“A Ghost Gate opened on North Mountain! We have to get out of here!”
“But… Beijing, the Imperial Capital, is so close. Surely the Martial Governor’s Office or the Embroidered Uniform Guard will intervene, won’t they?”
“Don’t be foolish! They’re all deployed at Mount Suo Tai, dealing with *that* Ghost Gate!”
Another fear had been added to the list of things that terrified the common people. Dangers were nothing new, but this new terror was different.
It was something even more dreadful than martial artists, those superhuman figures who seemed to exist on a different plane.
Taxes that threatened their livelihood? At least there were relief efforts during famines and hard times.
Martial artists who could kill them on a whim?
They were still human.
One could appeal to their compassion, and many, even those from the unorthodox factions, could become powerful allies.
But this new terror was different.
It didn’t speak their language; pleas for mercy were futile.
It was pure, unadulterated violence, something they had no hope of resisting. It didn’t crave wealth, so there wasn’t even the hope of buying one’s life.
The government, the martial world, even bandits, rarely killed commoners.
Less often than disease or wild animals, at least.
Even the unorthodox factions, despite their reputation for ruthlessness, were constrained by the Imperial Court and the practical need for a living population.
They might kill, but only when necessary.
Those who practiced bizarre, murderous techniques weren’t even considered part of the martial world.
Both the righteous and unorthodox factions would label them enemies of the martial world, outcasts to be hunted down in collaboration with the Imperial Court.
So, despite the bloodshed and rivalries within the martial world, the common people saw it as a separate, distant realm.
But these new creatures were something else entirely.
So, the mere rumor of a Ghost Gate was enough to send Wuan County into a panic.
“It’s absolute chaos.”
That was the scene that awaited Namgung-Woo and the Yo-Pyeong Escort Agency as they entered Wuan County.
“There weren’t many refugees on the road. It seems less like preparation and more like… they don’t know what to do.”
“That’s how it is in Hebei. They think they’re safe because the Imperial Capital is nearby.”
Namgung-Woo thought of the term “safety complacency.” It didn’t quite fit this era, but that’s what Cho-yul’s explanation suggested.
“I doubt the Imperial Court will just sit idly by. They won’t want any unrest in Hebei, right in their backyard. The troops stationed here are apparently deployed at Mount Suo Tai, so they’ll likely send the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”
The Embroidered Uniform Guard were the emperor’s personal protectors.
In this world, where martial arts were real, they were an elite special forces unit, each member a skilled martial artist.
“But isn’t Beijing still quite a distance from here?”
“About a thousand li. Even with fresh horses at every relay station, it would at least take seven days. People are fleeing because they don’t know what will happen in the meantime.”[1]
As expected of someone from an escort agency, Cho-yul was quick with distances.
“Seven days… isn’t that enough time to fend off the yokai from the Ghost Gate?”
“It depends. Each Ghost Gate is different. Some are manageable, even for untrained commoners. Others can wipe out even elite forces from the Nine Great Sects. Spirit Masters can assess the danger, but… as you know, they’re even rarer than martial artists.”
‘I didn’t know that.’
Namgung-Woo was once again reminded of how little he understood about this world.
Cho-yul continued.
“The real problem is the state of the martial world in Hebei.”
“The state?”
“Hebei has one of the weakest martial worlds in the region.”
“Ah… I see.”
The Imperial Court wouldn’t want powerful martial arts sects in their backyard. They would have subtly suppressed any such development in Northern Zhili.
That explained the weakened state of the Hebei martial world. The region was firmly under the Imperial Court’s control.
“They’ll probably just gather some wandering martial artists. Are you planning to join them?”
Cho-yul seemed to have anticipated his intentions.
“Yes, I am.”
“I apologize, but…”
Cho-yul began hesitantly, but Namgung-Woo nodded in understanding. This time, it wasn’t an act; he truly grasped Cho-yul’s situation.
“I understand. The priority for an escort agency is the safe delivery of goods.”
“It doesn’t feel right sending Chae-ji’s benefactor into danger.”
Cho-yul’s apology seemed sincere.
But Namgung-Woo didn’t dwell on it. They saw him as Song Chae-ji’s benefactor, someone they were obligated to repay, but he felt he was the one indebted to them.
“I’m the one who should be apologizing. I’ve received so much and haven’t given anything in return. So…”
Namgung-Woo’s words brought a hearty laugh from Cho-yul.
“I’ll look forward to hearing your name in Beijing, then.”
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There were only three martial arts factions in Wuan County, an unusually low number.
And even those seemed to exist primarily to maintain a balance between the righteous and unorthodox, a half-hearted obligation rather than true local presence.
The only true martial arts presence in Wuan County was the Yi Family, a local clan.
They claimed to be descendants of Yi Mok, the Marquis of Wuan, who was said to have received the county as a fief.
They were determined to defend Wuan, even if it meant sacrificing their lives, until reinforcements arrived.
So, the Yi Family was organizing the recruitment of wandering martial artists.
Namgung-Woo left his belongings at the inn Cho-yul had arranged and headed straight for the Yi Family estate.
‘Quite a crowd.’
At least thirty people had gathered.
Word of the Ghost Gate’s appearance must have spread. Like Namgung-Woo and his companions, others had heard the rumors from the bandits in the Taihang Mountains and flocked to Wuan.
‘Cho-yul said yokai drop valuable items.’
He’d received a crash course from Cho-yul on the subject.
Namgung-Woo suspected most of these wandering martial artists were here for the loot.
Treasure hunters of a sort. Though less than half looked like genuine martial artists.
‘Still, there are a few…’
Namgung-Woo’s eyes, imbued with his enhanced vision, scanned the crowd.
He spotted a few with skill comparable to Song Chae-ji.
‘No Peak Realm masters, I see.’
Perhaps Hwang Mu-tak’s skill had been higher than he’d thought.
None of the thirty-plus wandering martial artists, or even those from the local sects…the Yugeon Clan and the Jaegam Sect…seemed to be on his level.
There was only one exception.
‘The Yi Family Head, was it?’
The elderly man leading the group.
He seemed comparable to Hwang Mu-tak.
‘About the same level. Maybe Hwang Mu-tak was slightly stronger.’
As Namgung-Woo assessed the crowd, the line dwindled, and it was soon his turn.
“Identification, please.”
“I have a travel permit from the Yo-Pyeong Escort Agency instead.”
“Yo-Pyeong Escort Agency? From Shanxi Province?”
“Yes.”
“Support from the Yo-Pyeong Escort Agency…”
The man recording the names stood up abruptly and bowed.
“I am Yi Woon-yeong of the Yi Family. We are grateful for the Yo-Pyeong Escort Agency’s support. Are you representing the entire agency? I should inform the Family Head…”
He seemed to think Namgung-Woo was an official representative.
Feeling a pang of guilt, Namgung-Woo corrected him.
“I’m here on my own. Please register me as an individual.”
“Ah… my apologies. We’re in desperate need of help, so I may… have overstepped my bounds.”
“It’s fine.”
True to his upbringing in a righteous martial arts family, Yi Woon-yeong accepted his mistake without any visible disappointment. It was an admirable trait.
“My name is Nam Woo. My age is…”
What should he say?
He hadn’t actually told anyone his real age.
At the Yo-Pyeong Escort Agency, they’d simply assumed he was around twenty, based on his appearance.
‘I’m twenty-six, but… that might raise suspicions. Should I say I’m younger?’
He was already using a fake name.
What difference would a few years make?
It was as if he wasn’t gaining anything by lying about his age.
‘I look about twenty. Let’s say twenty-three.’
He was about to speak when a commotion broke out at the estate’s open gate.
A man in Yi Family uniform rushed in, shouting.
“The Peng Family! The Peng Family has sent reinforcements!”
Though the Hebei martial world had weakened, some power still remained.
They were known as one of the Seven Great Families.
The Peng Family of Hebei.
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[1] 1 li (里) = 0.5 kilometers
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