The carriage was different from the one I usually rode.

It was a special carriage used by the Cheonmajeon escort squad, made of a material both light and sturdy. It wouldn’t break under normal external shocks, and was pulled by strong horses. In emergencies, it even had horse armor ready to be fitted.

While the daytime escort rode horses alongside the carriage, Jeokyeon rode inside and explained the escort mission.

“The night shift is riding in the following carriage. They take turns resting and will relieve us in the evening.”

The daytime escort was the same, but I didn’t need the night escort either. If someone approached while I was sleeping, Cheonma Hoshin Gong would wake me up.

Still, I let them do as they wished. What Hwi wanted was for them to become excellent bodyguards, and what was most necessary for that was experience.

Of course, there was also something to be done to speed up that timing.

“Stop the carriage for a moment.”

Jeokyeon ordered a subordinate at the driver’s seat to stop the carriage.

After joining with the night shift carriage, everyone gathered in front of me.

Then I walked toward the carriage. Originally, the Cheonmajeon emblem was engraved on the outside of the carriage, but now that part was covered.

Shhhhaaaak.

I swiftly peeled off the cover. The terrifying image of a fierce demon was revealed.

“From now on, we won’t conceal our identity while moving. Change your outfits to the official Cheonmajeon escort uniforms.”

The escorts were wearing plain martial clothes.

Jeokyeon spoke in surprise.

“That’s against regulations.”

“Our regulations are made by us. Do as I order.”

Conflict flashed in Jeokyeon’s eyes directed at me, but his hesitation was brief. They were already far beyond the usual framework while guarding me.

He ordered his subordinates to change clothes.

Jeokyeon and the escorts all changed their outfits. The official Cheonmajeon escort uniform was simple yet striking. On the left chest of the black martial clothes was a shield embroidered with a demon symbol representing Cheonmajeon. On the black masks they wore was the character 魔 (ma, “demon”) stitched boldly in a strong calligraphy. That was enough.

Once they wore the official uniforms, their entire atmosphere changed.

I looked at each of them and said,

“You look great. Among the various uniforms of our school, I think yours are the coolest.”

They smiled faintly and glanced at each other.

“I know it will be much harder for you to move like this. It’ll be more dangerous, and unforeseen variables will come up. If you were ordinary escorts, this wouldn’t be necessary. But you are going to be the ones guarding Cheonma from now on.”

At the word “Cheonma,” strength filled their eyes.

“When Father officially moves, has he ever concealed his identity? That’s why. You will experience and practice this from now on. You are openly guarding the deputy sect leader of Cheonma Sin Gyo.”

“Yes! We will protect you with our lives!”

“Please don’t sacrifice your lives—just protect me. Got it?”

My joke eased the mood slightly.

Perhaps feeling this was a good opportunity now that everyone was gathered, Jeokyeon told them their assigned numbers.

“In escort operations, we call each other from number one to number twelve. Deputy sect leader, please call us that way too.”

Jeokyeon was number one, and the numbers reflected escort experience. The youngest was number twelve. He looked quite young—he was said to be eighteen now.

I went over and stood in front of number twelve. Too young to die protecting others.

“Do seniors bully you because you’re the youngest?”

“They’re so kind to me it’s bothersome!”

After lightly patting the youngest’s shoulder for the correct answer, I got into the carriage.

“Let’s depart!”

The carriage started moving again.

Jeokyeon could have ridden with me, but he rode horses with the escorts. Apparently, he got on the carriage earlier just to explain the escort mission.

He was their leader but worked as an equal with his subordinates. Rather, he took the lead and worked more. Perhaps Hwi appreciated this side of Jeokyeon and thus came to meet me personally. Maybe he saw potential in him to be a good bodyguard.

Our first destination was the Cheonma Sin Gyo Honam Branch.

Since it took considerable time to get there by carriage, I relaxed my mind.

It was a good opportunity to train Cheonma Hoshin Gong.

Because the carriage was so good, there was almost no shaking. I could comfortably focus on Cheonma Hoshin Gong.

Cheonma Hoshin Gong now had two stages left. The goal on this journey was to advance one stage.

How long had we been riding?

Jeokyeon shouted from outside.

“Let’s take a short break.”

The carriage stopped.

While letting the horses rest, I also got off the carriage and sat on a rock to rest.

The escorts kept watch around me. They were fully focused, surveying the surroundings.

Honestly?

If you line up like that around me, how am I supposed to protect you?

“Jeokyeon.”

“Yes, deputy sect leader.”

Jeokyeon, who was standing guard in front, approached me.

“Show me the martial art you’ve learned once.”

At my words, Jeokyeon was surprised. He realized I wanted to watch his martial art.

“Since opportunities like this don’t come often, hurry!”

“Yes! Deputy sect leader!”

Though this was a mission, he was not foolish enough to miss this opportunity.

“The martial art I learned is the Milyeong Sword Technique (密影劍法).”

After revealing the sword technique he learned, he began demonstrating the moves.

Since it was customary not to watch another’s poison martial arts, the escorts turned their backs.

Jeokyeon performed all the moves of Milyeong Sword Technique.

“Good sword technique.”

I corrected his bad habits and posture and told him how to train moving forward. I didn’t say many things. Just the most important one! Only one.

“Thank you!”

Jeokyeon expressed gratitude with a touched face, and the other escorts couldn’t hide their envy.

“No need to be so envious. Number two, next!”

When I tried to watch everyone’s martial arts, number two looked flustered.

“You’re busy, so you can check us later.”

“You’re busy.”

“Huh?”

“The branch leader can take it slow. This is a courtesy visit, right? But you need to improve your martial arts as soon as possible. If a sword energy came flying at your back now, could you block it? So come on, martial arts!”

Without wasting more time, number two showed his martial arts. Like with Jeokyeon, I pointed out what must be corrected and how to train.

The other escorts took turns to be watched. It didn’t take long. One look and the answer was clear.

I could feel their excitement. It was the highest-level instruction none of them had ever heard before. Since they had so much to learn, to exaggerate slightly, they would grow stronger every time I said something.

“Thank you. We will work harder and improve.”

This time I was telling them to not die.

At night, I also pointed out the corrections for the night shift martial artists.

On the third day after leaving the sect,

Kwarrrrung!

Thunder crashed and rain began pouring. It rained so heavily that we couldn’t drive the carriage.

“We need to take a short break.”

Jeokyeon stopped the carriage under a large tree.

The escorts surrounded the carriage, standing in the rain.

“Don’t stand out there in the rain like a sorry sight. Everyone, come inside.”

“We’re fine.”

“Orders.”

Jeokyeon resisted, but in the end, he couldn’t oppose my will and came inside.

Six of them went inside, but since it was ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ a large carriage, everyone could sit facing each other. I handed them cloths to dry off and said,

“Don’t worry unnecessarily. Don’t pay attention to me, just watch the rain outside.”

I heated water in a kettle with Sammae Jinhwa (Three Gates True Fire) and made them warm tea. Their eyes widened at the sight.

“Thank you, we will drink well!”

They were still stiff and found it difficult to face me. Even their glances out the window were all looking opposite sides from me.

We silently watched the falling rain.

Sshhhhaaaa!

Sitting cozily together, sipping tea while watching the rain had its own charm. After dealing with older Majons, being with these young fellows felt refreshing.

Jeokyeon spoke carefully.

“We are supposed to protect deputy sect leader, but somehow it feels like we are being protected.”

I smiled faintly and asked Jeokyeon.

“With skills good enough to enter Cheonmajeon escort squad, you could have joined other organizations too. Why did you apply to be a bodyguard?”

He answered without hesitation.

“Since I was young, I wanted to be a bodyguard. Bodyguards looked cool. I thought protecting someone was honorable.”

“Do you still feel the same?”

Jeokyeon’s answer didn’t come as quickly as the first time I asked.

“Yes, I do.”

Because of his eye pain, I thought maybe he had regrets. It must be hard enough, and on top of that, his eyes must hurt terribly.

At that moment, my eyes met Samho’s. He had the gentlest expression among the daytime escort.

“And you?”

“I thought I had more talent for protecting than killing.”

“What talent is that?”

“Protecting someone is not boring. Maybe it’s because I’m introverted.”

At that moment, Guho answered without being asked.

“I judged the escort mission to be relatively safe. I want to live a long life.”

His comrades smiled, as if they had heard that before. It seemed he liked making them laugh and joking around.

Anyway, these young martial artists were definitely different from their seniors. Not that I thought they lacked a sense of duty compared to Hwi. Nor did I think Hwi was old-fashioned compared to their rational and personal attitudes. I just felt the times were changing.

As I sat, lost in thought, the pouring rain began to subside.

Jeokyeon spoke as if he had been waiting.

“Let’s depart now.”

Before they got down, I asked,

“Anyone from Honam hometown?”

They looked puzzled at the sudden question.

“No one?”

Then Samho, who had said he was better at protecting, stepped forward.

“My hometown is here in Honam.”

“Do your parents live there?”

“Yes, my mother lives alone.”

“When was the last time you saw them?”

“About three years ago, I think.”

“Let’s stop by.”

Samho was surprised.

“No, it’s okay. We are on a mission and can’t do that.”

“A few days won’t matter. I’m not here to visit for fun. But your mother must want to see you terribly. It wouldn’t be polite to come all this way and just leave. This isn’t a request but an order. Let’s go!”

The carriage began heading toward Samho’s hometown.

I know well that all kinds of people live all across this central land, and all kinds of things happen. I know all too well the conspiracies, schemes, how low humans can fall and how cruel they can be. I know how many martial artists get lost and wander in that ruined sword forest.

My martial world is not far away. Jochunbae of the Pungnyu Tavern is my martial world, and the hometown of Samho, who guards me, is my martial world. This is how I don’t get lost in the martial world.

As if no rain had fallen, the carriage continued running under a clear sky.

Not far from the hometown village, the carriage slowed down.

I lifted the curtain and looked out. A carriage was smashed and lying by the roadside. Bloodstains remained here and there, evidence of a fierce fight.

Jeokyeon’s voice was heard.

“I’ll check what happened.”

Number two went and asked nearby residents what happened here.

“A few days ago, the Honam First Escort Bureau’s convoy was attacked and robbed. Several escort leaders and escort fighters died.”

“Isn’t the Honam First Escort Bureau the biggest escort bureau around here?”

“Yes.”

Usually, the convoy of the largest escort bureau in the region was not touched lightly. The Honam First Escort Bureau had deep ties with many martial factions, so attacking them carelessly would bring retaliation.

An ominous event had occurred that normally wouldn’t happen.

Of course, this wasn’t our business, so I said to Jeokyeon immediately,

“Let’s increase speed.”

“Yes!”

The carriage picked up speed and started running faster.

The carriage arrived at Samho’s hometown village.

“There it is.”

Samho pointed to a small inn.

It was the Dohyeon Inn, named after him. I heard it was opened with the money Samho earned after joining the sect.

“Running the inn was my mother’s dream.”

Even Majons can have filial children.

The carriage stopped in front of the inn.

Inside, there were no customers or owner. Samho called out loudly in surprise.

“Mother!”

But no one came. Since inns rarely closed, worry crossed Samho’s face.

I entered the kitchen and checked for signs of fire in the hearth.

“This kitchen was in use just yesterday. Don’t worry.”

At that moment, a sharp-looking child came inside.

“We’re not open today. The owner lady and cook went to Pungsu Mountain Villa.”

The child introduced himself, saying he helped out during busy times.

I asked the child kindly.

“Do you know why they went?”

“In the morning, martial artists from Pungsu Mountain Villa came and took them to cook.”

If that was why it was closed, it was fortunate. Martial sects sometimes recruited cooks this way.

“Where is Pungsu Mountain Villa?”

“At the end of the west road over there.”

“Thank you.”

I gave the child a coin, and he happily said goodbye and left.

Then I asked Samho,

“Do you know about Pungsu Mountain Villa?”

“I don’t know well. I left my hometown young to train martial arts and only see my mother once every two or three years.”

He bowed deeply, but no one could think badly of him. Even in busy times, he was the most filial for visiting his mother regularly.

“Deputy sect leader, please wait a moment. I’ll clean your guest room.”

Samho acted nonchalantly, but I knew his true feelings. He must have wanted to rush to see his mother. Being taken by a martial sect must have caused him worry.

I stood up and said,

“Your mother is working, so young people like us can’t just rest. We should go help and bring her back early.”

Surprised by my unexpected words, Samho waved it off as fine, but I climbed into the carriage. The escorts mounted their horses, and Samho got on a horse as well. Though he said no, joy couldn’t be hidden on his face.

“Let’s go, to Pungsu Mountain Villa!”

The carriage started heading toward Pungsu Mountain Villa.