Chapter 12

North Zhili, Muan County.

The village, nestled right against the Taihang Mountains bordering Shanxi Province, was currently in a state of chaos, gripped by terror.

“They say a Ghost Gate has opened in the northern mountains. We need to flee quickly.”

“But… isn’t Beijing, where His Majesty resides, just nearby? Won’t the Martial Arts Governor or the Imperial Guards take action?”

“Don’t be foolish. They’ve already been deployed to the Ghost Gate Sealing Battle at Mount Tai!”

Since when?

Another fear had been added to the list of things the common folk dreaded. There were already countless dangers threatening their lives, but this new terror was on a completely different level.

It was something even more terrifying than the martial artists, who seemed almost like celestial beings beyond human comprehension.

Taxes that made tomorrow’s livelihood bleak? At least during famine or spring shortages, they could receive relief grain and some compensation.

Martial artists who might kill you if you’re not careful? Even they are human, and if you appeal to their emotions, many might even help you greatly. Even those from the Unorthodox Martial World, though few in number, can become reliable allies if you befriend them privately.

But this new terror was different.

It didn’t speak human language, so you couldn’t beg for mercy. It was a concentrated force of violence that the common folk could never hope to oppose.

It didn’t covet their possessions, so there was no last line of defense to at least save their lives.

The government, the martial world, even the common folk—they all killed only a few. Fewer than the plague, perhaps.

Though the Unorthodox Martial World is fierce and unruly, they still can’t ignore the government’s watchful eye. If the common folk decrease, so do their profits, so even if they kill, they keep it to a minimum.

Those who master bizarre martial arts and kill as easily as eating meals aren’t even called part of the Unorthodox Martial World. The entire Orthodox Martial World brands them as martial outcasts, not one of their own, and collaborates with the Imperial Family to hunt them down.

So, even if the martial world is a blood-soaked forest of swords, the common folk see it as a half-step removed, like another world.

The threshold for terror was low, and the rumor of a Ghost Gate opening was enough to plunge Muan County into complete panic.

“The atmosphere is chaos.”

It was around that time.

Namgung Woo and the people from Yopyeong Escort Agency entered Muan County.

“We didn’t see many fleeing refugees on the way here. It feels less like they’re prepared and more like they don’t know what to do.”

“That’s just how it is in this Hapbuk region. With Beijing, the capital, nearby, they think they’re safe.”

Namgung Woo thought of the term “safety complacency.”

Though it might not quite fit this era, Pyeong Choyul’s explanation made sense.

“Likely, the Imperial Family won’t stay idle either. Trouble in Hapbuk, that is, North Zhili, is the last thing they’d want. The troops guarding North Zhili seem to be at Mount Tai, so at the very least, they’ll send the Imperial Guards.”

The Imperial Guards were like the Emperor’s personal escort.

In this world where martial arts are real, they could be understood as the Imperial Family’s elite special forces, all trained in martial arts.

“But even here, it’s quite a distance to Beijing, isn’t it?”

“About a thousand li. Even if you change horses at relay stations, it’d take seven days. Who knows what could happen in that time, so people are fleeing.”

Clearly, being someone who worked for an escort agency, his distance calculations were quick.

“Seven days… Wouldn’t that be enough to hold off the monsters from the Ghost Gate?”

“Hard to say. The monsters from each Ghost Gate are different. Some can be withstood even by common folk without martial arts, while others can annihilate even the elite forces of the Nine Sects and One Gang. If there were sorcerers, they might be able to gauge it… but as you know, sorcerers are even rarer than martial artists, right?”

“I wouldn’t know.” Namgung Woo realized once again how ignorant he still was about this world.

Pyeong Choyul continued his explanation.

“The problem lies in the state of Hapbuk’s martial world.”

“State?”

“Hapbuk is one of the weakest regions in terms of martial power.”

“Ah… right.”

From the Imperial Family’s perspective, having a powerful martial force in their backyard, North Zhili, would be highly undesirable.

Naturally, they’d have pressured the martial forces in the Hapbuk region, overtly or covertly.

Thus, Hapbuk’s martial world weakened, and North Zhili fell entirely under the Imperial Family’s influence.

“Likely, they’ll hastily gather wandering martial artists to compensate. Are you going?”

Pyeong Choyul seemed to have already figured out that Namgung Woo intended to participate in this crisis.

“Yes, that’s the plan.”

“Sorry, but…”

When Pyeong Choyul cautiously brought it up, Namgung Woo nodded as if he already understood. This time, it wasn’t just pretending—he truly understood the situation.

“I understand. The escort agency’s priority is safely transporting goods. That comes first.”

“This is… I feel bad sending Song Chaeji’s benefactor into such a dangerous situation.”

Pyeong Choyul spoke with genuine regret.

But Namgung Woo didn’t mind. They treated him as Song Chaeji’s benefactor, but he felt more like he was the one who had received their help.

“On the contrary, I’m the one who’s only received and given nothing back. So, about that…”

At Namgung Woo’s words, Pyeong Choyul let out a hearty laugh.

“Then I’ll look forward to it. I hope to hear your name in Beijing.”

§

There were a total of three martial forces in Muan County. Compared to other counties, this was absurdly few. Even these were factions created half-obligatorily by the White and Black Paths to maintain balance.

The only martial force truly willing to step up for Muan County was the local influential family, the Iga Clan.

Claiming descent from the Muan County’s founding lord, Li Mu, they were determined to protect Muan County even if it cost them their lives, until reinforcements arrived.

Thus, the Iga Clan was also the one gathering wandering martial artists. Namgung Woo stored his belongings at the inn Pyeong Choyul had arranged and headed straight for the Iga Clan.

‘Quite a few, huh?’

There were at least thirty people. Perhaps there really were signs of a Ghost Gate. Like Namgung Woo’s group, who had heard rumors from bandits while crossing the Taihang Mountains, they seemed to have gathered here after hearing the news.

‘The ghostly artifacts obtained from killing monsters are said to be quite valuable.’

Namgung Woo had been briefly educated by Pyeong Choyul on the key points.

To Namgung Woo, it seemed most of the wandering martial artists here had come hoping to make a fortune from those artifacts.

A kind of treasure hunter, you could say. Though, less than half of them were proper martial artists.

‘Still, some seem decent…?’

Namgung Woo’s eyes glowed faintly as he quickly scanned the gathered crowd.

Here and there, he spotted individuals with martial prowess similar to Song Chaeji.

‘No Peak Masters, though.’

Hwang Moo-tak’s level of skill seemed surprisingly high, as none of the thirty-plus wandering martial artists could compare to him. Not even the local faction leaders from the Yugeonmun and Jegambang factions.

There was one exception.

‘The Iga Clan head, right?’

An elderly man leading the charge here.

He seemed comparable to Hwang Moo-tak.

‘About the same, maybe Hwang Moo-tak is slightly stronger.’

While Namgung Woo was comparing their strengths, the line gradually shortened, and it was finally his turn.

“Show your identification token, please.”

“Ah, I’ll use my Yopyeong Escort Agency badge instead.”

“Yopyeong Escort Agency? The one from Shanxi Province?”

“Yes.”

“Support from Yopyeong Escort Agency…”

The man recording the names stood up abruptly and performed a martial salute.

“I am Yi Woo-nyeong of the Iga Clan. Thank you for Yopyeong Escort Agency’s support. Are you here as their representative? You should meet with the clan head…”

It seemed he had mistaken Namgung Woo for a representative of the entire Yopyeong Escort Agency. Feeling awkward, Namgung Woo spoke up.

“I’m the only one from Yopyeong Escort Agency, so please list me as an individual.”

“Ah… my apologies. We’re in desperate need of hands, so I was presumptuous.”

“It’s fine.”

Still, as a member of a martial family from the White Path, Yi Woo-nyeong showed almost no sign of disappointment and acknowledged his mistake. It was quite an impressive demeanor.

“Name’s Nam Woo. Age…”

What should he say?

Come to think of it, Namgung Woo had never really disclosed his age.

Even at Yopyeong Escort Agency, everyone just assumed he was around 20 based on his appearance.

‘If we go by my original age, I’d be 26… but saying 26 here might raise suspicions, so I’ll lower it a bit.’

He was already using a fake name anyway. Lowering his age a bit wouldn’t hurt. It’s not like he was gaining anything by lying about his age.

‘Since I look around 20, I’ll compromise and say 23.’

Having made up his mind, Namgung Woo opened his mouth.

“Twenty…”

Before Namgung Woo could finish, a small commotion broke out near the wide-open gates of the Iga Clan.

A man in Iga Clan attire came running in, shouting loudly.

“Support from the Paeng Family! The Paeng Family has arrived!!”

Though Hapbuk’s martial world had weakened, there was still some martial strength left in the region.

They were known as one of the Seven Great Families.

The Hapbuk Paeng Family.