Genius Martial Arts Trainer

Chapter 149:

Black Bear Village

Northern Wind Escort Agency

On the surface, it appeared to be an ordinary escort agency, but this was one of Shinchun’s bases introduced in the second part of the novel.

When Dao Yuetian, who had faced the annihilation of his clan, emerged from five years of secluded training, he roamed the Jianghu seeking revenge against his enemies. He eventually succeeded in eliminating those who had attacked his clan.

However, there was still work to be done. He had to reclaim the heirloom that was the reason for the attack on his family. One of the places he discovered in his quest to find the heirloom was the Northern Wind Escort Agency.

Shinchun was not only causing internal strife within the orthodox factions but also engaging in human trafficking, gathering children with unique constitutions. Additionally, they collected special items hidden throughout Jianghu, similar to their attack on Dao Yuetian’s clan.

The Northern Wind Escort Agency was one of the bases used to transport these collected children and items. It operated as a regular escort agency, mixing these special items and children among the regular shipments to erase traces.

“Let’s go, Brother Heuk-ung!”

In other words, they had plenty of reasons to attack.

It was unclear why Mu-gung was so delighted like a real bandit leader.

* * *

A narrow mountain path through Mount No that had to be crossed to move northward from Hajeonhyeon.

“Halt!”

The escorts from the Northern Wind Escort Agency, passing through this area, remained calm despite the sudden shout.

Even when burly men emerged from the bushes in a line, their demeanor didn’t change. They knew that bandits from the Great Tiger Village, affiliated with the Green Forest, were based here, and they had been consistently dealing with them.

They thought they could just pay a few coins and pass through. However, it didn’t take long to realize something was wrong.

“Hahaha! I am Heuk-ung, the chief of Heuk-ung Village!”

At the words of a vicious-looking young man who stepped forward, the expressions of the Northern Wind escorts changed.

“Not the Great Tiger Village but Heuk-ung Village?”

“When did we ever say Great Tiger Village! Heuk-ung Village already took over!”

Upon hearing that the bandits had taken over the area, the Northern Wind escorts began to feel tense. If the bandits had just taken over, anything could happen.

However, Jang Wonsang, the chief escort of the Northern Wind Escort Agency, spoke to Heuk-ung with a seasoned attitude.

“It seems we have new brothers to trade with. Hahaha. So, how much does Heuk-ung Village want for the toll?”

For some reason, the bandit chief’s hearty laugh became awkward.

‘How much should I ask for?’

Mu-gung had come out because Mu-jin asked him to, but he hadn’t thought that far. He couldn’t act foolishly and disappoint his new followers.

As Mu-gung was flustered by the sudden situation, Mu-jin’s voice reached him through sound transmission.

“Say 100 gold coins.”

Mu-gung, who had stiffened awkwardly, parroted Mu-jin’s words.

“The toll is 100 gold coins!”

“That’s a bit much for a small escort agency, isn’t it?”

At Jang Wonsang’s incredulous question, Mu-gung almost nodded unconsciously. Despite being a monk, he knew 100 gold coins was an enormous sum.

He had thoughtlessly followed Mu-jin’s instruction, but it was an unreasonable amount. Luckily, Mu-jin sent another sound transmission.

“If they don’t have money, ask for their goods.”

“Hahaha! If you don’t have money, hand over your goods!”

Although Mu-gung had blurted out the words thoughtlessly, the atmosphere changed instantly. Losing the goods would drastically lower the escort agency’s credibility.

“Do you want to see the end?”

It was a declaration of war. While Mu-gung hesitated, Mu-jin stepped in instead of sending a sound transmission.

“Did you think we came here to play house? Chief Heuk-ung, let’s go!”

“?!”

Mu-gung was confused when Mu-jin suddenly charged at the escorts. Attacking bandits was one thing, but attacking escorts?

However, as Mu-jin led, Mu-yul and Ling-ling followed him into the fray. The surrounding bandits looked at Mu-gung, waiting for his order.

‘Whatever, let’s do this!’

Mu-jin must have a reason! Convincing himself, Mu-gung shouted.

“Attack, everyone!”

“Yes, chief!”

With his followers, Mu-gung charged with an axe, looking every bit like a bandit chief.

* * *

‘Damn it.’

Chief escort Jang Wonsang frowned as he watched the sudden attack.

‘We’ve encountered foolhardy, overzealous newbies.’

Bandits and escort agencies had a symbiotic relationship. Bandits needed to rob travelers but couldn’t always confront escort agencies directly. High-profile raids attracted attention from the Murim Alliance, great martial sects, or even imperial forces.

Escort agencies also couldn’t always fight bandits; their escorts would die needlessly. Even if they won, eliminating all bandits would make travel safe, reducing the need for escort services.

Thus, a balance was struck with negotiations and tolls. Only reckless novices would demand such exorbitant amounts or goods.

Killing these novice bandits should be easy, but—

“Ugh…”

The first bandit to charge fell with a single punch from the lead escort. The same happened to another escort who was kicked by a bandit with a monkey-like appearance.

They were at risk of losing all their goods. As Jang Wonsang sighed and drew his sword, a bandit was split in two by his blade. Despite cutting cleanly, his sword had no blood on it.

Other escorts, who had been hiding their skills, joined Jang Wonsang, emitting sword and saber energy to cut down the bandits quickly. The strength was far too high for a local escort agency.

“Kill all the bandits and dispose of those men.”

Jang Wonsang ordered the hidden-skilled escorts, indicating the regular escorts to be killed to erase evidence. The skilled escorts nodded silently.

In the meantime—

“How dare you harm my men!”

The fierce-looking bandit chief charged at Jang Wonsang with madness in his eyes. Jang Wonsang intended to kill the bandit chief with a single strike.

As his sword, imbued with energy, cut through the bandit’s axe effortlessly, Mu-gung used his “Explosive Fist” to counter. However, his attack was cut by Jang Wonsang’s energy, forcing him to pull back his arm.

‘Nearly lost a hand there.’

Mu-gung narrowly avoided losing his hand, but the cut left a slight wound. Even though his attack power was reduced by using a fist instead of a palm, the opponent’s strength was formidable.

‘He’s far stronger than the Great Tiger Village chief.’

Realizing the danger, Mu-gung threw the axe handle at the opponent, releasing his Extreme Yang Energy at the same time. However, Jang Wonsang easily cut through it and attacked Mu-gung with swift strikes, which he barely dodged.

‘How can an escort be this strong!’

The speed was comparable to Il-hwi Dojang’s, but the skill level was different. The escort’s strikes were sharp enough to cut through Mu-gung’s energy and complex due to extensive experience.

If his internal energy hadn’t increased or if he hadn’t experienced the duel with Il-hwi Dojang, he wouldn’t have lasted this long.

“Chief!”

Mu-jin joined the fight, quickly dispatching the fake escorts. Frustrated, Jang Wonsang shouted.

“What are you all doing!”

Seeing his subordinates on the ground, he shouted in frustration.

“They’re all asleep.”

“?!”

In a split second of distraction, Mu-jin attacked Jang Wonsang with explosive speed.

* * *

“Hmm.”

Mu-jin, having subdued the apparent leader, surveyed the surroundings with a strange expression. All the escorts were on the ground, many injured but none dead.

The hidden-skilled escorts were Shinchun’s informants and needed to be interrogated, while the regular escorts were innocent and didn’t need to die.

In contrast, more than ten bandits were dead or maimed within a short time, having fallen to the hidden-skilled escorts.

Mu-jin sighed not because of them, as he had planned to deal with the bandits after the mission. There was no need to mourn those who preyed on others.

‘The leader’s skills were better than expected.’

The leader was comparable to the Taeeulmun master they fought earlier, indicating a mid-level manager in Shinchun.

“Move the goods and prisoners to the base.”

Mu-jin thought there might be something useful among the goods.

After securing the goods and preventing the escorts from committing suicide, Mu-jin’s group gathered in a large thatched house prepared for the chief.

As Mu-jin was about to search the goods, Mu-gyeong spoke with a serious tone.

“Mu-jin.”

“Yes?”

“Why did we attack the escort agency?”

“Do you remember the force called ‘Shinchun’ from Shintu Pit Trap?”

“Yes.”

“That escort agency is connected to them.”

“How do you know?”

Mu-gyeong, unlike the others who trusted Mu-jin’s commands without question, asked persistently. Of course, Mu-jin couldn’t say it was from the novel, but he had a prepared excuse.

“Sichuan Tang Clan provided the information.”

“Ah…”

Mu-gyeong seemed convinced and nodded, then asked again with realization.

“So we dressed as bandits

to attack the escort agency?”

“Well, it was convenient.”

Since this was a side goal, Mu-jin nodded appropriately. It was natural for bandits to rob escort agencies. While disguised as bandits, attacking the escort agency was not a bad idea.

‘Even though it was an improvised plan, it seems quite useful.’

It was perfect for hiding their identity and, if it caused conflict between Shinchun and the Green Forest, it would be beneficial.