Chapter 543

Thud. Thud.

The earth-shaking footsteps made the passersby part to either side of the road.

But the wary glances they cast weren’t because of Taesan walking beside him—Sama Pyo of the Black Dragon Sword knew that much.

‘Seems the rumors about us have spread quite a bit.’

Well, it would’ve been strange if they hadn’t.

A beggar dozing against the wall of an alley had a grimy, yellowed knot peeking from his waist. A vendor swatting flies had faint calluses on his palm.

‘Beggars Union, Hao Clan.’

And that was just the obvious ones.

Wherever you went in Hanan, eyes were watching. It was inevitable that his movements today would be known to several factions before half the day had even passed.

‘Not that I planned to hide it.’

Trying to conceal something would only raise greater suspicion. Sama Pyo had no intention of letting a foolish sense of caution ruin his plans.

— Milord.

A cautious whisper brushed his ear—Taesan’s voice, transmitted silently. Without showing it, Sama Pyo pointed toward a noodle shop tucked into a corner.

“Strange, I suddenly feel like having some noodles. How about a bowl?”

“…Uh?”

“Sounds like someone’s full. Say so if you don’t want any.”

“No! Taesan like noodles!”

“Knew you would. Miss, bring us ten bowls—no, twenty.”

The middle-aged woman who ran the place blinked, unable to believe her ears.

“…How many did you say?”

The reason Sama Pyo chose this noodle shop was simple.

Because of its poor location, it had few customers. That made it ideal for exchanging whispers away from prying eyes.

And the owner, who clearly had nothing to do with the martial world, added to that convenience.

“Twenty bowls. As you can see, I’ve got a gluttonous brute with me.”

“Ah, y-yes!”

It was probably an unexpected windfall for her. As the owner’s eyes lit up and she bustled around, Sama Pyo quietly moved his lips.

— You looked like you had something to say.

The small chair groaned under Taesan’s heavy weight as he shifted awkwardly.

— Milord. Taesan worried.

— About what?

— Didn’t follow Clan Leader’s order. Taesan worried about you.

A faint smile formed at the corner of Sama Pyo’s lips.

— I suspected as much. It’s about him, isn’t it?

— Disobedience is bad. Clan Leader gets mad. Milord in danger.

— Indeed. He is the kind of man who would.

Sama Pyo looked down at the neatly arranged chopsticks on the table.

His father, the Black Night King Sama Gong, came to mind. A man with no fatherly affection.

To that man, Sama Pyo was probably no more than a pair of chopsticks.

‘Drop it, replace it. Don’t like it, discard it.’

His seven older brothers and nine sisters had all been tossed aside the same way. Sama Pyo was the final choice, the best-made pair of chopsticks selected to lead the Black Dragon Demon Sect.

‘Though even that could change any time.’

Despite being well past eighty, his father still had a ravenous appetite—for food and for women.

Three wives and four concubines weren’t enough. He had more than ten mistresses, and his bloodline extended above and below Sama Pyo with plenty of siblings.

But—

— Don’t worry about it.

— …Huh?

Sama Pyo took a sip of the lukewarm water the owner placed on the table.

— He’s a ruthless man. That’s why he won’t discard me so easily.

The Black Night King was undoubtedly a cold-hearted man. That allowed him to cast aside familial feelings and view reality with cold clarity.

And the fact that Sama Pyo possessed martial talent that surpassed even his father’s youth, along with profound strategic insight, meant there was no replacement for him.

Moreover—

— There won’t be any punishment. I’ve merely taken a different path, one that still leads to where Father wants.

— Milord. Don’t get it. Taesan not smart.

When Taesan tilted his head, unable to understand, Sama Pyo smiled faintly.

— You don’t need to understand. Just stay by my side. Got that?

— Taesan listen to Milord. Good boy.

Taesan nodded vigorously just as the owner began bringing steaming bowls of noodles to the table.

“It’s hot, so take it slow…”

“Wow! Taesan! Will eat well!”

“Oh my!”

The startled owner watched as Taesan grabbed whole bowls and began inhaling the noodles. Sama Pyo smiled at the scene—until suddenly, his expression froze.

Thump.

Taesan, mid-slurp, raised his head.

“Milord. What’s wrong?”

“Milord?”

Despite Taesan’s questions, Sama Pyo remained silent, staring off into the distance. Then he murmured.

“No… it’s nothing. Must’ve been my imagination.”

But Sama Pyo knew.

That fleeting glimpse of someone was no mistake.

And he knew what it meant.

“…Should’ve just obediently followed orders.”

“Huh? Milord, what you say?”

Instead of answering, Sama Pyo let out a deep sigh. By then, the last bowl of noodles was already in Taesan’s hands.

“You glutton. Just finish it.”

“Yay! Taesan will give life for Milord!”

* * *

“Excuse me.”

A voice clearer and more delicate than a crystal piano.

A hand extended toward us, holding two bamboo slips.

‘What now…?’

The two uninvited guests from the Black Dragon Demon Sect had just left, and it hadn’t even been a quarter of an hour since Jeok Cheon-Gang went to the latrine.

Yet now, another unexpected visitor. It was more than surprising—it was baffling.

Blinking in silence, I finally managed to find my voice.

“Th… this is?”

“Application forms.”

Ju Hwaran replied, her expression as if wondering why I’d ask something so obvious.

“There are two. One for me, and one for Escort Song over here.”

Behind her, Song Ilseom muttered softly.

“I never agreed to this.”

“But I hired you. As an escort, it’s only natural you’d come along.”

“This kind of situation wasn’t in the contract. It’s a breach. Once we’re under the Murim Alliance, hazard pay—”

“I’ll double it.”

“Well now, that changes things.”

Ju Hwaran coolly flaunted her young-and-rich flex, probably thanks to all that money she extorted from the Zhongnan Sect.

Of course, for me, just watching felt like being trapped in a greenhouse during midsummer.

“So then. You’re serious?”

“Yes. I’m serious.”

Ju Hwaran answered my question without a hint of hesitation, gazing at me with those clear, transparent eyes.

“I want to join Twin Dragon Pavilion.”

I had suspected it, but hearing it straight from Ju Hwaran left my mouth feeling dry. After thinking it over for a moment, I opened my mouth.

“Just because we have a connection doesn’t mean I’m going to accept you.”

“If that was my intention, I wouldn’t have come with an application form.”

She answered with a gentle smile, and I couldn’t help but sigh internally.

“It’s going to be dangerous. Extremely so.”

“I came knowing that. Directly under the Lord Commander, Twin Dragon Pavilion doesn’t lead any divisions or squads like other pavilion heads. It’s more of a special unit, isn’t it?”

Correct.

Ma Jonghak had hoped that Cheongpung and I, who possessed considerable strength within the Murim Alliance, would operate as a small special ops team. That was also why most of the higher-ups nodded in agreement.

“Miss Ju, knowing that, why—”

“Great Hero Jin.”

Before I could finish, Ju Hwaran spoke up.

“Did you say the same thing to the other applicants?”

“…What?”

“Did you ask them, too—why they’re applying when they know it’s dangerous?”

Her soft voice continued.

“That’s odd. You put up a notice because you needed people. Yet now you’re trying to dissuade us?”

“Th-that’s…”

Ju Hwaran smiled faintly as she watched me hesitate.

“You have nothing to say, right?”

Bullseye. I scratched the back of my head and gave a reluctant nod.

“Honestly, yeah. You’re right.”

“I came here as a warrior. So I’d like you to see me for who I am.”

“See you as you are…”

“I may not look like much in your eyes, but I’m a swordswoman who’s reached the peak realm.”

“Well, since we’re being honest—I’ll be blunt. You’re lacking. Maybe not Song Ilseom, but you…”

Poke.

Hyuk Mu-jin, who had been holding his breath and watching the situation, subtly jabbed my side.

But he was just being overly worried. Proof? Even with my direct statement, Ju Hwaran’s gaze didn’t waver.

“Compared to the other applicants too?”

“Can’t say for certain, but probably.”

“And experience?”

“Experience?”

“I’ve been escorting convoys since I was twelve, following my father. When it comes to life on the road and knowledge of the land, I believe I can hold my own against any veteran warrior.”

True. Ju Hwaran was once the heir to Yongbong Escort Agency, one of the most renowned in the world.

In recent years, she even ran the agency herself in place of her father, who collapsed due to [Qigong Deviation].

‘Experience gained through that… definitely not something to dismiss.’

Escort agencies are roaming organizations. To fulfill their commissions on time, they rely on all means necessary and know every road and piece of intelligence across the land.

Even her grandfather, Escort King, once succeeded in crossing thousands of li during the Great War of Justice and Evil, evading the eyes of countless Demonic Cult forces.

“Great Hero Jin.”

Her firm voice rang in my ears.

“I have no intention of being a burden. But I hope you’ll also think objectively. Setting aside all past connections—do you truly believe that Escort Song and I aren’t necessary for Twin Dragon Pavilion?”

“…?”

“I’m fully prepared. Even if you reject me, I’ll accept it.”

I slowly closed my eyes.

She was right. This needed to be considered objectively.

The person standing before me, waiting for an answer, wasn’t the woman who once strolled with me through a blossoming garden under the night sky.

‘Hidden Dagger Flower, Ju Hwaran.’ (T/N: Changing it from Hidden Thorn Flower to Hidden Dagger Flower)

She was a warrior recognized as one of the Ten Phoenix and Dragons, and the young master of Yongbong Escort Agency.

And more importantly, she had all the necessary capabilities to carry out the future missions of Twin Dragon Pavilion, which was practically a special task force.

‘Then why…’

Why was it so hard to admit that fact? Why did I feel this urge to reject her, no matter what?

“Um, Captain?”

A voice tickled my ear, and I opened my eyes. Hyuk Mu-jin, hesitating and glancing around, finally spoke.

“I think… you might’ve forgotten something.”

“What?”

“All the other applicants already ran away. Probably won’t get any tomorrow or the day after either.”

“I know, man. Il Yang-ro got carried out half-paralyzed, after all. So?”

“Ah, well. Just saying. That’s all I have to say.”

Flinching, Hyuk Mu-jin turned his head away.

Still, the meaning of his words came through loud and clear.

“Phew.”

I let out a deep sigh and looked Ju Hwaran straight in the eye.

“Before I give you my answer, there’s one thing you need to know.”

How should I put this… As I hesitated, Ju Hwaran gave a gentle smile.

“It’s fine.”

“…Huh?”

“I saw on the way here. With someone that big beside him, it’d be strange if no one noticed. And from the whispers I heard, I can pretty much guess where they went.”

She continued in a calm voice.

“But… how is that a problem?”

“I think I’ve given this enough thought. Can I have your answer now?”

I stared silently at Ju Hwaran.

Somehow, all the confusion in my head cleared away.

Or maybe… it wasn’t completely sorted yet.

But at least for now, I knew the answer I had to give.

“…Alright.”