Book 17 Chapter 6

The Fate of the Zhongyang Escort Agency

―Bilyeon Visits the Zhongyang Escort Agency

"Huh? What's that?"

Heo Sang-du, a senior escort captain at the Zhongyang Escort Agency's Nanchang branch, who had considerable experience in this field, was on his regular afternoon patrol. He quite liked patrols. It wasn't because he cared about the agency's operational status. It was simply because it was the best way for him to legitimately show off his position to his subordinates. He was a snob who enjoyed looking down on those beneath him. Because he was a snob, he never looked up. He might have pretended not to see the superiors above him because he thought they were looking down and laughing at him, and he couldn't act carelessly if he thought that. The guards at the main gate, standing at attention, caught his slyly gleaming eyes. Feeling the usual strange thrill as his subordinates cowered like frogs encountering a snake, he approached the main gate, baring his venomous fangs like a wolf hunting a rabbit.

Among the ten or so escort captains here, he was the most senior, with over a hundred escort missions under his belt. With a few more years of hard work, becoming a chief escort captain wasn't an impossible dream. Though it would be a nightmare for his subordinates. After encountering a fortunate encounter in his youth, he had confidence in his skills. There was only one chief escort captain stationed at the Nanchang branch, so as the senior escort captain, he was, in effect, the third most important person in the Nanchang branch. As the agency's prosperity grew daily, he, too, swelled with pride. He felt as though he had become great along with it. Therefore, it was unthinkable that such a proud third-in-command would notice a mere youngster, dressed in a shabby black outfit, unarmed, looking so plain and unremarkable, entering his domain. How dare he interrupt his enjoyable display of authority! Fury boiled up within him at the insolent youngster blocking his path.

"This is no place for children to play! Get out of here! Shoo!"

Moreover, he lived as if he couldn't even manage to comb his hair properly; his long bangs were truly an eyesore!

"Tsk, tsk, look at that mess!"

In such situations, a little intimidation was the best way to drive them away. He Sang-du signaled with his eyes, and the two guards quickly lowered their spears, pointing them directly at the eyes of the young man who still hadn't stopped walking. They were quick-witted subordinates.

"Stop! Who are you? Can't you hear the senior escort captain?"

At the guard's shout, brandishing his spear, Bilyeon's brow furrowed slightly. How dare they use informal language without even knowing him? It was unlikely, but he considered various reasons why he might be subjected to such rude treatment.

It wouldn't be simply because of his age, as that was too cliché. Perhaps they mistakenly believed the background behind him was thick enough to excuse their rudeness. If so, while admiration for the workplace was fine, they should first cultivate the ability to face reality.

Thinking that one could use informal language with anyone younger just because of age was a big mistake. He had seen as many people who wasted their given time meaninglessly as grains of sand on a beach. Did he have to live listening to informal language from people who didn't even know why they were living or what they wanted? Did they think he wasn't a martial artist just because he wasn't carrying a sword or armed? Let the guards be, but what about that rascal who seemed to be their superior? He looked sinister, and his head seemed as empty as a drum.

Wasn't this place part of the martial world, yet operating for profit? He had never heard of an escort agency working at a loss for the sake of loyalty and chivalry—both of which were values of dubious definition. When even prominent orthodox sects couldn't uphold them properly, it was unreasonable to demand such things from a mere escort agency, which was clearly a business. Demanding from others what they themselves couldn't do… such self-deception was rare.

"Who. Are. You?"

At the very least, one had to be qualified to use informal language with him. He could not tolerate someone he didn't acknowledge spewing informal language at him.

"It should be 'Who are you?'!"

In an instant, the two rude guards sensed the threat in his voice. The young man, without a hint of fear, tapped the spear in front of him with his finger and said,

"What do you intend to do with this toy?"

In that moment, the two guards dropped their spears, their hands tingling with a burning pain, as if scalded.

"Aaaahhh!"

Clang!

Both spears fell to the ground simultaneously.

"These rascals are undisciplined!"

A warrior only drops their weapon when they die. Heo Sang-du's intention to admonish them vanished back down his throat the moment he saw his subordinates' hands.

They were blackened and scorched as if by fire, and blood dripped from their torn palms. With just two simple movements, he had spun the spears at high speed, inflicting both lacerations and burns.

"Wh-wh-wh-wh…"

Finally, the slow-witted Heo Sang-du understood something.

Something was going terribly wrong.

"W-who do you think you are, causing such a disturbance… here?"

From a mere threat, the language shifted to polite address.

"Disturbance? Is it a guest's visit? Or threatening a guest with spears upon their arrival? Which are you referring to?"

The intangible killing intent, flickering like black flames, was an unbearable pressure for these three individuals who lacked any polished skills. Cold sweat poured down them like a waterfall, like frogs frozen before a snake. Especially for Heo Sang-du, who had always played the role of the snake and was now forced into the role of a frog, the psychological shock was immense.

Such people needed to be thoroughly taught a lesson. So they wouldn't dare to look down on others carelessly again. They were the kind of people who would immediately crush, devour, and exploit anyone they perceived as weaker. It would be beneficial for himself and for the peace and welfare of society to guide such scoundrels before they became irrevocably lost.

Bilyeon resolved to engrave kindness and a spirit of service deep within their hearts so they would never forget. The surest way to do that was to engrave it into their bones. He had tried various methods before, but a method this effective remained an unexplored area of human wisdom.

Grin!

Bilyeon's right lip corner, located below his gently swaying bangs, curved into a smile that spread like red paint.

Grin…

Did an invisible force work on his smile? The mouths of the senior escort captain Heo Sang-du and the two guards moved as if manipulated. It was an extremely awkward and yet awkward sight.

"Heh~"

The three of them laughed foolishly. Bilyeon also laughed.

Crack!

Bilyeon clenched his fists and, quite literally, engraved the eight characters of courtesy, kindness, and service into the very bones of the three men.

Thwack! Thwack! Thud-thud-thud-thwack!

Under the fist shadows of the Sam-bok Gu-ta (Three-Stage Beat) technique, which roared after a long time, three black sheep were once again sacrificed to the altar, leaving behind pathetic death cries.

The name of the offering placed on the altar was 'blood cakes'.

By the time Jang U-gyeong, alerted by the commotion outside the gate, rushed over, the situation had already concluded. The two guards, judged to lack hospitality, and the senior escort captain were writhing and crawling on the ground. It seemed the key to the technique was to beat them until they were thoroughly punished but not unconscious. Jang U-gyeong pressed his temples with his thumb and index finger, as if his head ached at the state his subordinates were in, but he soon regained his composure, bowed respectfully to the protagonist of this incident, and said,

"You have arrived, Young Master Bi. I have been waiting. It seems my subordinates failed to recognize you and committed a discourtesy."

Jang U-gyeong said, praying for the souls of the senior escort captain Heo Sang-du and the two guards whose names he didn't quite remember.

"Not at all. It happens that one makes such mistakes in life. It's nothing. I don't mind it at all."

Bilyeon replied with a bright smile.

"I-is that so. It's nothing."

Jang U-gyeong replied, swallowing a groan. If it was 'nothing', then what were these figures barely maintaining their human form on the ground? Was that the result of not minding? Cold sweat trickled down his forehead. He wanted to shout that it was a lie, but the more terrifying prospect was that the statement contained some truth.

Out of fear, he couldn't ask, "Then what happens if you *do* mind?" That would not be a wise course of action for a gentleman.

"The important thing is not to repeat the same mistake. They say a single mistake is common in military affairs, don't they? It's a common occurrence."

Bilyeon's smile was truly bright, clear, and peaceful.

"Y-yes, that's right. It's important not to repeat the same thing twice."

Given the current situation, if that person were a general, it seemed unlikely that the soldiers under him would survive. There was a distinct possibility of dying frequently.

"Ho ho, but why is it so hot when the wind is still cold? This is strange."

Wiping away the flowing sweat, Jang U-gyeong said with apparent difficulty. His body's physiological responses were defying the season.

"When handling dangerous items, one must always be cautious, as if walking on thin ice. Especially when dealing with him, it's not just thin ice! Think of it as walking on water! Remember this, my younger brother! Life cannot be borrowed. Always keep it in your heart and remember it well!"

At that time, he couldn't understand why his older brother was being so alarmist. But now, he felt he could somewhat understand his brother's feelings.

Despite his brother's constant warnings, his own negligence regarding the matter was significant.

"You should be grateful the sign is still intact!"

His brother would have definitely said that.

"Ahem! W-well then, please follow me."

Bilyeon, guided by Jang U-gyeong, crossed between buildings. The shouts from the training ground echoed in his ears, and he saw several escort carts lined up in a corner of the large courtyard. By rough estimation, there were at least fifteen. Workers were busily moving about here and there, carrying burdens on their shoulders. Their task was to load the empty, desolate carts generously. Just enough so that the carts wouldn't break and the horses could pull them for a long time. Greed was forbidden.

If too much was loaded, the horses would tire quickly. Although oxen were sometimes used, the Zhongyang Escort Agency used horses. And if too little was loaded, extra carts would be used unnecessarily. More carts meant more drivers, and naturally, the personnel to guard them would increase, leading directly to waste. Of course, the journey would also be delayed, resulting in losses in various ways. It was a loss from this perspective, and a loss from that perspective. Therefore, it was beneficial to prevent such unfortunate incidents early on.

As they passed, the workers momentarily stopped their tasks and greeted them. It wasn't because of Bilyeon's excellent character. The ones who waved their hands and declined greetings were the ones politely guiding Bilyeon. This revealed that the people's greetings were not directed at Bilyeon.

"This is the place, Young Master Bi. That person is waiting inside."

The place they were led to was a guest room located in the deepest part of the mansion. This was the Nanchang branch of the Zhongyang Escort Agency, located in Nanchang. And the person who had treated him with the utmost politeness and sincerity, with the greatest courtesy and wholeheartedness until now, was Jang U-gyeong, the Nanchang branch head, who was considered the best in the Zhongyang Escort Agency and second only to the main branch in scale. Therefore, for such a person to use polite language meant that the person inside was at least higher in status than the Nanchang branch head.

"Then I will take my leave. Please have your conversation."

As was the case when they met, he bowed respectfully and politely at parting and disappeared. He had vacated the place. In fact, it might have been that he quickly seized the opportunity to escape, not wanting to be further involved.

"Thank you for your service!"

Bilyeon nodded slightly in response.

Rumble!

Bilyeon opened the door without hesitation.

"You arrived earlier than expected. I thought it would take another two or three days."

To Bilyeon's surprised first words, a man with a haggard appearance waiting inside the room nodded slightly and said,

"Three horses died."

Even though he would have changed horses at the stables along the way, the fact that three horses died indicated how arduous and brutal his journey had been. His hollow eyes, dark circles, sunken cheekbones, and the fact that he had rushed here forgetting to eat and rest all testified to this.

"It's death from overwork. It will cost a lot to compensate the stables. The compensation won't be cheap… Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Bilyeon clicked his tongue sympathetically. Even though they were animals unable to speak, to use and discard them as he pleased… Humans were indeed a species that still needed much evolution. However, while this was a valid point, it wasn't something Bilyeon could confidently say, as if he were thinking about a cat's mice.

Moreover, it didn't seem particularly sincere, perhaps because it wasn't his own money being spent. At least, that's how the man felt.

"I heard that the future of our escort agency depends on this."

It was clearly written in the urgent dispatch. Therefore, he wanted to discuss it in person. Bilyeon was in a position where he couldn't move, so the man had to come himself, having made sacrifices of three horses.

"Compared to the future of our escort agency, it's a cheap price."

If his foundation, the future of the company more precious than life, was at stake, it would be a lack of self-awareness as an owner to delay even for a moment.

Although the compensation for three first-class horses would be considerable, the future of the escort agency was more important than three horses.

Surprisingly, this man consistently used polite language with Bilyeon, who was much younger than him. The person who received polite language from Jang U-gyeong, the Nanchang branch head, was now using polite language with Bilyeon again. There was only one person who could be called "that person" by Jang U-gyeong, the de facto second-in-command of the Zhongyang Escort Agency. In the past, he was known as the "Eighteen Swords," and nowadays, he was more famous as the "Chief Escort Lady," a new rising star in the martial arts escort world, a rising sun, none other than the Zhongyang Escort Agency head, Jang U-yang.

"Yes? What did you just say?"

It would be a bit impolite to chide him for his hearing not being very good. So, Bilyeon, who always reflected on himself for his weak(?) and kind(?) heart, considered offering his kindness once more. However, repeating it would be troublesome for himself and disrespectful to the man's perfectly functional ears. He couldn't commit such an impolite act.

"I don't want to say it twice. If I were to say it again now, it would be disrespectful to Director Jang's excellent hearing. I don't want to commit such a rudeness. I have provided an opportunity. Even if you pretend not to have heard and hear it again, your thoughts won't change, will they? Whether you seize the opportunity to achieve your dream or not is entirely up to Director Jang. Still, if you insist on refusing, there's nothing I can do. Ah, to forgo the opportunity to leap beyond the Central Plains Escort Agency and become the number one escort agency in the world, no, to soar, due to a moment's internal conflict over money… there's nothing I can do."

Shaking his head with apparent regret, Bilyeon rose from his seat. And as he turned to leave the room without hesitation, a pair of hands firmly grasped his pant leg.

"Just, wait a moment, Young Master Bi!"

Looking down, he saw the face of the Zhongyang Escort Agency head, Jang U-yang, with a look of reluctant compliance, his facial muscles twitching in urgency, forgetting even to wipe the cold sweat.

Grin.

Bilyeon smiled.

Grin.

As if infected, Jang U-yang followed suit, smiling like a puppet controlled by invisible strings attached to the strands of his clothes. However, it wasn't as natural as Bilyeon's. It was a foolish, sloppy smile. Still, Bilyeon, who claimed to be kind and gentle, didn't say anything like, "You're the same level as a mere escort captain," even though he was the agency head. For him, a master of sarcasm and mockery, this was very rare.

"Now, Young Master Bi, I was wrong about everything. First, please sit down again. We can talk calmly after you sit down."

Without shaking off Jang U-yang's hand, Bilyeon sat down again.

"In the future, I hope we don't waste time like this. Don't you agree, Director Jang? It's not just for people in business. For all of us humans living finite lives, isn't time gold?"

"Of course. I promise you it won't happen again."

Jang U-yang nodded vigorously.

"Then."

Bilyeon's signature intangible gaze fixed on Jang U-yang's face. It was a gesture to confirm whether he remembered clearly. Jang U-yang had to sigh inwardly.

"I believe that within Director Jang's heart, a grand ambition is waiting to take flight. And this will likely be that golden opportunity. An opportunity that passes once and never returns, like the past. Would you truly give up such an opportunity for the sake of small, immediate gains?"

Bilyeon's words were undeniably igniting Jang U-yang's dream. He said with a reluctant expression,

"You clearly asked for thirty percent of the escort agency's total revenue as profit sharing, didn't you?"

"That's correct. It's truly fortunate."

"What? Fortunate?"

"I was worried that Director Jang's hearing might have genuinely malfunctioned."

Bilyeon replied with a smile that lit up his entire face.

Clearly, there was no problem with his hearing. So, was the problem with his own head, or the other person's mind?

"I never lie about financial matters. I have never forgiven falsehoods in financial transactions, where credibility is paramount."

Although it sounded very polite, it could also be interpreted as the most terrifying threat.

'He's telling me to be careful too?'

As one grows older in business, one's perceptiveness increases.

'He's such a difficult personality.'

He couldn't say it out loud, but he was certainly saying it all in his mind.

'Who would know what I'm thinking? He hasn't learned mind-reading, has he…'

"You were just thinking, 'He's such a difficult personality,' weren't you?"

Bilyeon's casual remark, accompanied by a slight grin, was enough to make him choke.

"Cough! Hack, hack, hack! Cough, cough!"

So shocked, he couldn't stop coughing. Denying it would be the same as admitting it with his entire body.

"Hmm, judging by your reaction, it seems so?"

Bilyeon's smile remained. It was like that of a Zen monk who had attained unwavering composure. But to Jang U-yang, it was more frightening. He knew what kind of person this was. Even with just a few short journeys together, the shock he experienced then was so immense that it felt like it had shaved years off his life; how could he forget? The memories were imprinted vividly in his mind, like a temple inscription. Moreover, they occasionally appeared in his dreams, and each time, he would stand blankly on the ruins of his devastated business. The ending of that dream was always the same.

Given this, how could he possibly forget? There were indeed memories that even the elixir of time couldn't erase.

"Young Master Bi, do you truly understand what your planned scheme means in practical terms?"

"Of course. Do you think I would have come barging in like this without knowing?"

Bilyeon spoke with a slightly angry tone.

"What do you take me for, Director Jang? Do you think I'm some kind of lunatic who just talks about baseless fantasies without any concrete plans? If so, I am deeply disappointed."

"No… that's not it…"

Jang U-yang desperately tried to prevent his head from nodding unconsciously. Then, he waved his hands frantically, as if flustered. Jang U-yang continued to lose control of the situation.

"It means removing the Central Plains Escort Agency from the position of number one."

Bilyeon knew it far more accurately than he had expected. Could he say it so confidently even knowing that?

'How?'

Such a plan could only be conceived with considerable power. Bilyeon was claiming to achieve it. It wasn't something that could be accomplished just by being strong in martial arts.

As a result, his cervical spine and neck muscles were strained. His neck felt stiff, as if iron rods were inserted. He felt he would have to visit a doctor tomorrow.

However, he still couldn't believe it. If he believed this so easily, he would be pointed at and called crazy.

But given his meticulous and tenacious personality, the fact that he had come considering profit distribution meant he wouldn't be empty-handed. Probably.

"Young Master Bi, you are saying that you possess a miraculous stratagem that can elevate our Zhongyang Escort Agency to the greatest in the world? If so, I would very much like to hear it."

There was no harm in listening for now. He could make a judgment later. In any case, he didn't have the ability to drive Bilyeon away.

"Of course. It's what is called a strategy of mutual victory."

Bilyeon began to explain the plan he had devised.

"Th-that's impossible!"

Jang U-yang's mouth dropped open after hearing the entire plan. Of course, if it went according to plan, the Zhongyang Escort Agency could gradually encroach upon the Central Plains Escort Agency's territory. This was, of course, assuming the plan proceeded flawlessly, but the possibility existed. However, it was more rational to believe that such amazing miracles as things proceeding according to plan did not exist in this world.

"Oh dear, oh dear. Why do humans so easily determine their own limitations? How can you know if you don't even try? Can you truly be sure that you perfectly understand yourself, the potential inherent within your heart, and your future?"

Jang U-yang shook his head and replied,

"No."

His daily life was too busy to reflect on himself. Therefore, his mind was entirely focused on the phenomena occurring around him. Self-exploration was none of his concern.

"And yet, you are already ready to surrender from the bottom of your heart? Heaven will not help such a person. If you don't believe in yourself, who will believe in you?"

There are too many people in this world who don't properly respect themselves. They belittle themselves, disparage themselves, and damage their character. Do they feel some unknown exhilaration from becoming servile? Do they feel some bizarre pleasure they themselves can't comprehend? Even if such perverse pleasure existed, he would decline it.

The weakness of preferring to settle within the framework created by the mind rather than breaking through limitations becomes a huge wall blocking the step forward.

And yet, they blame the heavens when they cannot progress, which is truly unfair to the innocent heavens. Even the gods in heaven have no power to break their freedom if they choose not to. The right to create one's own future, the right to set one's own limits, is entirely entrusted to humans.

The teaching that "all things are created solely by the mind" (一切唯心造, 萬相一切) is not false.

"Whether the well is deep or not, whether you can see the surface or not, if you want to draw water, you must throw in the bucket, right?"

"That's true."

"Are you expecting to drink water for free without even throwing in the bucket? Who are you expecting to draw it for you?"

Bilyeon relentlessly pressed Jang U-yang. Under his forcefulness, Jang U-yang was involuntarily overwhelmed. Bilyeon continued,

"Of course, if the rope is short, you won't be able to draw water. Do you know what that rope is made of?"

"Shamefully, I do not know."

Jang U-yang replied.

"It is faith! Firm faith in oneself! Absolute conviction! And the determination to draw water no matter what! Its depth is unknown to anyone. Therefore, you must throw it in and keep waiting. You must weave the rope and wait with a unified heart, making your best effort. Most people give up before the bucket even hits the water. The difference between those who can wait and those who cannot is that. Those with faith and patience drink water, while the others only drink the air contained in an empty bucket. The Water Wind Well (水風井) trigram in the Book of Changes, one of the three variations, also represents this. Even if the village changes, even if the people change, the well is always in its place."

"……"

"So, what will you do? Are you thirsty now? Then throw in the bucket. Don't expect others to fulfill your dreams for you. So either desperately throw in the bucket and draw water to drink, or suffer from thirst and die vaguely. The choice is entirely yours."

"Hoo."

Jang U-yang let out a low sigh.

Though it was an unfortunate encounter, it was also an encounter. Jang U-yang had survived several near-death experiences entangled with Bilyeon, but ironically, the entire Zhongyang Escort Agency had grown rapidly. It now boasted a scale incomparable to three years ago. When did the change begin?

It was after a person named Dosa Bu, leading his disciples, invaded their escort agency.

How they managed to reach this point remained a mystery, but he realized it was time to gamble his life.

If he invested money here, there would be no turning back. Then, a strange excitement washed over him. He had always believed that people given the opportunity to stake their entire lives on a gamble were chosen by heaven.

'Yes, let's give it a try, a gamble that risks my life! It's all or nothing!'

This friend, Bilyeon, was not someone to be underestimated, so he must have had something prepared. This matter was too significant to simply believe without further ado. But the temptation was even greater.

Finally, he made up his mind. Thirty percent of the profits was certainly a high price, but if it meant becoming the best, it was worth it. In truth, it hurt so much it made his stomach churn, but he pressed his hand against the pain.

"Very well. If the matter unfolds as predicted by Young Master Bi, I will join hands with you. Will there be no disruptions?"

Finally, Jang U-yang chose an unknown destiny.

"Of course. The arrangements have already been made."

Bilyeon replied confidently.