Chapter 3: The Invincible Porter (1)
Blood Demon Hong Gong.
The principle of the demonic art ‘Spear Ghost Calling’ that he had taught was truly simple.
A fundamental method of raising the grade of the soul by absorbing ‘the resentment of those who were killed.’
When one commits slaughter, what is called karma accumulates step by step on the soul.
In Buddhism, this is originally viewed as something that must be shaken off.
They treat it as something that gets stuck between the loops of the wheel of reincarnation like thick layers of meat fat, obstructing the smooth flow of the wheel.
However, Hong Gong interpreted it differently.
‘Even if it is just simple dung to someone, to another it can become medicine, fertilizer, firewood, or material for building a house.’
A truly simple yet terrifying method of using karma as firewood to burn and convert it into internal energy.
In a way, it was similar to the Great Law of Absorption, but in truth, the depth of the underlying logic was on a completely different track.
Furthermore, Hong Gong also despised placing the Great Law of Absorption on the same level as his own demonic art, ‘Spear Ghost Calling.’
‘Trivial tricks like the Great Law of Absorption merely suck the opponent’s essence, but this Spear Ghost Calling swallows a human’s everything whole. Joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure; the five desires and seven emotions; the Four Noble Truths—all of these. In other words, comparing the Great Law of Absorption with my martial art is like comparing a single drop of falling rain to the waves of the vast ocean on the same level.’
Chui remembered all of Hong Gong’s teachings.
Clearly, those hellish days when his body was forcibly changed as the blood vessels throughout his body burned up.
Hong Gong had said.
‘There is a creature called a tiger ghost. It is what a person eaten by a tiger turns into after death; it clings to the tiger, raising its spiritual status and assisting in hunting.’
He said that the demonic art he created, ‘Spear Ghost Calling,’ was also inspired by this.
‘One who has newly learned this martial art is called the Bowed Pavilion. It is a stage where one can, at most, emit demonic energy in the form of steam from their body. This is divided into a total of ten levels, from the first level to the tenth level.’
In the past, Chui had ascended all ten levels of the Bowed Pavilion stage while Hong Gong was alive.
Even for a demonic art characterized by rapid development depending on the scale and frequency of slaughter, this was a speed that surprised even Hong Gong.
‘One who has mastered this martial art is called the Towering Vessel. The blood of a Towering Vessel is like extreme poison to an average martial artist. This is because it has the property of burning and drying up another’s internal energy, not one’s own. In addition, when one reaches this stage, the color of their internal energy becomes red, and even when erupted outside the body, it takes the form of a liquid. Literally, it is like spouting blood. This, too, is divided into ten levels just like the Bowed Pavilion.’
Right before Hong Gong died, Chui had surpassed the tenth level of the Bowed Pavilion and entered the first level of the Towering Vessel.
It was a fortunate thing for Chui.
This was because, even if one achieved grand completion of the Bowed Pavilion up to the tenth level, they could not cross over to the next stage, the Towering Vessel, unless a master with profound internal energy opened their Conception and Governing Vessels.
‘If one achieves grand completion of the Bowed Pavilion and the Towering Vessel, the next stage is the Boiling Chaos. Just by setting one foot in this stage, I looked down upon the world, and after ascending four levels, I could look down on all of the Orthodox, Heterodox, and Demonic paths as trivial.’
Once he crossed over to the stage of the Towering Vessel, the Boiling Chaos stage was just a matter of time.
For that reason, Hong Gong had originally intended to keep Chui only in the Bowed Pavilion stage, but due to some reason, he changed his plan and ultimately met a miserable end.
“Is my current stage… the first level of the Bowed Pavilion.”
Chui muttered softly.
He reflected his appearance on the blood-stained blade of his spear.
The strong body that had risen to the stage of Boiling Chaos was nowhere to be found, and there was only the weak body of a boy soldier, no, the body of a porter who had not even become a boy soldier.
However, Chui was not anxious at all.
In any case, the mnemonic of the martial art was entirely in his head, and he now remembered the breathing technique to suppress the side effects of the martial art as well.
From now on, there was only room for improvement, little by little.
……Now, it was time to ponder deeply on just what kind of trick had brought him back to the past.
Just as Chui was about to lose himself in thought.
“What are you thinking about so deeply, young hero?”
Someone spoke to him from the side.
Escort Leader Ju Ye-hwa.
She was a first-class escort of the Swift Tiger Escort Agency and at the same time the chief person-in-charge of this escort mission.
Including her, over a dozen escorts were all looking at Chui while mounted on the carriages.
“He looks to be well under the age of twenty, yet the stage of his martial arts is truly tremendous.”
“Did you see what kind of martial arts he uses? I couldn’t see because it was too fast.”
“I couldn’t see clearly either because it was dark. However, I clearly heard the screams of the Green Forest bandits who were around that young hero.”
“I wonder which hidden master’s disciple he is, I am really envious.”
“But why was he working as a porter for our escort agency with that kind of martial arts?”
“Tsk, you fellow. There are originally many eccentric experts in the martial world.”
.
.
The escorts were quietly absorbed in chatting among themselves.
However, Chui was just sitting quietly on the horse saddle.
Ju Ye-hwa was reading his expression, trying to start a conversation with Chui somehow.
‘I don’t know where such an expert came from, but… since he saved us for now, he doesn’t seem to be an enemy. It would be really great if he could help us with this escort mission.’
Because they had just lost many escorts due to the attack of the Green Forest bandits, Ju Ye-hwa’s heart was in a hurry.
“Young hero. You handle the horse very well. It is as if you have ridden horses for decades.”
“……”
Chui glanced down at the horse he was riding.
Tremble, tremble…
The horse was walking while wetting itself.
An air of being extremely terrified,
Every time Chui pulled the reins, the horse startled as if it had been burned by a hot branding iron, obeying the commands.
Ju Ye-hwa said, as if finding it fascinating.
“That horse was originally famous for its nasty temper, refusing to listen to anyone. We brought it along just to pull things since it has good strength, but to think it would allow someone on its back.”
That was bound to be so.
Chui had roamed countless battlefields, accumulating slaughter.
Among them were humans, but naturally, there were horses as well.
Riding warhorses, killing them, eating them, riding them again, killing them again, and eating them again.
Perhaps the blood that Chui’s soul was most drenched in, next to human blood, was horse blood.
They say even the most ferocious dog tucks its tail and pees when it meets a dog butcher; in the case of horses, which are smarter than dogs, it seemed to be even worse.
Just then.
“It is a fork in the road.”
An escort who had been riding ahead returned.
Ju Ye-hwa seemed to contemplate something for a moment, then looked at Chui.
“Young hero. I am truly ashamed to make such a request at our first meeting. Would you happen to be able to accompany us on our escort mission just as you have done so far? Naturally, the payment will not disappoint you…”
“I refuse.”
“I see.”
As if she had expected Chui’s answer, Ju Ye-hwa lowered her head with a glum expression.
There must be a reason why a person with this level of strength volunteered to be a porter to join the escort mission.
Perhaps he did not wish to reveal his strength.
‘…It is heaven’s luck that such a person took our side.’
Ju Ye-hwa resolutely continued her words.
“I am truly sorry, young hero. The grace of you helping us is not enough to be repaid even by hosting a banquet for three days and nights, but the deadline of the escort mission we undertook is too tight. Even so, to reward you on the spot, the amount of wealth we possess is not large.”
The escort goods transported by the agency belonged to the client, not the agency, so they could not do as they pleased with them.
It was also out of the question for the escorts who had set out on the mission to carry separate funds or wealth.
So, Ju Ye-hwa gave Chui something else.
“Although it is insignificant, I hope you will accept this.”
It was a square plaque made of gold.
‘Tiger Pit Sect – First-Class Escort’
Ju Ye-hwa said.
“As you may know, Swift Tiger Escort Agency is an escort agency run separately by the Tiger Pit Sect. The Tiger Pit Sect is a sect with a long history located in the Anhui region.”
Chui nodded.
Tiger Pit Sect.
Naturally, Chui, who had worked as a porter, was also well aware of this sect.
‘…An ill-fated sect that will collapse and disappear without a trace within a few years.’
This sect, which had been run quite uprightly and fairly, would collapse overnight.
It seemed they were suffering from a significant financial difficulty right now.
That must be why Ju Ye-hwa was paying so much attention to this escort mission.
“This plaque is a plaque symbolizing my identity. If you go to the Tiger Pit Sect holding this, you will probably be treated as a guest equivalent to a first-class escort. Please accept my sincerity.”
“……”
Chui quietly looked at the gold plaque Ju Ye-hwa held out.
And then he reached out his hand to receive it.
Ju Ye-hwa’s expression became brighter than ever.
Around that time, a fork in the road appeared before them.
Ju Ye-hwa clasped her hands in greeting once more.
“We will go straight down this road to deliver the escort goods. As soon as the work is finished, I will return like the wind to the agency, no, directly to the Sect, to properly thank the young hero. Please rest comfortably at our Sect and stay for as long as you wish.”
These people, who were escorts of the Swift Tiger Escort Agency and at the same time martial artists of the Tiger Pit Sect.
They kept clasping their hands in greeting to Chui as they moved away.
Soon, Chui quietly turned his horse’s head and headed toward Anhui, where the Swift Tiger Escort Agency was located.
“……”
Meanwhile, Ju Ye-hwa continued to watch Chui as he receded over the mountain ridge.
Then, a one-eyed escort beside her grinned at her.
“Did you fall for him? That young hero earlier looked so pretty that I thought he was a girl at first. Being so delicate and pale, he is exactly the Escort Leader’s type.”
“Are you crazy? Should I draw my sword again?”
“Oops, why are you poking me? Did I hit a sore spot?”
Ju Ye-hwa snapped her head away as if he were not even worth dealing with.
And she quietly continued.
“…You guys might not have seen it, but I saw it.”
“Saw what?”
“That person’s spear technique.”
Ju Ye-hwa broke out in a cold sweat.
“I have absolutely no idea of the origin or identity of his martial art, but the spear technique itself was familiar.”
“Where would be the sect or clan famous for spear techniques? The Shandong Yue Clan? Or the Ma Family Spear, the Yang Family Spear, the Pear Flower Spear, hmm. The Sha Family Staff or the Li Family Short Spear are also famous.”
“No, it does not belong to the martial world.”
At Ju Ye-hwa’s following words, the talkative subordinate’s mouth shut.
“It was a military spear technique.”
“……”
The subordinate asked back with a blank expression after a long silence.
“Are you saying that the young hero earlier is a child of a military family?”
“It is highly likely. What I saw was only a few basic stances, but the level of proficiency made no sense. It is absolutely not a stage that can be shown at that age. He must be a talent sent out by a general’s family to gain practical experience after being systematically raised. He surely has a noble status.”
At those words, the escorts nodded their heads as well.
It was because Ju Ye-hwa’s explanation carried probability.
“He is probably a child of an influential military family, so there is absolutely nothing bad about building a relationship with him.”
“Since the Sect’s situation is precarious, if we can invite even one such expert as a retained guest, it will surely be a great help.”
“Indeed. It will be hard to turn away those who treated him to food and wine… Furthermore, the young hero from earlier is a righteous person, to the point of risking his life to help us when we were being pushed back by the Green Forest bandits. The probability is high that he will not sit idly by and watch the Sect’s crisis.”
Ju Ye-hwa looked back at the escort goods and hardened her expression.
“Currently, the Sect’s financial situation is not good, so all the martial artists have been attached as escorts. We must finish this escort mission quickly and return to fill the power vacancy at our main headquarters. Let us hurry.”
“That is true. I hope the young hero we invited earlier will stay until we return. In case they get into a dispute with the guys from the Black Path Gang in the meantime, he could be of help.”
“We are in a situation where every single expert invited from outside is sorely needed. Is that not why I gave him the gold plaque symbolizing myself? Since he has that, the Sect will probably treat him with the utmost hospitality.”
The escorts of the Swift Tiger Escort Agency began to quicken their pace.
In order to transport these escort goods as quickly as possible and return to their sect.
Unrivaled Spear Ghost