The Granddaughter of Manhyang Escort Bureau Hides Her Magic - Chapter 97

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 97

Dokgo Sin became an escort warrior belonging to the Chang’an Branch. This caused a stir throughout Manhyang Express.

“Isn’t this a demotion! The representative leader of Wolhwa Hall becoming part of a small branch office?”

“There’s talk that Escort Leader Dokgo wasn’t demoted, but went there because the Chang’an Branch is scheduled to be promoted to a pavilion soon.”

It hadn’t been long since they removed the temporary branch label, and now promotion to a pavilion? It was an absurd rumor.

However, when Shin Ah showed her face at the escort assignment ceremony, the rumors about Chang’an Branch’s promotion were accepted as established fact.

“We’ll have to serve the Chang’an Branch Master respectfully from now on.”

“Serving isn’t what’s important. We need to become courier workers for Chang’an Branch, don’t we? By any chance, do you have any connections with Chang’an Branch’s courier workers?”

“How could I have any?”

“That’s unfortunate, truly unfortunate. Anyway, if you hear news about Chang’an Branch recruiting courier workers, let me know. Let’s help each other.”

The courier workers’ agitation was particularly intense. Among them, Yuwon Pavilion was wrapped in the most unsettled atmosphere.

So Baekrim became impatient when he noticed that even among the courier workers, he was being pushed to the background.

For Yuwon Pavilion to stand tall by stepping on Biwongak, some kind of reversal was needed.

So Baekrim looked down at the package list he had received at the escort assignment ceremony. This time too, Yuwon Pavilion had succeeded in taking on the largest-scale escort mission.

It was a job transporting silk, Zhejiang’s specialty product, to Sacheon. On the surface, it was commissioned by Zhejiang’s Bijin Trading Company, but the Sichuan Tang Family had pulled strings.

‘I also have to handle Hanam’s Mangeum Trading Group’s escort mission, so things will get busy one way or another.’

Just moving two thousand sacks of rice from Mangeum Trading Group was headache enough, but he had no choice but to secure this job even if it meant overextending himself.

‘I need to quickly catch Father’s eye.’

The more Shin Ah’s Chang’an Branch grew, the more So Baekrim’s insides rotted away.

Honestly, when Shin Ah appeared at the escort assignment ceremony, So Baekrim nearly fainted on the spot.

A mere ten-year-old branch master participating in the escort assignment ceremony!

It was unprecedented in the history of escort agencies.

And So Hyeokho’s gaze as he looked at such a Shin Ah was exactly what he had longed for his entire life.

Warm and affectionate eyes filled with love.

Another layer of filthy emotions accumulated in So Baekrim’s heart.

“I heard the Biwongak Master also secured an escort mission?”

Dang Mihee, who was helping So Baekrim prepare, asked.

So Baekrim flinched but soon answered nonchalantly.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing special. I heard it’s just delivering a single letter. I had expectations when Yangyang Trading Company put in the request, but…”

Yangyang Trading Company was quite well-known in Hubei.

So Baekrim scoffed, but Dang Mihee couldn’t brush it off lightly.

‘A company like Yangyang Trading should have a message service even if small, so why would they specifically request an escort mission? Even paying big money for it?’

Dang Mihee’s eyes narrowed.

* * *

Dang Mihee made inquiries in all directions to find out exactly what Yangyang Trading Company’s request was. However, she couldn’t obtain any particularly noteworthy information.

Meanwhile, the day for So Cheonrim’s departure arrived.

Shin Ah saw So Cheonrim off as he set out on the dawn road.

“Father, first be careful, second be careful.”

“Yes.”

“You don’t need to rush too much, so make sure to take care of your meals and sleep too.”

“I said I understand.”

So Cheonrim lightly tapped Shin Ah’s nose with his finger.

Ever since the escort assignment ceremony ended, Shin Ah would rattle off concerns and worries whenever she saw So Cheonrim.

It was confusing who was the parent and who was the child.

“I’ll be back soon.”

“You shouldn’t come back soon. Slowly, leisurely. While observing your surroundings. And don’t ignore injustice when you see it.”

So Cheonrim blinked.

Shin Ah occasionally poured out such incomprehensible nagging like this.

Don’t ignore injustice when you see it?

Given So Cheonrim’s personality, he wouldn’t be able to ignore it even if told to, but it was strange that she would specifically mention such things. Since Shin Ah’s actions had been so exceptional after recovering her health, it made him more concerned.

‘Did she hear some special news related to the escort mission?’

So Cheonrim, who had been thinking briefly, let out a silent laugh.

After the escort assignment ceremony ended, So Cheonrim had also thoroughly prepared for this escort mission. According to what So Cheonrim had investigated, there was nothing special about this request.

Since Shin Ah was separating from him after a long time, she must be very worried. Dismissing it as such, So Cheonrim smiled and said,

“I’ll do as you say.”

However, it seemed he wouldn’t be able to keep Shin Ah’s request to return slowly.

Though everyone seemed to have forgotten, only So Cheonrim remembered what had happened to Shin Ah during the heir selection test.

Since the evidence and witnesses had disappeared, he wasn’t making an issue of it immediately and was waiting for Ok Chifung to discover something, but he was aware and wary that there were forces within Manhyang Express targeting Shin Ah.

Especially Yuwon Pavilion.

No, only Yuwon Pavilion.

That’s why he had met So Hyeokho a few days ago and subtly asked a favor.

To check in frequently while he was away.

So Hyeokho had surprisingly readily agreed.

However, that alone wasn’t enough to put his mind at ease, so he had instructed his trusted subordinate Escort An to keep watch over Yuwon Pavilion.

Even so, his mind wasn’t at peace, but there was nothing more he could do.

“I’ll return safely. Shin Ah, you too, don’t forget to take your medicine.”

“Yes, Father. I’ll eat well, sleep well, and work hard.”

So Cheonrim’s eyebrows drooped.

“Please work just a little.”

Instead of answering, Shin Ah giggled.

So Cheonrim gave Shin Ah one last tight hug before letting go and picking up his sword.

Shortly after, two courier workers who would assist him arrived at Biwongak.

When carrying out the Murim Alliance’s secret requests, escort warriors sometimes moved alone, but basically the minimum number for an escort mission was three. This was to prepare for any problems that might arise.

‘Situations might suddenly arise where help is needed, or the escort warrior might get injured.’

Since they also had to take turns standing night watch, at least three people were absolutely necessary.

“I really have to go now.”

So Cheonrim said. The smile disappeared from Shin Ah’s face.

So Cheonrim was a capable escort warrior. So she should trust him and send him off, but worry kept arising from deep within Shin Ah’s heart.

‘If only I were fifteen, I could follow along.’

Unfortunately, there was no magic to speed up time.

Shin Ah shook off her lingering attachment and said goodbye.

“Please return safely.”

* * *

After So Cheonrim left, Shin Ah remained in Biwongak’s private quarters for a while.

‘I wonder if Father understood what I said properly?’

Shin Ah had recalled memories from her past life and told So Cheonrim two methods for succeeding in the escort mission.

First, go slowly and leisurely.

‘In my past life, Uncle arrived in Hanam too quickly and missed meeting the person sent by the Namgung family.’

So he failed to receive information about the final destination and recipient.

Second, don’t ignore injustice.

‘Bandits will commit robbery somewhere in Hanam. The person the bandits recklessly attacked then was Namgung Jisan, heir of the Namgung family.’

So Baekrim had pretended not to notice Namgung Jisan, who was disguised as a commoner, and hurried on his way.

Even without his help, Namgung Jisan subdued the bandits and returned to the Namgung family.

Since no one was harmed, there was no problem, but So Baekrim had lost the opportunity to put the Namgung family in his debt.

And later, when Baekrim was attacked by unidentified bandits, Namgung Jisan passed by with a sneer, and Baekrim had the letters from Yangyang Trading Company stolen.

It was a complete failure of the escort mission.

Shin Ah knew the details of that incident because she had heard about it from Cheondo some time later.

‘Shin Ah, do you know what humiliation your brother suffered today? Manhyang Express is as vile as the Green Forest Bandits and as lowly as bandits. But if the Namgung Family, whose chivalrous spirit pierces the heavens, says so, then it must be true, right?’

Those were the words Namgung Jisan had poured out to Cheondo, who had visited the Namgung Family hoping to save the declining Manhyang Express by trying to establish a deal.

Saying he couldn’t entrust escort missions to unrighteous people, Namgung Jisan had turned Cheondo away at the gate.

If it were Shin Ah, she would have shouted, ‘Escort Warriors aren’t even Orthodox Sect martial artists, they just need to do their escort missions well!’ But Cheondo had silently accepted Namgung Jisan’s criticism.

‘So Father must do well this time.’

She had to clearly show the Namgung Family that Manhyang Express had not only someone like So Baekrim, but also a person called So Cheonrim holding it together—the skill and righteousness of Manhyang Express.

Shin Ah believed firmly in Cheonrim’s ability and goodness.

But there was one thing that bothered her.

‘I don’t know who those unidentified people who attacked So Baekrim were.’

Baekrim’s skills were inferior to Cheonrim’s, but he was still nominally the representative leader of Manhyang Express. That meant he had the basics down.

And at that time, Baekrim had taken three Escort Warriors with him.

‘The attackers subdued four Escort Warriors at once. And they left no traces.’

The Namgung Family had tracked them belatedly, but in the end couldn’t find the letters from Yangyang Trading Company.

‘They must be formidable experts.’

No matter how she thought about it, it seemed too difficult for Cheonrim to handle alone.

‘I guess I’ll have to use that method after all.’

After pondering for a long while, Shin Ah got up from her seat.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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