She turned her head and looked at me, as if surprised. As soon as I saw her face from the front, my mind momentarily went blank. When I had only seen her in profile, I had thought her beauty resembled a piece of art. But seeing her up close, head-on, I realized the phrase "a peerless beauty" wasn't an exaggeration.
Truly, a beauty capable of bringing down a kingdom!
"Wow… I've never seen someone this beautiful in my life…"
She was so breathtaking that instead of feeling any desire, all I could do was gape in awe. I had never imagined that such a stunning woman could exist at a mere trading post.
She gently reached out and caressed my cheek.
"Little one, what's your name?"
"My name is Baekdong (White Bear)."
"I'm Sagong Lin (Sah Gong Lin), a bodyguard from the Sagong Escort Agency. I'm sorry, but you're too young to be hired as a proper escort. How about starting off as a worker instead?"
She seemed to be considerate of me in her own way, but I couldn't accept it.
If I started off as a worker, I'd just end up doing miscellaneous tasks with no clear future. I already knew that working as an escort—transporting and guarding goods—was much more straightforward and preferable. So I shook my head and insisted.
"I'm fully capable of doing escort work!"
"Hmm…"
Sagong Lin looked troubled. But even that slight frown carried a magical charm that made the hearts of all nearby men skip a beat. In fact, the other workers and escorts moving goods around us were sneakily glancing at her, clearly affected. Though ranks differed, it was as if every man's nature was being irresistibly drawn to her.
"Then, do you know what an escort does?"
"I know as much as anyone else."
"An escort at the very least needs to have martial skills and strength. You're still so young…"
"Watch this."
Swish!
Before Sagong Lin could finish her sentence, I moved like lightning using Lightning Shadow Step, and approached a nearby cargo item. It was a large wooden ornament, spanning the length of a full mat, and clearly so heavy it would normally take three or four adults working together to lift it.
"Haah!"
But I effortlessly lifted the massive wooden piece above my head with both hands. I probably could've done it with one hand, but I deliberately used both for a more stable look, not wanting to appear too showy.
"Huh!"
"W-What kind of strength is that…?"
"Is that really his strength?"
The nearby escorts and workers murmured in disbelief, clearly flustered. Realistically, even an adult male at full strength wouldn't be able to lift that thing—no matter how hard he tried. It was the kind of load that required two or three skilled laborers to lift together, adjusting their strength in perfect coordination.
So of course, seeing someone as young and small as me hoist it up like that left them stunned.
Even Sagong Lin wore a surprised expression as she spoke.
"My… you have considerable internal power . You must be the child of a renowned martial family, aren't you?"
Since she herself had martial training, she seemed to immediately recognize that I had used an inner energy technique—likely Thunder Movement Qi—to lift the wooden ornament. Knowing it was pointless to hide it, I gave her a vague, half-truthful explanation.
"I lost my parents at an early age and have been looking for a way to put my martial arts to good use. I really want to work as an escort."
"Wait here for a moment."
Whoosh!
She disappeared into the compound with a dreamlike movement that resembled a drifting cloud. It seemed she had gone inside the inner building, but I couldn't tell exactly where. Watching her movement, I was struck by a realization.
"That level of footwork… Is she stronger than I was in my past life? She might actually surpass me."
At the very least, she was a top-tier master.
Sagong Lin's martial arts weren't some basic escort techniques honed through trial and error. They were clearly first-class techniques passed down through generations of prestigious martial clans. And the way she executed her footwork—at a level akin to the elusive Silent Echo Step—meant that even if three or four ordinary escorts ganged up on her, she could take them down without breaking a sweat.
I stood there awkwardly, drawing glances from the other escorts as I waited. It became clear to me that this escort agency, Sagong Escort Bureau, was no ordinary place.
Sagong Escort Bureau… Sagong Lin… Could it be that this place is operated by the direct bloodline of the Sagong clan? If so, then the martial skill of the high-ranking escorts here could rival that of the great orthodox sects.
It was almost unbelievable that a place like this hadn't already made a name for itself across the Central Plains. I could feel my heart race with excitement at the realization that, in this life, I was starting to learn things I never knew in my previous one.
"If I keep traveling the martial world like this… one day, I might truly know everything there is to know—become the world's greatest sage."
Some time later, Sagong Lin returned with three warriors dressed in white robes. Unlike her, these men had sharp, piercing features and all looked rather handsome. With my plain face and unimpressive looks since childhood, I couldn't help but feel a bit overshadowed by their presence. They were probably members of the Sagong clan as well.
The man at the front, taller than the others, stared at me intently.
"Come with us."
Whoosh!
He turned sharply with a gust of wind and the four of them began walking somewhere. I followed, and before long, we reached a quiet clearing, devoid of people.
We arrived at the clearing. As I looked around, one of the men in white robes said,
"I've heard from Lin-ah that your martial arts are unusually advanced for someone your age. You must be the scion of a prestigious martial family. State your background and where your martial arts originate from."
From the way he referred to her as "Lin-ah," it was clear he was Sagong Lin's older brother. Indeed, their appearances were quite similar, and he was also a strikingly handsome man.
I replied calmly.
"Is that really necessary? I've already explained my circumstances and intentions."
"I'm sorry, but our Sagong Escort Bureau isn't in a position to get recklessly entangled in the affairs of prominent martial families. If you can't clarify your background, we'll have no choice but to turn you away, no matter how strong your martial arts may be."
They seemed to think I was the wayward child of some noble clan who had run away from home. Any escort agency might be reluctant, but a family-run one like the Sagong Bureau would be even more cautious.
Still, I had no good excuse to offer. The martial arts I used were actually secret techniques from the Blue Dragon Martial Pavilion . If any of them had sharp eyes and recognized it, I'd have no defense. At best, I could bluff and claim to be the child of Lee Gwang, one of the Pavilion's three great masters, but I had no idea how convincing that would be.
After pondering for a while, I decided to take a gamble.
"What I've learned is truly family-inherited martial arts. After my parents passed away, I had no way to survive, so I came here to work as an escort. What would it take for you to believe me?"
If, by chance, these men realized my techniques came from the Blue Dragon Martial Pavilion, things would get complicated. But I bet that they didn't know. The Pavilion was located far from here, and the odds of them having any connection or communication with it were very low.
The man who had been questioning me smirked.
"We'll find out through a test. Hyeon!"
One of the white-robed men standing beside him stepped forward. He also seemed to be a member of the Sagong family and appeared to favor the sword as his primary weapon. The smirking man tossed us each a wooden sword and said,
"Have a brief sparring match—just a few moves. If you're really from a martial family, it'll be obvious."
I caught the wooden sword in midair and asked,
"…You've been talking pretty high and mighty—may I ask your name?"
"Oh? You've got some fire, don't you…"
He seemed momentarily taken aback, but answered,
"I'm Sagong Pae."
"You're family with Escort Sagong Lin?"
"She's my younger sister. And everyone here is a direct relative."
So I was right.
Satisfied that my guess had been on point, I nodded slightly.
"All right, let's do this."
Though I was still young and my body hadn't fully matured, the foundation of the martial arts I had trained in remained intact. And after surviving in the mountains and forests…
By the time we had walked this far, my body was fully warmed up. I figured that although my frame was a bit smaller, it wouldn't create much of a difference in terms of real skill.
Facing Sagong Hyeon, I raised my wooden sword and stood at a distance of one jang (about 10 feet). We stared each other down intensely—then suddenly, we lunged.
The first strikes were light, testing each other out. On the second exchange, our blades clashed in earnest. Sparks flew like fireworks, and the rhythm became a flash of lightning-fast thrusts and counters.
Clang!
"Huh…?! T-This…"
It only took seven moves for the match to be decided.
I used Lightning Shadow Point Technique—a smooth, snake-like movement that pierced through a gap in Sagong Hyeon's defense. My blade stopped just short of slicing through his throat, its tip pressed against his Adam's apple, leaving no doubt who had won.
"W-Wow…"
"I… I can't believe it…"
I could hear Sagong Lin's voice, full of admiration. Seeing Sagong Hyeon stunned and embarrassed gave me a slight feeling of satisfaction.
"My internal energy… feels even stronger than it did before I died. Did I make a breakthrough in the stable back there?"
Still brimming with fighting spirit, I turned toward Sagong Pae.
"That ended a little too quickly—I didn't even get to properly demonstrate my martial arts."
"Hah… Indeed. Among those your age, I doubt you have any equals."
…Wait, what? He's just going to admit that?
I was a bit let down by Sagong Pae's calm response. I had expected him to lose his temper and try to take me on himself out of frustration. Instead, he stayed composed. I figured he'd step up for a flashy showdown—but I was wrong.
"Lin-ah. You take him on next."
"Yes, brother."
"…?!"
I was startled to see Sagong Lin step forward with a wooden sword in hand. Why her?! I had fully expected Sagong Pae to fight me next to show off his skills, but things weren't going the way I'd thought.
I didn't feel comfortable fighting a woman. Worse, I had a sinking feeling that I might lose if I faced Sagong Lin.
"Wouldn't it be more appropriate for you to fight me instead of sending your sister?"
But Sagong Pae shook his head.
"Not at all. Lin is much stronger than I am. If we want to properly gauge your strength, of course she should be the one to face you."
…
Sagong Pae openly admitted that he was weaker than a woman—but not a single one of the other white-robed warriors standing nearby showed any reaction on their faces. That alone was proof: they all regarded Sagong Lin as the strongest among them.
When I looked over at her, she was already in her stance.
The sight of this elegant and radiant beauty holding a wooden sword in a battle stance was like a painting come to life. When Sagong Lin met my gaze, she smiled gently and said,
"Let's have a good match."
Her tone had subtly shifted to a polite form of semi-formal speech, and I responded in kind.
"Yes, I look forward to it."
I felt a slight tension creeping in. She might be a woman, but that didn't mean I could take her lightly. I had to give it everything I had.
Fwish—!!
As soon as the duel began, our swords clashed in rapid succession. In a matter of seconds, over ten exchanges had already passed. Amidst the whirlwind of sword strikes that blew like a raging storm, I tried to find an opening—but Sagong Lin's sword technique was on a completely different level compared to Sagong Hyeon's. Her strikes were fast, precise, and graceful, each one carrying significant weight and power.
Clang!
"Ogh…!!"
At one point, as our swords collided, I felt a searing pain in my hand as my palm tore open and blood spurted out. The force behind Sagong Lin's attacks, reinforced with internal energy, was tremendous—I could feel the blow reverberate through my body. It felt like I'd even taken internal damage. Shockingly, her internal strength surpassed mine.
Whoosh, whoosh—
Suddenly, her body spun like a top, and she launched attacks from multiple directions, creating afterimages that stabbed toward me from nearly a dozen angles. I pushed my perception to the limit to intercept them, but I couldn't defend perfectly. In the end, I took hits to my ribs, side, and thigh.
When Sagong Lin's wooden sword finally stopped at my temple, I had no choice but to acknowledge my defeat.
"…I lost."
A wave of self-doubt hit me.
After three lifetimes, I thought I'd finally grown strong enough not to be looked down on… and yet I lost to a woman? I had always known there were people stronger than me in this world, but the bitterness still stung.
However, the reactions of the white-robed warriors were different. Especially Sagong Pae, who was so astonished he coughed awkwardly.
"Ahem, ahem… To last over a hundred moves against Linma… you're no ordinary brat."
"Amazing. How can he have such internal strength at that age?"
"Truly exceptional…"
Huh?
Rather than being focused on the fact that I lost, they seemed genuinely impressed that I'd managed to last so long against Sagong Lin. That meant her skill level was far beyond even what I had assumed.
Sagong Pae turned to her and asked,
"Lin-ah, can you tell where his martial arts come from?"
At the question, Sagong Lin looked at me intently. Her gaze was so clear and pure that I felt like I couldn't breathe for a moment. And then, oddly enough, what welled up inside me wasn't frustration or defeat—but a sudden, fierce desire.
A desire to one day make her mine.
"I'm not entirely sure… but Baekung Sohyeop's words sound sincere to me."
"Oh… well, if you say so, then I'll trust that."
Sagong Pae looked pleased and ruffled my hair a little as he spoke.
"Alright! I'll officially accept you as a new escort of the Sagong Escort Bureau."
That day, I was brought to meet the head of the Sagong Escort Bureau—Sagong Hwan. He appeared to be in his early fifties, with a stern and dignified presence. After hearing the explanation from Sagong Pae and learning about the result of my sparring match with Sagong Lin, his eyes gleamed with interest.
"You're a remarkable young man. I hope you'll serve our bureau loyally from now on."
"Yes, sir, Head of Bureau."
And just like that, I officially became an escort of the Sagong Escort Bureau.
Only after receiving Sagong Hwan's approval was I given the escort's insignia, uniform, and weapon. After changing into the uniform, I couldn't help but feel that I looked rather short and stubby—but I was grateful nonetheless. I knew I had no right to be picky.
As I walked toward the dormitory, I ran into Sagong Lin again. It seemed like she had been waiting for me; the moment she saw me, our eyes met.
A moment later, I was struck by a bolt of surprise.
[Sohyeop, what's your relationship with the Blue Dragon Martial Pavilion?]
"…!!"
Sound Transmission (Jeoneum)!
A voice directly transmitted to the mind—an advanced technique that only true martial masters, or those nearing the peak of their cultivation, could use. Among all the martial artists I had ever met in my past lives, only Jin So-cheong, the head instructor of the Blue Dragon Pavilion, had ever been able to use it. Yet here was Sagong Lin, displaying that same level of mastery.
That alone meant she had been going easy on me during our duel.
Not only that—she must have realized long ago that my martial arts came from the Blue Dragon Pavilion. I forced myself to maintain a calm expression and answered flatly:
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Is that so…?"
She smiled faintly—like a delicate flower blooming in spring—and continued.