'No way.'
The Diamond Escort Agency had gone under.
It might not compare to the famed escort agencies that dominated the Central Plains, but within Shanxi Province, Mu-jin's Diamond Escort Agency had been the top dog.
"How could that place go bankrupt?!"
Founded by his grandfather Kang Tae-baek, a lay disciple of Shaolin Temple, and greatly expanded by his father Kang So-gong, the Diamond Escort Agency had risen to become the premier outfit in Shanxi despite its short history.
It wasn't some small-time operation that swayed in the slightest breeze—it was a massive agency that could weather even the fiercest storms.
'The Diamond Escort Agency went under... no, half-under?'
He couldn't believe it.
No, he refused to.
What could have happened in just ten years to bring a thriving agency to its knees?
"Who could even threaten our agency?!"
Shanxi Province was like no-man's-land, free of giants like the Nine Great Sects and One Gang or the Five Great Families.
In other words, there was no massive faction with the power to topple an established agency like the Diamond Escort Agency.
"Who the hell did this?"
"Beats us."
"There are a few rumors floating around, but they're just that—rumors. Hard to say out loud."
Mu-jin's face hardened as he listened. He turned to the merchant.
"Where's the Diamond Escort Agency located?"
"Keep going straight, turn left, then right, and you'll see it."
"Thank you."
Mu-jin offered a polite clasp of hands in gratitude before hurrying off.
'I need to see it with my own eyes.'
He moved quickly and soon reached the main gate of the Diamond Escort Agency. His expression darkened at the sight before him.
"...It really is done for."
No guards at the gate, just a rundown shell of a building. Mu-jin bowed his head, then lifted it again.
'First, I need to find out what happened.'
He swallowed his heartbreak at the sorry state and sighed deeply, then stepped inside with his head lowered.
"Hand over the money, kid."
"Heh. Still too young to know fear, huh? Keep it up, and you'll get hurt bad."
The phlegmy voices of grown men hit him the moment his foot touched down.
'What the...?'
Mu-jin scanned the three men with the sharp senses honed in the Linked Qi Realm.
Stained black robes. Iron maces loosely tied at their waists. A murky aura clinging to their whole bodies.
'Black Dao small fry.'
The moment he pegged them, a girl with her hair tied in twin buns on either side shrieked.
"Y-you bastards! Do you even know where you are? Get out!"
Her arms trembled violently as she yelled. The Black Dao thugs toyed with their scabbards in front of her, threatening her.
"Heh. Hand over the money. The money!"
"Tch. Big mouth for a debtor."
"Heh. Good thing, too. Nice voice and pretty face—might fetch a price at a brothel."
"Oh? Not bad. Perverts who like 'em young got deep pockets. Let's strip her down first. See what she's worth."
Mu-jin clenched his fists watching the hulking, vicious Black Dao thugs intimidate the frail girl who couldn't be older than thirteen.
Krunch—
For the first time in ages, rage boiled up from deep in his chest.
It surged like a volcano, ready to erupt at any moment.
"Hah... What a shitty feeling."
To return from a hellish world, he'd staked his life hundreds of times over.
Yet his clan was ruined.
His brothers were nowhere to be seen.
And now Black Dao trash were wreaking havoc?
"Hey. You trash over there."
"...What?"
The three Black Dao small fry turned at Mu-jin's voice.
"What's with the size on this guy?"
"Eats all day or what? Big frame. But mouthy as hell."
"You little shit. What'd you just call us?"
Mu-jin's voice dropped low as the thugs hurled insults.
"I'll give you one chance. Get lost."
"...?"
They burst into laughter the second he finished.
"Kahaha! What the hell's this guy on about?!"
"Crazy bastard. Brain-fried from overeating?"
"What kind of retard is this? We're the kids now? We go when you say go, come when you say come?!"
Spitting filth, they sauntered toward Mu-jin.
"Where you think you are, punk?!"
"If I hit you now, you'll die. Don't wanna get blood on my clothes, so just leave."
The thugs' sloppy gazes clashed with Mu-jin's calm one in the air.
"Leave?"
Gap-dol, one of the three, stepped forward with a nod.
"Yeah. If you say leave, we leave."
Hand on his waist-tied iron mace, Gap-dol brushed past Mu-jin toward the gate.
"But who the hell are you to order us around?!"
Whoosh—!
Gap-dol swung his mace at Mu-jin's back of the head.
"Die, you punk!"
A chilling whoosh cut the air as the mace flew.
First strike wins, right?
Gap-dol figured the big lug would crumple, blood gushing.
But.
Boom—!
A cannon-like explosion rang out. The mace handle snapped and rolled across the ground.
"...Huh?!"
Gap-dol stared dumbly at the handlegrip, then at Mu-jin's head.
Should be a bloody mess. But Mu-jin's head was pristine, unscratched.
"Wh-what the hell?!"
Head fine. Handle broken!?
Sorcery?
Gap-dol glanced at the ground. The mace looked unreal there.
And then.
Crack.
Pain crushed his skull. He screamed.
"Aaaagh!"
Mu-jin's massive hand gripped his head.
"Hey, grunt."
Crunch.
"Gaaahhh!"
Felt like his skull would split. Like Sun Wukong under the palm of the Buddha.
"L-let go! Please! I'll die!"
Gap-dol flailed to escape, but monstrous pressure lifted him into the air.
Mu-jin held him by the head, hoisting him up.
"Won't die from that."
Swish—!
Mu-jin's hand swung lightly through the air. Gap-dol's vision spun wildly.
"Huh?"
World dizzying, body feather-light like it had wings.
His flesh defied gravity, spinning in midair.
'Am... I flying?'
Humans could fly?
No time to ponder.
Crash—!
His body slammed into the wall, half-burying it. Consciousness fled.
* * *
Kang Soo-yeon felt awe for the first time in her life.
At first, it was just another drab, colorless day.
Until the near-six-foot giant walked in.
She'd thought he was another debt collector, despair washing over her.
Another nightmare of torment from those tiresome sharks.
But what was this?
The giant grabbed a debt collector's head and hurled him. The collector smashed half the wall, embedding inside.
People... could fly like that?
The collector wasn't scrawny or puny.
Proper Black Dao warrior build—thick flesh, solid muscles, big frame.
Easily 200 catties (about 120kg).
And the giant tossed him one-handed!?
'Oh my god!'
Watching the damn collectors get wrecked felt amazing. She could fly herself.
'But who is he?'
No one in Taiyuan would help a sinking Diamond Escort Agency.
If there were, it wouldn't be in this mess to begin with.
'Who could be helping us!? A wandering hero? An official?!'
Thoughts swirled in Soo-yeon's head when—
"Dieee!"
"You dare touch Gap-dol?!"
The remaining two Black Dao thugs, blind to the situation, charged the giant.
"Die!"
Eul-dol and Byeong-dol swung their maces at his head together.
"N-no!"
Soo-yeon screamed, imagining the benefactor crumpling.
Her heart plummeted at the thought.
But.
Clang—!
The maces bounced off harmlessly.
Soft human flesh met iron weapons, yet it rang like metal on metal—with sparks flying.
"...?!"
Soo-yeon's eyes went wide at the impossible scene.
"That all?"
Mu-jin eyed the Black Dao thugs impassively.
"Not yet, you bastard! Raaah!"
Eul-dol desperately punched Mu-jin's gut.
Crack—!
Of course, Mu-jin took no damage. Instead, both thugs' wrists snapped and swelled.
"That's not how you use a fist."
Krunch—
Mu-jin clenched his fist and stepped forward lightly.
Thud—
Power from his rooted legs twisted through his hips into a single punch slamming Eul-dol's side.
Crack-crack-crack—!
Ribs shattered. Eul-dol bent like a shrimp, and Byeong-dol behind him flew like caught in a gale, far beyond the compound wall.
"Gaaahhh."
"Urk!"
"Pathetic trash acting tough."
Mu-jin dusted his hands watching them sail away.
"Wow..."
Soo-yeon gaped, an admiring gasp escaping unwittingly.
The Black Dao loan sharks who'd tormented her endlessly fell so easily. Pure refreshment.
"Thank you, young hero!"
She clumsily clasped her hands over her shoulder as she'd seen elders do, bowing her head.
"No need for formalities. Feels like family anyway."
Mu-jin assumed she was clan. She wore the brown uniform only Diamond Escort Agency members donned.
"F-family...?"
"Yeah. What's your name?"
"I'm... Kang Soo-yeon."
Soo-yeon...
Familiar name stirred memories. Mu-jin snapped his fingers.
"Moo-woong hyung's daughter Soo-yeon!"
"How do you know my fath— Uncle! Little Uncle Mu-jin?!"
"That's me. Long time no see. You've grown so much."
In Mu-jin's memories, Soo-yeon was a tiny tot not reaching his knee.
Now look at her.
Joy and longing flickered in Mu-jin's eyes.
"H-how..."
Soo-yeon's eyes welled up.
The hero who'd saved her from the bad debt collectors was her long-lost little uncle?!
Her heart pounded like it would burst.
"U-Uncle!"
Overwhelmed, Soo-yeon hugged his leg.
"..."
Mu-jin silently stroked her head. His pant knee was soon soaked.
"Thank you for coming back... really."
"Yeah. We'll catch up later. Where are your uncles? Where's Moo-woong hyung?"
"Father went to Shaolin seeking aid."
"I see. Then where's Second Brother? If Eldest Brother's gone, Second should be here."
Shadow fell over Soo-yeon's face at his question.
"Eldest Uncle... went missing."
"Missing?"
"Yes. Because of something from the past..."
Lips trembling, she started sniffling. Mu-jin quickly stopped her.
"Got it. I'll talk to Father first. Where is he?"
"Grandfather..."
Her expression darkened like a storm cloud. She bit her lip.
"He's in a coma right now."
"..."
Mu-jin's face drained to ashen, as if the sky had fallen.