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Plop!

As I rode the Four Great Spirits to Gaebong, a vibrant district caught my eye. This was the Jeongdu of Gaebong, the very spot where I had received a hint from the Sect Leader, and the Four Great Spirits had dropped me off without so much as a wiggle. I could actually picture in my head all the places I had visited before, unlike the usual chaotic ride to the boiling point.

To meet my contact, I made my way to Changpyeong Hall.

On the surface, Changpyeong Hall looked like a martial arts dojo. But as soon as I flashed the Thunder God Guardian’s Divine Token to the gatekeepers, their expressions shifted instantly.

“We’ve been waiting for you.”

“This way…”

Following them inside, I found a man seated, probably about forty years old. He stood up and performed a fist salute.

“I am Sangmun, the Master of Changpyeong Hall. It’s an honor to meet the Thunder God Guardian.”

“So, you’re from the Su Shin Sect?”

He nodded at my question.

“I belong to the External Division of the Su Shin Sect. I will do my utmost to assist you in this mission.”

“Then, what about the supporter the Sect Leader mentioned…”

“Ah, that’s not me. Someone else is waiting at the mission site.”

“…?”

Sangmun seemed to hint that he was not the supporter the Sect Leader referred to. When I looked at him quizzically, he continued,

“Our External Division might not excel in martial arts, but we specialize in intelligence and funding. I’ll provide the details shortly.”

“Got it.”

“Speaking of which, wouldn’t you like to have a meal first…”

I shook my head.

“I’m good on food. Let’s get the info for this mission first.”

I wasn’t in the mood to graze on the offerings of foreign lands. Even with the Ever-Poisonous Shield in effect, one could never be too cautious.

“Understood.”

Eventually, Sangmun sat across from me at the table and began sharing all sorts of information. After a sip of water, he continued.

“It appears that the Wind Spirit Sect is actively involved in the slave market. Moreover, the Golden Eagle Guard is also in the mix. I believe your mission as the Guardian Warrior is to find evidence of the collusion between the Wind Spirit Sect and the Golden Eagle Guard, am I right?”

“The Sect Leader didn’t provide that much detail.”

“Hmm… I apologize for overstepping. Regardless, you can capture or document specific trading sites as necessary. With the bureaucracy under control, feel free to act freely if the need arises.”

“… The bureaucracy is under control?”

Startled, I repeated his words, to which Sangmun casually replied.

“Yes. The powers below Lord of Gaebong are all under the influence of the Su Shin Sect. Even ordinary incidents can be covered up, so there’s no need for concern.”

“……”

I contemplated the reach of the Su Shin Sect’s influence. Even the Lord of Gaebong was merely a high-ranking official governing the vast expanse of Gaebong, just one step below the Castle Lord. If they had grasped all powers beneath him, it meant they could manipulate the lives of at least hundreds of thousands of people and easily amass wealth many times over.

The problem was that Gaebong wasn’t the only region under the Su Shin Sect’s thumb. I had no way to gauge which areas of the Central Plains might also be under their sway. While the Wind Spirit Sect and Fire Spirit Sect had made a name for themselves by meddling in the martial world, the sheer power of the Su Shin Sect had yet to be fully grasped.

[What are you surprised about? The Su Shin Sect is supposed to be at this level. How else could they stand against the Imperial Palace?]

Zhuge Sa’s words snapped me back to reality. I cleared my throat and declared,

“Alright. I heard that the auction at the slave market is tomorrow; what should I prepare?”

“Everything is set, from the cart and attendants to the Auction Attendance Ticket. The auction begins at Yu Shi, so it will be a night event.”

“Yu Shi… so it starts when night falls.”

“Guardian Warrior, how much do you know about Gaebong’s slave market?”

“Not much. Just that it’s a market for trading slaves…”

And honestly, that was the extent of my knowledge. Even back when I lived as a escort, all I heard were whispers about the slave market, and I had never encountered it firsthand. In my subsequent life, I was too busy with other matters to look into the slave market myself. When I voiced my thoughts, Sangmun cautiously responded.

“Tomorrow’s auction is expected to feature at least two thousand slaves. It’s going to be the largest market held in three years.”

“Two thousand…?”

I said, slightly stunned. “Are they really going to sell that many slaves? Isn’t that suspicious, no matter how kept a secret?”

“Normally, it would be impossible—both in terms of numbers and location. But the organizers have declared they will use special methods to keep it off the radar. Because of that, slave traders from all over the Central Plains are flocking to Gaebong.”

Sangmun sighed.

“What method they’ll employ, I’m not sure, but there are plenty of slave traders here to buy, as well as rich individuals and power brokers looking to get in on the action. Everyone is anticipating the quality of the slaves.”

I tilted my head. “I can’t grasp it. Let’s say they did manage to set up such a gigantic slave market. Isn’t it suspicious for buyers to come out of it? How will they manage?”

“Apparently, the organizers have a plan for that as well.”

“……”

“The problem is, while we in the Su Shin Sect have managed to get hold of buyer information, we still lack insight on the methods the organizers will use. We suspect it might be through martial arts techniques, but we can’t be certain.”

Listening to Sangmun’s words, I contemplated then replied, “Since I’m partaking in the slave auction, I hope to uncover that method as well.”

“Of course. If it is through martial arts, the person performing it won’t be an ordinary practitioner. You must discover who it is.”

“Understood. Is there any other info?”

“Hmm… There are rumors that powerful martial artists are being hired as guards in the slave market. Because of this, reconnaissance has proven difficult.”

My curiosity was piqued. “Powerful martial artists…? How formidable?”

“You can gauge it by comparing it to your designated supporter assigned by the Sect Leader. From the bits of info I’ve gleaned, that should be a fair estimation.”

“Hmm.”

A supporter to assist me. The thought of the three Su Shin martial artists in my wooden armor crossed my mind. Those three were definitely a tremendous force. Teaming up with them would mean most ordinary foes wouldn’t stand a chance. Suddenly, I recalled something and asked,

“Wait a second. You’ve yet to tell me who my supporter is, right? Who is it?”

“Um, well…”

Sangmun hesitated before revealing, “I was told you’d find out directly from them tomorrow. I believe that’s at the Sect Leader’s request, so I can’t disclose it.”

“Who could it possibly be?”

“……”

As Sangmun fell silent, I remarked bluntly, “Fine, just tell me how to meet them.”

“I’m sorry.”

Once I got all the essential info, I said to Sangmun, “I’ll be practicing in my room, so just call me when it’s time.”

“Understood.”

My plan was to quietly meditate in my room for a whole day. Running around haphazardly collecting info would just draw unwanted attention. Plus, I needed to focus on practicing the Three Treasure Technique and the Soul Exchange Technique, so sticking to my retreat was a smart choice.

But as soon as I entered my room, Zhuge Sa piped up.

[Idiot. Stop wasting time and get moving.]

“What’s suddenly got into you?”

[Soul Exchange Technique practice.]

Smack!

“Ah…”

Following Zhuge Sa’s advice, I swiftly overpowered a passerby from the External Division. With her bloodline subdued and unconscious, I placed my hand on her forehead to draw out her essence. It soon entered my system, and I activated its movements as instructed by Zhuge Sa.

Hissssss

[Now, your vision will be shared. Let her go.]

Once I released the woman’s bloodline and laid her down in a suitable spot, she appeared dazed and confused, not realizing she had just been knocked out in an instant. I then seated myself cross-legged in my room and began to operate the technique, sharing her perspective as instructed by Zhuge Sa.

It is visible. The scenery she sees reflected clearly in my closed eyes. Yet, it wasn’t quite clear, appearing as if veiled in fog, which was probably due to my low mastery of the Soul Exchange Technique.

[Your proficiency is still low, so sharing senses seems to be difficult. Let’s practice the Link Soul Essence Technique instead.]

[Link Soul Essence?]

[You’ve just taken her essence. From that state, you can now extract a third party’s essence using her as a medium.]

[Is that even possible?]

[Stop talking and just do it. When else will you get the chance to practice during an open session in the White Lotus Sect?]

Reluctantly, I awaited Zhuge Sa’s cue until the woman met someone else. When she encountered a Guardian Warrior, they engaged in casual conversation. I absentmindedly watched the scene unfold when, out of the blue, the Guardian Warrior leaned in with a thick smile and pulled her close, bringing his face near hers. I was appalled.

‘Yuck!’

Were they going in for a kiss?! My sight had caught the absolutely disgusting reflection of a greasy-skinned man up close!

‘So they are a couple… Ugh, but…’

I almost gagged, but Zhuge Sa’s voice calmed me down.

[Good! The physical contact is vivid, making it easy to execute the Link Soul Essence technique.]

[Ugh… Not good for my mental health…]

[Haha. Once the sense-sharing spreads through all five senses, you might just faint. Just shut up and practice.]

[Tch…]

I followed the technique to drain the Guardian Warrior’s essence as well. Surprisingly, it felt easy as it gravitated toward me. Zhuge Sa seemed right—intense physical contact made everything easier.

Having succeeded on my first attempt, I felt a surge of happiness. But as the shared vision continued, my expression paled horrifyingly.

‘What the hell! Why is this crazy guy stripping?!’

The two had entered a room and started shedding their clothes! I really didn’t want to see that guy’s nakedness, not to mention the lewd intentions blatantly radiating from the woman’s point of view.

‘Eww!’

My stomach churned! The sight of the guy’s arousal was so frightful that my hands trembled, prompting Zhuge Sa to chuckle.

[Ooh, looks like they’re getting into it!]

[How do I stop this sight-sharing?!]

[Why stop? It’s great entertainment.]

My head throbbed as I mentally screamed,

[Just shut up and tell me how! I feel like throwing up!]

[You’re seriously missing out…]

After some grumbling, Zhuge Sa finally disclosed the method. Once I terminated the vision-sharing, I had collected the essences of the two individuals, and Zhuge Sa explained,

[Now, with the essences gathered, you can utilize them to manipulate them later. However, it’s better to consume them for other purposes instead.]

[Other purposes?]

[Essence is the essence of existence, while your power is its driving force. This implies that the more you gather, the better it plays out in bartering.]

[…….]

Zhuge Sa continued, “I’ll go into detail tomorrow. Anyway, since you’ve stepped into the slave market, you should definitely meet this guy.”

[Who is this guy?]

[The trader from behind-the-scenes! You need to meet this guy.]

During the remaining time, I practiced the Three Treasure Technique handed down by the Sect Leader while also refining my skills in the Soul Exchange Technique. Since it primarily consisted of meditation, time slipped by quickly. After a whole day, Sangmun came to call for me.

“Guardian Warrior, it’s time to depart.”

With less than half an hour before Yu Shi, I prepared my attire and funds before rising to my feet. My façade for this auction was that of a ‘wealthy noble’s son,’ pretending to be a clueless buyer looking to splurge.

“Let’s go.”

Clatter, clatter!

As I rode the cart with Sangmun, we passed through the bureaucracy.

“The destination is the Jeongli Village area. It’s just a rundown village in the mountains, nothing more, but it doesn’t sit right to hold an auction accommodating two thousand slaves.”

“You aren’t coming in?”

“No. That invitation in your hand is the only one.”

I pulled the vivid red invitation from my hand. It was eerily colored, as if stained by fresh blood, crafted from parchment. The dark ink almost seemed etched into it, making it remarkably unique.

Eventually, the cart came to a stop. Stepping out, I realized from here on out, the path narrowed, and the cart couldn’t proceed any further. Silently bidding farewell to Sangmun, I walked deeper into Jeongli Village.

‘What a tiny mountain path.’

As I walked for about a hundred paces along the path, the invitation in my hand began to glow, and a blood-red passage materialized in the air before me.

“What’s this?”

I glanced around but noticed fewer and fewer presences. ‘Customers’ began walking in my direction, but one by one, their vital energy faded as they disappeared, undoubtedly entering this passage that had opened before me.

Well, looks like I have no choice but to follow this passage. Keeping calm, I eyed it, and Zhuge Sa remarked,

[Using the Blood Realm as a transit point? They must be out of their minds. One misstep, and they’ll be prey to magical beasts.]

 

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