The Weakest in the World
Chapter – 20 ….
For several days, a modest yet grand(?) banquet was held at the Southern Palace’s detached residence.
Since the residence wasn’t very large, only the high-ranking officials of the Southern Palace attended. Every day, rare delicacies and fine wines from all over the Central Plains were served.
All the Southern Palace officials treated Jiang Yu with the utmost respect.
The seat of honor at the banquet also belonged to Jiang Yu.
To an outsider, it might have seemed like a scene lacking proper hierarchy, but he was the Southern Palace’s great benefactor. Furthermore, based on official status rankings alone, the current seating arrangement was correct.
Namgung Cheon had heard something from the Outer Lord, Namgung Gu.
It was that the Ten Dragons Token Lord knew all the lost martial arts and techniques of various sects.
That meant he was a disciple who had personally learned martial arts from the reclusive masters of Jangbaekdong, and the masters who taught him were already individuals renowned as the best in the world centuries ago.
That’s right.
If one only considered martial world status, there was no one in the world who stood above the Ten Dragons Token Lord.
No, not only was there no one above him, there likely wasn’t anyone who could even reach his feet.
In accordance with that lofty status, Namgung Cheon maintained an extremely respectful attitude.
“Is the food to your liking?”
“Ah, yes.”
Jiang Yu reluctantly nodded at Namgung Cheon’s question.
‘Damn it. All talk. Just talk.’
Jiang Yu grumbled internally.
It was understandable. Day after day, they swore they would never forget his grace even in death, and so on, but the food was just too tasteless.
It was still bland.
As expected, when it came to food, Gilrim was the best.
‘But at least there are lots of sweets and pastries, so that’s good.’
As Jiang Yu ignored the other food and only nibbled on the sweets, Namgung Cheon spoke to him again.
“So, where do you plan to go now?”
“I have lots of places to go. I have to go to the Hua Mountain Sect or something for Old Man Dan’s errand, and to the Shaolin Temple for Old Man Baek’s errand. Also, to some place called Myohwagok or something for Old Lady Yoo’s errand… But before that, I have something I need to do.”
“Something you need to do before that?”
“I actually had a favor to ask you.”
“?”
Jiang Yu whispered softly into Namgung Cheon’s ear.
The days of banquets came to an end, and eventually, the day for the benefactor’s departure arrived.
In front of the Southern Palace’s detached residence, all the martial artists, regardless of Outer Hall members, Inner Hall members, or high-ranking officials, were lined up.
“Please take care of yourself on your journey.”
“We will never forget the grace you have shown us, even in death.”
“I will not let my words be empty. If the Ten Dragons Token Lord calls, I will drop everything and come running anytime.”
At the Outer Hall member’s sincere words, Namgung Gu, standing nearby, smiled faintly.
“You there. ‘Drop everything’? Is that something you should say with the Family Head right beside you?”
The Outer Hall member sneakily checked the Family Head’s expression.
“If it’s the Ten Dragons Token Lord, isn’t he an elder superior to the Family Head? So…”
Namgung Cheon chuckled.
“That’s right. If the Token Lord calls, we must come running anytime. I would do the same, so don’t fall behind and follow suit.”
“Family Head…”
“Hahaha.”
In that bright atmosphere, Jiang Yu exchanged farewells with each of the Southern Palace martial artists.
Finally, Namgung Cheon’s wrinkled hand grasped Jiang Yu’s hand.
“My words before were not just a joke. Please call upon us anytime you need us. The entire Southern Palace will immediately head to the Ten Dragons Token Lord.”
Namgung Cheon took a golden token from his bosom.
“Since the branch offices or external members might not know of the Ten Dragons Token, please use this if you ever need the Southern Palace’s power. This is the Yellow Dragon Token, proof of the Southern Palace’s highest treatment.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Finally, after finishing his farewells with Namgung Cheon as well, Jiang Yu waved his hand to everyone.
“I’ll come visit again! Stay well!”
Everyone, including the Family Head, bowed deeply towards Jiang Yu’s back as he disappeared down the path.
That’s when it happened.
‘Oh no.’
Namgung Gu, who had forgotten something important, hurriedly followed after Jiang Yu.
“T-Ten Dragons Token Lord!”
“?”
Namgung Gu landed near Jiang Yu, who had already gone quite far.
After sneakily glancing back towards the detached residence, Namgung Gu lowered his voice as much as possible.
“Ten Dragons Token Lord. That Heavenly Demon Divine Art, no. The lie detection and ‘mouse fire play’… you mustn’t use them recklessly in places where people can see. Absolutely not.”
“Huh? Why?”
“It’s because…”
Now, more than ever, with the conflict with the Orthodox Faction Ma at its peak.
If he carelessly used the Heavenly Demon Divine Art in a place with many watching eyes, he could instantly be considered a public enemy of the Orthodox Martial World.
No, it was certain to happen.
Frankly, following the usual conventions, Namgung Gu should also immediately inform the Martial Alliance of the Ten Dragons Token Lord’s existence and spread a net, but he was the Southern Palace’s great benefactor, and saying anything more would just be a waste of breath.
Therefore, regarding matters related to the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, he hadn’t even reported it to the Family Head.
Namgung Gu thought briefly.
How could he explain this situation easily to the Ten Dragons Token Lord, who didn’t seem to know much about the workings of the martial world?
After racking his brain, Namgung Gu soon found a way.
“Token Lord, when you use the lie detection or ‘mouse fire play’, don’t your eyes change? The pupils turn white, and the whites turn black.”
“That’s right. It doesn’t work well if I don’t do that.”
“It looks frightening. Even I, who have seen it a few times, feel that way, so how surprised would people seeing it for the first time be?”
“Ah.”
Namgung Gu pleaded with sincerity.
“So, unless it’s a very dangerous situation or you are alone, you must never use the power that changes your eyes. Absolutely.”
Jiang Yu nodded.
“I understand. I didn’t think of that. I don’t want the martial artists to get scared, so I’ll be careful from now on.”
At Jiang Yu’s words, Namgung Gu smiled warmly.
Although he sometimes acted snippy, he was fundamentally a good and pure kid.
Namgung Gu clasped his hands together.
“Farewell. I look forward to seeing you again soon.”
“Ah, yes.”
Jiang Yu glanced at Namgung Gu’s hands, which were held in an unusual shape.
Namgung Gu laughed.
“It’s a salutation called ‘Poquan’ (抱拳). It contains the meaning of respecting and honoring the other party as a martial artist. Of course, these days, there aren’t many martial artists who attach that much meaning to it. Haha.”
“Poquan?”
Jiang Yu fumbled with his hands, imitating Namgung Gu.
“Like this?”
“Haha. Yes, that’s right.”
Jiang Yu made a Poquan towards Namgung Gu.
“Then, I’ll be going now. Mister. Stay well.”
Namgung Gu also returned the Poquan.
“Take care.”
Jiang Yu, smiling slightly, released the Poquan and set off again.
“Ah, right. Look at my memory.”
Jiang Yu, who was about to leave, stopped immediately.
Actually, he had planned to give them plenty of money to help rebuild the burned house.
But after being treated poorly for days with tasteless food, his mind had completely changed.
Still, they were Elder Namgung’s family, so he couldn’t just leave empty-handed.
Jiang Yu placed a small envelope into Namgung Cheon’s hand.
“Please take this.”
“What is this…?”
Jiang Yu hurriedly grabbed Namgung Gu’s hand as he tried to look at the envelope.
“Look at it after I’ve left. Not now.”
After giving the envelope, Jiang Yu swiftly disappeared into the distance using his usual lightness skill.
Namgung Gu slowly opened the envelope Jiang Yu had given him.
“……”
Tears welled in Namgung Gu’s eyes as he saw the contents.
He performed a deep bow once more towards the path beyond which Jiang Yu had vanished.
Jiang Yu returned to Hefei after several days.
The city streets were still bustling with countless people.
“Step right up! Salt freshly brought from Jiangsu Province! Five silver coins per bag! After today, you won’t be able to buy it at this price again! Come and see!”
“Load the wines on this cart for the inns north of the city, and the other cart for the taverns to the west… Hey, you! I said that one goes here!”
“I’m looking for provisions to take to Tianzhu Mountain! Merchants with goods, come to the Annan Biaoju outside the city before Shenshi (3-5 PM)! I’ll rent a separate room, so check it out!”
Jiang Yu’s eyes sparkled as he looked at the bustling market.
“Ooh. As expected.”
Master Biguang had said so.
Anhui, where the Southern Palace Family is located, is the logistics hub of the Central Plains.
That’s right!
This was the home base of the biaoju (security escort companies) where he needed to get a job!
So, originally, he should have gone to Shaolin in Henan, which was closest to Gilrim, for that errand first, but he came straight to Anhui instead.
Get a job as a caravan hand at a biaoju and carry goods to various places in the Central Plains while running errands for the villagers!
Earn money and do errands!
What a perfect plan.
No matter how much he thought about it, he was clever.
Jiang Yu walked towards the place where the man who was noisily advertising in the market had posted his notice.
There, a huge tree was covered haphazardly with numerous notices.
Jiang Yu circled the tree.
Among them, one notice caught Jiang Yu’s eye and made them widen.
[Daeryong Biaoju]
[Caravan Hands Constantly Recruited]
[Peak Season Open Recruitment Period: From the 1st to the 9th of this month, daily from Chenshi (7-9 AM) to Weishi (1-3 PM).]
[Location – Daeryong Biaoju Anhui Branch Haeryong Hall]
After sneakily looking around, Jiang Yu peeled off the notice and hid it in his clothes.
About half a shichen (1 hour) later.
“Ooh.”
Jiang Yu asked the Super Masters for directions and arrived at the Daeryong Biaoju.
It was a much larger biaoju than he had imagined.
It wasn’t as big as the Southern Palace Family before the fire, but its walls were much higher and longer than the surrounding ones.
And following that wall, people were lined up in a long queue.
Uncles, grandfathers.
They were all Super Masters.
“Hello.”
“?”
“Are you here to take the caravan hand recruitment test?”
“That’s right.”
“Are all the people in this line here for that?”
“Would we be standing here in this scorching sun for no reason? You’re here for that too, aren’t you?”
“Yes, that’s right, but…”
Seeing the long line of Super Masters, Jiang Yu’s confidence, which had been soaring, quickly deflated.
Sigh. So Super Masters also take the caravan hand test. Then how strong must the biaoshi (escort guards) be, who get paid more than caravan hands?
Jiang Yu, standing at the very back of the queue, peeked ahead.
Right in front of him was a Super Master. Further ahead was a Super Master. The grandfather whose turn it was to enter the gate was also a Super Master. It was all Super Masters.
As expected, he was weak.
Being around martial artists for a while had made him lose his sense of perspective.
He had mistakenly thought he was somewhat strong.
He wasn’t.
The world was full of Super Masters who could overturn heaven and earth.
He was sure that being a caravan hand was the job with the lowest barrier to entry.
But after spending a few days in this ‘martial world’, he’d seen that among Super Masters, there were differences in strength and weakness—like the troublemaking grandfather, the Family Head grandfather, the masked men in black clothes, etc.
So, were the Super Masters trying to become caravan hands the relatively weaker ones?
But regardless, they were still Super Masters.
Much stronger and more powerful than him.
Jiang Yu let out a deep sigh and waited for his turn with slumped shoulders.
After some time passed, the long line gradually shortened.
Upon reaching the main gate, a sturdy man was writing something down.
He didn’t even greet them.
“Name.”
“J-Jiang Yu.”
“Age.”
“Twenty this year.”
“Marital status.”
“Still unmarried.”
“Do you have any experience as a caravan hand?”
“No, it’s my first…”
The man, who hadn’t even looked at Jiang Yu, glanced up at him.
Slender limbs that looked like they couldn’t even carry a sack of rice, let alone a heavy load.
He sighed openly.
“Tch. Another useless one. I told them we shouldn’t do this open recruitment.”
The grumbling man looked at Jiang Yu’s waist.
A crude leather sword scabbard was hanging there.
“What’s that? Trying to look like you have a self-defense weapon?”
“It’s one of the Seven Great Martial Treasures.”
“Ah, what nonsense.”
Frowning at the ridiculous statement, the man threw a small wooden plaque to Jiang Yu.
“Take that and turn left inside. That’s the test site. Give the plaque to the examiner. Next!”
Pushed along by the Super Master behind him, Jiang Yu stepped inside the main gate.
The small wooden plaque the man had tossed to him.
[Preliminary Evaluation: Low Low]
“……”
With a dejected expression, Jiang Yu moved his feet.
