The Regressed Sword Demon Changes the Future

Her name was Jang Yuran.

She was the daughter of Ju Taehyeon, the head of the Mysterious Tiger Escort Agency, and a talented woman who had reached the first-rate realm at the young age of twenty.

For a woman, she was tall and had long limbs, so she was skilled in spear techniques, and she was active as one of the few remaining escort warriors of the Mysterious Tiger Escort Agency.

"…You disgusting brat."

"…A woman with no aesthetic sense."

Although an unusual atmosphere flowed between Jang Baekseo and Jang Yuran, Jang Muyeon deliberately ignored it and introduced Jang Yuran.

"Oh~ you're quite something. To be at the first-rate level at the young age of twenty…"

"Ah, yes, thank you!"

Unlike her unpleasant attitude towards Jang Baekseo, Jang Yuran showed a submissive attitude towards Cheong Yeonah.

"Ho ho! Great Hero Cheong Yeonah, please take good care of her. To Yuran, Great Hero Cheong Yeonah is no different from an idol."

"S-senior Uncle!?"

Although Jang Yuran was flustered and called out to her senior uncle, she did not deny it.

Well, it was understandable.

Although Cheong Yeonah's usual behavior was a bit… no, a lot like that, Cheong Yeonah's current age was twenty-three.

Despite her young age, she was a person who had reached the peak realm, and her beauty was also outstanding, so it would not have been strange for her to have a cool title with the character 'bong' (phoenix) in it.

Nevertheless, the reason why she did not have a proper title yet was because the Mysterious Profound Sect was not a very prestigious sect, and therefore, Cheong Yeonah's range of activities was also limited.

Since her range of activities was narrow, she had no particularly noticeable activities, and as such, despite her outstanding skills, she had no title.

Of course, if it were someone like Cheongmu, they would have overcome that and gained a title and fame.

As Cheong Yeonah, who had always been an object of her admiration, praised her, Jang Yuran lowered her head and blushed, as if she were shy.

'When did she say she didn't want to get involved with the Mysterious Profound Sect…'

After the introductions were exchanged, the explanation of this escort mission began.

"This escort mission is an escort mission to Chongqing."

"It will take at least a month for a round trip."

"Yes, but since we are going on a large main road, we can use horses and carriages, so we will be able to reduce the time considerably."

"Then that's a relief."

Cheongdo was relieved at the words that the escort mission would end sooner than he had thought.

The reason they had participated in this escort mission was to help the Mysterious Tiger Escort Agency, which was in a crisis, but at the same time, it was also for Jang Baekseo's worldly experience.

As such, they had to avoid a very long escort mission or a dangerous road as much as possible.

After finishing the consultation on the approximate period of the escort mission and the road they would pass, the party went outside.

"These are the escort warriors who will be accompanying us on this escort mission."

Waiting for them outside were the other escort warriors who would be accompanying them on this escort mission.

"There are more than I thought."

There were two meanings in Cheongdo's words. The first was that too many escort warriors were being mobilized for a request that was not that long and would not be that dangerous as they were following a large main road. And the second was that there were many escort warriors left, considering that the situation was not good.

"Haha, that's because we hired ronin for this job."

"Ah."

Although it was an answer to the second question, since he did not answer the first question, Cheongdo, who was not satisfied with Jang Muyeon's answer, urged him for the next words with his eyes.

"…"

But Jang Muyeon did not say anything more, and Cheongdo frowned.

At first glance, it sounded like he had answered the second question, but in fact, if you thought about it, this was also strange.

Although the Mysterious Tiger Escort Agency was clearly in a bad situation, why on earth had they hired so many ronin for such a simple escort mission?

Although something was bothering Cheongdo, he decided not to ask any more, thinking that Jang Muyeon was not the kind of person who would plot something strange.

Jang Baekseo looked around at the escort warriors, including the ronin, and gauged their level.

'Between the first-rate and the second-rate… well, they're all mediocre skills.'

Then…

'Ho ho? There's a pretty good guy.'

What caught Jang Baekseo's eye was a young man who looked to be in his mid-twenties.

A determined-looking face and hair tied back and neat.

A body that was clearly well-trained at a glance, and a firm standing posture as if rooted to the ground…

'The peak realm… if he's at the peak realm at that age, he should have a title or two…'

Of course, since there was also a case like Cheong Yeonah, he could not be sure, but since he was a ronin living in a world where skill was directly related to his value, it would not have been strange for him to have a title or two that would be perfect for inflating his value.

"Are there any ronin you've hired that are worth keeping an eye on?"

In that sense, when Jang Baekseo threw a question at Jang Muyeon, Jang Muyeon smiled and shook his head.

"Hahaha, I'm sorry to them, but I don't have the money to hire such skilled people…"

'…He's hiding his skills? A ronin?'

Although he was a suspicious person, since there were not a few people in the martial world who hid their own skills, Jang Baekseo decided to let it go for now.

'If he tries to do something foolish, I'll just deal with him then.'

Jang Baekseo, who was watching the man, suddenly realized that there was another person watching the young man besides himself.

'Ho ho, her eye for people is quite good. Even though her behavior is strange, a genius is a genius, I guess?'

The one watching the man was Cheong Yeonah.

Indeed, as a genius who had reached the peak at a young age without the help of regression and elixirs like Jang Baekseo, her eye for people was also real.

As Jang Baekseo was thinking that…

"…That bald uncle has a huge mole on his head… wow… Baekseo, look, over there."

"…"

After hearing Cheong Yeonah's words, there was indeed a middle-aged man who was bald and had a mole the size of a thumb in the middle of his head, right next to the young peak master.

"Wow, even if he's bald, if he has such a big mole on his head, doesn't he usually wear something?"

"I think so too, Sister Yeonah!"

Looking at Cheong Yeonah, who was sincerely admiring the bald mole, and Jang Yuran, who was agreeing with her to get on her good side, Jang Baekseo had an ominous premonition that this escort mission would not be easy.

***

And so, the escort mission began.

The large and heavy luggage was loaded onto the carriages, and the light luggage was carried on the backs of the escort warriors.

Although most of the escort warriors rode horses, the hired ronin and those who were not used to horses, or those who thought it would be easier to respond in a 'what if' situation if they were off the horse, walked without riding a horse.

And Jang Baekseo and Cheong Yeonah were among the latter.

Of course, it wasn't for any special reason…

"I hate horses because they smell too much~"

"That's so true, Sister Yeonah!"

Cheong Yeonah had chosen to walk just because she hated the smell of horses, and Jang Yuran was also walking to get on Cheong Yeonah's good side.

For reference, Cheongdo was at the head of the escort mission, moving with the responsible escort warrior who was in charge of this escort mission.

As they were just boringly walking without anything happening…

"Aren't you tired, young lady?"

A man spoke to Cheong Yeonah.

"Huh…? You are… ah, your name is?"

"Huhu, please call me Hwa Mokyeon."

"Hmm~ you have a feminine name, don't you?"

"Huhu, I hear that a lot."

Surprisingly, the person who had approached Cheong Yeonah was the young master whom Jang Baekseo had been keeping an eye on at the place where the escort warriors had gathered before departure.

'Huhu, as expected, a master recognizes a master, I guess?'

But unlike Jang Baekseo's thoughts…

"So, the young lady's name is…"

"Huh? You don't know my name? I thought I was quite famous… tsk, should I make a cool title for myself?"

"Haha! You're a funny young lady."

"What's so funny? I'm Cheong Yeonah, from the Mysterious Profound Sect."

As she said that, the man was surprised.

"Cheong Yeonah! No wonder your martial arts level was unusual for your young age… you were the fierce flower of the Mysterious Profound Sect, Young Lady Cheong Yeonah!"

"…Fierce flower… the expression is a bit…"

"Sister, don't mind him. He's a strange person."

Hwa Mokyeon broke out in a cold sweat at the sight of Cheong Yeonah, who was disgusted, and Jang Yuran, who was helping her from the side.

"Haha! You're funny young ladies. In that sense, what is your hobby, Young Lady Cheong Yeonah?"

"Go-Pa and gambling."

"Ha, hahaha! That's a very pleasant hobby!"

"Sister Yeonah, this man can't even lie properly."

Looking at the three people who were exchanging a murderous conversation, Jang Baekseo frowned.

'It wasn't that a master recognized a master, was it…!'

Looking at what he was doing, that Hwa Mokyeon guy was just hitting on a woman.

'And he's terribly bad at it.'

If you were serious about hitting on someone, you should at least have a rough idea of the other person's personality or interests before hitting on them. But since he was just hitting on her without any of that, how could the other person not be disgusted?

'Besides, if you do that, you'll ruin your first impression, so it's a bad move in the long run… he seems to have no experience, considering how boldly he's hitting on her.'

As Jang Baekseo was having his own strange thoughts…

"Come to think of it, is the man next to you perhaps Young Lady Cheong Yeonah's junior brother?"

"Huh? No, no, my junior nephew! Baekseo, come here!"

As the topic of conversation turned to him, Jang Baekseo approached Cheong Yeonah with a bewildered expression.

"This brat looks a little old for his age, but he's still only fourteen~"

At those words, Hwa Mokyeon was surprised.

"F-fourteen!? You don't look that way at all!?"

"…I'm sorry for looking old."

"N-no!? That's not what I meant… your physique! Your physique is so good, that's all!"

Hwa Mokyeon, who had become trash in an instant after being careless, hurriedly made an excuse.

Jang Yuran, who was ignoring Hwa Mokyeon, nodded her head.

"He certainly doesn't look fourteen."

To somehow resolve the situation, Hwa Mokyeon changed the subject.

"Do you know what the escort item of this escort mission is?"

"Of course I do!"

The one who said that was Jang Yuran. She was the daughter of Ju Taehyeon, the head of the Mysterious Tiger Escort Agency. There was no way that she, who was deeply involved in the management of the escort agency as well as accompanying the escort missions, would not know what the escort item was.

"Most of the escort items this time are Sichuan specialties, and among them, they are high-end goods such as cotton and tea, including agricultural products."

Saying so, Jang Yuran pointed to each carriage and explained what was inside one by one.

"I see. Thank you for the explanation. But…"

Saying so, Hwa Mokyeon pointed to a carriage with a meaningful expression.

"What, or who, is in that carriage?"

The carriage he pointed to was not a luggage carriage that had been carrying luggage so far, but a carriage that anyone could see was for people to ride.

Pointing to the carriage, which was covered with a curtain so that the inside could not be seen from the outside, Hwa Mokyeon asked Jang Yuran.

"Who on earth is riding in it that they haven't shown their face even once?"

(End of Chapter)