Chapter 99: Okcheon Express Agency (1)

Express Agency

Simply put, an express agency in the martial world of the Central Plains was akin to a courier company with martial prowess. An express courier was essentially an armed delivery person, led by a head courier.

In the perilous world of martial arts, transporting goods or people involved numerous risks, necessitating martial strength in the transportation business.

In martial arts fiction, express couriers ranged from being mere victims of robbery, crying out for the protagonist’s help, to esteemed individuals who chose the courier path over official positions, even after passing the imperial examination.

“I, too, initially wanted to become an express courier or a porter.”

As a martial arts fiction aficionado who fell into poverty, I once sought work at an express agency.

I thought that with my strength, I could at least become a porter, if not an armed express courier. However, I was rejected from the start because of my black hair, marking me as a foreigner.

After working hard, I eventually left the express agency and became a porter whom the couriers desperately wanted to recruit as their ace. Too bad for them. They missed their chance.

“It’s an honor to meet the famous express couriers of Okcheon Express Agency in such a place!”

I greeted the man who introduced himself as the head courier and the surrounding martial artists with a welcoming face.

“Ha ha. You know of the Okcheon Express Agency?”

“I’ve heard that it prioritizes the safety of its cargo above all, faces any danger head-on, and always keeps its delivery promises with utmost faithfulness.”

“You really know your stuff! Even a foreigner has heard of our agency’s reputation. Our efforts have not been in vain!”

“Indeed, it seems so, Head Courier.”

The head courier exchanged glances with the other couriers and smiled contentedly.

They had no idea.

I merely praised what a courier company was obviously supposed to do.

“It’s regrettable to have met the famous couriers of Okcheon but to have missed such an opportunity.”

I said to them with the face of a salesperson regretting a missed major sales opportunity.

“Ah, just yesterday, our porter bought some medicine that worked wonders, and we wanted to give it to our weary couriers on the road, but alas, we’ve run out.”

The head courier genuinely sighed in front of us.

It’s too early to feel sorry. We could make more medicine by visiting an herbalist, but they deliberately said they were out.

I had won the couriers’ favor, and they failed to achieve their goal.

“There’s a way if it’s not urgent.”

This allowed me to make another proposal with a good image.

“What way might that be?”

“It’s just that the local pharmacy has run out of ingredients. If we move to another village, I can make medicine for the couriers.”

“You’re offering to accompany us and make the medicine? Hmm.”

The head courier eyed me with suspicion.

It’s a natural reaction. A stranger with black hair, a foreigner, wanted to join our mission to make medicine? It’s impossible not to be suspicious.

They didn’t outright reject or draw their swords demanding the truth because I started off on a positive note, and they had an unfulfilled goal.

‘This is when I have a trump card to use.’

It’s about leveraging my innate cheat.

“Ha ha. How could a foreigner negotiator like me possibly make medicine? The medicine will be made by this young lady here.”

I met the head courier’s gaze and then silently directed his attention to Tang Hwarin, who was quietly standing there.

“This lady is...?”

Purple hair, green eyes. A mysterious woman wearing a mask and known for making medicine.

Someone of the head courier’s stature would immediately think of a certain family.

This was exactly what I needed to utilize.

“She is Miss Tang Hwarin of the Sichuan Tang Family.”

“Sichuan Tang Family! It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I am Ok Da-am, the head courier of Okcheon Express Agency.”

Notice how he naturally lowered his stance upon hearing ‘Sichuan Tang Family’.

After all, it couldn’t be helped. The martial arts families were the undeniable leaders of their regions, and the Sichuan Tang Family was among the top tier.

In martial arts fiction, a martial arts family could be considered the ruler of a region. It’s not without reason that there’s usually only one such family per city.

Of course, their martial arts were considered a notch below the Nine Sects and One Union, but their wealth, power, and connections were beyond imagination.

It’s as if a chaebol heiress appeared in front of a courier company’s manager. Naturally, one must show respect.

“.......”

Tang Hwarin gave the head courier a slight bow without saying a word.

“Ha ha. Miss Tang Hwarin is quite shy.”

“I understand. However, my experience is limited, and I’ve never heard of Miss Tang Hwarin before.”

The head courier glanced beyond Tang Hwarin’s mask, showing understanding, then turned to ask me.

“It could be her first venture into the martial world. Have you heard of Tang Geoho, by any chance?”

“Ah! I have heard of Tang Geoho of the Sichuan Tang Family.”

“Miss Tang Hwarin’s master is Tang Geoho. She has been raised as the precious jewel of her family and wishes to use her studied pharmacology to do good in the world, hence her debut in the martial world.”

“Ah, so that’s why the medicine was sold at such a fair price. You are doing good work.”

The head courier, thinking Tang Hwarin was performing acts of kindness, lightly greeted her with admiration.

Tang Hwarin awkwardly returned the greeting, then sent me a glance that screamed, ‘What on earth are you talking about without making it obvious to others?’

Just stay put.

I had greased the wheels well, and using your lineage, we could take an easier path.

“Miss Tang Hwarin does not like it when those seeking her medicine leave empty-handed. Since we were planning to leave anyway, why not accompany us to the next village?”

See? Just by accompanying us, you might establish even a minor connection with the Sichuan Tang Family.

As long as the line was long, the Green Forest didn’t shed blood if there’s no resistance, merely collecting tolls and letting travelers pass.

Thus, they’ve earned nicknames like “Pay Road Gang” or “Martial World’s Tollgate.”

“Isn’t that the Chief of Black Tiger Fort! It’s been a long time. How have you been?”

The head courier at the front greeted the chief as if he was meeting a senior from the martial world after a long time.

“I’ve been well. You seem busy lately. It’s hard to see your face. Ha ha ha!”

“Are they too friendly with each other?”

Tang Hwarin commented in a disgruntled tone upon hearing the conversation between the head courier and the chief.

“It’s a hostile symbiotic relationship.”

“Hostile symbiosis?”

“The more Green Forest there is, the more people will request the express agency’s services, and the express agency gets on good terms with the Green Forest to reduce the toll fees.”

“It’s hard to accept that we’re being extorted by bandits.”

“That’s just how the world works.”

Even as I said it, there were things hard to accept.

Why did every officer in the Green Forest have green hair in this world?

The world mentioned that martial arts could sometimes change hair color, but this was too much.

It’s not like all these bandits graduated from the same academy and got a job as bandits. Did they undergo convergent evolution to avoid detection in the mountains?

“Just wait a bit, and the way will open. Let’s sit back and relax.”

I wasn’t the one paying the toll, nor did I need to prepare any coins on the side. I comfortably sat back down in the rear of the wagon.

“To raise the toll by tenfold! Do you think that’s reasonable? Okcheon Express Agency! Everyone, draw your swords!”

This was bad.

Everyone had a plausible plan until they were hit.

“Kang Yun-ho! Stay behind me!”

In a panic, Tang Hwarin positioned me behind her.

“Barbarian shield!”

I diligently blocked incoming spears and swords with my Jade Face Self-Protection Technique.

“Aaah!”

Suddenly, a spear flew from somewhere, and blood began to pour from Tang Hwarin’s thigh.

“Hehehe. What a woman.”

Then, a green-haired Green Forest officer with a sinister voice swung his sword towards Tang Hwarin.

“Barbarian punch!”

“Aargh!”

I accelerated in an instant by bursting internal energy at the Yongchun point on the sole of my foot, using the footwork I had practiced, and blew away the jaw of the unsuspecting Green Forest officer.

“Tang Hwarin! Are you okay?”

“Uh, uh-huh.”

“Save the porter!”

“The chief courier has been stabbed! Help!”

“No!”

This was bad. The decision of the head courier of Okcheon Express Agency was the worst move. As if waiting for this moment, numerous Green Forest bandits hidden in the forest appeared and began to overpower the porters and the head courier too easily.

“Hey! Climb on!”

I calmly tied a cloth around Tang Hwarin’s thigh to stop the bleeding and offered my back to her.

“Damn! What do we do?”

“We’ll run towards the area with fewer bandits. Use all the hidden weapons you have left!”

“Got it!”

Tang Hwarin climbed onto my broad back and tightly hugged my neck.

Wow. What’s this feeling? My mind momentarily paused due to the overwhelming weight I felt on my back. This wasn’t the time for this.

We needed to get up and run.

“Combination complete! Let’s go, Hwarinho!”

Since Tang Hwarin and Kang Yun-ho combined, it’s Hwarinho.

“What have you been saying all this time? Really.”

Tang Hwarin made a comment as if it was absurd, but I wasn’t one to pay attention to that.

The sturdy legs of Kang Yun-ho, adapted to the martial world!

The hands of moving artillery, Tang Hwarin!

The brain of Kang Yun-ho, calculating the optimal route!

The softness of Tang Hwarin, acting like airbags in case of accidents!

If this were an old robot anime, it would be the perfect combination form only seen at the ending!

“Let’s gooooooooo.”

We sprinted towards the area with the fewest Green Forest bandits.

“Capture those bastards!”

“Yes!”

And we were immediately captured.