Chapter 144: Just Wait a Little
Bang Myeong-ho glared at Jin Seong-un’s group.
Even without asking, the situation was as clear as day. They had found Bang Cheon-woo and brought him here.
Despite Bang Myeong-ho’s murderous gaze, Jin Seong-un only shrugged his shoulders with a calm expression.
That sight was so infuriating that Bang Myeong-ho felt flames of rage surging within him.
‘Why on earth are you doing this to me!’
It had been Guest Dragon who ruined things in the first place by killing Song Jae-mun. He had struggled through that crisis to make it this far, and now Guest Dragon was once again blocking his path. And in the most troublesome way possible.
‘I want to tear you apart.’
That was what he truly wished.
But it was impossible for the moment. He had neither the strength nor the justification to do so. Moreover, there was a more pressing issue before him than Guest Dragon.
Bang Myeong-ho’s gaze shifted again toward Bang Cheon-woo. His reckless nephew who was glaring at him so openly.
“Present, you say? I don’t know what you mean. But it is good you returned. I struggled greatly to find you.”
There were too many eyes watching.
Though he had built his foundation to swallow the Escort Agency whole, that did not mean he had taken control of everyone within it.
The official succession had not yet been completed.
And now, at this very moment, the eldest son of Bang Man-bok had returned. This was hardly a good development.
Bang Myeong-ho looked around. Indeed, several Escort Leaders were gazing at Bang Cheon-woo with shining eyes.
They were all veteran Escort Leaders who had worked with Bang Man-bok for many years—men who had never truly acknowledged Bang Myeong-ho.
At the center of them stood Chief Escort Captain Hwang Chi-yeon.
Suddenly, Bang Cheon-woo spoke.
“Uncle, you must have worked hard holding my place until now. I am truly grateful.”
As soon as those words left his mouth, Bang Myeong-ho’s expression twisted. That reckless brat was openly declaring it before everyone present.
That the seat of Escort Agency Master belonged to him. That his uncle had only ever held it ‘temporarily.’
Before his face could grow fiercer, Bang Myeong-ho spoke.
“Let us speak inside. If we continue this conversation here, no one will be able to do their work.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
Bang Cheon-woo glanced around and nodded. Then, as he began walking, Jin Seong-un, Seo Yu-gyeom, and Seomun Ak naturally followed behind him.
Seeing this, Bang Myeong-ho let out a sigh and spoke in a weary tone.
“Young masters, I shall escort you to the guest chamber. It seems matters of great importance within the Escort Agency will be discussed. I would appreciate it if you refrained from destroying the guest chamber this time.”
His plan was to separate the troublesome three and speak privately with his foolish nephew.
To Bang Myeong-ho, his nephew Bang Cheon-woo was weak, foolish, and spineless.
If he coaxed him, flattered him, and applied subtle threats, he believed the boy would leave the Escort Agency of his own accord.
It was then.
“No, Uncle.”
Bang Cheon-woo spoke in the firmest tone he could muster. Even so, the end of his voice trembled slightly.
Bang Myeong-ho narrowed his eyes and asked.
“What do you mean, no?”
“These three will come with us. They are my honored guests whom I went through great trouble to bring here. They will help with this matter.”
Bang Myeong-ho’s eyebrows twitched with displeasure.
At that sight, Bang Cheon-woo shrank his neck slightly. After all, the uncle he remembered was a man of ambition and violence, with a domineering nature.
“This matter, you say?”
Bang Myeong-ho stared straight into his nephew’s eyes.
Bang Cheon-woo had to answer immediately, but the words refused to leave his mouth.
It was only natural. Bang Myeong-ho, who had trained considerably in martial arts, was deliberately releasing his qi, pressing down on his nephew.
At that moment—
Jin Seong-un, who had been silently standing behind, subtly waved his hand. A soft qi wrapped gently around Bang Cheon-woo.
Though he didn’t understand why, Bang Cheon-woo suddenly felt his heart relax.
Then he looked at Bang Myeong-ho and spoke.
“…My father’s and Cheon-gang’s deaths. There are too many suspicious aspects. As the eldest son of the Red Cliff Escort Agency, I believe it is my duty to investigate this matter.”
Bang Myeong-ho hastily looked around.
Laborers, servants, porters, escorts, Escort Leaders—everyone in the Escort Agency was whispering amongst themselves.
If this argument continued here, there was no telling what his foolish nephew might end up saying.
He had no other choice.
“So be it.”
In the end, Bang Myeong-ho, Bang Cheon-woo, and Jin Seong-un’s group all headed toward the Escort Agency Master’s office.
.
.
.
Around the office desk, several figures sat.
Acting Escort Agency Master, Bang Myeong-ho.
The former master’s eldest son, Bang Cheon-woo.
Jin Seong-un, Seo Yu-gyeom, and Seomun Ak.
Even the senior officials of the Escort Agency, including the Chief Steward and Escort Leaders.
Though it was a reunion between uncle and nephew after a long time, the atmosphere was grim. No one opened their mouth first.
How long had that uncomfortable silence lasted?
It was, perhaps inevitably, Bang Myeong-ho who first opened his mouth.
“You say there are suspicious aspects? What do you mean by that? The investigation is already over. After not showing your face for years, what exactly do you intend to do now?”
Bang Myeong-ho’s tone grew more blatant. At least in here, he didn’t need to mind appearances.
Bang Cheon-woo, forcing himself to withstand the devouring glare of his uncle, spoke.
“For decades, my father ran the Escort Agency across the entire Yangtze. That such a man would fall to mere bandits is not something I can easily accept.”
“The world is like that. If only things we could accept happened, how easy life would be. I understand your feelings. Losing both your father and your younger brother on the same day—how deep must your grief be. However.”
Bang Myeong-ho deliberately paused, letting his gaze sweep the room. That short silence made everyone’s attention sharpen.
He continued in a composed tone.
“The Escort Agency is not run on emotions. Someone must do the work. Even when natural disasters strike, even when lives are lost, someone must keep going. Especially with the coming escort to the Western Regions, this is all the more true. But you… you look weary. No, tell me, was there ever a time when the Agency’s work was not too much for you?”
“……”
“I only wish to protect the Red Cliff Escort Agency.”
The meaning behind Bang Myeong-ho’s words was clear.
Bang Cheon-woo was unfit. He had always been reckless, and now he shamelessly sought the seat of Agency Master? Utter nonsense.
The Chief Steward and several Escort Leaders nodded repeatedly. Though none spoke outright, they clearly revealed their support for Bang Myeong-ho.
Seeing this, the confidence drained from Bang Cheon-woo’s face. He had expected resistance, but not that his uncle’s foundation would already be so solid.
‘So it really can’t be done?’
All he had was the fact that he was the eldest son of the Agency Master. With no real ability, persuading the merchants with that alone was near impossible.
The last several years of his reckless conduct now shackled him firmly in this moment.
Then, breaking the silence—
“I don’t think it’s time to discuss succession yet.”
It was Jin Seong-un.
Bang Myeong-ho glared at him, eyes aflame.
“Guest Dragon, how many times must I warn you about your rudeness? What grounds, what right do you have to meddle in the affairs of the Red Cliff Escort Agency?”
His face reddened with anger. Jin Seong-un, unbothered, spoke in his usual calm tone—not to Bang Myeong-ho, but to Bang Cheon-woo.
“Bang Cheon-woo, it’s best to first go to the site of the incident. Retrace the route of the escort that day. Surely some clue will appear. If someone here is tied to those deaths, then the matter of succession should be discussed after that.”
Bang Myeong-ho shot to his feet. To ignore his words was one thing, but Guest Dragon’s suggestion had crossed far beyond any line.
His eyes burned as he glared at Jin Seong-un’s group.
“All three of you, leave at once. If you meddle further, I will call the Murim Alliance or even the authorities. I’ve tolerated you only for your reputations, but this is—”
It was then.
Seo Yu-gyeom’s voice transmission pierced Bang Cheon-woo’s mind.
If we disappear, you will surely die.
The calm words snapped him awake. After all, wasn’t his uncle the one who had already sent assassins after him?
This wasn’t about confidence. It was about survival.
“As the eldest son of the Red Cliff Escort Agency, I permit it!”
Bang Cheon-woo’s shout rang out. It carried no dignity, but it was enough to cut across Bang Myeong-ho’s words.
Bang Myeong-ho stared at his nephew in disbelief. The boy’s whole body was trembling—it looked pathetic. And yet…
“When a son wishes to uncover his father’s death, who can stop him, and on what grounds? All the more so when that son is the Agency Master’s heir.”
Chief Escort Captain Hwang Chi-yeon, silent until now, spoke. A few elders nodded, echoing his words.
They were Escort Leaders who had worked with Bang Man-bok for decades.
With their support behind Bang Cheon-woo, the atmosphere in the room split into two factions.
Escort Leaders backing Bang Cheon-woo’s legitimacy, and senior officials supporting Bang Myeong-ho’s ability.
The air grew taut with tension. No one spoke, only glaring across at the other side.
Within that tension—
Jin Seong-un quietly stood.
All eyes turned to him.
He spoke in a calm tone, as if he were in another space entirely.
“Let’s go. To uncover the truth.”
At those simple words, Bang Myeong-ho felt a chill crawl down his spine.
Because he already knew how things tended to end once Guest Dragon involved himself.
As Jin Seong-un moved toward the door, he spoke.
“Chief Escort Captain, prepare a boat. The same size and bound for the same destination as the one Master Bang Man-bok and Young Master Bang Cheon-gang took that day.”
“Ah, understood.”
Hwang Chi-yeon nodded reflexively.
Normally, there should have been more debate.
In conflicts of power, merchants spent hours spilling sly, political words before anything was decided. That was the usual way.
Indeed, one of the Escort Leaders supporting Bang Myeong-ho hurriedly blocked Jin Seong-un’s path.
“The discussion isn’t finished—where do you think you’re going…!”
Jin Seong-un simply looked at him. A steady, emotionless gaze.
Meeting those eyes up close, the middle-aged Escort Leader involuntarily drew a sharp breath.
He had trained in martial arts himself, but the oppressive weight pressing on his shoulders was unbearable.
After a brief silence, the man stepped aside. Jin Seong-un merely continued walking.
He had no intention of getting entangled in the Escort Agency’s politics.
Bringing Bang Cheon-woo here was only for appearances. It gave Jin Seong-un and his companions the justification to intervene.
Bang Cheon-woo’s last-ditch courage, combined with the goodwill Bang Man-bok had accumulated over decades, gave Jin Seong-un the pretext he needed.
Now, only one thing remained.
Jin Seong-un paused with his hand on the office doorknob. He turned his head slightly toward Bang Myeong-ho.
“……”
Bang Myeong-ho swallowed.
Guest Dragon’s eyes seemed to say:
‘Just wait a little.’
And then Jin Seong-un stepped out of the office.
Seo Yu-gyeom and Seomun Ak followed behind him.