Chapter 103: Empty Bluff (2)
Han Bin halted his attack at the new message and slipped to the side to check what came next.
One of the scattered Yongrin Sword Art formulas has been completed. The stance is now activated.
Emits a lion's roar at a level beyond your current martial prowess. Against foes of higher skill, the effect lasts only an instant. Usable once per two hours. Requires 2 years of core energy.
Empty Bluff?
A lion's roar was a type of sonic attack that channeled inner power into the voice.
A strange smile played across Han Bin's face.
In truth, lion's roars were martial arts useless in real combat.
Concentrating inner power in the vocal cords inevitably left one's basic attacks neglected.
They could only be used to overwhelm foes just before a life-or-death duel or after it had already concluded.
But the Empty Bluff stance Han Bin had just acquired was a bit different.
Yongrin Sword Art stances didn't require operating inner power—they drew directly from the energy gathered in the manual, so no preparation was needed.
The effect lasted only an instant against masters of higher realms, but if that brief moment created an opening...?
It wouldn't be a waste of two years' worth of core energy.
Perfectly weaving through the Sapa warriors, Han Bin crouched in a corner.
Gazing into empty air, he savored the new stance once more.
His relaxed posture looked just like some local loafer who'd stopped by to spectate the brawl.
As Han Bin contemplated the newly acquired stance while staring into the void...
He felt a prickling gaze from nearby—something oddly intense.
It wasn't killing intent, or he'd have drawn his sword. This was just a peculiar stare.
Han Bin whipped his head around.
There stood the Shanxi Three Kills, silently watching him.
As their eyes met, Han Bin casually lowered his mask.
Grinning, he spoke softly.
"Shanxi Three Kills, you sure recognized me quick, huh?"
"Ahem."
The Ice Blood Scholar cleared his throat and turned away sharply. He knew engaging in chit-chat would only make things worse.
Not just him—the Black-Clothed Killing Gale and Sideways Meat Wolf Boy hurriedly looked away too.
Undeterred, Han Bin continued with a friendly smile.
"Knew it was you guys. Figured you'd still be kicking."
It was hard to tell if that was praise or an insult.
Reluctantly turning back, the Ice Blood Scholar eyed Han Bin.
"Young master Sa, what's your real goal here? If it's escorting the Qingming Pill, shouldn't you be rushing to the Henan Jeong Family? Why are you slashing away in this mess?"
"What does the Henan Jeong Family have to do with me?"
This was sincere.
To be precise, Han Bin's goal wasn't the pill's escort itself.
What happened before he reached the Henan Jeong Family had nothing to do with him or the Hebei Paeng Family.
Of course, things would change once he arrived there.
The Ice Blood Scholar gaped at Han Bin's response, too dumbfounded to reply.
"......"
"That's for them to handle. I've got business here."
"What kind of business...?"
Before the Ice Blood Scholar could finish, Han Bin cut him off.
"Shh, that's a secret."
Han Bin pressed a finger to his lips and smiled.
Narrowing his eyes, the Ice Blood Scholar scrutinized him.
He'd bet his wrist that Han Bin wasn't from the Justice Alliance.
Who in the righteous sects—especially one tied to a pillar like the Jeong family head's life—would claim no involvement in the escort?
And say it so casually, as if he were in charge?
The Sapa warriors' brawl dragged on, even past the time it took to sip a cup of tea.
Then Han Bin stood up.
Noticing, the Ice Blood Scholar asked,
"Young master Sa, where are you off to?"
"You want me to stick around here? The fight's dying down anyway—time to go."
Again, sincere.
There were no more formulas left to gain from these Sapa warriors.
As Han Bin smiled, the Ice Blood Scholar tilted his head.
Just moments ago, this guy had been fiercely cutting through the mob.
And now he was just leaving?
Reading his expression, Han Bin added,
"By the way, if you wanna run, now's your chance."
Han Bin nodded toward a gap in the encirclement.
Glancing there, the Ice Blood Scholar stammered in surprise.
"Th-thank you, young master Sa."
"Man, why am I even telling you this? Did I get attached fighting you guys?"
The Ice Blood Scholar shot back incredulously at Han Bin's mutter.
"What're you talking about? We just got our asses handed to us—how's that 'fighting'?"
"Eh, interpret it however. Just get outta here quick. Wouldn't wanna step on a familiar face by accident—that'd suck. Watch your neck on the way out."
"Hah."
The Ice Blood Scholar let out a faint exclamation and rose.
He knew the last bit was half-joking.
But "not wanting to step on rolling heads"? That wasn't a joke from a righteous sect martial artist.
With a nod to his comrades, the Ice Blood Scholar signaled it was time to slip away.
As the Shanxi Three Kills cautiously moved...
Han Bin grabbed the Ice Blood Scholar's sleeve.
Grab!
Startled, the Ice Blood Scholar froze like a statue.
Turning, he asked in a trembling voice,
"Wh-what, we still have business?"
"That way leads to the Gate of Death."
"Gate of Death? You mean there's a formation up ahead?"
"Worse than a formation, I think..."
Han Bin trailed off.
Screams began echoing from afar.
"Argh!"
"Ack!"
The cries drew closer.
The foe was a master.
A true killer, reeking of blood—leagues beyond these Sapa scrappers.
Gazing toward the screams, Han Bin murmured,
"Three hundred paces."
Furrowing his brow, the Ice Blood Scholar asked,
"What's three hundred paces away?"
"The enemy's coming."
"Enemy...?"
"One none of us here could handle, even if we all piled on."
"What do you mean?"
"Birds have gone dead silent in that direction for a while now."
Han Bin pointed where the screams originated.
"Isn't that just 'cause of all the Sapa racket?"
"Ground beasts too—they're all avoiding it. That's not normal. Someone's suppressing the area with sheer presence."
Finishing, Han Bin stared that way.
The Ice Blood Scholar found it plausible and turned too.
Han Bin had a point.
Startled birds should be flapping nearby, or at least a hunting hawk circling.
This meant someone was dominating the space with aura.
A Super Peak master.
Top-tier, verging on Hwa Gyeong.
As the Ice Blood Scholar peered into the woods, he glanced puzzled at Han Bin.
This guy, darting through the fray and slashing away, had still observed and analyzed his surroundings?
Incomprehensible.
While they stared into the forest together...
Fresh screams erupted nearby.
"Argh!"
Chaos engulfed the encirclement.
"What the...?"
"Gah!"
Choked cries rang out everywhere.
Sensing something amiss, the Sapa warriors halted their weapons.
They scanned around.
From the woods' heart emerged a bizarre man.
Powder-white face, blood-red lips—like a clown from a sideshow.
Blood dripped from the blade in his right hand.
"Who's that guy?"
"What? Never seen him before."
"No mask either?"
Odd indeed.
All Sapa fighters hid their faces with masks.
As heads tilted in confusion...
Han Bin watched his steps intently.
After a long look, he cried out lowly.
"Hwa Gyeong!"
The Shanxi Three Kills gaped.
Super Peak to Hwa Gyeong was a mere step in theory—but a chasm in reality.
Most self-proclaimed geniuses who ate spirit pills as kids stalled at Super Peak.
Reaching Hwa Gyeong demanded insight into nature itself.
And the hallmark of Hwa Gyeong?
Absolute spatial dominance.
Han Bin pegged him as Hwa Gyeong because his feet never sank the grass.
Grass-on-Flying technique.
Gliding over grass like flight.
Super Peak could mimic it with inner power.
But not that fluidly.
Only spatial mastery allowed it.
And that blade looked familiar.
Han Bin murmured on.
"Pa Hyeol Do?"
"Pa Hyeol Do... You mean the Residual Blood Demon Blade?"
The knowledgeable Ice Blood Scholar asked.
Han Bin nodded quietly.
The Ice Blood Scholar stared, stunned.
Sawtooth grooves lined the upper blade.
Matched the rumored Pa Hyeol Do.
Plus the clown makeup—white face, red lips.
Definitely makeup; no natural face was that pale.
A man in makeup wielding Pa Hyeol Do?
Had to be the Residual Blood Demon Blade.
His powder stayed pristine—no sweat.
The Ice Blood Scholar's already pale face darkened further.
He turned.
Only Han Bin to rely on.
"Young master Sa..."
But he had to tilt his head.
Han Bin, his conversation partner, was gone.
The Ice Blood Scholar cried lowly.
"He bolted. Damn devilish bastard!"
The Black-Clothed Killing Gale and Sideways Meat Wolf Boy trembled, staring at the empty spot.
"Devil!" cried the Sideways Meat Wolf Boy.
True enough. To the Shanxi Three Kills, Han Bin was a disaster-bringing demon.
As they cursed the vanished Han Bin...
The Residual Blood Demon Blade smirked at the mob fighting over the Cold Iron Box.
After a silent gaze, he drew another Cold Iron Box from his waist—stolen from some Sapa fighter.
"Fighting over that? Means this one's fake."
Finishing, he flicked open the lid.
The seal tore; the top flew off.
Revealing the elixir within.
Without hesitation, the Residual Blood Demon Blade popped it into his mouth.
"Might be real, so I'll take it—just in case, kids!"
He strode casually through the warriors, reaching for another fallen Cold Iron Box.
Suddenly, one Sapa fighter swung at him.
Whoosh! Thud!
Something rolled across the ground.
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