Black Cat, White Cat (1)
They had no idea what Hanbin meant.
Hanbin continued.
"According to Paeng family rules, merging two merit squads allows the creation of a higher organization: a merit corps."
The warriors' eyes widened at Hanbin's words.
There was more than just a difference in nomenclature between a merit squad and a merit corps.
Their treatment and stipends within the Paeng family would change.
"So Daeseop, squad leader candidate, and Sim Miho, squad leader candidate—from now on, you're competing for rank. Winner becomes squad leader; loser becomes deputy squad leader."
It was straight out of the Paeng family's strength-based rules.
With that, Hanbin turned to leave.
But Sim Miho called out urgently.
"My lord, I have a question."
"Speak."
"Can I kill him?"
"Kill what?"
As Hanbin tilted his head, Sim Miho stared at So Daeseop with a grave expression.
Hanbin grinned widely.
"Just go easy on each other... moderately."
Hanbin trailed off, glancing back and forth between them.
After checking their faces, he wiped the smile away.
"Just half-kill each other moderately!"
At Hanbin's command, So Daeseop and Sim Miho's eyes gleamed.
That spark spread like a contagion to those around them.
The rest of the escorts began slamming their blades into the ground, eyes burning.
Thud!
Thud!
The Paeng family training ground began to rumble.
Hanbin quietly stepped aside.
Seeming utterly uninterested in their bout, he sat far off and gazed at his field of vision.
[Speed], [Speed], [Speed], [Speed]
[Power]
The previously sparse basic manual formulas had filled out nicely.
Hanbin hid his smile and quietly watched Cheolno.
Cheolno stared at the training ground in a daze.
"Cheolno."
"Yes, young master."
"Why are your eyes like that, Cheolno?"
"Because I'm proud of you, young master. I never imagined you'd grow up this splendidly..."
Hanbin waved off the embarrassing praise.
"Enough empty words. Go prepare some meat and liquor."
"Meat and liquor? Are you planning a feast?"
"Of course we should celebrate welcoming new family members. Put it on my tab."
"Yes, young master."
As Cheolno left, Hanbin sighed.
Everything had gone according to his plan. But this victory owed much to luck.
It was possible only because no one else had checked him.
The real challenge started now.
No one would touch him rashly, but if someone did come for him, they'd come fully prepared.
Of course, it wasn't exactly startling the snake in the grass.
He hadn't even hit any grass, and no snake had been startled.
Just then, cheers erupted near Hanbin's ear.
"Woooah!"
The roar went on for quite a while.
Soon after it died down, the two approached Hanbin.
"Merit Guard Squad Leader So Daeseop reports."
A voice came right beside him.
"Merit Guard Deputy Squad Leader Sim Miho reporting in."
Up close, both looked a mess.
Bruises everywhere.
Their sleeves were in tatters.
They'd fought just moderately, as instructed.
Hanbin spoke.
"From today, no secrets from me."
"Yes."
"Understood."
Hearing their replies, Hanbin continued.
"Don't hide hardships, don't hide sorrows..."
His words went on for a long time.
This was advice for them—and what he'd wanted to tell his past-life Ghost Sword Squad.
Finishing, Hanbin glanced toward the training ground.
So Daeseop narrowed his eyes.
"What's wrong, my lord?"
The title had already changed.
Pretending not to notice, Hanbin pressed on.
"Your squad members dropped out too fast, didn't they?"
"What do you mean?"
"I told you two to headbutt each other earlier, right?"
"Ah, yes."
So Daeseop shrugged sheepishly.
Hanbin chuckled and continued.
"Who just watches when their squad leaders are headbutting? This ain't the Tang army. Discipline's shot to hell."
"Well..."
So Daeseop scratched his head, and Hanbin grew serious.
"I'm your direct superior, but you're theirs."
Only then did they get it.
This time, Sim Miho stepped up.
"Young master, I'll handle drilling them moderately."
She pondered the meaning of "moderately."
To her, it meant beating them half to death.
As her eyes gleamed, Hanbin gave her an indifferent look.
"Feast first today—we're welcoming new members. Drill starts tomorrow. Thoroughly."
He emphasized the last word chillingly.
Just then—
Cheolno burst in with kitchen staff.
Hanbin rose quietly.
"I'll sit this out—enjoy. Oh, Deputy Sim, come here a sec."
He whispered to Sim Miho, then slipped away.
Once Hanbin was gone, So Daeseop asked curiously.
"What'd the lord say?"
"Said the guy who struck my pressure points earlier will have poison ivy rash on his hand. Sure enough, my clothes reek of it."
Sim Miho's eyes flashed as she headed toward the feast.
Moments later, her voice rang across the training ground.
"You first—eat dirt!"
The same time, at the family head's quarters.
Second Young Master Paeng Kyungbin gazed at Family Head Paeng Kangwi with flushed excitement.
Even as father and son, Paeng Kangwi was always intimidating.
Tall like Guan Yu from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, with thick brows.
Anyone would mistake him for wearing tiger pelt.
His nickname, Iron Blood Blade Emperor, was well-earned.
Despite the pressure, Paeng Kyungbin had come to plead his grievances.
"Father."
Paeng Kyungbin bowed deeply in salute.
Family Head Paeng Kangwi rose from his seat of honor.
Descending slowly, he asked in a low voice.
"What brings you?"
"I have something to report. Today..."
Paeng Kyungbin slyly omitted his own faults as he recounted the day's events.
Paeng Kangwi's expression remained unchanged as he listened.
The rock-solid family head spoke.
"And?"
The short question, loaded with meaning, made Paeng Kyungbin's mind race.
What does he mean?
Paeng Kangwi's voice echoed again.
"So what's the problem?"
Paeng Kyungbin hesitated, then spoke.
"I lost my escort squad."
"Whose fault do you think that is?"
"I believe it was a misjudgment by the law enforcement leader."
"Nothing's more pathetic than the weak making excuses. Do you think you're a tiger? Or a cat?"
"..."
"If you're no tiger, you can't bear the Paeng name."
Family Head Paeng Kangwi turned and walked back to his seat.
His back looked like a mountain to Paeng Kyungbin.
A massive peak receding from him.
That peak was the Paeng family's absolute power.
And it was slipping from Paeng Kyungbin's grasp.
As Paeng Kyungbin dejectedly left, Paeng Kangwi nodded to the steward.
The steward quietly opened a side door.
In walked Paeng Daewi, the Paeng family's third tiger.
Facing Paeng Kangwi, Paeng Daewi offered a large liquor jar.
"How'd it go?"
"Just as you said."
"One tiger cub vanishes, another appears? But where'd this new cub come from?"
"Maybe it was there all along, unnoticed. Or sometimes tigers roar late. Who knows if it's even a tiger yet?"
Finishing, Paeng Kangwi chugged from the jar.
Liquor poured like a waterfall, endlessly down his throat.
Paeng Daewi sighed.
"Ah, brother. If you drink it all, what about me? That's expensive stuff."
Shrugging at the complaint, Paeng Kangwi handed back the empty jar.
"Summon the fourth to the family head's quarters tomorrow."
"Are you going to reprimand him? He didn't do anything wrong..."
"Not a reprimand. I'm drawing my blade."
"You mean..."
"Yes. The blade you're thinking of."
"Crush him before he grows?"
"Depends on the cub. Will it become a great tree or get trampled?"
"That bored?"
"A tiger's mountain gets dull if it's too quiet!"
A subtle wrinkle creased Paeng Kangwi's impassive face.
Moments later, the brothers' hearty laughter leaked from the quarters.
The same time, Hanbin slipped from his quarters and picked up a wooden sword.
He chose a wooden one over a training blade for safety.
He had no clue what power the formulas' inner energy would unleash or its effect on his body.
Whoosh! Swish!
Hanbin's wooden sword cleaved the air.
The forms he used were from his past life as Ghost Sword Squad leader.
Unbound by style—neither righteous sect nor demonic cult arts.
Until he acquired Yongrin Sword Art forms, he'd temper his body this way.
Loosening up roughly, Hanbin channeled full power into the sword.
His heart pounded; blood surged.
Simultaneously, the wooden sword thrust at a tree.
Its speed exploded unbelievably.
Boom!
The sword whistled through the air.
Thwack!
It struck exactly where aimed.
"Unbelievable."
Hanbin checked the formulas again.
[Speed], [Speed], [Speed], [Speed]
[Body], [Body], [Body]
[Strength], [Strength]
[Power]
One power displayed. But the felt strength was more.
Then—
Ding. Ding.
The midnight bell tolled distantly.
Hanbin finished with closing forms, then soaked in the training ground pond.
As his head cooled, future plans crystallized clearly.
Next morning, family head's quarters.
Hanbin rushed there at Law Enforcement Leader Paeng Daewi's summons.
The family head wanted to see him urgently.
Hanbin quietly looked up at the quarters' plaque.
In his past life, this place felt close yet distant.
And now?
No emotions stirred.
Settling here would make him a frog in a well.
Lost in thought, rough breathing reached his ears.
"Huff huff."
Turning, he saw Cheolno running desperately.
"Young master!"
Despite gasping, Cheolno didn't slow.
Hanbin tilted his head.
"What's up, Cheolno?"
"Take this."
Cheolno held out yellowed paper.
"What's this, Cheolno?"
"A talisman."
"Talisman?"
"Figured you'd need it. They say it wards off evil once. Bought it from that shaman nearby."
"Come on, a talisman to meet my parents..."
So Daeseop, following, cut in quickly.
"My lord, better take it."
"I agree, my lord."
Silent Sim Miho chimed in too.