A Trivial Misunderstanding (4)
“But why at the fork in the road?”
Gwanggae asked, and Hanbin grinned as he replied.
“Let’s split up here.”
“Why?”
“This seems like the best spot to scatter.”
“Then where do I collect the money?”
Gwanggae’s expression turned deadly serious.
Hanbin nodded at the sight.
“Come to the Henan Jeong Family in a few days.”
“What if you’re not there?”
“If I haven’t arrived, wait there. If I’ve already left, come find me at the Hebei Paeng Family. I’ll even cover your travel expenses.”
“Thanks, friend!”
Gwanggae bowed deeply to Hanbin with a cupped-fist salute.
It was the posture of a merchant facing a customer, not a friend—no matter how anyone looked at it.
Hanbin barely held back his laughter.
He quickly plucked a leafy branch, swept away his footprints to erase his tracks, and vanished.
Watching this, Gwanggae clicked his tongue.
“The way you act, you give off the vibe of an old ginger—spicy and full of surprises.”
Hanbin flashed a bright smile.
“Take care.”
“Yeah, see you later.”
At the same time, the sound of wind whispered in his ear.
Sasasak.
He looked up, and Gwanggae was gone, leaving just enough trace to be followed.
Unlike his promise to Gwanggae, Hanbin didn’t take the opposite fork.
Sapa search parties weren’t something to take lightly.
Even without tracks, they’d surely send some men in other directions.
Hanbin concealed his presence and hid in the underbrush.
Torchlights in the distance drew closer.
As expected, it was a large force.
Their weapons varied.
Some wielded swords.
Some carried blades.
Others held spears.
Every shoulder bore the clear snake emblem of the Sado-ryeon.
Watching them, Hanbin clicked his tongue.
They’d clearly ditched their masks and united to catch him.
At the fork, they halted.
A few gathered—likely leaders discussing pursuit routes.
Once decided, most headed the way Gwanggae had gone.
Of course, about a quarter went the other path to track any traces, as expected.
A moment later.
Once they were all gone, Hanbin slipped onto a side path and climbed the mountain.
As Hanbin moved stealthily up the side trail, suppressing his presence as much as possible—
Kkuduk.
The snap of a twig underfoot rang out.
Then came the barking of dogs.
Kyung kyung.
The noise shattered the silent forest.
Startled birds took flight.
Hanbin quickly hid his presence.
At the same time, Gwanggae ran into the Sapa group.
The female warrior leading the trace search stepped forward.
“We’re from the Sado-ryeon, looking for someone. We saw tracks and followed them—looks like you’re here.”
“I’m Gwanggae of the Beggar Clan.”
“I’m Jin Semi of the Baeksa Gate. If you’re Gwanggae of the Beggar Clan, aren’t you the branch leader in Henan?”
“That’s right! I’m Gwanggae, branch leader of Henan!”
Gwanggae proudly thumped his chest with his thumb.
“That’s not important right now. Why’d you leave tracks?”
“Does it matter if I did or didn’t?”
“Of course not, really. But the man we’re after is important.”
“The one in red robes, by any chance?”
“Gasp.”
Jin Semi’s expression shifted oddly.
Brightening, then darkening, over and over. Gwanggae tilted his head.
“What’s your connection to him?”
“No relation at all.”
“Your face says otherwise…”
As Gwanggae trailed off, Jin Semi stepped forward.
“You know his appearance, so you’ve seen him. If you don’t want trouble with us Sapa, tell us straight.”
“I did see him.”
“Then where’d he go?”
Jin Semi bowed politely with cupped fists again.
Gwanggae felt puzzled by her demeanor.
From what Hanbin had said, they were mortal enemies—yet these Sapa folk spoke of him with utmost respect.
Sapa warriors only called righteous faction figures “that lord” for sect leaders.
Confused, Gwanggae pressed his temple.
Jin Semi asked urgently.
“What happened to him? Please tell us, Young Hero Gwanggae.”
Now it was even “Young Hero.”
Then it hit Gwanggae. He’d momentarily forgotten they were Sapa.
Didn’t Sapa slice off noses from healthy folk for fun?
Recalling his promise to Hanbin, Gwanggae decided to spin the prepared tale.
“I saw him while crossing the Kyungtan River.”
“Kyungtan River?”
Jin Semi’s eyes widened.
Without snagging on rocks, you’d drown—and that was the Kyungtan River.
So Gwanggae’s words rang true.
As Jin Semi swallowed hard, Gwanggae continued.
“I saw someone thrashing in the water. The man was definitely in red robes.”
“What happened? You saved him, right?”
“No. By the time I rowed over, he’d already gone over the waterfall. I couldn’t get closer because of it. As you know, the falls downstream are quite high. Falling from there…”
Gwanggae left it unsaid.
Suddenly, Jin Semi collapsed to her knees.
She looked to the sky and cried out.
“True Dragon Hero!”
Gwanggae’s eyes bulged.
Paeng Hanbin, didn’t you say they were your sworn enemies? Is that the face of someone facing a foe? Damn, did you seduce her and bolt? This rascal— the world’s so unfair! Unfair!
As Gwanggae cursed inwardly—
The Sapa warriors behind suddenly dropped to one knee.
Thud! Thud!
Their synchronized motion in the dead of night looked reverent.
The problem was, they were Sapa.
Gwanggae felt threatened.
“What’s all this about?”
Ignoring his question, the Sapa raised their weapons skyward and shouted.
“Crimson Dragon Hero!”
“Crimson Dragon Hero! Nooo!”
Gwanggae swallowed another sigh.
This was reverence even the Sado-ryeon lord didn’t get.
Paeng Hanbin, what the hell are you?
By now, one worry gnawed at Gwanggae.
Would he even get paid properly?
How could someone of uncertain status, worshipped by Sapa, be the fourth young master of Hebei Paengga?
“Ah!”
This time, Gwanggae let out a long gasp.
But it was drowned by the Sapa warriors’ cries.
“Ah! Crimson Dragon Hero!”
Then Jin Semi stood and shouted to all.
“The Crimson Dragon Hero who repelled a Hwagyeong master! He’s surely alive. Let’s search below the falls!”
“Yes, let’s!”
A female warrior behind chimed in desperately.
In a blink, the Sapa vanished.
Gwanggae tilted his head.
The last words—“Hwagyeong master”—stuck in his mind.
He murmured lowly.
“No way…”
If true, it’d turn the murim upside down.
But he’d sworn before heaven and earth not to spill.
How could he trade info worth at least a nyang of gold?
Gwanggae’s sigh deepened.
But he shook his head.
Paeng Hanbin and Crimson Dragon Hero being the same seemed too much.
He circulated his inner power swiftly.
Unleashing Gugeol Ship-pal-bo, he vanished from the spot.
He’d resolved to find Hanbin.
If not, he’d head to Henan Jeongga ASAP.
This was more than greed for coin—it was a warrior’s curiosity.
Four hours later, Hanbin’s eyes gleamed as he hunted intently.
Nothing special.
He was just collecting formulas as he had by day.
Confirming formulas with Dragon Eye.
Acquired Speed (speed) from the basic section of Yongrin Sword Art.
[……]
Acquired Merit (merit) from the basic section of Yongrin Sword Art.
[……]
Just as the supplement description said.
When formula slots were empty, he could acquire them like this.
Of course, once the basic section filled, he couldn’t learn more—just like before.
Hanbin had acquired all the formulas needed to escape this place.
Through sweat, he’d maxed out Speed (speed) in the basic section.
No need to push further.
He unleashed Jeon-gwang-seok-hwa and Gugeol Ship-pal-bo.
Now it was time to head to Henan Jeongga.
Sasasak.
Only the rustle of grass remained as he vanished, a satisfied smile on his lips.
It was genuine.
After returning to the past, the most anticipated scene in the drama was about to unfold.
At the same time, in the family head’s quarters at Henan Jeongga.
Thud thud.
Heavy footsteps echoed before the quarters, then stopped.
At the front, Jeong Hwiji and his subordinates eyed the door intently.
Gazing at the room where his father, Family Head Jeong Muryong, slept, Jeong Hwiji turned.
Four warriors stood guard at the corners.
As eyes met, a woman stepped forward.
Of course, it was Sim Miho.
“Our duty is to guard this place?”
“Yes. I trust you Haenam Sawoo.”
Haenam Sawoo was the fake identity Sim Miho had hastily created, including So Daeseop, Jo Ho, and Jangsan—four in total.
Sim Miho cupped her fists.
“Leave it to us. But…”
As she trailed off, Jeong Hwiji’s brow twitched.
“What is it?”
“You didn’t say the target was Henan Jeongga’s family head.”
“So you refuse?”
“Guarding the family head means staking our lives. The pay we got feels a bit short.”
Jeong Hwiji’s subordinate jumped in.
“Hah, you mean even official warrior pay isn’t enough?”
“Official’s fine, but we ronin live day-to-day. I want to show my brothers immediate reward.”
“How much do you want?”
“Well, you decide…”
Sim Miho trailed off, gauging Jeong Hwiji’s face.
It wasn’t displeased.
Jeong Hwiji smiled faintly.
He was convinced Haenam Sawoo were ronin.
The simple reason he assigned them here: he wanted absolute hunting dogs under his command.
He couldn’t trust Jeongga warriors here.
Of course, these Haenam Sawoo hounds would be stewed after the hunt.
What wouldn’t he give a dog he’d eat anyway?
Jeong Hwiji pulled a money pouch from his bosom and handed it to his subordinate.
The subordinate glanced at him, as if asking if it was really okay.
Jeong Hwiji nodded and gestured.
The subordinate’s eyes widened.
To him, unaware of the plan, it was too much gold.
With trembling hands, he handed over the pouch.
“Take it—the second young master bestows this.”
Sim Miho pocketed it without checking.
Then she snapped a sharp cupped-fist salute.
“Loyalty!”
Jeong Hwiji nodded at the cry.
“Good, see to it.”
He scanned the disguised Sim Miho briefly, then left.