Chapter 111: A Trivial Misunderstanding (5)
Sim Miho curled her lips upward as she stared at the spot where Jeong Hwiji had vanished.
The mission Jeong Hwiji had assigned was simple.
Don't let anyone into the family head's chambers except those he personally approved.
Whether physician or servant, anyone else trying to enter was to be cut down on the spot—no questions asked.
Sim Miho could only marvel at how Hanbin had predicted every bit of this.
'Is our lord possessed by a god or something?'
Shaking off the absurd thought, Sim Miho patted the money pouch tucked in her bosom.
She'd carried out the mission faithfully and even pocketed some gold from Jeong Hwiji—her mood was soaring today.
So Daeseop, standing beside her, nodded in agreement.
Meeting his gaze, Sim Miho signaled with her eyes.
No more showing it on our faces.
But Jo Ho and Jangsan beside them couldn't hide their expressions.
Jangsan, in particular, was the most flushed.
This didn't make any sense.
Infiltrate the Henan Jeong Family like this?
It wasn't infiltration—they'd practically been invited in on a silver platter.
Jangsan felt his heart pounding.
Thump. Thump.
The moment he'd thought his life as a warrior was over, it had started anew.
He lifted his head and gazed north.
That was the direction Hanbin should be coming from.
"My lord!"
Jangsan murmured softly.
He never imagined he'd find a true master to serve sincerely at his age.
Glancing sideways, he saw everyone else staring north as well.
Jangsan turned his gaze back that way.
At the same time, Gwanggae, who was tracking Hanbin's trail, had to widen his eyes.
Midway up Yeongdan Mountain, Sapa warriors lay collapsed, wounded but alive.
Fortunately, none had fatal injuries—they were all still breathing.
Gwanggae asked one of the fallen Sapa warriors.
"What the hell happened?"
"The Demonic Cult... seems to have shown up again."
"Demonic Cult?"
"We're the search party looking for the Crimson Dragon Hero."
"Crimson Dragon...?"
"The Sapa hero who saved us."
"Ah."
"No one else could've done this to us but the Demonic Cult."
"Demonic Cult, huh... Hmm."
Gwanggae swallowed hard.
The constant mentions of the Demonic Cult grated on his ears.
Then a question popped into his mind.
If it was the Demonic Cult, would they have left these Sapa warriors alive?
Ask any Jianghu martial artist, and they'd say no—not a hundred out of a hundred, but damn close.
The Demonic Cult was that precise in grudge and grace.
So who had attacked them?
Following the trail, Gwanggae soon widened his eyes again.
He spotted traces of Gugeol Ship-pal-bo in the final tracks.
The Beggar Clan too?
What the hell was going on?
"Son of a bitch!"
With a curse, Gwanggae swiftly unleashed Gugeol Ship-pal-bo.
Whoosh.
As his figure vanished from the spot, the fallen Sapa warriors let out low cries.
H-Hey, save us...
But he didn't finish his plea.
Gwanggae was already out of sight.
The spot where he'd stood was empty, as if he'd never been there.
One of the downed warriors spat.
"Damn beggar!"
Then an older warrior beside him murmured.
"What good does cursing a beggar do?"
"A beggar, you say?"
"What he just used was the Beggar Clan's Gugeol Ship-pal-bo. He's a beggar, alright—one of ours for sure."
"Heh."
The warriors chuckled wryly, clutching their wounds.
The next evening.
Seonhwa Inn in Jeongbaek-hyeon, about twenty ri from Yeongdan Mountain.
Jeongbaek-hyeon was a bustling merchant town linking the Henan and Zhang Ha river ferries—a key traffic hub.
Seonhwa Inn sat at its heart, a three-story building boasting over seventy guest rooms.
On the top floor—the third—in the corner room, the windows stood wide open despite the chilly weather.
The people inside rubbed their hands and glanced nervously at one another.
"Whew, it's freezing out there. Do we really have to keep the door open even while sleeping?"
The man eyed the warrior by the window.
The warrior turned and replied.
"Physician Jang, just bear with it a bit longer. Didn't the young master mark it this way?"
"Ah, got it. Understood, escort."
The two chatting were Yi Mu-myeong and Jang Ja-myeong.
Seol-hwa, watching from the side, found their exchange amusing as she bit into a tanghwa candy.
This escort mission had been quite fun for her.
Switching from a life of killing to one of staying alive made her feel like she understood the target's mindset perfectly.
In a way, it was a step up even as an assassin.
But what intrigued her more was her temporary master, Hanbin.
She was amazed at how he foresaw everything.
Reincarnation of Zhuge Liang?
Or the greatest con artist ever?
Anticipating what was to come, Seol-hwa went to bite into her tanghwa again—only to let out a disappointed sigh.
"Ah."
The skewer was empty.
She'd eaten it all already.
"Tch, all gone. What now...?"
Seeing her pout, Jang Ja-myeong offered.
"Seol-hwa, want me to get you another?"
"No thanks, Uncle."
"Aigoo, poor kid, working so hard. Thinking about it, that Fourth Young Master really has no heart. Dragging a child like you on such a dangerous mission—what was he thinking...?"
"No, Uncle, I'm fine. Staying at Cheonsu Manor would've been riskier."
"What're you talking about? Weren't you nearly killed at Yeongdan Mountain just recently?"
"Eh, I'm telling you, it's fine."
"Yeah, Seol-hwa's brave. By the way, you climb mountains like a pro—are you really from the mountain folk?"
"Kinda, yeah. Uncle."
Seol-hwa nodded.
Yi Mu-myeong shook his head at the sight.
Who had guided him down the mountain?
Seol-hwa, that's who.
She'd sensed the fights ahead and led them around them safely.
Even if Hanbin had sown confusion among the Sapa warriors, Yi Mu-myeong doubted he'd have descended without clashes relying on his own senses.
Yet Jang Ja-myeong was mistaking her for simple mountain folk.
And with her three-year maid contract, he was empathizing extra, doting on her.
Yi Mu-myeong got it, but he pitied Jang Ja-myeong for babying someone who might be his superior.
As Jang Ja-myeong kept fussing over Seol-hwa, ignoring Yi Mu-myeong's gaze—
Creak.
The door swung open, and someone peeked in.
Sweep.
A pair of eyes scanned the room.
Locking eyes, Yi Mu-myeong quickly cupped his fists in formal salute.
"My lord!"
The owner of those eyes grinned and stepped inside, prompting Seol-hwa to stand.
"Young master, you're late."
"Had some business—delayed me a bit. Everyone alright?"
Hanbin beamed, looking them over.
"Yes, we're fine. Just a little bored, that's all."
Seol-hwa nodded, and Hanbin turned to Jang Ja-myeong.
"Does my arrival displease you, Physician Jang?"
"......"
Jang Ja-myeong gaped, speechless.
He just couldn't wrap his head around it.
Honestly, he hadn't expected Hanbin to return alive.
The pressure descending with Seol-hwa had been immense.
It felt like threading through a gauntlet of hidden blades.
Could Hanbin escape Yeongdan Mountain unscathed?
Jang Ja-myeong would've bet his wrist it was impossible.
Yet here he was, perfectly fine—leaving him at a loss for words.
Jang Ja-myeong had predicted Hanbin wouldn't come back.
Which meant...?
He'd be free.
Staring at Hanbin for a long moment, Jang Ja-myeong realized his blunder and shot to his feet.
"Ah, Fourth Young Master! I was just shocked—shocked, that's all. But... are you from the mountain folk too, Fourth Young Master?"
"Mountain folk? What're you talking about? Mountain folk...?"
Hanbin tilted his head, glancing at the others. Seol-hwa and Yi Mu-myeong clamped hands over their mouths.
"Pfft!"
"Pffft."
Anyone could see they were laughing. Jang Ja-myeong tilted his head.
Momentarily puzzled, he then hugged his shoulders and pointed at the window.
"Can we close it now, Fourth Young Master?"
"Think one more guest is coming. If you're cold, Physician Jang, grab a blanket or..."
Hanbin trailed off.
Jang Ja-myeong was already buried under the covers.
Watching him briefly, Hanbin seemed to make up his mind.
"Once we reach Cheonsu Manor, you should join Mangho Squad's training, Physician Jang. Gotta build that stamina first. Can't have Cheonsu Manor's head physician wheezing like that, right?"
Jang Ja-myeong frantically shook his head.
He looked just like a three-year-old throwing a tantrum.
"N-No, Fourth Young Master! I'm confident in my stamina."
He flung the blanket onto the bed and turned to gaze at the setting sun in the west.
For some reason, tears pricked his eyes today.
It was the Fourth Young Master who'd tormented him sleepless for a week before departure, forcing him to forge fake Qingming Pills.
And while the young master rode in the carriage, Yi Mu-myeong and he had raced down treacherous mountain paths on foot.
He hadn't complained, but his soles were blistered raw.
Only now did Jang Ja-myeong truly feel how long three years could be.
Then—
A black shadow appeared at the back.
Jang Ja-myeong's eyes bulged at the figure who had slipped into the room unnoticed.
But he tilted his head upon seeing the man.
Obviously a beggar.
Though... one of the upscale ones?
And indeed, he was a beggar.
The man Jang Ja-myeong was staring at was none other than the Beggar Clan's Gwanggae.
As Jang Ja-myeong gawked curiously, Hanbin said casually.
"You're late."
"You knew... I'd come?"
"Eh, figured as much."
Hanbin grinned.
He'd originally told Gwanggae to head to the Henan Jeong Family.
But how had he known Gwanggae would follow?
Because he knew the beggar's habits from his past life.
Gwanggae never let people—or money—slip away.
Would a suspicious guy like him really wait obediently at the Jeong Family? Ninety percent chance he'd tail him.
Plus, those Gugeol Ship-pal-bo traces midway?
Left deliberately for Gwanggae, along with a task in mind.
Seeing Gwanggae's stunned face, Hanbin smiled amiably.
"Hungry? Want something to eat?"
"Y-You think that's the issue right now? What the hell are you? Did you leave those Gugeol Ship-pal-bo traces too?"
"Bingo. But one question at a time."
"What the fuck is going on? You monster!"
Gwanggae spat questions, flecks of saliva flying.
Hanbin quickly sidestepped.
"Spit, dude. Calm down and talk."
"No, seriously—are you really Hebei Paeng Family's Fourth Young Master?"
At the excited Gwanggae's words, Yi Mu-myeong by the window interjected swiftly.
"He is. Hebei Paeng Family's Fourth Young Master. And my temporary lord as well."
"And who the hell are you...?"
Gwanggae trailed off.
Then he scanned Yi Mu-myeong up and down relentlessly.
After a long look, he turned back to Hanbin.
Yi Mu-myeong asked.
"Who might you be, exactly?"
Hanbin cut in before Gwanggae could reply.
"This guy's Gwanggae of the Beggar Clan!"
"Gwanggae?"
Yi Mu-myeong's eyes flickered.
He'd been at the Henan Jeong Family until recently. Of course he knew the Beggar Clan's Henan branch leader, Gwanggae.
Yi Mu-myeong pressed.
"Are you truly Branch Leader Gwanggae? What relation do you have to my lord...?"
He stopped.
Gwanggae stood dumbfounded, lips trembling silently.