Unexpected Movement (5)
At the same time, in the Baeksa Gate lord's chamber.
Ma Hwi, the Master of Profit, abruptly halted his conversation with Jin Sa-myeong about the plan to heroize the Red Dragon Great Hero.
Jin Sa-myeong asked at the sight.
"What's wrong, Strategist?"
"Oh, no. Just a sudden chill."
"Shall I close the window?"
"No need. It's not that kind of chill..."
Ma Hwi waved it off.
It wasn't a chill from the weather. It was an ominous premonition, strangely foreboding.
What could be the source of this dread?
To Ma Hwi, there was only one thing that could evoke such unease.
A loss. A financial setback.
He had never suffered a loss in his life.
Not against the righteous sects.
Not against the unorthodox either.
Yet now, an inexplicable anxiety washed over him, the sense that loss was imminent.
A loss?
Was that even possible?
Ma Hwi reviewed his plan.
He intended to provide full support to Baeksa Gate from the Southern Unorthodox Alliance.
Baeksa Gate would supply manpower, while he shaped public opinion through his information network.
The Southern Unorthodox Alliance would fund it, but it was no losing proposition.
If they crafted a stirring tale of heroism, young warriors would flock to the alliance, bags packed.
Unifying the south and north on that swelling power base would be straightforward.
Considering the influx of new recruits and the elevated status of the alliance afterward, the Southern Unorthodox Alliance had every reason to push forward.
Of course, pure finances painted a slightly different picture.
For every one part of profit Baeksa Gate earned, the Southern Unorthodox Alliance would claim seven.
This was based on projected returns versus investment.
And that remaining two parts?
Ma Hwi's cut.
Even if the alliance or Baeksa Gate took a hit.
Even if the plan failed entirely.
Ma Hwi himself was structured to never lose.
So what was this unidentified anxiety?
Trailing off, Ma Hwi chuckled wryly and continued.
"Haha, I guess getting old makes me worry over everything."
"I understand your feelings, Strategist Ma Hwi. You're in a position of immense responsibility—it's only natural."
"Thank you for understanding, Lord Jin."
"Then please continue with the specifics of the plan."
"Very well. I'll pick up from the funding breakdown. So..."
Regaining his composure, Ma Hwi explained fluently, as if his lips were smeared with honey.
Jin Sa-myeong, the Baeksa Gate lord, nodded without a shred of doubt.
Ma Hwi's eloquence was that exceptional.
Meanwhile, as Jin Semi emerged from the meeting hall, she tilted her head.
Her subordinates were standing guard at the entrance, at least ten of them at a glance.
Recalling her orders to them, Jin Semi puzzled over it.
Those subordinates had been assigned to escort Musoryul of the Musi Geomga, whom they'd met during the search.
Since she didn't know the way to the Henan Jeong Family, Jin Semi had sent them along, but it was too soon for their return.
Approaching her subordinate, Jin Semi stopped and asked.
"How are you back already?"
The lead warrior among them cupped his fists lightly and replied.
"Truth be told, we didn't even reach the vicinity of the Henan Jeong Family."
"..."
As Jin Semi tilted her head silently, he continued.
"We parted ways near Hwanghak Mountain due to the family head's summons. My apologies."
Hwanghak Mountain was a shortcut to the Henan Jeong Family.
"No, that's fine. You've done enough kindness."
Jin Semi nodded.
This was her genuine sentiment.
In her frantic search along the river for the Red Dragon Great Hero, her unorthodox mindset had wavered briefly.
That momentary lapse had led to her kindness toward Musoryul.
Now, with the Southern Unorthodox Alliance's chief strategist arriving and no sign of the Red Dragon Great Hero, what happened to the righteous Musoryul was irrelevant.
Jin Semi instructed her subordinate.
"You're dismissed. Head to Yeongdan Mountain."
"Why Yeongdan Mountain?"
"To search."
"For whom?"
"The Red Dragon Great Hero!"
"After all this searching without a trace..."
"You don't think he's dead, do you?"
At her sharp gaze, the subordinate waved his hands frantically.
"N-no, of course not."
Jin Semi sighed and turned away.
Nearby, a window by the meeting hall stood open.
The moon hanging high tonight seemed exceptionally bright.
Deep down, Jin Semi knew.
The odds of the Red Dragon Great Hero still being alive were slim to none.
The next dawn.
Hanbin had yet to emerge from the family head's training chamber.
Anyone might ask what there was to find in such a sparse room, but Hanbin knew there was something.
Now, he needed to locate the contingency he'd confirmed in his past life here.
The ultimate sword path hidden somewhere in the Henan Jeong Family's training chambers.
The one the Demonic Cult would deface ten years from now.
How had the Demonic Cult known?
What ultimate secret technique did that defaced sword path hold?
No one had recognized it as a sword path until the Demonic Cult's sabotage—the legendary swift sword.
Was it truly the swift sword's path?
Or perhaps a prank by one of the Jeong Family ancestors? He couldn't be sure.
Hanbin slowly approached the wall, running his hand over the surface.
After checking every wall, he tilted his head.
No sword path resonated.
He had plenty of time anyway, and wasn't he the family's benefactor?
There was nowhere in the Henan Jeong Family he couldn't go.
The contract with them was secondary; this was the real prize.
Having added bookshelves and accumulated fifty years of inner power in his dantian, Hanbin slowly exited the chamber.
Two shadows lingered at the entrance.
Familiar presences—Seolhwa and Yi Mu-myeong.
As he approached, Hanbin cleared his throat.
"Ahem."
At the sound, the shadows turned.
Hanbin spoke first.
"Seolhwa, what brings you here at this hour?"
"I figured you might need a guardian, young master."
"Once you lock the training chamber from inside, not even an ant could slip in. What guardian?"
"Still, you never know. If you're entering for enlightenment and enemies attack?"
"Enemies? What enemies?"
"Jeong Hwi-ji's remnants, maybe."
"Heh, you've got worries for days."
"Think about it. If you get hurt, who's gonna pay off the Dang Family debt?"
"Ah, I see. It's not me you're worried about—it's the Dang Family tab. Haha."
As Hanbin laughed, Yi Mu-myeong beside her cupped his fists.
"Congratulations on your achievement, my lord."
Yi Mu-myeong's lower jaw sported a fluttering beard as he bowed.
He'd grown it out after wrapping up his role.
The reason was simple: to hide his resemblance to Hanbin.
Just the beard transformed him into a completely different man—perfect effect.
Yi Mu-myeong believed this would let him aid Hanbin later.
The fewer who knew of their likeness, the more useful he'd be.
Grateful for the guard duty and touched by his loyalty, Hanbin replied.
"Thanks, Yi guard."
"What happened in there? Your presence has changed so much in such a short time."
"Would you believe me if I said I just got a good night's sleep?"
"Haha, no way."
"How about this: I consolidated the insights from yesterday's duel with Jeong Hwi-ji?"
"Ah..."
Yi Mu-myeong let out a long sigh.
The drawn-out sound echoed in the quiet before the training chamber.
As it faded, he spoke again.
"My lord, be honest with me."
"About what, Yi guard?"
"That first day we crossed swords."
"Hm? You mean the day we sparred before Lady Jeong Hwa?"
"Yes, that day. Did you truly go all out? I felt your sword was sincere then. But watching you against Jeong Hwi-ji today... it seems you held back at least seventy percent."
"You want the real honest answer, Yi guard?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Then here it is: Yes, I went all out that day. I truly crossed blades with you in earnest."
"Gasp! Then what on earth happened in the meantime? What made you grow so strong, my lord?"
"Curious?"
"Yes. I want to grow stronger too. No matter how hard I try, I feel stuck."
Yi Mu-myeong bowed deeply.
Hanbin stroked his chin, pondering.
Yi Mu-myeong's shift from Peak Sword to Despair Sword came later, from stagnation despair.
Witnessing Hanbin's prowess seemed to accelerate it with self-loathing.
Hanbin himself had wondered why Yi Mu-myeong's moniker changed.
After long thought, he said.
"Growing stronger might mean risking death. Still want to know, Yi guard?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Then let's figure out your issue together. I promise to give it my all."
At Hanbin's words, Yi Mu-myeong dropped to his knees.
He prostrated fully, forehead to the ground.
Hanbin was taken aback.
"What's this?"
"I'll serve you as master for the time being."
"Master?"
As Hanbin blinked in surprise, Yi Mu-myeong sprang up and turned to Seolhwa.
"Seolhwa, I ask you too."
"Don't forget that Dang Family debt, Yi guard uncle."
"I won't."
Hanbin tilted his head at their exchange.
What was Yi Mu-myeong asking of Seolhwa?
The answer appeared immediately.
Seolhwa fetched a bundle from nearby.
She unrolled it on the ground before the chamber.
A familiar sight.
Usually Hanbin ordered it, but this time Yi Mu-myeong proactively requested writing tools from Seolhwa for a contract.
Without a word from Hanbin, Yi Mu-myeong began drafting.
Seolhwa murmured softly.
"Oh, a voluntary slave contract!"
Ignoring her, Yi Mu-myeong filled it densely.
Of course, it mirrored Hanbin's standard terms.
Setting down the brush, he said to Hanbin.
"They say three years at a schoolhouse and even the dog recites poetry."
"Looks like three months with a guard and he drafts contracts. But aren't we heading back to the Henan Jeong Family soon?"
"I just spoke with the family head. Permission granted to relocate to Cheonsu Manor. He approved readily."
"Alright, call it a night then."
"Understood, Master."
Hanbin furrowed his brow.
Master?
An unfamiliar title, even from his past life.
But shrugging it off, he smiled faintly. Just another subordinate.
Military and master were one, after all.
The titles hardly mattered.
Then, the dawn rooster shattered the silence.
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
At the cry, Hanbin turned quietly and returned to his quarters.
Yi Mu-myeong was silent, Seolhwa too.
The grueling day ended before it truly had, as dawn broke.
A few days later.
Hanbin had inspected eleven of the twelve training chambers in the Henan Jeong Family.
But no trace of what he sought.
Now, the final one loomed before him.