Chapter 132. Calculations Are Precise (2)
The mention of the Crimson Dragon Hero drew astonished gazes from everyone around.
Yi Mu-myeong gaped, at a loss for words.
Wasn't the Crimson Dragon Hero's true identity none other than Han Bin, standing right in front of Seomun Mugeol?
Seol-hwa narrowed her eyes at Han Bin.
She had a feeling a fresh new scam was about to unfold.
As they all stared at Han Bin with varying expressions,
the man himself didn't bat an eye, merely tilting his head.
"Crimson Dragon Hero? First I've heard of it."
"Hm, strange that you've never heard of the Crimson Dragon Hero."
"I've been too busy lately to catch up on the jianghu gossip."
"Then let me explain."
"Sure, I'd appreciate that."
"Word's spreading like wildfire up north right now. They say this Crimson Dragon Hero took down a remnant blood demon of the Demonic Cult."
"Huh, kinda rings a bell."
"Some say he went down in mutual destruction during the fight, but I don't buy it."
"Is this Crimson Dragon Hero really that impressive?"
"In the unorthodox sects, he's practically a god now. Who was the blood demon? A Hwagyeong master, right? Taking him down means the Crimson Dragon Hero's a Hwagyeong expert too. But what's even more shocking is his chivalry—sacrificing himself to save the weak."
"If that's true, that's huge. Heck, it's got my blood boiling with righteous fury already."
"Exactly. Any true warrior would feel the same."
"But why are you looking for the Crimson Dragon Hero if he might be dead?"
"If he's alive, I'd love to cross swords with him."
"Not a spar, but an actual duel?"
"Of course. If the rumors are true, he won't be in fighting shape. It'll take years to recover. So requesting a proper sword discussion is the right call."
"I see."
"Truth be told, I have something to pass along to the Crimson Dragon Hero before any duel."
"Pass along?"
"He must be injured, so he'll need elixirs. I snuck one out from the family stores."
At those words, Han Bin's eyes sharpened.
An elixir smuggled from the Seomun family? It had to be something rare, unavailable on the open market.
Jackpot, Han Bin thought, swallowing hard.
Seol-hwa, watching the exchange from the side, parted her lips slightly.
Her hunch was spot on.
Of course, her hunch was that Han Bin was gearing up for a new con on Seomun Mugeol.
Right then—
The sharp clang of metal striking metal echoed from somewhere.
Ting! Ting!
Seomun Mugeol reacted first, gripping his scabbard and narrowing his eyes.
He looked ready to draw his sword at any moment.
Han Bin held him back.
"No need to tense up."
"What do you mean? Isn't that your group making the noise?"
"It's not weapons."
"Hm."
As Seomun Mugeol tilted his head, Han Bin continued.
"That's the sound of chisels and hammers."
"Chisels and hammers...?"
Seomun Mugeol eyed Han Bin, cocking his head slightly.
"Lots of folks aren't familiar with chisel-and-hammer sounds. Listen close—the end of each metal clash has a rock-cracking noise."
"Hm."
Seomun Mugeol cleared his throat and strained his ears.
Ting! Ting!
His eyes narrowed.
Just as Han Bin said, he caught the faint pop of stone chips flying.
A young Hebei Paeng scion picking up sounds even he missed? Unthinkingly, Seomun Mugeol glanced at his own son, Seomun Jingyeong.
The boy was said to have no peers his age in the family.
Glancing back and forth between his son and Han Bin, Seomun Mugeol muttered to himself.
"Talk about a frog in a well."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing."
Seomun Mugeol waved it off hastily.
The "frog in a well" wasn't aimed at his son, Seomun Jingyeong.
It was self-deprecating.
Seomun Mugeol was glad he'd come outside.
Just then, So Daeseop called out from afar.
"Time to move out!"
With that, Han Bin's group resumed their march.
Tension eased, the procession drew nearer to the source of the hammering.
A short while later,
Han Bin's group halted at the bizarre sight before them.
Ting! Ting!
At the source of the stone-splitting sounds, three or four stonemasons were shaping bricks, while laborers hauled the stones and materials somewhere.
Han Bin glanced at Sim Miho.
"Deputy Sim, check out what they're up to."
"Yes, my lord."
Sim Miho clasped her fists deeply and vanished.
She returned after time for a cup of tea.
Sim Miho reported to Han Bin.
"They're building a structure."
"A building? Like a temple?"
"No, a shrine."
"A shrine?"
Han Bin's eyes narrowed, and Sim Miho continued.
"The odd part is, it's Baeksa Gate—an unorthodox sect—leading the construction."
"An unorthodox sect building a shrine?"
Han Bin's head tilted sharply.
But only for a moment. His eyes gleamed as he eyed the direction of the material transport.
That path looks familiar.
The materials were headed straight to the clearing where he'd battled the blood demon.
Han Bin's mind raced like a bird's wings in flight.
Once the calculations clicked, he turned to Seol-hwa.
"Seol-hwa, grab two pigeons."
"Yes, young master!"
Seol-hwa nimbly fetched pigeons from the carriage.
Yi Mu-myeong, the Mangho Squad, and Jang Ja-myeong nodded without surprise.
But Seomun Mugeol couldn't hold back.
He approached Han Bin cautiously.
"What's going on? Why pigeons all of a sudden?"
Forgetting his dignity, Seomun Mugeol bombarded Han Bin with questions.
Han Bin replied with a friendly smile.
"Nothing much. Looks like I need to meet the overseer of that shrine project."
"Baeksa Gate holds sway here. Isn't it dangerous?"
"No danger at all. Don't worry."
"What if I come along?"
"I'm good. It's private business—easier solo. See you soon."
With a slight bow, Han Bin headed toward the laborers.
Seol-hwa dashed after him, cage in hand.
"Young master! Wait for me!"
Moments later, at the shrine site, Han Bin narrowed his eyes.
The foundation was indeed the clearing of his blood demon showdown.
Around it lay stacks of stonemason-hewn bricks and carpenter-trimmed lumber.
Far from a simple shrine, Han Bin gauged—this could fit a modest shrine plus two grand halls.
Han Bin scanned for the overseer.
Strolling the site, he spotted a familiar face.
Ma Hwi, strategist of the Southern Jianghu Righteous Alliance.
Ma Hwi was etched in his past-life memories.
The man who'd formed the Justice Alliance only to stab the orthodox sects in the back.
Impossible to forget.
Han Bin began tailing Ma Hwi from a distance.
Upon arrival, Ma Hwi inspected the laborers' conditions, construction scale, progress—everything.
Conclusion: proceeding smoothly, satisfactorily.
Now, a few praises for Baeksa Gate's leader, then tout the profits post-completion.
Ma Hwi always believed in carrot and stick together.
Strolling and checking laborers, he soon found Baeksa Gate's lord, Jin Samyeong.
Sensing Ma Hwi, Jin Samyeong clasped his fists first.
"Strategist,Thanks for your hard work on the long journey."
"No trouble. Your oversight as construction chief is the real toil. From what I saw coming in, we're on schedule."
"Thanks to the Southern Jianghu Righteous Alliance and your support."
"Support's a given. The gains from this shrine and martial hall will be beyond imagination. A share comes back to Baeksa Gate, of course."
"I know. Grateful for the opportunity, strategist."
"Nonsense. Having reliable folk like you is our blessing. That said..."
Trailing off, Ma Hwi glanced around.
Jin Samyeong lowered his voice.
"What did you want to say?"
"All good, but security feels lax. Fine with you here, but you can't stay forever."
Ma Hwi scanned worriedly; Jin Samyeong waved it off.
"No need to fret."
"Didn't spot any standout guards on the way. Got a plan?"
"Not a plan, per se—my daughter and a northern expert we hired handle security. She figured entrusting it to a northern powerhouse fits, as this is the cornerstone for the Northern Alliance branch."
"Smart. And the northern expert is...?"
"Two of the Shanxi Three Killers. You saw them last time, right?"
"Ah, Shanxi Three Killers? That'll do. But where are they?"
"Sharp eye. Makes me happy, though."
"Happy how?"
"They're disguised among the laborers. Manages worker oversight and tightens security in one go."
"Oh, clever."
"Wait a sec."
Jin Samyeong signaled a subordinate.
Before a tea could brew,
three figures approached Jin Samyeong and Ma Hwi.
Jin Semi and the Shanxi Three Killers, disguised as stonemason and carpenter.
Jin Semi clasped fists at Ma Hwi.
"Greetings, strategist."
Then, Pyeon Yukranga asked with a sour face.
"Why summon us mid-work, Southern Alliance strategist? We've got mountains of tasks."
Pyeon Yukranga had reason to treat Ma Hwi so.
The Righteous Alliance split north-south.
Shanxi Three Killers operated north, naturally.
The southern branch occasionally clashed with the north, irking her.
But ties to Jin Samyeong and Jin Semi—and the pay—brought her here.
At her attitude, Heuk Ui Salpung stepped forward, clasping fists.
"Apologies, strategist. My sibling's manners are rough. Hardly fitting for our temporary host's leader."
Ma Hwi waved off Heuk Ui Salpung's courtesy.
"Haha, I didn't call you. The lord did."
Glancing aside, Jin Samyeong continued apologetically.
"Not interrupting duties—the strategist's funding role justifies security checks. Understand, Heuk Ui Salpung."
"Of course. May we resume?"
"Absolutely. Faces shown, check's done. Right, strategist?"
"Yes, go ahead."
Ma Hwi nodded, pleased.
Smoother than expected.
At this pace, in just two months, the Crimson Dragon Hero shrine and profit-raking martial hall would finish.
As Shanxi Three Killers and Jin Semi turned to leave—
A unfamiliar voice called.
"Hold up a moment."
All tilted heads.
Heuk Ui Salpung turned first.
It wasn't unfamiliar to him.
Spotting the speaker, Heuk Ui Salpung's eyes widened like full moons.