Chapter 133: The Calculations Are Spot-On (3)
Black-Clothed Gale Wind was stunned for one reason alone.
The owner of that voice was none other than Hanbin.
He'd heard recent news about the Henan Jeong Family, but there'd been no word on Hebei Paeng Family's fourth young master.
Only tales of the new righteous faction powerhouse, the Azure Cloud Death God.
The Azure Cloud Death God had saved the Henan Jeong Family with Hwagyeong-level prowess and unyielding righteousness.
But the rumors stopped there.
His age. His sect. Even his appearance—all remained shrouded in mystery.
All anyone knew was that he wore a flowing blue robe and left trails like lingering clouds.
With all the talk of the Azure Cloud Death God drowning out any whispers of Hanbin, Black-Clothed Gale Wind had assumed Hanbin was dead.
In his memory, Hanbin's side had been pierced by Blood Ghost Demon's blade.
Plunged into the river in that state—who could survive?
Not even Divine Physician Hwa Ta could save him.
Black-Clothed Gale Wind's shock carried fear as well.
Hanbin's return spawned countless complications.
Most critically, Black-Clothed Gale Wind had never revealed the Red Dragon Knight's true identity.
Had he exposed the Red Dragon Knight as Hebei Paeng Family's fourth young master, would the hero-worship campaign have proceeded as it had?
Black-Clothed Gale Wind could only shake his head at the thought.
As a flurry of thoughts raced through Black-Clothed Gale Wind's mind in the blink of an eye, Ma Hwi narrowed his brows and eyed Hanbin.
"And who might you be?"
"I'm the youngest of Hebei Paeng Family, Paeng Hanbin."
"Paeng Hanbin, you say..."
Ma Hwi's eyebrows twitched as his voice trailed off.
He was recalling the events before the Red Dragon Knight and Blood Ghost Demon's death match.
The Sapa forces gathering at Yeongdan Mountain to seize the Qingming Pill.
He could guess why this man had appeared here.
Revenge.
Scowling deeply, Ma Hwi continued.
"Young Master Paeng, there's an old saying: don't stretch your legs before seeing your sleeping spot. This is Sapa's holy ground. Showing up here takes some guts."
"No idea what you're talking about."
"About the Sapa folk who tried to steal the Qingming Pill..."
Before Ma Hwi could finish, Hanbin waved his hand dismissively.
"There must've been a misunderstanding. If something shiny catches my eye, even I'd snatch it."
"What? What kind of talk is that?"
Ma Hwi blinked in confusion, his furrowed brow relaxing as he scrutinized Hanbin's face anew.
A righteous faction man saying that?
It made no sense.
As Ma Hwi faltered, Hanbin pressed on.
"Any martial artist would covet a Spirit Pill, right? Say I lost it—who's to blame? The thief?"
"..."
Ma Hwi narrowed his eyes, waiting for the rest.
Reading his expression, Hanbin continued with casual ease.
"Or the fool who got robbed? I blame myself for being too weak."
"Hm. Then what brings you here?"
"Business."
"Business? I haven't a clue what you mean. Do you think I, strategist of Gangnam Sado-ryeon, have time to humor your jokes?"
"If you had a stake in your current plans, that'd change things."
Hanbin gestured toward the pavilion under construction.
Forgetting his dignity, Ma Hwi blurted out.
"What nonsense is that?!"
"Just one question."
"Out with it."
"What if the Red Dragon Knight wasn't Sapa, but righteous faction?"
"Righteous? Don't make me laugh. Get lost, or I'll take your head myself."
Ma Hwi's face flushed faintly.
Hanbin's words threatened the cracks in his flawless scheme.
The Red Dragon Knight as righteous faction?
Unthinkable.
Considering his mutual destruction with Blood Ghost Demon, who had wept for Sapa—it didn't add up.
Yet why this creeping chill up his spine?
Ma Hwi's voice sharpened.
"Ridiculous. A righteous man sacrificing for Sapa? Even a stray dog would laugh."
"One more question, Strategist Ma Hwi. If righteous and Demonic Cultists stood side by side, who'd you target?"
"..."
Ma Hwi fell silent.
Hanbin's logic was airtight.
Righteous and Sapa always had blades at each other's throats, but Demonic Cult changed everything.
It was an outside force.
A thousand years of Murim history proved it.
When the Demonic Cult invaded the Central Plains, righteous and Sapa united.
Ma Hwi imagined the reverse.
A Sapa master passing righteous folk dying to Demonic Cultists.
What choice would he make?
Finished pondering, Ma Hwi subtly turned to the pavilion site.
Then to the stone carvers and carpenters.
All this was the foundation of a golden-egg-laying goose.
The costs already sunk in were staggering.
Then—
Hanbin snapped his fingers.
Snap!
In sync, Seol-hwa behind him opened the pigeon cage.
The bird fluttered free, soaring skyward.
Flap flap!
Ma Hwi whipped back to Hanbin amid the suddenness.
Black-Clothed Gale Wind and Flayed Flesh Lang-a, familiar with the scene, gaped in shock.
Black-Clothed Gale Wind couldn't forget it.
The noose tightening each time a messenger pigeon flew.
Now, the question was who it targeted.
Unfamiliar with it, Ma Hwi squinted suspiciously.
"What trickery is this? Even if it sparks a righteous-Sapa war, I'll end you here."
Highly agitated, Ma Hwi gripped his judge's brush in his right hand, aiming at Hanbin.
Hanbin stepped back, waving placatingly.
"Whoa, Strategist. I'd be more curious about that pigeon's message than getting riled up."
"Ahem."
Ma Hwi cleared his throat.
Hanbin was right.
The pigeon's contents mattered now.
No way Hanbin sent it idly.
Ma Hwi reflected on his state.
He was overly excited.
Fallen for the enemy's agitation tactic.
Had the South's top strategist ever lost composure like this?
Not in recent years, he was sure.
It clouded judgment.
Quickly calming, Ma Hwi faced Hanbin.
"So, what does that pigeon carry?"
"That's what I'll explain next."
"Next?"
Ma Hwi's eyebrows twitched again.
This evasive, roundabout style—clearly mocking him.
But biting meant playing into his hands.
True to form, Ma Hwi regained his cool.
"Then speak."
"It's premium intel—not something to spill for free."
Hanbin trailed off, pointing at Ma Hwi.
Ma Hwi's brows danced once more.
"What? You want money?"
"Not cash. Spar with me first."
"Ha! Fox pup challenging a tiger!"
"No death match—just a friendly bout. To share vital info, you should see my swordsmanship first. Words alone won't convince you."
"You'll cry when you see the coffin!"
"Doubt I'll shed tears. I sleep like a baby in one. Can't sleep? Straight to the coffin. So cut the chatter—show me that judge's brush!"
Hanbin spoke truth.
In his past life alone, he'd slept in coffins more than once or twice.
Grinning, Hanbin pointed at Ma Hwi's brush.
Ma Hwi's expression hardened.
No more mercy—he'd crush Hanbin properly.
Overpower, extract info.
Peak Sapa style.
Whoosh!
Ma Hwi kicked off, charging Hanbin.
The brush-like weapon favored straight thrusts to vital points.
But Ma Hwi's traced graceful Taiji curves.
His signature: Four Gentlemen Brush, evoking plum, orchid, chrysanthemum, bamboo.
This fluid Taiji was the orchid form.
Not a direct strike—probing.
Deflect incoming sword, flow to next.
Ma Hwi was colder and more calculated than ever.
So why provoke him?
Two reasons.
Hanbin had spotted flickering points on Ma Hwi.
In a way, this conquest was like a bonus appendix.
Ma Hwi had a main volume to claim anyway.
But like a sparrow passing a mill, seeing those formula points, Hanbin couldn't resist.
Second: prove his link to the Red Dragon Knight upfront.
As long as no overt bluster.
This realm looked perfect—like the Knight's successor.
He'd planned to demo swordplay post-talk, but the formulas prompted a swap.
Grinning at the elegant brush, Hanbin recalled Yongrin Sword Art.
Lightning Flash.
Beggar's Eighteen Steps.
With a footfall, Hanbin vanished in afterimages.
Three 'swift' attributes of Gugeol Ship-pal-bo.
Hanbin easily slipped Ma Hwi's range.
Ma Hwi squinted at the eerie footwork.
What?
Never heard of Hebei Paeng Family boasting such steps.
But no panic for him.
Ma Hwi shifted from orchid to plum.
His unique technique: blooming plum blossoms with the brush.
To catch a fast fish, net beats rod.
The flashy blooms would pierce vitals if Hanbin entered range.
Orchid curved; plum struck points.
Swish! Swish!
Points bloomed into plum flowers at the brush tip.
Everyone gasped at the Volcanic Sect-like splendor.
Except Hanbin.
His goal wasn't defeating Ma Hwi.
Just claim the formulas, prove his skill.
Hanbin accelerated, perpetually evading Ma Hwi's interval.
Ma Hwi nearly exploded in frustration.
Hanbin had begged for the spar.
So he'd obliged.
Why just run?
Calming at last, Ma Hwi realized: the conversation and bout mirrored each other.
Hanbin agitated him both ways.
Then—
Hanbin slowed, entering Ma Hwi's sight.