Chapter 134. Precise Calculations (4)
Take-Profit Master Ma Hwi thrust out his judge's brush with lightning speed.
This was the technique of bamboo among his Four Gentlemen styles.
A straight, honest attack like bamboo could pierce through any shield...
Straightness, just like the incantation of the bamboo in the Four Gentlemen Brush techniques, was the essence this move pursued.
The judge's brush flew at Hanbin's chest like a spear hurled by a soldier, merging as one with Ma Hwi.
It was then.
Ma Hwi's jaw dropped wide open.
His opponent was charging forward with the exact same momentum.
If he was the spear, then the opponent was an arrow.
Just as the red energy cloaking Ma Hwi's judge's brush was about to clash with the blue energy at the tip of Hanbin's sword—
Someone shouted.
"Red Dragon Hero!"
It was Jin Semi's voice.
The swordsmanship Hanbin had displayed so far was unmistakably similar to that of the Red Dragon Hero.
Come to think of it, wasn't the red martial robe Hanbin wore identical to the Red Dragon Hero's?
Hanbin's current appearance was far too reminiscent of the Red Dragon Hero.
In that instant, Ma Hwi's judge's brush halted.
Of course, Hanbin's Moon Fang Sword stopped as well, its blade nearly touching the brush.
Hanbin and Take-Profit Master Ma Hwi stared at each other as if time itself had frozen.
The sword energies at the tips of their weapons faded away like a dying candle flame.
Hanbin spoke first.
"As the old murim saying goes, one slash of the blade is worth ten thousand words."
"......"
Ma Hwi silently withdrew his judge's brush and turned to look at Jin Semi.
At his gaze, she rushed over.
"S-Sorry! I didn't mean to..."
Ma Hwi slowly turned his head and gazed at the flustered Jin Semi, trailing off.
"What happened?"
"Military Advisor, I'm sorry. His techniques looked just like the Red Dragon Hero's, so I blurted it out without thinking."
"Then this man is..."
Ma Hwi trailed off again, staring at Hanbin.
Hanbin flashed a grin and sheathed Moon Fang with a clack!
In a low voice, Hanbin said,
"You're thinking right."
"Hah..."
As Take-Profit Master Ma Hwi let out a sigh, Jin Semi picked up the thread.
"He must be connected to the Red Dragon Hero somehow."
Jin Semi didn't believe Hanbin was the Red Dragon Hero.
The aura he'd shown back then was worlds apart.
Hanbin had used empty bravado to roar like a lion back at Yeongdan Mountain, appearing—at least to onlookers—to be at the third realm of Hwagyeong or higher.
Stroking his goatee at Jin Semi's words, Take-Profit Master Ma Hwi murmured,
"The fourth young master of the Hebei Paeng Family is connected to the Sapa hero known as the Red Dragon Hero..."
Ma Hwi's twitching eyebrow finally stilled.
Only now did he sense the gravity of what Hanbin was saying.
After some intense mental calculations, Ma Hwi said to Hanbin,
"Might we have a word in private?"
"That's exactly what I was about to say."
"This way, then!"
Ma Hwi beckoned.
At Ma Hwi's invitation, Hanbin entered the command tent set up to oversee the construction.
Seolhwa sat beside Hanbin, her eyes darting around in search of snacks, while Jin Samyeong sat next to Ma Hwi with a baffled expression.
Behind them, Jin Semi kept taking deep breaths, her chest swelling with emotion.
Of course, the black-clad Heukui Salpung and Pyeonyuk Rang-a beside her couldn't hide their unease.
As steam rose from the teacup before Hanbin, Ma Hwi asked,
"May I inquire about your true identity?"
"As you can see, I'm the fourth young master of the Hebei Paeng Family."
"Hm. That skill in blocking my judge's brush with a sword... it doesn't look like you've picked one up just yesterday."
"I hear that a lot these days. As you see, I'm a swordsman, not a bladesman."
"A swordsman in the Hebei Paeng Family, not a bladesman... That's a first."
"Now that you've seen it, you won't be surprised next time."
"Then the one who taught you that swordsmanship..."
Take-Profit Master Ma Hwi lowered his voice further.
Hanbin continued with an affable smile.
"You're thinking right. The one hailed as the Red Dragon Hero in Sapa is the very man who taught me the sword."
"Hm."
"But there's one thing you're mistaken about."
"We're mistaken? About what?"
"The Red Dragon Hero's identity."
"Identity..."
Trailing off, Ma Hwi gave a subtle glance at Jin Samyeong.
At once, Jin Samyeong circulated his inner power, erecting a barrier.
Anything said from here on couldn't leak outside.
Confirming the barrier, Ma Hwi picked up his teacup and said,
"No worries about eavesdroppers now, and we have plenty of time. Speak freely."
"In a way, he's a man who straddles both the righteous and unrighteous factions. Why do you think he appeared at Yeongdan Mountain that day?"
"To save the Sapa folk in peril, of course..."
"How would he even know Sapa folk were in danger?"
"Mm."
Ma Hwi was at a loss for words under Hanbin's relentless questioning.
Grinning amusedly at his groan, Hanbin continued,
"Truth is, he showed up to save me."
"To save you?"
"Had the Blood Demon not appeared, it would've been the Sapa folk losing their heads."
"Hah hah, that's going too far."
"So, the connection between the Red Dragon Hero and me is..."
Hanbin explained, inserting the Red Dragon Hero into the story as much as possible without straying too far from the truth.
Listening in, Heukui Salpung could only gape.
Hanbin's account was simple.
The Red Dragon Hero had subdued the Shanxi Three Killers, and he'd ordered them to act like they'd captured Hanbin.
When Hanbin was in danger, he'd reappeared.
Of course, Hanbin's screaming flight was to avoid clashing with the Sapa group.
But when the demon Blood Demon popped out, he'd fought to save the Sapa folk.
If asked point-blank if this was true?
Heukui Salpung would have no choice but to nod.
Denying it would brand the Shanxi Three Killers as Sapa traitors.
He'd thought his grudge with Hanbin was finally over, but this tenacious feud was only just beginning.
'Damn it all, that rotten generational bastard!'
Cursing inwardly, Heukui Salpung squeezed his eyes shut without realizing it.
And sure enough.
After hearing the explanation, Take-Profit Master Ma Hwi turned to Heukui Salpung.
"Is everything the young master Paeng said true?"
"Yes, it is."
Heukui Salpung nodded without hesitation.
At that, wrinkles creased Ma Hwi's forehead.
"Hah hah... So he's not Sapa after all."
Hanbin grinned at Ma Hwi's regretful tone.
"Think of the Red Dragon Hero as a man who drifts between the righteous and unrighteous factions. But I believe revealing his sect here would be disrespectful."
"Then your swordsmanship comes from him?"
"You can tell just by looking, but until recently, I was known as Hebei's biggest coward."
"Hm."
"It took a fateful encounter like that to change me into who I am now."
Finishing, Hanbin downed his tea.
Ma Hwi moistened his lips with his own cup before quietly regarding Hanbin.
Hanbin's words rang true even to him.
He vaguely recalled hearing about Hebei's top coward now that he thought about it.
Making his own assumptions about Hanbin's intent, Ma Hwi asked gravely,
"So what you're saying is you want us not to paint the Red Dragon Hero as a Sapa hero?"
"No, that's not it."
"Then why did you come all this way?"
"Whether Sapa or righteous, aren't all murim folk fellow travelers under the same sky? Just as shared sorrow halves it, shared joy doubles it, don't you think?"
"Hah, surely you don't mean..."
"The profits from this venture right now!"
"......"
A deep furrow formed between Ma Hwi's brows.
Undeterred, Hanbin pressed on casually.
"Just give me ten percent. Spirit pills are fine too."
"Hah!"
Take-Profit Master Ma Hwi's jaw dropped.
The unexpected demand from left field left even him speechless.
A typical righteous faction member would beg them not to tarnish his master's honor, to stop distorting the facts and halt the operation.
But asking for a cut of the profits in this situation?
Regaining his composure, Ma Hwi continued,
"What if I just cut your head off right here?"
Hanbin grinned at the words.
"That'd work too. But what do you think that homing pigeon you sent off said?"
"......"
"Probably something like, 'If I die, blame it all on Sapa and spread the word,' right? Share the profits, and I don't care if the Red Dragon Hero's branded Sapa or righteous. Refuse, and I'll take this straight to the Justice Alliance."
"The Justice Alliance?"
"Of course they'd compensate me handsomely. Money's one thing, but whose credit is it that Sapa morale is piercing the heavens right now? I think precise calculations are best."
With an affable smile, Hanbin straightened his hand and pointed at the ceiling.
Emphasizing just how high Sapa morale was soaring.
Ma Hwi, feeling stifled, downed his tea in one gulp.
Gulp.
After staring at Hanbin for a long while, Ma Hwi narrowed his eyes and asked,
"Just who the hell are you?"
"The fourth young master of the Hebei Paeng Family."
Hanbin answered nonchalantly.
At that moment, Seolhwa murmured softly from behind,
"Shall I fetch the paper and ink, Young Master?"
"Nah, we're good this time."
Ma Hwi's eyebrow twitched again at their exchange.
He was racking his brains in a cold sweat, yet his opponent oozed leisure.
Of course, this was Ma Hwi's misconception.
Hanbin could afford this nonchalance because he'd dealt with Ma Hwi in his previous life.
It took quite some time before Hanbin could finally exit the tent.
Ma Hwi, who had come out to see him off, watched Hanbin's receding figure and sighed.
Hanbin's terms were simple.
Ten percent of the profits.
Spirit pills as an alternative.
And the attached condition: every time Sapa tried to harm him, that share would increase by another ten percent.
In other words, don't touch him needlessly.
Ma Hwi found this reasonable.
As the Red Dragon Hero's disciple, he deserved that much sincerity.
But getting shaken down by a righteous faction junior left a sour taste—like he was being fleeced.
Still, Ma Hwi firmly believed Hanbin wouldn't betray this deal.
It was those eyes.
To Ma Hwi, Hanbin didn't look like a warrior, but a merchant.
And no merchant would throw away future profits.
Yet Hanbin's parting words left a strange aftertaste.
That the Red Dragon Hero might still be alive.
"Hm."
Ma Hwi coughed dryly without realizing it.
At that moment, Baeksa Gate Lord Jin Samyeong spoke up, shaking off his worries.
"It's all settled now, right?"
Ma Hwi looked at Jin Samyeong and smiled.
"Yes, we can proceed with the business as planned. If he breaks the agreement, then we'll have a righteous-unrighteous war."
"Haha, that won't happen."
"No, it won't. In a way, this turned out well."
At Ma Hwi's words, Jin Samyeong narrowed his eyes.
"Turned out well? How so?"