Chapter 137: Hiding Thirty Percent of Your Strength (3)
Han Bin said with a sincere expression.
"I'm sorry too."
"Come to the Seomun family sometime. I'll treat you well—no, I'll welcome you as an honored guest of the house."
"Thank you for saying that."
Han Bin bowed his head slightly, and Seomun Mugeol beamed with a bright smile.
"I'm not just saying it—make sure you come. Now that I think about it, as a candidate for young patriarch of one of the Five Great Families, don't you have to visit each of them at least once?"
"Haha, you're talking about the trials that the Five Great Families' young patriarch candidates have to undergo."
"Exactly. I'll help you out then."
"No need. I'll handle it with my own strength."
"It's just a superficial test—do you really need to go all out? It'd be better to spar with me during that time..."
Seomun Mugeol trailed off again with a regretful expression.
At that moment, Seomun Jin-gyeong spoke from behind, as if urging him on.
"Father, we should head back now."
"Hoho, since my kids are eager to get home, I'll take my leave."
"Yes, safe travels."
Han Bin clasped his hands deeply in respect.
Seomun Mugeol flashed one last wistful smile before slowly turning away.
Han Bin watched his retreating back with what seemed like his own regret.
Then he looked at his sword, Wol-a.
In truth, when they first met, he'd been slightly worried that Seomun Mugeol might covet Wol-a.
After all, in his previous life, Wol-a's owner had been Seomun Mugeol.
But what he'd coveted wasn't the sword—it was a spar with Han Bin.
True to form for a man obsessed with swords, holed up in a corner of his family estate just training endlessly.
And he'd given Han Bin plenty in return.
Two formulas from the Application Volume.
Han Bin gazed into empty space.
There, he could confirm the formulas he'd obtained from Seomun Mugeol.
[Return (return), True (true)]
Just two more, and the forms would be complete.
But Seomun Mugeol no longer had any formula points visible on him.
It was then.
Someone came running up in a frantic rush.
Thud thud thud.
What was that?
Han Bin turned at the urgent footsteps.
Looking closely, Seomun Suyeon was kicking up dust as she ran back from afar.
Did she forget something?
But who was she running to?
As he tilted his head, Yi Mu-myeong—whose beard had grown even thicker—stepped forward from Han Bin's side and murmured softly.
"It seems she has something to say to me."
With that, Yi Mu-myeong waited for the approaching Seomun Suyeon, dust cloud in her wake.
Han Bin nodded.
After the misunderstanding last time, it seemed like a bit of fondness had developed between them.
But Seomun Suyeon ran right past Yi Mu-myeong.
Whoosh!
Yi Mu-myeong's eyes flickered in shock.
"Pfft."
As Han Bin stifled a laugh through his lips, Seomun Suyeon came to a stop in front of Seol-hwa, catching her breath.
"Huff huff!"
Seol-hwa tilted her head at the sight and asked.
"What's up, sis?"
"R-remember the promise I made before?"
"Promise?"
Seol-hwa blinked wide-eyed, clearly clueless.
Seomun Suyeon grinned and pulled a money pouch from her bosom.
"Here, take this."
Seol-hwa's eyes widened even more at the sudden gift.
No matter how she thought about it, there was no reason for Seomun Suyeon to give her money.
Most importantly, the ironclad rule etched deep in Seol-hwa's mind was: 'Money comes after the mission is done.'
That rule was on the verge of being shattered right now.
Her shoulders trembled slightly along with her hugely widened eyes.
Why was Seomun Suyeon giving her money?
As Seol-hwa stood dazed, Seomun Suyeon chuckled.
"I promised last time, remember?"
She forced the pouch into Seol-hwa's hand.
Seol-hwa finally pulled herself together and asked.
"Why are you giving me this, sis?"
"I said I'd buy you candy last time. Go get some with this."
"But giving me all of it..."
Seol-hwa trailed off.
This was the first time she'd been so flustered since arriving at Cheonsu Manor.
Hiding her agitation, Seol-hwa peeked inside the pouch.
"Oh!"
It wasn't just copper coins—there were quite a few silver ones too.
Seomun Suyeon laughed at Seol-hwa's shocked face.
"No need to be so surprised. I won't have anywhere to spend money once I'm back home anyway. Come visit later, okay, Seol-hwa?"
Seomun Suyeon waved and departed.
But Seol-hwa didn't budge from her spot.
In a way, this was the first money she'd ever received for free in her life.
Seol-hwa stood like a statue, watching Seomun Suyeon fade into the distance.
Then Yi Mu-myeong whispered to Han Bin, looking wronged.
"Wasn't it me who saved her?"
"To be precise, it was Seol-hwa who killed the spider."
"Ah, but I nearly died..."
"It's about efficiency. The world only remembers results."
"Somehow that feels unfair."
"The money? Or Miss Seomun's heart?"
"Hm."
"Probably both."
Han Bin smirked, and Yi Mu-myeong's cheeks flushed red beneath his bushy beard.
Once everyone had left, Han Bin quietly looked up into the air.
There had been a change in the Basic Volume.
[Basic Volume]
[...]
[Heart (Heart): Nine (Nine)]
It seemed more people in the Henan Jeong Family had mastered the Scattering Soul Sword.
Obviously, the direct elders and division heads had inherited Jeong Mu-ryong's enlightenment.
At this rate, the thirty would fill up on their own soon enough.
Plus, once one more attribute filled in 'Heart,' he'd be able to use the True Dragon Scattering Soul Sword from the Fusion Volume.
Now, Han Bin's remaining tasks were to increase his core inner power, complete the remaining forms of the Application Volume, and add attributes to 'Heart.'
Han Bin turned and looked at the Mangho Squad, exhilarated to be back on Hebei soil.
Come to think of it, there was something different about the Mangho Squad.
What was it?
No matter how he racked his brain, he couldn't pinpoint the change.
Staring at the Mangho Squad with his eagle eyes, Han Bin unwittingly raised his voice.
"How is this possible! I can't see a single one..."
He'd finally found the change.
"What's wrong, Master?"
"It's nothing."
"Your expression looks serious."
"Well, it is serious, in a way."
Han Bin looked at the Mangho Squad again.
The change was simple: no formula points were visible on any of them.
They weren't Application Volume formulas, but occasionally Basic Volume ones had flickered on and off among some members.
Now, not a single point remained.
Han Bin narrowed his eyes, analyzing the cause.
After much thought, he reached a conclusion.
It was because their training was insufficient.
Grinning, Han Bin called out to So Daeseop and Sim Miho.
"Squad Leader So! Deputy Leader Sim!"
They hurried over at his call.
"You called, my lord?"
"Yes, my lord."
Han Bin looked at So Daeseop first.
"From now on, think of the trip back to Cheonsu Manor as training. Get ready."
"Uh, why so suddenly..."
So Daeseop's voice trembled slightly at the abrupt order.
"Lately, the Mangho Squad seems a bit dull."
Of course, this was Han Bin's misconception.
The Mangho Squad hadn't dulled—Han Bin had simply grown too strong.
No matter how much they improved, they couldn't keep up with his growth rate. That was the phenomenon.
So Daeseop steadied his trembling expression.
"Understood. Your will be done."
As So Daeseop bowed and turned away, Sim Miho asked cautiously.
"My lord, what should I do?"
"Deputy Leader Sim Miho, you keep an eye on Squad Leader So Daeseop."
"As you command."
Sim Miho left with an excited look.
* * *
Three days later.
Han Bin and his group finally arrived at the Hebei Paeng Family.
With the family estate in sight, Han Bin gestured.
At his signal, So Daeseop raised his baton high.
"Everyone, halt!"
The Mangho Squad stopped in unison.
Han Bin stepped down from the carriage and looked up at its roof.
After staring for a while, he said to Seol-hwa.
"Let those pigeons on top go free, Seol-hwa."
"Why, young master?"
"They've worked hard all this time. Time for them to rest."
Seol-hwa lightly leaped onto the carriage roof and released the pigeons from their cage.
Flutter flutter!
Seol-hwa watched them wing away freely and asked Han Bin.
"Where are those messenger pigeons flying to, young master?"
"Beats me."
"Huh? No destination?"
"They're not messenger pigeons."
"Gasp! Those aren't messenger pigeons? Then the ones we released in front of Ma Hwi last time..."
"Just regular pigeons. The Henan Jeong family head said all the real ones flew the coop, so we filled the cage with these."
"What if that Profit Immortal Ma Hwi noticed?"
"Pfft, even if he did, he couldn't move for a while. And crucially, you didn't notice either. There's a saying in strategy for this."
"What is it?"
"To deceive the enemy, deceive yourself first."
"Sounds kinda familiar..."
Seol-hwa nodded unwittingly.
But then she tilted her head again.
"Isn't that about deceiving your own side?"
"Deceiving just your allies isn't enough. You have to fool yourself to fool the enemy."
"Ah. Kinda makes sense, young master."
As Seol-hwa nodded, Han Bin continued.
"That's why they say in the jangho to hide thirty percent of your strength. The key is hiding it from yourself too."
"So you're hiding thirty percent of your strength from yourself too, young master?"
"That's a secret."
"Aw."
At Seol-hwa's pout, Han Bin glanced up into the air.
Fifty years of his own inner power, plus thirty from the Basic Volume.
The point was, no one could detect the thirty from the Basic Volume.
It was like hiding power in the Sea of Energy.
The problem was concealing his innate power.
Crucially, he needed to complete the remaining Application Volume forms before filling a full cycle and learning the Heaven-Earth Unity Art.
Only then could he perfectly fool experts.
Finishing his thoughts, Han Bin looked back at the Mangho Squad.
He shouted to them.
"Since we're stopped, change into fresh clothes, rest up, and then we move. Training's over!"
At his cry, cheers erupted as they tore off the cloths covering their faces.
"We're free!"
"Woo!"
The loudest cheer came from the youngest, Jo Ho.
He tossed off his mask and sandbags, then looked to the sky.
A moment ago, his lord had freed the pigeons, and now they circled overhead, flapping their wings.
It felt like they were bidding him farewell.
Jo Ho grinned.
"They look thrilled, like they're about to fly away."
Someone replied to his musing.
"Jo Ho, they're not like they're about to fly—they are flying."
Jo Ho turned to see Jangsan smiling beside him.
Jo Ho grinned back.
"Haha, Uncle Jangsan."
"Yeah?"
"Saying it so literally kinda kills the vibe."
"Wait till you're my age."
"Nah, I'll stop here. But are we pigeons trapped in a cage too?"
"What do you mean, Jo Ho?"
"Just thinking the Mangho Squad might be a cage."
"Not a cage—a fence. One that protects us."
"True. Our lord is the fence himself."
Jo Ho and Jangsan turned their gazes to Han Bin in the distance.