Ally or Enemy? (2)
Seol-hwa asked, watching Han Bin scratch his ear.
"Who said something about you, young master?"
Then a familiar voice came from behind them.
"In the Huangbo Family, how many people do you think badmouth their lord?"
Han Bin and Seol-hwa turned their heads at the same time.
Sim Miho stood there, looking worn out.
Han Bin continued nonchalantly.
"The only one who badmouths me is that Huangbo Family eldest young master, Hwang Bo-gyeon-u, right? Isn't that so, Deputy Commander Sim?"
"Nah, that's not true, my lord. Wasn't it just Hwang Bo-gyeon-u who got publicly humiliated that day? All his subordinates ended up speechless as well."
"Was it? Anyway, did things go well?"
Finishing his words, Han Bin glanced behind Sim Miho.
She was carrying what looked like a heavy load.
Sim Miho wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve and smiled.
"It went well, but Master Jeong Cheolmin said he'll come in person from now on."
"Is something wrong with the elder?"
"No, he misses her."
"He does?"
"No, his granddaughter does."
"You mean Soyeon?"
"Yes, that's right."
"By the way, Deputy Commander Sim, your way with words has improved a lot."
"Me?"
"You're trying to bait me now. You've grown up, Deputy Commander Sim."
Han Bin's lips quirked up slyly, and Sim Miho waved her hands frantically as she set down her load.
"Ah, no way. Me, baiting you, my lord? That's a misunderstanding."
"Whatever, if not, then not."
"Anyway, what should we do with this luggage?"
"Hand over one item, and keep the rest yourself, Deputy Commander Sim."
"Then take this one, and I'll hold onto the rest."
Sim Miho pulled an item wrapped in cloth from the luggage and handed it over.
Han Bin tucked it casually into his bosom, and Sim Miho cupped her fists before stepping back.
"I'll be going then."
Sim Miho quietly left.
With her load on her back, she looked just like a merchant.
Yi Mu-myeong, who had been watching from the side, tilted his head and asked cautiously.
"Master, is there anything I can help with...?"
"No. Pretending not to know is the best way to help. If you have the leisure for curiosity like that, swing your sword a few more times."
Han Bin glanced at Seol-hwa.
Meeting his gaze, she drew her softsword from her waist.
Shing.
The freshly drawn blade trembled like a leaf. Before the quiver stopped, Seol-hwa spoke.
"Uncle, let's spar."
"Let's do it!"
Shing!
Yi Mu-myeong drew his sword and quietly looked up at the sky.
How many would believe him if he said he was afraid of that tiny girl?
Han Bin crossed his arms, watching the two.
Then their swords sliced through the air.
Clang! Clang!
But Han Bin wasn't watching their swordsmanship. He was organizing the Yongrin Sword Art forms visible only to his eyes.
After watching for a long time, Han Bin looked down at the Huangbo Family again.
'The Huangbo Family, huh?'
Gazing at the Huangbo Family, Han Bin's lips curled up, his eyes gleaming.
It was the gaze of a beast eyeing its prey.
The next day, at the Huangbo Family's main training ground.
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u looked at his subordinates.
Arms crossed, he shouted at them.
"Your voices are too quiet!"
The warriors swinging their swords in the training ground raised their voices in unison.
"Yah!"
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u shouted again.
"First Form: Earth Dragon Soars to Heaven! The dragon that covers Mount Tai heads for the sky..."
Matching his shouted incantation, the subordinates' swords danced through the space in myriad changes.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
As the forms concluded, Hwang Bo-gyeon-u yelled.
"Everyone, stop!"
Dozens of swords slicing the air halted simultaneously.
Satisfied, Hwang Bo-gyeon-u shouted once more.
"The sweat you're shedding now will turn to gold in the future... Remember my words well. When I become the sun, you will be its light."
The warriors cheered even louder.
"Wooah!"
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u's lips quirked up at the roar.
This was not the dejected Hwang Bo-gyeon-u from yesterday.
What had changed him?
Yesterday, after hearing his younger brother Hwang Bo-yeong-u's scheme, Hwang Bo-gyeon-u had smacked his knee in realization.
To ensure its success, he had spent the day preparing a trap to bind the Hebei Paeng Family's youngest.
With everything set, the results were satisfying.
Now he just needed his target to walk right in.
Smack.
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u smacked his lips, forgetting his subordinates were watching.
Then someone came running urgently.
Thud thud thud.
Turning at the footsteps, it was his right-hand man, Song Kyung-un.
Stopping before Hwang Bo-gyeon-u, Song Kyung-un shouted breathlessly.
"He's here, Young Master!"
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u grinned.
"Alright, let's go!"
"Yes, Young Master."
Song Kyung-un cupped his fists and led the way with quick steps.
Moments later.
Arriving at the main gate, Hwang Bo-gyeon-u swiftly called a guard warrior.
One rushed over at his summons.
"Did you call for me, Young Master?"
"The Hebei Paeng Family's fourth young master is outside now, right?"
"Yes, that's correct. I already sent word to you, Young Master. Should I inform the family head separately?"
"No need. This isn't worth bothering Father with. I'll greet him personally."
Finishing, Hwang Bo-gyeon-u grinned.
The guard bowed his head.
By protocol and status, it was proper for Hwang Bo-gyeon-u to receive the Hebei Paeng Family's fourth young master.
But moments later, the guard tilted his head slightly.
Something felt off about the young master's demeanor.
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u brimmed with anticipation.
The hilt was now in his grasp; all that remained was to carve it up.
He weighed it in his mind.
Fifty silver taels versus the successor candidate exam?
Which held more weight?
The fifty silver taels were what he owed Han Bin.
After the Absol Valley incident, he had paid fifty silver taels, but the rest? Hwang Bo-gyeon-u had washed his hands of it.
No reason to tell the family or pay the remainder himself.
It was his last shred of pride.
Already feeling sour about it, now came the chance for revenge against Han Bin.
Having come to the Huangbo Family for the successor exam, the Hebei Paeng Family's fourth young master was destined to be his prey.
As Hwang Bo-gyeon-u smirked slyly, the guard spoke.
"Young Master, shall I escort the Hebei Paeng Family's fourth young master inside?"
"No, that's not it."
"Young Master, what do you...?"
Before the guard could finish, Hwang Bo-gyeon-u continued.
"Leave him be until further orders."
"Pardon? Leave him be? What does that...?"
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u waved his hand as the startled guard asked again.
"Hey, just do as I say. Go report that you did, then lock the gate."
"Lock the gate?"
The guard's eyes widened at Hwang Bo-gyeon-u's words.
He had worked at the Huangbo Family for over ten years, but this was unprecedented.
Leaving a guest outside and barring the gate? Unthinkable.
What if the family head found out?
The shocked guard asked again.
"What on earth do you...?"
"This is an order as successor candidate."
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u narrowed his eyes, and the guard hurriedly cupped his fists.
"I shall obey."
He couldn't refuse an order invoked with the successor title.
"I'll be away for a bit, so don't move a step from here. I'll return at dawn tomorrow."
"Dawn, Young Master?"
"Since when do you question my words?"
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u furrowed his brow, and the guard reluctantly replied.
"Understood, Young Master."
As the guard bowed, Hwang Bo-gyeon-u turned away satisfied.
The guard narrowed his eyes at Hwang Bo-gyeon-u's retreating figure.
The Hebei Paeng Family's fourth young master?
He must be the young master's sworn enemy.
Otherwise, such blatant snubbing was impossible.
Leaving a guest from one of the North Five Great Families outside until dawn?
The guard gazed seriously beyond the wall.
"Tsk tsk. What rotten luck."
His colleague nodded.
"Tell me about it. Our young master has a fiery temper—one of the top in Shandong—but his luck is abysmal."
The two guards sighed, worrying for Han Bin waiting endlessly outside.
One guard tilted his head.
Normally, if no response came after sending word, one would knock again.
But there was no sound from beyond the gate.
'What's going on?'
Curiosity stirred, but the young master's order kept him rooted.
Then.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps treading true steps echoed from outside.
Followed by a sudden cheer.
'What?'
The guard was dying of curiosity.
"Do you know what that noise is?"
"No idea."
The two guards exchanged curious glances.
As strange sounds continued from beyond the wall, they flinched.
Just what was happening outside the gate?
Han Bin's group had stopped before the Huangbo Family gate, admiring the towering buildings beyond the wall.
After a while, some of the Aekhyeolmaengho-dae members started murmuring.
Jo Ho's voice stood out especially loud.
"Whoa, these buildings seem even bigger than the Hebei Paeng Family's."
"You could say the Paeng Family is more modest."
"Are all the North Five Great Families like this? It's insane."
"Eh, they're all similar."
"Come on, uncle. This is only your second time leaving Hebei, right? The Henan Jeong Family was first."
"Ahem."
Jangsan looked up at the sky and cleared his throat.
Then came the sound of fingers snapping from somewhere.
Snap.
Jo Ho turned his head.
Han Bin was approaching the Aekhyeolmaengho-dae with a displeased expression.
Thud thud.
His footsteps sounded especially heavy today.
He was deliberately infusing them with inner power.
At each step, the Aekhyeolmaengho-dae members froze.
His presence was unusually intense.
As everyone stiffened, Han Bin spoke.
"We're camping here today."
Startled by the order, So Daeseop rushed over frantically.
"My lord, what do you mean?"
"We're staying overnight here, so prepare a site."
"But someone should come to greet us soon. Why camp here? At the Huangbo Family's main gate, no less...?"
"Deputy Commander So, why do you think I came here?"
"For the successor candidate exam, right?"
"Wrong!"
Han Bin shook his head playfully, making a buzzer sound.
Everyone focused on him.
The frozen tension melted, replaced by curiosity in the eyes of the entire Aekhyeolmaengho-dae.
As they licked their lips in anticipation, Han Bin continued.
"I'm not here for something trivial like the successor candidate exam. It's this."
Han Bin pulled a letter from his bosom.
Everyone stared silently.
But no one asked.
As they all gazed at the letter, Seol-hwa spoke up.
"Young master, what's that letter?"
Han Bin turned to her.
His eyes said her timing was perfect.
Smiling, he replied.
"This is the contract between the Huangbo Family and me."
At the unexpected words, everyone tilted their heads.