Ally or Enemy? (4)
Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon glanced subtly at her sleeve.
“Oh ho!”
She let out a pleased exclamation. Her sleeve was completely intact.
This was consideration toward her opponent. It meant she hadn’t thrown the cup to test his skills but out of goodwill.
To hurl a cup without damaging it or harming the recipient?
It required perfect harmony between outer and inner energies.
Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon’s eyes narrowed as she gauged Han Bin’s realm.
She nodded as if she’d made up her mind, then directed the cup toward Han Bin.
A faint energy swirled around her hand, as if promising to return it in kind.
The cup gleamed like a full moon.
Gazing at it with deep eyes, Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon spoke.
“I drank well, so shall I return the cup?”
With that, she flung it like an arrow.
Whoosh!
The cup sliced through the air with a sharp whistle.
In that instant, every member of the Red Blood Alliance Squad’s eyes widened further.
Han Bin’s throw hadn’t been threatening. But Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon’s was ferocious.
It charged at him like a rabid dog on the rampage.
And it wasn’t just the momentum.
Sword of will? No, cup of will?
The cup’s trajectory was uncanny.
It flew in erratic patterns, like a child’s scribbles.
Ferocious force paired with mystical motion.
Could Han Bin even catch that cup?
Even blocking it would shatter it into shards.
Yet Han Bin casually reached out.
Swoosh!
Everyone’s eyes bulged even more.
Han Bin caught the cup effortlessly.
They were stunned because he used no special technique.
He received it as if a friend were simply passing him a drink.
Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon, hand extended after the throw.
Han Bin, frozen mid-motion after catching it.
The two stared at each other, motionless.
It was like a scene from an ink wash painting.
The bizarre sight of Han Bin and Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon stirred murmurs around them.
Among them, Jo Ho tilted his head and whispered.
“What are they doing? Uncle Jangsan.”
“Beats me. No clue why they’re frozen like that.”
Jangsan tilted his head too.
“Maybe they’re showing off?”
“Showing off?”
“Don’t opera actors strike poses like that at the end of a show?”
Then Seol-hwa tugged Jo Ho’s sleeve.
Jo Ho asked quietly.
“What’s up, Seol-hwa?”
“It’s not showing off.”
“Then what is it?”
“Look over there.”
Seol-hwa pointed between Han Bin and Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon.
Jo Ho tilted his head.
There was only darkness in that space.
Seeing his reaction, Seol-hwa said.
“Look closer.”
“Closer...”
Jo Ho squinted and trailed off. A thin line appeared in his vision.
It shimmered as if infused with energy.
What was this rippling line they were seeing?
Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon hadn’t thrown the cup simply to test Han Bin.
She’d tied heavenly silken thread to it before hurling it.
By channeling energy through the thread, she created the illusion of a cup of will.
Now that Han Bin had caught it, their inner powers clashed.
But Han Bin handled it nonchalantly.
Reap what you sow!
This was a technique from the Yongrin Sword Art: grafting flowers.
Han Bin effortlessly redirected a portion of Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon’s aggressive energy without expending any of his own.
As everyone marveled, Han Bin moved his left hand holding the cup.
To onlookers, it looked like he was about to throw it back.
But their guesses were dead wrong.
Han Bin poured more liquor into the cup.
Then drank it casually.
Seeing this, Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon stopped channeling her energy.
She had no intent to harm him, so she’d sent just enough to surprise.
Yet absurdly, it bounced back at her.
Clearly the grafting technique.
She didn’t know how he did it, but with Han Bin drinking so casually, even her desire to test him vanished.
It was only natural. He’d surpassed her limits.
Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon retracted the heavenly silken thread along with the cup and descended from the wall.
Flutter!
Her sleeve billowed as she landed lightly and walked slowly toward Han Bin.
Stopping before him, she said.
“I am Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon, leader of the Huangbo Family’s law enforcement hall.”
“I know.”
Finishing, Han Bin offered her the cup.
“Have another. Big Sis Lawkeeper.”
“Mind if I do, little brother?”
Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon took it casually.
After that, the cup passed silently between them.
After downing several in a row, Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon remarked.
“Never knew liquor like this existed. A first for me.”
“It’s decades-old baekaju.”
“Oh ho, so Hebei Paeng Family has a master brewer?”
“Want an introduction?”
Han Bin grinned.
He meant it.
That brewer was none other than Paeng Daewi, the Paeng Family’s law enforcement leader.
Han Bin had snuck out a few bottles without his knowledge.
Paeng Daewi would flip if he knew.
No, he’d faint upon hearing this conversation.
Dismissing it as nonsense, Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon took a swig and let out a hollow laugh.
“Ha!”
Then she stared straight at Han Bin.
He felt oddly familiar.
More approachable than her own nephew, Hwang Bo-gyeon-u.
Noticing her expression, Han Bin shrugged.
Come to think of it, everything matched his past life memories.
Back then, calling her “elder” had nearly gotten him stabbed.
At least he’d successfully hooked her.
Time for the main point.
Han Bin continued calmly.
“They say a good matchmaker gets three slaps, right?”
“Three slaps? Not three drinks?”
Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon’s eyes widened slightly, but Han Bin pressed on casually.
“Well, the drinks are already covered. Good deeds always get you slapped—by fellow Great Families, no less.”
“What on earth...”
She trailed off, eyeing Han Bin and the Red Blood Alliance Squad.
It sounded like she was the one who’d slapped after a good deed—aimed at the Huangbo Family.
Then Han Bin continued smoothly.
“Think about it. If a direct Huangbo heir visits Hebei Paeng Family and faces this, would you stand for it?”
“...”
“Does your family code say to leave guests outside?”
“Hm. But what’s this ‘good deed’?”
“I lent some money to Young Master Hwang Bo-gyeon-u.”
Han Bin pulled a contract from his bosom and unfurled it.
Examining it, Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon’s eyes widened.
Poison clauses lurked everywhere.
The real issue: the notarizer was a Henan official, explicitly acting for the imperial court.
If kept, no problem—but would her nephew uphold it?
Of course, calling it a “good deed” was nonsense.
But a contract was a contract.
Still, her goodwill toward Han Bin didn’t vanish.
As she calculated mentally...
The gate creaked open behind them.
Creeeak!
The massive Huangbo gate swung wide.
Clunk!
A guard rushed out.
The hurried guard asked Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon.
“Are you alright, Lawkeeper?”
“Quick to ask, aren’t you?”
“N-no, I mean...”
“I’m fine. Come join us for a drink.”
She patted the seat beside her. The guard replied in a dying voice.
“N-no, thank you.”
Someone thrust a meat skewer at the refusing guard.
A small girl with shining eyes offered it. The guard’s eyes widened.
It was Seol-hwa, of course.
He instinctively took the skewer.
Everyone laughed.
The lingering tension scattered like smoke over the campfire.
About the time for a cup of tea later...
Urgent footsteps echoed from inside the wall.
Thud thud thud.
They grew closer. Their owner arrived: Hwang Bo-gyeon-u, the Huangbo Family’s eldest young master.
He rushed to Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon and clasped his hands in greeting.
“Greetings, Aunt.”
“...”
She didn’t even turn, continuing her chat with Han Bin.
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u spoke again.
“Aunt, I mean...”
Only then did she turn.
Her gaze was unnerving.
Like midwinter frost, she glared at him.
Standing, she barked.
“Eldest Young Master!”
“Yes, Aunt.”
“What do we do when guests visit the family?”
“Well...”
“Is it fine to leave them outside like this?”
“Aunt, the situation is special this time.”
“Special how?”
“He’s here for the heir candidate trial. Letting him in casually would be more suspicious.”
Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon tilted her head at his words.
The North Five Families’ heir trial—known as the northern pilgrimage—was indeed special.
Its foundation was simple: without family backing, you’re less than dust.
As a candidate, he wasn’t Paeng Family—he was mere dust.
Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon turned to Han Bin.
“Here for the trial?”
“Trial...? You’ve got it wrong.”
“Then why visit the Huangbo Family?”
Her tone turned rigid.
But Han Bin’s expression didn’t change.
“Just as I said earlier.”
“Earlier?”
“To collect a debt. And shouldn’t you at least know why I’m here before deciding? That’s family code, right?”
“Hm.”
Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon coughed awkwardly.
Han Bin was right.
Trial or not, verify first—treatment later.
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u had erred.
And that error stained the family.
Then Hwang Bo-gyeon-u asked Han Bin in a trembling voice.
“Debt? What do you mean?”
“Long time no see, Eldest Young Master of Huangbo.”
“I only have half left to pay... what...”
“Shouldn’t you invite the guest in first? Young Master.”
Han Bin grinned. Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon interjected.
“He’s right. You handle this.”
She grabbed her cup, stood, and headed for the gate.
Pausing as if struck by a thought, she turned back.
Her eyes full of curiosity fixed on Han Bin.
Feeling her gaze, he asked.
“Something to say, Big Sis Lawkeeper?”
“Just one question.”
“Go ahead.”
“Are you an ally of the Huangbo Family? Or an enemy?”
“At least not an enemy.”
Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon’s eyes lit with anticipation.
“So I can take that as ally?”