Chapter 156. The Big Picture (6)
Hwan Bo-man-cheong tilted his head at the paper Han Bin had spread out.
Though tiny writing was already scrawled across the hanji paper, Hwan Bo-man-cheong didn't bother reading it.
He had no inkling that those words had anything to do with him.
But his assumption shattered with Han Bin's next words.
"Take a look and decide."
"A contract?"
"It's a simple one I prepared. No different from what we discussed verbally earlier."
"Heh heh. A contract when we might die here..."
Hwan Bo-man-cheong trailed off.
Strangely, assuming death here brought him a sense of relief.
The current crisis was a disaster even a Hwagyeong master couldn't escape.
So why the relief?
It wasn't rational judgment—it felt more like a warrior's instinct.
As Hwan Bo-man-cheong pondered this inexplicable sensation, Han Bin spoke softly.
"It's nothing much. Just sharing what we gain from this ordeal."
Hwan Bo-man-cheong looked up, tilting his head again.
"True. But we haven't gained anything, have we?"
"We've secured this young master. And by uncovering a hidden enemy, we've safeguarded the Huangbo Family's future. You don't consider that small?"
"Ahem."
Hwan Bo-man-cheong stroked his beard and cleared his throat.
But his eyes brimmed with goodwill.
"If you don't like it, I can just lie down here too."
Han Bin pointed at the floor playfully, as if joking. Hwan Bo-man-cheong quickly continued.
"Ahem, I'll read it first."
Hwan Bo-man-cheong alternated between the contract and Han Bin.
His mouth gradually fell open as he read.
He'd expected vague terms about mutual cooperation.
Instead, the details were meticulous—from business dealings to disaster response protocols, all densely packed on the tiny paper.
The issue was that Han Bin had prepared it all in advance.
Whether this incident happened or not, he would have presented it.
What if circumstances hadn't aligned?
He must have maneuvered to create a signing opportunity.
Seeing Han Bin anew, Hwan Bo-man-cheong briefly entertained a dark thought.
What if he were the enemy?
Shaking it off, he gazed at Han Bin with pleased, appraising eyes.
Alternating glances, Hwan Bo-man-cheong cautiously spoke.
"Young man, is your marriage arranged?"
"I broke off the one that was. Why do you ask?"
"No reason."
Hwan Bo-man-cheong waved it off hastily.
A moment later.
He picked up the brush.
As he moved to sign the hanji, he paused and looked at Han Bin.
Han Bin asked at the sight.
"Something wrong?"
"May I touch your face?"
Han Bin chuckled at Hwan Bo-man-cheong's serious tone.
"Go ahead."
"Then, pardon me."
Hwan Bo-man-cheong reached out swiftly.
Han Bin didn't resist, watching with bemused disbelief.
Like kneading a baby's cheek, Hwan Bo-man-cheong carefully examined Han Bin's face and sighed.
"Hoo."
"Satisfied?"
"You knew why I did this."
"A human skin mask that fools even a father—how could there be guarantees about me?"
Han Bin grinned. Hwan Bo-man-cheong quietly resumed with the brush.
Han Bin tilted his head.
"I said sign it—why are you editing the contract?"
"Ahem, caught me?"
Hwan Bo-man-cheong smiled sheepishly.
Where his brush finally stopped was an absurd clause.
A betrothal between the Fourth Young Master of the Hebei Paeng Family and the Huangbo Family...
Han Bin clicked his tongue at Hwan Bo-man-cheong.
Conceiving such an idea amid crisis was ridiculous.
After a brief tussle, Hwan Bo-man-cheong had no choice but to delete the addition.
Having signed, Hwan Bo-man-cheong asked.
"You said the enemy is still alive?"
"Yes."
"Then you can find the one who insulted the Huangbo Family?"
"I can."
"How?"
"Impossible to say. It's a top secret—can't reveal trade secrets from the start."
Han Bin grinned, wiping bloodstains from Wol-a with a cloth torn from his sleeve, wrinkling his nose.
Can I really catch the bastard?
It was half-true.
One sense from his past life—Han Bin's smell—was dozens of times keener than an ordinary warrior's.
Comparable to an animal's.
Like a wolf to blood, Han Bin was sensitive to certain scents.
He'd coated Wol-a's blade with an indelible aroma the enemy couldn't erase.
Known in the jianghu as Thousand Li Tracking Scent.
Though "thousand li" was for spirit beasts; Han Bin could detect it within a hundred paces, any situation.
In other words, he'd catch them on sight.
Even navigating the maze-like passages owed to this scent.
Traces left midway had guided him.
Shaking off reverie, Han Bin rose slowly.
He struck the stone-and-iron wall, eyeing the Yongrin Sword Art basic manual.
[Basic Manual]
...
[Heart (Heart): Ten (ten)]
The minimum attributes for Jinyong Pahon Geom had reached ten.
The Heart attributes hitting ten was about an hour ago.
That meant Sim Miho had entered the first stage of Pahon Geom.
Stepping into Pahon Geom meant she'd safely pioneered the passage.
How soon?
Near the training chamber, she'd face an unbreakable iron wall or solid stone.
Han Bin would have to breach it—not her.
Now, he just awaited the signal.
Confirming the wall, Han Bin smiled quietly.
Seeing it, Hwan Bo-man-cheong approached slowly.
A sudden question had arisen.
Han Bin glanced back at the patriarch's presence.
"Young man, have you reached the Hwagyeong realm?"
"No. How could I aspire to Hwagyeong?"
"Then what was that aura at the end?"
"Just call it a Paeng family heirloom art."
"Heh heh."
Hwan Bo-man-cheong laughed affably, signaling no more questions.
Han Bin smiled back.
"Once we're out, we have much to discuss. I'll clear up your curiosities then."
"I'll look forward to it."
As Hwan Bo-man-cheong nodded and turned.
A sound echoed from somewhere on the training chamber wall.
Bam! Bam!
Han Bin dashed over, pressing his ear to it.
Confirming, he nodded quietly.
Definitely the Sim Miho he'd awaited.
Han Bin began tapping the wall with Wol-a's hilt.
Bam, bam... Bam.
His taps signaled Sim Miho to retreat a hundred paces.
Bam... Bam.
The response came from the other side.
Sim Miho had acknowledged.
With signals exchanged, Han Bin shouted to Hwan Bo-man-cheong.
"Elder, take the young master to the opposite side!"
"What is it?"
"Reinforcements have arrived."
"Understood."
Finishing, Hwan Bo-man-cheong supported his second son and moved away.
Preparations complete, Han Bin drew Wol-a.
Shing.
Assuming stance, he recalled a new Yongrin Sword Art technique.
Fanbak Gwijin (Back to simplicity) — A method to thoroughly conceal one's power. Hides inner power via physical strength, essential for surviving in the jianghu. Upon activation, no one can discern the user's realm. Duration: one hour. Requires one Force (strength) attribute.
Fanbak Gwijin was what Han Bin wanted.
As described, concealing strength aided survival in the jianghu.
Leaking aura attracted stronger, slyer foes.
Using Force over Merit avoided straining inner power operation.
Activating it now hid his presence.
Jinyong Pahon Geom—a pinnacle Yongrin Sword Art technique shattering souls with heart force—was new even to him.
Unknown what effects it might have nearby.
Han Bin invoked it silently.
'Jinyong Pahon Geom.'
The ten Heart attributes and three years' Merit from the basic manual vanished.
Simultaneously, strange energies gathered in his hands from throughout his body.
When no more converged, it flowed into Wol-a's hilt.
Han Bin felt oddly unified with the sword.
The energy streamed hilt to blade tip.
A translucent orb formed at the tip.
Han Bin narrowed his eyes.
It resembled a yeouiju.
Wol-a became a dragon clutching the pearl.
In that instant, the sword moved at his will.
Precisely one chi.
Like a typical inch-force strike.
Simultaneously, the yeouiju at Wol-a's tip touched the wall.
Pop!
A modest impact rang through the chamber.
As it faded, black dust swirled before Han Bin.
As it settled, the space beyond revealed itself.
Han Bin walked through the hole slowly.
Matching his steps, someone approached from the other side.
Piercing lingering dust, she clasped hands in greeting.
"My lord, I've come."
"Good work. Deputy Commander Sim."
Han Bin grinned. Sim Miho scanned around, tilting her head.
"My lord, what is this? Did you detonate a Heavenly Thunder? Or a Honyeon Wall Force Bomb?"
"Secret. If you're curious..."
Teasing, Han Bin trailed off. Sim Miho looked aggrieved.
"That's too much, my lord! I tunneled through a mountain, and it's a secret?"
"Fine, just this once. It's the final stage of the Pahon Geom you trained in. One star now, but it'll be like this eventually."
Han Bin added a slight fib.
But it would motivate her.
A white lie, benevolent.
"Gasp!"
Sim Miho's eyes widened. Then her head tilted slightly.
"But how did you know I succeeded at the first star, my lord?"
"A leader always senses subordinates and family, even a thousand li away. Don't get too moved, Deputy Commander Sim."
"How could I not? You gave me a sword art that pulverizes iron."
Tears welled in her dirt-smeared eyes.
But Han Bin narrowed his.
"Iron?"
"Yes, iron. Pitch-black iron blocking me."
Han Bin swept dust from the floor.
Tasted it.
Sim Miho startled, crying out.
"My lord! Even if you're hungry, why eat dust? Shall I fetch jerky?"
"It's fine, Deputy Commander Sim. Looks like I'm really lucky."
Han Bin grinned.
The Huangbo Family legend Hwan Bo-man-cheong casually mentioned was true.
Then, from behind, Hwan Bo-man-cheong approached, son on his back.
Eyes wide in shock, he stared at Han Bin and Sim Miho.
His gaze fixed on Sim Miho.
"Wh-who are you people?"