Chapter 158. Hebei's Finest (1)
Where Han Bin pointed, a human arm protruded from the debris.
Standing before it, Han Bin wrinkled his nose with a serious expression.
Then he checked the sleeve sticking out sideways and looked at Hwan Bo-man-cheong.
"This is definitely that mysterious enemy who disguised himself as this young master."
Han Bin had observed three things.
First was the trace of the Thousand-Mile Pursuit Fragrance, second was the attire.
And last was the mark left on the palm.
That palm clearly bore the traces of someone who had trained in swordsmanship.
By closely examining the wrinkles and calluses on the palm, one could even infer the sword style.
Having clashed swords with him, Han Bin could spot those traces.
Hwan Bo-man-cheong nodded as well.
"The clothing makes it certain."
"The probability it's the same person is about ninety percent."
"Ninety percent?"
"Yes. In this amount of time, they could have dressed someone else in these clothes and stuffed them here instead."
"That remaining ten percent exception feels suspicious. Why leave that ten percent ambiguity?"
"It's the exception decreed by heaven. Leaving a ten percent margin in all things and preparing for it—that's the true way of the jianghu, isn't it?"
"Mind if I check the face?"
"Didn't you touch his face yesterday?"
"Seeing you, it feels like you've rolled around the jianghu for decades."
"Haha, isn't that basic training for anyone from a martial family?"
"Fair enough. Hmm."
Hwan Bo-man-cheong nodded reflexively.
But deep down, he didn't buy it.
If all this was basic martial family training, it was as good as saying he'd been gripping a sword since birth.
Where in the world was there such a person?
Still, denying Han Bin's words felt like it would tarnish the Huangbo Family's face, so he grudgingly agreed.
Noticing Hwan Bo-man-cheong's reluctant expression, Han Bin continued.
"The family head can proceed with the next steps at ease."
"I think so too."
"It seems we should end the great game's opening gambit around here."
"You've worked hard. And thank you."
"The real work starts now."
"Tell me your honest thoughts."
Hwan Bo-man-cheong's expression was more serious than ever.
Glancing around briefly, Han Bin spoke quietly.
"First, let me make a proposal."
"I'll hear it out as best I can."
"The most important thing is for the Huangbo Family to act as if nothing happened."
"Act like nothing happened? If there's a spy planted by the enemy, shouldn't we root them out?"
Hwan Bo-man-cheong tilted his head.
Han Bin replied.
"Finding the enemy isn't the priority."
"Then what is?"
"Tracking the enemy's tail."
"Their tail..."
"Eventually, someone will approach this young master's body. Could be a servant or an outsider."
"You're saying we dig a trap."
"Yes. Using your beloved go as an example, we set up a board where they can't avoid a ladder formation."
"A ladder... I agree with you."
Hwan Bo-man-cheong's wrinkles twitched pleasantly.
An unmistakably delighted expression.
The "ladder" Han Bin mentioned was a go technique where, no matter how the opponent zigzags to escape, they keep losing ground until they're inevitably captured.
Seeing Hwan Bo-man-cheong's favorable reaction, Han Bin pressed on.
"And you mustn't show favor toward me either."
"Hide your relationship with me too?"
"Yes, please. I suspect the one who wounded the Huangbo Family might not be the Demonic Cult."
"I agree up to here. Any plans after that?"
"That's all from me."
"Then I'll say my piece."
"Yes, go ahead."
"Hand it over."
"Hand over what?"
"The Five Elements Token."
"Ah, the Five Elements Token..."
"Who else but the Huangbo Family is a solid ally to the Hebei Paeng Family?"
Hwan Bo-man-cheong extended his hand with a sly grin.
Han Bin inwardly clicked his tongue at the sight.
No room for carelessness, not even for a moment.
In navigating the jianghu, mind arts that ensnare the heart could be more terrifying than sword arts that cleaved mountains.
Suddenly, Han Bin thought that favor laced with persistence was even scarier.
Reading Han Bin's expression, Hwan Bo-man-cheong said.
"I'll visit the Hebei Paeng Family soon."
As Hwan Bo-man-cheong gazed at him with a kindly face, Han Bin quietly lifted his head.
'What is this pressure, exactly?'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Han Bin left the Huangbo Family exactly two days later.
Rumors spread through the Huangbo Family that he had departed under the family head's expulsion order.
Inside the family, the reaction was mostly, "As expected."
The most excited among them was Hwang Bo-gyeon-u.
Upon hearing the news, Hwang Bo-gyeon-u stormed off to find the law enforcement leader, Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon.
"Law enforcement leader, why did you let the Hebei Paeng Family's fourth young master go just like that?"
"And what would you suggest instead?"
Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon narrowed her eyes at Hwang Bo-gyeon-u.
She was one of the few who knew about the secret pact between the family head and Han Bin.
Though Hwang Bo-gyeon-u was the heir apparent, it wasn't time to reveal the secret—that was the judgment of both the family head and Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon.
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u didn't even realize his younger brother had been swapped for days.
But they couldn't just leave Hwang Bo-gyeon-u like this.
Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon had decided on a harsh prescription.
Unaware of her intentions, Hwang Bo-gyeon-u raised his voice slightly.
"He barges into our family, does as he pleases, and then slips away like a coward—does that make any sense?"
"He didn't exactly slip away like a coward."
"Then what?"
"We let him go quietly. But first, take a look at this."
Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon tossed a neatly folded letter at Hwang Bo-gyeon-u.
Whoosh.
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u reflexively caught and unfolded it.
In compensation for preserving your arm, the following payment shall be made.
This is the final hurdle you must overcome to become family head.
Did you think you could frame a direct descendant of another Great Five Family and walk away unscathed?
— Family Head Hwan Bo-man-cheong
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u's eyes widened like full moons as he read the letter.
His hand trembled violently while holding it.
"What the hell is this?"
"Exactly as it says. The payment for saving your arm and the last trial to become family head. Did you think you'd get away with framing a direct descendant of another Great Five Family?"
"That's not... but..."
"The Huangbo Family paid an unimaginable price for your actions."
"So you're saying I need approval from the Hebei Paeng Family's fourth young master to become family head?"
"That's the family head's will. What will you do?"
"......"
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u stared at the letter in a daze.
Moments later, still not grasping it, he asked.
"What's this rumor about Father issuing an expulsion order?"
"You want rumors that the Huangbo Family got ransacked?"
"Well..."
"That's politics. As the great young master of the Huangbo Family, you need to learn it from now on."
"What kind of politics?"
"Make the Hebei Paeng Family's fourth young master your ally, somehow. That's the family head's order—and mine."
"M-my ally...?"
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u's pupils shook as if struck by an earthquake.
Combining the letter and Hwang Bo-seo-hyeon's words, the conclusion was clear: he had to grovel under the Hebei Paeng Family's fourth young master, Paeng Hanbin.
This was thunder from a clear sky for Hwang Bo-gyeon-u.
A while later, emerging from the law enforcement hall, Hwang Bo-gyeon-u ground his teeth, inwardly repeating the same name over and over.
'Paeng Hanbin, Paeng Hanbin! You damn con artist!'
After that, every time Hwang Bo-gyeon-u opened his eyes, he'd grit his teeth repeating that name.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Ten days later, early morning on the slopes of Garam Mountain.
Han Bin scratched his ear and tilted his head.
"Someone keeps calling my name. Have I awakened Heavenly Ear Clarity Technique or something?"
"Young master, I don't hear anything."
Seol-hwa tilted her head, and Yi Mu-myeong chimed in from beside her.
"Indeed, master."
Han Bin grinned broadly at them.
"Sounds like you're getting your energy back now."
"N-no, it's not."
"Come on, your voice is full of pep. Time to head back in."
"M-master."
"I always say, don't act so feeble. Hurry up."
Han Bin jerked his chin toward the side.
There was a grave where he pointed.
It connected to a passage linked to the Huangbo Family's training chamber.
Yi Mu-myeong's shoulders trembled faintly at the sight of the grave.
Why was Yi Mu-myeong reacting like this?
The reason was simple.
Right now, Yi Mu-myeong and the Red Blood Alliance Tiger Squad members were mining black iron to take back to Hebei.
Well, "mining" wasn't quite right.
They were cutting the existing black iron chunks to a transportable size.
The problem was black iron's hardness.
Would something that shattered after a few sword strikes or hammer blows qualify as black iron?
Only the strokes of the Soul-Scattering Sword could cut it.
Though Han Bin had taught the entire Red Blood Alliance Tiger Squad the Soul-Scattering Sword strokes, only three were truly effective right now.
Seol-hwa, Yi Mu-myeong, and Sim Miho.
Sim Miho was shuttling between the village and Garam Mountain for food supplies, while Seol-hwa was discreetly standing guard around the perimeter.
Thus, Yi Mu-myeong alone was carving the black iron, while the rest hauled it out of the passage.
As a result, Yi Mu-myeong was utterly exhausted.
He needed at least two hours of rest for his body to recover, but Han Bin was sending him back in—it felt like death.
"Urgh!"
Letting out a groan, Yi Mu-myeong rose to his feet.
Watching him, Han Bin narrowed his eyes.
In truth, Han Bin could go down and carve the black iron himself, ending it quickly.
But he had a reason for this.
Yi Mu-myeong showed potential to ascend from Peak to Super Peak.
It felt like he had some spirit pill hidden in his body, releasing bits each time he hit his limit.
As Yi Mu-myeong turned toward the grave with pitiful eyes, he asked Seol-hwa.
"Who's the most rested right now?"
"Not me. I'm pretty beat too, Uncle Mu-myeong."
Seol-hwa waved her hand dismissively, and Yi Mu-myeong replied.
"I wasn't talking about you—I meant Cheolno. He seems the most comfortable around Master. I'm jealous."
"I'm jealous too. I miss street tanghwa candy."
"Help me out? If you do, I'll buy you all the tanghwa you want."
Han Bin cut into their conversation.
"Absolutely not!"
At Han Bin's words, Yi Mu-myeong hung his head.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
At the same time, in front of an inn somewhere in Hebei.
A neatly dressed man gazed at the restaurant door with a meaningful expression.
He hesitated, then leaned against the wall in a corner and looked back at the restaurant.
Just then, the restaurant door creaked open slightly, and someone peeked out.
It was a fairly pretty woman.
The woman in her mid-twenties looked around as if waiting for someone.
After scanning for a while, her gaze stopped on the man in the corner.
In an instant, she flung open the door and ran over.
Clatter.
She quickly approached the man, grabbed his sleeve, and pulled.
The man reluctantly followed her.
Leading him into the inn, the woman said.
"Brother Cheolno, why are you so late?"
The man's identity was none other than Cheolno.
Cheolno smiled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
"Sorry, I've been busy."
"I've been waiting so long."
The woman pouted sulkily.
Cheolno continued apologetically.
"Our young master piles on the work like a mountain. He can't even lift a spoon without me... Well, not that I feed him, but anyway, he can't do anything without me."
"Ah."
"This time, heading to Shandong, he left me a mountain of tasks..."
Cheolno beamed, rattling off everything he'd done the past few days.