Chapter 16. Crescent Moon (1)
As Paeng Hanbin's group left the inn, the escort hurriedly asked,
"Branch leader, did they perhaps find gold in Guigok Manor? Otherwise, why would they take on that burden...?"
"No taking back a lost bet. It's land that's left my hands. Don't worry about it anymore. But why are the guys I sent earlier taking so damn long?"
Yi Se-myung glanced around.
Just then, the inn door swung open, and several warriors rushed in.
"Branch leader, we've looked into it."
"So, does that kid have the funds to manage Guigok Manor?"
"He pawned darksteel at our pawnshop."
"Darksteel—the material for the Hebei Paeng Family little candidate master's insignia?"
"That's what we've confirmed."
"Haha. Interesting. The kid was right after all. A real troublemaker's popped up in Hebei."
"What should we do?"
"Dig deeper into Paeng Hanbin, discreetly."
"Understood."
The warrior clasped his fists and vanished from the spot.
Yi Se-myung turned to his escort.
"But didn't you sense anything odd, Escort Jang?"
"What do you mean, branch leader?"
"Paeng Hanbin. You said the guy faints at the sight of blood."
"Oh, come to think of it... I'll check it out myself."
"Just leave it. Seems he doesn't faint at your blood."
"Ah, now that you mention it, there's something strange on my end too."
"Speak, Escort Jang."
"Your inner power made my insides boil, yet how did he order more food and eat before leaving?"
Yi Se-myung burst out laughing at the escort's words.
"Pfft."
"Why are you laughing?"
"Figure out why he was fine—it's your homework for today. Think hard on it, Escort Jang."
With that, Yi Se-myung leaned back in his wooden chair and stared up at the ceiling.
He had briefly checked Paeng Hanbin's pulse earlier and roughly grasped the situation.
It was all an act.
An act born of sheer desperation, no doubt.
Even after leaving the inn, So Daeseop and Sim Miho couldn't shake their suspicious glances.
"Are you planning to connect with the Hebei provincial office by managing Guigok Manor?"
Paeng Hanbin halted.
"Something like that... But don't call it Guigok Manor anymore. From now on, it's Cheonsu Manor."
"Yes, my lord."
"It's all well and good, but won't the family view dealings with Cheonri Escort Agency negatively?"
At Sim Miho's question, Paeng Hanbin murmured softly.
"Deputy Commander Sim."
"Yes, my lord."
"When catching rats, do you use a white cat or a black cat?"
Sim Miho couldn't answer the riddle-like question.
So Daeseop, standing nearby, jumped in hastily.
"A clean white cat would be best, right?"
"Wrong."
This time, Sim Miho narrowed her eyes.
"Then a black cat that blends into the dark?"
"Wrong again."
As Paeng Hanbin shook his head playfully, Sim Miho and So Daeseop tilted theirs in confusion.
Paeng Hanbin said casually,
"Who cares about color when catching rats? You use the one that catches them best."
"Ah."
Sim Miho nodded in understanding, while So Daeseop pondered the meaning.
Paeng Hanbin smirked and continued.
"You don't check name tags to tell friend from foe, do you, Commander So?"
"What does that mean, my lord?"
"Anyone who treats me well or I can use is on my side."
"Ah... My lord..."
So Daeseop finally nodded, getting it.
But one thing still nagged at him.
What was up with Paeng Hanbin looking like he'd swallowed three or four eels—or a belly full of them?
Curiosity twitched So Daeseop's lips.
Noticing, Paeng Hanbin lifted the corner of his mouth slightly.
"From now on, the Guardian Squad can stretch out and sleep easy."
"What do you mean?"
"We've got lodging outside the Paeng family grounds. Isn't that obvious?"
"Huh?"
"Little candidates have the right to secure external training grounds, right?"
"No way...?"
"That 'no way' is spot on."
"...Cheonsu Manor is our training ground?"
"Obviously. Get ready to eat and sleep there."
"My lord, you're not saying you're putting us in Guigok Manor...?"
"Commander So, why do you keep calling it Guigok Manor? Property values drop! Time to go."
"Go where?"
Pointing west, Paeng Hanbin replied to So Daeseop's question.
"Cheonsu Manor."
"Ah!"
So Daeseop's expression, staring west, was pure unease.
A moment later.
Paeng Hanbin stood under the Cheonsu Manor signboard.
So Daeseop, following behind, asked in a trembling voice.
"M-my lord. We really have to train here?"
"Not just train—once it's sorted, this'll be the Guardian Squad's lodging."
"......"
So Daeseop backed away wordlessly.
Paeng Hanbin turned and casually opened the massive doors of Cheonsu Manor.
Creak!
Thud!
One door swung wide—then fell limply to the ground.
The rotten door had crumbled. Proof of utter neglect.
Peering inside revealed no signs of life, just eerie desolation.
Ghosts could haunt this place even in daylight.
Paeng Hanbin looked back.
"What're you doing over there? Come on in."
At his gesture, So Daeseop shuffled forward like a cow to the slaughter.
Cheolno, meanwhile, entered unfazed and looked around.
"Young master, the vibe screams ghosts any second, but it feels oddly warm."
Sim Miho jumped at Cheolno's words.
"Cheolno, you think this looks warm?"
"That's how it feels to me..."
Cheolno scratched his head.
Paeng Hanbin eyed him curiously.
Soon enough, he sauntered inside to inspect Cheonsu Manor.
Not a weed in sight.
Sim Miho sighed as she looked around.
"Is this land cursed to leave not a single blade of grass?"
"Yeah, seems the ghost possession rumors are true. I should advise the lord to back out of the deal..."
So Daeseop chimed in, then widened his eyes.
Paeng Hanbin's actions were weird.
He was touching the dirt contentedly, even sniffing it.
Of course, Paeng Hanbin had his reasons.
Checking the land's energy.
Cheonsu Manor's site brimmed with ferocious qi.
Crucially, it was extreme yang energy.
That's why Cheolno felt warmth.
The overwhelming yang scorched most plants to death.
Even nearby farms lay barren.
Humans fared no better.
If they could, no one would sell this for five iron coins.
Paeng Hanbin recalled his deal with Yi Se-myung hours ago.
Even if its value came out later, three taels of gold sealed it—no backing out.
The tenfold penalty clause was a solid weapon.
That was why he'd handed over the gold.
The three requests were bonuses; rejection wouldn't matter.
Yet it felt like he'd gained Yi Se-myung's favor too. Why was that?
Paeng Hanbin grinned.
Snapping from his thoughts, he stretched.
"Alright, toured the place. Time to prep!"
After a quick look, he headed to the main hall, pulling out brush, ink, and paper from his pack again.
Cheolno asked,
"Young master, what're you doing?"
"Drawing the Cheonsu Manor plaque."
"What's this?"
Cheolno pointed to a slanted line.
"Secret."
"Aw, young master. Even from me? You've got too many secrets lately."
"All for your sake, Cheolno. Ignorance can be bliss."
"Still curious..."
"Bored? Wanna learn some martial arts?"
"No thanks, young master. I can't learn new ones with what I've got."
Martial arts talk sent Cheolno retreating.
Paeng Hanbin chuckled and finished the drawing silently.
He carefully dried the ink in the sun.
Once done, he called So Daeseop.
"Commander So. Take this. And this."
Paeng Hanbin handed over the Cheonsu Manor blueprint and some remaining funds.
So Daeseop got the gist.
Turning this into a training ground meant furnishings and supplies.
These were the funds for that.
But those slanted marks on the blueprint piqued his curiosity too.
"What're these, my lord?"
"Plant the trees and crops marked here."
Swish.
Paeng Hanbin handed another paper. So Daeseop scanned it.
"Bamboo, wisteria, and radishes?"
"Yeah. Plant 'em thick next to it."
"They'll all die anyway."
"These will survive. Curious why?"
"Not anymore. I know it's a secret."
So Daeseop smiled and clasped his fists.
He didn't know the details, but following made sense.
Especially from a lord who'd paid his daughter's medical bills unconditionally.
Unconsciously, So Daeseop clenched his fist.
Paeng Hanbin, pleased, flopped onto the main hall floor.
He visualized his blueprint in his mind.
The marks were spots of intense yang surge.
His chosen trees and crops would control it.
Wisteria and bamboo held yin energy.
They'd block yang from leaking outward.
Once landscaped, no qi waste—lower maintenance costs.
Inside, radishes would absorb the yang.
Yang-infused radishes grown right could rival century-old ginseng or snow ginseng elixirs.
What boosts strength overnight?
Elixirs, manuals, weapons—most would say that. Paeng Hanbin had snagged one.
Cheonsu Manor's ruin hid secrets.
How'd he know? Simple: his past life's Ghost Sword Squad trained here!
"Whether radishes or century snow ginseng..."
At Paeng Hanbin's cryptic mutter, nearby Cheolno nodded reflexively.
Paeng Hanbin laughed.
Cheonsu Manor cleanup fell to So Daeseop.
"Commander So, take this too."
"Didn't you give funds for managing Cheonsu Manor?"
"This is for buying the surrounding ruins."
"Ruins?"
"Ownerless ruins are under provincial office management. Cheap deals await."
"You're really connecting with the office?"
"Can't hurt having backing."
Paeng Hanbin shrugged. Not about backing.
Extreme yang lands recover in months, becoming herbalists' holy ground around Cheonsu Manor.