Chapter 161. Hebei's Finest (4)
Jin Semi's words made Seol Gyeong-chu furrow his brow.
The mention of Profit-Taking Teacher Ma Hwi had him tensing up without realizing it.
Seol Gyeong-chu had been away from Hebei for a long time with his son Seol Muik, operating mainly in Henan.
He had only arrived here a few days ago.
How much had he groveled to catch the eye of the Baeksa Gate leader in Henan?
Stepping away from Hebei's business ventures to serve as the Baeksa Gate leader's right-hand man was all a groundwork for Heuksa Gate's future.
So when the name of Ma Hwi—who outranked even the Baeksa Gate leader—came up, his heart couldn't help but race.
In truth, he had loitered around whenever Ma Hwi visited Baeksa Gate, but he'd never caught a glimpse of the man's face.
An order straight from Ma Hwi, a man whose face was next to impossible to see!
Seol Gyeong-chu shot to his feet and bowed his head.
"Don't worry, miss. Rest easy."
"Gate leader, when will the Fourth Young Master of the Hebei Paeng Family arrive?"
"I hear he's headed to Shandong, so it won't be anytime soon. I've got my boys watching around the Hebei Paeng Family—they'll send word the moment he shows."
Seol Gyeong-chu waved dismissively with a reassuring smile, as if to say there was nothing to fret over.
But Seol Gyeong-chu was unaware of his own mistake.
His error lay in assuming that just hearing "Fourth Young Master of the Hebei Paeng Family" meant monitoring the Hebei Paeng Family itself was enough.
Having returned to Hebei only recently, he was clueless about local intel.
Including the changes in Han Bin, the Fourth Young Master of the Hebei Paeng Family.
And the fact that Han Bin had made Cheonsu Manor his new base.
There were far too many things Seol Gyeong-chu didn't know.
"Alright, then I'll leave it to you."
Jin Semi rose from her seat with a slight bow.
Then, as if something had just occurred to her, she added,
"Don't forget—whatever happens, you must treat the Fourth Young Master of the Hebei Paeng Family with utmost respect."
"Of course, miss. I haven't forgotten."
"Then I'll be going."
With that final word, Jin Semi departed.
Seol Gyeong-chu watched her retreating figure and let out a silent sigh.
He was the type who ruled the weak with an iron fist and bowed low to the strong—and Jin Semi's visit had been a heavy burden.
But the moment passed, and he muttered to himself.
"An order from Ma Hwi..."
His eyes gleamed sharper than ever, as if envisioning his own future.
* * *
Cheolno had shaken off the bailiff colluding with Seol Muik and was heading to Cheonsu Manor.
Striding boldly along, he glanced sideways and hardened his expression.
Despite his pleas to flee, Jang Sujung had followed him.
Cheolno said,
"I told you to get lost. Why'd you come?"
"How could I let big brother go alone?"
"Little sis, you don't trust me?"
"I do trust you... but..."
Jang Sujung peeked behind them.
Seol Muik was charging after them, murder in his eyes.
What she'd said about trusting Cheolno was only half-true.
She trusted his cooking, not his martial prowess.
Compared to her late father's handiwork, Cheolno seemed weak in her eyes.
And behind them, Seol Muik gripped his sword hilt, radiating killing intent.
Jang Sujung couldn't relax. Somehow, she had to save Cheolno's life.
Unconsciously, she bit her lip and trembled.
She wanted to run, but she couldn't leave him behind.
Just then, Cheolno gently tugged her sleeve.
"Little sis, don't shake."
"I-I can't help it."
"Then stop. The young master is here. We've got nothing to worry about."
"Okay, big brother Cheolno."
Jang Sujung turned her head away.
She didn't want him seeing her scared face.
Suddenly, she grew curious about this young master Cheolno served.
Truth be told, she'd never asked before.
To her, only Cheolno's cooking mattered.
Everything else was irrelevant.
Which family he worked for, what his young master did—it didn't concern her.
But now, she wondered.
The only one who could save them from Heuksa Gate's clutches was this young master Cheolno praised endlessly.
Jang Sujung glanced at Seol Muik and his men.
The street where she'd sold her wares had been peaceful while they were gone.
Now that they were back, that peace was shattered.
As she sighed inwardly, Cheolno quickened his pace.
Thud-thud-thud.
Seeing Cheolno sprinting desperately, Seol Muik yelled,
"Where do you think you're running? Stop!"
"We gotta hurry from here on. Everyone, pick it up!"
Cheolno gestured back at them, and Seol Muik's eyes widened.
He'd thought they were fleeing, but this hand-waving made no sense.
Soon enough, Seol Muik understood why Cheolno was rushing.
Villagers suddenly swarmed toward Cheolno.
"Whoa, there he is!"
"About time you showed."
People in shabby clothes rushed at Cheolno.
From behind, Seol Muik gripped his sword hilt reflexively.
But he relaxed moments later, tilting his head in confusion.
There was no hostility in the villagers' approach.
Instead, they had a strange glint in their eyes.
'What the hell?'
Seol Muik observed their demeanor.
After eyeing the villagers briefly, he shook his head.
They gazed at Cheolno with desperate longing.
Why that look?
As he pieced it together, Seol Muik's lips curled into a grin.
That desperate gaze meant one thing.
They desperately needed help. So what kind of help?
Seol Muik figured it was money, obviously.
In his eyes, beggars shaking down the market or these villagers mobbing Cheolno were no different.
Which meant...?
This "young master" Cheolno kept yapping about was loaded, no doubt.
And not just rich—a total pushover the villagers could lean on without worry.
A rich sucker, in a word!
Reaching that conclusion, Seol Muik licked his lips unconsciously.
And sure enough.
The exchange between Cheolno and the villagers played out just as he'd predicted.
A limping old man asked Cheolno,
"When's the young master coming, Cheolno?"
"No idea. He'll show when the time's right."
As Cheolno finished and tried to hurry on, a woman with a child on her back grabbed his sleeve.
"How much longer till the young master arrives?"
"Probably a few days."
Cheolno answered reluctantly.
He'd gotten word of Han Bin yesterday through the Beggar Clan.
If things went as planned, he'd arrive in four to ten days.
Walking beside Cheolno, Jang Sujung cocked her head.
Her curiosity about this young master deepened.
She stared at Cheolno.
Even now, he was explaining to villagers when his young master would return.
Now she got why he'd said to run.
Their faces as they asked about the young master were utterly desperate.
And they were all sick or injured.
Limping legs, hacking coughs, the weak lying in carts.
Conditions varied wildly.
Jang Sujung cautiously asked Cheolno,
"Is this young master of yours a doctor, by any chance?"
"Well, there's a bit of a misunderstanding, but kinda."
Cheolno gave an awkward smile.
Truth be told, even he didn't fully grasp what was going on.
The crowds had started gathering around the time Han Bin left for Henan.
He'd meant to explain when he got back from Henan, but Han Bin had bolted straight to Shandong, leaving no chance to relay Cheonsu Manor's situation.
From what he'd pieced together from the villagers, Han Bin had healed a crippled beggar girl.
The rumor had spread like wildfire around Songhwa Mountain. That's why they pitched camp at Cheonsu Manor's gates at dawn, hoping for treatment from Han Bin.
Cheolno couldn't wrap his head around it.
How do you even heal a cripple?
Having known Han Bin since childhood, he knew the young master had no such medical skills.
Of course, there was one fact Cheolno didn't know.
That crippled beggar girl was none other than Seol-hwa.
If the villagers had even seen Han Bin once, the misunderstanding might have cleared up—but since he hadn't shown his face after, he seemed like some mysterious saint to them.
Only after repeating the same answer dozens of times did Cheolno finally reach Cheonsu Manor's entrance.
There, a haggard man squatted by the front gate.
To Cheolno, he was clearly a villager.
They usually didn't come right up to the entrance out of courtesy, so this one must have been desperate.
Cheolno patted the man's shoulder.
"Hey there."
"Ugh."
The man groaned and looked up.
Cheolno jolted in surprise.
"Sir Hero, what are you doing here like this?"
Cheolno tilted his head.
The man squatting there was none other than Volcanic Sect's Plum Blossom Swordsman, Se Jaeo.
"Ah, finally here, Cheolno. I came from Henan to grab my stuff, but the door was locked."
"Aw, you should've just waited inside."
"Can't stay alone in someone else's house without permission. Bad manners, y'know."
Se Jaeo waved it off.
Cheolno nodded at the gesture.
"Fair point, sir hero."
"By the way, who's the crew behind you?"
Se Jaeo nodded toward Seol Muik's group.
Cheolno replied casually, as if it were nothing.
"They're here to see the young master because of me."
"Then we should invite them in properly."
Se Jaeo bowed politely to Seol Muik's group.
Han Bin's guests weren't to be taken lightly.
He'd long shed any pride as the Plum Blossom Swordsman.
From Cheonsu Manor to the Henan Jeong Family.
Among the people he'd met on that long journey, few were beneath him.
Even Han Bin's maid Seol-hwa outclassed him.
Lately, Se Jaeo had been questioning Volcanic Sect martial arts.
As Se Jaeo bowed unconsciously, Cheolno grinned and offered a hand.
"Come on in with us, sir hero."
"Nah, I'll wait here for the elder and go in together."
"Ah, the elder."
"Yeah. We came from Henan together, but he vanished suddenly."
"Got it. We'll head in first then."
Cheolno opened Cheonsu Manor's gate.
The door, shut for days, creaked open with a groan.
Kiiiek.
Crossing the threshold, Cheolno led Seol Muik's group to their quarters with a leisurely stroll.
One of Seol Muik's subordinates tilted his head and whispered,
"Young master Seol, he called that guy 'sir hero'—think he's somebody?"
"Cut the nonsense and stay sharp."
"Why so angry?"
"Think about it. He said he came from Henan. Where were we till recently?"
"Henan, right?"
"Exactly. Henan. Ever seen that face before? If he was worth calling 'sir hero,' we'd know him. And would a real hero squat by the door?"
"Makes sense. Young master Seol's judgment is spot on, as always."
"It's not my judgment that's sharp—it's you lot not using your brains. Heads aren't for show. Use 'em, idiots."
At Seol Muik's bark, the subordinate glanced back and spat.
Ptooey!
Wiping his mouth, he scowled.
"These days, every mutt and mongrel calls themselves a hero. I get chewed out for nothing."
Then another subordinate nearby tilted his head.
"His clothes looked pretty ragged, though..."
"So what about his clothes?"
The spitter asked like it was no big deal, and the other continued cautiously.
"What if he's Beggar Clan? Even a beggar, if he's from the clan, we gotta be careful."