162. Hebei's Number One (5)
Seol Muik let out a sigh and cut into their conversation.
"Haa... To think I'm stuck working with idiots like you! It really makes me sigh. You morons, if he's from the Beggar Clan, shouldn't he have at least one knot on his belt? Did that guy have a knot on his waist?"
"Not sure."
"You didn't even check that and you're spouting nonsense? There wasn't anything like a knot anywhere on his waist."
"Ah."
"That guy's just a beggar. A superior beggar at that. No, looking at his rags, he's definitely a low-class one."
"You checked for knots in that short time? Young Master Seol."
"Looks like you lot need some retraining. How could you mistake a beggar for a warrior from one of the Nine Great Sects?"
Having scolded his subordinates, Seol Muik shook his head.
Cheolno, who had been walking ahead and listening to Seol Muik's group, tilted his head and muttered to himself.
"The Volcanic Sect is one of the Nine Great Sects, though..."
"Why bring up the Nine Great Sects?"
Jang Sujung tilted her head curiously, and Cheolno waved his hand dismissively.
"It's nothing. Little sis."
"Good thing you're not a murim warrior, Brother Cheolno."
"Me, not a murim warrior? You saw them acknowledge me as one."
"You only said that to save me. Honestly, I hate murim warriors, Brother Cheolno."
"Why's that?"
"My maternal grandfather was one. Well, I've never met him."
"..."
"He opposed my parents' marriage because my father was a chef, so my mother secretly ran away from her family home."
"Ah, I see."
Cheolno nodded reflexively.
Who in the jianghu didn't have a backstory?
To Cheolno's ears, Jang Sujung's tale was just a dime a dozen.
It was right then that Cheolno snapped out of his thoughts.
Seol Muik's voice rang out from behind.
"How long do we have to keep walking? Quit dawdling and guide us already."
"Yes, we're almost there."
With that, Cheolno quickened his pace.
The place Cheolno led them to looked brand new and spotless. It was also a fairly large pavilion.
Standing in front of the pavilion, Cheolno said,
"Please rest here. I'll let you know when the young master arrives."
"You're not planning to run away, are you?"
"Who'd be dumb enough to abandon their own home and flee?"
"Fair enough... But this is definitely your young master's place, right?"
"You saw the villagers asking about the young master's well-being on the way here."
"Oh, yeah..."
Seol Muik trailed off and glanced back down the path they'd come.
Seeing this, Cheolno said with a serious expression,
"So don't worry. When our young master gets here, we'll sort everything out for you."
"If you break your promise, both your young master and you will die."
"Yes, got it."
Cheolno nodded, and Seol Muik spoke up as if something had just occurred to him.
"By the way, my mouth's feeling lonely. Bring out something to eat first."
"I'll get some dumplings for now."
With that, Cheolno vanished with Jang Sujung.
That night.
Seol Muik and his men awoke to a strange noise.
Hoo... hoo... hung.
A sound like a ghost wailing tickled their ears.
Bolting upright, Seol Muik's group exchanged glances.
One subordinate's eyes widened as if he'd realized something.
"Could this be that place, Young Master Seol?"
"What about it? Spit it out."
"Isn't this the former Guigok Manor? The path on the way here felt familiar..."
"Shut your mouth and go back to sleep. If this were Guigok Manor, do you think the villagers would be swarming like that?"
"True, you're right, young master."
"No more nonsense. Prepare to uproot every pillar in this place."
"Yes, young master."
A week later.
Seol Muik's group was going mad.
They had been eating the food Cheolno brought and waiting for Cheonsu Manor's owner, but with no word after a full week, they were debating whether to just leave.
But Seol Muik had never let a marked target slip away.
Hadn't he seized others' assets like this plenty of times before?
Backing off empty-handed would leave a stain on his record.
Then one subordinate ventured,
"Young master, is it okay to ignore the orders from Baeksa Sect and stay here?"
"We've got plenty of eyes watching Hebei Paeng Family, don't we?"
"Right you are, young master."
The subordinate nodded.
Seol Muik tapped his temple, racking his brains, then his eyes lit up as he stood.
"This won't do."
"What's wrong, Young Master Seol?"
"If they claim they have no money, we should decide what we can take in advance, no?"
"Ah."
"First, let's make a list of assets."
"As expected of you, young master."
They all rose and began scouring Cheonsu Manor for anything of value.
But the more they looked, the more questions piled up.
A subordinate following behind Seol Muik asked cautiously,
"Young master, is this place's owner really rich?"
"Didn't you see the villagers on the way? All begging with hands out."
"Even so, a rich man should show some signs of wealth, right? Nothing valuable in sight, young master."
"Use your head for once, will you?"
"Why?"
"Think. Would a soft-hearted fool who hands out to every villager live extravagantly?"
"..."
"He couldn't afford his own luxuries after giving it all away. We're just taking our cut of what's already earmarked to leave anyway."
"Still feels off."
"He really is a fool. He must have money stashed somewhere, given how he doles it out to villagers."
"Even so, this feels like a waste. Why not just make that jewelry shop ours..."
"Have I ever failed at something I've set my sights on?"
"Of course not, young master."
"Exactly. At least get a written promise."
"Wouldn't it be better to grab something tangible instead of a document?"
"Is there anything here worth taking? The owner must have handed all his money to the estate manager. Better to get a promise and squeeze him slowly."
"Brilliant, young master."
The subordinate gave a thumbs-up.
A moment later.
Seol Muik sat face-to-face with Cheolno.
He had already conveyed his demands to Cheolno.
Cheolno scratched the back of his head with an apologetic look.
"Sorry, but can't you wait until the young master arrives?"
"Do I look like I have time to waste? Hand over the promise document now."
"Our young master usually handles this sort of thing."
"The young master excuse again?"
"I'm no good with documents."
"Oh? So you think you can fool me?"
With that, Seol Muik smirked coldly and tapped the scabbard at his waist with his left hand.
An obvious threat, plain as day.
Cheolno waved his hands frantically.
"That's not it. Then I'll bring something the young master prepared in advance."
At Cheolno's words, greed flashed in Seol Muik's eyes.
In Seol Muik's mind, the young master Cheolno spoke of was a bottomless giver.
The document would surely be a fool's bargain.
Seol Muik barely suppressed a bursting laugh.
"Fine, bring it."
"Yes, please wait a moment."
Cheolno darted off to where Han Bin kept his documents.
He scanned the bookshelf lined with scrolls and paused at one spot.
There, in neat handwriting:
Basic Contract.
Without hesitation, Cheolno pulled out one of the scrolls.
There was a reason for his actions.
Han Bin had instructed him to use the basic contracts from this study if he ever had to step out.
In truth, Cheolno didn't fully understand the contract's contents.
He wasn't illiterate, but reading it made his eyes spin like he'd entered a labyrinth.
It was impossible to tell who gained and who lost.
And this was the basic contract!
Cheolno couldn't wrap his head around it, but he was certain following Han Bin's advice was the way to clean up his mess.
As Cheolno examined the contract,
A shadow appeared silently behind him.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Seol Muik narrowed his eyes.
He was starting to suspect Cheolno had fled.
Just then, Cheolno returned with the contract, accompanied by Jang Sujung.
Cheolno unrolled the contract in front of Seol Muik.
Flutter.
He nodded at Jang Sujung beside him.
At the signal, she unpacked her bundle.
Out came a brush, inkstick, and inkstone.
As Jang Sujung ground the ink, Seol Muik nodded in satisfaction.
Cheolno grinned happily too.
Mimicking Han Bin felt oddly uplifting.
Amid the exchanged smiles, Seol Muik glanced sideways at the document.
Then he turned fully, bringing his face close to it.
The words were there, but the meaning eluded him.
"What the...?"
Seol Muik muttered unwittingly.
No matter how he read it, he couldn't grasp it.
Then Cheolno spoke.
"Just fill in the amount you want and sign here."
Cheolno handed Seol Muik a slender brush.
Seol Muik tilted his head as he took it.
"Why's the wording so convoluted?"
"I don't really get it either. Just sign."
Cheolno pushed the inkstone, ink rippling, toward Seol Muik.
Splash.
Reflexively, Seol Muik dipped the brush and lifted it.
His hand trembled slightly.
He shook his head.
Signing a mystery document felt off.
As he hesitated, a man in red martial robes caught his eye from the side.
Seol Muik narrowed his eyes at the man who had appeared without a sound or presence.
Slim build, pale face—quite the handsome fellow.
He looked every bit the spoiled young master of a wealthy house.
The only oddity was the red robe.
Seol Muik narrowed his eyes further.
"Who are you?"
"Hello. I'm the owner of Cheonsu Manor."
"Oh ho, you've finally shown up."
Seol Muik's lips curled up.
Truth be told, Han Bin's silent appearance should have startled him.
But to Seol Muik, who was pondering how to strip the manor bare, it was nothing but welcome.
Seeing Han Bin, Cheolno's eyes welled up.
"Y-Young master. I'm sorry."
"It's fine. I overheard from outside—it seems I just need to compensate you? Right?"
"Well, yeah..."
Cheolno recounted everything that had happened.
After hearing it all, Han Bin turned to Seol Muik without a hint of surprise.
"My subordinate's fault is my fault. What need is there for such a document? I'll cover it all."
"As rumored, you've got a big heart. But this document's a bit tricky. Write up something simple."
"Of course."
With that, Han Bin pulled two slips of paper from his bosom and placed them on the table.
Thud!
Seol Muik tilted his head at the slips.
"What's this?"
"Write the amount you want there. Then sign. Mine too, naturally."
"Hm."
Seol Muik cleared his throat and brought the brush to the paper.
Unlike the previous document, these were blank sheets.
Practically blank promissory notes.
Whatever number he wrote, he could claim that debt from the other party.
Now faced with blank paper, Seol Muik blanked on an amount.
The hesitation was brief—greed knows no bounds.
Seol Muik filled the slips with numbers.
Leaving only spaces for signatures.
The sum was beyond counting. Enough to uproot any clan.
At the sight, Cheolno cried out.
"Y-Young master, the amount that guy's written...!"
"It's fine, Cheolno."
"Because of me, you're taking such a massive loss..."
"I said it's fine. Your safety matters more to me."
Han Bin spoke with a kind face, and Cheolno burst into tears.
"As expected, young master's heart is Hebei's finest."
"No. My subordinates' safety comes first."
Watching them, Seol Muik signed the remaining space, inwardly cheering.
'Hebei's Number One? More like Hebei's Number One Fool! Fool!'