Spear and Shield (2)
"Hello. I'm Sim Miho, who serves Young Master Sa. Baeksa Gate, you say...?"
Sim Miho offered a reflexive greeting, but her eyes narrowed at the mention of Baeksa Gate.
After staring for a long moment, she recalled the encounter between Han Bin and the Sapa forces at Yeongdan Mountain.
'Could she have some grudge over that...?'
Sim Miho scanned Jin Semi from head to toe.
Seeing the wariness in Sim Miho's gaze, Jin Semi quickly waved her hands.
"No need to worry. We've come with something to deliver to Young Master Sa, and we have a request as well."
At her words, the sharp glint in Sim Miho's eyes softened, her tension easing.
Sim Miho replied with an awkward expression.
"Ah, but what should we do? The young master stepped out for a bit."
"May we come in and wait?"
Jin Semi boldly gestured toward the inn's interior.
From her position, she absolutely had to meet Han Bin.
She couldn't just loiter outside the door indefinitely.
As Baeksa Gate's golden child, it was rare for her to make such a request.
Back in Henan, everything bent to accommodate her.
And it had been the same since arriving here.
The problem was that it didn't work when it came to her relationship with Han Bin.
She had felt that clearly at Yeongdan Mountain.
What was truly frightening wasn't his martial prowess, but that razor-sharp tongue of his.
A Murim man who wouldn't yield an inch to Ma Hwi?
He was probably the only one among the Jeongpa.
As Jin Semi pondered, Sim Miho cleared her throat awkwardly, lost in thought as well.
"Ahem."
Jin Semi's demeanor made it clear she came in good faith.
But letting her inside was a separate issue.
While Sim Miho hesitated, So Daeseop came running from the back. Panting from his hurried approach, he clasped his hands in greeting toward Jin Semi.
"Greetings. I am So Daeseop, captain of the Aekhyeolmaengho-dae."
"Hello, I'm Jin Semi of Baeksa Gate."
"My lord instructed me to usher in any guest seeking him. This inn has plenty of empty rooms, so shall we have you settle your luggage first?"
"Thank you for your kindness."
"This way, then..."
So Daeseop beckoned to Jin Semi.
Then he glanced apologetically at Sim Miho.
"Deputy Captain Sim, my lord said to accommodate anyone looking for him, no exceptions. I forgot to pass that along—sorry about that."
"Understood, Captain."
"I'll guide these guests, then. Hold down the fort here, Deputy Captain."
With that, So Daeseop led Jin Semi and her escorts away.
Watching them go, Sim Miho let out a sigh.
"Ah, we're already swamped, and now the lord wants us entertaining guests too?"
She glanced around.
From the eldest warrior, Jangsan, to the youngest, Jo Ho, everyone was sweating to turn the inn into an impregnable fortress.
And it wasn't just the Aekhyeolmaengho-dae pouring out sweat.
Jang Ja-myeong was beading sweat as he compounded herbs to extract medicine, with the newcomer Geom-o assisting.
"Anyone at all? Who the hell would even visit this place...?"
Sim Miho tilted her head in puzzlement.
That was when it happened.
A faint killing intent prickled the air.
Sim Miho narrowed her eyes and turned toward the source.
In the distance, a group of men strode toward the inn with aggressive swagger.
What the...?
As Sim Miho's head tilted further in confusion, one of the group broke into a run toward her.
As he drew near, Sim Miho cocked her head.
The face looked vaguely familiar.
It was the man who had tried to carry her luggage not long ago, only to dislocate his shoulder.
His shoulder apparently hadn't healed; it was splinted too.
The man was Jang Daechan, subordinate to Seol Muik.
Jang Daechan's eyes widened upon spotting Sim Miho.
It was the herbalist woman he'd seen at Cheonsu Manor recently.
The one he'd fallen for at first sight—why was she here?
Because of trying to impress her by carrying her load, he'd been mocked by his comrades as a weakling ever since.
With his splint still on, Jang Daechan stared blankly at Sim Miho.
Noticing, she asked, "You're the warrior who tried to help with my luggage last time, right?"
"Ah, you remember."
"I should have stopped you—I feel bad that you got hurt because of me..."
"No, no. It wasn't because of that. And this kind of injury doesn't even count."
Jang Daechan tossed the splint from his arm to the ground and continued.
"See? Good as new."
"Glad to hear it."
Despite her words, Sim Miho eyed him with concern.
She'd distinctly heard the ominous crack of bone as it popped back into place.
From the back, a man watched their exchange with satisfaction.
Of course, it was Seol Muik.
From his perspective, Jang Daechan's bravado was pleasing.
Tossing aside the splint looked just like laying down a threat.
But that satisfaction was short-lived. Seol Muik turned his gaze to the inn, steeling his resolve.
A few days prior, he'd realized he'd signed an absurd contract with the owner of Cheonsu Manor.
The problem was learning far too late that the owner was Hebei Paengga's Young Master Sa.
Hebei Paengga's fourth young master was someone the southern Sapa kept a close eye on.
But to Seol Muik, he remained the sniveling coward from Hebei.
Of course, this was largely Seol Muik's own fault.
Rumors of Han Bin had spread somewhat in Hebei.
That he'd become a candidate for Paengga's successor, or received an imperial reward—wild tales like that.
Around Songhwasan, he was even rumored to be a living god.
But Seol Muik dismissed it all as nonsense.
In truth, a little digging would have confirmed it.
It was all born from Seol Muik's arrogance.
Years ago, he'd crossed paths with Han Bin.
Back then, the boy wouldn't even meet his eyes, trembling in fear.
A few years later, how much could a person change?
A little intimidation, and voiding the contract would be easier than falling off a log.
As they chatted, Jang Daechan paused, eyeing Sim Miho suspiciously.
The more they talked, the less ordinary her presence felt.
He asked cautiously, "But... you're not just an herbalist, are you...?"
As he trailed off, Sim Miho clasped her hands in greeting.
"I'm Sim Miho, deputy captain of the Aekhyeolmaengho-dae."
"Ah, so you're the deputy captain of the Aekhyeolmaengho-dae. I'm Jang Daechan of Heuksa Gate."
"Heuksa Gate..."
Sim Miho narrowed her eyes again.
But she quickly let it go.
If Baeksa Gate had come seeking Han Bin, it wasn't odd for Heuksa Gate to follow.
Recalling Han Bin's instructions relayed through So Daeseop, she said, "Come inside for now."
She beckoned, and Jang Daechan glanced back before replying.
"One moment—let me inform our young master."
He dashed back to Seol Muik and stood before him.
Seeing Jang Daechan approach, Seol Muik smirked slyly.
"What'd she say?"
"They said to come in. That woman over there seems to be Young Master Sa's subordinate."
"See? He really is Hebei's coward."
"It seems that way... maybe."
Jang Daechan trailed off uncertainly.
He might have misheard, but she'd said Aekhyeolmaengho-dae.
A man who'd eaten dirt in Hebei's Kangho for over a decade knew better.
Hebei's coward commanding an armed force?
But Jang Daechan shrugged it off as a mistake and moved on.
That afternoon, in the inn's annex.
Han Bin sat facing Jin Semi.
He clasped his hands toward her.
"You've had a long journey—thank you for coming."
"Thank you for the warm welcome."
Jin Semi returned the greeting and took her seat.
After some idle chit-chat, she signaled her escort as if the moment had arrived.
The guard placed a small iron box on the table at her cue.
Jin Semi promptly opened the palm-sized box.
At its center sat a white pill the size of a pinky nail.
Confirming the item, she slid the box toward Han Bin.
"This is the item Military Strategist Ma Hwi promised."
"My thanks. I'll put it to good use for Hebei's Murim."
Han Bin snapped the box shut and tucked it swiftly into his robe.
Jin Semi blinked in bewilderment.
"You didn't even ask what it is?"
"Isn't it the White Spirit Pill?"
Han Bin tilted his head.
"Yes, our clan's treasure. You knew and aren't even surprised."
She meant it sincerely.
The White Spirit Pill was Baeksa Gate's treasure.
They possessed only ten in total.
She'd pulled one out just for him.
Even direct lineage members often never laid eyes on one.
And gifting this elixir to a Jeongpa man?
It was unthinkable outside their venture with Profit Master Ma Hwi.
Of course, it was per contract—but Han Bin accepting it so casually without a blink was absurd.
Seeing her expression, he continued nonchalantly.
"It's the promised item. No reason for me to be shocked."
"Even so..."
As Jin Semi pouted in mild offense, Han Bin leaned forward and clapped his hands.
Clap!
She widened her eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"Right—before that, we should revisit the contract terms."
Jin Semi tilted her head.
The deal with Profit Master Ma Hwi was settled.
Why bring it up again?
As she puzzled, Han Bin said, "According to our agreement, if Sapa tries to harm me..."
He rattled off the clauses like a waterwheel, relentless.
As his explanation dragged on, Jin Semi waved her hands.
"I don't understand. We've never harbored even a pinky nail's worth of ill intent toward you. Why bring this up?"
"To lay it out plainly..."
Just as Han Bin started, the annex door slid open.
Creak.
In walked none other than Sim Miho.
She glanced at Jin Semi and furrowed her brow.
Clearly displeased.
Han Bin spoke up.
"Deputy Captain Sim, speak freely."
"My lord, a guest is causing a ruckus."
"Which guest?"
"A Seol Muik from Heuksa Gate. You said to accommodate anyone seeking you, so I did... but..."
Sim Miho's explanation was straightforward.
Even after Han Bin returned to the inn, Seol Muik was miffed at not being met and started making a scene.
What if Seol Muik knew Jin Semi was here?
Of course, that hadn't happened.
Han Bin had ordered guests accommodated but no details shared with them.
Finishing, Sim Miho scowled.
"He's your guest, my lord, but this is getting out of hand."
"What would you like to do, Deputy Captain Sim?"
"May I kill him?"
She asked carefully, and Han Bin turned to Jin Semi.
"That's the situation."
"Ah."
Jin Semi let out a gasp.
She didn't grasp the full picture, but unease crawled up her spine.
Before her exclamation faded, Han Bin continued.
"Why don't you come see for yourself?"
He beckoned, and Jin Semi followed.
As they neared the guest rooms, she gritted her teeth.
Just as Sim Miho said, commotion erupted from the end room.
Crash!
Smash!
From overturned tables to shattering teacups, the noise echoed down the hall.
It wasn't Sim Miho or Han Bin who flung open the door to Seol Muik's rampaging room.
It was the flushed-faced Jin Semi.