Spear and Shield (3)
The cart jolted to a stop.
As the door swung open, the room's chaotic state came into full view at a glance.
Jin Semi, having composed her expression, asked in a cold voice.
"What is this?"
"……."
Seeing Jin Semi, Seol Muik was speechless.
He hadn't expected her to show up here.
That lasted only a moment. Spotting Han Bin grinning broadly behind her, Seol Muik shouted.
"You coward of a fourth young master!"
Those were his last words.
Jin Semi's hand twisted like a venomous serpent, closing in on the space before striking Seol Muik's pressure points.
Thwip!
Thud.
A moment later.
Jin Semi turned to Han Bin with a grave expression.
"It seems there was a misunderstanding. I apologize for that, Young Master Paeng."
"Misunderstanding? Isn't Heuksa Gate a branch of Baeksa Gate? They weren't content with trying to swallow up all my assets—they even tried to kill me. And plenty of people witnessed it. Yet you're saying it's not a breach of contract?"
Han Bin tapped his temple with a serious look, prompting Jin Semi to glance at the fallen Seol Muik with trembling eyes.
He had indeed been caught red-handed.
But she had nothing to say, even if she had ten mouths.
After all, it was true—they had tried to assassinate Hebei Paeng Family's fourth young master.
After a long hesitation, Jin Semi spoke.
"What would you like to do?"
"I can't live under the same sky as those who tried to kill me."
"Then……."
"Wipe Heuksa Gate off the face of Hebei."
"Ah."
Jin Semi let out an exclamation.
It was a bold demand, but she couldn't dismiss Han Bin's words outright.
Still, she couldn't personally eradicate her own branch.
Jin Semi looked up at the ceiling in confusion.
At that moment, Han Bin put on his most affable expression and spoke.
"But that's not the only option."
"What is it, Young Master Paeng?"
"It's not a big request. So……."
Han Bin's condition was simple.
In exchange for forgiving Heuksa Gate's rudeness, Seol Muik would serve as his limb during their stay in Jangun-hyeon.
Nicely put, he would be a limb—but Han Bin's orders were tantamount to slavery.
If told to die, it wasn't just pretending; he had to actually die.
But there was no choice.
Jin Semi nodded quietly.
"Very well. I'll speak to the Heuksa Gate lord myself. I swear it on the name of Baeksa Gate."
"Swearing on Baeksa Gate's name? Then I'll trust you."
Han Bin grinned and flicked a steel coin.
Whoosh!
The flying steel coin struck near Seol Muik's shoulder.
Thwack.
The coin bounced off his shoulder and rolled across the floor.
Roll, roll.
At the same time, Seol Muik's pressure points released, and he rose from his spot.
Though his pressure points had been sealed and he lay there, Seol Muik had heard every word of the conversation.
The most shocking part was that Han Bin—the Hebei Paeng Family's fourth young master he'd tried to eliminate—was no mere surveillance target, but Ma Hwi's honored guest.
"What in the world is……."
About to protest his injustice, Seol Muik recalled Han Bin's recent action.
He'd thrown a steel coin to release the pressure points Jin Semi had sealed.
Simple in appearance, but an astonishing technique.
The principle of pressure point strikes was straightforward: blocking acupoints with inner power.
But releasing them was far from simple.
One had to withdraw the exact inner power they'd infused.
Like pouring rocks into a pipe to block it—easy enough—but removing them precisely was hard.
And if it was someone else's seal, even harder.
Matching the 'right' amount of power to release it without excess or deficit was tricky.
That was why each sect had unique sealing and release methods.
Releasing another's seal with a thrown steel coin?
Infusing inner power into a coin.
The precise force that wouldn't harm the body.
Unerring accuracy to hit the exact spot.
All in one go.
That meant Han Bin was at least Super Peak.
Was there anyone of similar age at Super Peak in Gangbuk martial world?
At least not that he knew.
And such a man had played the fool, letting himself get caught?
A chill ran down his spine.
From scheming for the Crystal Orb to that absurd contract.
And now this—could it all be Han Bin's trap?
Not just his death, but the annihilation of his entire sect?
All sorts of misunderstandings flooded Seol Muik's mind.
Ignoring his dazed expression, Jin Semi continued.
"From now on, treat him like a limb and command him as you will."
As Jin Semi pointed at Seol Muik, Han Bin glanced at him skeptically.
"What if he disobeys and runs?"
"I'll hunt him to the ends of the earth. On Baeksa Gate's honor."
Jin Semi gave Seol Muik a meaningful look.
Honestly, losing a minor branch like Heuksa Gate wouldn't hurt Henan Baeksa Gate much.
Her hesitation earlier was due to appearances, not loss of profit.
Who would trust a sect that eradicates its own branch?
But Han Bin's proposal changed everything.
She'd shifted the burden of 'righteous duty' onto Heuksa Gate.
More precisely, onto Seol Muik personally.
Han Bin watched the resolute Jin Semi and flustered Seol Muik alternately, then crossed his arms.
Fixing his gaze on Seol Muik, he spoke in a low voice.
"While you're in Jangun-hyeon, unspeakable torment awaits. Hell's ninth circle might feel pleasant by comparison. Still agree to the terms?"
"……."
"Endure it, and I'll even void this contract."
Han Bin shook the contract he'd made with Seol Muik from his bosom.
Seol Muik's eyes widened.
As his gaze followed the shaking paper, Han Bin continued.
"But if even one subordinate flees, Baeksa Gate—not I—will hunt down every last in-law and cousin. Agree?"
Jin Semi's eyes widened at Han Bin's words.
She'd never promised to chase down in-laws and cousins.
Not even Sapa made such ruthless vows.
Yet he said it without hesitation…….
Han Bin suited Sapa better than Jeongpa.
Under everyone's gaze, Seol Muik slowly nodded.
"I swear it."
His tone had changed.
Han Bin nodded.
Seol Muik had taken his first steps toward becoming his shield.
Han Bin's philosophy: everything started with knowing one's place.
"Then we begin now."
He omitted 'shield.'
No need for them to know.
"What must I do?"
Seol Muik asked with uneasy eyes. Han Bin snapped his fingers.
Snap!
At the sound, Seol-hwa rushed in with a bundle.
She unpacked it on the table.
Piles of gray pills lay there.
Pills gleaming like pearls on the surface.
Yet they exuded an eerie aura.
As if proclaiming themselves poison.
Han Bin casually grabbed one and flung it toward Seol Muik's mouth.
Whoosh.
The Hundred Shots Hundred Hits technique struck without deviation.
The pill flew straight into Seol Muik's mouth.
Gulp.
Having unwittingly swallowed the mystery pill, Seol Muik screamed.
"Argh! What is this?!"
"Not poison."
Han Bin spoke the truth.
It wasn't poison, but a pill made from Gyeonghyeolcho—with at least five times the side effects of the village-wrecking Heolhyeolcho.
Seol Muik fell silent at Han Bin's words.
Just blinking in shock.
"……."
Han Bin continued.
"Your task is simple. Take one of these pills every half month and don't stray three hundred paces beyond the inn's fence."
"That's all?"
Seol Muik finally asked.
Han Bin pointed outside with a friendly smile.
"Step beyond three hundred paces, and you die."
With that, Han Bin turned and left, signaling Jin Semi to handle the rest.
Back in his room, Han Bin opened the wooden box from Gong Son Sega.
An item they'd handled with care to keep hidden.
Opening it revealed a golden orb.
Han Bin touched his necklace.
The golden orb served the same purpose as the silver orb inside his necklace.
Though visually, the gold one was slightly larger.
Thus, it likely contained treasure too.
But the opening method differed.
The silver orb—Silver Jade—required fine qi control.
This golden one was Golden Jade, demanding massive inner power infusion.
From past life memories, Golden Jade appeared only once in the jianghu.
And three Hwagyeong experts had gathered to open it.
He'd opened Silver Jade before, but this was his first Golden Jade.
Han Bin recalled a technique.
'Shadowless Hand.'
Unlike the unusable True Dragon Shadowless Hand, this he could use now.
He added another.
'One Touch Instant Burst.'
Qi gathered in his hand.
Simultaneously, he unleashed Shadowless Hand at the Golden Jade.
Bang!
A deafening whoosh that made his ears ring.
But Han Bin had to gaze quietly at the ceiling.
Even that much qi left the Golden Jade unscratched.
He briefly thought of True Dragon Soul Scattering Sword. That would shatter it easily.
But he shook his head.
It erased space itself.
Using it on the Golden Jade might destroy the contents.
After inspecting it for a while, Han Bin's eyes gleamed as he happily left the room.
Two days later.
Han Bin wore a leather bracelet on his right wrist.
A special bracer made at Geom-o's request.
He quietly flicked the leather bracelet with his finger.
Ting!
A bell-like ring echoed.
The Golden Jade was encased within the bracelet.
If it couldn't be destroyed by any force, its uses were endless.
Even without checking inside, the indestructible Golden Jade alone was treasure, Han Bin thought.
The leather came from a portion of the Heavenly Mountain Blood Wolf hide offered to the imperial court.
The red bracelet matched his red martial robe perfectly.
Han Bin opened the window and looked outside.
Beyond, Seol Muik's group paced restlessly.
Some glanced around uneasily in the peace.
Others napped beyond the fence as if nothing was amiss.
Of course, the napper was Seol Muik.
Han Bin watched them with a kind face.
Then Seol Muik started scratching here and there, as if itchy.
At the sight, Han Bin murmured lowly.
"It'll start soon."
Just then.
Someone knocked.
Knock knock.
"Come in, Seol-hwa."
The door opened with a jolt.
Seol-hwa hurried to Han Bin and handed him a letter.
His expression shifted rapidly as he read it.