Chapter 177. Shedding Immortality (1)
Han Bin leaned in closer to the letter, as if examining it in greater detail.
But only for a moment. Having read it through, he set the letter down on the table as if nothing had happened.
Seol-hwa, seeing this, asked,
"Young master, what's going on?"
"It's a letter from Gong Son Sega. They're sending someone so I can use the secret passage. Guess I should send a reply first."
"I figured as much, so I brought the paper, inkstone, and brush."
Seol-hwa laid out paper, inkstone, and brush on the table.
Han Bin took up the brush and wrote the response in a single fluid stroke.
Seol-hwa watched his expression without even blinking.
She could sense a strangely intense aura emanating from Han Bin, who was writing the reply so nonchalantly.
What's going on?
She checked the contents, but it was nothing out of the ordinary.
The reply simply concerned the meeting place, time, and person Gong Son Sega would send.
Once the ink had dried, Han Bin folded the letter and handed it to her.
"Deliver this to the person from Gong Son Sega, Seol-hwa."
"Yes, young master."
Seol-hwa started to leave quickly with the letter but paused and looked back at Han Bin.
That strange aura from earlier had been suspicious enough.
But now, Han Bin was gripping the letter with a grave expression, staring out the window.
In truth, Han Bin wasn't looking out the window.
He was sniffing the faint Thousand-Li Tracking Scent wafting from the letter.
This scent was clearly different from the one emanating from the iron voucher Gong Son Myeonghu had taken.
Then...
Having made up his mind about something, Han Bin turned his head and called to Seol-hwa, who was still lingering.
"Seol-hwa."
"Yes, young master."
"On your way, tell Yi Mu-myeong I want to see him."
"What should I say exactly?"
"Just say I want to see him. That's all."
"Got it. Young master, once I'm done with this, can I head out front for a bit?"
"You know a place in Jangun-hyeon?"
"No, but Uncle Jangsan said there's a great tanggwa shop right nearby. I'll be off then!"
Seol-hwa shut the door swiftly and left.
She dashed off to find Yi Mu-myeong, grinning broadly as if the earlier tension had never happened.
An hour later, in front of the inn.
Ding-ding-ding!
Jang Daechan turned his head at the sound of the bell ringing from the front of the fence.
He was utterly bewildered, having no idea what was really going on.
At first, he'd thought that since they knew the circumstances, he and Seol Muik were as good as dead.
But surprisingly, Han Bin's demands were simple.
The fourth young master of Hebei Paeng Family, Han Bin, had merely ordered them not to stray more than three hundred paces from the fence.
He'd wondered if they were being starved to death, but they hadn't gone hungry once since that day.
The bell would ring at mealtimes, just like now.
They'd walk up to the fence, and Sim Miho, deputy commander of the Red Blood Alliance Tiger Corps, would start handing out food.
Just like now.
"If it's not enough, just say so. I'll give you more."
Sim Miho smiled as she handed him a bowl of rice.
"Yes, understood, Deputy Commander."
Jang Daechan bowed his head politely, took the bowl, and headed for the shade.
That was when it happened.
Suddenly, someone smacked the back of Jang Daechan's head.
Crack!
Wincing in pain, he turned to see Seol Muik glaring at him with clear displeasure.
"Who's the deputy commander? Calling a righteous faction bitch 'Deputy Commander'? You still haven't come to your senses, have you? Jeez, even for trash like you..."
Seol Muik unleashed a nonstop tirade.
Even as virtual slaves, he couldn't stand seeing his subordinate groveling.
As Seol Muik's nagging dragged on, Jang Daechan's face hardened.
Even if they got out of here, it was obvious what treatment they'd receive back at Heuksa Gate.
Staying here would surely make him an accomplice, earning the wrath of the gate lord.
Given the gate lord's personality, he'd likely shove the blame onto subordinates like Jang Daechan rather than his own son, Seol Muik.
In truth, Jang Daechan wasn't staying out of fear of Seol Muik.
It was Jin Semi and Han Bin's words that terrified him—if they fled, they'd be hunted to the ends of the earth.
Seol Muik no longer mattered to Jang Daechan.
Still, he'd endure until they left Jangun-hyeon.
The moment they departed, it was over between him and Seol Muik. He'd resolved that much.
As Jang Daechan tried to compose his expression, he caught sight of Seol Muik smirking slyly.
Without thinking, Jang Daechan shouted,
"Why'd you hit me?!"
"How dare you talk back?!"
"Isn't this all because of you, young master? You did the deed alone, so why should we share the blame?"
It was the first act of open defiance.
Caught off guard, Seol Muik's subordinates gathered around.
"Why are you throwing a tantrum again?"
"Yeah, Jang Daechan's right. Whose fault is this mess? It's too much, especially when we might be slaves for life."
"Exactly. Daechan's got a point a hundred times over."
Seol Muik's cheeks trembled with rage at the murmurs.
He sensed his position was in jeopardy.
Best to stamp out this spark of rebellion quickly, he thought.
He drew the sword at his waist.
Shing.
The sudden turn stunned his subordinates into gaping silence.
Jang Daechan realized his mistake and began backing away unsteadily.
Emboldened, Seol Muik pointed his sword at Jang Daechan and bellowed,
"I'll sever your limbs' meridians and restore Heuksa Gate's shattered discipline!"
Finishing his words, Seol Muik strode toward his subordinate, Jang Daechan.
Blood was about to fly.
The other subordinates pondered how to intervene.
But Seol Muik reached Jang Daechan without hesitation and raised his sword high.
The momentum promised to cleave him in two.
The others—and Jang Daechan—closed their eyes.
At that moment, a gentle breeze blew from behind them.
The wind was soft, yet it carried a peculiar aura.
Whoosh!
A strange sound echoed instantly.
Thwack!
The subordinates cautiously opened their eyes and looked around.
But aside from the odd wind and sound, nothing had changed.
One of them spoke up.
"What was that sound just now?"
"Yeah, weird."
"But..."
As one trailed off, another prompted him.
"But what? Spit it out."
"Young Master Seol... he's gone."
"Now that you mention it... He was just threatening with his sword raised."
"Yeah. Where'd he go?"
As everyone tilted their heads, Jang Daechan pointed behind him.
"Th-there he is."
All eyes turned to where Jang Daechan pointed.
There lay a man presumed to be Seol Muik, sprawled out spread-eagled.
One subordinate rushed to Jang Daechan.
"What the hell happened?"
"In the blink of an eye, he flew over there!"
Jang Daechan pointed dazedly at where Seol Muik lay.
No matter how he thought about it, the situation made no sense.
Clearly, someone had saved him.
When he'd cracked his eyes open, he'd glimpsed the face.
A black wind had whipped by, glancing at him.
He vaguely recalled a faint smile.
Like an immortal riding a black cloud.
"Who could it be..."
The smiling face seemed familiar somehow.
Scratching the back of his head, Jang Daechan turned to gaze at the inn.
Upon reflection, it resembled the fourth young master of Hebei Paeng Family, Han Bin.
"No way..."
Jang Daechan muttered to himself.
No one could perform lightness skill that fast—too fast to even make out a face. It was impossible, as far as he knew.
The other subordinates dragged the dazed Jang Daechan away.
They had to hide before Seol Muik came to.
Having slipped out of the inn, Han Bin halted his Gugeol Ship-pal-bo and Jeon-gwang-seok-hwa, gazing into the air for a moment.
Confirming formula with Dragon Eye.
Acquired Human-grade formula: Geum (Brocade).
Human-grade - Geum (Gold), Geum (Brocade)
Han Bin tilted his head as he examined the new formula.
Following the Human-grade Geum (Gold) formula he'd obtained from Gong Son Myeonghu, he'd unexpectedly acquired another Human-grade Geum (Brocade) from an unlikely source.
It might complete a single stance, or it could be for a separate technique.
Either way, completing the Human-grade stance would undoubtedly elevate his martial prowess another step.
"Tch."
Han Bin smacked his lips unconsciously.
Truth be told, acquiring this formula had been pure coincidence.
The instant Seol Muik moved to kill his subordinate, a glowing point indicating a formula flickered at the back of his head.
Han Bin's instincts told him it would vanish if ignored.
To know is to act—that's the way of the gentleman.
Just as the formula was about to fade, Han Bin dashed forward at imperceptible speed.
Using Muyeongsu, he struck the back of Seol Muik's head with pinpoint precision.
Through that sequence, he'd claimed the formula.
To Han Bin, Seol Muik's group had transcended mere shields—they could bloom into treasures yielding formulas.
A faint smile crossed his lips as he likened it to the ancient sage planting a fruit tree for future generations, much like his decision to capture Seol Muik's crew.
Confirming the formula, Han Bin resumed his Gugeol Ship-pal-bo and Jeon-gwang-seok-hwa.
He layered Banbagoejin on top.
Gazing toward Gong Son Sega, Han Bin's heart began to quicken faintly.
The Thousand-Li Tracking Scent on the letter was the very one he'd applied to the fan.
That meant Gong Son-su had made contact with the mysterious expert.
Of course, that expert was most likely an enemy.
Two possibilities occurred to Han Bin.
First: Gong Son Sega had been attacked by the unidentified foe.
Second: Gong Son-su had betrayed him.
Either was a nightmare scenario for Han Bin.
Rustle.
Han Bin's form appeared in Gong Son-su's rear garden, accompanied by the sound of brushing leaves.
His black martial robes were so dark they were barely visible even under moonlight.
He blended seamlessly with his surroundings.
The basics of stealth.
Scanning the area, Han Bin let out a sigh of relief.
He could rule out the possibility of Gong Son Sega being attacked en route here.
That left the other assumption: Gong Son-su had met the mysterious expert.
Han Bin recalled his meeting with Gong Son-su days prior.
He'd explained future events but withheld specific countermeasures.
In hindsight, that reticence felt like a stroke of genius.
From now on, he'd monitor Gong Son-su's every move.
He wouldn't budge from here until he had answers.
With Yi Mu-myeong impersonating him for the time being, his plans wouldn't falter in his absence.
The next dawn.
Rustle.
Han Bin's form vanished from Gong Son-su's rear garden.
The reason he'd moved at dawn was simple.
Gong Son-su had headed to the training hall for his morning practice.
Han Bin had been stuck here for over twelve hours already.
From a distance, he observed Gong Son-su's movements.
Gong Son-su darted across the training hall, employing Muyeongbo and snatching falling leaves with Geumna-su as if sweeping them into a golden net.
A fine technique.
With such talent, had he not become a scholar, he might have claimed the sect leader's seat in a major faction.
About half an hour passed as Han Bin watched his martial arts.
A chilling dawn breeze swept through the training hall.
Whoosh!
Han Bin narrowed his eyes at the sight.
He sensed an odd incongruity mingled in the wind.
What is it?
His eyes widened.
The incongruity was a scent and a sound.
The scent was the Thousand-Li Tracking Scent from the fan.
The sound was a faint piping.
The piping blended with the wind rustling the leaves—so faint that only Han Bin could detect it.
A flute?
Narrowing his gaze, Han Bin turned toward the direction of the wind.
That was when it happened.
Gong Son-su suddenly sprang into motion.
Crossing the training hall with Muyeongbo.
Han Bin swiftly followed, activating his own Gugeol Ship-pal-bo.