Crescent Moon (3)
“Mu Ga Bi-ryong is really getting pummeled.”
“How the hell did they catch Mu Sowi?”
Someone in the murmuring crowd spotted the go stone that had fallen onto the Stone Blossom Bridge.
“Hey, isn’t that a go stone?”
“So that go stone is why...”
The two old men who had been playing go finally noticed their missing stones and rushed over to the bridge, picking one up.
The Stone Blossom Bridge had turned into a full-blown spectacle.
Ignoring the commotion around him, Han Bin looked up into the air, confirming the inscriptions.
Confirming formulas.
Yongrin Sword Art Basic Section: Speed (System) acquired.
Yongrin Sword Art Basic Section: Speed (Godspeed) acquired.
This was a jackpot.
Judging by the volume of formulas being extracted, the guy really was a genius.
Of course, the more there were, the faster Han Bin's hands moved.
With two more speeds added, even to the onlookers, Han Bin's fists flashed like lightning.
Paying no mind to the stares, Han Bin ramped up his speed even further.
Thwack! Thwack!
Yongrin Sword Art Basic Section: Power (Force that Cannot be Opposed) acquired.
Suddenly, power surged into his fists.
This was the multiplication of formulas.
For a moment, Han Bin fantasized about keeping the guy nearby to extract more.
But that was impossible.
Wise men squeezed out every last drop while they could.
Han Bin flicked his gaze to the air.
Now the basics were shaping up nicely.
His physique and power were above average, and especially his speed felt like it had surpassed first-rate.
To extract the final formula, Han Bin poured everything he had into it.
The onlookers' jaws dropped.
Han Bin, not even glancing at his opponent as he hammered down his fists, looked like a yaksha demon.
One of the spectators remarked,
“There's art even in a beating.”
“Haha.”
“But isn't this too brutal?”
“Yeah. What are Mu Sowi's guards doing?”
The crowd's eyes turned to the Musi Geomga guards standing back.
The guard captain watched Mu Sowi and Han Bin.
Only then did he realize his mistake.
Interfering in Mu Sowi's affairs usually earned him a scolding.
So he'd kept his distance, pretending not to notice.
Until now, Mu Sowi had always been the one causing trouble.
They weren't really escorts—they were fixers, cleaning up his messes.
Sometimes with force.
Sometimes with money.
Even now, thinking Mu Sowi was just stirring up his usual chaos, they'd watched idly.
But upon closer look, prompted by the crowd, Mu Sowi was getting one-sidedly thrashed.
Impossible. The captain rushed forward in alarm.
At that moment, Han Bin smirked and swiftly retreated.
Not because of the approaching Musi Geomga guard captain.
There was simply nothing left to extract.
This incident had been less about punishing Mu Sowi for bullying the girl and more about Han Bin's hunger for formulas.
He quickly scanned his surroundings. He sensed an ominous aura.
And sure enough.
Five men in gray uniforms blocked the space between Mu Sowi and Han Bin.
The guard captain among them shouted,
“What the hell is this?”
Finishing his words, he gripped his sword sheath.
A powder-keg moment.
The onlookers gulped.
Then Han Bin picked up the letter Mu Sowi had dropped and spoke.
“Who said you could do business in my turf?”
No one understood what Han Bin meant.
“...”
As everyone tilted their heads, Han Bin looked around and declared,
“This Stone Blossom Bridge is my turf. You paid the toll, so of course you get punished.”
The warrior narrowed his eyes at Han Bin's nonsense.
“Who the hell are you?”
“Me? Paeng Family's hidden dragon, Paeng Hanbin.”
The captain tilted his head. He'd heard the name somewhere.
Suddenly, murmurs rippled through the crowd.
“Paeng Hanbin? Isn't he Hebei's weakest?”
“Paeng Family's disgrace.”
“That coward, seriously?”
“And he's calling himself a hidden dragon?”
Ignoring the reactions, Han Bin slowly approached the fallen Mu Sowi.
Stopping before him, Han Bin ignored the warriors and looked down at Mu Sowi.
“In the jangho, you can never let your guard down, no matter what. What's the point of being a genius if your head's not attached?”
Regaining his senses, Mu Sowi rasped in a dying voice,
“Who the hell are you? Who...”
“Take this as your brother-in-law's final advice and chew on it well.”
“Brother-in-law?”
Mu Sowi's eyes widened.
The warriors escorting him hesitated, hands on their swords upon learning Han Bin's identity.
Seeing this, Han Bin said,
“Go ahead and draw if you want. Just be prepared to never hold a sword again.”
The Musi Geomga warriors felt a chill at Han Bin's smiling words.
Silence hung between Han Bin and the guard warriors.
Even the onlookers held their breath under the tension.
As everyone swallowed hard in the standoff, the lead guard captain spoke.
“Escort the young master. We're leaving.”
In unison, the guard warriors moved with perfect discipline.
The captain judged this wasn't for escorts to handle—it was clan against clan.
As the Musi Sega warriors vanished in a blink, sighs of relief erupted here and there.
“Phew.”
“Martial artists are no joke—scary as hell.”
“Thought my soul was gonna leave my body.”
Sim Miho, behind Han Bin, exhaled the breath she'd been holding.
“Phew, that was close. But where...”
Sim Miho looked around.
Han Bin had vanished from sight.
Then Cheolno pointed across the bridge with a finger.
Han Bin had already crossed the Stone Blossom Bridge.
Sim Miho grabbed Cheolno's sleeve and hurriedly followed.
The onlookers whispered at Han Bin's receding figure.
“Feels good, doesn't it?”
“What feels good?”
“But what the hell happened to that coward?”
“What happened? From his actions earlier, seems like another spoiled brat's appeared.”
“Yeah, now that you mention it. He looked like a demon. Is it okay to beat a guy unconscious like that?”
“The infamous brat Mu Sowi getting pity!”
“True, he did look kinda pitiful.”
Han Bin grinned at the voices fading behind him.
Hebei's brat sounded better than Hebei's coward.
Nothing dispelled the coward preconception like "brat."
As Han Bin smirked broadly, Sim Miho's trembling voice reached his ears.
“My lord, what were you thinking causing such a huge incident...”
“It's fine. Since we're breaking the engagement anyway, speeding it up benefits me.”
This time, Cheolno interjected urgently.
“Why assume the broken engagement, young master?”
Han Bin shrugged.
“Would you marry a loser like me, Cheolno? Who is Mu Soryul? Top in scholarship, beauty, and martial arts among Hebei's later-generation talents.”
“...”
Cheolno had no reply.
Han Bin's words were true, but he couldn't admit it.
Seeing Cheolno's expression, Han Bin laughed and continued.
“More importantly, Mu Soryul's the most ambitious woman in Hebei. Her marrying me? Ridiculous.”
Unable to hold back, Cheolno stepped forward accusingly.
“Ah, young master. What's so wrong with you?”
“Yes, exactly, my lord.”
As Sim Miho chimed in, Han Bin waved them off.
“Enough. Thanks anyway.”
Then.
A mosquito-like voice came from behind.
“Thank you, great hero.”
Turning, there stood the girl clutching the letter, eyes shining.
The child Mu Sowi had toyed with earlier—Jeong Soyeon.
Han Bin replied with a kind face.
“No need to thank me. I just did what anyone would.”
He turned and walked ahead.
Cheolno sighed at the sight.
“Which face is our lord's real one?”
To Cheolno's question, Sim Miho whispered softly.
“He's hiding a hero's spirit. How many could punish their future brother-in-law like that?”
Cheolno nodded quietly.
Their voices didn't reach Han Bin.
Gazing at the Yongrin Sword Art inscriptions, he pondered the next section.
With more characters, the formerly sparse basic section now had form.
What changes would filling the basics bring to the manual?
Would the next section appear?
What formulas awaited after the basics?
A heap of questions filled Han Bin's mind.
“Hmm... No matter how I think, I got nothing.”
Trailing behind, Cheolno tilted his head at Han Bin's cryptic mutter.
A rundown smithy ten li from the Stone Blossom Bridge.
A plain-looking forge bore a plaque at its entrance.
Master Craftsman (System" Rank)
Legend had it the Song Dynasty state awarded this plaque.
It meant the forge upheld the master craftsman title for generations.
But current master Jeong Cheolmin wasn't satisfied with his skills.
Recapturing his ancestors' glory was still far off.
Clang.
Clang.
Jeong Cheolmin set down his hammer after a mighty swing.
Then.
His disciple approached.
“Master, a guest.”
“Guest?”
“From Hebei Paeng Family.”
“Hebei Paeng?”
Slightly puzzled, Jeong Cheolmin left the workshop.
He had promised the current Paeng head three blades total.
“The last one?”
Muttering to himself, he arrived to find an unfamiliar face.
Young-looking, and for a Paeng direct descendant, unimpressively built.
Tall and handsome, but like a gisaeng's pretty boy. Jeong Cheolmin tilted his head.
Who is this?
As Jeong Cheolmin narrowed his eyes, the young man politely cupped his fists.
“Greetings. I am Hebei Paeng Family's fourth son, Paeng Hanbin.”
Han Bin returned the gesture.
“Ah, the fourth young master.”
“Yes, I come late to pay my respects to the master craftsman.”
At Han Bin's courtesy, Jeong Cheolmin's eyes sharpened.
Most first-timers disrespected blacksmiths, running their mouths.
Paeng Family's first and second sons had too.
With a softened expression, Jeong Cheolmin told his disciple,
“Bring tea.”
Soon, steaming tea sat on the log table.
Sipping silently, Jeong Cheolmin scrutinized Han Bin thoroughly.
His gaze finally settled on Han Bin's hands.
Studying them intently, as if pondering the perfect blade.
Then, resolved, he extended his hand.
“Hand it over.”
“Here.”
Han Bin pulled a letter from his bosom.
Confirming it, Jeong Cheolmin extended his hand again.
“Haven't stretched in a while. Now, the prepared dark iron too. I'll forge a blade suited to you.”
“Don't have it.”
“What do you mean, don't have it?”
“Lost the dark iron on the way.”
“Haha.”
Jeong Cheolmin let out a hollow laugh, staring at Han Bin.