Chapter 182. Besieged on All Sides (2)
He'd made up his mind to change it, but no fitting name for the technique came to mind.
Just then, Seol-hwa tilted her head and asked,
"Since the last one you taught me was Divorce Sword, is this one Divorce Letter, Young Master?"
Han Bin narrowed his eyes at her.
Seol-hwa backed away furtively and turned her head.
It was as if she anticipated a scolding and was trying to dodge it.
But Han Bin curved his lips into a smile and said,
"Oh ho, that's a great name!"
And so, the Shadowless Hand that would soon shake the murim was rechristened the True Dragon Divorce Letter.
It was right after Han Bin finished speaking.
The manual floating in midair glimmered faintly.
Han Bin's eyes lit up as new text appeared.
The name of True Dragon Shadowless Hand has been changed. The new name is True Dragon Divorce Letter.
Han Bin let out a hollow chuckle.
The manual updated the moment he decided on a name!
He felt like he needed to think more about how to make better use of this manual.
Two days later, at the inn.
As afternoon arrived, Han Bin welcomed twenty wagons from the Thousand-Li Escort Agency.
Yun the escort leader and his porters began stacking the cargo inside the fence with practiced efficiency.
Soon, hundreds of wooden barrels were neatly arranged at regular intervals within the fence.
The barrels were meticulously sealed—pig fat smeared into the wood's cracks, overlaid with oiled paper.
Seol-hwa wandered around the barrels, smacking her lips.
She seemed to think there was honey inside or something.
Han Bin pulled her away.
"Seol-hwa."
"Yes, Young Master?"
"Don't eye them like that. You'll regret it later."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"It's a secret."
Han Bin turned away with a cryptic smile, leaving Seol-hwa staring blankly at the barrels.
Why was Seol-hwa so fixated on them?
A strangely sweet aroma mingled with the oily scent wafting from them.
Just then, an unidentified object hurtled toward Seol-hwa with a whoosh.
Whoosh!
At the sound, Seol-hwa spun around and snatched it midair.
Thwack.
Seol-hwa's eyes widened at the item in her hand.
It was a money pouch.
She gave it a shake—it felt quite heavy.
Seol-hwa glanced quietly up at Han Bin's room.
He was beckoning her.
It was pocket money from Han Bin.
Clutching the pouch, Seol-hwa headed toward the fence.
Inside, the Red Blood Alliance Tiger Squad members were resting.
On Han Bin's orders to take a break.
Well, some were still sweating away at work.
Like the physician Jang Ja-myeong.
Jang Ja-myeong and Geom-o beside him were grinding herbs, beads of sweat dripping down.
No one in the inn knew what those herbs were for.
Only Han Bin and Jang Ja-myeong did.
In the inn's peaceful front courtyard.
Seol-hwa couldn't remember the last time she'd seen such a serene scene.
Spotting Seol-hwa heading out, Jo Ho came running.
"Seol-hwa!"
"Yes, Brother Jo Ho?"
"You heading out to buy candy?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Here, add this and get some extra."
With that, Jo Ho tossed her a iron coin.
Fling!
Seol-hwa casually caught the flying coin and tucked it into her pouch.
"Seol-hwa!"
This time it was Jangsan calling.
Seol-hwa tilted her head.
"What is it, Uncle Jangsan?"
"Take this too and treat yourself."
Jangsan tossed her an iron coin.
Infused with inner power, it whistled through the air toward her.
Whoosh!
Despite its fierce speed, Seol-hwa snatched it effortlessly.
She slipped Jangsan's coin into her pouch, bowed her head, and said,
"Thank you, Brother Jangsan."
"Heh heh, Brother, huh... Feels like you've shaved ten years off me, Seol-hwa. Thanks, kid."
Jo Ho poked Jangsan's side.
Poke.
Jangsan scowled at him.
"What're you doing, Jo Ho?"
"Have some shame, Uncle. It'd take twenty years, not ten, before 'Brother' sounds right from Seol-hwa."
"Haha, you think?"
Jangsan scratched his head and laughed, and Jo Ho laughed along.
From then on, Red Blood Alliance Tiger Squad members lined up to give Seol-hwa iron coins.
Someone whispered,
"How'd she catch that? Even I'd struggle with that speed and angle..."
"Right? Maybe she did circus tricks with a theater troupe before Cheonsu Manor?"
"Nah, no way."
"Still, with skills like that, she'd pick up martial arts quick."
"Why don't you take her as a disciple then?"
"First I gotta shake this 'Uncle' title."
The member fiddled with an iron coin in his right hand.
This phenomenon hadn't been going on long.
It started because Seol-hwa's coin-catching was so impressive.
And her nicknames for the squad members helped too.
Seol-hwa had just two ways to address Red Blood Alliance Tiger Squad members.
Brother or Uncle.
The distinction was simple.
If they gave her pocket money, Brother. No money, Uncle.
That's why even the oldest, Jangsan, got "Brother" treatment after giving her coins.
Once Jangsan did, the others had no choice.
To avoid "Uncle," they had to offer iron coins.
With her pouch bulging, Seol-hwa happily tried to head out.
That was when.
Someone was kicking up dust in the distance, racing toward them.
Clop clop.
Seol-hwa unconsciously narrowed her eyes.
There were two figures raising the dust.
As they drew near, Seol-hwa tilted her head.
It was Sim Miho and Se Jaeo.
Both were investigating Jangun-hyeon on Han Bin's request.
Of course, everyone knew they had different tasks.
For both to come racing back like this meant something serious had happened.
Seol-hwa waited for them.
Sim Miho and Se Jaeo skidded to a halt before her, dust settling.
Thud.
Se Jaeo spoke first.
"Seol-hwa, get inside first."
"But I was gonna buy candy..."
"No one goes beyond the fence now."
"What's going on, Uncle Se Jaeo of the Volcanic Sect?"
"Inside first. We need to discuss details with Young Master Sa."
"Oh."
Seol-hwa let out a low exclamation and turned.
But her head stayed craned toward the gate.
In that direction was her favorite candy shop.
A short while later.
Han Bin and the Red Blood Alliance Tiger Squad gathered on the inn's first floor with grave expressions.
On Han Bin's orders, once everyone assembled, Sim Miho stepped forward.
A large map lay before her.
It wasn't detailed, but a rough sketch of Jangun-hyeon.
Sim Miho pointed to one spot and began.
"The plague is spreading from this area right now."
"That place..."
Han Bin trailed off, searching his memory. Sim Miho continued swiftly.
"It's the stream Jangun-hyeon uses for drinking water. The villagers call it Seongnae Stream."
"How fast is it spreading?"
"Along Seongnae Stream, faster than the blink of an eye. The government troops have sealed the village entrances."
The squad members buzzed at Sim Miho's report.
Jo Ho's voice rang loudest.
"So what about us? We won't even get to marry at this rate..."
"You punk, why jinx us!"
"Uncle Jangsan, it's a plague. Martial arts are useless against it. With troops blocking the entrances, we're trapped..."
"The young master has it covered. Right?"
Jangsan glanced quietly at Han Bin.
All eyes turned to him.
Not stinging, but burning gazes.
Han Bin met them with a smile.
"No need to worry."
He waved his hand with a grin, and sighs of relief echoed around.
"Phew..."
"Good."
Sim Miho tilted her head curiously.
"Young master, may I ask what countermeasures you've prepared?"
"We wait till it blows over."
"That's your plan?"
"We already stocked up on food."
"So you foresaw this whole crisis..."
"No way I could've known."
"Food aside, what about drinking water?"
"Water's fine. There's groundwater under the inn. And Physician Jang made the antidote for today, so no worries."
Now eyes shifted to Jang Ja-myeong.
"Antidote?"
"An antidote for a plague?"
The squad's murmurs grew louder, staring at Jang Ja-myeong.
Overwhelmed, he turned away hastily.
But the members were already crowding him, eyes gleaming.
Jang Ja-myeong gave an awkward smile.
Han Bin had ordered it made, but even he wasn't sure what for.
Stepping forward in his place, Han Bin explained.
"Those 'plagued' now are mostly poisoned. The plague centering on Seongnae Stream means..."
Han Bin continued his explanation.
Everyone listened intently.
It was simple: An unknown group had poisoned the water and grain.
Listening, Jo Ho bowed his head.
His liege, Han Bin, had come to Jangun-hyeon knowing all this.
If it were just armed foes, they could breathe easier.
But the real enemy was this terrifying plague.
When plague struck, the imperial court handled it ruthlessly, without mercy.
Could they survive this?
Why come to such a dangerous place?
Jo Ho resented Han Bin's choice for a moment.
Then he snapped his head up and looked at Han Bin.
Unthinkingly, he raised his hand.
"I have a question, young master."
"What is it?"
"Even with all the caution, what if we get poisoned?"
"Good question, Jo Ho. That's why I prepared this."
Han Bin snapped his fingers.
Snap.
Seol-hwa arrived with a bundle.
In front of everyone, she unwrapped it.
Inside were oddly shaped pills.
Jo Ho tilted his head.
"What's that, young master?"
"Special antidote pills."
With that, Han Bin pulled a trinket from his bosom.
He'd distributed these to the squad upon arriving at the inn.
Han Bin showed it to all, then opened a protruding rice-grain-sized part.
Click.
The front popped open.
Han Bin held out his hand to Seol-hwa.
She handed him a pill.
"Here, Young Master."
"Thanks, Seol-hwa."
Han Bin placed the pill in the empty slot and snapped the lid shut.
Click.
The closed trinket looked like any ordinary necklace.
Han Bin slammed it hard against his forearm.
Poke!
A strange sound rang out.
Cries erupted around him.
"Ah, young master!"
"What are you doing?!"
Ignoring the commotion, Han Bin continued.
"Everyone, watch closely."
He removed the necklace from his arm.
A thin needle emerged from his forearm.
A trickle of blood seeped from the puncture.
Terrified, everyone yanked off their necklaces.
A needle from a necklace!
To them, it looked not like jewelry, but a hidden weapon—or a suicide tool.