Besieged on All Sides (6)
A question bloomed in Cheong Yeon's mind.
That wasn't the symptom of the blood poison made from Heolhyeolcho.
The skin turned black instead of red spots?
And blisters covering the skin on top of that?
Someone Cheong Yeon was observing scratched their face.
Pus poured down in an instant.
Even Cheong Yeon, second only to Cheon Dok in poison arts, had never seen symptoms this severe.
Shaking her head vigorously, Cheong Yeon's gaze soon fixed on her master's face.
Her eyes held a question: Was it you, Master, who unleashed the poison here?
Understanding her meaning, Cheon Dok spoke.
"That's not poison I spread."
"Then what is it?"
"Those are symptoms of a real plague. A vicious disease you'd only see in the western regions."
"In that case……."
"That place is beyond control. Even the most perfect poison user would need several lives to spare if they set foot there."
"So you're saying a real plague has spread through Jangun-hyeon?"
"No, it seems it was deliberately spread only in that area."
"You're saying there's some madman spreading the plague? Who the hell would do that? If so, the people of Jangun-hyeon will all die even if we leave them alone, right? Then our plans……."
"Don't jump to conclusions, Cheong Yeon. Look closely—the infected are confined to a limited space. And the one who spread it has a way to overcome the plague. In other words, they know how to control it."
"Control the plague?"
Cheong Yeon's eyes widened to their limit.
Seeing her reaction, Cheon Dok nodded as if he'd expected it.
"The one who spread it could aptly be called the plague god. They probably enjoy inflicting that kind of suffering. This bastard might be one of the most vicious in the jianghu."
"Hmm."
"We need to capture that bastard. If we make their power ours……."
Cheon Dok trailed off, quietly gazing up at the sky.
He'd swallowed the words about ruling the Central Plains.
"Is there no way, then?"
"Order the Black Water Squad. Surround that inn with me at the center."
"Understood."
"Tell them not to act rashly under any circumstances. Wait for the plague's master to emerge from there."
"How will we know who it is? It couldn't be Hebei Paeng Family's Fourth Young Master, could it?"
"Probably not. I suspect there's some hidden expert aiding the Hebei Paeng Family. We must capture them alive."
"Then we should handle those emerging from there with care?"
"No. Kill everyone who comes out."
"But you said to capture……."
"Do you think someone who can control the plague will die by your hand?"
"Then……."
"Kill them all, and the one left will be the one we capture."
"Got it. I'll crush them thoroughly."
"But use only blood poison as much as possible."
"Ah, if we use blood poison, we won't even need to dispose of the bodies. Their limbs will rot away. As you command, Master, we'll use only the blood poison extracted from Heolhyeolcho."
Cheon Dok smiled at Cheong Yeon's words.
After smiling for a long while, he finally spoke.
"Handle the rest yourself."
"Soon, they'll realize they've been completely besieged on all sides."
"Besieged on all sides? Apt expression, Cheong Yeon."
"Instead of the Chu songs, we'll blanket them with Black Water Squad's poison, Master."
Finishing her words, Cheong Yeon pointed toward the inn.
Sa-myeon-choga—the tale of Han singing Chu's mournful songs to break their enemies' morale.
Cheong Yeon was declaring she'd isolate the enemy in utter desolation with poison, not songs.
"Then I'll execute it immediately."
With a cupped-fist salute, Cheong Yeon vanished, leaving only a black afterimage.
Moments later, people began to gather bit by bit in the marketplace, centering around the pavilion where Cheon Dok sat.
They were in ragged attire.
Just ragged enough to pass for beggars at a glance.
One or two beggars started appearing in every shadowed corner of the hushed streets.
If Han Bin and Hong Chilgae hadn't sealed the Beggar Clan branch, they would have been indistinguishable from Cheong Yeon's disguised subordinates.
A stranger appearing in the desolate streets might draw attention, but beggars went unnoticed.
* * *
At the same time, Han Bin lounged in a chair by the window, admiring the view outside.
Occasionally, he closed his eyes, seemingly lost in thought.
As if waiting for someone.
How much time passed?
Han Bin nodded quietly.
Then a sly smile crept across his face.
He'd instinctively sensed the enemy's movements.
The prey had shown its tail—it was time to set the trap.
Han Bin pictured the enemy's rough profile in his mind.
Using Heolhyeolcho meant they were poison arts practitioners.
What were the traits of poison arts users?
As stealthy as assassins, with highly developed senses of smell.
The problem was their systematic stealth.
Trained as meticulously as imperial guards, sensitive to scents, they distinguished allies with poison fragrances.
No matter how well you masked your scent, you couldn't fool them completely.
The best way was to cut their breath short before they noticed.
Decision made, it was time to act.
As Han Bin moved to close the window, a strange sight caught his eye.
A change at the inn.
Bees that hadn't been visible before were now swarming the inn.
Han Bin leaned out to check the window of the room across the hall.
Honeybees buzzed around it.
Coincidence or not, it was Seol-hwa's room.
Did bees know her name meant "snow flower"?
Amusing.
Han Bin's amused expression vanished instantly.
He judged it unrelated to the enemy's attack.
Finishing his thoughts, Han Bin closed the window and snapped his fingers.
Snap.
Before the sound faded, Seol-hwa appeared at his side.
"Young master, you called?"
"Prepare for a hunt tonight, Seol-hwa."
"A hunt? Can I come too?"
"If you don't want to, forget it."
Seol-hwa waved her hands frantically at Han Bin's words.
"No, I'll go too. But first, I need to recharge my energy."
"If the food's lacking, tell Deputy Leader Sim Miho. Or ask her yourself."
"I-It's not the food, it's low blood sugar."
Seol-hwa stammered, embarrassed.
"Oh, candy, got it. But with the village like this, where to get……."
"Young master, I already solved that."
"Hm? How'd you solve it when the shops are closed, Seol-hwa?"
"I said I solved it."
"Oh ho, intriguing. How?"
Han Bin narrowed his eyes at Seol-hwa.
Under his gaze, she beamed as if praised.
At the end of her smile, Seol-hwa spoke.
"Well……."
Listening to Seol-hwa's explanation, Han Bin's eyes widened.
She'd bought ingredients to make candy.
Dried fruit pulp for storage, and plenty of the rest.
After hearing her out, Han Bin reopened the window as if struck by a thought.
Bees still buzzed before Seol-hwa's window.
Han Bin asked her.
"Why didn't I notice the smell?"
"I wrapped it up tight so no scent leaks out."
Seol-hwa puffed her chest proudly.
But Han Bin crossed his arms, deep in thought.
One thing puzzled him.
He could handle part of the Thousand-Li Scent-Chasing Hound's role with spirit beasts.
Yet even his nose hadn't caught the sweet scent?
Seeing Han Bin's expression, Seol-hwa rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
Moments later, she clapped.
Clap.
Snapping from reverie, Han Bin asked.
"What is it, Seol-hwa?"
"I think I know why you didn't smell it, young master."
"Oh ho, tell me. If it makes sense, there'll be a reward."
"A reward? I'm good on candy for now……."
"No, something special. Speak."
"Well…… You didn't miss the sweet smell, young master—you're just used to it."
"Used to it?"
"I love candy so much."
"True enough."
Han Bin waited, arms crossed.
Gaining confidence from his look, Seol-hwa grinned like a scholar who'd aced the state exam.
"See, it's natural for my room to smell sweet. You're not missing it—you just take it for granted, like it's trained into you."
"Ah, that makes sense."
Finishing, Han Bin organized his thoughts.
It was like training martial arts.
The jianghu saying: repeat a form a thousand times minimum to master it.
To counter foes, reactions must be reflexive, not calculated.
A warrior's body adapts to every motion.
The nose was the same, Han Bin realized.
Then?
His eyes gleamed.
He'd figured how to approach the poison users.
Tonight's hunt would be easy.
Han Bin grinned at Seol-hwa.
"Seol-hwa, you're a genius."
"Really?"
As her eyes sparkled joyfully, Han Bin pulled a box the thickness of an adult's forearm from beside the table.
"A gift for finding the answer."
"What's this?"
"Open it."
"Can I open it now?"
"Of course."
Seol-hwa opened the wooden box.
A dagger lay inside.
Its black blade gleamed red.
Seol-hwa asked.
"Young master, is this a dagger made of dark iron?"
"No, it's forged from a Heavenly Mountain Blood Wolf's claw. Leader Kang Yu-chan said it's harder than millennial cold iron."
"Gasp! Then this is the dagger His Imperial Majesty bestowed last time. Why give it to me……."
"I have another. Use this one."
"But it's a gift from the Emperor to you…… I can't accept."
"I'm not from a declining house, and in the Hebei Paeng Family of blade masters, it's just a self-defense dagger. Return it when you resume your main duties."
Han Bin smiled.
His smile held many layers.
Seol-hwa nodded silently, understanding.
One couldn't assassinate with an imperial sword.
Glancing between Han Bin and the dagger, Seol-hwa murmured softly.
"Still……."
She tucked the dagger in her bosom, then strapped it to her greave on her leg, repeating indecisively.
Then she asked.
"Young master, what's the dagger's name?"
Her face was innocently childlike, awaiting the master's answer like a schoolboy.
Han Bin replied with a kindly expression.
"I don't know the name. Small but no less a treasure sword, so name it yourself, Seol-hwa."
"Ah…… Then I'll call it Blood Wolf Dagger."
Seol-hwa hesitated briefly, then spoke with firm resolve.