199. The Living Buddha of Gangbuk (4)
Seolhwa, holding tanghwa candy in both hands, approached the boy leaning on his crutch with a bright smile.
As she drew near, the boy bowed his head deeply, at a loss for what to do.
Her clothes were far too pristine for him to even make eye contact.
In the boy's eyes, Seolhwa looked like a fairy descended from heaven.
But the words from her mouth were unexpected.
"Wanna eat some?"
"……."
"Don't want it? Fine then."
"N-no, I do!"
"Here, eat this."
"Th-thank you."
The boy took the tanghwa candy.
As he hesitated after receiving it, Seolhwa urged him on.
"Just eat it now."
"Is that really okay?"
"Don't worry about it—eat up."
Under her radiant smile, the boy took a bite of the tanghwa.
His eyes widened in an instant.
He had never tasted tanghwa this delicious before.
It was as fresh and sweet as scooping honey straight from a honeycomb.
There was a slight bitterness in the middle, but that only made the sweetness explode even more intensely.
Not just intensely—it felt like his always-stuffy body had suddenly cleared right through.
A refreshing energy surged through his entire frame, and without realizing it, the boy closed his eyes.
At that moment, Seolhwa's hand gently rested on his head.
More accurately, she simply placed it there.
How much time passed?
The boy's father called out.
"Sangha, come on, let's go."
Hearing that, the boy called Sangha bowed to the girl.
"Thank you... this kindness..."
Sangha couldn't finish his sentence.
Clutching his tanghwa skewer, he blankly scanned his surroundings.
Lifting his head, he saw that the girl who had given him the candy was gone.
Sangha walked over to his father.
He hadn't even noticed he'd left his crutch behind.
"This must be where fairies live, Dad."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I just saw fairy sis."
"A fairy, huh? Could be."
His father nodded quietly.
The remaining onlookers watched Sangha and his father depart with envious gazes.
That was when it happened.
The goateed merchant raised his voice to call his friend.
"Hey, Sangha! Don't forget your crutch!"
But Sangha and his father continued chatting as they walked farther away.
In that instant, everyone's eyes turned to the crutch abandoned by the fence.
They glanced back at Sangha's receding figure.
Their gazes darted between the departing merchants and the lone crutch left behind.
Of course, the more they confirmed it, the more questions arose.
Someone shouted loudly.
"How's a guy who was limping walking so fine now?"
"D-does that even make sense?"
"He didn't even take any medicine. What happened to make his lame leg heal like that?"
"What the hell just went down?"
"What do you mean? The only thing they did was hand out medicine and food."
"Nah, they made everyone sign a contract."
"Maybe..."
"Maybe what?"
"I'm saying, what if that contract has some kinda divine power?"
"Divine power? You mean like..."
As murmurs rippled through the crowd, the goateed merchant muttered softly.
"Guess I have to believe it now..."
For him, who had seen Sangha often, there was only one word to describe this.
A miracle.
The goateed merchant clasped his hands together toward the inn.
At the same time, the expressions in several onlookers' eyes shifted.
Their gazes, pure and free of doubt, were like a cloudless sky.
Seolhwa stood with her arms crossed, staring seriously beyond the fence.
Seeing her expression, Han Bin spoke up.
"Why the long face, Seolhwa?"
"It feels kinda weird saving someone like that, Young Master."
Seolhwa gazed at Sangha and his father walking away.
Noticing her look, Han Bin quietly watched them as well.
The reason for the miracle in the limping Sangha was simple.
The tanghwa Seolhwa had given him contained a miracle pill that eradicated the blood gu causing the plague in one go.
It was like removing a boulder blocking a waterway—the flow resumed naturally.
Of course, without Seolhwa infusing pure energy through the crown of his head to guide the medicine's power, recovery wouldn't have been this immediate.
Thanks to Seolhwa, the cause was eliminated, his blocked meridians cleared, and naturally, he no longer needed the crutch.
This was due not just to Han Bin, but also greatly to Jang Ja-myeong, who had stayed up nights researching herbs.
As the murmurs outside the fence died down, Seolhwa tilted her head and asked Han Bin.
"Young Master, I've got a question."
"Ask away comfortably, Seolhwa."
"Why save that guy without any payment? Unlike the other meds, the stuff in the tanghwa was expensive."
Seolhwa seemed genuinely curious.
Shrugging, Han Bin replied.
"It's not exactly without payment."
"Huh? You just took a contract sheet from him like everyone else."
"Precisely—that one kid moved people's hearts. What I want isn't force; it's for them to genuinely feel goodwill toward me and the Hebei Paeng Family. That's why I used this method..."
Trailing off, Han Bin flashed a smile.
"Ah."
Seolhwa let out a gasp of realization.
Looking at the faces outside the fence, she suddenly understood Han Bin's words.
Though it did feel a bit over the top.
Some were even bowing toward Han Bin.
To Seolhwa, the path Han Bin walked wasn't that of a warrior or a merchant.
It was the path of a cult leader.
Of course, she couldn't say that out loud.
Meanwhile, leaving the murmurs behind, Sim Miho and Se Jaeo closed the fence gate and entered.
Stepping inside, Se Jaeo found himself unconsciously looking up at the sky.
Now he finally understood the intent behind Han Bin having them sign just ten contracts.
And he had witnessed the power of scarcity firsthand.
The people still standing in line without fleeing were proof.
Far from running, some bowed their heads toward Han Bin—it was absurd.
Se Jaeo thought this scene embodied the hidden essence of wandering the jangho.
What one learned from jangho travels was the eye to read the world.
On top of chivalry, the importance of profit as well?
Glancing sideways, he saw Han Bin scanning the surroundings.
'What moves will Hebei Paeng Family's Fourth Young Master make next?'
Se Jaeo licked his lips, genuinely intrigued.
As Se Jaeo watched Han Bin with meaningful eyes...
Han Bin turned to Sim Miho.
"Deputy Commander Sim."
"Yes, my lord."
"Fetch Commander So Daeseop."
"If it's something simple, you can leave it to me..."
"You've worked hard enough—Deputy Commander Sim should rest. This is a job for the commander. Plus, you're busy tomorrow too."
"Understood, my lord."
Sim Miho couldn't help but smile.
It felt like Han Bin was acknowledging her.
She vanished from the spot in a flash.
Exactly the time it took to sip a cup of tea later, So Daeseop appeared before Han Bin.
"You called for me, my lord?"
"Commander So Daeseop."
"Yes, my lord."
"Relay this to the Red Blood Alliance Tiger Corps: there's one final mission in Jangun-hyeon."
"Final mission? I thought we were done once we wrapped things up, my lord."
"One more left. I need to move something precious."
"Precious item? What is it?"
As So Daeseop tilted his head, Han Bin pointed to the barrels stacked inside the fence.
"That stuff you see there."
They were wooden barrels sealed with oil, wrapped in oiled paper—no one knew what was inside.
Come to think of it, he'd forgotten about those barrels.
He'd been curious what they were for but hadn't asked Han Bin.
Hearing they were precious now, it was shocking.
If they were so valuable, why bring them into this hellhole?
And why leave them abandoned by the fence without a glance?
Under So Daeseop's suspicious gaze, Han Bin pointed at the barrels with a friendly smile.
"Treasures that might save our lives. Handle this mission in utmost secrecy—no one can know, Commander."
"Understood. Where to?"
"Someone to guide you will arrive soon."
"A guide?"
"Right on time."
Finishing, Han Bin gauged the time by eyeing the sun high overhead.
"Who exactly..."
As So Daeseop tilted his head...
Someone rushed up to Han Bin.
Tadak.
It was none other than Gong Son Myeonghu, panting as he stood before Han Bin.
"Huff huff, I didn't keep you waiting, did I?"
"No, perfect timing."
"You really don't need any of our workers?"
"No need. It has to be moved without anyone noticing."
Han Bin grinned as he finished speaking.
That smile made Gong Son Myeonghu flinch and turn away.
An inexplicable chill crept up his spine.
What Han Bin had requested was a guide to the secret tunnels beneath Jangun-hyeon.
Specifically, to a warehouse space.
Then, as if remembering something, Han Bin added,
"Oh, and if anyone eyes those goods, give them a heads-up."
"What should I tell them?"
"That they'll die."
"Got it. But that's some chilling talk, Young Master Paeng."
"Not a joke."
"Haha."
Gong Son Myeonghu laughed awkwardly and looked away.
It didn't sound like empty words.
Overhearing, Sim Miho tilted her head.
"What was that line in the contract again?"
It wasn't idle musing.
She sensed a connection between the cargo and the contract's wording.
At her murmur, Se Jaeo asked,
"What line do you mean, Deputy Commander Sim?"
"Oh, Hero Se. Nothing much. There was some weird phrasing in the contracts—something our lord's never used before."
"What did it say? Sorry if it's a secret."
"Hoho, what secret? We handed them out to everyone. Though yeah, our lord's got a ton of secrets—always brushing things off as 'classified' when he's bored."
"Haha, Young Master Paeng has his quirks."
"It mentioned 'earth-shaking events' a few times."
"Earth-shaking..."
"If an earth-shaking event happens, stay inside your shop or home. We told the pre-treated villagers the same, but the battle's already over. So why include it in the contracts? Kinda weird."
"Maybe just 'stay cautious to the end'? No harm in being careful, Deputy Commander Sim. There's an old sage saying like that."
"What saying, Hero Se?"
"'The fight isn't over while I live. Enemies will endlessly appear as long as I breathe.'"
"Sounds just like something a Sapa leader would say."
"Er, it's from the previous Volcanic Sect leader."
"Ah, sorry, Hero Se."
"No offense taken. Even our own disciples think the same when they first hear it."
"Hoho, so I am normal."
"Y-yeah... normal..."
Se Jaeo trailed off awkwardly.
Saying she was normal brought up doubts.
Were there any normal people around Han Bin?
Those tied to him followed instinct over reason.
As he tilted his head, Sim Miho narrowed her eyes.
"Something wrong, Hero Se?"
Waving it off, Se Jaeo changed the subject.
"No, nothing. Why not ask the Fourth Young Master directly up ahead? He'll explain what 'earth-shaking' means."
"Like he'd tell me—why bother..."
With that, Sim Miho stretched and headed into the inn.
Se Jaeo stared at the barrels being loaded onto carts, his questions unresolved.