29. To Eat or Be Eaten? (3)
Yi Mu-myeong, the Peak swordsman.
These days, he was a martial artist renowned in the Jiangnan region as one of the rising Five Dragons.
He wasn't from the Jeong family, but he'd been taken in by the Henan Jeong Family as a child and had become one of their core forces.
But that was the current situation.
The problem was that back when Han Bin had roamed the martial world in his previous life, he'd never heard the name Yi Mu-myeong anywhere.
Not hearing a name meant one of two things.
Either a low-skilled nobody, or someone who'd met their end to a blind sword.
Seeing Han Bin's expression, Cheolno asked,
"Young master, why the long face? Are you scared, perhaps?"
"Is this the part where I should be scared, Cheolno?"
Han Bin asked with a blank face.
"Of course. This escort team is even more threatening than when Deputy Commander Sim Miho was in charge."
"Got it, Cheolno. I'll keep an eye on it. Thanks."
"Yes, if possible, stay in your quarters..."
Before Cheolno could finish, Han Bin stood and strolled off leisurely.
The frantic Cheolno called after him.
"Young master, where are you going?"
"Gotta check if my escorts are training properly."
"Aw, you said you'd stay put."
"The Mangho Squad's training ground is my quarters."
With that, Han Bin sauntered out of Cheolno's sight with light steps.
"Young master!"
Cheolno hurried after him.
After chasing for a while, Cheolno spotted Han Bin leaning against a tree beside the training ground.
"Young mas..."
"Shh!"
Han Bin pressed a finger to his lips, silencing Cheolno.
Cheolno got the message.
The Mangho Squad was training without even eating meals.
Of course, skipping meals wasn't their choice. Han Bin had ordered them not to eat until they passed his test.
They faced each other, swords held before their eyes.
But none had reached the state Han Bin wanted.
They flinched and blinked constantly.
That was when a group of Hebei Paeng Family warriors passing by stopped to watch the Mangho Squad's training.
"Hey, look at that. What the hell are they doing?"
"I hear the Fourth Young Master ordered it."
"Man, those escorts have it rough. What's the point?"
"Right? Better to practice one more form in that time. Dodging his escort recruitment last time was a stroke of luck."
"Haha, yeah, lucky for me too. Got into the First Young Master's escort team thanks to the openings. Speaking of, you're from the Henan Jeong Family, right?"
"That's right."
The nodding warrior wore a sword at his waist.
Its scabbard bore the ornate cloud emblem of the Henan Jeong Family.
They chattered right behind So Daeseop.
Hearing them, So Daeseop's gripped blade trembled in his hand.
Then—
A sharp whistle cut the air as a sword flew straight at So Daeseop's face.
Bang!
So Daeseop flinched back.
The sword tip halted just a handspan from his face, and he squeezed his eyes shut without thinking.
Only for a moment. He snapped them open again.
He knew who owned the sword radiating sword aura right before him.
So Daeseop hurriedly cupped his fists in salute.
"M-my lord."
His voice shook badly.
He still thought this was part of the test.
And sure enough, Han Bin scanned the area with a dissatisfied look and said,
"Park!"
"Yes. As you command."
As So Daeseop bowed in resignation, Han Bin grabbed his wrist.
"Not you, Commander So."
"What do you mean, my lord?"
Ignoring So Daeseop, Han Bin fixed his gaze on the warriors newly assigned to the First Young Master's escort team.
One from the Henan Jeong Family, sensing something off, stepped back and saluted.
"Greetings to the Fourth Young Master."
"Skip the pleasantries. Begin."
"What do you mean?"
"Don't you know what you did wrong?"
"Wrong? We've done nothing wrong, Young Master."
The warrior shook his head.
Han Bin wagged a straight finger and continued,
"No, you have. Let me ask one thing."
"Speak."
"Since when was it allowed in the Hebei Paeng Family to spy on others' training?"
"Training? What are you talking about? The Henan Jeong Family would never..."
"Hold on. Is this the Henan Jeong Family?"
"I-I'm sorry. But we would never spy on anyone's training..."
The warrior trailed off.
Han Bin's wagging finger pointed at each Mangho Squad member one by one.
The Jeong Family warrior instinctively stepped back.
The Mangho Squad escorts' eyes held none of the righteous faction's demeanor.
They gleamed like starved hyenas that hadn't eaten in days.
Jangsan and Jo Ho's gazes were the fiercest.
Which made sense—they hadn't eaten a single meal since yesterday.
Han Bin spoke.
"You've sinned by denying the training method proposed by a young master candidate. Do you know the penalty?"
He drew his sword.
Shing.
The blade pointed at the warrior's arm.
The First Young Master's escorts dropped to their knees simultaneously.
Han Bin spoke again.
"Didn't hear me? I didn't say kneel. I said park!"
As Han Bin moved to lightly slash the warrior's arm—
A shout rang out from somewhere.
"Little bro!"
Turning, Han Bin saw Second Young Master Paeng Kyungbin strolling over from afar.
Han Bin paused his sword.
The Second Young Master, now before him, said,
"Hard-won escorts—if you scar them, that's no way to act."
Han Bin eyed Paeng Kyungbin.
No trace of the groaning, defeated look from before.
He smirked arrogantly, looking down on Han Bin.
Despite the expression, Paeng Kyungbin exuded a menacing aura.
Calmly bearing it, Han Bin replied as he approached,
"Brother, I'm enforcing Paeng family law right now. What brings you?"
"Paeng family law? From what I heard from afar, you're calling that training."
Paeng Kyungbin jerked his chin at the Mangho Squad.
They stood like statues, swords at each other's nose tips, glaring.
Han Bin asked,
"If that's not training, what is it?"
"We call that clowning around. So weren't our escorts just watching clowns, not training?"
Clang of clashing swords echoed across the training ground.
Tang!
Tang!
Followed by an eerie grinding.
Scraaaape.
Han Bin glanced sideways at the training ground.
The Mangho Squad had pushed past their limits, using swords to prop themselves up.
Looking closer, the blades trembled.
The sound was their shaking swords scraping the blue steel stone floor.
Han Bin saw it as the explosion of all their pent-up resentment so far.
Commander So Daeseop vaguely knew why they shook.
His gaze went to the eldest, Jangsan.
Sure enough, his sword trembled the most.
Jangsan gritted his teeth, unaware of the commander's stare.
It had been exactly one day since he'd trusted Han Bin and committed himself.
And all Han Bin had taught was: "Don't blink even if a sword comes at you."
On top of that, they skipped meals to build the grit not to blink no matter what.
Jangsan mouthed,
"I agree with the Second Young Master. That's the word: clowns."
"Right, Uncle. How's this supposed to make us stronger? At this rate, I'll get dumped by Lady Hyang."
Jo Ho mouthed his agreement with Jangsan.
Scraaaape.
The scraping continued.
This noise wasn't aimed at the Second Young Master—it was silent protest toward their lord, Han Bin.
Not one regretted yesterday's plea to teach them how to grow stronger.
Unlike their inner thoughts, Han Bin smiled silently.
He was pleased with their expressed fury.
Now they finally showed warrior-like tenacity. He didn't care who it was aimed at.
'They want it, so time to crank up the intensity!'
Seeing Han Bin smile wordlessly, Paeng Kyungbin asked,
"Even you admit it, little bro?"
"I admit it? Admit what?"
"If that smile isn't admission, what is?"
"I think their training is the path to strength."
"Then prove it."
"Honestly, no reason I should, but if brother wants, I'll show you. How should I prove it?"
Han Bin grinned at Paeng Kyungbin.
"Prove it..."
Meeting Han Bin's relaxed gaze, Paeng Kyungbin trailed off uneasily.
But only briefly. He shook his head slightly.
His escorts were elite from the Henan Jeong Family. Over time, he'd reorganize them into a proper third force.
He was confident they wouldn't lose to anyone now.
As Paeng Kyungbin pondered how to trap Han Bin—
Han Bin continued,
"How about sparring between escorts in a month?"
"Oh ho!"
Paeng Kyungbin's eyes gleamed. He'd finally caught his chance.
Han Bin had said exactly what he wanted to propose. Felt like ten-year heartburn dissolving.
"That look means you accept."
"Fine. So what do we wager this time?"
Paeng Kyungbin smacked his lips. Perfect chance to settle the previous debt.
Seeing his expression, Han Bin said,
"No need for as many as last time. One escort this round."
"Hm, one escort?"
Paeng Kyungbin stroked his chin thoughtfully, then nodded.
"Agreed. No more riffraff anyway."
He eyed the entire Mangho Squad with contempt.
He wanted just one: the betrayer from the prior incident, Sim Miho.
With the match set for a month later, the scraping swords on the training ground grew louder.
Scraaaaape.
Scraaaaape.
Even struggling to stay upright, their hearts were united.
Sparring the Second Young Master's elites? Defeat was certain.
And with his grudge against the Fourth? They'd be torn apart in a month.
No way this clowning would make them stronger in that time.
Scraaaaape.
Scraaaape.
This was the Mangho Squad's resentful, silent outcry.
Seeing it, Han Bin shouted,
"No more grievances. I'll give you what you want."
"......"
The trembling stopped at last. The Mangho Squad was too dumbfounded for resentment.
'Damn it!'
'We're screwed for real!'
They inwardly grumbled in their own ways.
While Han Bin and the Mangho Squad communed, Paeng Kyungbin slipped away.