Chapter 38. Behind the Praying Mantis, the Sparrow—and Then the Eagle (2)
At that sight, Paeng Kangwi tossed a silver object to Paeng Daewi.
As the object flew toward him, Paeng Daewi released his fist salute and swiftly caught it.
"Why are you giving the family head's token to me...?"
"From today onward, you're acting as family head."
"Ah, brother!"
The law enforcement leader Paeng Daewi let out a wail.
It wasn't the position of acting family head that burdened him. What terrified him was the endless piles of documents that would come crashing down, leaving no time to breathe.
That afternoon, at the Mangho Squad's exclusive training ground.
The Mangho Squad warriors had gathered at the training ground.
One of the warriors asked Jo Ho.
"Jo Ho, First Rate? I'm so jealous. How'd you get such a lucky break?"
"This isn't the time to congratulate me. You're First Rate too, senior."
"What?"
"Think about it. How much faster has your blade become? And you said your lower abdomen tingles just like mine."
"Yeah, I must've eaten something bad..."
"That's inner power. I heard it from the law enforcement leader earlier."
"Gasp!"
The warrior cried out in shock, and the others began prodding their own lower abdomens.
"Me too."
"Same here."
"How did this happen?"
As murmurs rippled through the group, Jo Ho continued.
"From what I heard, it's the result of our training."
"So all that hellish suffering wasn't for nothing? Then that guy..."
As the warrior started to mention Han Bin,
Jo Ho whipped his blade up to the warrior's eyes like lightning.
Shing.
The startled warrior stumbled back, shouting.
"Whoa, Jo Ho! What the hell are you doing?"
"I won't forgive any irreverent talk about my lord."
"......"
The warrior bowed his head silently.
If Jo Ho had reached the First Rate realm, then he must have too. Calling his benefactor "that guy" to a silver medalist? He had nothing to say, even if he had two mouths.
Jo Ho glanced at Jangsan.
Jangsan met his gaze and nodded with a smile.
At the same moment, the entire Mangho Squad nodded in understanding.
Their unified hearts led to unified actions.
Jo Ho continued, looking a bit sheepish.
"I was too excited earlier to think straight, but the blades from the Henan Jeong Family coming right at me didn't feel scary at all."
"Same here," Jangsan added, and the rest of the warriors craned their necks, eager for Jo Ho's next words.
"Those blades weigh twice as much as ours."
Jo Ho pointed to the training blades at the warriors' waists.
After receiving the special training weapons from Jeong Cheolmin and distributing them evenly, everyone was wearing one.
"Didn't feel heavy at all..."
"Exactly. The training definitely paid off. But what I don't get is, the lord said we swung hundred-geun blades ten thousand times, but I don't remember that."
Jo Ho tilted his head, and Jangsan replied.
"That's not the point. The important thing is we met our silver benefactor, who turned our Second Rate lives around."
Jangsan stood, faced toward Han Bin's quarters, and assumed a formal stance.
At once, everyone else rose and mirrored him.
So Daeseop and Sim Miho, who had arrived late, took up the same posture in front of them.
After finishing his meal, Han Bin strolled leisurely to the training ground where his subordinates awaited.
Trailing behind, Cheolno huffed and puffed, clutching a money pouch.
"Young master, did you hear the news?"
"What news?"
"The family head's gone into secluded training."
"Oh, with my second brother?"
"This young master calls it seclusion, but it's basically house arrest. The family head's officially in closed-door training, so the law enforcement leader's acting as family head now."
"Ah, that's heartbreaking."
Han Bin sincerely mourned for Paeng Daewi, who would battle the documents.
Moments later, arriving at the training ground, Han Bin cocked his head at the bizarre scene.
So Daeseop and Sim Miho stood at the front, with the Mangho Squad members lined up behind them—but they were utterly motionless.
They were posed so rigidly, anyone might mistake them for statues.
As Han Bin approached, the Mangho Squad erupted in a thunderous roar that shook the heavens.
"Loyalty!"
"Loyalty!"
"Has the lord arrived?"
Han Bin waved his hand at the voices.
"What's with everyone? I told you to relax."
At his words, Jo Ho dashed forward.
"No, my lord. Sorry for the misunderstanding."
"What misunderstanding?"
"Well, uh..."
As Jo Ho trailed off, Han Bin chuckled.
"It's fine. It wasn't really a misunderstanding. I'm not that nice a guy."
"But, my lord, I have a question."
"Shoot."
"Why can't we feel the weight of blades twice as heavy as ours?"
"I told you earlier. After swinging blades over a hundred geun ten thousand times, how would you notice a two-geun difference?"
"We swung hundred-geun blades?"
"You endured your own body weight on those tightropes."
"Ah."
Jo Ho let out a gasp of realization.
The tightrope had been the blade's hilt, and their bodies the blade's weight.
Jo Ho clasped his fists deeply.
"No matter what happens, I will never betray you, my lord."
"No matter what? Even if I break you up with Hiang from the lower village?"
"Mm."
Jo Ho swallowed hard.
The joy of reaching First Rate had momentarily buried the painful memory.
Han Bin glanced at Cheolno.
"Cheolno, hand that over."
"Yes, young master. Here."
Cheolno passed over the pouch—the one that had swept up all the bets.
Han Bin opened it.
Inside brimmed with silver coins, but atop them lay a few folded letters.
Han Bin pulled them out.
"Take this."
With an indifferent expression, Han Bin tossed the bundle of letters.
The startled Jo Ho asked,
"What's this, my lord?"
"Love letters from Hiang."
Love letters? He couldn't believe the Hiang who was getting married had sent him any—especially since he wasn't illiterate.
As if reading his mind, Han Bin explained.
"I wrote them for you. Turned her heart away."
"What?"
"Don't freak out. Learn to read and write yourself. I can't keep doing it forever."
"Ah..."
With a long sigh, Jo Ho dropped to his knees.
Thud!
And burst into sobs.
"Sob."
Was it contagious?
Tears welled up in the eyes of the entire Mangho Squad.
After a long moment of misty-eyed emotion, Jo Ho asked,
"One last question. I've gotten this strong, so why can't I sense the gap when sparring with you, my lord?"
"That's because..."
"What is it, my lord?"
"It's a secret."
Han Bin grinned, and Jo Ho quietly saluted and stepped back.
Jo Ho figured Han Bin was hiding his true strength.
Watching this, Sim Miho quietly asked,
"My lord, you said our odds of winning back then were fifty percent? What happened?"
"Oh, I misspoke."
"Misspoke...?"
"I meant our odds of losing were fifty percent. Don't sweat it."
"My lord, seriously? I really thought I messed up."
Sim Miho's pupils quivered.
To quell the emotional whirlwind, Han Bin stood.
"Alright, everyone step forward. Time to claim your prize money. So, the squad leader, divvy it up."
Thud!
Han Bin tossed the pouch in front of So Daeseop.
As So Daeseop marveled at the overflowing silver,
Han Bin's eyes sparkled.
Changes had appeared on So Daeseop and Sim Miho's bodies.
Twinkle.
Twinkle.
The formula points shone vividly, even under the blazing sun.
Without hesitation, Han Bin called out.
"Squad Leader So, Deputy Leader Sim."
They responded instantly.
"Yes, my lord."
"Speak, my lord."
Han Bin grinned widely and shouted,
"Let's spar!"
At his cry, the Mangho Squad warriors, standing at attention, raised their blades high.
"Live combat!"
"Training!"
The automatic chant rose without command as Han Bin slowly walked to the center of the training ground.
So Daeseop followed like a cow being led to slaughter.
Drawing their training weapons, Han Bin and So Daeseop charged.
Clang!
Dragon Eye confirms the formula.
You have acquired Jeuk (Jeuk) from the Applied Volume of Yongrin Sword Art.
Confirming the formula, Han Bin thrust his blade again.
At the same time, a scream burst from So Daeseop's mouth.
"Gah!"
A short while later.
Having laid low even Sim Miho, Han Bin sheathed his blade and gazed into the empty sky.
The gains from this spar were tremendous.
He had completed the second formula from the Applied Volume.
A new technique: Ilchok Jeukbal.
Propels the body like an arrow. Condenses qi at the blade tip.
Required power: 3 years. Recovers after 12 hours of consumption.
Judging by the Yongrin Sword Art standard, Han Bin was growing by leaps and bounds each day.
Here lay the answer to Jo Ho's earlier question.
They had grown stronger, but Han Bin had grown even more.
[Basic Volume]
…
[Applied Volume]
Jeon-gwang-seok-hwa (Lightning speed)
Ilchok Jeukbal (One touch and it's ready)
As Han Bin smiled at the sky from the center of the training ground, Cheolno came rushing over.
"Young master."
"What is it, Cheolno?"
"Warriors from law enforcement are coming."
"From law enforcement? Who screwed up this time?"
Han Bin bellowed, scanning the warriors one by one.
The warriors exchanged puzzled glances.
As Han Bin and the Mangho Squad stirred,
The footsteps of the law enforcement warriors drew near.
Seeing them approach, Han Bin tilted his head.
Something was off about the law enforcement warriors.
The one in front carried a massive flag.
"What the...?"
As Han Bin wondered, one law enforcement warrior dashed up and saluted.
"Greetings to the young master."
"What's going on?"
"We've brought the flag."
"Flag?"
Just then, the procession halted before the training ground.
Han Bin eyed the flag.
A massive banner fluttered.
Front: a fierce tiger. Back: the character for "four."
Only then did Han Bin grasp its meaning.
The Paeng Family was officially recognizing the Mangho Squad as a full armed force.
No longer mere bodyguards—they now had authority to wield force externally.
The flag-bearing warrior shouted,
"Youngest young master, receive this flag!"
Han Bin knelt before the flag bearer.
Flags came from the family head himself.
Han Bin saluted with utmost reverence.
The flag passed into his saluting hands.
Grasping it, Han Bin rose and cried out,
"Our Mangho Squad is reborn as the Paeng Family's official armed force, the Mangho Squad!"
A roar of cheers followed.
Han Bin's bandaged subordinates shouted in ecstasy.
"Woo!"
"Long live the lord!"
In a frenzy, they began pounding the ground with their blades.
Bang, bang.
In truth, what resounded more fiercely than the training ground floor was the beating in their chests.