Have Another Cup of Tea (1)
That didn't last long before he grinned and spoke up.
"I'll protect you too. Once I recover my martial arts!"
Hanbin chuckled at the boast.
"Got it. You have to protect me later, no excuses. And Cheolno, I have a favor to ask."
"Yes, Young Master. What is it?"
"Get me a decent sword. Just one that'll do the job."
"A sword, not a blade? But why a weapon all of a sudden..."
Cheolno bombarded him with questions in surprise.
Hanbin waved him off amid the sudden downpour of inquiries, like a midsummer shower.
"Don't read into it. Just get one."
It wasn't meaningless, of course—a lie.
In his past life, he'd swung a sword until his dying breath.
This was the Hebei Paeng Family, true, but the weapon Hanbin would wield from here on had to be a sword.
Hanbin gave a small smile, and Cheolno bowed slightly before leaving.
Once Cheolno was gone, Hanbin eyed the manual floating beside the flickering lantern light.
Yongrin Sword Art...
It was the key to achieving his goal.
His current martial prowess was that of a mere pup—third-rate at best!
Weak enough to crumple at the sight of blood, earning him scorn not just as the family's disgrace but as Hebei's coward. That was his reality.
And with a body oddly mismatched to the Paeng Family's inner cultivation method, progress came even slower.
But it didn't matter.
He wasn't the man from twenty years ago.
That evening,
Ak Pilseung rushed to the enforcement hall, his face twisted in fury.
His scowl was so fierce that the guards on duty averted their eyes.
Whoosh.
As Ak Pilseung stormed past, it felt like a blizzard had swept through. The guards all thought trouble was brewing today.
The rumor had already spread through the Paeng Family: during a spar between young masters, Third Young Master Paeng Mubin had been left unconscious and carted off to the infirmary.
Of course, most said it wasn't fair skill but some dirty trick.
Yet strangely, no one could name what that trick had been.
As the guards tensed,
Laughter erupted from the enforcement hall, loud enough to shake the building.
"Kehahaha!"
The guffaws continued for a good while.
A few days later, Hanbin stood in the center of his training ground, catching his breath and lost in thought.
He couldn't forget his revenge against the Justice Alliance and the Wi Family who had struck him from behind.
His past life as Gwanggwi had been anything but ordinary—too wild to let that grudge fade.
But his immediate task was taking control of the Hebei Paeng Family.
First, though, he had to remove the obstacles in his way.
Like thorns in his soles, they needed pulling.
The Third Young Master wouldn't be bothering him for a while now. It was this young master's turn.
Hanbin decided to temper his body first.
His past life's techniques were gone, but the experience remained—no real hurdles there.
Whoosh, whoosh.
He started moving again.
'Huh?'
After a few motions, Hanbin's lips curled up.
With a sword in hand, his movements grew even sharper.
But soon, hunger gnawed at him.
Seeing Hanbin's expression, Cheolno smiled warmly.
"Young Master, I'll fetch something for you to eat."
"I'm fine, Cheolno."
Hanbin waved him off.
This wasn't true hunger.
His body was reacting to the craving for sword formulas.
The emptiness wouldn't fill until he absorbed them.
Unaware, Cheolno shook his head with a kind smile.
"No, no. Seeing you push yourself like this lightens my heart."
Cheolno hurried off toward the kitchen.
Moments later, Hanbin spotted him returning with a bamboo tray from afar.
Hanbin narrowed his eyes.
This young master's cronies trailed behind.
He smirked.
This young master was the second wife's son, just like the Third.
They were surely here to pick a fight over the other day's events.
And their real target was obviously him.
As Hanbin watched quietly,
Sure enough!
One of this young master's lackeys accosted Cheolno.
Thwack!
He slammed a fist into Cheolno's back without warning.
Cheolno crumpled, food spilling from the bamboo tray across the ground.
They stood around giggling instead of leaving.
Hanbin knew what this meant.
A provocation.
He snickered and strolled toward them slowly.
Hanbin beckoned the servant.
"Hey!"
"..."
"Get over here!"
"What is it, Young Master?"
Only after the second call did the Third Young Master's servant turn.
"Do you even know who you just hit?"
"Isn't he just another servant?"
That cheek was telling—the whole story.
Hanbin smirked.
"Servant, sure. But he's got five times your seniority in the Hebei Paeng Family. That's the problem."
"What does that have to—"
This young master's underlings couldn't finish.
Hanbin slapped his cheek.
Smack!
The crisp sound echoed, and the servants buzzed.
Yesterday, Hanbin had only ever meekly held them back. This was new.
Smack! Smack!
Hanbin stopped swinging, dusting his hands.
Thinking it over, the servant backed away.
"Sorry, Young Master. We'll be going now."
"Who said you could leave?"
The servant froze. Hanbin pointed to the ground.
"Bow!"
"Pardon?"
"Guess the news hasn't spread yet. Kinda hurts."
"If you do this to me, our young master will..."
"Bow first!"
At Hanbin's bark, the servant bowed reluctantly.
Another of this young master's servants slipped away quietly, having watched from afar.
Hanbin caught it and smirked.
The guy was grinning as he left.
This young master was fishing for an excuse to chew him out.
Hanbin murmured low.
"Haven't synced up like this in ages."
"What do you mean, Young Master?"
Cheolno asked, pale-faced. Hanbin laughed.
This was bait from this young master—but exactly what Hanbin wanted.
"Nothing, Cheolno."
"Still, it feels off."
"If you're spooked, run."
Hanbin grabbed Cheolno and vanished from the spot.
But the bowing servant couldn't lift his head.
Something felt off in the coward youngest young master's tone. This wasn't the usual him.
It was like a mad dog wearing the youngest young master's skin.
In a corner of the Hebei Paeng Family infirmary.
The past few days had the family buzzing over Paeng Mubin's condition.
Those on the Paeng payroll mostly agreed the youngest young master Hanbin had pulled some dirty trick.
But the mood was shifting: winner takes all.
In the Hebei Paeng Family, where strength ruled, power meant victory.
This atmosphere ground Paeng Mubin's teeth further as he lay there.
The physician had said it'd take at least a month for his bones to knit—and in rage, he'd punched down, worsening it.
"Sigh."
As Paeng Mubin sighed, laughter rang from behind.
"Haha."
Paeng Mubin turned laboriously. A man with fists bigger than his own grinned there.
"Brother."
"Yeah, it's me. How'd a green punk like that get the drop on you?"
"He ambushed me when I let my guard down. What could I do?"
"Why'd you make me look bad?"
"Brother, I'm miserable enough lying here from a sneak attack. Why rub it in?"
"Not rubbing—just facts."
"If you're so sure, why don't you teach him a lesson?"
"That's why I'm here. Spill every detail on how he got you."
"So, the punk was taking hits meekly, then suddenly headbutted..."
Paeng Kyungbin narrowed his eyes at Paeng Mubin's tale.
He mulled it over like a master's lecture.
Once done, Paeng Kyungbin spoke.
"Looks like Hanbin fell into qi deviation. No other way he'd pull that crazy stunt. I'll show you one move."
"Beat him in a spar?"
"Didn't I always say? Crushing with brute force is amateur. Press with presence—that's mid-tier."
"Then what's master-tier?"
"A master doesn't need to punish. The foe grovels on his own."
"Why's that, Brother?"
"They just do."
"Haha, spot on, Brother."
"Not quite master-tier, but I'll mid-tier him good. And he's already bitten my bait."
"Bait?"
"No need to know—just watch!"
"Ah, can't wait then."
Paeng Mubin forgot his pain, flashing a venomous grin.
The next day, outside Hanbin's quarters.
Cheolno bowed his head.
"Our young master hasn't risen yet. Please wait a moment."
"That's your problem. Hurry and announce me."
"Still, Young Master..."
The sudden commotion pricked Hanbin's ears.
Smack!
Definitely Cheolno getting hit.
Hanbin's eyes narrowed.
Cheolno's cheek wouldn't survive that.
Obviously, they'd latched onto punishing this young master's servant as an excuse.
Expected, of course.
Hanbin stretched with a smile.
He couldn't count on luck like with Third Young Master Paeng Mubin again.
Hanbin sauntered to the door, sniffing.
Oddly, his ability to mask presence and his sense of smell matched his past life.
A distinctive scent seeped through the cracks.
It grew stronger.
Someone was approaching the door.
Hanbin hid his presence and waited.
'One, two, three!'
He flung the door open.
Clunk.
Someone recoiled hastily.
But the door flew faster.
Crack!
"Ack."
The sounds blended perfectly, delighting Hanbin's ears.
He scratched his head, feigning shock.
"Oh, Second Brother?"
A flustered man stared at him.
Hanbin's doing, of course.
Unsettle their composure with the little things first.
Sure enough, Second Young Master Paeng Kyungbin scowled.
Hanbin's eyes widened at the sight.
Golden motes shimmered on Paeng Kyungbin.
Thump, thump.
His heart raced.
The hunger for formulas pulled like a magnet to iron.
He'd planned to rile Paeng Kyungbin up once more before crushing him.
Time for a new plan.
Use the ace he'd prepared for emergencies.
Seeing Hanbin's wide eyes, Paeng Kyungbin furrowed his brow.
"Little bro, what's with you? Scared of me or what? A man's gotta toughen up—don't ruin the Paeng name freezing like that."
Paeng Kyungbin was clearly misunderstanding. Hanbin beckoned casually.
"Come in first, Brother."
Paeng Kyungbin grimaced but entered.
As his guard followed, Hanbin barked.
"You lot wait outside. Looks like Brother has urgent words for me. Right, Brother?"
Hanbin scratched his head at Paeng Kyungbin.
Paeng Kyungbin smirked at his men.
"You heard him. Stay out—no matter what you hear."
Emphasizing "no matter," he jerked his chin, sending them back.