Shadow Warrior (2)
Kim Mubyeong narrowed his eyes and saw that it was Cheolno, one of Han Bin's trusted retainers.
"What's the matter?"
"The young master told me to make a reservation, just in case."
"What reservation?"
"He said two patients might show up, so prepare for that."
"Is the youngest young master some kind of fortune teller now? How could he predict that two patients would appear?"
Cheolno shook his head seriously as Kim Mubyeong sighed in disbelief.
"The young master said the wounds might be pretty deep, so get ready."
"Heavens, really. Is he learning divination instead of swordsmanship?"
Just then, as Kim Mubyeong clicked his tongue, two men approached from afar.
Their tattered upper garments were soaked in thick bloodstains, suggesting their condition was far from ordinary.
"A real fortune teller, huh."
Kim Mubyeong stared at the approaching pair in stunned disbelief, then gasped in shock.
"Isn't that the youngest young master? And the one beside him is Lady Jeonghwa's guard!"
Only then did Kim Mubyeong realize.
It wasn't prophecy—it was a planned spar.
"This is unbelievable!"
As Kim Mubyeong sighed, Cheolno shot forward like lightning.
"Young master!"
But he had to stop before reaching Han Bin.
Lady Jeonghwa had stepped in front of him.
Cheolno instinctively knew he couldn't wedge himself between them.
Lady Jeonghwa, blocking Han Bin's path, spoke up.
"A deal is a deal. Why aren't you keeping your promise?"
"Promise? I have no idea what you're talking about."
Han Bin tilted his head innocently. No matter how he thought about it, Lady Jeonghwa was impressive.
Just moments ago, this woman had been poised to thrust a dagger into his throat. Yet now, she acted as if nothing had happened, pleading to save her son.
Lady Jeonghwa bit her lip slightly in frustration.
For a split second, blood gleamed between her lips.
It might not be blood flowing, but resentment—yet she continued calmly.
"Didn't you say you'd release my third son if I allowed this guard to spar with you?"
"That was before you tried to kill me. The moment you held that dagger to me, the terms changed."
As Han Bin narrowed his eyes in reply, Lady Jeonghwa's expression remained unchanged as she asked again.
"Then what do you want?"
"Let me borrow Yi Mu-myeong as my guard for six months."
"Hm."
Lady Jeonghwa narrowed her eyes, mentally calculating.
In truth, the conclusion was already set.
What she was pondering was how long to pretend to deliberate.
Why?
The reason was simple. Lady Jeonghwa was on her way back after adding another wrinkle to her plot in the family register. In other words, she had decided to eliminate Yi Mu-myeong.
She coveted the Henan Jeong Family for herself someday. If Yi Mu-myeong, who had crossed her, returned there?
That would be trouble.
If she sent him to Han Bin now and had him removed?
It would give her grounds to hold Han Bin responsible for his death.
After dragging it out just enough, Lady Jeonghwa nodded.
"Very well. So be it."
"Thank you. I'll inform the law enforcement leader then."
"Good. Keep your promise."
With those final words, Lady Jeonghwa departed.
In the front courtyard of the clinic, battered by the storm that had just passed, everyone stared at Han Bin in a daze.
At that moment, Yi Mu-myeong looked at him with concern.
"Young master Sa, are you sure about this?"
The title had changed, but Han Bin played along.
"Sure about what?"
"I'm set to leave for the Henan Jeong Family in a week."
"I know."
"Then why make that condition?"
"If you're leaving anyway, wouldn't it be better to head there with peace of mind? Lady Jeonghwa handed authority to me, and I've permitted Yi Mu-myeong to depart whenever he wishes."
Han Bin's title had shifted too. Their relationship was naturally reestablished.
But what mattered wasn't the relationship—it was the sentiment.
Yi Mu-myeong gazed at Han Bin for a long while.
"I can only say thank you, and I'm sorry for that."
Yi Mu-myeong bowed deeply.
Han Bin replied.
"Let's get treated first."
Han Bin slowly approached Jang Ja-myeong, wearing a friendly smile.
"Physician Jang, how've you been?"
"Y-yes, of course, my lord."
As Jang Ja-myeong stammered in reply, Han Bin patted his back reassuringly.
"Physician Jang, relax around me. Folks might think I'm some villain."
"Who would ever misunderstand like that? Never."
Jang Ja-myeong waved his hands frantically.
Watching him, Kim Mubyeong could guess who the perpetrator of those ruthless acts Jang had described earlier truly was.
Still, he couldn't quite believe it—Han Bin's old image as the Hebei Paeng Family's biggest coward lingered in his eyes.
* * *
At the same time, in the Mu Sword Clan.
Musoryul, freshly returned from the Hebei Paeng Family, hadn't stretched out comfortably even once.
Was it resentment from losing to Han Bin?
Absolutely not.
After the spar with Han Bin, her mindset had completely shifted.
Han Bin was no longer a burden—he was someone who could bolster her strength.
On the way home, she'd even regretted their broken engagement. But the moment she arrived, her resolve hardened.
Because of Mu Sowi, who now stared blankly at the pond before her.
After the Stone Fossil Cult incident, her brother Mu Sowi had trembled with rage, vowing to kill Han Bin. But one day, he began acting like a madman, fixated only on the carp swimming in the pond.
No, the phrasing was off. He wasn't acting mad—he clearly was.
They'd summoned renowned physicians, but Mu Sowi's condition showed no improvement.
Musoryul approached him.
"Sowi, are you okay?"
"……."
Squatting by the pond, Mu Sowi didn't respond.
"Hm."
Musoryul gnawed at her lip.
By now, there was no blood left to draw.
"I'll kill him. I'll kill him. ……."
She repeated the same words over and over.
To her, Han Bin had become a tangled knot of love and hate.
Having steeled her resolve, Musoryul dashed to the clan head's chambers.
Creak.
She flung open the doors roughly and paused.
The atmosphere in the chambers felt off.
The clan's elders were gathered together.
But Musoryul wasn't one to falter.
She strode forward boldly to Clan Head Mu Seohwi.
Standing before him, Musoryul clasped her fists in salute.
"Father, I've come to ask a favor."
Her expression showed she was ready to accept any reprimand for barging in unannounced, awaiting his words.
Clan Head Mu Seohwi spoke with a blank face.
"Why are you so late?"
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Musoryul faltered.
"Late? What do you mean?"
"You plan to sit idle while your brother is like that?"
"That's exactly what I came to discuss……."
"I'll give you the White Sword Squad. Bring back the one who did this to Sowi."
"Pardon?"
Musoryul gasped and asked again. That was precisely why she'd come here—to request exactly that.
"Why the surprise? If we let this stand, the northern factions will mock us endlessly. I entrust your brother's vengeance to you. Whether you drag him back alive or sever his head, it's your call."
"Understood!"
Musoryul bowed deeply.
She'd waited days for this moment.
Though she hadn't detailed it, she'd already devised a plan to capture Han Bin from the Hebei Paeng Family.
Any friction with the Paeng Family afterward? Clan Head Mu Seohwi would handle it.
Musoryul decided not to worry beyond that.
Less than an hour later, she finished preparations for departure.
Before her stood a hundred warriors in white uniforms, arrayed sharply under the moonlight, blades angled like they could slice the night.
Musoryul commanded the White Sword Squad.
"We depart."
"Understood!"
The hundred swordsmen marched out of the Mu Sword Clan.
But Mu Sowi, oblivious to the vengeance unfolding in his name, continued staring at the pond.
His mind swirled with countless movements—appearing, vanishing, repeating endlessly.
After the spar with Han Bin, all Mu Sowi wanted was to kill him. Then one day, realization struck.
He couldn't win in his current state.
He replayed the duel atop Stone Fossil Cult peak over and over.
Han Bin had scattered Go stones like a fortune teller, sealing his movements beneath his feet.
Was such a thing even possible?
From then on, Mu Sowi began observing the carp in the pond. First, their fin movements—but they were too erratic.
He tried predicting their direction. Sometimes right, but never precisely.
How had Han Bin predicted his moves?
That was his koan now.
Mu Sowi's mind brimmed with footwork to escape Han Bin's net.
Watching the carp.
Watching his reflection in the water, sketching countless steps, erasing them, repeating.
Resentment toward Han Bin was gone from his heart.
If anything, Han Bin was like a master to him.
He'd tossed him an elusive koan of enlightenment, after all.
After Musoryul departed, sudden rain poured down.
The pond where Mu Sowi squatted was pelted too.
Plip.
Plip.
His vision blurred from falling droplets.
Then, abruptly, the raindrops slowed.
Mu Sowi knew it was enlightenment.
Unconsciously, he assumed the lotus position.
Thud.
Were the raindrops parting around him an illusion?
Just then, Clan Head Mu Seohwi, pacing the garden in frustration under the rain after sending Musoryul off, spotted the bizarre scene.
His eyes widened as he shouted.
"Hurry and guard Sowi—protect his meditation!"
"Understood."
As the warriors saluted and rushed to Mu Sowi, Clan Head Mu Seohwi added as if struck by a thought.
"Don't disturb him at all. Let him take the rain, and stand watch three paces away."
The warriors saluted silently.
* * *
That night, Han Bin strolled Hebei's bustling streets with Yi Mu-myeong.
To see him off.
Was Han Bin simply letting him go?
Half right, half wrong.
By his past life's memories, Yi Mu-myeong would surely be cast out by the Henan Jeong Family.
Then, his only place to return would be here.
This planted debt of gratitude would draw him back like a salmon swimming upstream.
"You can head back now."
"It's fine. It's rare to find a friend who opens my heart with the sword—I'm just reluctant to part."
Han Bin's speech had grown casual.
Yi Mu-myeong decided to regard him inwardly as his lord.
"Young master Sa, thank you truly for your kindness today. New clothes too……."
"Aw, no big deal."
Han Bin grinned.
Just then, a passing couple glanced at Han Bin and Yi Mu-myeong, tilting their heads.
"Oh my, twins? They look exactly alike!"
The woman said.