Chapter 57. I Protect My Own Meals (1)
A warrior from the Baekdo Gate stepped forward, sword in hand.
Baekdo Gate was a sect from Shandong.
"We found it first and planted our flag."
"Does that really prove ownership of this spirit beast? Our eldest young master is the one who killed it."
A Huangbo Family warrior pointed to a tall, imposing man standing at the back with his arms crossed.
It was none other than Hwang Bo-gyeon-u, the eldest son of the Huangbo Family.
As Hwang Bo-gyeon-u slowly approached the corpse of the Cheonsan Blood Wolf, the Baekdo Gate warrior pointed behind him.
There stood a man of similar build to Hwang Bo-gyeon-u, with a guhwandu slung over his shoulder.
A guhwandu was a massive greatsword with nine holes drilled into the blade, each fitted with a ring.
The man carrying it was Park Pil-u of Baekdo Gate, their eldest young master as well.
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u and Park Pil-u faced off over the Cheonsan Blood Wolf's corpse, sparks flying even without drawing their blades.
After a fierce staring contest, Park Pil-u spoke.
"Are you trying to bully us lesser sects with the name of the Huangbo Family?"
"We're not bullying you with our family name—we're just stating the facts. You may have planted your flag first, but it was our Huangbo Family that delivered the killing blow to the Cheonsan Blood Wolf."
At the mention of "Cheonsan Blood Wolf," the onlookers began to murmur.
"That's a Cheonsan Blood Wolf?"
"Just selling the hide would set you for life, right?"
"But there's no proof who it belongs to."
"Finders keepers."
"Looks like they found it at the same time."
"Then the strongest one claims it."
At the growing unrest, Park Pil-u slammed his guhwandu into the ground.
Boom!
The crowd fell silent at the thud.
Scanning the surroundings, Park Pil-u fixed his gaze on Hwang Bo-gyeon-u.
"Hah, so even a dog has its day to bark."
"Did you just call me a dog?"
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u's eyebrow twitched as he drew his sword.
Shing.
In response, Park Pil-u raised his guhwandu, aiming it at his opponent.
Whoosh!
The tension hung thick, ready to snap at any moment.
Han Bin found the whole scene ridiculous.
He and Heukcheon had battled the Cheonsan Blood Wolf for hours. Yet here were people claiming they killed it or found it first.
These guys were worse than Sapa thugs or even Demonic Cultists. In a way, dividing the world into Orthodox, Unorthodox, or Demonic was like street punks marking their turf.
Stray from self-interest, and you stray from any faction's code.
Tapping his temple, Han Bin pondered how to handle them.
But only for a moment. He sauntered casually into the midst of the standoff.
The sudden appearance of a third party drew puzzled looks.
"Who's that guy?"
"No idea. Better not get caught in the crossfire—could lose your head and no one would complain."
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u tilted his head and asked,
"Who might you be? State your identity."
"Ah, I'm Paeng Hanbin of the Hebei Paeng Family."
"Paeng Hanbin...? Pfft."
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u burst into laughter upon recalling the name. A few others in the crowd reacted the same way.
"Hebei's biggest coward."
"But didn't he beat Akbigwang of the Shandong Ak Family recently?"
"Nah, turned out Akbigwang was the weak one, not him."
Glancing back at their words, Han Bin checked Akbigwang's expression.
The man's conflicted look suggested some weird rumor had spread.
How infamous was "Hebei's top coward" that it was so hard to shake off?
Unbidden, Han Bin looked up at the sky, memories of his turbulent past life flooding back.
Park Pil-u scowled at the sight.
"Mind your own business and step aside."
"Don't meddle in Huangbo Family affairs and bring disaster on yourself. The Hebei Paeng Family is one of the Five Great Northern Families alongside ours. I'd hate to lay hands on their scion."
They spoke in unison.
Han Bin said gravely,
"What proof do you two have that the Cheonsan Blood Wolf's corpse is yours?"
His intent was clear: only speak if you can back it up.
Watching from behind, Jeong Juseop mustered his courage and stood beside Han Bin.
"I'm Jeong Juseop, the magistrate of Hebei Province. This subjugation is under imperial decree. No mishaps will be tolerated."
At "imperial decree," the warriors from Baekdo Gate and the Huangbo Family stepped back.
Emboldened, Jeong Juseop looked to Han Bin.
"Do you have some way to determine the true owner of this corpse, Young Master Paeng?"
"Yes, I do."
The crowd murmured again.
"What nonsense is he spouting?"
"Hold on, let's see. Low martial prowess might mean high wits."
"Yeah, could be."
Ignoring the buzz, Han Bin clasped his hands in a formal greeting.
"In my view, we should start by determining the cause of death. That will reveal who killed the beast, and thus settle ownership."
Jeong Juseop nodded.
"Sounds right. Then..."
"Hold on, Magistrate. Please wait."
"What's wrong, Young Master Paeng?"
"Everyone claims the corpse is theirs, and we're supposed to prove it. If I claim it too, does that make it mine?"
"Well..."
"That's why I propose this: anyone claiming ownership must stake a hundred taels of silver. Claiming rights without that responsibility is just nonsense."
"..."
No one replied.
Backing down meant losing the tempting prize; stepping up felt risky.
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u narrowed his eyes, inspecting the Cheonsan Blood Wolf.
As before, the exterior was intact—no visible fatal wounds.
Likely poisoned by a hunter's trap. They knew all about such poisons; if the cause stayed hidden, they could bluff their way to ownership.
Decision made, Hwang Bo-gyeon-u declared,
"It's the truth that the corpse is mine, so I'll stake a hundred taels without hesitation."
With that, Han Bin held out a contract.
"Then sign here."
Scratch, scratch.
Hwang Bo-gyeon-u signed without a second thought.
That marked the beginning of the great disaster.
Stake a hundred taels of silver for a corpse worth potentially a hundred gold?
That was the thinking of the sects joining the subjugation.
Over ten factions claimed the Cheonsan Blood Wolf as theirs.
The contract was straightforward.
First rule: if a faction's mark emerged from inside the beast, ownership granted.
Second: the staked silver went to the true owner, delivered at their chosen time and place.
Of course, no one in this remote spot carried a hundred taels.
As Han Bin reviewed the contracts with Jeong Juseop, Jo Ho came running from afar.
"My lord, this is outrageous! I clearly saw the Cheonsan Blood Wolf collapsed beside you. And they're all insisting it's theirs? How can so-called righteous sects act like this? It's absurd!"
"Shh."
Han Bin urgently hushed him. Jo Ho blinked, wondering what he'd done wrong.
But he couldn't think of anything.
Then Han Bin said,
"Jo Ho, lower your voice and listen."
"Yes, my lord."
"Don't interfere with business. Go stand by the deputy commander."
"B-business?"
"Shh, quietly."
Shooed away, Jo Ho scratched his head in confusion.
Checking the signatures, Han Bin glanced sideways.
Akbigwang of the Shandong Ak Family watched Jo Ho's direction as if it were none of his concern.
Wonder who he's looking at?
Poking Akbigwang's side, Han Bin teased,
"Not joining in, Young Master Ak? Looks like a golden opportunity."
"Eh, feels a bit off to me."
Akbigwang scratched his head and stepped back.
Han Bin narrowed his eyes. Maybe that fox in his belly was a serpent instead.
Backing off on gut feeling before greed? That screamed merchant instincts.
Scanning the crowd, Han Bin called out,
"Any families or sects wish to join the examination of the Cheonsan Blood Wolf corpse?"
"..."
Silence answered. Smacking his lips, Han Bin signed a contract himself.
Paeng Hanbin.
Jeong Juseop paled and asked,
"What in the world are you doing?"
The shock brought informal speech naturally; Han Bin set down the brush nonchalantly.
"Fair chance includes me, right, Magistrate?"
"Well, yes, but..."
Someone shouted,
"The penniless youngest son trying to join?"
"Yeah, heard the Hebei Paeng Family's loaded, but their youngest is broke."
At the blunt insults, Han Bin turned to Jeong Juseop.
"Magistrate, how many wolf heads did I turn in? Over a hundred, right?"
"Hah, I counted up to a hundred before coming here. Definitely more."
"Subjugation rules: one tael per wolf head, correct?"
"Yes."
"So the magistrate's office guarantees me a hundred taels, yeah?"
"Huh, now that you mention it, true enough."
As Jeong Juseop nodded, the sects and onlookers gaped.
The biggest shock: Hebei's coward Han Bin had subjugated a hundred wolves?
But one remark settled it.
"A direct Paeng heir cutting wolf throats himself? Must be his subordinates' competence."
"Makes sense. Blowing his own horn on their merits."
Amid the murmurs, Han Bin held up the contract.
"Anyone backing out, do it now. This isn't forced by the magistrate or me."
Jeong Juseop's eyebrow twitched at Han Bin's words.
Keeps dragging the office into it—suspicious.
This way, the government would be liable for the contracts.
Then Hwang Bo-gyeon-u raised his sword high.
"A man's word!"
The others echoed,
"Is his bond!"
Perfectly in sync despite their earlier bickering, Han Bin smirked bitterly.
A mutter slipped out.
"No take-backs."
"What was that?"
Jeong Juseop asked, but Han Bin just smiled.
Well, he'd given them every chance—no one to blame but themselves.
Now fate's hour approached.