Chapter 6. Have Another Cup of Tea (3)
It wasn't about venting anger by hitting him.
Thwack!
Han Bin was precisely striking the point glowing with yellow light.
Han Bin flashed a sly grin.
Formula confirmed.
Speed (Speed!) from the Basics of Yongrin Sword Art.
Speed (Godspeed!)
Speed (Burst!)
Speed (Swift!)
With this latest one, he now had three Speed formulas.
His puzzlement was brief—Han Bin's eyes widened to their limit.
The flick's speed had accelerated the moment the formula sank in.
Han Bin now had a rough sense of what the Basics meant.
They clearly conditioned the body to learn the advanced forms that followed.
Han Bin didn't let up on the flicks.
Speed (Blink!) from the Basics of Yongrin Sword Art.
One more formula collected.
Speed (Burst!)
Speed (Blink)
Speed (Godspeed!)
Speed (Haste!)
With four Speed stacked, a faint stick shape began to form.
That was when the problem arose.
Even just flicking was starting to drain his stamina.
He was about to stop when a new yellow point appeared to Han Bin.
Without hesitation, he snapped his finger at it.
Thwack!
Body (Attributes) from the Basics of Yongrin Sword Art.
'Huh?'
A sense of recovery washed over his weary body.
Body seemed to be the formula that boosted stamina.
Grinning from ear to ear, Han Bin kept flicking away.
No more points emerged, so he smacked his lips in mild disappointment.
Speed (Flash!) x4
Body (body) x2
The Basics added stamina to speed.
For now, Han Bin was satisfied. He glanced across the table.
This young master had passed out long ago, his qi pathways twisted.
His eyes rolled back, foam at his mouth.
Business finished, Han Bin properly aired out the room, gathered his things, and calmly opened the door.
Paeng Kyungbin's guards stood at attention outside.
One scanned Han Bin up and down.
Obviously checking how badly he'd been beaten.
Meeting their gazes nonchalantly, Han Bin said,
"You lot, go check on him."
"What happened, sir?"
Han Bin shook his head at the tilting guard.
"Second Brother must've had some bad tea. You know, too much of anything is bad for you."
"Pardon?"
Paeng Kyungbin's guards rushed in, startled.
Moments later, screams leaked from the tearoom.
"Argh!"
Twisted qi pathways.
If he'd just held out long enough for a single cup of tea, this misfortune could've been avoided.
Probably one of the guards had poked at Paeng Kyungbin's inner energy.
Seeing Han Bin's smile, Cheolno asked,
"Young master, why the grin?"
"Good tea after so long. I'll share some with you later, Cheolno."
"What kind of tea makes you...?"
"Secret. Anyway, feels like a weight's lifted off my chest today."
"Glad to hear it, young master."
Right then—
This young master's guards burst out in a panic, carrying a stretcher.
Han Bin shrugged at the sight.
"Looks like that young master just couldn't handle the tea."
"Can't handle tea and end up like that?"
Cheolno eyed Han Bin suspiciously.
"Must be qi deviation."
"Qi deviation from a bit of tea? I'll pass."
"You think a little tea does that? Probably divine punishment for tormenting you, Cheolno."
Cheolno tilted his head, then rubbed his side where this young master's gang had roughed him up days ago.
Han Bin chuckled at the sight.
Cheolno's body wasn't hurting—it was his heart.
Moments later, Cheolno grinned fiercely.
"Next time, I'll protect you, young master. Back in my day, I soared like the wind. Once I regain my martial arts..."
As Cheolno's boasting kicked off, Han Bin waved him quiet.
"Got it, enough already, Cheolno."
A few days later.
The minor incident at Han Bin's quarters was quietly hushed up.
This young master Paeng Kyungbin stared blankly at the ceiling, frustration boiling inside.
Too embarrassing to complain anywhere.
Besides, as a candidate for successor alongside the eldest young master, airing this would only hurt him.
Paeng Kyungbin ordered his subordinates to keep it under wraps.
Recalling the event days ago, he ground his teeth, then shook his head.
He was pissed, sure—but first, analyze the cause.
'That coward Han Bin pulling such a vicious trick?'
Didn't fit at all.
Staring at the ceiling, Paeng Kyungbin's eyes gleamed with resolve.
Moments later, he quietly summoned the head of his guard detail, Sim Miho.
"Team Leader Sim."
The responder was a woman with short hair and a slender face.
Her tanned skin oddly complemented her black uniform.
"Yes, young master."
"The plan I mentioned before."
"About the youngest young master?"
"Right. Cut off his limbs first."
"Understood."
Sim Miho gave a curt fist salute and left.
Outside, she scanned the surroundings.
Checking for anyone nearby.
No presences detected.
Step, step.
She walked off somewhere.
As she vanished, a shadow sprang from the bushes.
"It's starting?"
The shadow was Han Bin.
Dressed in night clothes, he'd been secretly watching this young master's quarters.
Han Bin's read on him: no way he'd back down.
If he planned to retreat, he wouldn't have touched Han Bin in the first place.
Sure enough, things were moving as Han Bin predicted.
After watching a while, he melted back into the bushes and strolled away slowly.
No need to hide his presence now.
His inner energy was still undeveloped.
Who knew a lack of it would aid stealth like this?
Two days later.
Someone cautiously woke Han Bin, who was dozing in his quarters.
"Young master!"
Opening his eyes, he saw Cheolno standing there like a rain-soaked puppy, all pitiful.
"What's up, Cheolno?"
"This isn't the time to be napping."
"Then when is?"
"Word is this young master's grinding his teeth over there."
"Grinding over bad food?"
"Young master! This isn't funny. Call some guards to watch the quarters."
"You think my brother'll come kill me?"
Han Bin waved it off casually.
He hadn't slept here at night lately anyway—no risk even if they barged in.
Why wasn't he around? Simple: tailing this young master's right hand, Sim Miho, thoroughly.
Guards here would just hobble him.
Tracking would be impossible then.
"Young master, at least bunk with the guards."
"Nah, I'm fine, Cheolno."
"Fine? I know you've been tossing all night."
Han Bin narrowed his eyes at Cheolno.
Did he spot him sneaking around in night clothes?
"How'd you know I was tossing?"
"Your eyes are bloodshot and you're dozing off. You can tell me straight—scared, right?"
"Yeah, spot on."
Han Bin nodded readily.
Bitter to be misunderstood, but good—his nighttime jaunts stayed secret.
Then Cheolno pulled out a few plates from beside him.
"At least eat this."
"What's this, Cheolno?"
"Dumplings you like. Eat up and buck up. Gotta get strong soon, or neither of us is safe."
"Can I even get strong?"
"You will. If not, we're both done for."
Han Bin chuckled at Cheolno's words.
Nothing wrong with them, really.
Rumors swirled that Han Bin would soon meet his end.
He agreed—this young master wasn't the type to stay quiet.
But in family intrigue? No one in Hebei Paeng Family could match Han Bin now.
He'd experienced it enough to make him sick just thinking of the word.
Synthesizing his intel over days, Han Bin smiled—Cheolno startled back.
"Young master, what now?"
"What?"
"You smacked your lips like a madman this time."
"Dumpling's tasty."
Han Bin took another bite.
A week passed with no changes for Han Bin.
Just some prickly stares from the Paeng household.
Han Bin stayed low-key too.
Gazing at the ceiling, he sank into thought.
Cheolno left him be and exited.
Alone, Han Bin mapped his next moves.
The legend of Yongrin Sword Art was real.
But fundamentally unlike typical Murim arts.
Its Basic formulas directly enhanced physical abilities.
Han Bin's martial level—first-rate, on the lower end, due to lacking inner energy.
Factor in the boosted physical stats from formulas?
The equation changed.
Plus, Han Bin had two more weapons: past-life knowledge and Yongrin Sword Art.
Keep hunting formulas steadily; now test if his bait worked.
Tailing Sim Miho showed this young master was about to move.
They targeted not Han Bin, but his guards, the Suho Sajo squad—foreknowledge secured.
He even knew their bait.
Just move on schedule.
"Time to stir things up slowly..."
Muttering to himself, Han Bin heard the door slam open as Cheolno rushed in.
Creak.
"Young master!"
Cheolno dashed forward, planting himself before Han Bin.
Han Bin's eyes lit up.
He'd asked Cheolno to report any changes in Paeng Kyungbin's guard squad, Suho Ijo.
Standing, Han Bin asked,
"What is it, Cheolno?"
"The Suho Sajo squad's been dragged off to west wall repairs."
"Who took 'em?"
Han Bin's expression stayed calm.
"This young master."
As expected.
A natural smile spread across Han Bin's lips.
"Let's go."
"Young master, where to?"
"Follow me first, Cheolno."
Han Bin led toward the west.
Cheolno trailed, assuming they headed to the repair site.
The Suho Sajo barracks lay en route west.
Han Bin halted where he could see them.
Cheolno tilted his head.
He'd thought they'd confront at the site—why stop at the barracks?
"What's up, young master?"
"Worried these rundown buildings might leak in the rain. Cheolno, can you grab some lacquer sap from the workshop?"
"Lacquer sap?"
"For the leaks. Leave it, it'll rot and collapse."
"For actual leaks?"
Cheolno eyed him dubiously.
Seeing it, Han Bin chuckled.
"No doubts—just fetch it, Cheolno."