Guest War (3)
It felt like a signal that if he wanted to spar with Han Bin, he should show some sincerity. Pretending not to notice, Han Bin quickly replied.
"I'm sorry, great hero. I don't have time right now. And I'm not ready to face the sword of the Volcanic Sect."
Finishing his words, Han Bin scanned Se Jaeo from head to toe.
This guy wasn't even a beggar—he was something worse.
Of course, Han Bin didn't mean his clothes were ragged. What he meant was that Se Jaeo had zero sword formulas.
In truth, Han Bin was parched for formulas. If even one had shown up on Se Jaeo, he wouldn't have dreamed of refusing the challenge.
Seeing Han Bin's expression, Se Jaeo furrowed his brow.
"You're refusing my sparring invitation, even though you're my junior's junior?"
The atmosphere turned a bit hostile.
At Se Jaeo's words, Han Bin tilted his head.
"Junior's junior? I have just one question for you, great hero."
"Speak. Your behavior is rude, but as your senior's senior, I'll hear you out."
"Does that mean seniority matters more than age?"
"Of course. Seniority trumps age."
"Then, does that mean you have to accept any request from someone of higher seniority?"
"That's how I see it."
"Can you swear to that?"
"I swear."
"Then, how about writing up a contract before you go?"
"A contract?"
Se Jaeo's eyebrows twitched. The word "contract" made him sense things were veering off course.
That was when it happened.
A hearty laugh boomed from behind.
"Kehahaha!"
All eyes turned toward the sound. There stood Paeng Daewi, the head of the Enforcement Hall, laughing with evident pleasure.
The massive man slowly positioned himself between Han Bin and Se Jaeo.
Han Bin stepped back with a startled look.
It was an abrupt entrance. Ignoring the stares around him, he raised his greatsword high toward the sky.
With the momentum to cleave anything in two, he brought it down.
Bam!
The air exploded with a sonic boom, and the blade wind whipped Han Bin's sleeve.
The greatsword halted just an inch from the ground.
The area around it was spotless, as if freshly swept—not a speck of dust remained. Se Jaeo was equally shocked by the sudden display.
As the Plum Blossom Swordsman of the Volcanic Sect, his realm was low super peak. Facing Paeng Daewi's mid super peak martial prowess, he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.
The question was why Paeng Daewi was doing this.
Han Bin knew exactly what his actions meant. It was clearly to ring a warning bell against Se Jaeo's arrogant behavior.
As everyone watched Paeng Daewi with curious eyes, he slammed his sword into the ground again.
Thud!
Then he spoke.
"This blade remembers your promise."
A short but crystal-clear statement.
But Se Jaeo had no idea what it meant. That's when Han Bin stepped forward.
"Great hero, what the Enforcement Hall head means is simple. Seniority matters more than age, and those of lower seniority must obey those above them. His sword remembers that, right? Isn't that it, Enforcement Hall head?"
Looking at Paeng Daewi, Han Bin saw him smirk and nod.
At that, Se Jaeo clasped his hands in respect toward Paeng Daewi.
"Thank you for bearing witness. Then, will you also notarize my request to the youngest young master?"
"Speak."
"I challenge the youngest young master to a spar."
The crowd immediately buzzed.
"They're at it again. Wow, will his luck hold this time?"
"No way, it's the Volcanic Sect now. Luck won't cut it."
"You never know."
"Then you're betting on the youngest young master?"
"Come on, man. You trying to lose money?"
As the excitement built, Han Bin responded.
"But on one condition."
"A condition? Let's hear it."
Se Jaeo crossed his arms with a friendly smile, and Han Bin quickly replied.
"Let's do the spar at Cheonsu Manor in a month."
"I want to do it now."
As Se Jaeo's bullying resumed, Han Bin hardened his expression.
"I took a severe injury on my last mission, and I haven't fully recovered yet."
Finishing, Han Bin clutched his side and winced. Anyone could see he was in a lot of pain.
Of course, it was all an act.
Thanks to the life-restoring effects, his wounds had healed instantly, and it had been a week since the recovery formulas erased even the scars.
Se Jaeo reluctantly nodded.
"Fine. Promise you won't dodge then. A man's word!"
"Heavy as a thousand gold."
Han Bin replied deeply, clasping his hands in respect.
It was the bare minimum courtesy to an elder. Next time they met, there'd be no mercy, elder or not.
As Han Bin turned to leave, he tilted his head.
The entire Mangho Squad was glaring daggers at Se Jaeo.
Jo Ho was even snorting in fury.
"Because of that bastard, my date with Hyang-i tomorrow is... sob sob."
"Hold it in, hold it in. Fortune favors the patient, right? Thinking about how that punk kept me from seeing my daughter makes my teeth grind too."
As So Daeseop chimed in, complaints erupted from all around.
"From today, I'm done dealing with Volcanic Sect bastards."
"Hope you get struck by lightning on your way!"
Seeing the Mangho Squad united for once in a while, Han Bin smiled in satisfaction.
Hatred and love alike were wellsprings of power from the heart. Only by building this could they navigate the brutal murim world.
Parting from Han Bin and heading to his quarters, Se Jaeo stopped in his tracks.
Paeng Mubin, following behind, asked.
"What's wrong, elder?"
"My ear's itching all of a sudden. Someone must be badmouthing me."
"Who in the Hebei Paeng Family would dare badmouth a senior elder like you?"
"Anyway. He looked perfectly fine earlier, so why delay the spar a whole month? Any guesses, junior?"
"He's probably really hurt. Or maybe buying time out of fear."
"Neither. His eyes showed no fear of me at all. And his qi flow looked vibrant, no blockages."
Se Jaeo spoke the truth. He might not be a genius, but he was talented enough in the Volcanic Sect. In this brief encounter, he'd sized up Han Bin completely.
Truth be told, Se Jaeo needed that month too. Han Bin wasn't an easy opponent.
What if the Volcanic Sect's Plum Blossom Swordsman lost to a Hebei Paeng Family swordsman?
It would shake heaven and earth. But after seeing Han Bin today, there was no guarantee it wouldn't happen.
Se Jaeo turned to the blankly standing Paeng Mubin.
"I'll be using the training grounds from today."
Finishing, he gripped the hilt of his sword, its plum blossom pattern vivid.
Paeng Mubin tilted his head at the sight.
Se Jaeo had never shown such seriousness since arriving at the Hebei Paeng Family.
A few days later, at Cheonsu Manor.
Contrary to the Plum Blossom Swordsman Se Jaeo's resolve, Han Bin was seeking a solution elsewhere entirely.
Han Bin focused on the two characters written on the table.
Seniority.
This was his ultimate solution. And it wasn't just for dealing with Se Jaeo's provocation.
In traversing the murim world, few escaped the shackles of hierarchy and seniority.
Only wandering ronin or the world's greatest warrior were free of them.
Right now, Se Jaeo, the Volcanic Sect's Plum Blossom Swordsman, was surely the first guest elder invited by Lady Jeonghwa.
To win this guest war, it was simple: secure someone of higher seniority.
Gathered around Han Bin were all serious faces.
His shadow guard, Yi Mu-myeong.
Mangho Squad leader, So Daeseop.
The squad's exclusive physician, Jang Ja-myeong.
All mirrored Han Bin's grave expression.
But they weren't all thinking the same. They were just following his lead.
Jang Ja-myeong, in particular, was going mad inside.
'What's seniority got to do with anything?'
That single thought spun endlessly in his head.
He resented Han Bin for dragging him to this meeting when he was finally getting some rest.
Jang Ja-myeong pondered how to escape this room but couldn't speak up easily.
A glance sideways showed So Daeseop in the same boat.
His eyes were watery—he was clearly holding back a yawn.
Ignoring the silent uproar around him, Han Bin kept his stern face.
As he tapped his temple, lost in thought, the door slid open.
Whoosh.
It was Sim Miho, approaching Han Bin.
"My lord, I've compiled the info you requested."
Sim Miho handed over a letter.
On the unfolded paper were several neatly listed names.
Confirming them, Han Bin asked Sim Miho.
"These people are all in Hebei right now?"
"Yes. I checked personally, my lord. Unless one of them moved today, that is."
At her confident words, Han Bin's eyes rapidly scanned the letter.
Moments later, his gaze stopped on one name.
"Then we'll go with this one."
Han Bin pointed to a name on the letter.
Hong Chilgae.
So Daeseop and the others tilted their heads, but Sim Miho jumped in surprise.
"My lord, Hong Chilgae is impossible."
"Why?"
"He's a Beggar Clan elder with top seniority, but his reputation is that he's extremely picky about who he associates with."
"So? What's the problem?"
"Think about it. We need a high-seniority guest elder. Why would a murim veteran like Hong Chilgae come here? Do you know his nickname, my lord?"
"......"
Han Bin silently nodded at Yi Mu-myeong, signaling him to answer.
Yi Mu-myeong grinned and spoke.
"Hong Chilgae is commonly known in the murim world as the Masterless."
At the nickname "Masterless," interest finally sparked—eyes lit up around the room.
"Masterless? The one who's so picky about disciples he's been selecting for forty years?"
So Daeseop asked, and Yi Mu-myeong smiled.
"Yes, exactly. In terms of seniority alone, he's above even the Shaolin abbot or the Volcanic Sect leader."
"Hmm, recruiting someone like that..."
As So Daeseop trailed off, Han Bin chuckled and picked up the letter.
"If Hong Chilgae won't do, then name someone else here worth recruiting."
Han Bin unfurled the letter fully.
It listed names from the Seomun family elders to Kunlun Sect elders—all murim luminaries currently in Hebei.
But none were easy targets.
As mouths hung open, Han Bin said,
"Still, a beggar seems the easiest, right?"
"Ah!"
Yi Mu-myeong's jaw dropped. The prideful man wouldn't show such a face normally, but now he couldn't hide it.