Blood Wolf Young Master (2)
Madam Jeonghwa, standing before Han Bin, said nothing.
She merely shot him a disdainful glare.
Instead, Third Young Master Paeng Mubin stepped forward and addressed him.
"Have you been well?"
"Thanks to you, I've been doing great. But isn't it a bit early?"
"I came a little ahead of time to tour this place once called Guigok Manor."
"Guigok Manor is here? Where is it?"
Han Bin placed a hand above his eyebrows, shading his eyes like a visor as he pretended to scan the surroundings.
Paeng Mubin spoke up at the sight.
"Isn't it right here?"
"Everything's fine, but watch your words. If the land value drops, you'll be held responsible. And I won't take money as payment."
Han Bin glanced at Paeng Mubin's arm, and the man subtly turned his head away.
He remembered Han Bin's specialty. Han Bin had turned the Hebei Paeng Family upside down by betting against him and Paeng Kyungbin.
Coming from the winner of that bet, it didn't sound like empty talk.
To anyone overhearing their exchange, they sounded less like family and more like enemies.
The psychological warfare had begun even before the spar.
And the clear winner of that war was Han Bin.
Watching this, Madam Jeonghwa furrowed her brow in displeasure.
"Mubin, don't waste time. Introduce the honored guests quickly."
Only then did Paeng Mubin look back at the experts waiting behind him.
They were masters of higher status and martial prowess than Volcanic's Se Jaeo.
Realizing his blunder, Paeng Mubin cupped his fists in apology.
"My apologies."
With that, he began introducing them to Han Bin's group.
"This is... from Kunlun..."
Once the introductions ended, Paeng Mubin tilted his head at Hong Chilgae standing behind Han Bin.
"And who might this be...?"
Before he could finish, Han Bin continued.
"This is my master. If I were to describe him..."
At that moment, Madam Jeonghwa cut him off.
"Enough. Let's get on with the spar."
It was a declaration that she wouldn't acknowledge a single hair on anything belonging to Han Bin.
For an instant, Hong Chilgae's eyebrows curved into an eight shape, but no one paid it any mind.
Only Han Bin smiled subtly, out of sight.
* * *
An hour later.
When the appointed time for the spar arrived, everyone moved to the training ground.
In the center stood Han Bin, yawning lazily as he waited.
Of course, the reason for his fatigue was Hong Chilgae.
On the way here, the beggar had offered all sorts of advice.
Most of it concerned precautions when facing Volcanic swordsmen.
But to Han Bin, who had clashed blades with countless Volcanic Taoists in his past life, it was needless meddling.
He'd already had a restless night thanks to Hong Chilgae nagging him to practice Gugeol Ship-pal-bo from dawn.
Han Bin wondered if his master was friend or foe.
If he'd followed the advice and practiced Gugeol Ship-pal-bo at dawn, his inner power wouldn't have recovered by now.
Seeing Han Bin yawn, Kunlun's Yi Jinmyeong frowned and whispered.
"There's such a thing as dignity for the North Five Great Families. This is too much."
"Indeed. If he were from our Jeomcheong Sect, he'd be facing a fortnight of wall-facing meditation."
Jeomcheong elder Jeong Changmyeong chimed in, and Madam Jeonghwa, beside him, whispered back.
"Don't think that's the true face of the Paeng Family. Truth be told, he's the sore thumb they don't want to show."
Though she whispered, her voice carried clearly—intentionally so, for those around to hear.
Her tone implied the outcome of this match was already set.
Her retainers, overhearing, nodded in agreement.
To them, the winner was as good as decided.
Was the title of Plum Blossom Sword User something earned on a dare?
Volcanic allowed no compromises in selecting their Plum Blossom Sword Users.
Even if Se Jaeo controlled Volcanic's purse strings, his skills were the real deal.
The experts accompanying Madam Jeonghwa knew this too.
"Haha, I see."
Jeomcheong elder Jeong Changmyeong nodded.
Then Se Jaeo stepped before Han Bin, looking around.
It was time for the spar to begin.
He was searching for Paeng Daewi, the referee.
From the edge of the training ground, a bear-like bulk rose into the air.
It soared skyward before landing precisely between Han Bin and Se Jaeo.
Boom!
Dust billowed from the training ground, and everyone covered their mouths with their sleeves.
As it cleared, Paeng Daewi stood there, his massive blade slung over his shoulder.
"Sorry I'm late. Work kept me busy. Not like they pay extra for this. Since I'm the one running behind, let's start quick."
With that, Paeng Daewi stepped back a few paces and slammed his blade into the ground.
Boom!
Before the echo faded, he bellowed with infused inner power.
"Now, the rules of the spar! First, remember this is a friendly match—do not inflict lethal wounds. Second, the spar ends immediately if one loses consciousness or falls out of bounds. Third, weapons and techniques are free-form. Begin!"
Finishing, Paeng Daewi vanished with the rustle of his robes.
Swish.
Now only Han Bin and Se Jaeo remained in the center.
Se Jaeo smiled, extending his left hand gripping his sword.
"This blade is called Plum Blossom Three Realms. It embodies the essence of plum blossoms budding in spring, blooming in summer, and hiding their fragrance in autumn. Its length is three cheok and seven chon. Countless martial villains have lost their heads to my Plum Blossom Three Realms."
The scabbard indeed bore an engraved Volcanic landscape.
And this was a treasured sword forged with a fortune at the Myeonggeum Battlefield.
With that, Se Jaeo drew it.
Shing!
The dazzling blade gleamed with sharp menace.
Narrowing his eyes at the sight, Han Bin asked,
"One question. May I?"
"Speak."
"Isn't the sword's length off?"
"My Plum Blossom Three Realms is precisely three cheok and seven chon."
"To me, it looks like it needs three more chi to measure up."
"Three chi? What do you mean?"
"You wag that three-chi tongue so well, adding its length seems the proper calculation."
The arena stirred at once.
Verbal jabs were commonplace in spars.
Why hold back if words could win?
But Han Bin's barb was on another level.
Kunlun's Yi Jinmyeong whispered,
"He sounds like a street thug."
"Is the Hebei Paeng Family a Sapa faction?"
Jeomcheong elder Jeong Changmyeong agreed.
They tilted their heads at Han Bin.
His plain face lacked even a hint of masterly bearing.
One might believe him a scholar. Yet he spouted such cheap talk!
Even Sapa wouldn't stoop that low.
But Se Jaeo's expression didn't change under the provocation. As a low-ranking Plum Blossom Sword User of Volcanic, he'd beheaded over ten martial villains.
Which of them had gone quietly?
They'd all thrashed like Han Bin till the end.
He saw this as Han Bin hiding fear.
That thought lasted only a moment. Se Jaeo's gaze fixed on Han Bin's smirking lips.
Seeing that condescending smile infuriated him. It was that punchable.
I'll smash him in one go!
Rage boiled in Se Jaeo's chest.
Then Han Bin spoke.
"Come to think of it, I should introduce my sword too."
Han Bin drew his blade.
Shing.
Moonlight made its debut before the crowd.
Its sleek, womanly form entranced every eye.
Gulp!
As all swallowed hard, Han Bin said,
"My sword is Moonlight. Haven't measured it, so I don't know the length. But it gleams like this when facing idiots."
Laughter erupted from afar.
Pfft!
It came from the Mangho Squad and Jang Ja-myeong watching the spar.
But they quickly covered their mouths and schooled their faces.
Remembering Se Jaeo's prowess, their opponent.
Sim Miho said in a trembling voice,
"Se Jaeo is a super peak master. Does anyone know our lord's realm?"
"First-rate?"
So Daeseop scratched his head awkwardly as he replied.
All eyes turned to him.
"He's first-rate like us, right? Peak, maybe? Isn't he, Deputy Sim?"
"From what I know, peak at best. What I'm saying is, does peak have any chance against super peak?"
"Come on, be serious. Deputy Sim, that's like chopping air with a sword."
"So what do we do? Our lord is our lifeline and rice bowl."
"Oh, right. Should we stop him now?"
"Stopping him might be impossible, but we need to prep emergency treatment."
At Sim Miho's words, all gazes shifted to their exclusive physician, Jang Ja-myeong.
Receiving them, he neither cried nor laughed.
Sighing at the prospect of a hectic day, he looked skyward.
"Sigh."
The face of his junior sister left at Baekdok Valley came to mind.
I want to go home.
Then the clang of their first clash rang out.
Clang!
They charged simultaneously, swords slashing diagonally.
Plum Blossom Three Realms and Moonlight met midair like old acquaintances.
Screeech!
As metal grated, Se Jaeo grinned viciously.
"Haha, the match is decided. You like bets, don't you?"
"You heard well. Whew."
Han Bin exhaled roughly, as if winded from the first exchange.
Se Jaeo smirked.
This opening clash tested inner power, not forms.
And Han Bin couldn't withstand his.
So?
No need to worry about victory—just how flashily, miserably to crush him.
Sensationally.
Most pathetically.
That was Se Jaeo's goal today.
"Will you stake that sword on this match?"
"If I stake Moonlight, what will you offer?"
"My Plum Blossom Three Realms."
"Not enough."
"Then what do you want?"
"Throw in the Plum Blossom token too."
"You've got guts."
Infusing his blade with power, Se Jaeo repelled Han Bin and retreated.
To begin true form combat.
That was when it happened.
The flung-back Han Bin coughed up blood.
Cough!
Thin blood trickled down his chin.
Drip.
Han Bin spat on the ground.
Ptoo.
Splat!
A red chunk—like organ bits—hit the training ground.
Undaunted, Han Bin snarled defiantly.
"Can't stake the token? Getting cold feet?"
"Me?"
"Hesitating means you think you might lose, right?"
Han Bin was spot on.