Blood Wolf Young Master (5)
Jang Ja-myeong laid Se Jaeo down on the stretcher.
Of course, the task of carrying him on the stretcher fell to Jangsan and Jo Ho.
Now everything had been neatly wrapped up.
Hanbin turned around and cupped his fists toward everyone.
"Thank you all for cheering me on until the end. May this sparring match serve as a stepping stone for the Hebei Paeng Family to advance one step closer to the center of the martial world…"
As Hanbin launched into his speech, Hong Chilgae, who had been listening from the side, quietly turned away.
As he tried to slip out of the training ground, Hong Chilgae narrowed his eyes and looked down at the floor.
There lay the bloody clump that Hanbin had spat out at the beginning.
Hong Chilgae approached, scooped it up with his finger, and popped it into his mouth.
Paeng Daewi, who was nearby, witnessed the scene.
He'd heard this man was Hanbin's master earlier.
But what the hell was that behavior?
It was straight out of a demonic cultist's playbook.
But any such misconception was utterly shattered by Hong Chilgae's next words.
Finishing his words, Hong Chilgae grinned at Hanbin and exited the training ground.
Now only Hanbin and Paeng Daewi remained in the training ground.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Paeng Daewi asked,
"What did that elder mean just now? Pig's blood?"
"It's a secret, Enforcement Hall Leader."
"Haha."
Paeng Daewi let out a hollow laugh. Of course, he had a pretty good idea of what had happened.
It meant Hanbin had hidden a pouch of pig's blood in his mouth to feign vulnerability to the opponent.
His amusement was short-lived, however, as Paeng Daewi pressed his temples.
No matter how he thought about it, Hanbin's actions felt strangely familiar.
At first, he'd viewed Hanbin with pity. But seeing his boldness, he'd rooted for him inwardly.
Of course, as Enforcement Hall Leader, he could swear he'd never made a biased judgment.
Yet today, Hanbin seemed like a seasoned veteran who'd rolled through the martial world for decades.
After much contemplation, Paeng Daewi shook his head.
After all, the Paeng Family's creed was to win by any means necessary.
In Paeng Daewi's eyes, Hanbin's tactics today were just one strategy in the war of victory—and it had worked.
Against the Volcanic Sect, no less.
He'd triumphed not with the Paeng Family's blades, but with their sword.
This would undoubtedly shake up the northern martial world.
And for the Hebei Paeng Family, it was a welcome change.
Paeng Daewi lightly draped an arm around Hanbin's shoulder.
"Let's head back now."
"Thank you, Uncle."
"Hah."
Paeng Daewi let out an exclamation. Hanbin had used a familial term after so long.
The Enforcement Hall Leader, who seemed like he wouldn't bleed even if his wrist were sliced with a knife, melted at those simple words from his nephew.
As Paeng Daewi smiled, he felt a chilling gaze and turned his head.
There stood Lady Jeonghwa, approaching with eyes like icicles, glaring daggers at them.
Stopping before Paeng Daewi, Lady Jeonghwa said,
"Could I have a moment of your time, Enforcement Hall Leader?"
"Of course, Sister-in-Law."
The two left the training ground first.
Paeng Daewi was going mad. Paeng Kangwi, who should have been managing all this, had conveniently entered secluded training, leaving all the messy affairs to him.
Paeng Daewi had one regret regarding Hanbin.
He wished Hanbin had a solid backer.
The competition for heir apparent in the Paeng Family was fair yet unfair.
The patriarch's impartiality was fair, but each candidate's backing varied wildly—that was unfair.
The patriarch and brothers stayed neutral, but others didn't.
From the family's perspective, gathering supporters was also a patriarch's virtue.
Hanbin paid no mind to the conversation between Paeng Daewi and Lady Jeonghwa as he surveyed his surroundings.
Not only the Mangho Squad warriors, but countless onlookers—not just Lady Jeonghwa's retainers—lingered quietly.
Warriors from nearby minor and mid-tier schools had taken seats as well.
They were witnesses to today's spar.
Lady Jeonghwa was no doubt trying to overturn the results by invoking ties between the Volcanic Sect and the Hebei Paeng Family.
But the outcome wouldn't change.
For her to act out without regard for the surrounding eyes meant she saw him as an easy mark.
Gazing at the lengthening shadows, Hanbin murmured,
"It's about time… He's a bit late."
Finishing, Hanbin looked toward the main gate of Cheonsu Manor.
Just then,
Someone came running noisily from afar.
It was Cheolno, whom he'd assigned to greet guests at the main gate.
Cheolno rushed to Hanbin with a face pale as a ghost.
"Young Master, big trouble!"
"I told you to greet the guests—why the fuss all of a sudden?"
"No, it's not that. Imperial troops are marching here right now."
"Didn't I tell you? Magistrate Jeong Jusup is coming."
"No sign of Magistrate Jeong, but hundreds of imperial troops are coming! Did you cause some incident?"
Cheolno's voice was loud enough that people nearby glanced over.
Even martial artists found imperial troops unsettling.
The notion that the court and martial world were separate applied only when martial artists hadn't harmed the court.
Otherwise, the imperial decree was to handle their own affairs by the laws of the jianghu.
The court couldn't extend its reach everywhere in the vast Central Plains, after all.
But hundreds of troops heading here?
That meant someone here had caused a major incident.
"Who caused trouble?"
As one spectator spoke, murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Whatever it is, shouldn't we get out of here first?"
The hot-headed ones stood to leave.
"No, let's watch a bit more. We can hide and peek from over there…"
The curious ones sought hiding spots.
Soon, the training ground echoed with noise.
Boom!
Boom!
A general on horseback, his golden helmet gleaming, led the way, followed by four-horse carriages rumbling noisily.
Hundreds of soldiers trailed behind, their boots thumping as they approached the training ground.
As everyone swallowed hard, only Hanbin kept his smile.
By then, Sim Miho had sidled up beside him.
"My lord, what's going on?"
"You'll see soon enough."
Hanbin replied nonchalantly, prompting Sim Miho to click her tongue.
"This isn't the time for jokes. See that golden object on the carriage?"
"Yeah, I see it. So?"
"Looks like a guillotine to me."
"Nah, no way."
Hanbin chuckled, and Sim Miho pounded her chest.
"Don't brush it off—if you've done something, run now. Save your neck first."
"Ah, Deputy Sim, what do you take me for…"
Hanbin trailed off. The stares from around him were too piercing.
Everyone eyed him suspiciously.
"Whoa, that's a guillotine?"
"The guillotine that only the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Duckweed Division use…"
"Yeah. The one that severs a tiger's neck in one go."
Someone mimed slitting their throat.
Hanbin looked to the sky in exasperation at their chatter.
He'd built quite a reputation in Hebei by now—why treat him like a criminal?
"Sigh."
Hanbin sighed deeply.
At last, the hundreds-strong procession halted before the training ground.
Thud!
The golden-helmeted general dismounted silently, his landing noiseless—a sign his martial prowess was no joke.
He bellowed, shaking the training ground:
"Who is Paeng Hanbin?"
All eyes converged on one spot.
"See? Knew it."
Someone shouted, and the general glared that way.
Silence blanketed the training ground.
In that hush, footsteps echoed.
Thud, thud.
Of course, it was Hanbin.
He shook off Sim Miho, who clutched his sleeve, and strode toward the general.
Sim Miho watched him go, tears welling in her eyes—like a cow being led to slaughter.
Lady Jeonghwa, watching from afar, stifled a laugh.
Bathed in the crowd's mixed gazes, Hanbin stood before the general.
"I am Paeng Hanbin."
"…"
The general silently appraised Paeng Hanbin. His red martial robe was tattered, his exposed skin crusted with blood scabs here and there.
The general's name was Kang Yu-chan.
He led the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Though on imperial orders, Hanbin's disheveled state made him doubt if this was the right man.
He looked thoroughly beaten.
But with no one contradicting, Kang Yu-chan accepted his identity.
Infusing his voice with inner power, the Embroidered Uniform Guard leader shouted,
"Paeng Hanbin, heed the Emperor's command!"
Sim Miho behind him bowed her head deeply, while Lady Jeonghwa afar smirked triumphantly.
Hanbin swiftly dropped to one knee and cried out,
"Your subject Paeng Hanbin receives His Majesty's decree!"
At the same time, Kang Yu-chan unfurled a golden scroll.
Shhh.
The golden edict sparkled like it held the sun itself.
As eyes widened, Kang Yu-chan read aloud:
"…bestows upon you the epithet of Blood Wolf Young Master."
As the edict's recitation continued, eyes grew wider.
Lady Jeonghwa's bulged most of all.
She knew some simple reward would come for the successful Absolute Valley operation.
But with the Embroidered Uniform Guard in tow?
Unthinkable. Moments ago, she'd been certain the troops were here to punish Hanbin.
This was a nightmare for her.
Hanbin was a bit flustered too.
A few days prior, he'd gotten word from Jeong Jusup:
A few officials would come to bestow rewards.
He hadn't expected hundreds, led by the Embroidered Uniform Guard chief no less.
A bit excessive for the price of a Heaven Mountain Blood Wolf with no inner core.
Kang Yu-chan read on without a flicker in his expression.
Gasp here and there at the final words.
"Hah, the Emperor himself granting an epithet…"
"Heh, maybe we should line up behind the youngest young master now?"
Even Lady Jeonghwa's retainers eyed Hanbin enviously.
Historically, emperors rarely bestowed titles on martial artists.
Hanbin's expression remained somewhat nonchalant.
Epithets arose naturally in the jianghu.
Plus, the Paeng Family's symbol was the tiger.
A wolf epithet in a tiger house?
A twinge of doubt.
Gwanggwi in his past life, Blood Wolf now?
Such a Sapa-laden name?
But it was an imperial bestowal.
Finishing the edict, Kang Yu-chan glanced back.
A few subordinates met his gaze and unloaded a golden box from the carriage.
It had looked like a guillotine from afar, but up close, it was clearly a chest brimming with gold and treasures.