Unexpected Mission (2)
Hyulhwa, who had been pursuing Han Bin, halted her steps amid the dense pine forest.
This was the mountain behind Cheonsu Manor and the market town, blocking the path between them.
Merely a pass that could be crossed in half a day, yet the locals called it Songhwasan—a name laden with ominous meaning, evoking red pines ablaze with fire.
In truth, just a decade ago, this place had been lush with verdant pines, a famed sight of the village.
But at some point, it had taken on a fiery crimson hue, as if scorched by flames. Fearing it a mountain possessed by ghosts, the villagers shunned it.
Hyulhwa paused due to an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
She gazed once more at Songhwasan. The illusion struck again—the entire ridge seemed to flicker with roaring flames.
As the villagers said, this was undoubtedly a cursed place.
Was it the sunlight filtering through the crimson pines?
The protruding needles resembled blood splatters leaping from a bed of embers.
After contemplating the mountain's vista for a long while, Hyulhwa turned to Ship Palho, her subordinate who had approached.
The middle-aged man known as Ship Palho was one who had clashed with Han Bin in Absol Valley.
For that reason, he had been included in this mission.
"Ship Palho, is this the right place?"
"Yes, leader. He definitely passed through here."
"Take command of the rest and monitor the surroundings. No reckless moves—just watch. Got it?"
"Understood!"
"And absolutely do not kill him!"
"I'll keep that in mind."
Ship Palho's eyes gleamed through his mask as he vanished from sight.
Sasasak. Sak.
Hyulhwa slowly advanced toward the entrance of Songhwasan.
But moments later, she stopped again, her mind drifting to the frantic events of the past two months.
Heukcheon had thoroughly punished Lady Jeonghwa for deceiving them with false information.
Scarce was the day Hyulhwa's blade did not thirst for blood.
Only when Lady Jeonghwa's merchant caravans had ground to a complete halt did Heukcheon's blade finally rest.
With the vengeance complete, Heukcheon turned his curiosity toward Han Bin.
The cowardly youngest son of the Hebei Paeng Family had consecutively defeated Heukcheon's elite and super-elite assassins?
And even slain the legendary demonic beast, the Heavenly Death Blood Wolf?
This was a riddle that baffled even Heukcheon.
Before coming here, Hyulhwa had received her orders.
First, uncover the true identity of the Hebei Paeng Family's youngest young master.
Second, recruit him.
Third, the mission has no time limit.
These were the commands from Heukcheon's master.
In other words, do not return until the mission is accomplished.
In truth, for Hyulhwa, a duel with Han Bin took precedence over the mission.
Since the Absol Valley incident, she had awoken nightly with pain in her side.
The physical wound had healed, but the mental scar lingered.
"Hut."
Letting out a sigh, Hyulhwa touched her flank.
Recalling that moment stirred a whirlwind of emotions within her.
Han Bin, who could have ended her life in an instant, had let her go.
And to be outmaneuvered not in open combat, but in the subtle arts of an assassin?
For her, heir to Heukcheon, this was an indelible stain.
Deep into the mid-slopes of Songhwasan, Hyulhwa knelt and scooped up a handful of soil, pressing it to her nose.
"Mm."
Emitting a low hum, she scanned the surroundings.
Han Bin's traces were growing stronger.
Then, a voice spoke from right beside her.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Ack!"
"Why are you sniffing someone else's piss?"
"What? Piss?!"
Hyulhwa startled violently and flung the soil to the ground.
At the same moment, a hazy figure shimmered into view.
A red martial robe flickering against the crimson backdrop of Songhwasan.
It was unmistakably Han Bin.
Han Bin approached with a broad grin.
"Just kidding—don't worry. I saw a wild boar taking a leak a bit ago."
"Are you mocking me right now?"
"Why get so worked up? Been well?"
"What the hell are you up to?"
Backing away, Hyulhwa drew her sword and shouted.
Han Bin stopped, shrugging his shoulders.
"You talking to me? Should I say the in-law mocks the father-in-law? Or is it the farter who gets mad?"
Hyulhwa bit the inside of her cheek at Han Bin's words.
She had been the one secretly surveilling him. Yet somehow, the roles had reversed.
And Han Bin mocked her without even drawing his sword.
Hyulhwa eyed him closely once more.
Han Bin stood expressionless, holding a beggar's bowl in his right hand, gazing at her.
He spoke again.
"When you enter someone else's turf, at least say hello first, right?"
It was true, but Hyulhwa scowled, unwilling to admit it.
Heukcheon's assassins would faint in shock at such a display.
Hyulhwa was infamous even among Heukcheon for never showing emotion.
Her other moniker was Cold Blood Flower—the "cold" in her name denoting chill detachment.
Today, though, she wasn't her usual composed self.
Twisting her face in irritation, she snapped back.
"That's rich coming from the thief who snatched someone's bowl and ran."
"I ran?"
As Han Bin tilted his head, Hyulhwa pointed at the beggar's bowl.
"Then what do you call it? My bowl's right there."
"Since when do assassins trespass on Beggar Clan turf?"
Han Bin rattled the copper coins inside the bowl teasingly as he stared at her.
Quickly composing herself, she retorted.
"Is there a law saying assassins can't beg? You stole our livelihood."
Hyulhwa bristled, and Han Bin waved it off.
"Come on, words matter. I just reclaimed my money."
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it. I'm no rich guy—why would I toss silver to a beggar?"
"Then why did you?"
"It was a mistake. Meant to throw copper, grabbed silver by accident."
"Then just take your money and go—why steal the bowl?"
"I didn't steal it. It just stuck to my hand and wouldn't come off."
Han Bin glanced pointedly at the beggar's bowl.
Hyulhwa sighed at his brazen excuse.
His words and hers were equally absurd.
Then Han Bin pulled a copper coin from the bowl.
An ordinary coin, nothing special.
Squinting, he spun it, examining the edge.
A smile crept across his lips as he studied it.
Moments later, he dropped it back in and swirled the bowl.
Cling-clang. Cling-clang.
The pleasing chime eased Hyulhwa's tension briefly.
Suddenly, Han Bin scooped a handful and tossed them.
Whoosh!
Hyulhwa snatched them reflexively.
Thud!
In the blink of an eye, she pocketed the coins and demanded,
"Hand over the rest!"
Han Bin chuckled.
"These coppers keep talking to me."
"……."
Hyulhwa swallowed, waiting silently for his next words.
"Target's prowess assessed as Peak realm or higher?"
"Gasp!"
Hyulhwa's eyes widened.
Han Bin had recognized Heukcheon's coded phrase.
It was undoubtedly inscribed on that coin.
After her startled gasp, she asked,
"What does that mean?"
"It's right there. Why pretend otherwise?"
"What... what do you mean it's there?"
"……."
Instead of answering, Han Bin withdrew a few more coins and examined them.
After a long look, he said,
"This one's harder to read. An order from Heukcheon's master?"
He tossed more coins.
Whoosh!
Thud!
Hyulhwa caught them mid-air.
"Phew."
She sighed in relief, and Han Bin smirked.
"You're an easy mark."
"Easy how?"
Her eyelashes trembled.
Assassin training since age five.
Chief among them: mastering emotions.
But today, hers raged unchecked.
Seeing her expression, Han Bin continued.
"How would I know what's on the coin? Just a lucky guess."
"……."
Hyulhwa stared silently.
She couldn't verify if he spoke truth.
True or false, she couldn't accept it either way.
This was clearly him toying with her, she judged.
Trembling with frustration, she drew her sword.
Shring!
Subtly channeling inner power into her toes.
One, two...
Observing, she exploded her energy.
Her body shot forward.
Pak!
Her straight thrust sword sliced toward Han Bin's throat.
Shwoosh!
Folding space itself, her blade struck something in an instant.
Hyulhwa's eyes bulged as she stared at her sword tip.
Clang.
She had pierced the beggar's bowl.
The coins inside rang like bells from the blade's tip.
Frantically scanning, she found no trace of Han Bin.
Only then did she realize her blunder.
The perfect harmony of his red robe and Songhwasan's crimson.
Finding him here was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Her own black robe stood out glaringly.
This was no fair fight.
Moreover, Han Bin's lightness skill far surpassed what he'd shown in Absol Valley.
Since then, he'd mastered Gugeol Ship-pal-bo, elevating his movement severalfold.
Unaware of this, Hyulhwa panicked.
Then, from afar, Han Bin appeared in his red robe.
"Man, you're playing for keeps!"
His face was as serene as if strolling to a neighbor's.
Hyulhwa's flushed with alternating rage and shame. But soon composing herself, she asked in a low voice,
"What are you?"
"Me? You're not really asking because you don't know, right?"
"I really don't."
"Hebei Paeng Family's youngest young master."
"Besides that. Does the Hebei Paeng Family's youngest wield a sword like that? Where did you learn such swordsmanship? From what I've investigated, none of their guest elders use anything like it."
Even mid-battle, Hyulhwa probed for intel.
Han Bin replied indifferently.
"Say I picked it up on the road."
"Fine, but what's with that aura of yours?"
"Why bring up aura out of nowhere?"
"You reek of the same scent as us."
"Scent? I bathed today."
Pretending to sniff his sleeve, Han Bin prompted Hyulhwa to furrow her brow.
"Not that kind. You give off an unnaturally thick blood scent. Be honest. Which organization are you with?"
"You're such a fool."
"Fool how?"
"Would you spill your own group's secrets? Even a fool wouldn't."
"……."
Hyulhwa stared wordlessly again.
Everything he said rang true, yet his smirking face boiled her blood.
And he kept calling her a fool.
Never before treated thus, her fury mounted.
Then Han Bin proposed,
"Wanna make a bet?"
"A bet?"
Curiosity flickered in Hyulhwa's eyes.