89. Sleeping with the Enemy (2)
Binghyeol Seosaeng, who had been listening to the story, rushed over and chimed in.
"This is all a misunderstanding. It'd be better if you cleared it up and just killed us right here."
Binghyeol Seosaeng's desperate plea made Panyukranga and Heukui Salpung widen their eyes in shock.
But Han Bin's eyes gleamed with unexpected interest as he asked,
"What do you mean by that?"
After a moment's hesitation, Binghyeol Seosaeng's pale lips parted.
"Think about it. If you kill us here, it's over—but if that ridiculous rumor spreads, people will dig into our families, even our in-laws' eighth cousins. Just kill us and clear up the misunderstanding, great hero."
Everyone tilted their heads at Binghyeol Seosaeng's words.
His logic made sense, but no one imagined Han Bin had planned this far ahead.
All eyes turned to Han Bin.
Mulling over Binghyeol Seosaeng So Kyung-un's words, Han Bin slowly nodded.
"Even among the unorthodox, there are some sharp minds."
His words froze everyone in place.
No one had suspected such a scheme hidden behind that single homing pigeon.
Even if they had, who could have predicted it would chain into holding the enemy's family hostage?
Only Binghyeol Seosaeng So Kyung-un had grasped Han Bin's plot.
Even an unorthodox warrior walking a path opposed to righteousness cherished his family.
The thought that his family might be pawns in someone's game made the shoulders of the Shanxi Three Kills brothers tremble violently.
Glancing at their reaction, Han Bin looked up at the sky.
No one dared speak amid his skyward gaze, as if conversing with the heavens.
How much time passed?
Finally, Han Bin spoke to Heukui Salpung with resolve.
"Bury them for now."
None of the Shanxi Three Kills understood.
Staring blankly at Han Bin with the wide-eyed innocence of martial world newbies, the three looked utterly lost.
Han Bin grinned and pointed at the ground.
"Don't know what I mean?"
His expression was so pure that the two escorts beside him gaped.
Of course, Seol-hwa just nodded as if she'd expected it.
* * *
Two hours after dealing with the Shanxi Three Kills.
Han Bin quietly gazed into the void, organizing the formulas of the Yongrin Sword Art.
His first task was acquiring two more human-grade formulas.
He now knew that seeking the Yongrin Sword Art formulas scattered across the martial world was the path to breakthrough.
And if he hit a snag in interpretation, he had a way to get explanations—no more frustration.
Yun Yongho approached Han Bin, who was smiling at the air.
"Young Master Paeng, how long do we keep them like that? Even if they're unorthodox..."
He trailed off, pointing at the Shanxi Three Kills.
Their builds varied, but all three had their heads equally buried in the dirt.
Han Bin turned to Escort Leader Yun Yongho.
"It's fine for now."
"Still, this feels off. Don't you think, Young Master Paeng?"
"When you've got a blade to your throat, you should be prepared for this much. Isn't that the law of the martial world?"
"But threatening their families goes against righteous principles..."
"No. They've already put blades to my family's throats."
"Your family? Have you met the Shanxi Three Kills before?"
"Not them—my comrades are my family. Seol-hwa here is family, and so are you, Escort Leader. What else would you call those you trust with your back in battle?"
This was sincere.
Blood kin who stabbed you in the back weren't family.
But his past-life Ghost Sword Squad and current allies were Han Bin's true kin.
"Hm."
Yun Yongho had no retort. Han Bin's words left no room for argument.
Denying it would make him feel like a traitor.
Just then.
Hoofbeats echoed from afar.
Clop-clop, clop-clop.
As the sound grew louder, the wooden bridge beneath them shook harder.
The ominous escort's instinct flared again, and Yun Yongho gripped his scabbard.
The escorts beside him drew their swords, scanning for invisible foes.
Seol-hwa tilted her head and said,
"Young master, sounds like four."
"Four horses, but we don't know how many riders yet. Listen closely—it might not just be horses."
"True enough."
Yun Yongho narrowed his eyes at their exchange.
Judging the number of horses from sound alone?
Absurd.
Few could accurately count mixed hoofbeats.
Yet this martial world newbie young master could?
"Ah."
Yun Yongho gasped in realization. He'd forgotten Han Bin was a rookie.
At first, he'd underestimated him, but Han Bin's handling of the Shanxi Three Kills had been so seamless he'd stopped questioning.
Hebei's top coward?
Maybe a secret weapon secretly raised by the Hebei Paeng Family.
If the blade masters of Hebei Paeng produced a sword genius too?
They'd reign supreme among the North's Five Great Families. At this rate, Hebei Paeng might soon dominate North Murim.
Then Han Bin's voice rang out.
"Escort Leader Yun, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, just tensed up for a moment."
Yun Yongho waved it off hastily. But he noticed something odd.
Han Bin's speech.
It had shifted dramatically after facing the Shanxi Three Kills and resolving everything.
To an outsider, it seemed like two different people.
This version matched the timid Hebei coward perfectly.
As Yun Yongho pondered, horses rounded the bend.
Clop-clop, clop-clop.
Yun Yongho smirked faintly.
Only two horses appeared.
"Young Master Paeng, you said four, but I see two."
Relieved at Han Bin and Seol-hwa's miss, however petty.
Their display had been too astonishing—wrong on horses might calm North Murim a bit.
But moments later, he gripped his scabbard tight.
The riders drew closer.
A spearman and a swordswoman—warriors.
Rushing like that meant purpose.
If their target was here?
Yun Yongho stayed vigilant.
The lead rider leaped from his saddle.
With the horse's momentum plus lightness skill, he shot toward Yun Yongho like an arrow.
Yun Yongho instinctively drew.
Shing!
Then.
Han Bin from behind grabbed his hand.
Thud!
Yun Yongho's sword stopped half-drawn.
Stepping forward, Han Bin shouted,
"You Ak Family punk, why the dramatic entrance?"
"Big bro, you okay?"
The man slammed his spear into the ground and stared piercingly. His name: Akbigwang.
Since the Absol Valley wolf extermination with Han Bin, they'd been brothers.
Similar ages, but Han Bin played the elder.
Seeing Akbigwang, Han Bin tilted his head.
"What's okay?"
"Now that you mention it, you look fine."
Akbigwang craned his neck, scanning Han Bin head to toe.
Han Bin asked incredulously,
"What do you mean 'fine'? What's going on here all of a sudden?"
Then.
The trailing horse arrived.
Whinny.
The woman soothed her snorting mount while complaining, reins in hand.
"Young Master Ak, you ditch your horse and bolt—what am I supposed to do with the spare?"
All eyes turned to her.
As expected, she held two sets of reins.
She'd caught up, managing Akbigwang's abandoned horse too.
Akbigwang scratched his head sheepishly.
"Given the situation, understand."
But she ignored him, brushing past to stand before Han Bin.
"Young Master Paeng, long time no see."
"......"
Han Bin tilted his head.
Her name: Musoryul. Mu Sword Family direct lineage, his former fiancée.
Plenty of bad blood, but now tied to Mu Sword Family as benefactor, not foe.
And their pairing...
Recalling Akbigwang's words, Han Bin remembered: Akbigwang liked Musoryul.
Probably why they were together, but no clue why they'd rushed here.
Reading his face, Musoryul hurriedly explained.
"I get what you're wondering. I just happened to see the homing pigeon's message."
"Hm, it went to the Beggars' Clan—how'd you see it?"
"Oh, Elder Mujaeja's staying with our family temporarily."
"Master's there?"
"He visits often. Seems like he tours Hebei families except when at Cheonsu Manor. Said the food doesn't suit his taste or something."
"Ah."
Han Bin's sigh carried resignation.
He'd seemed gone for good after leaving Cheonsu Manor, but returned lately—turns out he'd been roaming Hebei.
A change since taking a disciple.
Disciple cravings sated, now food cravings?
Han Bin unwittingly smirked.
Then he spotted Akbigwang nearby.
"What about you?"
"Big bro gets taken by Shanxi Three Kills? How could I not come? Raced like mad."
"Not that—how'd you know the pigeon's contents?"
"Well......"
Akbigwang glanced shyly at Musoryul.
She snorted and turned away.
"Hm."
Han Bin swallowed a groan. Things had tangled.
He'd spread rumors via unorthodox channels, but Hong Chilgae's companions Musoryul and Akbigwang had learned the truth.
Then.
A carriage appeared in the distance.
Seol-hwa's eyes widened as she interjected.
"Ah, not just horses—a carriage too."
Musoryul and Akbigwang tilted their heads, but Yun Yongho gaped.
Not only the horse count, but the distant trailing horse—and now a carriage.
Young Master Paeng Han Bin had foreseen even that.
Yun Yongho looked skyward.
A wave of futility—he was the frog in the well.
Ignoring Yun Yongho's expression, Han Bin eyed Akbigwang and Musoryul.
First, seal their lips.
"For now, both of you, hear me out......"
Han Bin continued.