93. A Lucky Day (3)
“Then leave the carriage to the maids and we'll board the boat together. Even if we abandon everything else, we must ensure the young lady's safety.”
The coachman bowed deeply in respect.
A warrior's dignity emanated from his precise movements.
The man standing before Musoryul was a master swordsman acknowledged even within the Musi Geomga.
He was the escort warrior personally assigned by the family head for this journey.
But Musoryul scoffed.
“Who's worrying about whom here? I only accept escorts stronger than me. You know I don't need protecting.”
Since her words rang true, the warrior nodded.
In terms of pure martial prowess, the family deemed Musoryul the rightful heir to Musi Geomga.
The warrior, who had been nodding, suddenly remembered something and spoke urgently.
“Young lady, it's not enemies we're worried about.”
“Then what is it?”
“It's when you get lost.”
“Ah!”
Musoryul's eyes flickered uncertainly.
She had one glaring weakness: she was hopelessly directionally challenged.
That was why she didn't need escorts but did need guides. The problem was that the escorts her father had sent were little more than annoying watchdogs.
Musoryul wanted to shake them off during this trip.
She pointed at the boat with her finger.
“Don't you trust the people up there?”
The warrior looked up at the deck. Akbigwang and Han Bin had already boarded, along with the escorts from the Thousand-Li Escort Agency.
The Shanxi Three Evils were a concern, of course, but they'd already been subdued by Han Bin.
The warrior sighed helplessly.
“Understood. We'll stay nearby until you return, young lady.”
“Yes, take care.”
With that, Musoryul leaped onto the boat with all her might.
At the same time, pebbles scattered around her.
Tap-tap-tap.
The warrior watched her retreating figure with worried eyes.
Just then, a fellow warrior approached him.
“It'd be nice if the young lady toned down her temper a bit.”
“Where's that fire going anytime soon? Still, she's precious to us. Let's wait here till she gets back.”
“Yeah, suppose we have to.”
Leaving their conversation behind, the boat slowly pulled away from the ferry landing.
It happened when the boat had crossed about halfway across the Zhang Ha River.
Someone shouted urgently.
It was a woman dressed as a merchant.
“Is there a doctor here? My husband's in critical condition!”
People began gathering at her cry.
Her husband lay collapsed on the deck.
Anyone could see it was dire.
Even the Shanxi Three Evils and Akbigwang approached the woman and her fallen husband.
Among them, the Ice Blood Scholar So Gyeong-un narrowed his eyes and drew closer.
The Ice Blood Scholar asked the woman,
“What exactly happened?”
“My husband just suddenly collapsed...”
The woman trembled violently, unable to continue.
Then she collapsed in a heap right there.
Her eyes rolled back, her body convulsing.
The Ice Blood Scholar hurriedly backed away from them.
At that moment,
Someone yelled,
“Poison!”
At the word, the gathered crowd paled and glanced around nervously.
Then one of the boat's guards rushed over, drew his saber, and shouted,
“Everyone, stay where you are!”
As the Shanxi Three Evils exchanged bewildered looks amid the absurdity, Han Bin—who had been leaning against the boat's edge—brushed off his robes and stood.
Stepping forward, Han Bin called out,
“I'm the doctor! Everyone, make way.”
Seol-hwa, beside him, widened her eyes and tugged at his sleeve.
“Young master, what are you doing?”
This was genuine concern.
They were in the middle of the river now.
Unlike on flat land, fighting on a boat introduced too many variables.
There was nowhere to hide,
and no schemes would work easily on deck.
It was the worst matchup for assassins.
To Seol-hwa, Han Bin screamed assassin.
That's why she was urging him to hold back.
Plus, rushing in now might paint him as the culprit.
At Han Bin's shout, all eyes turned to him. Grinning amusedly at the attention, he approached the collapsed couple.
Everyone swallowed hard.
Seol-hwa watched unblinking.
To her, the few steps Han Bin took felt like dozens of li.
That tense.
Han Bin approached, twitched his nose.
Momentarily, he began examining the couple.
The boat's guard asked,
“You, are you really a doctor?”
The guard narrowed his eyes. No wonder—his true identity was Geom-o.
He knew full well this was Hebei Paengga's fourth young master, yet the man was brazenly lying. Infuriating.
But he couldn't act rashly without knowing Han Bin's intent.
Of course, the watching Shanxi Three Evils exchanged equally baffled glances.
Han Bin bowed his head with a grave expression.
Ignoring Geom-o's question, he took the couple's pulses.
After a moment, he seriously inspected the man's various points.
Among the Shanxi Three Evils, the Ice Blood Scholar narrowed his eyes at Han Bin's actions.
What could this guy possibly do?
The Ice Blood Scholar's answer: nothing.
The couple's conditions were grave.
Foam bubbled from their mouths, eyes rolled back.
The foam was so profuse it dripped onto the deck.
The Ice Blood Scholar frowned and stepped back.
But Han Bin ignored the stares, meticulously checking every inch.
After the man, he carefully examined the woman.
How much time passed?
Only then did Han Bin finally answer Geom-o.
“I am a doctor. The examination's done.”
At Han Bin's reply, Geom-o glanced at the distant Yang Yak-gun.
Yang Yak-gun sent a transmission.
—He's probably scheming to escape the Shanxi Three Evils. Play along for now, then handle as planned.
Following the order, Geom-o asked Han Bin,
“Is it poison?”
“Not poison, but the illness is severe.”
“If not poison, what illness?”
“I don't know the name, but I can suggest treatment.”
Geom-o frowned at Han Bin's flippant words.
But with Yang Yak-gun's instructions, he played along.
“What's the treatment?”
“...”
Han Bin stood silently, brushing his robes. Turning, he called to the distant Seol-hwa.
“Seol-hwa, bring some spare rags.”
“Young master, why rags?”
Seol-hwa dashed over, bundled cloth in hand, eyes scanning warily.
As she neared, Han Bin grinned and continued,
“This place reeks of calamus.”
“Calamus?”
“Someone fed these two calamus pills. Chew 'em, and foam overflows. Probably skip brushing for months. Who'd pull a stunt like this?”
Han Bin turned with a grin. From afar, the boatman approached slowly.
Yang Yak-gun, exuding an aura he'd hidden till now.
As he advanced, the passengers parted left and right.
He stopped five paces from Han Bin.
But his gaze wasn't on Han Bin—it was on the Black-Clothed Death Wind.
Specifically, his right hand.
In Black-Clothed Death Wind's hand was a small bundle.
Yang Yak-gun instantly recognized it contained the Cold Iron Box with the Qingming Pill.
Noticing the stare, Han Bin said,
“So many after the Qingming Pill!”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
Yang Yak-gun turned back to Black-Clothed Death Wind.
Then—
The foaming couple sprang up, pulling something from their bosoms.
Iron tubes.
Aiming at the Shanxi Three Evils, they pressed the edges.
Pfft!
Air hissed. Black-Clothed Death Wind yelled,
“Hidden weapons!”
The Shanxi Three Evils dove flat instantly.
Clearly, these were Yi Hwa Shin Gi—secret weapons.
Load the tube with projectiles, press the edge to fire.
Shape didn't matter, as long as it fit.
Fast enough that even Peak realm warriors struggled to dodge.
Banned in the jianghu for assassinations.
Momentarily, Black-Clothed Death Wind—who dove first—tilted his head.
No impact sensation.
Peeking up, the couple stood gaping at their tubes.
Black-Clothed Death Wind couldn't fathom it.
Firing Yi Hwa Shin Gi should've drawn screams—from him or others.
Yet only the firers stared dumbfounded?
A dud?
Then Han Bin bellowed with inner power,
“Looking for these, maybe?”
All eyes snapped to Han Bin.
Precisely, his fingertips. Dozens of silver needles glinted in the sun.
Black-Clothed Death Wind's eyes bulged.
Impossible. Extracting projectiles mid-fire?
Invisibly, even to the wielders? Unthinkable.
Come to think of it...
Black-Clothed Death Wind's eyelids twitched.
His mortal enemy had just saved his life. Han Bin, of course.
As Black-Clothed Death Wind's emotions churned, the man of the couple muttered,
“When did you...?”
“Needles are for doctors, not patients.”
Han Bin beamed, shaking the silver needles.
“You bastard...”
The man trailed off.
Inner-power-laden footsteps approached.
Thud-thud.
Yang Yak-gun.
The couple bowed hastily.
“Boss.”
“We've failed you.”
Yang Yak-gun waved dismissively, as if it were nothing.
He advanced no further.
Grinning sinisterly at the still-prone Shanxi Three Evils, he stomped.
Inner power rocked the boat.
Yang Yak-gun's attack?
No.
He stomped then swiftly retreated.
Simultaneously, something dropped from the sails.
Whoosh!
A net.
It ensnared some sailors, the couple, and the clustered Shanxi Three Evils.
Yang Yak-gun smirked at them.
“I don't like my deck soaked in blood. Cleaning takes days. Not that I do it, but thinking of my men's toil brings tears.”
Blatant threat.
Black-Clothed Death Wind seethed.
Fine against Han Bin.
Being toyed with by him was humiliating enough, but enduring this from a mere thug? Unbearable.