Chapter 182 : What Tenacity Means. -02
Chapter 182: What Tenacity Means. -02
The brightly smiling Geum Hoyeon suddenly came to his senses and pulled a neatly folded letter from inside his robe.
It was fairly thick, and at the sight of it Ban Hojin blinked.
“What is that?”
“It will be much faster for you to see it yourself than for me to explain. It is thick because of the illustrations—the actual contents are not that long.”
Placing the letter on the table between them, Geum Hoyeon smiled faintly.
Judging that it could not be anything bad from the look on his face, Ban Hojin slowly picked up the letter from the table.
Fwoosh.
Perhaps because it was made of high-quality material, it felt quite tough as it unfolded wide.
Ban Hojin’s pupils widened slightly.
“This is perhaps?”
“That is correct. These are the mountain strongholds of the bandits who attacked you during the final battle against Ironblood Fortress in Shaanxi Province. You were unable to pursue them properly at the time, were you? I have briefly organized the strongholds of those who survived onto this map. I cannot guarantee it is perfect, but I believe we have tracked about seventy percent of them. Ah, the locations of the strongholds are approximate. Even for us, it is difficult to determine their exact positions.”
“This alone is already remarkable.”
Ban Hojin was genuinely astonished.
He knew well that such information was difficult to obtain and required tremendous time and effort.
“I have marked the regions where they mainly appear. As you know, we have both a trading company and an escort agency, so we inevitably encounter the Green Forest bandits often. That made compiling this not particularly difficult.”
“Even so, it must have taken considerable effort. It is not as though there are only one or two strongholds across the entire Central Plains.”
“Personally, I too wish for all bandits to disappear completely. The expenses we pay as toll fees are truly substantial. I imagine it is the same for other escort agencies and merchant caravans.”
Geum Hoyeon ground his teeth.
Having once led merchant caravans himself, he had not been robbed only once or twice.
The bandits prattled on about mutual assistance among themselves, but from Geum Hoyeon’s perspective, they were no different from common thieves.
After all, the mountains they occupied were neither their property nor privately owned land.
“However, the reason I conducted this investigation was simply in the hope that it might be of some help to you, Great Hero Ban. There is no other meaning.”
“I know. On the contrary, I am grateful. You have gone so far for my sake.”
“As long as you understand, that is enough. Hahaha.”
Geum Hoyeon laughed brightly.
He was relieved that the gift seemed well received.
He had worried it might be taken the wrong way, but fortunately that did not seem to be the case.
‘I must strengthen this relationship even further.’
He made a vow inwardly.
Even before the war with Iron Blood Demon Emperor, Ban Hojin’s reputation had been extraordinary, but now it had become so immense that there was nowhere left for it to rise.
Because of his age—or perhaps jealousy—he had not entered the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven, yet Geum Hoyeon and many others knew.
Ban Hojin’s strength was not inferior in the slightest even compared to the Murim Ten Kings.
In fact, many believed he was stronger.
Though Iron Blood Demon Emperor, Yama King, and Blade King could not be compared through simple measures, no one could objectively deny that Ban Hojin was likely the strongest among them.
‘If I cannot embrace him, then I must at least cling to his trouser leg.’
There had been a time when he had hoped to take Ban Hojin under his wing, but now things were different.
Geum Hoyeon understood reality.
Even if he became the Geum Family Head, it would be impossible to embrace Ban Hojin.
In that case, he had to grow as close as possible.
‘And there are competitors.’
Though Ban Hojin’s personal martial power was extraordinary, it did not mean he lacked nothing.
Geum Hoyeon could supply most of what he lacked.
They could mutually assist one another.
However, there was one problem—the Hao Sect could do the same.
Moreover, while the Hao Sect might be lacking financially, in other areas they overwhelmingly surpassed the Geum Family Estate.
On top of that, the Hao Sect’s Rumor Lord, Nan Hee-ju, had grown close enough with Ban Hojin to address each other as siblings.
It was precisely there that Geum Hoyeon felt a sense of crisis.
‘I need to become sworn brothers with him as well.’
Furthermore, there was even a faint possibility that Nan Hee-ju could become related to him by blood.
Since she stood on more favorable ground than himself, who had no such possibility at all, Geum Hoyeon felt a subtle impatience.
“I will make good use of this. We were just discussing this among ourselves.”
“It seems I have come at just the right time.”
“That is correct. Ah, are you heading down this evening?”
“I have no urgent schedule. As you know, the situation in the Jianghu has become rather ominous. There is also the matter of Nine Heavens Gate. We are keeping a close watch on Yunnan Province in our own way, but we are not particularly busy. May I ask why you inquire?”
“Many have been asking about the secret behind the rapid growth of my companions, so I intend to reveal it personally tomorrow. More precisely, I plan to let them experience it firsthand. If it is acceptable, it might not be a bad idea for the escort unit to participate as well.”
Geum Hoyeon’s eyes widened.
He had been curious about that himself.
No matter how absolute a master Ban Hojin might be, cultivating oneself and teaching others were entirely different matters.
Yet Ban Hojin had accomplished it, which made Geum Hoyeon just as curious as everyone else.
“I-is that truly so?”
“Yes. Though it is nothing remarkable. You may be disappointed when you see it. It is quite simple.”
“If we may participate, I would like to!”
Though Ban Hojin spoke lightly, Geum Hoyeon raised his voice without hesitation.
Ban Hojin might consider it trivial from his own perspective.
But those who experienced it firsthand would surely see it differently, and fearing Ban Hojin might withdraw the offer, Geum Hoyeon accepted immediately.
“The escort unit members may resent you, Young Estate Lord. It will truly be difficult. Especially the first time.”
“I do not believe so. Such opportunities are rare, are they not? Rather, they would prostrate themselves and beg to participate. I can guarantee it. If I were a martial artist, I would declare my participation at once!”
“Then I shall consider it settled for tomorrow.”
“I look forward to it. To seeing what this secret may be.”
“Do not expect too much. The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.”
Ban Hojin grinned.
There truly was nothing special about it.
Others seemed to believe there must be something extraordinary, but there was not.
That was why he intended to show them directly tomorrow.
Early in the morning, the open clearing was silent.
Though well over a hundred people had gathered, not a single one spoke.
Instead, all stared toward Ban Hojin’s quarters with tense expressions.
Creak.
In the profound stillness where even breathing could scarcely be heard, the doors of two pavilions opened simultaneously.
Ban Hojin and his companions stepped out.
“Good morning!”
“Hello!”
The moment Ban Hojin appeared, men and women alike spoke in unison.
All with tense expressions.
In contrast, his companions—accustomed to today’s training—remained calm.
No, beneath their composure, faint smiles lingered.
“We are all assembled as well.”
“I hope we did not summon you too early.”
“Not at all. We slept very well. Perhaps due to the spiritual energy of Songshan, it has been a long time since we rested so soundly.”
Whether it was mere politeness or not, Geum Hoyeon’s complexion, which had been slightly dark beneath the eyes until yesterday, was now bright.
On the other hand, the escort unit members appeared extremely tense.
Yet it was not a negative tension, but one filled with anticipation.
“Young Estate Lord, please stand over here. You may observe together with Sama Uiseong.”
“It seems Young Master Sama will not be participating?”
“Yes. In a sense, he has only just formally entered the martial path.”
At Ban Hojin’s words, Sama Uiseong smiled faintly and bowed his head to Geum Hoyeon.
The remark could have been taken poorly, but Sama Uiseong did not mind in the slightest.
He himself knew his martial skills were lacking.
Moreover, as he was in the midst of relearning the lost martial arts of the Sama Family, training like today’s would be poison rather than help to him.
“Young Master Sama as well?”
“Yes. There are aspects that still require refinement, so he will not participate today. Please observe together with Uiseong.”
“I understand.”
Though unexpected, Geum Hoyeon felt relieved that he would not be alone.
Unlike Seo Joun or Seonwu Bang, he had not yet had an in-depth conversation with Sama Uiseong, so this seemed a good opportunity to grow closer.
“Then I will begin.”
“I entrust it to you, Great Hero Ban.”
“I cannot promise that. I will treat them the same as the Rising Juniors.”
“Haha. That is sufficient. So long as there is no discrimination.”
Geum Hoyeon smiled as if to say he asked for nothing more.
With an expression filled with anticipation, he fixed his gaze on Ban Hojin’s back as he walked away.
“The rules for the training beginning now are simple. First, do not use Inner Energy. Second, continue the sparring without rest. If you are injured and believe you can continue, then continue. Conversely, if others judge that it is excessive, intervene immediately. Then we shall begin.”
The Rising Juniors, who had been brimming with anticipation, showed slight disappointment at Ban Hojin’s explanation.
They had expected some profound secret, yet it seemed nothing special.
But that was their misunderstanding.
Ban Hojin had never once claimed that what they were about to do was special.
“What if someone secretly uses Inner Energy?”
“Then speak up immediately. You will monitor one another. If you possess the pride of a martial artist, I trust you will neither deceive yourselves nor others.”
Though it might have sounded irresponsible, fortunately no one present thought so.
To a martial artist, pride and honor weighed heavier than life itself, and all nodded firmly with resolute expressions.
Claaang!
At that moment, the Endless Sparring Training began.
The training Seo Joun called Hell Training had commenced.
“Ghk!”
“Kuheok!”
Because Inner Energy was forbidden, victory and defeat were determined purely by physical ability and technique.
For some, that was advantageous; for others, disadvantageous.
Yet none voiced complaint.
In some ways, this was the most fundamental form of sparring, and having experienced how meaningless it was to argue advantages and disadvantages in war, they instead exerted themselves all the more fiercely.
“I—I yield!”
In some areas, fierce exchanges continued; in others, victory was decided in a single move.
The latter occurred where Ban Hojin stood.
Though he did not use Inner Energy, he showed no discrimination among opponents.
Even when facing those larger in build or superior in raw strength, Ban Hojin did not yield.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
If he lacked strength, he subdued them with technique, switching opponents in an instant.
Not a single person posed a threat to him.
Unable to use Inner Energy, several Rising Juniors charged relying solely on their physique, but the result was crushing defeat.
It was not even that there was an overwhelming difference in raw strength.
Despite possessing an average build, Ban Hojin decisively overwhelmed the larger Rising Juniors.
By deflecting or redirecting their strength, he subdued them with ease and continued sparring without pause.
“Ugh!”
At first, many Rising Juniors had been delighted at the chance to spar with Ban Hojin—something even the Nine Dragons could not easily request.
But that thought vanished within half a shijin after the Endless Sparring Training began.
Instead, the sound of wailing erupted from all directions.
Thud! Thump! Bang!