Chapter 191 : Retaliation Should Be Decisive. -02
Chapter 191: Retaliation Should Be Decisive. -02
“Right.”
Nan Hee-ju nodded reflexively.
It wasn’t as though she had wanted to come charging over like this without a plan.
She hadn’t been able to make contact no matter how she tried, and so things had inevitably turned out this way.
“And up until now, Great Hero Ban has never shown any sign of disliking it when you came to see him.”
“Huh? Now that you mention it, that’s true?”
“There were unavoidable reasons too. So I think he’ll understand.”
At Baekseol’s well-structured reasoning, Nan Hee-ju found herself nodding without realizing it.
The way she laid it out logically made it convincing.
Besides, her relationship with Ban Hojin was clearly on good terms.
“But won’t he feel annoyed? It’s kind of obvious what we’re doing.”
“So you’re thinking of giving up?”
“That’s… not really an option. Who knows when we’ll get another chance like this?”
Nan Hee-ju’s gaze shifted to the hundred Hao Sect members lined up behind her.
They were the hundred carefully selected by the Hao Sect Leader.
They were the future pillars of the Hao Sect.
And they were the very talents who had learned the martial arts Ban Hojin had sold.
Those talented men and women stood rigid with tension.
At the mention of meeting Ban Hojin—called the Shaolin Sword Star—they were all visibly nervous.
“If you can’t give up, then we break through head-on. Honestly, at this point, that’s the only option left.”
“That’s true.”
“And you prepared thoroughly for any unforeseen circumstances, didn’t you? Rumor Lord, you’ll do fine.”
“You think so?”
“Of course. This is just my guess, but I don’t think Great Hero Ban will even be flustered. Have you ever seen him flustered?”
Nan Hee-ju blinked at Baekseol’s words.
She carefully searched her memories.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall Ban Hojin ever looking embarrassed or troubled.
“…No, I haven’t.”
“He’s someone who even speaks boldly to the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven and says whatever he wants. Do you really think he’d be flustered just because we showed up unannounced? I think he’ll respond calmly as usual. Maybe not a warm welcome, but still.”
“That’s a relief. As long as he’s not upset.”
“And the others are there too. They’re all friendly. So don’t worry too much.”
Listening to Baekseol had a strangely calming effect.
Perhaps she had been too tense.
And considering the Hao Sect members gathered behind her, it wouldn’t look good if she appeared too stiff.
“Hoo… Hoo…”
Nan Hee-ju took a small, steadying breath.
They had grown close enough to speak comfortably now, but she knew.
There was still an invisible wall between them.
It was true they had become closer—but compared to his companions, she still fell short.
“You know what you’re good at, Rumor Lord. Being confident and bold. Okay?”
“It’s not as easy as it sounds. You know what kind of personality my brother has.”
“He’s fiery, cold-headed, and secretly kind.”
“Kind? My brother?”
“Yes. He really takes care of the people around him. You included.”
Nan Hee-ju’s eyes widened.
As if she had heard something she had never even imagined.
But at that reaction, Baekseol tilted her head instead.
He might appear cold at first glance, but in the end, it was exactly as she had said.
“He did take care of us. No… everyone benefited.”
“Even the Young Estate Lord of the Geum Family Estate used to be just the Second Young Lord at first. Honestly, no one thought he’d become the Young Estate Lord back then.”
“That’s right.”
“And Young Master Seo truly received a life-saving grace. Young Master Seonwu was just an ordinary rising junior before meeting Great Hero Ban. Young Master Murong was a forgotten genius, and he saved him. Great Hero Myungwang and Young Master Jeong were practically dragged into the Jianghu by him. And you, Rumor Lord—you received plenty of help too.”
“That’s true.”
Nan Hee-ju nodded reflexively.
Every word was correct.
Especially the help she had received—there had been a great deal.
Even the hundred gathered here were practicing the martial arts Ban Hojin had sold.
Gulp!
As if agreeing with Baekseol, many of the Hao Sect members quietly standing behind them swallowed hard at the same time.
It struck them anew just how deeply entangled they were with Ban Hojin.
“I think they’re coming.”
“I see them too.”
Nan Hee-ju might not be at Baekseol’s level, but she too had trained in martial arts since childhood.
Lately, she had been training even more diligently.
So she could clearly see five figures racing toward them from far down the official road at a terrifying speed.
“Young Master Sama has improved a lot too. I heard he reclaimed the Sama Family’s martial arts. Or perhaps Great Hero Ban guided him well?”
“Probably?”
“I’m jealous.”
Baekseol let her true feelings slip without realizing it.
It would have been one thing if she had known nothing—but she had received even passing advice from Ban Hojin before.
She knew exactly how extraordinary his casual, offhand advice truly was.
He offered guidance so perfectly tailored to the individual that it practically deserved to be called a golden rule.
That was why she genuinely envied Sama Uiseong.
“Brother!”
“So you were waiting for me.”
“That’s right.”
As they drew closer, Ban Hojin gradually slowed and stopped in front of Nan Hee-ju.
She answered awkwardly.
From his expression, it seemed he already knew everything.
And so she couldn’t meet his eyes.
“Hello, Great Hero Ban.”
“It’s been a while.”
“Greetings!”
As Nan Hee-ju fumbled, Baekseol smoothly stepped in with a greeting, drawing attention away from her.
The Hao Sect members behind them followed her lead.
Thanks to that, Baekseol bought Nan Hee-ju time to steady herself.
“Ah, yes. It’s good to see you.”
“The honor is ours!”
There were familiar faces and new ones alike, so Ban Hojin accepted the Hao Sect’s thunderous greetings in moderation.
Then he looked at Nan Hee-ju, whose expression was complicated.
“Why are you so stiff? That’s not like you.”
“I feel like I have to be careful today.”
Was it because of the Hao Sect members’ booming voices?
Nan Hee-ju quickly regained her composure.
It helped that Ban Hojin and his companions didn’t look displeased.
“You were bold in the exact same situation before.”
Ban Hojin let out a small laugh.
If anything, she seemed to be growing more cautious over time.
“Is then the same as now? Your standing is different now. You’re the Shaolin Sword Star—Shaolin Sword Star.”
“I’m not particularly fond of it.”
“Huh? Why?”
“If it were Sword God, maybe. But whatever. It won’t take long.”
Not only Nan Hee-ju but even Baekseol wore exasperated expressions.
Earning the epithet Sword Star at his age was already absurd.
Yet Ban Hojin didn’t even seem satisfied with that.
Instead, he spoke of the Sword God, leaving them both speechless.
“S-Sword God?”
“Why? Think it’s impossible?”
“I did at first. But looking at your expression now… I think you’ll do it. You’ve never spoken empty words.”
“Now you’re back to your usual self.”
A satisfied smile touched Ban Hojin’s lips.
As the conversation flowed, she seemed to have returned to herself.
“That’s thanks to you. People often change once they become famous. Honestly, I worried about that a little.”
“Did I seem like that kind of person?”
Ban Hojin tilted his head with a dry laugh.
His companions did the same.
But at the same time, they understood her concern.
Right now, Ban Hojin was spoken of more frequently than the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven or even Sang Il-gi, the newly appointed one of the Murim Ten Kings.
So her worry was understandable.
“You never know with people.”
“I’m disappointed. To think you saw me that way.”
“I said I thought you might. I didn’t believe you would.”
“There’s a saying—when words grow long, they become excuses.”
“Tch!”
Nan Hee-ju shot him a glare with a sulky expression.
He could have let it slide, yet he had to poke at it so precisely.
“More importantly, what brings you here?”
“You’re asking when you already know.”
“I have a guess, but it’s better to hear it clearly. A guess is only a guess.”
“You’re heading to the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds that attacked in Shaanxi Province, right?”
“That’s right.”
Someone like Nan Hee-ju would naturally be able to deduce that much, so Ban Hojin wasn’t surprised.
If it was the Hao Sect, they could grasp his general movements even if not the details.
“Don’t you need workers? You could handle revenge alone, sure—but to move the wealth and escort goods piled up in their storehouses, you’ll need manpower. And it’ll be work tracking down the Escort Agencies that were transporting the goods. There might even be captives.”
“You’re not asking for money as wages. So what’s your price?”
Nan Hee-ju asked directly.
With the cards already on the table, there was no need to beat around the bush.
“Endless Sparring Training. Could you do it with our sect members as well?”
Though Nan Hee-ju spoke, the eyes of all were the same.
Baekseol, and even the hundred Hao Sect members lined up quietly behind, swallowed dryly as they watched Ban Hojin.
“Endless Sparring Training, huh.”
“I-Is it too much?”
When no answer came immediately, Nan Hee-ju stammered.
She was that tense.
“Alright. But after that, I have one request.”
“What is it? Just say it!”
Nan Hee-ju brightened at once.
At the answer she wanted, she nodded vigorously.
“You don’t even know what I’ll ask. What if it’s something difficult?”
“I know you’re not that kind of person. We’re at least that close now, aren’t we?”
“Huh. Your attitude’s changed quite a bit from earlier.”
“So what’s the request?”
“I want to see the information the Hao Sect has gathered on the Yangtze River Waterway Strongholds, the Yellow River Waterway Strongholds, and the Dongting Lake Waterway Strongholds. Not in extreme depth, and you don’t need to collect anything new. Just the most recent information you already have. I’m not shameless enough to ask for top-level secrets.”
Both Nan Hee-ju and Baekseol blinked.
They were taken aback by the sudden request about waterway strongholds.
But Nan Hee-ju soon nodded.
It wasn’t a difficult favor for her.
“Alright. I’ll gather it immediately.”
“There’s plenty of time. No need to rush.”
Ban Hojin’s gaze moved past Nan Hee-ju’s shoulder to the Hao Sect members.
There were more than one or two mountain strongholds left to visit.
They had time.
Deng! Deng! Deng! Deng!
The alarm bell—one that rarely rang—echoed chaotically through the mountain stronghold.
As it rang nonstop from all directions, bandits came scrambling out from everywhere.
The sudden alarm startled them all.
“W-What’s going on?”
“Why’s the alarm ringing?”
“Is someone messing around?”
“If it’s a prank, I’ll kill them!”
A shaggy middle-aged man came stumbling out of the latrine, hurriedly pulling up his trousers, shouting angrily.
The same went for the others.
Even though they had lived here nearly ten years, none had ever heard the alarm ring like this before.
Frowning deeply, they poured out of the buildings.
“Th-th-th…!”
“What are you saying? Speak clearly!”
Then from the only place that could be called a gate, a bandit came running with a pale face.
Strangely, not a trace of blood remained in his complexion—but amid the chaos, no one noticed.
“The Sword Star is here, you bastards!”
“Eek!”