The Return of the Sw Chapter 18 : The One Who Changes Fate -01

Chapter 18: The One Who Changes Fate. -01

“Then by the Namgung Family’s young lord, you an Heavenly Dragon, one of the Four Dragons and Three Phoenixes?”

“That is correct. The rising juniors visited Shaolin and t Great Hero Ban, and Heavenly Dragon was the one who first requested a sparring match. From this, it seems the Namgung Family’s young lord already knew sothing about Great Hero Ban.”

“There’s no need to ask about the result, is there?”

“Yes. It was said to have been an overwhelming victory for Great Hero Ban.”

This ti, there was no surprise.

Although the status of the Wolf Kings was said to fall short compared to the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven, they were still individuals who had undeniably been granted the title of king.

The Wolf Kings were those who had survived by living off the blade for at least twenty years, and at most nearly thirty years.

He had taken down one of the three, so a Namgung Family young lord was nothing at all.

“A natural result.”

“In fact, even that alone apparently caused trendous shock among not only the rising juniors but also the prestigious families. The Nine Great Sects as well.”

“The very level itself is different. By the way, if he’s a lay disciple, there’s no need for him to remain at Shaolin, right? Could it be that he’s already descended from the mountain?”

“We were unable to find out that much. I apologize.”

“That’s fine. It hasn’t even been half a day since we t, yet you’ve found out quite a lot. An unregistered disciple of the Abbot, the strongest rising junior who mastered the Three Dharma Swords. And he’s only just co of age, is that it?”

Geum Hoyeon’s eyes sparkled as he stroked his chin.

The more he thought about it, the more he wanted him.

Young in age, yet outstanding in skill, and on top of that, his status was exceptional.

Moreover, having nearly died because of the Iron King, Geum Hoyeon once again felt the necessity of an escort warrior with outstanding ability.

‘It’s not that the chief escort lacks skill. But considering what lies ahead, a true expert is absolutely necessary.’

The chief escort who had been with Geum Hoyeon since childhood possessed the ability of a peak master.

However, compared to the Iron King, he was inevitably far lacking.

Geum Hoyeon felt that painfully this ti.

To beco the successor of the Geum Family, and further, its master, he needed a supre expert whose ability matched that position.

‘Not just for now, but for the future as well, an absolute master is necessary.’

The more Geum Hoyeon thought about it, the more Ban Hojin appealed to him.

He was already an incredible expert now, but Ban Hojin was a talent whose future was even more promising.

If, at the age of coming of age, he could lightly defeat the Iron King, then in ten years, he might very well occupy a seat among the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven.

‘If a Ten Great Master Under Heaven were my escort warrior……!’

Brrrr!

Just imagining it made Geum Hoyeon shudder with exhilaration.

If that were to happen, he felt it would be more reassuring than anything else.

Even the escort warriors of his father, the Geum Family Head, could not place their nas among the Hundred Great Masters Under Heaven.

But if a Ten Great Master Under Heaven accompanied him after he beca the Geum Family Head, there would be nowhere under heaven to fear.

‘They say crisis and opportunity co together.’

Geum Hoyeon’s eyes shone brightly.

He had nearly died, but the important thing was that he was still alive.

And just as it was said that opportunity cos after overcoming a crisis, Geum Hoyeon thought of his eting with Ban Hojin as fate.

He felt that heaven had sent Ban Hojin to help him.

‘I must obtain him no matter what!’

No matter how many tis he thought about it, there was only one answer.

And since missing an opportunity was sothing only idiots did, Geum Hoyeon steeled his resolve.

At the sa ti, his mind began to turn rapidly.

How he could recruit Ban Hojin.

“There is sothing I want you to do.”

“Give the order.”

“By before dinner, find out everything about Great Hero Ban. From trivial matters to details about his family. However, do it discreetly so that the First Young Lord or the Third Young Lord do not notice.”

“What about matters concerning the Third Young Lord?”

Because there had been a prior task given, the chief escort asked cautiously.

He was hands and feet, not one who thought, so he was asking about Geum Hoyeon’s intentions.

“Until before dinner, focus on Great Hero Ban. Once the al begins, concentrate on the third.”

“Understood.”

At the imdiate orders given without hesitation, the chief escort replied reliably.

Then he left the room at once.

But even after the chief escort had gone out, Geum Hoyeon’s thoughts continued without rest.

Funds were not lacking, but they were not abundant either.

The amount he had been given to use as travel expenses when descending from Songshan was not that large, so rather than using inns or guesthouses, Ban Hojin mostly slept rough.

He was accustod to it, and since he could be sowhat self-sufficient, there was no great inconvenience.

Still, people were better off using the conveniences of civilization.

“A night in such a luxurious room. Money really is good.”

Unable to use a detached annex, Ban Hojin was instead staying on the top floor of a five-story wooden building, and he stood by the window looking down below.

The surrounding scenery spread out at a glance, and perhaps because of the open view, it felt refreshing.

“So this is why people keep going on about money, money.”

Even combining his past life, the word abundance had never existed in Ban Hojin’s life.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t eat or live, but he had generally lived frugally, doing nothing but train.

After the invasion of the Four Tyrants of the World, there had been nothing but blood-splattered battles.

Perhaps because of that, the current leisure felt all the more profound to Ban Hojin.

“Money, huh.”

Since he hadn’t received a particularly large sum, if his money ran out, he would have to hunt wild animals or fierce beasts and sell their hides.

Up to a certain level, he could be self-sufficient even without money, but to maintain a life beyond that, money was essential.

But by good fortune, he had t the Second Young Lord of the Geum Family.

At the sa ti, he had also settled an ill-fated tie from his past life.

“He said he’d repay , so he’ll probably give

so money, right? After all, he’s the Second Young Lord of the Geum Family that dominates comrce.”

Even Ban Hojin, who was not well-versed in the Central Plains’ comrcial world, had heard of the Geum Family.

The fact that even Ban Hojin, who had done nothing but train in martial arts at Songshan, knew of them ant that everyone living in the Central Plains knew as well.

Moreover, since the Geum Family controlled the Central Plains’ comrce, Ban Hojin felt a quiet sense of expectation.

Though he had learned Buddhist martial arts and was the unregistered disciple of the Abbot of Shaolin, he was still human.

“There’s a reason the saying ‘the more, the better’ exists.”

On top of that, Ban Hojin had saved Geum Hoyeon’s life.

As such, he thought this level of expectation was acceptable.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Please co in.”

While he was enjoying the leisurely mood and taking in the scenic view, he sensed a familiar presence.

So Ban Hojin opened his mouth without hesitation.

“Hahaha. Does the room suit your liking?”

“Yes. It’s my first ti in such a luxurious room, so it’s a bit hard to adjust, but it’s good.”

“I’m glad to hear that you like it.”

Geum Hoyeon was slightly flustered, but soon continued speaking naturally.

The mont he heard such a room described as luxurious, he had felt a flicker of confusion.

However, from Ban Hojin’s standpoint, he thought it could certainly feel that way.

Born into an ordinary family and having lived only at Shaolin from childhood until now, it would not be strange for this level of accommodation to feel luxurious.

“I think I’ll be able to sleep very comfortably tonight.”

“If you wish, I can arrange for you to stay a bit longer.”

“No. One day is enough.”

He subtly revealed his true intentions, but Ban Hojin was not an easy man.

At Ban Hojin’s cleanly cut-off reply, Geum Hoyeon felt regret inwardly.

However, he did not show it on his face.

There was still plenty of ti, so it was too early to feel disappointed.

Knock, knock.

At that mont, the sound of knocking on the door was heard once more.

At the sa ti, the fragrant scent of food seeped in through the crack of the door.

“The food has arrived.”

“Let them in.”

“Yes.”

With the server’s voice, the door opened, and all kinds of delicacies from mountains and seas were brought in one after another.

Since it was the best room, the space was fairly large, and perhaps because of that, the servers brought in a square table, extended it as if assembling it, and then placed the dishes on top.

“Isn’t there too much food?”

As more than ten dishes were placed on the table in an instant, Ban Hojin’s eyes widened.

There were far more varieties than he had expected.

It was an amount that even a big eater would struggle to finish, and Ban Hojin’s brow furrowed.

Having lived at Shaolin, this level of waste felt excessive beyond asure.

“You don’t need to worry. The leftover food will be eaten by the escort warriors. It’s not leftover disposal; it will be reheated and served again, so there’s no need for concern.”

“Then that’s a relief.”

“I didn’t know what kind of food you might like, so I ordered the dishes this inn is most confident in.”

“I don’t know what I should start with.”

Ban Hojin said this as he slowly blinked his eyes.

There were pork dishes, fish, even roast duck—so lavish that the phrase ‘a feast fit for royalty’ naturally ca to mind.

With ingredients from both mountains and sea filling the table, Ban Hojin found himself unable to lift his chopsticks.

He had never eaten with such an array of delicacies laid out before him, so he felt utterly at a loss over where to begin.

“You can start with whatever you feel like. No matter how refined, food is still just food.”

“That’s hard to say when it’s this exceptional.”

Unlike the calm Geum Hoyeon, admiration was plainly visible on Ban Hojin’s face.

Across both his past life and this one, it was his first ti seeing such a splendid and extravagant spread.

“I’m glad it seems to suit your taste.”

“Then, I’ll eat well.”

Since it was clearly Geum Hoyeon’s treat, Ban Hojin did not hesitate and picked up his chopsticks.

He did not know Geum Hoyeon’s exact age, but he did not look over thirty, and when combined with the age from his past life, Ban Hojin was likely older, so he boldly reached for the fried fish.

It was a dish rarely seen at Shaolin, so it naturally piqued his curiosity the most.

“Then I’ll have so as well.”

After confirming that Ban Hojin had taken a bite, Geum Hoyeon also picked up his chopsticks.

However, all of his attention was directed toward Ban Hojin.

Since this was his first ti at this inn, Geum Hoyeon also did not know the taste.

The sll was not bad, but knowing the kind of flavor a backwater inn could produce, he felt inwardly tense.

“……It’s delicious. To think there’s such a different taste in this world. I didn’t know seasoning like this existed.”

“Haha, please eat your fill.”

At Ban Hojin’s expression, as if he had discovered a new world, not only Geum Hoyeon but even the chief escort standing stiffly behind him let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Thankfully, it seed the taste was at least passable.

Gulp!

Watching Ban Hojin hurriedly pick up and eat the food, Geum Hoyeon also took a piece of grilled fish and put it into his mouth.

But soon, his brows drew together.

Despite having asked them not to worry about the price and to produce the best flavor with the finest ingredients, the dishes fell far short of the standard he had hoped for.

‘At least it’s fortunate that he’s enjoying it.’

If it had been rough camping, he might have understood.

But this was an inn, a place that sold food for money, so Geum Hoyeon could not hide his disappointnt.

Still, since he could not show such feelings in front of Ban Hojin, who was eating with enjoynt, he politely took a few more bites and then set his chopsticks down.

“It seems you don’t have much of an appetite.”

“Haha. Having skirted death, food doesn’t really go down well.”

“That’s understandable.”

It was an excuse, but Ban Hojin unexpectedly accepted it.

Since death had co right up to him before he survived, it did seem plausible.

Moreover, since it had been akin to kin turning against kin, his mind must have been quite troubled.

“If it’s not too rude, may I ask what brought you here? I thought I might be able to help.”

“I can’t tell you that. Even if you knew, it would be difficult for you to help. It’s sothing I have to do alone.”

“Ah, I see. That’s unfortunate. Since I owe you my life, I wanted to repay you even a little.”