The Return of the Sw Chapter 25 : It Didn’t Work on Me. -01

Chapter 25: It Didn’t Work on . -01

It was a fallen Martial Family now, but it would be different in the future.

And that was why it was even better.

It ant its potential value was that much higher.

Although Ban Hojin was not yet his person, the fact that he had secured him before the First Young Lord was already a sufficient gain.

“On top of that, I was able to glimpse a bit of Great Hero Ban’s true intentions.”

Geum Hoyeon smiled aningfully.

Every action carried aning.

That was why he could infer many things from Ban Hojin’s actions.

Of course, he could be wrong, but what mattered to Geum Hoyeon was possibility.

“It would be best to bring him in, but if that’s not possible, then I have to at least beco his closest friend.”

Geum Hoyeon was no longer young.

He also knew that there were things in this world that could not be obtained.

That was why he would make the effort, while also keeping the possibility of failure in mind.

He would do his best, but if even his vessel could not contain him, then he would have to keep him by his side at the very least.

“Just knowing that he doesn’t plan to stay only at Shaolin is already a huge gain.”

It was impossible to make a deal with soone who wanted nothing.

To begin with, such a person had no intention of making deals.

But if soone had sothing they wanted, then deals were always possible.

And since he was a rchant, he was more confident in deals than anyone else.

Whoooosh.

A cool breeze flowed in through the wide-open window.

As if to help him, it gently wrapped around Ban Hojin, who was sitting in a lotus position and ditating.

“Phew.”

After finishing a short ditation of half a shijin, Ban Hojin opened his eyes along with a long exhale.

Once martial arts such as the Golden Light Divine Steps were perfectly engraved into his body, Ban Hojin focused more on ditation than physical training.

That was because his physical abilities had already reached their limits, making further investnt of ti unnecessary.

Instead, he accumulated inner energy through ditation while repeatedly contemplating martial principles.

“Let’s stop here for today.”

Having ditated for exactly the amount of ti he had set, Ban Hojin relaxed his posture.

Unlike his previous life, Ban Hojin did not devote himself solely to martial training.

It was to avoid living the sa life again, as he had vowed.

Strangely enough, perhaps because he had gained leeway and ntal stability, it felt like his progress was faster than when he had devoted himself solely to training.

“There’s nothing bad about that for .”

Although he was facing an impending war with the Four Tyrants of the World, Ban Hojin did not rush.

Winning the war was important, but this life was just as important.

That was why Ban Hojin trained while also making sure to secure proper rest.

And it wasn’t as if he was just idling around either.

“Alone, it’d be impossible, but together, that’s a different story.”

The leaders of the Four Tyrants of the World were truly strong.

Even now, just thinking about it was horrifying.

But an even bigger problem was the complacency of the Central Plains Murim.

Even Ban Hojin himself, after reaching the Transcendent Realm, had grown arrogant and stopped focusing on training.

He had praised himself, thinking that reaching such a realm at that age was already amazing.

And the price for that ca back as death.

“One mistake is more than enough.”

Even if it looked like he was training casually, when he trained, he did it properly.

Because he focused intensely, the quality of his training was far higher than in his previous life.

Moreover, this ti he had a clear goal, and he also had a stimulus.

“Cultivation power isn’t the absolute standard that decides victory or defeat, but having more certainly isn’t a bad thing.”

He had already recovered all the realms he had reached in his previous life.

The ti he had spent staying at the Seo Family Estate had been beneficial to Ban Hojin as well.

However, inner energy was sothing he couldn’t do much about.

“Should I try to get one and eat it? Still, where would it be…”

Ban Hojin’s gaze turned toward a certain direction.

It seed he thought he had blended naturally into the village scenery, but that was an illusion.

Taigu County had no special local products, nor was it a place rchants or escort agencies frequented.

As a result, outsiders inevitably stood out at a glance.

“Well, either way, they’ll react. They’ll be more curious about that side than about .”

After briefly scanning the gazes observing the Seo Family Estate, Ban Hojin withdrew his interest.

Since there was no killing intent or hostility, they were at least not enemies.

That ant they would make the first move, so Ban Hojin sat back into a lotus position, relaxed leisurely, and thought about the spiritual creatures or spirit herbs he rembered.

‘To think I’d have a connection with the Second Young Lord of the Geum Family Estate as well.’

As the veiled woman approached the main gate of the Seo Family Estate, surprise and doubt surfaced deeply in her eyes.

She had never imagined she would have a connection with Geum Hoyeon as well.

What was more, Geum Hoyeon had been the one to seek out the Seo Family Estate—more precisely, Ban Hojin.

What that implied was obvious.

‘It ans he doesn’t see him as a subordinate.’

Geum Hoyeon was the Second Young Lord of the Geum Family Estate.

And he was currently engaged in a succession struggle with the First Young Lord.

People like that usually summoned others rather than going to see them first.

Yet the fact that Geum Hoyeon had postponed or even abandoned other schedules to seek out Ban Hojin ant there was a reason comnsurate with that effort.

‘But how on earth do they even know each other?’

The veiled woman narrowed her brows as she walked lightly forward.

As far as she knew, Ban Hojin and Geum Hoyeon had no point of contact at all.

Yet Geum Hoyeon had boldly co to the Seo Family Estate as if they were already acquainted.

‘Could it be?’

At that mont, Geum Hoyeon’s recent movents surfaced in the veiled woman’s mind.

More precisely, the death of the Iron King, whom the Third Young Lord of the Geum Family Estate had recruited.

However, the veiled woman soon shook her head.

No matter that Ban Hojin had defeated Namgung Gwang, who was called the Heavenly Dragon, Iron King was on a completely different level.

Compared to a rising junior, the years Iron King had lived and the martial might he had proven were far too great and profound.

Although, unlike the Murim Ten Kings, they were not properly acknowledged, there were no martial artists who underestimated the Wolf Kings.

‘No matter how I think about it, this isn’t it.’

Even if Ban Hojin’s skill was remarkable, it couldn’t be compared to Iron King Samugung.

For that to be the case, Ban Hojin’s age was simply too young.

No matter how extraordinary a genius was, there were things that were impossible.

Knock knock knock.

“Who is it?”

“Hello. I’ve co because I wish to et Young Master Ban Hojin.”

“Yes?”

The old servant who had guided Ban Hojin opened the main gate with a startled expression.

Yesterday as well, and today again, when people ca looking for Ban Hojin, the old servant was flustered.

That was because, strangely enough, they had co to find him even though he had never inford anyone that Ban Hojin was staying at the Seo Family Estate.

However, unlike his surprised expression, the old servant swiftly examined the veiled woman and her group with sharp eyes.

“I am Nan Hee-ju of the Hao Sect. I ca looking for Young Master Ban Hojin—may I et him?”

“Do you have an appointnt?”

“No, I don’t. But I truly wish to et him.”

“Then I will send word first.”

It was not on the level of the Geum Family Estate, but the Hao Sect was not sothing that could be ignored either.

Compared to prestigious families, their martial force might be weaker, but their vast information network was enough to rival the Beggars’ Sect.

Because of that, the old servant was inwardly startled and chose his words carefully.

Although the Hao Sect had been ford by people of low birth, the current Seo Family Estate was in no position to handle even the Hao Sect, so the old servant bowed politely and went inside.

“I’m worried that revealing ourselves might have been unnecessary.”

“And if we hadn’t revealed ourselves? Would we have been able to et him?”

“Aren’t there other thods? We could have gone secretly.”

“And if your head gets cut off in the process? Are you confident you can block a single sword strike from a swordsman stronger than the Heavenly Dragon?”

“Uh…….”

The woman, who was both a trusted confidant, an escort warrior, and a friend, trailed off.

Only then did she realize that they might be suspected as assassins.

“If we hide our identities, we won’t be able to et him. Soone with no prior acquaintance shows up out of nowhere—would you et them? I wouldn’t either. And if he finds out you hid your identity, it could create resentnt. So it’s better to be honest from the start. Besides, if soone from the Hao Sect ca looking, wouldn’t he et us out of curiosity at least?”

“That does seem likely.”

“If he refuses, then there’s nothing we can do. It just ans we couldn’t even get started in the first place.”

“And even if we et him, he might be more disappointing than expected.”

“That could happen too.”

Nan Hee-ju shrugged her shoulders.

You couldn’t know anything until you saw it yourself.

Ban Hojin was known in the world as soone who was picky but not violent.

But that was other people’s judgnt, so Nan Hee-ju did not take that evaluation at face value.

Creeeak.

As they waited while talking, the door opened and the old servant who had gone inside appeared again.

Then he spoke politely toward her.

“Young Master Ban has given his permission. Please co in.”

“Thank you.”

“I am rely guiding you. You should offer your thanks directly to Young Master Ban.”

The old servant politely shook his head and turned his body.

Following behind him were Nan Hee-ju and four escort warriors.

“Why would soone from the Hao Sect co looking for you, Brother?”

“Who knows.”

“You don’t have any guesses?”

“No. This is my first ti out in Jianghu as well.”

Seo Joun, who had co to Ban Hojin’s room to ask for various bits of advice about martial arts, made a big fuss.

Having always been stuck inside the Seo Family Estate, the Hao Sect was a place spoken of like a legend to him.

For others, eting mbers of the Hao Sect might not be that difficult, but Seo Joun was different.

Since it was a place he had only heard about in stories, Seo Joun’s eyes sparkled.

“As expected, you really are amazing, Brother. First the Geum Family Estate, and now even the Hao Sect.”

“With the Geum Family Estate, there was a connection. Even that was just an accidental eting this ti.”

“What matters is that the Second Young Lord of the Geum Family Estate ca all the way here to find you. What that implies is enormous.”

“I know.”

“But it feels a bit off. Should I say his greed is showing too much?”

Seo Joun half-lidded his eyes.

In a way, it could be called honest, but to Seo Joun, it looked like excessive greed.

From Geum Hoyeon’s perspective, the more talented people he had, the better—but what truly mattered was capacity.

With his capacity, he couldn’t contain Ban Hojin, let alone himself.

‘To begin with, the Geum Family Estate is a rchant house too.’

Although he didn’t know the detailed circumstances, Seo Joun was perceptive enough.

Because he knew that Ban Hojin had given Geum Hoyeon significant help, he disliked him even more.

If you received help, you should think about repaying it first, but Geum Hoyeon was only thinking about swallowing Ban Hojin whole.

“Wouldn’t it be stranger if a rchant had no greed?”

“Still, it’s way too obvious. He even subtly made

an offer. Sothing about supporting the main house. Anyone can see that he wants to help when the main house is struggling and saddle us with a debt.”

“Don’t hate him too much. It’s not like he’s caused you any harm, right?”

“Uh, that’s true.”

Seo Joun blinked his eyes.

It was true that he didn’t like him, but he hadn’t caused trouble for him or the Seo Family Estate either.

He had just been a bit annoying and irritating.

“He’s not a bad person. At least, he keeps his bottom line very well. There are plenty of people in this world who don’t even know their own place. Compared to them, Young Master Geum is actually quite decent. That’s why I et him.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. He stayed for just one day and left. He might be busy, but that too was all calculated behavior.”

“That’s scary.”

Seo Joun wore a slightly shaken expression.

He hadn’t imagined that soone would act while calculating even things like that.

At the sa ti, he realized anew just how much he didn’t know.

This ti, Seo Joun felt that there were experiences you couldn’t gain from books alone.

“You shouldn’t think that soone who looks good-natured is all there is to them. Young Master Geum is soone who is fighting a bloody struggle with his own brothers over the successor position of the Geum Family Estate. It’s a fight where losing ans losing everything—he can’t afford to live thoughtlessly. Especially when he nearly died at the hands of the Third Young Lord.”

“That’s brutal.”

“The Seo Family Estate is a bit of a special case. By the way, are you even sleeping?”