The Return of the Sw Chapter 43 : The Destitute Had to Make a Move. -01

Chapter 43: The Destitute Had to Make a Move. -01

A deep sigh escaped from Nan Hee-ju’s lips.

Asking him to name a price carried the underlying meaning that he was willing to sell, so Nan Hee-ju’s face brightened in an instant.

At the same time, she unconsciously grabbed Ban Hojin’s hand.

“Excuse me?”

“Ah! I’m sorry! I was so happy that I didn’t even realize what I was doing……!”

Nan Hee-ju’s face turned bright red.

She had belatedly realized her mistake.

At the same time, her pride was hurt.

That was because Ban Hojin had put on a serious expression even though a beauty of her caliber had taken the initiative to grab his hand.

‘I knew from the start that a honey trap wouldn’t work, but still, this hurts my pride. Ah, that’s not what’s important right now.’

Nan Hee-ju shook her head vigorously.

However, the problem was that all of those actions were laid bare to Ban Hojin.

Perhaps because of that, Ban Hojin let out a small chuckle.

“I understand. All Murim people probably know it.”

“……Even so, are you thinking of selling it?”

“Yes. There’s nothing wrong with making an effort, is there? It’s not as if it was obtained illegally either; it’s being purchased legitimately. It would be different if I were being forced to sell, but that’s not the case.”

“That’s right!”

Nan Hee-ju nodded vigorously.

Struggling desperately to become stronger was never wrong.

Rather, what was wrong was oppressing and exploiting the weak.

And she did not believe that just because someone was weak, they had to remain weak for a thousand or ten thousand years.

“However, if the price isn’t one I deem appropriate, I won’t sell. Personally, I really dislike having prices driven down.”

“I have no intention of doing that to Young Master Ban either. This isn’t a relationship that ends after today, so it would be foolish to do something like that.”

Swoosh.

Nan Hee-ju grinned and took out a money pouch from her robes.

Then, she flipped over a promissory note and placed it on the table.

“Before you look, may I ask you one thing?”

“Go ahead.”

After placing the promissory note down, Nan Hee-ju continued speaking.

Seeing her act as though she had prepared in advance, Ban Hojin nodded readily.

“Is the Green Forest Great Lord’s martial arts manual a single volume, or are there several?”

“One volume contains three martial arts. An inner energy cultivation method, a blade art, and a footwork technique. Ah, just in case, I’ll mention that I checked it, and there are no problems. This isn’t a matter of a coin or two, so I should at least verify this much for you, shouldn’t I?”

“Thank you. Then, may I know what other martial arts are included?”

“Not everyone carries their martial arts manuals on them. Altogether, there are about twenty in total across all types. However, none of them can be compared to the Green Forest Great Lord’s martial arts.”

Ban Hojin said firmly.

He could say so because he had personally examined them.

They were usable to some extent, but not to the level of being called Supreme Techniques.

Yet despite that, Nan Hee-ju decided on the spot without hesitation.

“If Young Master Ban is willing to sell them all, I’ll buy every single one.”

“All of them?”

“Yes. These are martial arts manuals that Young Master Ban personally verified, aren’t they? That alone gives them sufficient value. And it’s not just anyone else—it’s something certified by Young Master Ban.”

“The price won’t be small.”

“I can more than afford it. And rather than spending money on something whose authenticity I can’t be sure of, it’s much better to spend it on something certain like this.”

“That sounds like you’re saying you’ll hold me accountable if problems arise.”

Ban Hojin smiled faintly.

But Nan Hee-ju said nothing in response.

Instead, she smiled meaningfully.

“Well, if there’s no problem, then it doesn’t matter.”

“Take a look.”

Nan Hee-ju took out more promissory notes from her money pouch and placed them on the table.

She stacked them on top of the one she had placed earlier.

Then she smiled confidently.

“Let’s see.”

At her confident smile, Ban Hojin put on an expression as though he were deliberately looking forward to it and spread out the stacked promissory notes one by one.

He unfolded them so that both he and Nan Hee-ju could see, laying them out one sheet at a time.

“I’ll say this in advance, but I took them out properly.”

“Are you really buying them at this price?”

“Yes. Actually, this is beyond my authority; I’m just following my master’s instructions.”

“Didn’t they tell you to haggle?”

“Not at all. If this were a transaction with a merchant, that would be expected, but Young Master Ban is a martial artist, isn’t he? And one who has accumulated a realm sufficient to establish his own standing at the coming-of-age age. You deserve treatment befitting that. Besides, I don’t think this will be the last transaction either.”

Nan Hee-ju grinned.

Seeing the smile that carried the meaning of ‘I look forward to working with you in the future,’ Ban Hojin couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

“So this is an investment.”

“That’s right.”

“I never thought I’d be getting greased by the Hao Sect.”

“Does that make you dislike it?”

“Refusing when someone is offering isn’t polite either. It’s true that it would be burdensome if it were excessive, but this much seems fine. Instead, I’ll give you this as a bonus.”

Thud.

Ban Hojin stretched out his hand.

At once, the martial arts manuals that had been piled up to one side all floated into the air and flew toward Ban Hojin.

But at a glance, the number clearly exceeded twenty volumes.

“There seem to be more volumes than that?”

“The Hao Sect probably has quite a few first-rate martial arts as well. But since they were obtained through various routes, I believe there will be few that truly match well together. It will also take a long time to research them. So, among these, I’ll tell you which ones have good compatibility.”

“Really?”

At the unexpected goodwill, Nan Hee-ju’s eyes widened.

In truth, obtaining high-level martial arts was important, but compatibility was just as important.

If one learned mismatched inner energy cultivation methods and sword techniques, their power would actually be diminished.

That was why the Hao Sect’s progress remained sluggish even after obtaining Supreme martial arts.

“I’ve received this much, so I need to do at least this much for my own peace of mind.”

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

As Ban Hojin gathered the compatible martial arts centered around inner energy cultivation methods and tied them together with a cord, Nan Hee-ju bowed repeatedly with a deeply moved expression.

Her eyes were slightly reddened.

It was already something to be grateful for that he treated her without prejudice, but with him going this far, Nan Hee-ju was overwhelmingly thankful.

At the same time, fondness welled up profusely.

“It’s all calculated. I’m hoping that this goodwill will return as even greater goodwill later.”

“Tsk! You didn’t even need to say that—I already know, you know?”

“Still, you never know. If people don’t say things out loud, you never really know, do you? Even if it’s a bit embarrassing, it’s better to say it clearly.”

“Thank you.”

“If I may ask one thing, I hope these martial arts won’t be used for evil deeds.”

Ban Hojin said it with sincerity.

Although their previous owners had been bandits, he hoped those who would learn them from now on would be different.

Moreover, he wished there would no longer be kin killing kin.

“I will. Ah, the

Hao Sect Leader said he would like to meet Young Master Ban once.”

“Me?”

This time, even Ban Hojin was slightly surprised.

The fact that Nan Hee-ju had come herself was already something that made little sense.

The

Hao Sect Leader and the Rumor Lord were figures who rarely revealed their presence or identities at all, so for them to suggest meeting in person rather than merely exchanging letters left Ban Hojin unable to hide his astonishment.

“You look very surprised?”

“I can’t help it. Aren’t they someone who’s as hard to meet as plucking a star from the sky?”

“That can’t be helped. There are simply too many people who approach with bad intentions.”

“I know. That’s why I find it puzzling.”

“He said that with Young Master Ban, he could talk without prejudice.”

Nan Hee-ju grinned.

She was quoting word for word what Ban Hojin himself had said the last time they met.

Since he couldn’t possibly not recognize it, Ban Hojin let out a small chuckle.

“Understood. But it’s difficult right now, so let’s meet when there’s an opportunity later.”

“Are you playing hard to get?”

“Leaving me aside, wouldn’t it be a bit difficult for the

Hao Sect Leader to enter the Geum Family Estate?”

Ban Hojin said it as though he were being considerate of the

Hao Sect Leader rather than himself.

And to some extent, he truly meant it.

Considering the Geum Family Estate’s information work, it would be impossible for the

Hao Sect Leader to visit in secret.

They were surely aware of Nan Hee-ju as well.

“It’s not impossible, but it is a bit awkward. In fact, they probably already know that I’m here. They’re just not showing it. Since I came as Young Master Ban’s guest, the reason is clear. If my purpose hadn’t been definite, it would have been difficult to come in.”

“That’s exactly why I said it. I plan to stay here for the time being, though not for long.”

“I understand. The

Hao Sect Leader has his own schedule too, so I’ll try to find an appropriate time.”

As if to say she wouldn’t necessarily accommodate Ban Hojin’s schedule, Nan Hee-ju lightly pushed back.

Yet even at that, Ban Hojin smiled with ease.

“I know you’re good at finding me wherever I am, but if possible, I’d appreciate it if you contacted me first. I have a weak heart, so I get startled every time something like this happens.”

“That can’t be true.”

At Ban Hojin’s joke, Nan Hee-ju shook her head firmly.

It was something she absolutely could not agree with.

“I wasn’t saying you must do that, just that I’d like it if you did.”

“Of course, I understood it that way. Then I’ll see you again next time.”

Having obtained everything she wanted, Nan Hee-ju wore a fresh smile befitting her age.

Others might say the expenditure was excessive, but Nan Hee-ju never thought so.

And since the

Hao Sect Leader would surely feel the same, she rose from her seat with a satisfied expression.

“Please take care on your way.”

“I’ll be going.”

Even as she turned her body, Nan Hee-ju kept smiling sweetly at Ban Hojin, who had come out to see her off at the door.

Her steps as she left were remarkably light.

Though it was an unexpected visit from Nan Hee-ju, Ban Hojin’s daily life did not change much.

As always, he devoted himself to cultivation.

However, the direction had changed greatly from before.

Having nearly regained the martial attainment of his past life, Ban Hojin turned his attention to the left-hand sword.

“My left hand.”

Sitting in the Lotus Position in his room, Ban Hojin looked down at his left hand.

As befitted the best detached annex in the Geum Family Estate, it had courtyards both in front and back, as well as a separate private training chamber.

However, at Ban Hojin’s level, there was no real need to distinguish between a training chamber and personal space.

Where one trained mattered far less than how one trained.

“I’ve used it as support when wielding the sword before, but I’ve never primarily used my left hand.”

Lately, Ban Hojin had begun to feel the limits of his own martial arts.

He was certainly strong.

And while he had nearly recovered the martial understanding he had achieved in his previous life, this alone was not enough.

Even if he recovered what he had attained in his past life, he would only repeat mutual destruction.

Srrrng.

Ban Hojin’s ???? began right there.

Even if he restored his realm, he would merely be standing in the same place as in his past life.

Compared to that past life, the speed was astonishingly fast, but even so, it wasn’t as if he could wipe out one of the Four Tyrants of the World.

So Ban Hojin changed his way of thinking.

Hooong. Hooong.

If he was stagnant, he would make up for what was lacking.

That didn’t mean he would take an entirely different path.

He would simply fill in the parts that had been slightly insufficient.

Because he was right-handed, swinging the sword with his left hand looked clumsy even to himself.

“Even if it’s not dual swordsmanship, I need to become proficient.”

Ban Hojin’s gaze grew serious.

Through his mutual destruction with the Lord of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, Ban Hojin had realized many things.

One of them was precisely his own limit.

Being right-handed, Ban Hojin had wielded the sword with his right hand his entire life.

As a result, all of Ban Hojin’s sword techniques were aligned with sword paths executed by the right hand.

Of course, that was normal, but at the same time, Ban Hojin felt a limitation.