The Return of the Sw Chapter 106 : The End of a Wicked Move. -03

Chapter 106: The End of a Wicked Move. -03

As if he had been waiting in advance on one side, Geum Hoyeon ca running so fast that his eyebrows seed ready to fly off, and quickly examined Ban Hojin’s body.

Since it was the season, he was wearing a wind cloak, but Geum Hoyeon was checking nonetheless to see whether he had been injured anywhere.

“There was no occasion for

to be hurt. Senior Disciple ca along, and the Eight Protectors also lent their strength.”

“I was surprised when I heard that news as well. Do the Eight Protectors not move easily? In another sense, I suppose it also ans the Abbot cherishes Great Hero Ban that much.”

“Instead, those who accompanied

suffered. The n Young Master Geum sent were also of great help.”

“Hahaha. To call that a great help? We did not even truly fight.”

Geum Hoyeon waved his hand lightly with a faint smile.

He had heard certain things himself, so he could not simply accept those words at face value.

Still, it did not make him feel bad.

Put differently, it was no different from Ban Hojin having taken care to ensure his subordinates were not hard.

“It is not only in battle that hands are needed.”

“That is true. Still, I am relieved to hear we were of help. In truth, when I heard that Great Hero Ban intended to go there, my heart was pounding anxiously. I know that Great Hero Ban is a master, but fighting assassins is another matter entirely. Having greater numbers does not necessarily make things advantageous. And is there not a saying that even a mongrel dog takes half the fight if it is in its own front courtyard?”

“Yet in the end, I am standing here like this.”

Instead of offering an explanation, Ban Hojin spread both arms.

At that, Geum Hoyeon grinned.

“I truly think it is a great relief. And I will never forget this debt. I would like to repay it as quickly as possible, but to be honest, I have no idea how I should do so.”

Geum Hoyeon spoke in a joking manner.

However, half of it was sincere.

As the saying goes, turning misfortune into blessing, Ban Hojin had transford calamity into fortune.

He had crushed the crisis called the Dark Moon Sect that had co surging toward him—by his own strength.

“There is plenty of ti, so there is no need to think about it in such haste.”

“Your words ease my heart considerably. More importantly, are you intending to go at once?”

“Yes. Since we have co this far, there is no need to drag out the ti. From the beginning, this was the objective.”

“Mm.”

Geum Hoyeon’s lips moved hesitantly.

Seeing that he clearly had sothing to say, Ban Hojin smiled gently and spoke first.

“It seems you have sothing to say. Please, speak freely. We are not on such awkward terms, are we?”

“Ah, it is not that. I am well aware of that, hahaha. It is just that what troubled

was Estate Lord’s ssage—no, his request.”

“Estate Lord?”

Ban Hojin’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

In this situation, if there were a request from the Geum Family Head, there was only one possibility.

However, at Ban Hojin’s question, Geum Hoyeon shook his head.

“It is not what Great Hero Ban is thinking at the mont. On the contrary, Estate Lord said he would not involve himself. He said that every action carries the responsibility that follows.”

“Ho.”

Ban Hojin’s expression turned slightly surprised.

No matter how disappointing a son might be, he was still blood.

Just as among ten fingers there is none that does not hurt, so it was with one’s children.

Yet the Geum Family Head, knowing that matters would be handled in the manner of Murim, did not try to dissuade it.

‘He calculates gains and losses clearly.’

Though he had never t him in person, he had heard much about the Geum Family Head.

Not only in this life, but across his previous one as well.

At the sa ti, he thought that perhaps it was precisely because the man was so decisive in tying and cutting bonds that he was able to lead the massive force known as the Geum Family Estate so well.

And he realized sothing else as well.

‘He knows the Dark Moon Sect has been annihilated.’

From what Ban Hojin knew of Geum Hoyeon’s personality, he would not have told the Geum Family Head the details regarding the Dark Moon Sect.

Though they were engaged in a succession struggle over the position of Young Estate Lord, they were still brothers.

To the Geum Family Head, they were equally his sons, so Geum Hoyeon surely would not have disclosed the details.

Yet the fact that such words had been spoken ant the Geum Family Head knew everything.

‘Would it be stranger if he did not know?’

The Geum Family Estate possessed an intelligence network rivaling that of the Beggars’ Sect and the Hao Sect.

And the Geum Family Head was the leader of such a force.

No matter how secretly Ban Hojin’s party had moved, if the Geum Family Head truly set his mind to uncovering it, there was nothing he would fail to learn.

“A bit cold, would you not say?”

“Not at all. I believe such a quality is necessary for one who stands at the head. To put it bluntly, one should clean up the ss one makes.”

“Indeed. I was educated that way from a young age as well. However, this matter crossed the line. By a great deal. I have gone off track, but Estate Lord wishes to see Great Hero Ban. Once this matter is concluded.”

“He did ntion it before.”

“I am glad you rember.”

Ban Hojin nodded.

If he had truly wished to et, the eting could have been arranged much earlier.

It was simply that there had been no compelling reason to do so.

“Very well. I shall pay him a visit at once. Ah, will you be coming along?”

“If Great Hero Ban permits it, I would like to go together. Whatever the case, we are brothers. Though half-brothers and rivals, it remains so. Thus, I believe I have the right to witness his final ????.”

“Is there anything for

to permit? This is the Geum Family Estate, after all.”

“Great Hero Ban has that right. Hahaha.”

“Then would you guide ? Co to think of it, I do not know the way.”

Though it might have been embarrassing, Ban Hojin asked for guidance without the slightest hesitation, and Geum Hoyeon burst into laughter once more.

It felt very much like sothing Ban Hojin would do.

At the sa ti, he felt a chill.

As far as he knew, Ban Hojin had not sought the aid of the Hao Sect or the Beggars’ Sect in locating the Dark Moon Sect’s headquarters.

‘Shaolin’s intelligence network is not sothing to be dismissed, but it is certainly not to the extent of uncovering the Dark Moon Sect’s main base.’

While leading the way, Geum Hoyeon mulled over his curiosity.

No matter how he thought about it, the only conclusion was that it would have been impossible for Shaolin alone to discover the Dark Moon Sect’s headquarters.

That was why he was so very curious.

‘Did he already know? But it makes no sense that Shaolin would have known and left it alone.’

This speculation crossed his mind as well, but Geum Hoyeon soon scattered the thought.

There was no way the great Shaolin would have known the location of the Dark Moon Sect and simply let it be.

Shaolin would not even have needed to step forward personally.

If they had rely inford a Prestigious Family or a major sect that had suffered at the hands of the Dark Moon Sect of its location, it could have been erased.

‘He truly is a mysterious man.’

In the end, Geum Hoyeon let out a quiet chuckle.

He had thought he understood him to so extent now, but that had been an illusion.

Thinking that there was still far more he did not know than what he did, Geum Hoyeon’s face gradually hardened as he looked toward the pavilion drawing nearer.

With an anxious expression, Geum Sangryong bit his nails.

Yet he did not even realize that he was doing so.

Unaware of where his own hands were, Geum Sangryong paced back and forth inside the room.

He was so overwheld with extre anxiety that he could not remain still.

“Where on earth did he co from? And why of all places the Main House?”

Having just heard from one of his subordinates that Ban Hojin’s group had entered through the West Gate, Geum Sangryong’s eyes darted incessantly.

After disappearing from Shaolin, Ban Hojin had suddenly co to the Geum Family Estate, and an uneasy thought had taken root in his mind.

That was why he could not sit still.

“There is no evidence. We have lost contact with the Dark Moon Sect, but since the opponent is Shaolin, it is only natural for them to hide. So there is nothing to worry about. There is nothing that bastard could possibly know.”

With a face twisted by extre anxiety, Geum Sangryong retraced the events from the beginning until now.

Starting from when he had sent assassins after Geum Hoyeon.

Yet no matter how he thought about it, there was not a single piece of evidence or trace that could link the matter back to him.

Of course, one might harbor suspicion, but without material evidence, suspicion alone could accomplish nothing.

“Perhaps he ca to pressure

psychologically, or to probe . Or maybe he simply ca to see that bastard.”

Geum Sangryong forced himself to shake off the anxiety that kept spiraling.

He felt that he was thinking too pessimistically.

For all he knew, Ban Hojin might truly have co to the Geum Family Estate without any particular intention.

After all, he was on rather close terms with Geum Hoyeon.

Was that not why Geum Hoyeon, terrified after seeing the severed beast head, had gone to seek out Ban Hojin?

“The second worst possibility is that Father summoned him.”

Geum Sangryong stroked his lower jaw with a grave expression.

As the First Young Lord and Eldest Young Lord of the Geum Family Estate, he too had heard.

That his father, the Geum Family Head, wished to et Ban Hojin at least once.

Even the heads of most Prestigious Families sought a chance to et the Geum Family Head, yet astonishingly, Ban Hojin had been the one repeatedly postponing the eting.

“Crazy bastard. He should have just died this ti.”

Once his thoughts reached that point, curses slipped out of Geum Sangryong’s mouth on their own.

From head to toe, Ban Hojin was a man he disliked in every possible way.

That was why Geum Sangryong felt such deep regret.

If only the Dark Moon Sect had handled the matter properly, he would not be in this restless state now.

“Idiots! After stuffing themselves with that much money, they still botched the job like this!”

Geum Sangryong’s anger passed beyond Ban Hojin and turned toward the Dark Moon Sect.

The advance paynt he had given had not been a small amount, and the more he thought about it, the more regretful he felt.

If he could, he would have demanded the advance back imdiately, but as all contact had been severed, there was nothing he could do.

Coldly speaking, even if it pained him, he had no choice but to remain still for now.

“Hoo! It’s boiling, boiling!”

If he rashly tried to recover the advance paynt, the link between him and the Dark Moon Sect might be exposed.

For the ti being, he had to lie low as though dead.

Until Shaolin’s fury subsided.

“Y-Young Lord!”

“Why are you only coming now! Did you find out what I told you to investigate?”

At that mont, a servant’s voice ca from beyond the door.

For so reason, the voice trembled greatly, but perhaps because he was so agitated, Geum Sangryong failed to notice the change.

Instead, he rely barked at him.

“Th-they are coming right now!”

“What? Who?”

“Second Young Lord and Young Hero Ban Hojin!”

“…Why here?”

Geum Sangryong’s voice sank heavily.

It was a movent he had not anticipated in the slightest.

That was why he asked back blankly.

“I-I am not certain about that.”

“You fool! That is what you were supposed to find out! Hurry and go—!”

“There is no need.”

“Mm?”

At the sudden cold voice, both Geum Sangryong and the servant turned their heads at the sa ti.

There, climbing the stairs, were Geum Hoyeon and Ban Hojin.

“We have sothing to discuss, do we not?”

Without even offering greetings, Ban Hojin spoke a single line with a aningful smile.

Yet that smile struck Geum Sangryong as exceedingly chilling.

It was a smile that seed to say he knew everything, and Geum Sangryong hurriedly composed his expression.

“W-What is the aning of this? To barge in without even a word! This is not Shaolin, but the Geum Family Estate!”

Geum Sangryong raised his voice first.

No matter what anyone said, this was his ho.

And as the Eldest Young Lord of the Geum Family Estate, he instead glared at Ban Hojin while speaking loudly.

“Discourteous, you say. Judging only by the present situation, that may be so, but if one considers the entire sequence of events, it seems the one who was discourteous first was the First Young Lord. And I have not co here as a guest. I have co to demand accountability for a cri.”

Thud.