Habuk Pengga Swordsman Genius - Chapter 198



Only Noblemtl

Episode 198. The Living Buddha of Gangbuk (3)

Most of those gathered in front of the guest house looked anxious.

They were all putting their hands together.

The sight was similar to the expressions of those who stood in line toward the Buddha to make a wish.

What on earth happened?

Just like Seo Jae-oh, Jang Yun-hyeon’s people also saw a glimpse of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva in Han Bin’s appearance.

That would be the case, because Hanbin was constantly managing the addicts.

The villagers who were abandoned by the government were saved by Hanbin and the Red Blood Tigers.

They were people infected with the plague, and even government troops were afraid to approach them and just ignored them.

Hanbin, who delivered water and food to them and even treated them, looked like a living Buddha to anyone who saw him.

Hanbin treated ordinary people without any conditions attached to them.

As a result, rumors began to spread in Jangunhyeon that Hanbin was the incarnation of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.

They were under the illusion that Hanbin was curing poison with his Buddhist teachings.

To be exact, it was a mistake to believe that the elixir Hanbin distributed contained the divine power of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.

The background to such rumors also included testimonies from people who lived in the village next to Cheonsujang.

This was because the people near Cheonsujang mistook Hanbin for the best doctor in the world.

Their eyes looking at the guest house were full of respect.

Of course, not everyone was like that.

Most of them were merchants and warriors who had not yet received Hanbin’s help. For that reason, some were skeptical.

* * *

Knock knock, knock knock.

Everyone turned their attention to the sound of the wagon wheels led by Hanbin and his party.

The people standing in line looked at Hanbin and their eyes lit up.

And then they started to make a fuss.

“You’re finally here.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“I was worried that you wouldn’t come today either.”

“I finally survived.”

Hanbin looked at them noisily and smiled brightly.

Hanbin passed by them, making eye contact with a kind face.

As we entered the inn’s fence, Sim Mi-ho asked with a worried expression.

“Sir, are you alright?”

“What’s okay?”

“It seems like they came to get medicine and food… … .”

Sim Mi-ho trailed off.

Even Sim Mi-ho wasn’t sure whether Hanbin would help them.

Because he was a lord who didn’t know where to turn.

Hanbin answered Sim Miho’s question without hesitation.

“If someone needs it, I should share it.”

“Really? You’re giving it to all those people for free?”

When Sim Mi-ho opened her eyes wide in surprise, Han Bin called out to her with a disappointed expression.

“Deputy Chief Sim.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Who said it was free? Chief Sim.”

“If it’s not free… … .”

When Sim Mi-ho tilted her head, Han Bin smiled with a kind face and went inside.

Hanbin said as he went inside and sat down at the table.

“Deputy Chief Shim, why are you acting like a rookie?”

“The villagers treated me for free.”

“Hey, I got public support from those people instead of money. I should get something in kind from those guys.”

“In kind? How can I accept it when I have run out of food and money, my lord?”

“The real thing isn’t necessarily money.”

“What do you mean?”

When Sim Mi-ho tilted her head, Han Bin snapped his fingers instead of answering.

Exactly.

In time with that sound, the story appeared silently.

Seolhwa unpacked her bundle on the table before Hanbin could give any instructions.

Sim Mi-ho, who was watching the scene, nodded.

“As expected, it’s the writing brush and ink… … .”

Well, it was just as she expected.

Ignoring Sim Mi-ho’s words, Han Bin continued writing down the content in one stroke.

Sim Mi-ho realized that material goods are not just wealth.

Their bodies were also real objects.

Only then did Sim Mi-ho realize Han Bin’s deep meaning.

Hanbin had only two intentions.

Under the belief that nothing in this world is free, we only received compensation.

Most people feel that even their own lives are free and they waste them.

This was the first reason to write a contract.

After writing about ten pages of the same contract, Hanbin’s pen stopped moving.

Sim Mi-ho asked at that sight.

“Why don’t you use it?”

“The original contract, you know… … .”

When Hanbin trailed off, everyone swallowed dry saliva and waited for his next words.

Only when everyone was silent did Hanbin continue speaking.

“All writing must be rare to demonstrate its value.”

“Writing?”

“Well, when I say writing, I mean writing in good handwriting. So, a contract is also a good piece of writing.”

“… … .”

“If there were tens of thousands of pages of writings left by the calligrapher Meng Huang of the Later Han Dynasty, would they be worth it? I’d bet five iron coins that they weren’t.”

Meng Huang was an ancient man famous as a calligrapher.

“But, the calligraphy of Meng Huang and the writing of the lord… … .”

Hanbin cut her off before she could finish speaking.

“That’s a very appropriate question. Vice-Chief Shim, tell me what you think.”

As Hanbin’s eyes lit up, Sim Miho quickly continued speaking.

“I also think that the Lord’s writings are more valuable than the writings of Meng Huang.”

After finishing speaking, Sim Mi-ho quickly took a step back and threw away the winning ticket.

Hanbin put down his brush and turned his gaze to the rest of the people.

Everyone who met Hanbin’s eyes nodded.

Of course, there were those who nodded reflexively, and there were those who nodded sincerely, as in the story.

For Hanbin, providing free treatment to ordinary citizens was almost like an investment.

The targets of the withdrawal of invested money were merchants and unmanned vehicles.

This was the second reason for writing a contract.

As Sim Mi-ho came out holding the contract, people started to focus on her.

When Sim Mi-ho finished explaining, everyone started to murmur.

When conditions were attached in exchange for treatment, even those who had been shouting that he was a living Buddha changed their attitude.

Among them, the merchant who pointed to Hanbin in front of the guest house opened his mouth.

“There’s a manifestation of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva over there. I hope I can get some medicine today.”

Next to him was a boy who seemed to be in poor health and was using a cane.

The child said.

“Yes, Father.”

This child became crippled by the plague.

A merchant with a goatee turned around with a displeased expression in front of them.

“What about Avalokitesvara? She just treats the villagers and takes money from us. What kind of Avalokitesvara is that?”

Even as he came here, he was half in doubt as to whether it would really be free.

As expected, he was so upset because of the conditions that he was given, and when his friend who came with him worshipped Hanbin as Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, he felt hurt.

The boy’s father, leaning on a cane, waved his hand at his words.

“Hey, if Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara hears this, it’ll be a disaster. Lower your voice.”

“Your voice is louder. Well, you are Avalokitesvara, but the problem is that you are Avalokitesvara holding a contract.”

As the goatee merchant sneered, his friend turned his head and spoke with sparkling eyes.

“Well, I’ll definitely sign. Habukpangga is a hundred times better than dealing with the Black Death or other political parties.”

“Well, you’re right. But, is it really right to reveal money when lives are at stake?”

“You, speak straight. Was there anyone else besides Habukpengga who came forward to help us this time? If it weren’t for Habukpengga, we would have all starved to death. I heard that the Four Princes of Habukpengga have connections with the imperial family, so the government troops will also help us now.”

“What about the imperial family! If Peng Ga had any ties to the imperial family, he would have already escaped through the government troops. Why would he be doing this?”

“You could have run away, but you stayed, so that’s why you’re called a living fire. Isn’t that right? Haha.”

The father of the child holding the cane smiled happily as if it were his own business.

That was when.

Someone shouted at them from behind.

“If the front seat is empty, let’s go quickly! If you’re going to stay like that, I’ll go to the front.”

At those words, they quickly joined in.

The line moved faster than I thought.

This is because most merchants and unmanned personnel said they would think about it once the contract was presented.

That was understandable, as the contents of the contract were not simple.

Finally, it was the goatee merchant’s turn.

The goat-bearded merchant who was displeased with Hanbin looked at his friend behind him and said.

“You go first.”

“Is that okay?

“You can do it first.”

“Then I’ll do it first.”

The merchant who had been given the concession and his son who had been kicking his leg went forward and stood in front of Sim Mi-ho.

The goatee merchant’s idea was simple.

I was planning to watch my friend’s situation and then get the contract.

The problem arose after the father of the child with a disability signed the contract.

Sim Mi-ho, who had been treating merchants and civilians kindly, began to organize the brushes and ink neatly placed in front of him.

Jang Sam, who was assisting Sim Mi-ho with her work, even picked up a broom and swept the front.

Swish. Swish.

Anyone can see that it’s a ripple effect.

Said the surprised goat-bearded merchant.

“Hey, what are you doing now?”

“Everyone, come tomorrow. I’m done with work today.”

“T-What do you mean? You have to finish me off too… … .”

“All the contracts are gone.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your Majesty has been seriously injured, so he can only write ten contracts a day.”

“Oh, ten? If someone else could write it for me… … .”

“The contract is a one-time thing, so the lord has decreed that ghostwriting is prohibited.”

“Then ten sheets a day… … .”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s the limit.”

For a moment, the excitement spread like an infectious disease throughout the surroundings.

“what?”

“What should I do?”

“Isn’t this too much?”

It was as if the commotion was getting worse.

A finger snapping sound was heard from somewhere.

Exactly.

At the same time, someone blocked the merchants’ path.

Swish.

A man in white martial arts uniform appears with the sound of the wind.

Everyone took a step back from his momentum.

Someone behind him looked at the man’s sleeve and said.

“The plum blossom inspection of the Volcano faction… … .”

The white sleeves that someone was pointing to had plum blossoms embroidered on them.

Starting with him, people started to buzz.

“Oh, you’re a volcano?”

“Is that the plum blossom inspector Seo Jae-oh who played such an active role in this incident?”

“… … .”

For a moment, the voices of the merchants and workers lining up in a long line died down.

The corners of Seo Jae-oh’s mouth slightly went up.

In a way, it was a formality that came out reluctantly.

Of course, the behavior of Kang Ho-hang, who was pushed out, was rampant throughout the Hwasan faction.

These days, there are no plum blossom inspectors who have gone out and become famous.

However, unexpectedly, he played a part in escalating an incident that caused a stir in Gangbuk.

Even though no one had seen his activities, rumors of Plum Blossom Swordsman’s active role in extinguishing this epidemic spread like wildfire.

Aren’t they still whispering like this now?

Seo Jae-oh couldn’t help but feel strength in his shoulders.

For a moment, Seo Jae-oh tilted his head and looked around.

For some reason, he felt that his actions of standing here and guarding Sim Mi-ho were damaging his honor as a disciple of the Hwasan faction.

Isn’t this the behavior of a warrior guarding the front door of a tavern or inn?

After a moment of doubt, Seo Jae-oh raised the corners of his mouth.

It was Hanbin’s request to come out at the signal.

Have you ever done anything to Hanbin that resulted in a loss?

I could guarantee that even if my body was tired, there would be no harm done.

As Seo Jae-oh was smiling sincerely, Sim Mi-ho approached the boy holding a cane and his father.

“Come here and get some medicine. And you should also get some food.”

“Oh my, thank you, sir.”

The father of the child holding the cane unknowingly won a lottery.

It is a courtesy to play lottery, something that is not normally done.

I was so grateful to Hanbin and the Red Blood Tigers.

The father of the child holding the cane received medicine from Jang Ja-myeong, who was standing next to Sim Mi-ho, and food from Jo Ho.

While he was gathering food and medicine, his son was struggling to support himself with a cane.

At that moment, a sweet scent tickled the child’s nose.

The child quietly turned his head.

There was a pretty girl holding a piece of candy.

Of course, the girl was Seolhwa.