Chapter 113 : Not an Easy Man. -02

Chapter 113: Not an Easy Man. -02

After Jeong Hyeon left, this time Seonwu Bang sought out Ban Hojin.

As if to show that he had just been sparring, even in the middle of winter Seonwu Bang’s face and neck were drenched in sweat.

Wiping the sweat away with a plain cotton cloth, Seonwu Bang looked up at him.

“I’m not refusing, you know?”

“Then are your standards just high?”

“There are quite a few young ladies showing interest in you, aren’t there?”

“It’s all thanks to you.”

Seonwu Bang did not deny it.

There was no need to deny something everyone already knew.

But that did not mean he became arrogant.

To be blunt, he thought all of this was thanks to Ban Hojin.

“Not all of it. A certain portion is my doing.”

“Nine parts out of ten are because of you. If you hadn’t come to find me first, there wouldn’t be a me like this now.”

“Even so, you would have shone eventually.”

“It would’ve taken quite a long time instead, wouldn’t it?”

Ban Hojin wore an expression of mild surprise.

Even when others could objectively assess someone, it was difficult to objectively assess oneself.

“But in the end, the one who made you who you are now is yourself.”

“You could just accept that.”

“Is there anyone who’s caught your eye?”

Still lying down, Ban Hojin changed the subject.

He did not particularly enjoy conversations like this.

Praise was extremely important in human relationships, but Ban Hojin felt embarrassed.

Even gold plating or oiling needed to be done occasionally to feel good.

“Well. I’m not in a position where I can simply meet someone just because I like her. My father has to approve, and it has to benefit the family first.”

“You’ve already placed marriage as the premise.”

“I may not be at the level of the Five Great Families, but I’m not someone who can meet just anyone either. Cheok is similar. But that guy doesn’t seem interested at all. There are quite a few women subtly expressing interest. More than me, actually.”

“Objectively speaking, he’s handsome. On top of that, his family background is good, and his personal skill is outstanding, so of course women would like him. If there’s a better option, they’ll choose it.”

“Right. Maybe that’s why Jo-woon is quite popular too. Of course, the one receiving the most attention is you. Exaggerating a bit, it feels like someone might charge in at dawn in a full-body assault.”

Seonwu Bang spoke in a slightly worried tone.

He knew Ban Hojin was not the sort of man who would meekly submit even if someone threw herself at him, but excessive attention tired a person out.

Even someone as indifferent as Ban Hojin would suffer if it wasn’t just one or two, but several at once.

Playboy young masters might not refuse any of ten women, but Ban Hojin lived closer to that of an ascetic monk, so it would surely irritate him.

“Even if they tried, I’m not someone who would meekly go along with it. Besides, with you and the others nearby, no one in their right mind would attempt it. Unless they were skilled enough not to be caught by your sensory perception.”

“If they were that skilled, they wouldn’t be a rising junior—they’d be an assassin.”

Seonwu Bang nodded.

It wasn’t bravado, but confidence.

And since Ban Hojin was never alone, secretly infiltrating his room was nearly impossible.

“As you said, it’s all or nothing. It’s not something they’d go that far for. Though if their resolve were truly that strong, who knows.”

“It’s not an easy choice. If it works out, fine. But if it fails—especially if rumors spread—their marriage prospects would be completely ruined.”

“So you be careful too. Someone might suddenly pounce on you.”

“I’ve been careful. At first, I felt good receiving attention too. Now, it’s scary.”

“It’s fine to enjoy it in moderation. It’s a reward for the effort you’ve put in.”

Ban Hojin fully understood Seonwu Bang’s feelings.

He had attended the gathering of rising juniors, but Seonwu Bang had never been someone who stood out.

Rather, it would be more accurate to say he belonged to a near-fringe group.

He had once been treated as if he were invisible, so the current attention must have been pleasing.

“So thank you. After meeting you, my fate changed.”

“It’s not that much.”

“If you hadn’t come to find me, if we hadn’t become friends, there wouldn’t be a me like this now. I’d probably be shut away alone at the Main House, doing nothing but training.”

“Why are you so sentimental today?”

Ban Hojin got down from where he had been lying.

He hadn’t been drinking, yet Seonwu Bang seemed overly emotional.

“I’ve been receiving more attention than I deserve lately. But it’s all thanks to you. I felt like I needed to acknowledge that.”

“If you’re like this already, what are you going to do later? You don’t even have an epithet yet. You’ve got a long way to go. You need to earn a cool epithet and command Murim.”

Ban Hojin grinned.

He hadn’t even properly made his name known yet, but Seonwu Bang seemed overly grateful already.

It was true that he had changed the future, but compared to when Seonwu Bang’s talent would fully blossom, his current skill wasn’t even a quarter of that.

So words of thanks were more fitting once he reached that level.

“Of course. But before that, I wanted to express this feeling. Just thinking it in my heart or in my head doesn’t mean it gets conveyed.”

“Are you going off to die? Or am I?”

“Murim is a place where one might die suddenly at any moment. It’s better to say what you can while you can. Better to repay gradually than to settle it later with interest, right?”

“Are you a debt collector?”

Ban Hojin looked dumbfounded.

But Seonwu Bang was sincere.

“That’s just how it is. I wanted to say it. Pick a day and say it at least once. And somehow, I feel like we’ll become too busy to say things like this in the future.”

“Ho.”

Ban Hojin’s eyes widened slightly.

It seemed that along with his growing martial arts, his perceptiveness had sharpened as well.

“I think everyone’s felt it. There’s also the matter of the Nine Heavens Gate.”

“There’s nothing wrong with preparing.”

He did not yet know about Ironblood Fortress, but Ban Hojin thought that was only a matter of time.

At the very least, the heads of the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families would know.

They might not take it too seriously, but simply being aware of it meant they had avoided the worst.

And Ban Hojin knew the future.

“Right. But before that, I need to grow stronger myself and strengthen my family.”

“You can do it. The competitors are strong, but it was never going to be easy from the start.”

“The established powerhouses won’t be pushed aside so easily either.”

Seonwu Bang wore a resolute expression.

He knew well that achieving his goal would not be easy.

But that did not mean he intended to give up.

Rather, because it was difficult, it was all the more worth challenging.

“Later on, you might have to compete with me.”

“I’ve taken that into account. You won’t remain at Shaolin forever.”

“That’s a very good look in your eyes.”

Even so, at the look in Seonwu Bang’s eyes that said he would not give up, Ban Hojin smiled in satisfaction.

Even between friends, competition was necessary.

Especially healthy competition.

‘The Seonwu Family, the Murong Family, and then Jo-woon’s family and mine becoming the Five Great Families—that would be interesting.’

Watching Seonwu Bang’s eyes burn with competitive spirit, Ban Hojin laughed inwardly.

Pushing out four of the Five Great Families, which were like impregnable fortresses, sounded entertaining.

Of course, it would not be easy to displace the Five Great Families with their long history and tradition, but precisely because of that, it would be even more meaningful.

“Who is that?”

“Why is she wearing a veil?”

“Isn’t that Plum Phoenix?”

“Her build and aura are different.”

Not only in the front courtyard but throughout the open clearing, the rising juniors occupying various spots cast sidelong glances at the veiled woman who had suddenly appeared.

And it was not just the men.

The women gathered in small groups off to one side also stared at her closely.

But with only her eyes and brows visible, it was difficult to tell who she was.

“It’s just like the rumors.”

“Right. They said this place is like a venue for meetings.”

“I heard the unseen competition here is tremendous. Even fiercer than among the Four Dragons.”

“That’s only natural. It’s Young Master Ban, after all.”

Despite the countless gazes focused on her, Nan Hui-ju did not shrink in the slightest.

Rather, she enjoyed the curious and wary looks of the rising juniors.

She knew well that there was no other place where she could receive such looks.

Perhaps this was the first and last time she would experience such a situation, so instead she walked forward proudly, savoring the attention.

“Hello. Have you come to see my elder brother?”

“Yes. We have an appointment. I arrived a little earlier than the agreed time.”

Her sharply raised brows softened into a gentle curve.

It was because Seo Jo-woon approached her with a greeting.

The other three seemed to be in the middle of sparring; familiar shouts echoed from different directions.

“Then I will guide you.”

“Thank you, Young Master Seo.”

“It’s nothing.”

Having seen her wearing a veil several times before, Seo Jo-woon recognized Nan Hui-ju at once.

That was why he approached her the moment he saw her.

He wanted to prevent any unpleasant incidents from occurring.

The more people there were, the more incidents tended to increase proportionally, so Seo Jo-woon intended to nip such matters in the bud.

They said a woman’s enemy was another woman, but when a beauty appeared, men sometimes caused trouble as well, so Seo Jo-woon planned to block it at the source.

“Thank you for guiding me.”

“It’s also for my sake. If an incident happens, the cleanup falls to me as the youngest.”

“Hohoho.”

Perhaps because he was a year older now, Seo Jo-woon somehow seemed more mature than last time, and Nan Hui-ju covered her mouth with her hand as she laughed.

For a moment, she forgot that she was wearing a veil.

And still, many gazes were directed at her.

Everyone appeared curious about the sudden arrival of a mysterious woman.

“Please, go in.”

“If there’s a chance later, let’s have a cup of tea.”

Nan Hui-ju spoke sincerely, not merely out of politeness.

Though she did not see Seo Jo-woon the way she saw Ban Hojin as a man, he was a promising rising junior.

Thus, it was necessary to maintain a good relationship with him.

Even without such calculation, he was a good younger brother she wished to know better.

“Understood. Then please enjoy your conversation.”

“Yes.”

With her female Escort Guard who always accompanied her, Nan Hui-ju entered the building with a bright smile.

As she did, she adjusted her clothing.

“It’s been a while.”

“You’ve been well?”

“As always. Nothing’s changed—except that there are more people.”

“I heard the gathering of rising juniors has turned into a venue.”

“Young men and women have gathered. It wouldn’t be strange if eyes met.”

Nan Hui-ju asked in a suggestive tone, but Ban Hojin did not fluster.

Nor did he deny it.

For men and women to meet eyes, hearts, and even bodies was entirely natural.

It would be a problem if there were coercion, but if not, respecting each other’s will was only right.

“I heard you’re at the center of it all, Oppa?”

“They’re all interested in my future. Meanwhile, I nearly lost my eyes sorting documents I’d never even dealt with before.”

“Have you checked everything?”

“I’m still in the process. I’m reviewing the urgent matters first.”

“I see.”

Nan Hui-ju removed the veil that had covered more than half her face, her eyes sparkling.

From his words about prioritizing certain documents, she could infer that there were matters related to her or the Hao Sect among them.

“I could have gone down to Dengfeng County instead.”

“No. Like I said before, I like coming to Shaolin. And it’s not like I did anything wrong, so there’s no need to avoid people’s gazes.”

“That’s true.”

At Nan Hui-ju’s bold words, Ban Hojin nodded.

As she said, she had committed no crime, so there was no reason to avoid people’s attention.

She would certainly receive considerable interest, but judging by her current attitude, she seemed to have gained some confidence.

Or perhaps she trusted him that much.

‘Either way, it doesn’t matter to me.’