Chapter 19
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Battles of the Famous Name Assembly
-----------------------------------------------------------------
All members of the Dragon Pearl Gang and Eastern Market Hall climbed onto the arena, and the leaders of each group exchanged greetings.
"Hall Leader Jang, I trust you've been well?"
"Gang Leader Bok, if anything. You seem even stronger than before."
Jang Do-seok laughed good-naturedly.
After the handshake, as the two stepped back, Gyo Jong-yeo spoke up.
"Alright, as everyone knows, this will be a captain's battle. Everyone except the first participants, please step down."
Captain's battle.
A format where only one representative from each side faced off.
In addition, anyone suffering severe injuries was barred from further participation—this was a special rule unique to the Famous Name Assembly.
After all, the Famous Name Assembly was a festival for all to enjoy, not a duel to the death.
Yi Ho-chang nodded in agreement at the explanation.
Bok Jung-ho pointed at Mu Cheol-gae.
"Squad Leader Mu. You're our vanguard."
"Don't worry. I'll take at least two down with me in my turn."
"Reliable as ever. I leave it to you."
The Dragon Pearl Gang's lineup had Mu Cheol-gae as vanguard and Yi Ho-chang as the anchor. The middle slots would be decided strategically by Bok Jung-ho on the fly.
There were two reasons for placing Yi Ho-chang last.
First, as the youngest and least experienced, they aimed to end the matches before his turn came.
Second, despite that, his skills were unexpectedly strong, so they saved him as a trump card for the finale.
'Exposing new assets as late as possible is textbook strategy.'
That's why they're called trump cards or jokers.
Gyo Jong-yeo pointed to one side of the arena.
"Each fighter should wield a wooden weapon of their preferred style."
The fist fighter Mu Cheol-gae stayed put, while Yang Hye-yeol, Eastern Market Hall's vanguard, picked up a wooden sword.
The two exchanged fist salutes.
"Haha! Mu Cheol-gae of the Dragon Pearl Gang!"
"Yang Hye-yeol of Eastern Market Hall."
With greetings done, Gyo Jong-yeo's call to start rang out alongside the gong's boom.
The match began amid the crowd's cheers.
Pababak!
From the outset, Yang Hye-yeol closed in swiftly on Mu Cheol-gae, unleashing a barrage of attacks.
'Ho.'
Yi Ho-chang's eyes sparkled with interest at the sight.
Yang Hye-yeol's strikes were full of feints—swinging when blocked, twisting when grabbed. It was annoyingly tricky.
Yi Ho-chang turned to Chun Seom.
"This really is the Famous Name Assembly. Even Squad Leader Mu looks flustered."
"Can't blame him. Eastern Market Hall placed second last year."
"And us?"
"...Around seventh, I think."
"Bad matchup luck right from the start."
It was exactly that.
Their opening opponent, Eastern Market Hall, had taken second in last year's Famous Name Assembly. They operated out of the Golden Flower region in Zhejiang Province.
In that area, mention Golden Flower Sword, and everyone thought of Jang Do-seok—the hall leader was a skilled martial artist.
Chun Seom nodded.
"Yeah, and that Yang Hye-yeol out there? Rumors say he's next in line after Jang Do-seok."
"He won't lose like that, will he?"
"Nah, our Squad Leader Mu isn't one to just take hits."
That was when it happened.
Peureok!!
A massive impact echoed.
Cheers erupted from the crowd.
Mu Cheol-gae, who'd been purely defending, landed a flashy counter.
Chun Seom grinned.
"See?"
"Yeah."
As Yi Ho-chang murmured in mild admiration, Bok Jung-ho, who'd been listening quietly, chuckled.
"Heh... This squad leader must've been pretty disappointed we only hit seventh last year?"
"No, not really."
"Come on, it's all over your face. Last year's Dragon Pearl Gang was short on firepower. But this year? Different story. I hate losing, so I've been grinding hard since then."
With that, Bok Jung-ho's gaze drifted somewhere.
Yi Ho-chang followed it—and surprisingly, it landed on Great Benevolence Gang Leader Yi Chan-seong.
'What's that about?'
Some backstory there?
Or maybe he misread it.
Just then, the bout between Mu Cheol-gae and Yang Hye-yeol reached its conclusion.
"Winner: Dragon Pearl Gang's Mu Cheol-gae!"
"Waaaaah!!"
Cheers poured down.
Mu Cheol-gae, showing good sportsmanship, helped the fallen Yang Hye-yeol up, then raised both arms to acknowledge the crowd.
The Dragon Pearl Gang's morale soared.
And so?
Sensing the threat, Eastern Market Hall sent out Hall Leader Jang Do-seok next.
Bok Jung-ho crossed his arms, smirking faintly.
"Hm. Jang Do-seok already? Yang Hye-yeol's loss must've stung."
The result was, predictably, Mu Cheol-gae's defeat.
True to the Golden Flower Sword's fame, the skill gap was wide, and the match ended swiftly.
Mu Cheol-gae descended the arena sheepishly.
"Sorry, Gang Leader. Heh."
"No worries. You did great."
Bok Jung-ho patted his shoulder, then grabbed a prepared wooden club.
"Leave the rest to me."
Their captain had emerged, so theirs had to as well.
But the outcome came easier than expected.
Their skill disparity was surprisingly large.
"Winner: Dragon Pearl Gang's Bok Jung-ho!"
Bok Jung-ho then handled the remaining fighters solo, securing victory for the Dragon Pearl Gang.
As he came down after the last one, Mo Gun-hyeong handed him a towel.
"Well fought, Gang Leader."
"Heh, this much is nothing."
He wiped his sweat with the towel and continued.
"You all know it, but we need two more wins for the championship. Let's give it our all in the rest."
"Yes!"
Bok Jung-ho smiled, pleased by the gang members' spirited reply.
The next match followed immediately.
"Next! Extreme Blade Gang and Total Leaf Gang members, all to the arena!"
Matches progressed quickly.
Last year's first-place Extreme Blade Gang crushed Total Leaf Gang. Virtue Heart Hall and Yang Old Hall went to their leaders' duel, with Yang Old Hall victorious.
Only the final quarterfinal bout remained.
"Finally, Red Tiger Gang and Three Response Gang members, all to the arena!"
At Gyo Jong-yeol's call, last year's sixth-place Red Tiger Gang and eighth-place Three Response Gang took the stage.
The crowd started shouting.
"Last one at last!"
"Show us something, Three Response Gang!"
"Gonna be dead last again this year?!"
Yi Ho-chang had figured the audience's energy would dip for the finale, but no—they cheered even hotter.
He smirked inwardly.
'Underdog scraps are always the most fun.'
The match began.
Both sides sent up unknown fighters, who closed distance in a flash at the start.
"Nice!"
"Yeah! Fight like dogs if you don't wanna be last!"
Up to then, it seemed like a desperate bid to avoid humiliation.
But then.
"Kuaaaak!"
The snap of twisting joints.
The Three Response Gang fighter had fully snapped both arms of his Red Tiger Gang opponent.
"Huh?"
"That..."
As the stunned crowd gawked at the brutal turn, Red Tiger Gang Leader Beom Jung-cheon reacted first.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
He bellowed with furrowed brows.
It was only natural.
The Famous Name Assembly was a sportsmanlike festival spar for everyone's enjoyment.
Snapping both arms in such a venue?
But Three Response Gang didn't apologize or show shock—they just snickered.
Enraged, Beom Jung-cheon glared at Yi Chan-seong, who acted the same.
He made no move to intervene, as if it were nothing.
Other gang leaders voiced their outrage.
"What is this nonsense?!"
"Great Benevolence Gang Leader! Why aren't you stopping it?!"
"Three Response Gang Leader crossed the line!"
The crowd reacted similarly.
They'd come for thrilling matches, not gruesome brawls.
Then, Yi Chan-seong, who'd stayed silent, narrowed his eyes.
"Line?"
"Yes! How can this even be called a spar?!"
"Ridiculous."
"What?"
"Martial artists making a fuss over a couple broken arms... So, did a Red Tiger Gang member die?"
"What kind of—!"
"What kind?"
Yi Chan-seong's gaze sharpened instantly.
The protesting leaders fell silent, tails tucked.
Yi Chan-seong was Great Benevolence Gang Leader—master of this whole event—and a powerhouse no one here could confidently beat, even in a group.
That was when.
"Great Benevolence Gang Leader."
As everyone bit their lips in tense silence, a voice piped up.
A youthful one.
Surprisingly, it was Yi Ho-chang.
He stood, offering a fist salute. All eyes turned to him.
Bok Jung-ho looked the most shocked.
Yi Chan-seong eyed him wordlessly, but Yi Ho-chang pressed on undaunted.
"I'm Yi Ho-chang of the Dragon Pearl Gang. If you'll permit me, might I say a word?"
Dragon Pearl Gang members, Bok Jung-ho included, tried to hush him.
Intrigued by the scene, Yi Chan-seong smiled.
"Interesting. You look the youngest here. Aren't you afraid of me?"
"Why should I fear you when I've done you no wrong?"
Yi Chan-seong's lips curved widely.
It'd been ages since anyone spoke to him like that.
Perhaps that's why.
He decided to hear the boy out.
"Fine. Speak."
With the floor, Yi Ho-chang bowed his head slightly, expression earnest.
"First off, I fully agree with you."
"But?"
"However, that's from a martial artist's view. Spectators here for the festival might see it differently. They expect light spars. If this keeps up, the timid or families with kids might avoid the Famous Name Assembly altogether."
Other leaders nodded. Yi Ho-chang bowed again.
"Please consider the feelings of those who came to watch."
Yi Chan-seong's lip twitched subtly again.
He nodded slowly.
"I see. I overlooked them. Gyo Jong-yeol?"
"Yes."
The sharp deputy responded at once, addressing Three Response Gang.
"Three Response Gang, for this infraction, forfeit one fighter until the Famous Name Assembly ends."
Three Response Gang Leader Ga Ui smirked crookedly.
"Yes, as you command."
His mocking deference was infuriating.
Probably flaunting that losing one meant nothing.
Beom Jung-cheon scowled.
That instant.
"Three Response Gang Leader."
Yi Chan-seong spoke.
He smiled at Ga Ui.
"Got a bit heated this time. Don't let it happen again."
"...Yes. I'll be careful."
Yi Chan-seong had smiled.
Yet Ga Ui wiped his grin, answering gravely.
Gyo Jong-yeol called out.
"Resume the Red Tiger Gang vs. Three Response Gang match!"
The bout restarted.
But Yi Chan-seong's gaze lingered a moment longer on the seated Yi Ho-chang.