Chapter 22
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Reviving the Black Dragon
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The participants were separated and isolated by their respective groups.
In the isolated room, Mo Gun-hyeong treated the wound on Bok Jung-ho's face as he spoke.
"Gang Leader, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. With people dead, this is just a light injury."
However, despite his cheerful reply, his expression looked quite troubled.
Bok Jung-ho continued.
"Ga Ui was at the early pinnacle stage last year, yet in just one year he's nearing the peak... How many people must he have killed during that time?"
"...At least five hundred."
"Five hundred..."
An enormous number.
At those words, Bok Jung-ho fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
"Is the Blood Cult trying to revive? If that nightmare repeats..."
No one could respond easily.
The atmosphere grew heavy, followed by a brief silence.
Then, unexpectedly, Chun Seom was the first to speak.
"My father died during the Righteous-Demonic Great War, too."
Everyone's gazes turned to him.
He continued.
"After that, my mother worked day and night alone to raise me until she fell ill and passed away. With no relatives, I became an orphan at just eight years old."
Even recounting his family history, his expression remained impassive.
As if it had all worn away, leaving him numb.
Bok Jung-ho struggled to respond to this unforeseen backstory.
Yet Chun Seom smiled.
Forcing a grin, he clenched his fist tight.
"Gang Leader, I'm not saying this out of fear. So what if they've revived?"
"You..."
"It's true. In fact, I'm relieved in a way. If they've come back, doesn't that mean I finally have a shot at revenge?"
Chun Seom meant every word.
Recognizing his sincerity, Bok Jung-ho soon chuckled.
"You're right. Those scum? We'll just kill them again and shove them back to hell."
The Dragon Pearl Gang erupted in raucous laughter.
"Hahaha! Exactly!"
"Of course! No doubt about it."
The stiff atmosphere lightened in an instant.
Riding the momentum, Bok Jung-ho pulled out the liquor Mo Gun-hyeong had brought, and they drank while swapping stories.
Mostly pointless jokes and idle chatter, but smiles bloomed across every face.
And so, the night of the Famous Name Assembly deepened.
"Ugh..."
Yi Ho-chang, who had slept in long for the first time in ages, stretched as he rose.
The bedding at Grand Reputation Hall was comfortable, but yesterday's drinking was the real culprit.
'Just one drink, my foot...'
Truly the martial world.
His youth was no excuse to withhold alcohol.
Fortunately so.
His previous life's self had been a chain-smoker and heavy drinker, after all.
"Ugh!"
While stretching, Yi Ho-chang suddenly checked the wrist that had cracked yesterday.
But it barely hurt.
What?
Had it healed already?
Moving it every which way yielded no pain—in fact, it felt better. Seemed so.
'Even a fracture mends in a day?'
No hangover either.
Infinite Body for the win.
Yi Ho-chang glanced around.
He seemed to be the first awake.
Careful not to disturb the others, he slipped outside.
A cool breeze caressed him upon emerging.
The sky was clear.
As if yesterday's carnage had never happened.
'Definitely in the martial world now.'
Yi Ho-chang recalled the previous day.
His age meant he'd glimpsed death at funerals and such.
But watching people die like that? First time for him.
Murder and war had always seemed distant irrelevancies.
'I get why war vets suffer trauma now.'
His gaze shifted to the Flower Points.
Without them, his psyche would've taken a serious blow.
'Owe you big time.'
Truly grateful.
Still, he wouldn't assume they'd shield him perfectly forever.
The world was vast; heaven above heaven. Who knew when foes worse than Ga Ui might appear.
'In the end, accept it. Get used to it.'
Rome had its laws; so did the martial world.
Yi Ho-chang nodded and began a leisurely stroll.
That was when it happened.
Tak.
A familiar sound.
Yi Ho-chang knew it instantly.
The clack of a Go stone.
Scanning around, he pinpointed the source.
But...
'Yi Chan-seong?'
There sat Yi Chan-seong and a hunched old woman playing Go at a pavilion in Grand Reputation Hall's inner courtyard.
Yi Chan-seong addressed the old woman seated across the Go board.
"Thanks for coming on such short notice. Great Escort Leader."
The old woman's name was Wi Bu-hyeong.
She had elevated the Great Benevolence Gang's Dae Young Escort Bureau to the pinnacle of Zhejiang in just two years.
"How could I keep the likes of you waiting?"
Wi Bu-hyeong placed a stone on the board.
Yi Chan-seong admired the move.
"I still can't wrap my head around battling on this tiny board. I'd rather swing my sword a few more times."
"Hohoho. Even the Great Benevolence Leader's aura has grown remarkably."
"Appreciate it."
Wi Bu-hyeong drained the teacup at her side, then fixed Yi Chan-seong with her gaze.
"Now, to the main point. That demon yesterday forced a plan change, didn't it?"
Yi Chan-seong nodded, and Wi Bu-hyeong placed another stone as she spoke.
"Master Gwang Hyang is a blood-sworn foe to the Blood Cult demons. If they learn we're moving the Precept Saber, they'll come howling for it. Isn't that right?"
"You know it well."
Indeed.
This escort mission, planned half a year prior, involved transporting the divine relic Precept Saber—used by the abbot Master Gwang Hyang—from Zhejiang's Yingbo to Henan’s Shaolin Temple.
But for the aforementioned reason, they sought to alter plans despite the deadline looming.
Wi Bu-hyeong placed a stone and continued.
"I understand the need for change, but we can't delay this escort any longer."
Precisely.
It had already been postponed three months; friction with a giant like Shaolin would spell complications galore.
Yi Chan-seong clicked his tongue.
He knew full well.
"Don't worry. Alternative routes are scouted. The issue is hiring reliable escorts."
Wi Bu-hyeong retorted.
"Weren't you set on the Extreme Blade Gang? Suddenly lost faith?"
"It's critical work. Caution is warranted."
"Hoho. Why not lead it yourself?"
Yi Chan-seong emptied his wine cup.
"I'd love to. But Gyo Jong-yeo would never allow it."
"Naturally. You are the Great Benevolence Gang incarnate."
Yi Chan-seong offered a faint smile in response.
At that moment, sensing a presence, he turned to find a young boy in view.
"You're from the Dragon Pearl Gang..."
"Yi Ho-chang, sir."
A polite bow from Yi Ho-chang.
Yi Chan-seong was startled.
The boy was closer than expected.
'When did he sneak up?'
He hadn't sensed a thing.
Wi Bu-hyeong, spotting Yi Ho-chang, asked Yi Chan-seong.
"Who's the child?"
"A warrior from Dragon Pearl Gang. Attended yesterday's Famous Name Assembly."
"That little thing qualified as a warrior?"
"Didn't witness his skills firsthand, but..."
Yi Chan-seong grinned at Wi Bu-hyeong.
"He's quite the intriguing one."
Wi Bu-hyeong cocked her head, and Yi Chan-seong addressed Yi Ho-chang.
"So, what brings you here?"
"Just drawn by the sound of the Go stones."
"Oh?"
Wi Bu-hyeong perked up more than Yi Chan-seong.
"Got a bit of interest in Go, do you?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Know how to play?"
"A little."
"Then come closer and sit."
At her gesture, Yi Ho-chang approached and settled before the board.
Wi Bu-hyeong pointed at it.
"Well? See any moves?"
She asked as one might dote on a grandchild.
Yi Ho-chang swept his eyes over the board.
The situation was grim.
Wi Bu-hyeong had white; Yi Chan-seong, black. Black's great dragon teetered on collapse.
But it wasn't lost.
Yi Chan-seong might miss it, but Yi Ho-chang spotted the lifeline.
He nodded.
"Yes. I see it."
"Really now?"
Interest flickered in her eyes at the claim.
"Care to take over for the Great Benevolence Leader and play a hand?"
She glanced at Yi Chan-seong, who—intrigued—chuckled and nodded.
Yi Ho-chang replied.
"If that's alright, gladly."
"Hehe, splendid. This'll be fun."
"Up to where? Just save black, or fight to the end—even if I win?"
"Eh?"
Wi Bu-hyeong let out an involuntary snort of laughter.
Yi Chan-seong did the same.
It sounded like adorable bravado.
Wi Bu-hyeong laughed heartily.
"Hahaha! If you can, beat this white. I'll grant you one wish."
"If it's betting Go... apologies, but I have nothing to wager right now."
Wi Bu-hyeong burst into even greater laughter.
"Haha, no matter! This is my bet to make."
Yi Ho-chang smiled.
"Then I won't refuse..."
He picked up a stone and placed it without pause.
Wi Bu-hyeong let out an intrigued "Hoo," then responded.
Several exchanges followed until Yi Ho-chang nodded lightly.
"Black lives at last."
Yi Chan-seong peered at the board but couldn't spot the shift.
Wi Bu-hyeong, however, reacted differently.
Her eyes narrowed as if comprehending.
"Indeed... it does."
Yi Chan-seong asked.
"Escort Leader, what's that mean?"
"Ah, seems the Leader can't see it. Explain, boy—you played it."
Yi Ho-chang pointed to his move.
"Placing here forces unconditional life."
"Unconditional?"
"Yes. If Madam blocks, it becomes poor shape. Ignore it, and I thrust through, carving an empty row into white's great dragon on the left. Neither works."
"...?"
Yi Chan-seong puzzled over it as Wi Bu-hyeong gave a small laugh.
"Great Benevolence Leader, this child just played the one vital move to turn the game."
"The one vital move?"
"Exactly."
With that, Wi Bu-hyeong placed her stone and probed.
"And if I play here?"
"Block ahead."
"This?"
"Circle around."
Yi Ho-chang's responses flowed without hesitation.
As the sequence unfolded, Wi Bu-hyeong's earlier smirk faded; her arms crossed, once-disengaged posture now tense.
From some point, she approached the game in earnest.
No—pouring her all into it.
Yet...
"...Huh."
A low, hollow chuckle escaped her.
The sigh of one who sensed her own defeat.