The Bet on One Wish
Hwangbo Un, unlike others, had a good grasp of the murim world's current affairs. He was also fairly sensible.
The first thing that caught his eye was the clothes worn by Namgoong Juhee and the red-haired woman.
The fine fabric looked like it was made of silk or satin—nothing cheap about it.
And the star emblem on the sword sheathed at the woman's back. Wasn't that the mark of the Eonha Merchant Group?
Hwangbo Un immediately recognized the woman behind Namgoong Juhee as Yi Hayeon, the sub-branch head of Eonha.
But that was strange.
This was his first time meeting Yi Hayeon. There had been no chance to build any connection.
The Hwangbo family had good ties with Eonha, too.
"Hee-ah, who's that guy over there?"
So why was Yi Hayeon bristling at Hwangbo Un like that?
Hwangbo Un forced down his surprise and spoke up.
"I'm Hwangbo Un. I hold the position of young master of the Hwangbo family."
"I didn't ask you. I asked Hee-ah."
"Uh…."
Her attitude was as cold as a biting winter wind.
Just as Hwangbo Un couldn't hide his fluster,
"Aish, what's with her?"
"Hee-ah, you know that's right. I asked you, but this guy…."
"Whatever. Ah, sorry, sorry. This is Yi Hayeon, sub-head of the Eonwol Merchant Group? Eonha Merchant Group? We got close somehow."
"Mm… yeah, that can happen. No big deal."
In truth, Hwangbo Un was deeply scratched by her attitude.
This was only the second time a woman had treated him like this, after Namgoong Juhee.
The novelty of something wears off after the first time, after all. That's how the human brain works.
It spins at full speed for the first encounter, but by the second, it brushes it off as a hassle.
That was why Hwangbo Un saw Namgoong Juhee as a close friend but Yi Hayeon as just some weirdo.
Whether he truly saw her only as a friend remained to be seen.
"Oh, what a big man. Hey, Yeon-ah, you should learn from that."
"Huh? Hee-ah, how can you say that…."
"No, seriously. You're surprisingly hot-blooded, you know? Cool your head in the back while I talk to the young master."
"Hee-ah! Really? Hee-ah! How could you say that to me!"
"I just did."
Yi Hayeon stared at Juhee in dazed shock at her blunt words, her face like the world had ended.
"Hey, anyway, it's been forever. A month? You been good?"
Regardless,
Namgoong Juhee grinned brightly at Hwangbo Un.
Her emotions always showed plainly on her face.
Even a scrap of data like her felt joy at seeing a friend she'd shared life-and-death with.
That joy filled her expression completely.
Hwangbo Un's face flushed bright red again.
He'd momentarily forgotten amid Yi Hayeon's antics, but Namgoong Juhee's beauty was hazardous to the heart.
It was a face that could spark fondness even after she'd cussed him out at their first meeting.
"It's been a while, Namgung Sojeo. Thanks to you, I've been well."
Hwangbo Un replied with feigned composure.
Namgoong Juhee didn't notice anything off.
This guy's polite and decent, unlike Hayeon, she thought. That's why it's easier hanging with guys than girls.
If the dazed Hayeon behind her had heard that, Namgoong Juhee's confinement would have begun.
"Mm-hmm, that's right. Who saved your life, after all."
"Would've been cooler if you hadn't said it. Anyway, thanks."
"Kukuku, you gotta grab your own gains. If I hadn't said anything, you'd have kept your mouth shut and pretended it never happened, right?"
"No idea what you take me for, but I already know you have the Hwangbo silver medallion. Of course, I owe you a proper reception too, Namgung Sojeo."
"Oh? So dinner's on you tonight?"
Hwangbo Un nodded eagerly at the casual dinner invite.
Friends eating together was normal, after all.
"I've been staying here for about ten days now. I know a few good inns with solid food."
"Nice, looking forward to it. But ten days here? Isn't the Hwangbo family down south?"
"Ah, I came for the Hobuk Branch event. What brings you here, Namgung Sojeo?"
"Oh, you too? I'm in it as well. Perfect—you can vouch for me!"
Thud!
Hwangbo Un's heart sank.
'Namgung Sojeo is entering the Hobuk Branch?'
Namgoong Juhee was the reason he'd been training so hard.
To surpass her.
To beat her and clear the frustration in his heart.
But he hadn't expected it to be just ten days away.
His skills had improved by leaps and bounds, but whether they could reach her was uncertain.
Plus, rumor had it she'd killed three more peak realm experts from the Black Kitchen in the past month.
As much as Hwangbo Un had grown, it was reasonable to assume Namgoong Juhee had too.
That was why he couldn't just be happy.
"Why the long face?"
"Ah… no, it's nothing."
"Liar. Oh, I get it. Worried you won't win now that I'm entering?"
"Sounds like self-importance to me."
"Kuku, nailed it. Hey, you call yourself a martial artist? When you meet a rival, you think about winning, not losing."
"……."
Hwangbo Un looked at Namgoong Juhee in surprise.
Come to think of it, she did drop these heart-stirring lines now and then.
"You're right."
"Yeah, man. Gotta have confidence. You're a guy, after all."
"Confidence, huh…."
Emotions tend to chain-react, spawning one after another.
Hwangbo Un was deeply inspired by Namgoong Juhee's words.
Her skills were undoubtedly exceptional.
Probably the best among the later-generation talents.
But that was no reason to cower.
A martial artist must always aim for the peak.
Especially as a young master responsible for a clan.
So far, Hwangbo Un felt shame and a surge of upliftment.
A natural response.
Had the conversation ended there, he might have channeled that upliftment into training.
But the next part was the problem.
The moment Namgoong Juhee mentioned "confidence," it unexpectedly bloomed in Hwangbo Un's heart.
The human brain is easy to fool; just hearing the word can make you feel it.
That's why those success-frequency streams thrive.
Anyway.
Hwangbo Un channeled that confidence not into training, but somewhere ridiculous.
"…Namgung Sojeo, don't matches get more fun with a wager?"
"Hm? Oh, sounds fun. What're you betting?"
"A wish. Loser grants the winner's wish. How about that?"
Hwangbo Un already had the wish in mind.
Namgoong Juhee would never have accepted if she'd known.
"Kya. A wish. Love it."
Of course, Namgoong Juhee had no mind-reading powers and was about to accept right away.
It sounded fun.
She wasn't confident she'd lose.
And the temptation of a wish that could uproot the Hwangbo pillar was mouthwatering.
So Namgoong Juhee was all set to agree.
"Sure, let's—!"
"Nooooooo!"
Until Yi Hayeon shrieked like a banshee.
"What the— you scared me. What's wrong?"
"No! Don't! Hee-ah, you really don't know what this guy's thinking?"
"What? He just wants to make the tournament fun, right?"
"What else! If this guy wins, he'll— mmph, mmph—!"
Hwangbo Un regretted his rashness and clamped a hand over Yi Hayeon's mouth.
Namgoong Juhee was second to none in obliviousness.
She wasn't interested in others to begin with, and she was brutally straightforward herself.
But Yi Hayeon was different.
Her job was merchant.
They read between the lines better than anyone.
In other words, she'd seen right through Hwangbo Un's intentions.
"Mmph—! Mmph—! Let go—!"
But Hwangbo Un was quick on the uptake too. Good memory.
The first thing Namgoong Juhee had said when they met was, "I like girls."
He'd brushed it off then, but what if it was true?
Or if Yi Hayeon believed it utterly?
Hwangbo Un inwardly confirmed that Yi Hayeon liked Namgoong Juhee.
Her behavior was exactly like a cat guarding its fish.
In short, he'd grasped Yi Hayeon's weakness.
Hwangbo Un leaned in quietly to her ear.
"Miss Yi, better stay quiet. Or I'll have to mention how you like Namgung Sojeo."
"……."
"How about we let this slide quietly?"
"Let go first."
Hwangbo Un released her obediently.
She wasn't freaking out like before.
Seemed she'd accepted his proposal, more or less.
"Ahem, Hee-ah?"
"…You really worried? What's up?"
"No… well… right! I got excited about joining the bet too, haha. Just finished talking it over with Young Master Hwangbo."
"Mm, yes. Seems Miss Yi took an interest too."
Yi Hayeon and Hwangbo Un linked arms awkwardly, forcing smiles.
Namgoong Juhee felt a bit relieved seeing them.
Friends on bad terms meant the mediator in the middle suffered most.
At least they'd progressed to arm-linking in no time—no real issue.
She had no clue they were pinching each other out of sight.