Chapter 231
Chapter 231
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 231
Chapter Title: Exchange (3)
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⚙ ANNOUNCER ⚙ Gwanjuwoong!!!! The polo ball launched from Eon Yong-un's swing connects all the way to Woo So-rung's forehead, scoring a razor-thin point right before the match ends! One point! Just one point, and Azure Bamboo Hall topples Shaolin!! The booming voice of the loud announcer split the air.
The crowd's reactions split starkly between joy and despair.
Those who had bet on Shaolin's victory were left crestfallen.
"S-Shaolin, eliminated in the first round?!"
"It's not elimination yet! Can't you see the discipline monk heading to the judges' table?! He's going to challenge the call! We don't know for sure!"
Our supporters erupted in cheers.
"Don't know? What don't we know?! Azure Bamboo Hall beat Shaolin!"
"Damn it! I believed in them!!"
"Believed? You were the one saying why pick fights with the monk disciples instead of hitting the ball?!"
"Let bygones be bygones! Isn't the important thing that Azure Bamboo Hall won?!"
The young Shaolin monk disciples muttered in bewilderment among themselves.
"I-Is that even allowed?!"
"Azure Bamboo Hall tricked us!"
One of the middle-aged discipline monks scolded the young ones.
"I understand you're excited by the jeers after so long, but mind your words. How can those who uphold the precepts speak so lightly?"
Even so, he seemed to hope for a reversal.
"Yuan Jing went to inquire about the judgment. Behave yourselves."
As the crowd's emotions clashed in the stands...
My Eon family juniors came rushing toward me.
The first to arrive was Woo So-rung, who had been on the field from the start.
"Hyung Eon!"
"Nice finish. Worth the Hancheol Sword I lent you?"
"Hehe."
As I praised him...
Galaxy Star and Jeong-hyeon, tasked with holding back the Shaolin monks, came running up.
"Hyung Yong-un! Wow! It really went just like you said, but... is this okay?!"
"Ha-seong. I don't understand what you mean by that question."
"Pardon?"
"What's not okay?"
As I shot back...
Yin Xia Lian and Dang Ok-gi approached.
Of the two, Yin Xia Lian offered a towel and Regret.
Dang Ok-gi spoke up.
"What's not okay? Eon Yong-un, you pulled some scam again, didn't you?"
"Scam?"
"You said something, the monks all charged in, and at the end they all looked like they'd been had? If that's not a scam, what is?!"
"...Why are you even here? Go back to your dorm."
"Kyaaak! This is the last match! I'm cheering for you!"
I turned to the flailing Dang Ok-gi and said...
"I just asked if they knew the rules. I didn't say anything else. But Shaolin's monks charged in. I dealt with them and scored by the rules. Did I use an illegal swing? Did I add an extra ball to the field? Right, Jeong-hyeon?"
"You didn't say things like 'let's settle it with formations.' ...Though your tone was a bit ambiguous. But being swayed by that tone means Shaolin's monks were too eager and blinded themselves."
"Exactly. That's what they call psychological warfare."
To my words...
Master sent a mental message.
"Talking is all about nuance, nuance. First time I feel pity for Shaolin's baldies." Meanwhile, the organizing committee reached a decision.
"Group Eul, matches three and four: Azure Bamboo Hall wins!"
I was about to tell my Eon juniors to disperse when...
"See..."
Senior Go Wan-san suddenly hoisted me onto his shoulders.
"...What are you doing?"
And he started crying.
Tears on a shoulder ride out of nowhere.
"Kuhk. Kuhuuk."
What the hell was this situation?
"...Senior Go? Athletics Director?! People are watching?"
"That's why they should watch!"
"Watch what? We barely passed the first round—why the shoulder ride?"
"Kuhk. Kuhuuk."
"...Shoulder ride aside. Why are you crying? Catch it from Brother Gyeong-ryong?"
To my words, Senior Go Wan-san sniffled a reply.
"Kuhk. I don't know. Tears just come."
"If you don't know, who does?"
"Once you decided to play polo, I thought at least runner-up minimum..."
"And?"
"My shitty draw pitted us against Shaolin in the first round! Shaolin in round one?! World went dark, but you beat them—tears just flow!"
Then Brother Gyeong-ryong wiped his eyes and muttered.
"Mae Jin-ak, Ho Yeon-chan—even they couldn't do it, but Azure Bamboo Hall did. Kuhk."
"...I'm going insane."
Personally, being paraded on shoulders after barely scraping through the first round was embarrassing.
But thinking about it, it wasn't so bad.
Seemed the subtle Shaolin phobia hanging over us was gone.
"Cry or laugh, do as you please."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The first day's tournament schedule ended like that.
I headed to the academy cafeteria with my Eon juniors for dinner.
"Yong-un!"
At the cafeteria entrance, Uncle Yun Yeong was waiting for me.
"Hm? Uncle?"
Putting aside my delight for a moment, I introduced the Eon juniors with me.
"You've seen these guys from the Shaanxi trip, so you know them. These are the children of the Southern Jiang Merchant King. They handle chief of general affairs and PR deputy under me."
"Yin Xia Lian. It's an honor to meet Lord Yi Yun-young, called the Golden Steed of Shaanxi merchants."
"An honor!"
"So you're Lord Eun's children? Nice to meet you. And since I'm Yong-un's maternal uncle now, no need for such formal titles like Golden Steed or Lord."
"This is the daughter of the Poison Hex Master. She helps with Azure Bamboo Hall's pharmacy."
"Oh, the daughter the Poison Hex Master cherishes so much... Wait, helping with Azure Bamboo Hall's pharmacy? Black uniform means Fragrant Orchid Hall, right? ...Why?"
"Th-There's circumstances. Anyway! Nice to meet you! Dang Ok-gi!"
Uncle Yun Yeong hadn't eaten dinner yet, so after introductions, we entered the cafeteria together.
With dishes in front of us, Uncle Yun Yeong beamed as he spoke.
"My VIP seat was so far from the main arena, I just saw you win, but that Shaolin polo match was the highlight. Yong-un, ever seen Abbot Gonghyo's pupils?"
"First time meeting the abbot. They were covered by white brows anyway."
"I've donated to Shaolin before, met him a few times, but today was the first I saw his pupils. When Azure Bamboo Hall scored and ended the match, his eyelids snapped open. Your grandfather and parents would've loved seeing it."
"Ah, is Maternal Grandfather doing okay? Letters said he was."
"Much better in person."
After that, Uncle Yun Yeong shared about Maternal Grandfather and Taiwon Merchant Group.
I told him about my Jinju trip during break.
After chit-chat, Uncle Yun Yeong's eyes gleamed as he asked...
"...Talked to the overseas guests or the new Murim Alliance recruits' later-generation disciples?"
"No time. I competed in every event today."
"Hm. True."
"Did meet Northern Sea Ice Palace Lord's second son due to bracket."
"Saw Dam Yong-ju, huh. Narrow position in Ice Palace, but good to befriend. Make connections with other overseas guests if chance. Not all, but overseas folk can be clannish. Outsiders rarely enter their turf."
"Was planning to."
"Good. Build ties now—they'll help whatever you do."
I nodded to Uncle Yun Yeong's advice.
Then asked.
"And you, Uncle? Made connections?"
"That's why I'm late coming to see you. Alliance Lord and Professor No Sam bridged, met many. Backbone Society—need full attendance to know, but a young faction's forming."
Good news.
Meant the Murim Alliance could evolve into a more agile organization.
Our tournament talk circled back after various topics.
"Confident in the rest?"
"With Great Reversion Pills on the line, have to be."
"Ugh. Wondered why Shaolin offered Great Reversion Pills so readily—turns out that Yuan Cheol disciple's a genius of geniuses... Oh, here he comes?"
Right then.
Yuan Cheol and some monk disciples walked over.
'Here to contest the prelim ruling?'
Just in case, I shifted to strike position.
But the young Shaolin monks clasped hands in greeting.
Yuan Cheol, palms pressed, gave a light bow with his eyes and spoke.
"Learned a lesson."
"...Not here to curse me out?"
Wondered if they were venting Buddhist-style.
But shaking his head while chanting "Amitabha," sincerity shone through.
"Amitabha. Absolutely not. Truly enlightening. Shaolin disciples train in mountains, became frogs in a well— that's the result. Azure Bamboo and Fierce Dragon's true skill."
Shaking his head, Yuan Cheol said with competitive fire in his eyes.
"But next time, we'll show our full strength."
Not protesting the match, but wanting to fight seriously in remaining games.
'Better that way.'
We wanted opponents at full throttle too.
'The coming fight with the Demonic Cult.'
Needed to gauge Shaolin later-gen potential.
And how we and Azure Bamboo stacked up.
I grinned and cupped fists.
"Looking forward to it."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The second day arrived.
Today's schedule: polo semifinals and finals.
And archery preliminaries and finals.
Archery came first.
Prelims were finals.
One round—five shots, lowest scores eliminated.
From the start, Yahul Wei, young fortress lord of Horn Bow Fortress from the steppes where archery is life, stood out.
Tung! Tung! Tung! Tung tung!
Puk! Puk! Puk! Puk! Puk!
Looked casual nocking and shooting, but arrows hit bullseye every time.
But archery, one of the six arts of the gentleman, was basic for noble youths this era.
Murim later-gen hit bullseyes steadily, if slower.
Thung!
Puk!
Thus, when prepared arrows ran out...
Yahul Wei from Horn Bow Fortress.
Jeon Gal-seolji from Yun National Academy.
Jo Cheol-seong from Fragrant Orchid Hall.
Those three locked joint victory.
The last arrow was in Yin Xia Lian's hand.
[Silver Little Bird. You must hit it.]
To my casual cheer...
Yin Xia Lian gritted teeth.
Tung!
Puk!
She nailed the bullseye.
"Archery event: After committee discussion, joint winners approved! Winners: Horn Bow Fortress's Yahul Wei! Yun National Academy's Jeon Gal-seolji! Fragrant Orchid Hall's Jo Cheol-seong! Azure Bamboo Hall's Yin Xia Lian!"
Thus archery concluded.
In following polo semis, Azure Bamboo Hall edged Fragrant Orchid Hall to reach finals.
Facing Horn Bow Fortress later-gen who beat Cloud Plum Pavilion.
⚙ ANNOUNCER ⚙ Score! Another score! Horn Bow Fortress later-gen can't keep up with Eon Yong-un and Woo So-rung's speed. Frankly, Horn Bow Fortress later-gen were easier than Fragrant Orchid Hall.
Steppes warriors excel on horseback, so their footwork was crude.
Dae-aeng!!!
⚙ ANNOUNCER ⚙ Match end! Azure Bamboo Hall beats Horn Bow Fortress by seven points! Azure Bamboo takes polo too! Azure Bamboo Hall's momentum is berserk!! As a result.
Sweeping two events on day two advanced Azure Bamboo Hall toward overall victory and top later-gen honors.
A perfect day.
'...Minus me heading to meet Horn Bow Fortress young lord Yahul Wei now.'
Winning mattered.
But reminded: Upright Advancement Tournament wasn't just later-gen playtime.
Circumstances differed from spring matches.
Tournament scale grew.
Couldn't end with trophies.
'Uncle Yun Yeong emphasized it.'
New forces to backbone the future.
Overseas powers—huge help or fodder against Demonic Cult in original.
Build relations, dig deeper intel.
'Demonic Cult and unorthodox deviating fully from original. Info and ties are biggest weapons.'
I knew their value best from Sa Do-ryeon's Hao Clan-aided incident.
Thus, seeking Yahul Wei.
Knocked on Horn Bow Fortress later-gen lodging.
"Anyone home?"
Yahul Wei opened the door right then.
But scowled coldly at my face.
"...Eon Yong-un? What brings you here?"
Of course—fresh sting of crushing defeat.
No warm feelings.
"Here to gloat?"
...Should've scored less?
"Would I? Here for fellowship."
"Fellowship? Suddenly?"
"Sudden for you, not me. Maternal grandfather Shaanxi Golden Whale, home North Jinju's Pearl Eon Family. Grew up on steppe tales like legends."
But I had a glib tongue.
"So I've admired steppe great warriors since childhood. Today's archery and polo? Who cares win-lose? Child's play. Steppe warriors do archery and polo on horseback. You went easy, Young Lord."
"...Khm."
Had prepped fine liquor jar.
"Talked too much, throat dry. Brought Central Plains brew—shall we continue inside? Can't match steppe famed liquors, but tasty novelty."