Wagers in Luoyang
While Namgung Woo was receiving Paeng Ja-ryeong's visit at the Murim Alliance, the Yang brothers were out wandering the markets of Luoyang. It was their usual routine of gathering information and scouting for talent. "Quite lively today," Yang Kvae remarked.
"The conference is about to begin. Most of the major players have already arrived," Yang Jeong replied. The Murim Alliance had announced the meeting date, and only five days remained. So many people had gathered that even the customary registration formalities in Luoyang were being skipped.
"Still, arriving early was the right call. There are no rooms left in any inn," Yang Jeong added.
"I noticed the signs yesterday," Yang Kvae said. The great sects and clans had little to worry about, of course. Even without booking inns, they maintained their own estates in Luoyang. That was the advantage of being a major power—having a secure foothold allowed them to move at their own pace.
"Has anyone still not shown up?" Yang Kvae asked. The Sichuan Tang Family had already arrived from Chengdu. Few of the Nine Great Sects or Seven Great Clans were farther from Luoyang than they were.
"The Tang Family came the day before yesterday, the Jongnam Sect yesterday… Ah, the Paeng Family hasn't arrived yet."
"Ah… I completely forgot. With Lady Paeng here, it felt like the Paeng Family was already present. I forgot about the Jegal Family too. How can they be later than the Tang Family?"
"People who live farther away tend to move faster," Yang Jeong observed. Yang Kvae thought of Paeng Ha-ryeong, who was waiting for Namgung Woo at the Changmu Inn, and recalled the Paeng clansmen he had met during his time in Hebei. The Jegal Family members followed in his thoughts as well.
"Will the Blade Sovereign be coming from the Paeng Family?"
"Of course. Among the heads of the Seven Great Clans, he is the most active."
The Yang brothers continued their conversation about Luoyang's current situation as they walked. Their steps never faltered or tangled; they already knew exactly where they were headed. For several days now, the brothers had made that place their primary battlefield for gathering information.
It was not the bridge near the Beggar's Union where the beggars gathered, nor the Haomun information exchange Myo-rin had told them about, nor the inns famous for their busybodies. Those were all fine places for information in ordinary times. But this was no ordinary time. Especially with a martial tournament attached to the conference, all information inevitably flowed toward one location.
Thud. The place the Yang brothers strode into with determination was the gambling den where betting on the martial tournament was in full swing.
As soon as the staff spotted the Yang brothers entering, someone rushed out from inside. "Oh! If it isn't the Twin Heroes of the Changcheon Squad! Please, come this way!"
The man was much older than the brothers, yet his attitude was exceedingly respectful. It was proof of how highly the Yang brothers were regarded here. Guided by the staff, they moved deeper inside. Shoulders squared at the stares and murmurs directed their way.
"The Changcheon Squad has arrived."
"Perhaps today we'll finally get a proper answer."
Before entering a private room, Yang Jeong glanced at the large wooden board hanging on the wall outside. Wooden plaques bearing various names were displayed, with numbers written beneath them. It was a situation board listing those who had applied for the tournament and the odds placed on them. Namgung Woo's name—publicly known as Nam Woo—had not yet appeared on the board. Whether that plaque would ever be hung was the greatest point of interest among the gamblers gathered here.
The moment Namgung Woo's name was posted, the odds on this board would be completely overturned. Based on his visit to the Murim Alliance on the first day, the prevailing bet was that he would not participate. But nothing was certain yet. If Namgung Woo decided to enter the tournament now, who could stop him? Even Deung Jong-yu, leader of the Jinroedan and one of the Eight Great Division Commanders, had been unable to stop him.
Thus, the gambling den was paying the utmost attention to Namgung Woo's movements. And now the Yang brothers, his closest subordinates who watched him more closely than anyone, had come? Naturally, they would be treated with the highest courtesy and have information extracted from them.
Unfortunately for the den, the Yang brothers were natural-born vagabonds who had grown up experiencing every hardship under their vagabond father. They would never easily part with information. Instead, they enjoyed the den's hospitality while extracting information in return. The gambling den, being a legitimate operation in Luoyang where the Murim Alliance stood firm, kept its truly critical information hidden. It was a classic case of each side harboring its own intentions.
"So the Blue Sword Emperor is still in training today?"
"That he is. But is there anyone showing interest in participating in the tournament? Someone our leader might find worth fighting?"
"Haha, would such a person exist? Everyone in Luoyang knows the Blue Sword Emperor's prowess. Even if the Seven Dragons and Four Phoenixes are impressive, could any of them properly receive even three moves from the Thunder Dragon Division Commander?"
Deung Jong-yu, the Thunder Dragon Division Commander, was among the top-ranked of the Eight Great Division Commanders. There was no late-stage prodigy who could compare to Namgung Woo, who had defeated him.
"Are there any among the Seven Dragons and Four Phoenixes who have not yet entered?"
"No one has officially withdrawn yet, but it seems the Nam Clan of Jeomchang's Nam Eung-ryong, who is nearing thirty, and Baek Ryeon-bong of the Baek Family, whose marriage talks are ongoing, have not come. They will likely not participate."
If one wished to keep the title of Dragon or Phoenix, it was the way of the martial world to participate in the tournament of the younger generation and prove one's strength. Those who failed to uphold this strict principle would naturally be swept away by the next wave and have their titles taken.
[The most dangerous one has dropped out.] Yang Kvae sent a sound transmission. Yang Jeong replied with growing proficiency, [You mean Nam Eung-ryong?]
[Yes.]
The tournament made no distinction between men and women. There were no separate men's and women's divisions. The martial world was cold. A blade did not distinguish between male and female. When facing enemies in the sword forest and blade mountain, opponents would not become weaker simply because they were men or women. Men tended to grow careless against women more often than the reverse, but there was a famous saying in the martial world: "Beware the elderly, children, and women."
The Yang brothers were pleased that one of the tournament's strongest contenders had withdrawn. [Nam Eung-ryong was formidable. Five years ago, he even defeated the young master of the Paeng Family and took second place, didn't he?]
[Something like that. It seems the young lady might cause quite a stir. Did you see the odds?]
[Which odds?]
[The round of sixteen. What if we bet only up to the round of sixteen? They'd suspect us if we did it ourselves. Should we use a proxy?]
Those who reached the round of sixteen were granted the honorable title of Dragon or Phoenix. Originally there had been Nine Dragons and Five Phoenixes, but two had already passed thirty at the time of the tournament and were ineligible, while others had married or exceeded the age limit and been removed from the list. Thus, the betting board also offered wagers on who would reach the round of sixteen. While betting on the champion offered the highest payout, correctly predicting the sixteen finalists was also quite profitable.
[But isn't Brother Geumsin also participating? Why not just bet on him?]
[That bald monk isn't bad either. Maybe bet on both.]
[But if the previous Dragons and Phoenixes also gather, then from the Jegal Family…]
[Well, it doesn't matter. That Jegal Jun fellow seems to know his place despite being from the Jegal Family.]
After finishing their fruitful information gathering at the gambling den, the Yang brothers prepared to return to the Changmu Inn. They quickened their steps, eager to report to Namgung Woo and Namgung Sol about the notable opponents in the tournament and show off for once. But as they approached the inn, they spotted a familiar face lingering outside.
"Well, well, if it isn't Lady Jegal!"
The person hesitating at the entrance, unsure whether to go in, was Jegal Seon-a—their dear comrade who had fought alongside them at the Unmong Grand Battle. Upon seeing the Yang brothers, Jegal Seon-a showed a flustered expression. "Oh, ah, Yang Kvae and Yang Jeong… well…"
"You've come to the right place. But why are you standing out here? If you're not going in, the leader has been busy with his training lately, but he would gladly make time for you, Lady Jegal."
Yang Kvae chimed in beside his brother. "Or just come with us. You came to see the leader anyway, didn't you?"
"Look at these two. Do you think I have no memory at all?"
"Ah… Hwangryongho! What brings you here, Great Hero…?"
Only then did Yang Kvae notice I Ho-yeong and asked cautiously. Though Yang Kvae spoke casually even to Namgung Woo, the Three Great Vagabonds—the pinnacle of vagabonds—were living legends to men like him. Facing I Ho-yeong made him more nervous than being around Namgung Woo daily. I Ho-yeong was something of an idol to him.
I Ho-yeong shrugged his shoulders good-naturedly and approached the brothers, throwing an arm around each of their shoulders. "What work does a vagabond have? I received an escort request. Since both the Jegal Family Head and the leader of the Cloud Riders are not in perfect condition, I'm filling in. And there's already a distinguished guest inside."
I Ho-yeong gestured with his chin toward the inside of the Changmu Inn. Sitting on a chair before the entrance to the annex was a man whose build was similar enough to Paeng Mu-ho that one might mistake them at first glance, though his appearance was quite different. A powerful, domineering aura flowed from him that was no less imposing than I Ho-yeong's. He was one of the two Transcendent Realm experts the Hebei Paeng Family possessed. Excluding the young master Paeng Ja-ryeong, only one remained.
"That is Paeng Yo-beom, the Northern Heaven Division Commander. The Paeng Family arrived ahead of time."
While the world's attention shifted away from Beijing and gathered in Luoyang, many people had indeed begun moving from Beijing to Luoyang. Among them was someone very, very special.
"Really… can't we just go back now?!"
The girl spoke with a tearful face, pleading earnestly. Though her small frame barely exceeded five cheok (150 cm) in height, her quick, bustling steps were surprisingly swift. Yet even that was not her full speed; her breathing remained relaxed. She seemed to be deliberately slowing her pace to match her companion's.
At the girl's call, the companion running a few steps ahead shouted back, "No! Whether we go back now or later, we'll get scolded all the same. If that's the case, we might as well see Luoyang properly before returning!"
The woman running ahead with long strides laughed, declaring that worrying about the future was a problem for her future self. The girl's face behind her grew even more tearful, but the woman paid no heed and kicked off the ground with even greater force.
"Besides, there's someone I really want to see!"
"Someone you want to see?"
"Yes! You might like seeing her too, Se-rim. I heard she's incredibly strong!"
The girl's name came from the woman's lips. Her full name was Yang Se-rim. She was a direct descendant of the famous Shinchang Yang Family and the third child of its head, Shinchang (Divine Spear) Yang So-hu. As the legitimate daughter of the Shinchang Yang Family, a martial clan loyal to the imperial court, she had been given a role to fulfill in the palace. That role was none other than…
"Aaa… I don't care, so can't we just go back, Princess?!"
She was the maid, friend, and bodyguard of Princess Gasang, Ju I-hyang.