Fist King, The Dragon-Phoenix Tournament's Three-Way Battle

Chapter 43: Fist King, The Dragon-Phoenix Tournament's Three-Way Battle

"Young Master, it's Ya Yul-san."

Hwa Eun-wol, who had been observing the pre-festival, responded.

"Come in."

Ya Yul-san was the man who had handed the gauntlets to Dan Woo-seong and also served as the young master's personal guard.

As Ya Yul-san approached, he spoke.

"Just as you said, he's quite an impressive man."

Of course, he was referring to Dan Woo-seong—because the young master had taken an interest in him.

"What did you think of him up close?"

Hwa Eun-wol was curious about Ya Yul-san's assessment. The latter replied simply.

"He's strong."

"That's it?"

"He seems skilled enough to reach the top eight in the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament."

"Impossible."

"How do you see him, Young Master?"

"The championship will be a three-way battle."

"You hold him in very high regard."

Hwa Eun-wol smiled.

"During the Lightfoot Technique competition, he deliberately slowed down to wait for us after pulling ahead. He maintained the exact distance between us. That's the mark of an experienced man."

"Did he notice that you deliberately reduced your speed?"

"Hard to say."

Ya Yul-san mused.

"It's true he hid his strength, but calling it a three-way battle might be excessive."

A three-way battle implied...

The three factions most likely to produce the champion.

First, naturally, were the disciples of the Nine Sects under the Murim Alliance.

Second were the rising stars of the noble families under the Imperial Society.

Adding Dan Woo-seong to that list meant Hwa Eun-wol held him in exceptionally high regard.

The Three Gods One Saint couldn't send disciples to such tournaments—their disciples were already of higher seniority than most sect leaders.

The same went for Alliance Leader Yoo Jung-hong.

As the host, he found the idea of sending his own disciples laughable. Hence, the three-way battle.

Ya Yul-san offered his own prediction.

"No matter how strong the Silver River Merchant Group's Grand Prince is, he'll be stopped by the Namgoong or Dokgo families from the Imperial Society. Against the Nine Sects, he won't overcome the barriers of Mount Hua or Wudang. Even Hainan Sect would be difficult. Reaching the top eight would require exceptional luck. There are also many strong fighters unaffiliated with the Alliance or the Society. Unknown participants will surely join. Even disciples secretly trained by the Sama Faction or the Madou might slip in unnoticed."

Hwa Eun-wol chuckled.

"Yul-san, you should've watched the duel more carefully. The merchant group's Grand Prince didn't use any Internal Energy. When he subdued that dual-sword fighter, he employed the principle of 'soft overcoming hard.' That means he didn't even fully utilize his External Techniques. Despite holding back as much as possible, he overwhelmed his opponent with sheer experience."

Ya Yul-san mentally replayed the earlier duel. As the young master said, there had been no signs of Internal Energy usage.

"Hmm..."

Hwa Eun-wol continued.

"Now, imagine adding External Techniques to the strength we witnessed, then layer on Internal Energy, and finally, the martial arts he hasn't even revealed yet. He's definitely aiming for the championship."

Ya Yul-san replied.

"What will you do? Since you've come all this way for the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament, shouldn't you, Young Master, claim victory?"

"I did come with the intention of crushing all the Imperial Society's rising stars if I participated... but it won't be easy. Maybe I'll sit this one out?"

"What?"

"Or perhaps I'll just marry off Eun-seol or the merchant group's Grand Prince. I've been considering it."

Hwa Eun-seol was Hwa Eun-wol's only younger sister. Unrelated to the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament, she already bore the epithet "Snow Phoenix." As rare as Hwa Eun-wol's handsome looks were, Hwa Eun-seol was equally beautiful.

Ya Yul-san was startled by this sudden joke.

"What madness is this? The mere mention of political marriages usually sends you into a rage."

Hwa Eun-wol shook his head.

"Marrying into the Dokgo, Namgoong, or other Imperial Society families—that's politics. But the Silver River Merchant Group is different. Our partnership would be more favorable. What good ever comes from noble families intermarrying? None. It's true that the Grand Prince is astonishingly strong, but the merchant group itself isn't particularly powerful. Our clan could fill that gap—it's a perfect match. Wouldn't it be amusing to elevate the Silver River Merchant Group to the greatest under heaven?"

Hwa Eun-wol's imagination ran wild.

"Is the Silver River Merchant Group that significant?"

"They're likely among the top five merchant groups. Their leader is frugal, so they aren't widely known. That greedy old Guyang bastard didn't target them for nothing. The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fact that he brutally crushed Guyang Saeng means the other noble heirs are already wary. Even without my involvement, the Imperial Society's rising stars will struggle this time."

Ya Yul-san said,

"If the merchant group's Grand Prince wins, you can reconsider then."

Hwa Eun-wol clicked his tongue.

"Gambling and competition don't work that way. If he wins, marriage proposals will flood in from everywhere..."

"That's likely."

"Every noble family with marriageable daughters will pounce. Only then will they think like me. The Silver River Merchant Group's wealth will make them ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even more tempting. Marriage talks will erupt like a war. The Alliance Leader favors young talents, so he might intervene too. That's why it's better for us to approach and gauge the possibilities beforehand."

Hwa Eun-wol had a strategist's mind—and he was applying it to marriage talks. His ambiguous tone made it hard to tell if he was joking or serious.

Ya Yul-san sighed.

"Ah, Young Master... This is the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament. You didn't come here to find a brother-in-law."

Hwa Eun-wol gazed out the window, fanning himself.

"After traveling all this way, how could I focus on just one thing? Watch the tournament, find a brother-in-law, secure a wife for myself, scout one for you, observe the Murim Alliance, drink, admire beauties..."

Just then, the door burst open, and a young woman strode in.

"Brother."

Ya Yul-san smiled slightly and bowed his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠head.

"You've arrived."

Hwa Eun-wol frowned at his sister.

"Where are your manners?"

Hwa Eun-seol replied calmly.

"Brother, I could hear you all the way down the hallway."

Ya Yul-san discreetly stepped back, gauging the siblings' moods.

"...I'll take my leave."

Hwa Eun-wol waved him off as if shooing him away.

"Eun-seol, have you forgotten Father's words? He told you to find a handsome husband. The choice is yours, but as your brother, I have a duty to help. You're of marriageable age—do you plan to keep brawling like a man forever? Do you even have ambitions in the martial world?"

"It's not that I have ambitions in the martial world. Our family does. I'm just their daughter."

Suddenly, Hwa Eun-wol studied her expression before abruptly asking,

"You saw him, didn't you?"

"Saw who?"

"The pre-festival duel."

"Of course. My room has a window too."

Hwa Eun-wol stared into her eyes.

"Was he handsome? Did you like him?"

When Hwa Eun-seol didn't answer, he smirked.

"You came here because you were curious, didn't you? Wondering what our relationship is. Why I lent him the gauntlets. Hahaha! Trying to fool your brother? Not a chance."

"That's not it!"

Hwa Eun-seol turned away before her face could redden.

"I just overheard my name being mentioned."

"Go take a look."

Hwa Eun-wol chuckled as he watched his sister's ears turn crimson before she left.

'Ah, how am I supposed to deal with this? She's so picky.'

As Hwa Eun-seol walked down the hallway, her eyes widened when she spotted a man ascending the stairs.

"Oh no."

Her face still flushed, she quickly turned to face the wall.

Dan Woo-seong, climbing the stairs, noticed the woman staring at the wall and flinched.

'Crazy...'

For a moment, he wondered if she was insane—but her attire was refined, her long hair tied back sleekly. Her posture was impeccable, clearly a noblewoman with years of martial training. The rare slender sword at her waist ruled out any possibility of madness.

Still baffled, he quietly passed her and stopped outside what he assumed was Hwa Eun-wol's room.

"Chupung... Young Master Hwa, are you there?" ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Having borrowed the gauntlets, he'd come to share a cup of tea. The door swung open, revealing Hwa Eun-wol's delighted expression.

"You came all this way? Please, come in."

"Let's have some tea."

"Of course. By the way, once we're closer, just call me 'Nak-yup.' Always with the 'Chupung, Chupung'—that's not my epithet."

"It left an impression."

"Now I'm wondering if I should just go by my epithet."

When Hwa Eun-wol stepped out, he saw Hwa Eun-seol had already vanished into her room with Lightfoot Technique-like speed.

"Ahem..."

As they walked down the hall, Hwa Eun-wol deliberately whispered outside his sister's door.

"Little sister? Care to join us for tea?"

Hwa Eun-seol, who had been eavesdropping, startled and quietly retreated. Then, turning her head away, she replied.

"Huh? No?"

"Suit yourself. Let's go."

As Dan Woo-seong and Hwa Eun-wol descended the stairs, Hwa Eun-seol silently pressed her ear to the door again.

Hwa Eun-wol's voice drifted out.

"Ah, my foolish younger sister. She came to participate in the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament. I say this not as her brother, but she's a strong contender for the championship. A bit tomboyish... Hahaha."

The next words were crucial. Dan Woo-seong replied.

"She was staring at the wall..."

Hwa Eun-seol sighed and lightly smacked the door.

'Why did I do that?'

Hwa Eun-wol's absurd response followed.

"She was practicing wall-facing meditation. Obsessed with training, that one. My sister can enter deep meditation anywhere for martial insights. Her concentration is extraordinary—even I have much to learn from her."

Dan Woo-seong, rarely one to laugh, burst into amusement. Hwa Eun-seol, equally dumbfounded, chuckled—until Hwa Eun-wol's Internal Energy-enhanced voice cut in.

"Eun-seol, stop eavesdropping and come down for tea."

Her laughter vanished instantly. Her brother was truly inhuman.

Watching the two silent as clams, Hwa Eun-wol burst into laughter alone.

Hwa Eun-seol asked,

"Brother, what's so funny?"

"Ah, my apologies."

He covered his face with his hand.

Hwa Eun-seol was socially awkward, but the merchant group's Grand Prince was worse.

He showed zero interest in her. Nor was he the type to make polite small talk. A truly blunt man. The sheer absurdity of their pairing made Hwa Eun-wol laugh harder.

Pointing at the gauntlets Dan Woo-seong had placed on the table, Hwa Eun-wol said,

"The gauntlets were a gift. No need to return them. Use them in the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament."

Dan Woo-seong didn't refuse. Accepting gifts graciously was important—he was a man who knew how to reciprocate.

"I'll put them to good use."

Hwa Eun-wol interlaced his fingers.

"Grand Prince, do you know who the championship contenders are?"

"No."

"That's a problem. Being this uninformed won't do."

He pointed at Hwa Eun-seol.

"Explain it to him."

She pointed at herself.

"Me? Why? You know more than I do."

Hwa Eun-wol retorted.

"Just do it. It pains me to see you two sitting there like honey-struck mutes. As your brother, I'm being generous. If you part after just one tea, what will the Grand Prince think of you? That you're some supreme master who meditates against walls and loses herself in thought over tea? That's not it. If you won't speak, I'll have to tell him about your childhood instead. So many amusing stories..."

Hwa Eun-seol cut him off.

"I'll explain."

Hwa Eun-wol eyed them sidelong. This man was terrifying in unexpected ways. He was probing the heart of the Fist King—a man utterly indifferent to women.