Chapter 152: The Grand Game (2)
A blue energy rippled around the white stone in Han Bin's hand, prompting Hwan Bo-man-cheong to ask with eyes full of curiosity.
"You're just going to place it here?"
"Yes, exactly. It feels like if I stray from the center, I'll never find my way back. So I'll stick here."
This was Han Bin's honest sentiment.
He knew this was a mechanism array.
A mechanism array was like a typhoon.
In his past life, a close friend of Han Bin's had once said:
If a typhoon is coming, where's the safest place?
Being far away from it would be ideal, but if you're close, the safest spot is right in the very center.
In other words, the eye of the typhoon.
On this Go board, that center was precisely the tianzhong point.
When he'd come here in his past life, it had already been ruined, but now the mechanism was fully intact.
Seeing Han Bin's expression, Hwan Bo-man-cheong chuckled in disbelief.
"Heh, you're the one who's scared?"
This was his honest thought.
In Hwan Bo-man-cheong's eyes, Han Bin was more meticulous than anyone and hid himself more thoroughly than anyone.
So the idea that he was scared just didn't compute.
Grinning cheekily at the laugh, Han Bin replied, "Yeah, I'm a real scaredy-cat by nature, Family Head."
"Hard to believe."
"That's how the cowards outlive everyone else."
"Fair enough. But really, white stones are okay?"
"No problem. Though there's one issue."
Han Bin held up a single finger, and Hwan Bo-man-cheong tilted his head.
"What issue?"
"I don't know the rules of Go. Can I just play by my own rules?"
"If you don't know, I'll teach you. Winning or losing at Go isn't what matters here anyway."
"Thanks. You go first, then."
"Alright."
Nodding, Hwan Bo-man-cheong reached out.
Whoosh!
The black stone slammed precisely into the star point at the bottom right.
It was as if the board magnetically pulled the stone in.
Ting!
A metallic clang echoed, making Han Bin cock his head.
It felt like they were inside a massive bell.
Glancing at Hwan Bo-man-cheong, he saw the man peering around the cave in wonder too.
Moments later, Han Bin tossed his white stone.
Swish!
Ting!
The sound rang out again, right in front of Han Bin.
He'd placed it directly ahead of himself.
Hwan Bo-man-cheong tilted his head at the sight.
He'd chosen the corner star point out of consideration for his opponent.
There were plenty of ways to toy with a novice, but he had no intention of teasing this young junior, so he'd played by the book.
Yet Han Bin had placed his stone near the center.
What the...?
Hwan Bo-man-cheong puzzled over it.
Then Han Bin spoke up.
"Your turn."
"Right."
Hwan Bo-man-cheong tossed another stone, this time to the bottom-left star point.
But Han Bin placed his right in front again.
A deep furrow formed between Hwan Bo-man-cheong's brows.
Was this a joke, or were they actually playing Go?
Han Bin's bizarre behavior continued.
Ting, ting.
After Han Bin's fourth stone, Hwan Bo-man-cheong finally asked, "What exactly are you doing?"
"The only game I know on a Go board is five in a row."
"Five in a row, huh..."
Hwan Bo-man-cheong eyed the stones Han Bin had placed.
Four of them lined up neatly in the center of the board.
"Even on the same Go board, different mindsets lead to strange outcomes like this. Did I win?"
"Hm."
Hwan Bo-man-cheong glanced around himself.
It was definitely a Go board.
Han Bin continued, "That's why we need to negotiate."
"So this board represents the Huangbo Family, and these stones are you and me?"
"Something like that. I think we need to discuss things based on one shared principle."
"One shared principle..."
"Yes. I want to talk with a principle that applies equally to you and me, Family Head."
Hwan Bo-man-cheong smiled at Han Bin's words.
People often likened life to a Go board.
Go was life, and war. This young junior hoped for principles of life and war that applied fairly to both.
To propose this to a Hwagyeong master like himself?
It felt bold, yet oddly refreshing.
Hwan Bo-man-cheong murmured softly, "The waves behind push the waves ahead, as they say..."
He trailed off, gazing at Han Bin.
Han Bin replied, "You're not the front wave yet, Family Head. With that correction, you're the wave behind pushing forward."
"Haha. I thought you only knew how to deflate egos, but you can boost them too."
"Glad you see it that way. Let's set the principle before we talk, then."
"You first."
"What we gain together, we share together."
"We've always done that with the Hebei Paeng Family as fellow North Five Great Families. Isn't that just upholding the existing principle? No need to remake promises, then."
"Not the Hebei Paeng Family—between you and me."
"Not family to family, but a personal promise with you?"
"Yes."
"Oh ho. Such confidence—it's refreshing."
"Youth has its perks. Whatever we gain from this grand game, we split it, Family Head."
"Agreed. Not as the Huangbo Family head, but personally with you."
"Thank you."
"Shall we begin the real game, then?"
"Yes."
"You've felt it too, right?"
"Yes, I have."
Han Bin nodded.
Hwan Bo-man-cheong gave a faint smile, and Han Bin smiled back.
The entire cave seemed part of this massive mechanism.
The key was that the sound varied by position on the Go board.
Han Bin and Hwan Bo-man-cheong would have to unravel the mechanism's riddle by those sounds.
They began placing stones on the board with care.
Ting, ting.
The clinks tickled their ears like musical notes.
How much time passed?
Hwan Bo-man-cheong spoke up.
"Do you get it?"
"Not really."
Han Bin shook his head. This was half-true.
He wasn't more versed in Go than Hwan Bo-man-cheong, nor an expert in mechanism arrays.
Thanks to memories from his past life, he could at least keep pace.
What Han Bin relied on now was experience and honed instinct.
And that instinct told him Hwan Bo-man-cheong's approach was correct.
Seeing Han Bin stay calm and match his pace, Hwan Bo-man-cheong smiled faintly.
"Just place yours where I say at the same time."
"Got it."
As Hwan Bo-man-cheong tossed a stone, he called out.
Swish.
"Three, three."
Han Bin swiftly placed his stone where indicated.
Ting.
Han Bin narrowed his eyes.
The sounds from Hwan Bo-man-cheong's placement and his own were identical.
Suddenly, a strange noise echoed from somewhere.
Grrrrr!
The ground began to shake.
"Keep going. Seven, ten."
"Yes, sir."
Whoosh.
Ting.
"Spot on. Who taught you that hidden technique?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Try me."
"Self-taught."
"Heh."
"I told you—you wouldn't believe it."
Han Bin gave an awkward laugh.
He meant it.
His master had been the floating Yongrin Sword Art.
Still skeptical, Hwan Bo-man-cheong narrowed his eyes.
"Self-taught is hard to buy, but if I said the Sacheon Dang Family... that I could somewhat understand. Though I've never heard of them sharing techniques with the Hebei Paeng Family."
"Doesn't it seem like Sacheon Dang hidden arts to you, sir?"
"True enough."
"Let's continue, sir."
"From now on, we hit four points at once. I'll take two, you take two. Can you manage?"
"Yes, I'll give it a shot."
Han Bin nodded.
Thanks to Baekbal Baekjung, he could nail anything in his grasp with perfect precision.
Four instead of two made no difference.
Ting. Ting.
Sounds continued ringing from the board.
How much time passed?
Suddenly, the cave walls twisted.
Grrrr.
The ground felt like it was rotating.
Han Bin met Hwan Bo-man-cheong's eyes.
The man looked surprised too—this change was unexpected.
"Starting now, four points. I'll call ahead and count down."
"Understood."
"On the count... four, five. One, two, three!"
Whoosh!
Ting.
... Ting.
In an instant, the Go board was filled with stones from Han Bin and Hwan Bo-man-cheong.
At the same time, a louder rumble than ever shook the ground.
Grrrr.
The floor slowly rotated to a halt.
Thud.
Han Bin's eyes widened.
As it stopped, a passage appeared in one wall.
"Shall we?"
"..."
Hwan Bo-man-cheong stared silently at Han Bin.
Han Bin tilted his head at the gaze.
"Did you know?"
"Know what, Family Head?"
"About this hidden space."
"How would I? It was just luck during the game."
"Your master is Hong Chilgae, right?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure you're not some hidden Beggar Clan expert?"
"No, I'm just the youngest of the Hebei Paeng Family."
"Heh heh. Even if it's coincidence, this is too perfect—it's throwing me off."
"Shouldn't we check inside first?"
"Right. I'll lead. Stay back—it might be dangerous."
"Thank you, sir."
Gripping his sheathed sword at his waist, Hwan Bo-man-cheong took point.
Han Bin did the same, gripping Wolah and watching their rear.
Passing through the narrow passage, they entered a fairly spacious chamber.
Han Bin had tensed up on the way, but nothing happened—thankfully.
Surveying the space, Han Bin asked, "Did the Huangbo Family know about this place?"
"First time for me too. Without your help, we never would've found it."
"No way."
"Anyone else, and I'd have needed an old Sacheon Dang codger to get through."
Hwan Bo-man-cheong grinned at Han Bin.
He was likely praising Han Bin's Baekbal Baekjung prowess.
Han Bin knew it too.
From how Hwan Bo-man-cheong solved it, multiple people placing stones in sequence precisely could unlock it.
But beyond a certain weight threshold, it wouldn't budge. So it couldn't be more than a few people.
At most three to crack this array, and only the Sacheon Dang Family had that pinpoint speed and accuracy—Hwan Bo-man-cheong had a point.
The broad space ahead connected to yet another.
All told, it formed a massive labyrinth.
As Han Bin and Hwan Bo-man-cheong passed the third chamber...
A groan echoed from somewhere.
Ugh...
At the eerie sound, Han Bin silenced his footsteps.
Glancing aside, he signaled Hwan Bo-man-cheong.
He'd take point.
The man might be a Hwagyeong master, but stealth wasn't his forte.
Han Bin swiftly circulated the Yongrin Sword Art forms.
Jeon-gwang-seok-hwa.
Gugeol Ship-pal-bo.
With a whisper of motion across the floor, Han Bin vanished.
Swish—slash.
Hwan Bo-man-cheong clicked his tongue at the sight.
He'd watched from afar before, but up close, the movement was otherworldly.
Forgetting they were in unfamiliar territory, Hwan Bo-man-cheong clenched his fist, staring at Han Bin.
Who should I pair that kid with?
Finding the groaner in this maze-like space was no easy task.
Fortunately, there were no traps midway through the labyrinth.
Then another sound came from somewhere.
"Ugh..."
Han Bin cautiously traversed the maze.
As the noise grew nearer, he slowed.
His heart began to race.
Something ahead felt like it could upend the Huangbo Family and the North Five Great Families.