Chapter 35. The Law of Battle (3)
Jeong Soyeon spread her arms wide and hugged Han Bin.
"Brother Han Bin!"
"It's Soyeon. You've grown a lot since I last saw you."
"Heh heh, our granddaughter's been eating well without being picky lately, so she's shot up. She says she needs to grow fast to get married someday..."
"Grandpa!"
Jeong Soyeon shrieked, and Jeong Cheolmin quickly changed the subject.
"I've made exactly what you asked for."
"Is that stuff back there for us to use?"
"That's right. Just like you requested, I didn't sharpen the edges, so it'll be plenty good for training. But why do you need such heavy swords? And the balance is all off, too."
"I've got warriors who are a perfect match for these swords. Once today's business is done, I'll bring them by to say hello sometime."
Han Bin gave a small fist salute, and Jeong Cheolmin smiled.
After laughing heartily for a while, Jeong Cheolmin looked around, and Han Bin asked,
"What's wrong, sir?"
"I can't see Soyeon."
"I'll go find her then."
"I'd appreciate that."
Right then, Jeong Soyeon, who had wandered off for a moment, came running back.
"Grandpa!"
"Aigoo, didn't I tell you not to wander off on your own?"
"I'm not a kid anymore!"
"Alright, alright. Let's go now."
As Jeong Cheolmin took Jeong Soyeon's hand to leave,
she shook it off.
"Grandpa, I wanna watch before we go."
"Watch what?"
"The duel! Brother Han Bin's guys versus the bad guy's guys. I bet on Brother Han Bin's side."
"What? You placed a bet?"
"Look at this."
Jeong Soyeon shook out her rainbow-colored pouch, showing it was empty not even of a single coin.
Jeong Cheolmin gave an awkward smile at the sight and gave in to her request.
Han Bin, who had gone looking for Soyeon, joined their conversation.
"Then why don't you watch from right beside me?"
"Hem, is that alright?"
"Of course, sir. Steward Yi Seolyeong, who's a friend of yours, should be nearby too."
"Thank you."
Han Bin had one of his subordinates escort Jeong Cheolmin and Jeong Soyeon to their seats, then ordered the rest to move the crates from behind the carriage to the arena.
An hour later.
As family head Paeng Kangwi took his place on the platform, a murmur rippled through the hall.
Today's duel was to be overseen by Law Enforcement Leader Paeng Daewi, so instead of joining the platform, he took position at the center of the arena.
Paeng Daewi bellowed,
"Second Young Master and Fourth Young Master, come to the center!"
At once, Han Bin and Paeng Kyungbin stepped forward.
With the duelists assembled, Paeng Daewi continued,
"As agreed, this duel will follow our traditional Paeng family format. Second and Fourth, select your opposing warriors."
What was the traditional Paeng family duel format?
The challenger's side picked the opponent's warrior.
If they were confident, they'd choose the strong; if not, the weak.
They could lose pride for victory or uphold it and still win.
The choice belonged to Han Bin and Paeng Kyungbin.
As everyone swallowed hard, Han Bin pointed out his selections.
"I'll take those guys."
At Han Bin's choice, three warriors strode proudly onto the arena.
A roar erupted from the crowd around the arena.
"Woooah!"
"Those are this young master's escorts."
"They're famous fighters from down south."
Amid the buzz, Paeng Daewi eyed Han Bin's chosen warriors.
He shook his head slightly.
Han Bin had picked first-rate warriors from the Henan Jeong Family.
No one could deny it was a reckless matchup for this duel.
Why had Han Bin chosen them?
Paeng Daewi considered one possibility.
With defeat inevitable, he was salvaging pride—that must be Han Bin's intent.
The others thought the same upon seeing Han Bin's picks.
"The match is over."
"Whoever gets picked, it's just pity for the Guardian Squad."
"Good thing I didn't join the Guardian Squad."
As murmurs spread, Paeng Kyungbin's eyes gleamed, scanning for his picks.
Jo Ho quickly averted his gaze and looked down.
Then Paeng Kyungbin's voice rang out.
"You there!"
"......"
But Jo Ho just swallowed, head bowed.
No reason to fight when he could take the money and leave after the duel.
Paeng Kyungbin's irritated voice followed.
"You, the escort with your head down."
Jo Ho looked up, pointing at his own face.
Paeng Kyungbin smirked and beckoned. Jo Ho, face falling, climbed onto the arena.
Now two Guardian Squad members remained for Paeng Kyungbin to choose from.
As he scanned them, he tilted his head.
The ones who had bowed moments ago now stared back boldly.
He realized why in an instant.
They'd figured out that looking down got you picked.
Paeng Kyungbin's gaze halted on one tapping his waist.
"You, escort—come to the arena."
He'd pointed at Jangsan.
The escorts were stunned.
Paeng Kyungbin was cherry-picking the Guardian Squad's weakest.
With the final picks done, the three-on-three duelists were set.
Paeng Daewi at center shouted,
"First warriors, step forward!"
At his call, one of this young master's warriors leaped onto the arena.
His movements looked light as a feather.
On Han Bin's side, Jo Ho was up first, in order.
As Jo Ho started toward the arena,
Han Bin said,
"Use that training saber."
"That one, my lord?"
Jo Ho tilted his head, and Han Bin opened the wooden crate.
Several black sabers lay inside.
Jo Ho grabbed one.
He tilted his head again. It looked utterly ordinary.
Dull-edged, clearly made for training.
The duel rules specified unsharpened training weapons.
Still, no room for complacency—fatal injuries were possible.
Jo Ho nodded at the saber. It didn't matter what blade he used.
Dodge moderately, raise hands in surrender, and step down.
Then Han Bin pulled a scroll from his bosom and whispered to Jo Ho.
Jo Ho's eyes widened.
Face like the world had ended, he gritted his teeth and climbed up.
Paeng Daewi's shout signaled the start with his great sword.
Bam!
Before the echo faded, this young master's warrior drew and thrust straight.
Whoosh!
Jo Ho's state was off.
His flushed face twisted sharply.
He sidestepped the incoming sword by half a pace.
And yelled,
"I'm gonna kill you, you bastard!"
The warrior recoiled in shock.
This was unprecedented hostility.
Word was he'd lost all will to fight.
They'd been told to overwhelm with flashy techniques.
But this weird state?
Duel in progress, though.
The warrior shook off doubts and unleashed instinctually.
Yellow Crane Grass Step
A technique to subdue a listless foe like a yellow crane treading grass.
His sword danced gorgeously across the arena like the crane's long legs.
As his blade reached Jo Ho's nape—
Clang!
Jo Ho's saber blocked it.
The warrior's eyes narrowed.
The opponent's blade felt impossibly heavy.
In that single clash, questions flooded his mind.
Second-rate, he'd heard. Yet those eyes tracked his sword perfectly.
And this overwhelming weight?
Before he could ponder, Jo Ho's saber came straight on.
"Die!"
A straightforward strike with his yell.
The warrior blocked hastily.
Tang!
His sword trembled, pushed back slightly. A lock of his hair sheared off.
Snick.
His eyes bulged.
All intel on this young master was false.
No lost will, no second-rate warrior.
This pressure was first-rate realm only.
Inner power amplifying strength.
But he was first-rate too—no losing here.
Pang!
He thrust, but Jo Ho's saber blocked.
Clang!
The arena buzzed at the unexpected turn.
Even exchange, plain to see.
But Jo Ho thought nothing.
Just wanted to vent rage.
His real target wasn't this warrior—it was Han Bin.
Before mounting, Han Bin had shown him the contract.
It had an absurd trap: tenfold compensation on duel loss.
Ten times the promised pay.
Losing meant handing over 100 nyang of silver to Han Bin.
From the start, his lord planned to enslave him for life with that contract.
Plans to leave after the duel? Ruined.
His saber trembled with fury.
"Die!"
Jo Ho's saber blurred into motion.
Clang!
Clang!
The Paeng family's most basic saber art, Wangja Sabdo.
Modeled after the 'king' character.
Just horizontal slashes and vertical chops, repeated.
Simple moves, but their power defied simple explanation.
This young master's warrior, steadily pushed back, reached the arena's edge.
Clang!
Clang!
Cornered, his counter was fierce. He parried nonstop, seeking openings.
But his eyes widened more.
The blade spacing held, yet Jo Ho closed in.
Suddenly, Jo Ho was right in his face.
Cling!
The clash slowed, ending with a pumpkin-cracking thud.
Crack!
Jo Ho headbutted up close.
He staggered.
Opponent tumbled off the arena.
Clear win for Jo Ho, but no cheers.
The crowd was too stunned.
Jo Ho: second-rate. Jeong family warrior: first-rate.
On the platform, Family Head Paeng Kangwi's lips twitched.
What mattered: a Hebei Paeng second-rate beating a Henan Jeong first-rate.
Once started, second and fourth's victory didn't matter.
It was blades of Hebei prestige versus swords of Henan prestige.
Paeng Kangwi clapped once.
Clap.
One echo snapped everyone back.
The crowd roared.
"Woooah!"
Paeng Daewi's voice overrode it.
"Victory to Fourth Young Master's side. Next warriors, forward."
Jo Ho returned to his seat at the order.
Jangsan rose, watching Jo Ho trudge back dazed, like a madman.
Truth was, Jo Ho was barely holding it together.
Couldn't grasp the situation. Just felt like he'd poured out all his frustration on the arena.
Paeng Daewi's voice urged the next.
"Next warrior, step up to continue the duel."
Jangsan glanced between Han Bin and Jo Ho.
To him, Han Bin seemed to have cast some weird spell on Jo Ho. Demonic art vibes.
But a single win over a first-rate?
Demonic or righteous, didn't matter.
Even as a puppet, he wanted victory.
Jangsan saluted Han Bin.