Chapter 100. Argh! It's the Fist King!
Won Seung laid out the instructions in meticulous detail.
This was a matter directly tied to his own safety going forward—no room for even the slightest error.
Worried that the dim-witted Jong Bi might botch the job, he explained everything step by step with utmost patience.
"Go fetch two corpses. Hack the head off one. Losing a head's common enough. Dress the body in U Hui's clothes. As for your decoy corpse... hmm, stick a couple iron arrows in the face. Make it obvious no one could have survived that."
Jong Bi wrinkled her nose.
"Two corpses?"
"Corpses are littering Sangyang right now. Plenty at Gwangeonbang. Fix 'em up nice and haul 'em to the Taesu office. Say you found bandit bodies. Tell 'em I'll explain later."
Jong Bi shot Won Seung a look of utter dismay. All the dirty, tedious work always fell to her.
"And what're you gonna do?"
"Forgot? The Three-Way Martial Contest starts soon."
"Oh!"
Dealing with silent corpses beat tangling with rampaging masters on that brutal arena any day.
Jong Bi sprang to her feet.
"Better hurry. Summer days don't last long."
Jong Bi, that's not it. It's summer nights that are short. Days are long.
Then a sudden thought struck him.
Last night... had felt awfully long.
Hwa Cheon-gang, his severed left arm wrapped in fresh bandages, changed into clean martial robes. He topped it with a formal robe, neatly tied back his hair, and donned a ceremonial hat.
He looked more like he was heading to a ritual than a duel.
Hwa Cheon-un spoke with a heavy expression.
"Postpone the duel, brother. Yong Jo-un will accept it."
"No."
Hwa Cheon-gang's refusal was firm.
Hwa Cheon-un couldn't fathom it. After last night's brutal fight that cost him an arm, why insist on this Three-Way Martial Contest...?
Hwa Cheon-gang ran his hand over the sword on the table.
"Un-ah..."
It was the first time his second brother had called him that since founding Cheongsu Gate.
"Yong Jo-un challenged me to a one-on-one duel."
"......"
"That day, we ganged up on Yong Cheol-hyung."
Hwa Cheon-un let out an inner groan. It was something that had weighed on him too.
"It's haunted me ever since."
Hwa Cheon-gang murmured softly, then shing—drew his sword and held it upright.
Killing intent flowed from the razor-sharp blade.
"......"
Hwa Cheon-gang stared at the blade for a long moment.
His eyes burned with grim resolve.
Hwa Cheon-un's heart grew heavy with foreboding.
"Do you really need to go? With the previous bangju passed, just send word you're sitting it out."
Pyeong In-gang tried to dissuade him.
Cheon Seok-san, who had returned to Gwangeonbang at dawn, had suddenly declared he'd join the Three-Way Martial Contest.
Pyeong In-gang, who hadn't slept a wink after the all-night battle, wanted to scream.
He and U Pyeong were in the midst of persuading him.
You're an Absolute Expert, but we're not... Can't we sleep first and fight later...?
Cheon Seok-san clenched his fist tight, scowled fiercely, and spoke with grave seriousness.
"No! If I've inherited Gwangeonbang, I inherit its debts too—that's only right! Gwangeonbang can't sit out the Three-Way Martial Contest!"
The elixir's effects were still holding strong, so Cheon Seok-san decided to push through the contest.
He didn't know the exact duration, but it should last at least through the day.
If I show everyone who's the true powerhouse in Sangyang... the future gets a lot easier.
Strike while the iron's hot.
Neither Cheon Seok-san nor Pyeong In-gang—or anyone in Gwangeonbang—knew the outcome of the bloodbath at Cheongsu Gate.
Hwa Cheon-un had sealed it tight; no one in or out.
If they'd known Hwa Cheon-baek was dead and Hwa Cheon-gang had lost an arm, Cheon Seok-san wouldn't have pushed so hard.
Cheon Seok-san had no interest in Yong Jo-un.
Kill Hwa Cheon-gang... and Cheongsu Gate's strength halves!
Truth be told, once the elixir wore off, he had no confidence against the Hwa brothers.
For Cheon Seok-san, it was do or die.
"Where am I?"
Opening her eyes, Hyeol Hwa saw the gaping hole in the ceiling.
Dawn mist crept into the room. One wall had crumbled, offering a view outside. Lucky it was summer; in winter, she'd have frozen in her sleep.
Regaining her senses, Hyeol Hwa realized this was the Yong family ruins.
She remembered: last night, Jeokhyeolsan elder Bi Jin-dong had attacked, and Yong Jo-un saved her.
Come to think of it, Yong Jo-un's robe covered her body.
Where's my support team?
Two dead, two alive—her guards and support.
As Hyeol Hwa searched for them, someone knocked on the door and called out.
"May I come in?"
The wall was half gone—everything visible—yet he knocked anyway.
Hyeol Hwa sat up.
"What is it?"
The door opened, and Yong Jo-un entered.
"I must go."
Only then did Hyeol Hwa remember: today was the Three-Way Martial Contest.
Yong Jo-un added,
"I boiled some plain porridge in the kitchen. Eat it before you go."
Hyeol Hwa stared at him, baffled.
Their eyes met, and Yong Jo-un looked sheepish.
"First guest in twenty years... all I have is white porridge."
Hyeol Hwa's heart plummeted.
What is this man?
"Your entourage is in the outer quarters. Well then... get well soon."
"Wait!"
As Yong Jo-un turned to leave, Hyeol Hwa called out instinctively. He turned back.
She'd blurted it in panic and had nothing to say.
Then she remembered last night.
"Cheon Il-hae won't show."
"What do you mean?"
Yong Jo-un asked, puzzled.
"He died last night. So you only need to face Hwa Cheon-gang."
Yong Jo-un startled, staring at her.
His thick brows, bright righteous eyes... Hyeol Hwa shrank back.
Yong Jo-un pressed with his piercing gaze.
"Cheon Il-hae is dead?"
"......"
"How do you know?"
His eyes burned, demanding the truth.
Hyeol Hwa averted her gaze slyly.
"He was scared of today's duel... killed himself. Word's been spreading all night."
She hated her lame excuse. Was this fitting for Haeyeonmun's special assassin and rumor-monger? Still, pride swelled that she'd helped this man.
Silence hung for a moment.
"I'm no fool."
Yong Jo-un's deep voice rumbled.
"Nor a thick-headed dolt."
"......"
"Thank you."
Yong Jo-un finished and left the room.
Not a thick-headed dolt, huh... Should've at least eaten the porridge together.
As Yong Jo-un departed, Hyeol Hwa grumbled—then shuddered.
Suddenly, it hit her: this might be the last time she saw him.
Her heart burned at the thought.
Hyeol Hwa leaped up, shouting,
"Four Guards!"
She called her now-two remaining escorts.
"Urk!"
Forcing herself up, she staggered.
Of all times... Damn this internal injury.
As her two guards rushed over, Hyeol Hwa collapsed.
"Rumor Lord!"
"I-I'm fine. The carriage—where's the carriage? We need to go to Sangyang."
"Pardon?"
"What're you waiting for? Fetch the carriage now!"
Her guards, knowing the Rumor Lord's temper, bolted for the carriage.
Hyeol Hwa clutched the robe that had covered her, muttering,
"Need a robe for fighting. I'm just returning it. Nothing more."
BOOM! BOOM!
The massive drum used for Yongwang Festival rang out. Ogu had suggested it.
Won Seung listened to the solemn beats, fervently praying for Ogu's recovery.
Ogu, wake up soon. Sangyang's black society throne awaits you.
Fake or not, once Ogu officially became Sangyang Black Society Lord... that halo would open many doors.
Won Seung had already accepted Deung Noya's offer on Ogu's behalf in his heart.
Ogu would be Baekhwa Pavilion's manager and Sangyang Black Society Lord.
The duel referee and observers took their seats. Regrettably, Black Society Lord Gu Ak-pyeong's spot remained empty.
The world turns even when people die.
"Cheongsu Gate, enter!"
The actor from the hired troupe called out in a grave voice for smooth proceedings. His pleasant tone boomed solemnly, and the three hundred spectators around the arena rose as one.
Hwa Cheon-gang led, white bandage on his left arm, followed by Hwa Cheon-un, Hwa U-cheon, and Hwa Ugeuk.
Today's Three-Way Martial Contest allowed only three escorts per participant into the arena.
"Gwangeonbang, enter!"
Next came Cheon Seok-san, Pyeong In-gang, U Pyeong, and the new pack leader Chung-gyeon.
The spectators—who'd paid a tael each—stood to greet them.
They feigned eager anticipation for the duel, but Won Seung scoffed inwardly.
Hah! Play pretend all you want—I know the truth.
The three hundred spectators were half Cheongsu Gate hires, half Gwangeonbang thugs.
Won Seung had anticipated it when selling tickets. This contest decided Sangyang's hegemony. Neither side could afford sloppiness—they'd spent fortunes planting allies.
Knowing this, Won Seung had split seats evenly between them.
Made collecting the cash easy... He just hoped those three hundred wouldn't turn the place into a bloodbath if things went south.
Yong Jo-un entered next.
"Yong family descendant, enter!"
Yong Jo-un strolled in alone.
What a lonely entrance.
But then... a madly speeding carriage barreled up behind.
What the hell?
The carriage screeched to a halt, and a stunning woman disembarked. The pale beauty's appearance drew gasps of admiration.
"Oh! The Yong descendant's wife?"
When the Yong descendant had protested at Cheongsu Gate...
-I'm already married with kids!
He'd written on a banner to pressure them. People remembered.
Yong Jo-un was the flustered one.
He approached Hyeol Hwa.
"Why are you here? It's dangerous—go back!"
Hyeol Hwa glared at him.
"The porridge boiled over!"
"?"
"Does the Yong house serve spilled porridge to guests?"
She handed over his robe.
"Even this sweaty rag—returning it."
Yong Jo-un was moved by her icy words.
He'd longed for this day... but it might be his last.
Years of revenge-fueled training in Musanggok, yet facing possible death alone felt desolate.
Her rushing here despite injuries touched him deeply.
"Spilled over...? I'll boil more!"
Hyeol Hwa locked eyes with him.
"Keep that promise."
Even amid the emotion, Yong Jo-un wondered why she kept using casual speech with him. She'd been polite when alone...
But he couldn't question it in public.
"Understood."
He grunted heavily and turned.
Hyeol Hwa and her two guards became his escorts.
"Commence the duel!"
The hired actor boomed.
Then chaos erupted from one side of the arena.
"What? You can't enter here!"
A guard's shout echoed, followed by...
BOOM!
A massive burst of energy exploded, sending people flying through the air like birds—no, humans.
People could fly too!
"What?"
"What's happening?"
Everyone in the arena jumped up, staring at the commotion.
One man led, two followed.
Someone yelled in shock.
"Argh! It's the Fist King!"