Chapter 102. We'll Have to Set Up a Mourning Hall for the Successor Sect Leader Too
Yong Jo-un eyed Hwa Cheon-gang. He had already been mulling whether to postpone the duel upon seeing the man's severed arm.
Executing a mortal enemy who was gravely wounded wouldn't bring him any peace of mind.
He was inwardly conflicted when Won Seung suddenly sent him a transmission, steeling his resolve.
He handed a note to one of the traveling troupe actors.
"Take this."
Won Seung's proposed three-way duel matchup was truly a game of pure chance.
Normally, Hwa Cheon-gang would have named his arch-nemesis Cheon Il-hae, who in turn would have targeted the seemingly easy young scion of the Yong family. Yong Jo-un would naturally pick his enemy Hwa Cheon-gang... and in the end, it would all come down to dice, as anyone could predict.
Though Won Seung had coaxed them with flowery words, Cheon Il-hae wasn't a fool. He had accepted the three-way duel because, in a situation where a decisive battle with Cheongsu Gate was inevitable anyway, it offered him a fifty percent shot. If the dice paired Hwa Cheon-gang with the Yong scion, he'd already be halfway to victory.
Even if he drew Hwa Cheon-gang, it was an opponent he'd face sooner or later—no great loss. The only risk was the bad luck of facing the Yong scion first, then Hwa Cheon-gang after... but he just needed to prepare for that.
Won Seung had no idea what preparations Cheon Il-hae had made. It had become a secret known only to Cheon Seok-san and Deung Noya, whose energies were surging from the Golden Pill Cheon Il-hae had fed them.
Won Seung had advised Yong Jo-un to pick Cheon Il-hae, fight two duels, and given him the Blue Blood Rejuvenation Pill along with intel on Cheon Il-hae's martial arts and weaknesses, obtained through Ogu.
It was a solid plan. But with Cheon Il-hae dead and Cheon Seok-san in his place, it was all for naught.
Moreover, Cheon Seok-san was a monstrous master... one to avoid at all costs, Won Seung figured. Picking Hwa Cheon-gang would force a dice roll. Matching with Cheon Seok-san via dice? Well, that was just luck... nothing to be done.
The duelists wrote their chosen opponents on notes and handed them to the actors, who rushed them up to Won Seung on the duel platform.
Won Seung showed everyone the notes in his hand before unfolding the one from Cheongsu Gate first.
Obviously Gwancheonbang, right?
But it wasn't.
What the hell? Won Seung panicked inwardly as his expectations were upended from the start.
"Cheongsu Gate's Hwa Cheon-gang has named the Yong family scion!"
Yong Jo-un had only revealed his name to Won Seung. To everyone else, he had been "the Yong scion" up to now.
Won Seung then opened Gwancheonbang's note, frowning briefly before displaying it to the crowd.
"Gwancheonbang has named Cheongsu Gate's Hwa Cheon-gang!"
Cheon Seok-san had omitted his name, writing only "Gwancheonbang." It was a humble wish not to alert Kwon-wang to his identity. They weren't close, after all. He could only hope Kwon-wang thought he was just some passerby who had stopped out of sheer boredom to watch...
In truth, Cheon Seok-san didn't care who his opponent was. Faced with the shocking advent of Kwon-wang himself, he was racking his brains just to survive.
Won Seung opened the next note and looked at Yong Jo-un with bewildered eyes.
"What's wrong? Announce it already."
The moderator, Unjeongbangju Gongsin, urged him.
Won Seung reluctantly held up the note for all to see.
There was no name written on it.
"The Yong scion... named no one."
Gongsin rose and addressed Yong Jo-un.
"What is the meaning of this? You agreed to the three-way duel and matchup rules, only to forfeit at the last second?!"
After stirring up Sangyang for months, now he wanted out?
Emotion laced Gongsin's tone. This bastard's the reason I'm standing next to a tiger...
A stir erupted from the observers' seats. Everyone with a mouth had something to say.
"The young one's immature. If you've stirred trouble, own up to it!"
"He just wanted the fame of challenging Cheongsu Gate."
"Don't accept the forfeit! Make an example of him!"
The observers were Sangyang's notables, tasked with ensuring a fair duel.
They were outraged by Yong Jo-un's irresponsibility.
Won Seung eyed him curiously as well.
Yong Jo-un slowly stood and addressed the crowd.
"I am not forfeiting!"
"Then what is it? You have to name an opponent!"
"Can't he read?"
Jeers rose again from the observers' seats.
"Quiet! Let's hear from the man himself first!"
Gongsin calmed the observers and turned to Yong Jo-un.
"If not a forfeit, then what?"
"I formally request a postponement!"
"Postponement?"
Yong Jo-un stepped forward, pointing at Hwa Cheon-gang.
"Cheongsu Gate's Hwa Cheon-gang is gravely wounded. Dueling him now is meaningless. Cancel this and let us settle it with a deathmatch later!"
Ah. Won Seung was speechless. So he really is a great hero. Sparing the enemy because he's disadvantaged... volunteering to look like a fool.
A glint flashed in Kwon-wang's eyes as he regarded Yong Jo-un.
Coming for revenge, only to let the foe off because of injuries? Such tales belonged in romantic tales for jianghu enthusiasts, not reality.
Gongsin said incredulously,
"Isn't this a three-way duel? Gwancheonbang is still your opponent."
Yong Jo-un shook his head.
"Cheon Il-hae and I had a minor grudge, but not this man. No reason to kill someone with no ties to me."
"What?!"
Cheon Seok-san bristled at Yong Jo-un's words. It felt like his life was being treated like pocket change, offending his pride.
"You insolent pup, your guts are spilling out! I—"
As he started to rise, Hwa Cheon-un beat him to it.
"A word, if I may!"
Hwa Cheon-un stood and approached the moderators and observers.
"I am Cheongsu Gate's Third Lord, Hwa Cheon-un."
No one there didn't know him, but stating his name formally signaled an official declaration.
Hwa Cheon-un addressed the co-moderators, Unjeongbangju Gongsin and Hajeonggwanju.
"The three-way duel was to be between Cheongsu Gate's Hwa Cheon-gang, Gwancheonbang's Cheon Il-hae, and the Yong scion. Who is this man?"
He pointed at Cheon Seok-san.
"Where is Sect Leader Cheon, and why has someone else shown up? The rules say nothing about substitutions."
No one had imagined a switch, so there was no clause for it.
"Well, that's true, but..."
Gongsin glanced at Gwancheonbang.
That morning, Gwancheonbang had come asking permission for their new sect leader to substitute since the previous one had died suddenly.
Gongsin couldn't refuse.
Gwancheonbang was one half of Sangyang's twin tyrants.
Unjeongbang was just a minor group handling dockside cleaning.
Gongsin's role as moderator stemmed only from his age and status as an elder in Sangyang's martial world. Falling afoul of Gwancheonbang meant the end for Unjeongbang, elder or not.
So he'd agreed, but now the other tyrant, Cheongsu Gate's Hwa Cheon-un, was objecting, putting him in a bind.
He couldn't afford to offend either side...
"Ahem... Gwancheonbang sought our approval... Elder Pyeong, care to explain?"
He deftly passed the buck.
Pyeong In-gang rose, cupped his hands to the crowd, and spoke gravely.
"I am Gwancheonbang Elder Pyeong In-gang. I bring dire news to you all. Last night, our previous Sect Leader Cheon Il-hae passed away suddenly. His blood relative Cheon... ow!"
Pyeong glanced back at Cheon Seok-san, who had stomped on his own foot.
—Leave my name out!
Pyeong continued.
"His blood relative has become the new Gwancheonbang Sect Leader, and we hereby announce it to Sangyang's martial world!"
"What? Is that true?"
"Unbelievable!"
Shocked voices rose here and there. Those in the know feigned greater surprise at Pyeong In-gang's announcement of Cheon Il-hae's death—some knew, some didn't.
To Won Seung, those already aware seemed to overact the most. Take Deung Noya, sitting in the observers' seats as Shipowners' Guild leader, lamenting like a big star of Sangyang had fallen.
What a loathsome old bastard. If Won Seung hadn't known the truth, he'd have thought Deung Noya and Cheon Il-hae were the closest of friends.
Just last night, he sent goons to kill him...
Won Seung marveled anew at the black dao's ruthless duplicity, smiling while stabbing backs.
Come to think of it, places like Jeokhyeolsan's assassin training camp were downright foolish. Spending fortunes killing kids just to produce a few dozen like Jong Bi? Better to send them under Deung Noya to learn that benevolent face and silver tongue.
No one could dodge a blow from behind that kindly visage.
Pyeong In-gang cupped his hands again and declared to the crowd.
"Gwancheonbang will formally receive condolences for our late sect leader after successfully