Plum Blossom Fragrance Filling the Air (3)
The Sawangjeon finals had always been held in the grand training grounds of the Namgung Family Estate. This year's tournament drew even larger crowds than before—an all-time record by sheer numbers alone.
To accommodate, the Namgung family demolished the existing walls of the grounds over the three days leading up to the finals and expanded the space threefold, erecting new barriers. Even so, seats were still scarce.
People began pouring in from early morning, and by the time the finals were set to start, every spot was packed tight, not a single empty seat in sight.
Yet one area drew an especially thick throng. A strikingly beautiful woman had climbed atop a long wooden table, belting out her calls in a voice sweet as a nightingale.
"A joint venture between the Namgung Family Estate and the Tianxia Merchant Guild! The safest gambling in the world! A fair shot at turning your life around for anyone! Time's ticking away even now~!"
A white headband was tied around her hair, bearing the bold red characters 必勝—Certain Victory.
Gambling. The indispensable spark that made any martial bout all the more thrilling.
It was only natural that hordes flocked to the woman.
"First match of the Little Sword King—betting now open!"
At her words, people surged forward, eagerly placing bets on their picks.
Watching the frenzy, the woman—Jegal Sua—flashed a radiant smile. Those seated at the table before her immediately pulled out ledgers and began scribbling.
Jegal Sua bellowed again at the top of her lungs. "Closing in one hour~!"
In her three days at the Namgung estate, Jegal Sua had crammed in more experiences than in her entire life before.
Tailing Ilhyang, she'd learned boundless compassion for people. Not just at the Namgung estate—anyone who'd ever received even a single treatment from Ilhyang revered her without hesitation. If a living fairy walked the mortal world, it had to be her.
Following Ihyang, she'd witnessed the pinnacle of womanly grace. A single word from Ihyang could move hundreds without a whisper of complaint. Sure, one might shrug it off as no big deal, but when those hundreds were powerhouses who could sweep away one of the Nine Great Sects or One Gang with ease, it was a different story entirely.
Even thinking back sent chills racing down her spine.
Above all, Ihyang had casually tossed her the Jegal family's secret techniques—like picking up a stray book on the roadside.
"I was gonna toss it after you mentioned it last time, but I brought it anyway. Learn it or don't. Dump it if you don't need it. Ask the Daegalbak geezers if you're stuck or whatever."
God, Ihyang had been so adorable in that moment. If no one had been watching, Jegal Sua would've bitten her right there on the spot.
In any case, thanks to that final bit of advice, she ended up getting her head smashed by the Daegalbak crew at least ten times a day. Still, it hurt less than the first wallop from Namgung Daeso.
More than that, she learned heaps from taking those headbutts. And she was picking up all sorts of skills unimaginable back in the Jegal family.
She figured nothing could surprise her anymore.
Until she saw the mountains of cash, anyway.
When Samhyang explained that half the money in the Central Plains flowed through spots like this, Jegal Sua's eyes nearly popped out. And it was the same even now.
"Blue tag—100 silver taels!"
"White tag—150 silver taels!"
"Blue tag—one gold tael!"
"Blue tag—50 silver taels!"
Blue stood for Hwasanpa, first up in today's matches. White was their Namgung opponents.
Just one incense stick's time since opening bets, and already money piled high as Song Mountain. Jegal Sua gaped, mouth agape.
That was when Samhyang shot her a look. Unlike her other two sisters, Samhyang was strict about betting matters. Even a brief pause in the calls was enough to irk her.
Jegal Sua resumed her thunderous cries.
"Guaranteed safety~! The world's safest gamble, brought to you by Namgung Family Estate and Tianxia Merchant Guild~! Your last shot at becoming filthy rich~!"
Then an old man shuffled toward her, cane tapping lazily.
Those frantic to place bets paused, eyes drawn to him.
The elder politely sought permission from the man ahead. "My back's killing me—can't stand long. Mind if I go first?"
"O-Of course."
"Heh heh, much obliged."
He repeated the courtesy several times, and each time, folks gladly yielded. Thus, he reached the front.
Samhyang frowned at the sight. "What brings you here, old timer?"
The Central Plains' richest man. The Tianxia's top merchant. Former head of the Tianxia Merchant Guild—Geum Dondong.
Geum Dondong drew a golden note from his bosom. "Made a deal. Just skim me ten percent later or whatever."
"Sigh..."
Samhyang didn't need to ask who the deal was with.
"The Youngest Young Master again?"
In all the martial world, only one madman dealt with this old ghost. And even the head of the estate's Hoegumgak—the guy who handled the most coin around—shuddered at the sight of him.
Our young master... I should've just fed him more meat growing up!
"Kekeke, got my blood pumping after ages. Time to flex a bit."
Samhyang took the golden note. If his blood pumped twice more, he'd own the entire treasury.
"No way—that's one of the two golden notes in the world!"
Someone recognized it and shouted.
The Tianxia Merchant Guild had issued exactly two golden notes ever. One held by the emperor. The other now in Samhyang's hand.
"Heard about 'em, eh? Copper notes go up to 10,000 silver taels. Silver notes to a million. Gold ones... up to ten million silver taels."
Enough to buy a whole kingdom's castle.
Geum Dondong tapped the white tag and murmured low. "White—ten million silver taels."
The pot ballooned hundredsfold in an instant.
The crowd erupted in cheers, as expected. The throng doubling was par for the course. Even Samhyang's deepening frown was only natural.
She sighed again and muttered weakly. "Next."
By the time half an incense stick remained till the finals, cheers filled the grounds.
"Shaolin Temple!"
"Baldie's here! Wooaaah!"
Jinheo paused at the cries, chanted a curse under his breath, then pressed on.
"Next up, Wudang!"
Above the regular seats, a line of figures settled into the empty spots reserved for them.
Shaolin's abbot, Jinheo, took his assigned seat. Beside him sat Wudang's leader, Giheo.
One by one, the heads and elders of the Nine Great Sects filled their places.
Each entrance drew roaring cheers and chants of their names.
Soon the Five Great Families' leaders arrived. Mid- and small-sect warriors who'd made the finals trickled in too.
The crowd bellowed the smaller sects' names just as fiercely—no, louder—than the heavyweights.
"Dengyongmun!!! Dengyongmun!!!"
"Haeunpa!!! Haeunpa!!!"
For Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families to reach finals was expected. But for mid- or small-sect disciples? A miracle.
Sure, the wall of prodigy disciples from the giants loomed large. Yet this was the stage crowning the martial world's top latebloomers. Leaving even a scratch on Sawangjeon history earned those cheers.
Nearly every sect was seated now. Only the Namgung family remained.
The Namgung Grand Elder appeared.
The roar shaking the grounds dwarfed all before it.
"Tianxia's Greatest Clan!"
"Tianxia's Greatest Clan!"
The six characters thundered as one. No one here could deny them.
The Grand Elder sat.
Now for today's stars: the competitors.
But silence fell.
"What's up? Didn't they come out around now last time?"
"Yeah. Some snag in prep, maybe."
Confusion rippled through the stands. Yet the leaders above sat with knowing smiles, waiting patiently.
The Grand Elder grumbled under his breath. "Please show up on time for once!"
Suddenly, the Namgung guards straightened sharply. Eyes turned their way.
"Someone else coming?"
"Grand Elder's already here."
An old man burst through the guards, huffing.
"Aigoo~ Sorry, overslept."
He bowed repeatedly to the crowd en route to his seat.
"That's Divine Doctor Yi Han!"
"Ah... That's why we waited."
"Gotta wait for the Divine Doctor."
"Damn right."
Folks pieced it together. But silence fell once more. The stands buzzed again.
"What? Why no start?"
The guards snapped to attention anew.
"Ahem, that guy from earlier woke me late... My apologies."
The martial world's elder statesman, Namgung Ilro, entered with a sheepish bow. The crowd got it again.
"He saved the martial world from the Demonic Cult—the old Alliance Strategist."
Now Namgung's strategist, but in memory, he was the Alliance's.
"That legend's still kicking? Martial world's blessed."
"Yeah, what's a short wait?"
"Now everyone's here, right?"
No one outranked the Divine Doctor in esteem, or Namgung Ilro in seniority. The crowd figured the stars were next.
Silence again.
"Huh? More coming?"
"Nah, look—seats are full!"
"Wait, one empty."
"Huh? You're right."
The guards' auras sharpened to a razor's edge, unprecedented.
Footsteps echoed—multiple.
One figure led, others trailed. Instinct screamed: cheer. But the leader's presence silenced them all, honey-mouthed mutes.
Not quite proxies, but the top seats' martial heads rose as one, bowing to the approaching man.
He sat in the empty spot with a casual nod, as if it were only natural—no return bow.
Namgung Ilro, playing spokesman again, chuckled warmly to the awkward leaders. "Our patriarch's always like that. Sit, everyone."
Yi Han playfully smacked Namgung Hancheol's shoulder beside him. "Yes! Beat ya here! I win today—kihi."
The leaders jolted. Namgung Ilro laughed it off. "They're old chums. Childhood friends."
Only then did the heads relax and reseat.
Those seeing him for the first time trembled in terror.
That's the Mushin of legend.
Even veterans felt his unfathomable might like an iron wall.
Damn... Just like the old days!
A few pondered silently.
Why's he here?
Skipped the last couple Sawangjeons...
Why now?
No one dared voice it.
Namgung Hancheol eyed the Grand Elder softly. "Begin."
The Elder pointed at himself, incredulous. "Me again?"
A nod.
I'm not cut out for this!
He wanted to protest but climbed the stage without fuss.
The crowd realized: no more waiting.
Is face worth more than life?!
Screw it, the Grand Elder thought. He poured inner energy into his throat and bellowed.
"Sawangjeon finals—begin~~~!"
The tournament to go down in history kicked off.