The Bet and the Dockside Previews
The patriarch Gwak Seo-ryong had once said so.
Win this duel, and he would reveal the hidden information regarding the dark forces tied to the Seoha Clan’s long-standing grudge.
Of course, that also meant it would mark the acknowledgment of Gwak Yeon as one of the Seoho Gwak Family’s proper successors, something that had only begun to shift with the young master’s transformation.
‘… I will hear every word.’
That was precisely the kind of information Gwak Yeon needed most—the data to root out the evil lurking in the Central Plains.
In other words.
“Also, the one who can’t hold in his poop—”
“My opponent is you.”
The one who had to defeat Baek Jung-hyeok and win was none other than Gwak Yeon.
“Could it be that I’m too scary and you’re trying to divert attention elsewhere?”
The likelihood of Baek Jung-hyeok’s attempt to substitute himself for Wi Jong-geuk was naturally slim in this situation.
Yet, just in case—however slight—the mad young master’s actions were beginning to cross every line. It was necessary to block even the slightest possibility that the duel’s course would change.
This strategy had proven quite effective.
“You mad bastard! Where the hell do you think you are?”
“At the very least, you shouldn’t be drawing your blade and acting so recklessly.”
“Shut your mouth—!”
At first Baek Jung-hyeok had laughed it off, but now fury was boiling on his skin as he lunged forward.
“Then, right now—!”
“Jung-hyeok-ah.”
Suddenly Gwak Baek-ryang-san opened his mouth.
After letting out a long yawn, his next words caused the tension in the reception room to dissipate like smoke.
“That’s enough.”
“Father!”
“Just what do you think you’re showing off in front of a few fools? Who was it who told you a real man should only draw his great blade in the ocean or the wilderness?!”
After draining the remaining wine in one gulp, his words had made Baek Jung-hyeok recall something.
“… Yes, Father. I did say that.”
His eyes, blazing with inner fire, still fixed on Gwak Yeon while his mouth slowly curled into a cruel smile.
“Indeed. The best stage for making that mad bastard pay for abusing his mouth would be bigger than this one!”
“Hahaha! Exactly!”
“Have you heard, you foolish whelp of the Gwak Clan!”
Baek Jung-hyeok wore a meaningful smile.
But it did not matter.
What mattered now was that the opponent’s finger pointed straight at him.
‘… Sigh.’
Gwak Yeon had lured the man’s interest back.
Aware of the words he had just spoken, Baek Jung-hyeok’s lips kept spewing curses while standing tall.
“I swear! After this fight, you will become a real fool who can’t even hold in his poop for the rest of your life!”
“… ”
“Heh, where did that earlier momentum go?”
“… ”
Gwak Yeon merely met his gaze.
After all, the objective had already been achieved.
Once the pup was sufficiently tired, he continued the minimum staring contest needed to ensure the duel would not end.
Glancing over.
His eyes caught the back of Gwak Seo-ryong.
He was paying attention.
Ever since the beginning, the patriarch had been subtly monitoring what words Gwak Yeon said and how he reacted.
“You’re acting like a fool and getting scared━━”
“Are you that confident?”
Gwak Yeon took one step forward.
To obtain information on the dark forces, he needed to please Gwak Seo-ryong. In this context, even this much should be acceptable.
“Confident? You think a mere puppet like you can do it?”
“Then.”
Suddenly Gwak Yeon’s voice rose, filling the entire reception room.
“How about a bet between the two of us.”
* * *
A harbor by the sea.
Scattered along the docks were several grand ships, each bearing the same flag at its prow.
「 Jusan Baek Family is the best! 」
「 Jusan Baek Family is the best! 」
「 Jusan Baek Family is the best! 」
These were unmistakably vessels belonging to the Jusan Baek Family.
Between those anchored ships drifted a leisurely Bi-zhou ship.
“…… Bet?”
“Yes.”
One of the men aboard the Bi-zhou ship answered the old man with the fan.
“The bet is that the loser of the duel must plant the winning family’s banner beside the loser’s family plaque for a full year. That is why Baek Jung-hyeok is famous across Zhejiang this time.”
“Tsk tsk.”
The old man clicked his tongue at the answer.
Yet, a meaningless smile had already begun to form on his lips despite the complaint.
“Everyone said that. Before we made peace, they all thought they were dragons or phoenixes.”
“We are no different.”
“Isn’t it fun? The arrogant faces they made every time they got crushed at the family summit because they were chosen as candidates.”
“I do not know.”
“Ah…… boring guy.”
Even after receiving a slap from the old man, the young man’s expression remained unchanged. His name was Jegal Chan, the Rising Star of the Jegal Family, one of the renowned Seven Great Families.
And.
The old man who shook his head and clicked his tongue in mock disapproval was Moyong Wol-un.
“Huihui! Enough! Go take care of your own business.”
“Yes.”
The same way, the legendary strongman of the Moyong Family—known as an eccentric among the Seven Great Families—was also known as the strongest of all.
“I will handle the family’s affairs, so you may enjoy yourself in peace, Elder.”
“What?”
“I heard that the host of the merchant group hosting this duel has ties with you. That is why you have come.”
Moyong Wol-un’s face brightened instantly.
“Well…… though it’s a convenient coincidence.”
“The fact that you, who finds traveling with me boring, came all this way, does not stem from the same reason as mine. You do not fear the name of the summit, do you?”
“Huh! When did I ever say that?!”
Yet the words were true.
Jegal Chan had accompanied him on this journey as part of the Seven Great Families’ mission, but his true purpose was to drink fine wine with the Cheonhae Merchant Group’s Yeo Geum-hwi.
“Do not worry and enjoy the drinking party at your leisure.”
“…… You will be fine alone?”
“Yes. On the contrary, if Elder disturbs my eyes and ears, it will hinder proper analysis.”
“Remarkable. How can the same words sound so different?”
He pouted briefly, but then—
“Well, fine! Then I shall leisurely enjoy the wine and snacks. You, who are watching these kids fight from start to finish, must remember every detail clearly!”
“Yes.”
Moyong Wol-un let out a loud laugh as his hunched back shook violently.
Suddenly he turned his head.
“By the way, who exactly are the ones fighting the Baek Family this time?”
“The Seoho Gwak Family.”
“If it’s the Seoho Gwak Family…… is that the place where Gwak Jeong-pal or someone like that is? Then it should be a fight worth watching.”
“Indeed, but not this time.”
“What?”
“According to the information, the one fighting Baek Jung-hyeok in this duel is the second son of the Seoho Gwak Family. His name is Gwak Yeon.”
“Gwak…… Yeon?”
Moyong Wol-un tilted his head as if trying to recall.
But he remembered nothing.
He had never seen the name in the Gangho Seoyeollok, nor had it ever entered his ears once.
Tsk.
The old man clicked his tongue with an unhappy expression.
The one who would drink the finest wine regardless of the quality was none other than Moyong Wol-un, who found even a good fight worthless when the mood dropped.
“…… In the end, I must drink good wine and return.”
* * *
That night.
At the top of a tall wine tavern overlooking the harbor, a small drinking gathering unfolded.
“Hahaha! It has truly been a long time, my dear guest!”
The ones clinking their cups were two.
Moyong Wol-un, who had just arrived, and Yeo Geum-hwi of the Cheonhae Merchant Group, who had been watching the rivalry between the two great families since noon.
“Ahem.”
“Where is Jegal-sohyup who came with you?”
“He went straight to the inn.”
“As expected. He will surely view tomorrow’s duel with clear eyes.”
“Then you are here purely for pleasure?”
Suddenly straightening his face and glaring at him, Moyong Wol-un.
Yet even after such an eccentric act, Yeo Geum-hwi simply tapped his belly with a leisurely smile.
“…… No. I knew that, so I stocked up on expensive wine from Dongyeong just for you.”
“You damned bastard.”
“Haha.”
Yeo Geum-hwi smiled gently at the sulking Moyong Wol-un.
Seeing that, the old man brought his cup to his lips and muttered.
“Your face always smiles. It seems you enjoy living every moment.”
“Indeed. But something interesting happened just now.”
“Interesting thing?”
“Yes. I made a bet.”
“A bet?”
The hand holding the cup stopped in mid-air for the old man.
Curiosity.
That emotion, which grew even stronger with age, bloomed thickly on the old man’s face.
“Yes. Tomorrow’s two young fighters have made a bet, and I became curious, so I made one myself.”
“You bet on a fight between pups by using your name?”
“That’s right.”
The master of the Cheonhae Merchant Group.
That Yeo Geum-hwi had acted as guarantor for the duel of a mere Rising Star, not even a hall master, was more than enough to make Moyong Wol-un’s eyes widen.
“What kind of bet was it?”
“The loser’s family plaque will have the winning family’s banner planted beside it for a full year.”
“Wait. Isn’t that the usual bet the Jusan Baek Family makes?”
“You know? Yes, that is correct.”
Yeo Geum-hwi nodded.
The bet he had guaranteed was separate from the one in which the winning family would escort the grand procession.
“Since the scale of the families involved is so different, neither side seems likely to back down.”
“Your face is getting more and more curious.”
“What?”
“About that Jung-hyeok fellow. He spreads the flag claiming the Jusan Baek Family is the best even though the Seven Great Families exist. It is quite ridiculous. Well, there is charm in crushing such things……”
“No.”
“What is it?”
“It is true that Baek Jung-hyeok has made such bets with various sects and families before, but this time it is different.”
Suddenly the old man’s eyes sparkled like a child’s.
Watching his reaction, which treated duel watching as the ultimate snack.
“The one who proposed the bet is the Rising Star from the Seoho Gwak Family side.”
“Oh ho.”
At that moment, Yeo Geum-hwi recalled the two banners that were being prepared in the merchant group’s workshop more grandly than ever before.
「 Jusan Baek Family is the best! 」
「 Seoho Gwak Family is the best! 」
* * *
The day had broken.
“Sons! Crush them completely and come back!”
“Do not worry! We will plant our family name in front of those stupid bastards’ doors and make it unforgettable for the rest of their lives!”
“Hahaha!”
At the bow of a large ship, on the vessel heading to the deserted island where the duel would take place, Baek Jung-hyeok and Baek Ryang-san were already laughing as if they had already won.
“Ugh, this is childish. Right?”
“Childish—! Childish—!”
On the mast, Baek Jung-hyeok’s sister shook her head along with the black crow perched on her shoulder.
“………”
The Jusan Baek Family’s chief steward, who had exchanged glances with the Seoho Gwak Family’s total manager at the gathering yesterday, nodded with a smile.
And.
“Since our young master wins this time, there will be a week-long feast?”
“Isn’t the feast the problem now?”
“Yes, you idiot. Now our family becomes the strongest in Zhejiang! From now on, Hangzhou will treat us as equals!”
“They say they will even lower the gold seal today?”
“Y-yes really?”
“As expected, he’s flamboyant!”
“Jusan Baek Family is the best, as always.”
The waves of excitement, which had begun among the people aboard the Jusan Baek Family ships, had grown uncontrollably.
Boom!
With the sound of a large war drum.
“We have arrived!”
The deserted island where the duel would begin was visible.
“Look, the Gwak Family fools have appeared! Our young master is going to fight, so why aren’t you cheering?!”
On the opposite side, the Seoho Gwak Family ships stood.
“Crush them, young master!”
“Crush them, young master!”
“Crush them, young master!”