Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Several days passed since the Sado Alliance’s delegation arrived and the trainees of both great academies entered preparation for the competition.

Though the entire Murim Alliance is said to be busily moving with competition preparations, not everyone is so busy they can’t even lift their heads. That may be true for Murim Alliance officials, but not for the spectators who flocked to confirm the true face of the first public competition.

Since they came purely for the purpose of spectating, there’s no need to rush. That’s why those with free time began coming out to Sangsan’s streets one by one, breathing life into the district.

“Nine nyang of iron coins.”

“It’s, it’s expensive.”

Among them was Muryeonggaek, who rushed over at the thought that his disciple might suffer public humiliation.

“If you’re not buying, please step aside. There are people waiting behind you…….”

“……Who said I’m not buying! Mmm. Young girls these days like this kind of look…… right? I’m trying to gift it to my disciple.”

“Of course. That’s the style of hairpin that’s very popular these days.”

“……I’ll buy one.”

“Thank you for your purchase!”

“Huu.”

Muryeonggaek, who handed iron coins to the peddler and received the hairpin, carefully put it in a silk pouch and sighed deeply. A crowd painfully large for Muryeonggaek, who is quite shy.

“I should have come a bit earlier.”

He didn’t think such a crowd would gather. Well, that’s natural, since until now, the competition was impossible for non-officials to observe.

If you were a master of Muryeongwan or Mujeongwan’s enrolled trainees, or their relatives, observation was possible, but that number was at most a few hundred. There was never such crowding. Naturally, there was no need to worry about where to stay either.

But what about now?

“There are no rooms at the Murim Alliance, and rooms at the inns are scarce too…….”

The world’s attention focused on Sangsan.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to express it that way. That’s how much of a crowd had gathered in Sangsan right now.

An unprecedented level of crowd flocked here. Moreover, most of them are guests of the Murim Alliance, so all the inns near the Murim Alliance are in an uproar.

“Huu.”

At this rate, he might really have to sleep in a stable or shrine.

Having finished his contemplation, Muryeonggaek shook his head and gauged the time.

“The sun is at its zenith. Should I fill my stomach first…….”

He hadn’t even properly eaten meals while wandering around looking for lodging. Soon, if he doesn’t eat something, it will obviously be difficult to move energetically.

Nodding at his own thought, Muryeonggaek searched for a nearby inn with his eyes, picked out a suitable one, and entered inside. Then immediately, the waiter’s booming voice burst out.

“Welcome!”

Muryeonggaek, who flinched at the loud voice, tried to hide his trembling voice and spoke as if calm.

“Ahem, ahem. It’s just one person, but do you happen to have a seat?”

“Mmm, if it’s one person, there are no seats right now…….”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. If you’re okay with sharing a table, should I ask?”

“Sha, sharing a table, you say?”

At the waiter’s words, Muryeonggaek, who briefly glanced inside the inn, hurriedly shook his head. Inside the inn, there was only one place where he could share a table—where a man in white was sitting.

‘His physiognomy looks like he’d make me talk while eating if I shared……!’

One eye constantly closed as if injured, and a smooth atmosphere somehow flowing around him, wearing a scholar’s robe.

He could tell without experiencing it. People with particularly good social skills usually made such expressions. They’re the type completely opposite to Muryeonggaek, who is shy and can’t even speak properly to strangers meeting for the first time.

If he shares a table, he won’t even be able to eat properly. He might even get indigestion.

Having finished calculating, Muryeonggaek shook his head. And.

“I’ll find another place. Sharing a table is a bit…….”

The moment Muryeonggaek turned his body to leave the inn.

“Don’t do that and come sit down. There won’t be seats at other places either.”

The voice of the man in white, who had been watching Muryeonggaek with an interested expression, pierced through the commotion and drove into Muryeonggaek’s ear.

“……I’m not hungry.”

“Hahaha. There are people who come to an inn when they’re not hungry?”

“I, I thought I’d have a cup of tea!”

“Coming for a cup of tea at this crowded time would be a nuisance in its own way.”

“Am I going to eat you or something? Food tastes better when eaten with someone.”

“Haaa.”

At the man who kept stating only facts, Muryeonggaek sighed as if the ground would cave in and approached the man in white with heavy footsteps. And seeing that Muryeonggaek, the man in white grinned.

“Order first. What will you have?”

“One bowl of thin noodles.”

“Will you have strength with just that? Looking at your appearance with things hanging all over, you seem to have arrived in Sangsan today, and you’ll have to look for lodging too. Waiter, one serving of Ohhyangjangyuk  here too.”

“I don’t have much money.”

“I’m paying. They say the four seas are one family —isn’t this also fate? I happened to have too much for one person to eat anyway, so it’s good.”

“……If that’s the case.”

At Muryeonggaek’s passive answer, the man in white, wearing a faint smile, finished ordering and placed his arms on the table.

“What’s your name?”

“……What will you do by knowing?”

“Didn’t I say the four seas are one family? I’m even paying for the meal, so I think it’s fair to at least hear your name. Don’t you think so? Or is this insufficient to hear your name?”

“It’s not that but……huu, it’s Jang Bang.”

“Jang Bang. So you’re Brother Jang? I’ll call you that from now on. I’d like you to call me Pungryugongja .”

“There won’t be occasion to call you.”

“Well, it seems there will be soon. By the way…….”

At Muryeonggaek flatly refusing, Pungryugongja let out a chuckle and continued.

“People who deliberately come to Sangsan at this time seem to be here to watch the competition, so Brother Jang probably came for that too. Who is it?”

“Who, you ask?”

“Looking at you, you seem to be quite shy, but there’s someone you know among the trainees, right? Otherwise, there would be no reason to come all the way here.”

“……You’re like a ghost.”

Surprisingly accurate speculation.

Looking at Pungryugongja, who seemed to see through his psychology and predict as if reading his mind, Muryeonggaek sighed and shook his head before answering.

“I have a disciple among the Muryeongwando. A child named Dan Riyeon…….”

“Dan Riyeon! Indeed! Brother Jang was that Dan Riyeon’s master!? Amazing!!!”

“……You know my disciple?”

“No, I don’t know?”

“You must cherish your disciple a lot. Your deathly expression from earlier brightened completely. Ah, don’t glare at me like that. It was a joke. Anyway, Muryeongwando, Muryeongwando…….”

Watching Pungryugongja muttering “Muryeongwando, Muryeongwando” repeatedly, Muryeonggaek frowned. Even Muryeonggaek, who was dull to rumors, knew what rumors were circulating now.

“……They say Muryeongwan is at a disadvantage.”

Now, among those gathered in Sangsan, anyone with even slightly open ears thinks so. Well, because there are so many prominent talents gathered in Mujeongwan.

Namgung Hyeon, Paeng Jin, Cheonggyeong, and Baek Risan. Even looking across all of the orthodox path, there aren’t many who can match them in talent. Those renowned people are stationed in Mujeongwan. Then what about Muryeongwan?

At best, only Seomun Cheok has made a name among vagrants, and most Muryeongwando haven’t made their names known in Gangho.

Actually, it would be strange if they had. How many rising stars in their late teens make names for themselves? Unless they’re disciples of prestigious sects, there are no opportunities to make names known, so it’s natural.

“Do you also think Muryeongwan will lose?”

Most people think Muryeongwan will lose. Actually, Muryeonggaek himself wasn’t much different.

Rather, it’s fair to say he’s more certain than others. Muryeonggaek has watched the competition between Mujeongwan and Muryeongwan three times.

Unfortunately, the probability of winning this time is slim. This man probably thinks similarly.

That’s what he thought.

Until Pungryugongja responded indifferently.

“Well, Muryeongwan will win.”

“As expected, you also think Mujeongwan will win…… hm? Muryeongwan?”

“I didn’t misspeak. I mean Muryeongwan will win. The place where your disciple is.”

At Pungryugongja’s nonchalant response, Muryeonggaek blinked and rolled the story he heard around in his head for a moment. And the bitter self-deprecation that immediately came out.

“……You don’t need to be considerate just because my disciple is in Muryeongwan. Either way, it’s a fact that Muryeongwan is at a disadvantage compared to Mujeongwan, so…….”

“I’ve never been considerate of Brother Jang’s feelings. There’s no need either. Why would the person who paid be considerate?”

“……Then, why do you think it will be Muryeongwan?”

“Because being strong in martial power doesn’t mean you’ll win.”

Pungryugongja, who responded lightly, smiled faintly.

“The current Mujeongwan is strong. I’m not a martial artist so I can only evaluate through rumors, but no smoke without fire, right? Their skills must back it up for the rumors to be that good.”

“……Then Mujeongwan should win.”

“Listen to the story until the end. Being strong ultimately has little meaning in victory or defeat. If it weren’t so, would Xiang Yu, the Conqueror, have been defeated by Emperor Gaozu of Han?”

Pungryugongja, who twirled his finger on the table, continued.

“What determines victory in group battles isn’t individual strength but the group’s strength. And comparing Mujeongwan and Muryeongwan, the one with higher group strength is probably…….”

“Probably?”

“Didn’t I say it earlier? Muryeongwan will win. That means the one with higher group strength is Muryeongwan. Ah, the food is here.”

The moment his words ended, watching the waiter place Ohhyangjangyuk, thin noodles, and dumplings on the table, Pungryugongja beamed and picked up his chopsticks to put a dumpling in his mouth.

“Mm, this inn’s taste is good no matter how many times I come. It was good when I came before, but the head chef’s skills have improved.”

“Aren’t you eating, Brother Jang? You looked very hungry.”

“I will eat. More than that…….”

“Mm?”

“I understand that the side with higher group strength wins. But even comparing group strength, Muryeongwan seems inferior—why do you think Muryeongwan will win?”

“Why do I think Muryeongwan will win.”

At Muryeonggaek’s question, Pungryugongja, who let out a chuckle, picked up a dumpling with his chopsticks and dipped it deeply in soy sauce. And Pungryugongja bringing the dumpling to his mouth again.

“Brother Jang, you’re taking the words of a mere idle scholar who’s not even a martial artist seriously? You’re quite naive.”

“……I’m not agreeing. I’m just trying to hear it since there was no hesitation in your answer.”

“If that’s the case, well, it’s simple. Because I know something Brother Jang doesn’t know.”

“Something I don’t know……?”

“That’s right.”

Pungryugongja, who nodded, continued while chewing.

“When given the same information, people’s predictions are mostly similar. For example, like how anyone you grab on the street right now would answer that Mujeongwan will win, when under the same information, people’s judgments surprisingly have little error. However, I know that what appears on the surface isn’t everything.”

“What do you mean it’s not everything?”

“Well, the judging materials aren’t just one or two. For one thing, Muryeongwan has someone who absolutely never fights battles without a chance of winning, and…… mm. Even if I explain, you won’t understand well. This is something only I can understand. I’ll just say for now that victory’s fortune  is with Muryeongwan. At least that’s how it looks to my eyes.”

Pungryugongja, who playfully tapped his closed left eye with his finger, picked up his chopsticks to finish his meal. And Muryeonggaek staring at that sight.

‘……He’s no ordinary person.’

There’s no basis. It’s just intuition. However, the intuition of Muryeonggaek, who survived in Gangho for a long time as a martial artist, was telling him.

This scholar who looks like an idle man is no ordinary person.

“……Come to think of it, I haven’t heard your name either.”

At Muryeonggaek emerging from contemplation and speaking, Pungryugongja let out a chuckle.

“Didn’t I say it? I asked you to call me Pungryugongja.”

“……I heard that, but that wouldn’t be your name, would it?”

“Hahaha. Well, Pungryugongja isn’t my name. What crazy parent would name their child Pungryugongja? Both my parents were quite sane people, though they did leave home. They weren’t the type to joke around with their child’s name. I naturally have a separate name.”

“……You’re tiresome.”

Watching Pungryugongja playfully twirling his chopsticks, Muryeonggaek sighed and asked.

“I didn’t think I’d ask your name, but well. Since it came to this, let’s exchange names. What’s your name?”

“Name, hmm. Name. I don’t like putting forward my name particularly, but if you insist on asking.”

Pungryugongja, who shrugged his shoulders, poked the last remaining dumpling with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, and chewed. And the answer that immediately followed.

“It’s Seon.”

“Seon?”

“That’s right. Seon.”

Along with his answer, Pungryugongja, who smiled deeply, pushed aside the empty dumpling plate and propped his chin.

“It’s Baek Riseon.”