Chapter 264
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 264
Chapter 264. Dragon and Phoenix Duel (1)
The reason why I am embarrassed.
It is because that incident happened when the plum blossom sword master was the second emcee at the duel.
An incident where a martial artist's sword qi flew toward the audience from the duel stage.
Of course, the Martial Alliance uses formations to protect the audience.
These formations were created long ago by a genius of the Jaegal Clan, and they have the ability to prevent attacks from flying outside a certain space.
That is why the audience can watch from such a close distance.
However, something went wrong at that time, and the martial artist's sword qi flew straight toward the audience.
The other martial artists tried to stop it, but it happened so suddenly that they couldn't prevent casualties.
What's more, the seats in that area were very expensive.
At the time, the Martial Alliance was concerned that ticket sales would plummet, so they kept the information secret.
That's why we don't know exactly which seats they were.
I looked at my mother.
In my previous life, my mother never watched the Dragon and Phoenix Duel at this time of year.
That's why she was so disappointed that she couldn't see Hyang-ok's performance.
In any case, my mother could have been injured by that attack.
The best thing to do would have been to prevent the attack from happening, but even the Jaegal Clan's formations couldn't stop it.
However, I cannot prevent those who participated in the duel from standing on the stage.
They also stood on the stage with their own dreams.
Because of that incident, a martial artist with a bright future was forced to give up his sword.
In any case, no matter how much I think about it, there is only one way to prevent this tragedy.
Watch closely and quickly step in to stop it.
If I do that, my abilities may become known to the world, but I have no choice.
I can't tell the bodyguards about this in advance.
If it flies toward me, the bodyguards may be able to react and stop it, but if it flies toward someone else, only I, who am prepared in advance, will be able to stop it.
I have also made preparations in case my skills are revealed with the help of the Northern Sea Ice Palace Head.
Still, I think I should tell my Master in advance...
Anyway, if this happens, it's definite that I will watch the duel with my mother.
.
.
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Dong!
The preliminary round began with the sound of loud drums.
The first to face off were the son of a small martial arts family and the son of a small sect.
Come to think of it, there were eligibility requirements for participating in the Dragon and Phoenix Duel.
First, one must not have any disqualifying factors for joining the Martial Alliance.
This was a bit vague, but I understood that as long as one did not have a martial arts record or belong to an unorthodox sect or the Black Path, one could participate.
And the most important thing was age.
Only those under the age of 30, based on their family register, could participate.
Watching them fight with real weapons, the eyes of his mother and Mrs. Kwang-joon Trading Company sparkled.
“That move will throw off his footwork...”
“It's a shame. If only he had been a little quicker to react.”
“Oh no! That attack could allow for a counterattack... Ah!”
They offered various advice, and I was a little surprised at how knowledgeable they were.
Everything they said was correct.
But... did my mother have this kind of insight?
Why didn't I know this in my previous life?
Then I immediately smiled bitterly to myself.
I guess I didn't know because I didn't pay much attention to my mother at the time.
I knew that my mother was talented.
But it was just a vague knowledge. At that time, saving my life was the most important thing.
After my life was saved with the help of the Black-Clothed Man, I was busy running the Trading Company.
I remembered how happy she looked when I gave her the double swords I got in Luoyang as a gift.
I wanted her to never give up on her dream... but I forgot again.
My mother was once a martial artist who dreamed of becoming a martial artist.
I almost regretted it again.
“Yeol-joon Seung of the Yeoryunpa!”
“Waaah!”
Before we knew it, the match was over.
“Let's start the next duel!”
Two martial artists climbed onto the stage again, and the duel began with the sound of drums.
The Dragon and Phoenix Duel takes more than half a month just for the preliminary rounds.
This was because the numerous martial artists who had gathered from all over the empire had to compete against each other at least once.
Once only 108 participants remained, the main competition would begin.
Thus, the Dragon and Phoenix Martial Arts Competition lasted for a month, from the beginning of September to the beginning of October.
In my opinion, in order to win the Dragon and Phoenix Martial Arts Competition, one must not only have overwhelming strength, but also good luck in the lottery.
This is because the participants in that day's preliminary round would gather in the morning and draw wooden tokens from a box to determine their order.
The match schedule was decided in this way, and if you failed to draw a number, you were automatically eliminated.
Then, the participants who had been called as reserves would draw numbers.
Honestly, if you were unlucky, you would face a strong opponent and be eliminated in the preliminary round, but if you were lucky, you would advance to the main tournament and be recognized as a rising star.
Some people occasionally complained that this was unfair, but the Martial Alliance's position was firm.
They believed that luck was also a skill, which was not wrong.
In the martial arts world, you had to be lucky to survive.
Or you had to be skilled enough to create your own luck.
.
.
.
It was getting dark, and the preliminary round of the first day was about to end.
I took my mother to the inn and went back outside. I wanted to check the sales of the Eunhae Trading Company's temporary store.
“Thank you for your hard work today.”
“Don't mention it.”
I encouraged Yoon Hangsu and the employees and listened to their reports on today's sales.
Sales were good.
“As expected, high-end teas sold well.”
“Yes. It's not the right time for serious conversation since the duels haven't started yet, right?”
“That's true.”
As one rises higher in rank, emotions become more intense and one must be wary of others, so there is little time for conversation.
In fact, tea can be drunk at inns and tea houses.
However, at this time of year, they are crowded with people.
Then, one has no choice but to drink tea at an inn, but to be honest, it is difficult to satisfy the refined tastes of martial artists at an inn.
Tea has a tendency to absorb moisture and odors from its surroundings, so it is difficult to store.
Many people don't like the taste of the tea sold in large quantities at inns.
For the same reason, even if individuals bring their own tea to Luoyang, the taste changes quickly, so they have no choice but to buy tea locally.
Furthermore, martial artists are naturally suspicious.
Therefore, many of them enjoy buying good tea themselves and brewing it, which is why the tea at our Eunhae Trading Company's temporary store sells so well.
“It's about time for the medicinal herbs to start selling well.”
“I'm sure they will.”
“Please keep up the good work.”
“Of course.”
On my way back to the inn, I sensed a familiar aura.
This aura...
I've felt this aura before, but where?
“Master Baek. I don't think this is right.”
I smiled.
I recognized the familiar voice and knew whose aura it was.
However, the tone of the voice sounded sharp, so I knew that the situation was not good.
I quickened my pace and headed toward the voice.
At a tavern, Jaegal Yoo-ah Miss was standing face to face with a young man.
It had been a long time since I had seen her, but she looked much the same as she did in my previous life, when she was called Muso Oknyeo.
Even her cold expression was the same.
She wasn't like that when I saw her before.
She spoke to her opponent in a cold voice.
“It's pointless to rig the match like this.”
Huh?
What is she saying?
“I cannot tolerate buying and selling the outcome of a match with money.”
“But this is also beneficial to them. What they need is money, not the outcome of the match.”
Ah...
Hearing that conversation, memories of her previous life came flooding back. In fact, there was one form of cheating in the Dragon and Phoenix Duel.
It was called “buying victory,” where victory was bought with money.
The list of participants in the preliminary rounds was posted the day before, so it was possible to cheat.
The participants would approach each other in advance and agree, “If you lose to me, I'll give you a large sum of money.”
This was mainly done by the children of prestigious families who craved fame, but it was eventually discovered.
Because of that, the martial arts world was turned upside down.
They confessed that they did it to live up to their families' expectations.
At the time, their families claimed that they didn't know about their wrongdoing, but... Did they really not know?
No way.
They must have known but turned a blind eye.
After all, as long as the outcome was favorable, there was nothing to lose for the family.
The corruption had already begun.
With that, Jaegal Yoo-ah left the tavern, and her eyes widened.
“Long time no see.”
“Huh? Master?”
The moment she saw me, Jaegal Yoo-ah's eyes curved beautifully. Then, a smile appeared on her cheeks.
That alone was enough to make me believe that she was a different person from the one I had just seen.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came for the Dragon and Phoenix Duel. Every time, various trading companies open temporary shops to do business.”
“Ah... That's right, Master Eun is from the upper world.”
“Yes, that's right.”
“By the way, what a surprise to see you here! It's sudden, but I'm really happy. Actually, I've been wanting to see you for a long time.”
She continued.
“Master Eun is our family's benefactor.”
“I am grateful that you still remember me.”
I said with a clasped hands greeting.
“I heard from Chief Administrator Yu that you left for Jamyonghaeng. When did you return?”
“I returned recently. And I was officially added to the Jegal Clan's family tree.”
Being added to the Jegal Clan's family tree.
That meant she was officially recognized as a member of the Jegal Clan.
“I am grateful.”
“It is all thanks to you, Master. If it weren't for you, I would have lost my place to return to.”
“That is an exaggeration.”
He was being modest, but in his previous life, her words were true.
He had lost his place to return to, and he had lost his smile.
But now, that was no longer the case.
Jaegal Yoo-ah, Miss, had returned after completing her training and had become a member of the Jaegal Clan.
She said with a smile.
“It's not a wild guess. Anyway, I'm really glad to see you. Ah! Don't be like that. Come with me. My grandfather will be very happy.”
I see that the Jaegal Clan Head has also come with you.
However, I gently shook my head.
“Young Mistress, it is late at night. And I believe you have a preliminary exam tomorrow.”
“That's right. I have a preliminary exam tomorrow.”
“Then please go to bed. You won't be able to perform well if you don't get enough sleep.”
At my words, Jaegal Yu-ah placed her hands on her cheeks and said.
“Are you worried about me?”
I smiled at her question.
“Yes. So, I will see the Clan Head tomorrow...”
At that moment, I noticed that there was no one around her.
“Miss, did you come here with your bodyguard?”
“Actually, he came with me. But I told him to come back later because the meeting was going to be long.”
“It seems like a gathering of the children of renowned martial artists.”
“Yes, that's true. But if that was the purpose of the gathering, I wouldn't have come. I've wasted my time.”
She was complaining, but when she realized I was there, she flinched.
“It was a place for Maesung.”
“...Do you know about Maesung?”
“Yes, we merchants know more than you think.”
“I see. I feel embarrassed.”
She probably heard about Maesung for the first time. This was her first time participating in a duel.
“And I would like to commend you for not getting involved in the Maesung.”
She replied to my words.
“I don't like cowardice either. By the way, can I tell my grandfather about this?”
“It doesn't matter, but it won't do any good.”
Because there is no evidence.
That's why the secret society was able to continue.
It was a rather unusual case when it was discovered.
She thought for a moment and sighed.
“That's true.”
She was quick-witted and understood what I meant.
“Anyway, it's time for you to go. Let me see you out.”
Miss Jaegal said she was staying at a guest house near the Martial Alliance.
A clan with a decent reputation in the martial arts world would have a guest house in Luoyang.
As I walked with her toward the Jaegal Clan's guest house, I suppressed a bitter smile.
The martial arts world is really in a mess.