Episode 206: Wuchang

The area around the martial arts tournament was teeming with a massive crowd. It was nearly impossible to count the number of spectators, and among them were vendors looking to make a quick profit from the bustling throng. The result was a chaotic scene where finding a place to stand was a challenge.

Hong Geolge spoke to Wang Jincheng. “Remember, we’re here in Wuchang to relax. Let’s head to the inn and rest before we get too tired, alright?”

“Yes,” Wang Jincheng replied, opting to join the group instead of resting alone at the inn. He wasn’t as frail as when he had collapsed, and his childlike curiosity made it hard to resist the allure of the spectacle.

Hong Geolge handed Wang Jincheng a silver coin, courtesy of Tang Mujin. “Here, take this. It’s your allowance.”

“What?” Wang Jincheng’s eyes widened in surprise. Even children from well-off families rarely handled silver coins. Tang Mujin, though not from a wealthy background, never had to worry about meals and could be considered relatively comfortable. Yet, even he had never received a silver coin as pocket money, only occasionally sneaking one for errands.

For Wang Jincheng, who grew up on the streets, a silver coin was likely a first. “Why are you giving this to me?”

“Until we leave Wuchang, you’ll get one silver coin a day. Spend it however you like.”

The silver came from Tang Mujin’s pocket, who had given all his share from the last job to Hong Geolge. Compared to that, a few silver coins were a mere trifle, so Hong Geolge felt justified in his generosity.

“One silver coin a day?”

“Yes. Buy yourself some tasty snacks or new clothes if you need them. If you need more money, just ask. Spend as much as you want.”

“Thank you!” Wang Jincheng’s eyes sparkled as he disappeared into the crowd. Tang Mujin turned to Hong Geolge. “What prompted you to give him an allowance?”

“We didn’t leave Wang Jincheng at the Shaolin Temple because we wanted him to experience life and choose his own path. If he only follows me, he’ll only know the life of a beggar. He should experience spending money while he has the chance.”

Just as they hadn’t confined Wang Jincheng’s future to being a monk, they didn’t want to limit him to the life of a beggar either. Tang Mujin was impressed. Unlike Namgung Myung or Hyun Gong, Hong Geolge’s reasoning was thoughtful.

They expected to see Wang Jincheng back at the inn, but to their surprise, he returned quickly, bringing four rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves. He handed one to each of them before disappearing into the crowd again. “I’ll be back soon!”

“Alright, don’t tire yourself out,” Hong Geolge called after him.

Hyun Gong bit into his rice dumpling and remarked, “That kid’s already learned the ropes of social life. Did you see how he used part of his allowance to keep his benefactors happy?”

“He’s just mature for his age because he’s been through a lot. Benefactors, really?” Hong Geolge retorted.

“Think about it. The money came from your pocket, through Hong Geolge, to Wang Jincheng. He gave the rice dumplings to you and Hong Geolge first, then to me and Namgung Myung. Coincidence?”

Tang Mujin let Hyun Gong’s nonsense pass in one ear and out the other. Hyun Gong didn’t seem too serious about it anyway.

The group moved with the crowd, listening to the chatter. The preliminaries had ended just yesterday, and the main event was set to begin today.

“What do you think the skill level of the participants will be?” Tang Mujin asked.

Namgung Myung, chewing on his rice dumpling, replied, “There’ll be a few lucky second and third-rate fighters, but most will be first-rate.”

“And those who’ve surpassed the pinnacle?”

“Maybe one or two if we’re lucky. It’s not unusual if there’s none.”

The average martial artist reaches the pinnacle in their forties, if they’re talented. Those without talent might never reach it, no matter how long they train.

The tournament grounds had no seating except for a few chairs reserved for dignitaries. People stood packed together like rice plants in a field, craning their necks to see the stage. The four of them found a decent spot and stood on tiptoe.

On stage, two fighters were preparing for their match, warming up with light sword swings. Both seemed to be first-rate.

“Who do you think will win?” Tang Mujin asked.

“The one in the red martial arts uniform seems more accomplished than the one in gray, so I’d say he has a seventy percent chance of winning.”

A martial artist’s victory isn’t determined solely by skill and insight. Choices made in the moment, the compatibility of their martial arts, and luck all play a role. There are countless variables.

Especially among those below first-rate, predicting the outcome is even harder. Their swordplay is either free-spirited or reckless, depending on how you look at it.

Tang Mujin didn’t expect much. Watching two martial artists with limited insight rely on luck didn’t seem particularly entertaining. But as soon as the gong sounded and the match began, Tang Mujin found himself captivated. As Namgung Myung had said, the match was surprisingly engaging.

While high-level masters risking their lives with their ultimate techniques is thrilling, there’s a unique charm in watching less skilled fighters clash with raw determination.

The crowd around them was visibly excited, likely due to bets placed on the outcome.

“Go for the knee! His lower body is wide open! I’ve bet everything on you!”

“I could fight better than that! Is that the best those sword-wielding wannabes can do?”

Namgung Myung shouted, “Use the Emperor’s Sword Form! Overwhelm him with a decisive strike! Use the Sword of Victory!”

“He’s spouting nonsense,” Hong Geolge chided, but Tang Mujin flinched. Somewhere between fascination and frustration, Tang Mujin imagined himself using his own sword techniques and poison skills to dominate an opponent.

After a long and grueling match, the outcome was decided. The man in gray, who had been slightly outmatched, managed to win with a stroke of luck.

Hong Geolge commented with satisfaction, “That was more fun than I expected. In terms of entertainment, watching these middling fighters might be better than watching masters fight to the death.”

The other three exchanged subtle glances at Hong Geolge’s words. Sensing their meaning, Hong Geolge grumbled, “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Nothing, really.”

“Even among first-rate fighters, there’s a hierarchy. If I were up there, I could take down that guy in gray in five moves.”

“True, even among acorns, some are bigger,” Hyun Gong quipped.

Just as Hong Geolge was about to demonstrate a move from the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms on Hyun Gong, a new voice called out to them.

“Hey, you four! Are you the guardians of this kid?”

The voice was distinctly feminine and carried a hint of internal energy, making it stand out amidst the crowd’s chatter.

Tang Mujin turned to see the source of the voice—a woman in a flowing white robe. Next to her, Hyun Gong wore a satisfied grin, indicating she was quite a beauty by his standards.

Tang Mujin focused on the person beside the woman instead. It was Wang Jincheng, his hair disheveled and clothes slightly torn, as if he’d been in a scuffle.

Tang Mujin and Hong Geolge rushed over. “Wang Jincheng! What happened?”

“I was just enjoying some snacks when some local kids tried to rob me. So, I taught them a lesson. I think I knocked out three or four of them,” Wang Jincheng boasted, showing the coins he had managed to keep.

The woman clicked her tongue. “What’s there to be proud of? If I hadn’t stepped in, you’d be in real trouble. One of them was sneaking up on you with a rock.”

“I could’ve dodged it. I didn’t know about the rock, but I knew someone was coming.”

“Ugh, if only you’d keep quiet… Oh?”

The woman, who had been scolding Wang Jincheng, suddenly froze.

Tang Mujin glanced at Hyun Gong, worried he might have done something inappropriate, but Hyun Gong was merely trying to look soulful, hoping to impress the woman.

Though Tang Mujin found it a bit distasteful, it wasn’t exactly rude.

‘What’s she looking at?’ Tang Mujin followed her gaze.

The woman was staring at Namgung Myung. At first, Tang Mujin thought she might be taken by Namgung Myung’s handsome features, as many women were, but something felt off.

Namgung Myung’s face showed clear signs of surprise.

Hong Geolge asked, “What’s going on, Namgung Myung? Do you know this lady?”

Namgoong Myung, instead of answering Hong Geolgae’s question, turned to the woman with an awkward smile.

“It’s been a while, Jeong Okryeong.”

The woman, Jeong Okryeong, wore a similarly complex expression—surprise, anger, annoyance, yet a hint of warmth.

“Namgoong Myung. What have you been up to all this time?”

“I’ve been wandering all over the central plains. It just happened that way.”

“You should have at least sent word!”

Jeong Okryeong’s face seemed to simmer with rising frustration. Namgoong Myung, uncharacteristically, fumbled for words.

“I’m sorry. You’re a bit late for marriage, but it’s not too late yet. If you hurry and find a match…”

At that, Jeong Okryeong’s voice rose to a near shout.

“After all these years, that’s what you have to say? Find a match? You…!”

Unlike a typical lady from a noble family, Jeong Okryeong unleashed a torrent of harsh words, more than half of which were curses. Hong Geolgae instinctively covered Wang Jincheong’s ears.

Even after venting her anger with curses, Jeong Okryeong wasn’t satisfied. Her face flushed, she drew her sword.

The crowd, which had gathered for the spectacle, quickly dispersed.

Jeong Okryeong, not merely threatening, swung her sword at Namgoong Myung with a palpable intent to harm. Of course, her blade couldn’t touch him.

Namgoong Myung instinctively reached for his sword to block, but decided against drawing it in such a crowded place.

Instead, he smoothly intercepted the blade with his left arm. His left arm was a wooden prosthetic, so grasping the blade barehanded posed no problem.

Only then did Jeong Okryeong notice his prosthetic arm, her eyes widening in shock.

“The rumors about you losing an arm were true? What happened to you?”

Her emotions seemed to swing rapidly between anger and concern.

Tears welled up in her eyes, her voice thick with emotion. Yet, she managed not to cry, biting her lip as she sheathed her sword.

“You jerk! Just die!”

With that, she stomped off, leaving the group bewildered.

Everyone except Namgoong Myung exchanged puzzled glances before someone cautiously approached him.

“What was that all about? Who is she?”

“If I had to put a label on it, she’s something like a fiancée.”

It wasn’t entirely unexpected. The Namgoong family was a powerful clan, so it wasn’t surprising for Namgoong Myung to have a fiancée. It was just news to them.

However, Hong Geolgae had a lingering question.

“Why ‘something like’ a fiancée?”

“Jeong Okryeong was supposed to be my third or fourth concubine.”

“What?”

As the group’s expressions turned incredulous, Namgoong Myung sighed and explained.

“In a powerful clan, marriages are arranged out of necessity, not love. I was promised a wife before I was ten. If I hadn’t been so focused on my training, I would have been married by twenty.”

“Fine, but why bring up concubines when you haven’t even married?”

“In a clan like Namgoong, many families want to offer their daughters as concubines, even knowing there’s a promised wife. Jeong Okryeong’s family was one of those. Why are you looking at me like that?”

Dang Mujin replied.

“Isn’t it strange to talk about concubines so casually?”

“The heads of the great clans you know have at least two or three concubines. That’s on the low end. The head of the Moyong clan had over ten. Running a great clan means leaving many heirs and uniting various families to expand influence.”

Namgoong Myung’s voice was tinged with bitterness, clearly not fond of the topic.

Hong Geolgae bravely interjected.

“But you were disowned, right? That must have put those women in a tough spot.”

“Not really.”

“Really?”

Namgoong Myung shook his head.

“They weren’t marrying me; they were marrying the future head of the Namgoong clan. If I was disowned, the engagement was either nullified or transferred to the new heir.”

“But Jeong Okryeong didn’t seem to take it so lightly.”

“That’s why I was surprised.”

Matters of the heart are tricky for outsiders to meddle in. To make matters worse, Hong Geolgae and Hyun Gong had never even held a woman’s hand.

However, there was one exception in the group.

Dang Mujin draped an arm over Namgoong Myung’s shoulder.

“So, what do you think of Jeong Okryeong?”

“Why?”

“I’m a married man. When it comes to understanding a woman’s heart, I’m the expert here.”

Dang Mujin grinned confidently.