Episode 400: Preparation
Winter had always been the busiest season at the Tang Manor. With fewer patients to attend to, physicians from all over the central plains would gather there to hone their medical skills.
But this year, the hustle and bustle were more intense than ever.
The reason was obvious: the influx of martial artists from across the land.
The Tang Manor had to accommodate not only the disciples of the Emei and Qingcheng sects but also, unexpectedly, those from the Wudang sect.
This unexpected crowd presented Tang Mujin with a dilemma.
Despite his confident assurances that there would be enough space, the reality was that there simply wasn’t enough room for everyone.
To be more precise, there weren’t enough places for people to sleep.
‘What should I do?’
People were crammed into tight spaces, half-piled on top of each other, and when the night grew too stifling, they would spill out onto the verandas to sleep, even in the biting cold.
‘This can’t go on.’
Tang Mujin finally made a decision. He would have to admit the limitations of the Tang Manor and send some people to stay at nearby inns.
Fortunately, winter was a slow season for merchants, so there were plenty of empty inns in the city.
‘The problem is, who do we send?’
Martial artists are known for their pride.
If he singled out a particular group to leave, they might feel slighted and take offense.
In the end, Tang Mujin sought advice from Hyun Gong.
“Hyun Gong, you know how crowded the manor is these days, right?”
“How could I not?”
“We need to send some people to stay at inns. Who should we send?”
Hyun Gong responded as if the answer was obvious.
“Why are you even asking? Just send the ones who won’t make a fuss.”
Tang Mujin was taken aback.
“What? We can’t just tell the Emei nuns to leave, can we?”
Hyun Gong paused, staring at Tang Mujin.
“Who said anything about sending the Emei?”
“Then are you suggesting we send the Qingcheng? You know Elder Hwang and Master Jin, right? Can you handle the aftermath?”
“Why are you trying to send an entire sect away? Everyone’s been excited about the sparring matches lately. Just make it a simple penalty: whoever loses a match spends a night at the inn.”
It was a reasonable suggestion, but Tang Mujin hesitated.
“That seems a bit harsh.”
“Harsh? The manor will cover their lodging costs. It’s not like you’re short on money.”
“It’s just… it feels wrong to send guests away like that. And losing a match is bad enough without having to sleep elsewhere.”
Hyun Gong crossed his arms and clicked his tongue.
“Sending them to an inn might make you feel a bit guilty, but cramming them into tiny rooms will make everyone uncomfortable. If you set it as a fair penalty for losing, no one will complain. Plus, it’ll motivate them.”
Tang Mujin thought for a moment.
And soon realized there was no better solution than Hyun Gong’s advice.
Tang Mujin gathered the martial artists from the Qingcheng, Emei, and Wudang sects to explain the situation.
“As you all know, we’re short on space, so some of you will need to stay outside the manor.”
He was about to explain the penalty system when a voice interrupted him. It was Yu Jin-kwang from the Wudang sect, who raised his hand eagerly. Tang Mujin acknowledged him.
“Yes, Master Yu. Do you have a suggestion?”
“Our Wudang will stay at the inn.”
“Are you sure?”
“We arrived last, so it’s only right to give up our spots to those who came before us.”
Tang Mujin looked around. The other Wudang members seemed unbothered.
Still, he asked again out of courtesy.
“You’ll have to come back to the manor in the morning and return to the inn at night. It might be inconvenient, and the inn’s facilities aren’t as good as the manor’s. Are you sure?”
Yu Jin-kwang waved his hand dismissively.
“It’s fine. The inns in the city are quite large and clean. No one will mind. In fact, the inns are probably more spacious and comfortable than our own sect’s quarters.”
It was a lighthearted jab at the Wudang’s financial struggles, which everyone found amusing.
The room filled with laughter, and Yu Jin-kwang grinned.
As the laughter subsided, Yu Jin-kwang asked Tang Mujin quietly.
“Just to be sure, are we covering the lodging costs?”
“No, the manor will cover your lodging and meals. Since you’re taking on this inconvenience, we’ll also provide some extra support.”
Tang Mujin’s generous offer was met with enthusiasm. Yu Jin-kwang gestured to his fellow Wudang members.
“Great. Everyone, pack your things! We’re moving to the inn!”
“Yes!”
No one objected. The Wudang members quickly gathered their belongings and headed to the nearby inn.
With the Wudang’s sacrifice resolving the issue, the Tang Manor returned to a semblance of normalcy.
Life continued smoothly as they prepared for the impending martial arts tournament.
Every morning, the martial artists gathered in the training grounds to spar.
The opportunity to test their skills against other sects was invaluable, but the real benefit was the chance to witness high-level matches daily.
Hyun Gong and Yu Jin-kwang faced each other, exchanging respectful bows.
“Let’s have a good match today.”
“Likewise.”
They drew their swords, and the other martial artists watched intently, eager to learn from the masters.
Matches between top-tier masters like Gong Ryong-ja and Hyang Baek-sa were rare, and even rarer were those involving the six supreme masters currently at the manor: the Three-Eyed Buddha, Yu Jin-kwang, Hyun Gong, Wei Ji-nan, Jang Il-nam, and Tang Mujin himself.
The impact of these matches was profound, with more martial artists gaining insights from watching than from participating.
As the day turned to evening, the martial artists from various sects mingled, discussing their experiences and insights.
When it was time to sleep, the Wudang members returned to the inn, while the others retired to their assigned rooms. Tang Mujin felt a sense of satisfaction at the productive days.
‘Excellent. We might significantly strengthen our forces before the tournament. I should have gathered everyone sooner…’
But such an ideal routine rarely lasts without interruption.
People naturally seek leisure and entertainment.
Before long, a small amount of alcohol found its way into the evening discussions.
It was unclear whether the Qingcheng, known for their love of culture, brought it, or if it was the work of the city-savvy Demonic Cult members, or perhaps the Wudang members from the inn.
Tang Mujin observed the drinkers thoughtfully.
‘Alcohol… as long as it doesn’t cause problems the next day, it might even be beneficial. Building camaraderie is important when we’ll be fighting for our lives together.’
However, he kept a close eye to ensure no one overindulged.
Fortunately, the martial artists had enough self-control to avoid any embarrassing incidents.
A few days later, just as Tang Mujin was beginning to relax, the situation changed again.
Gambling, alcohol’s frequent companion, quietly made its entrance.
”···.”
Unlike alcohol, gambling was a bit more concerning.
But this gambling was also kept in check.
No one was staying up all night, and no fortunes were being wagered.
The gambling sessions were brief, starting after the martial discussions and ending neatly after a short while.
Tang Mujin didn’t want to spoil the atmosphere by being overly strict.
‘If it gets out of hand, Elder Gong Ryong-ja or Hyang Baek-sa will step in before I have to.’
The fact that the Wudang members often won was another reason Tang Mujin hesitated to intervene.
Unlike the financially stable Qingcheng and Emei, the Wudang could greatly benefit from even small winnings.
Tang Mujin approached Yang Seon-chun, a senior Wudang member, quietly.
“Excuse me, Elder Yang.”
Yang Seon-chun, who had been watching the gambling, turned to Tang Mujin with a start.
“Ah! It’s the head of the Tang family. What brings you here?”
“No special reason, really. I just thought I’d drop by for a chat.”
Yang Seon-chun’s expression relaxed.
“Haha, is that so?”
“By the way, it seems the disciples of the Jeomchang Sect have quite a fondness for gambling.”
Yang Seon-chun visibly tensed up.
“Oh dear. I suppose it might have been uncomfortable for you to see. I’ll make sure they steer clear of gambling from tomorrow.”
Tang Mujin waved his hand dismissively.
“That’s not what I meant. It’s not like the gambling is interfering with their training. I was just curious because I thought the Jeomchang disciples would be averse to gambling. They even seem quite skilled at it.”
“Ah, I see what you mean.”
Yang Seon-chun’s expression eased once more.
“Actually, if you’ve been with the Jeomchang Sect long enough, you’ve probably lost money gambling at least once. Some of us had no choice but to gamble to pay off massive debts…”
Unlike other sects, the Jeomchang Sect couldn’t earn money through trade or escort services. Yunnan was a remote area with no notable specialties, so merchants rarely visited. To make matters worse, the southern region of Nanman wasn’t appealing to traders either. If a merchant was aiming for big profits, it was wiser to trade with the Western regions instead.
Given these circumstances, past disciples of the Jeomchang Sect had to venture far to establish escort services, and even then, they turned to gambling to make ends meet.
Tang Mujin nodded in understanding.
“Yes, that’s why I thought the Jeomchang disciples would dislike gambling.”
“It’s understandable. But with no decent villages near Jeomchang Mountain, there’s not much to enjoy. Apart from a bit of gambling, there aren’t many leisurely activities. That’s probably why the disciples have grown accustomed to it.”
“Ah, I see. But there’s one thing that concerns me.”
“What is it?”
“While the disciples seem to be making small gains now, I’m worried they might end up losing a lot. I understand the Jeomchang Sect’s finances aren’t in the best shape…”
Yang Seon-chun smiled confidently at Tang Mujin’s concern.
“There’s no need to worry. We didn’t bring much money with us. Aside from travel expenses and a little extra, all the funds are kept at Jeomchang Mountain.”
“I see.”
“Plus, the money we earn is sent back to Jeomchang Mountain through the Manggeum Bank, so there’s no risk of losing everything.”
”···.”
Tang Mujin found Yang Seon-chun’s explanation intriguing. Sending gambling earnings back to Jeomchang Mountain? It almost sounded like they started gambling to make money from the get-go.
’…No, that can’t be right.’
Tang Mujin glanced around. People were already tidying up the gambling area and getting ready to leave. It was just a small diversion, but there was an unmistakable hint of excitement on their faces.
Tang Mujin asked Yang Seon-chun one last question.
“By the way, where is the head of the sect?”
“···He returned to the inn right after dinner.”
“Ah, I see.”
Tang Mujin was quietly impressed. Come to think of it, he had never seen Yoo Jin-gwang gamble at the Tang family estate. Although Tang Mujin didn’t gamble himself, he had a vague understanding of how hard it was to quit. They say gambling is even harder to quit than opium.
And Yoo Jin-gwang was someone who had once been deeply engrossed in gambling. Even when he was running a trading company or searching for his father in the North, he couldn’t stay away from the gambling tables.
For someone like that to return to the inn right after dinner to avoid gambling—it must have taken extraordinary self-control.
‘Well, it’s no wonder he became such a legendary master.’
With that thought, Tang Mujin returned to his quarters.
The next evening, someone completely unexpected came to see Tang Mujin.