Book 23 Chapter 16

The Midnight Auction House

— A Certain Transaction

Before leaving the inn, Yeonbi secretly hid the Mysterious Black Scale and pulled out a crude iron club.

"Well then, shall we go?"

Tonight looked like it was going to be a busy one. Just then, a problem arose.

"…No, before that, I need to find a place to change my clothes."

Due to her master's taste, she couldn't go about her business dressed like this.

"You're truly excellent at making things troublesome!"

Yeonbi grumbled but began searching for a location. A secluded place would be best. Women truly had to endure many inconvenconveniences.

* * *

Someone's slender feet powerfully kicked off the pier and ran. Their swift movements, like a nimble deer, were even admirable.

"Dad~"

Thud, thud, thud!

Hae-hwa had started running with a boost from the moment she saw her father, the Black Dragon King's shadow, and then she sprang off the ground, leaped across the long distance, and landed squarely in her father's arms. The Black Dragon King, content with his daughter's fervent embrace, exclaimed in surprise.

"What in the world, little one! What happened to our pretty girl? Aren't your eyes all red and swollen? And your skin is so dry!"

Indeed, Hae-hwa's eyes were swollen red, reaching the area around her eye sockets. The Black Dragon King, whose daughter's love was more than abundant, felt his heart collapse like a poorly constructed pavilion built on a sandy beach, crumbling in an instant.

Hae-hwa, having put effort into rubbing her eyes with onions before her father arrived, secretly smiled with satisfaction and burst into feigned tears, burying her face in the Black Dragon King's chest.

"Sob, sob, someone keeps… sob… bothering me. Sob, sob."

As her daughter's hot tears soaked his robes, the Black Dragon King became furious.

"What! Who dares to bother our good Hwa-ah? Who dares!!"

A few people from the Janggang River Water Bandits, feeling guilty that the word 'good' was being so grossly misused, fidgeted inwardly. However, with the law far away and their fists near, no one dared to utter a word. Hae-hwa, touched by her father's rage, buried her face in his chest again.

"Sob, sob, there is someone like that. Sob, sob, sob. What should I do, Dad? I'm too scared to continue going like this."

Her daughter's tears were a powerful weapon to her father. Moreover, it was not difficult to imagine how much more effective they were on the Black Dragon King, whose love for his daughter was already excessive.

'Where on earth is she innocent! 'Goodness' and 'innocence' are completely dead and gone!'

Many subordinates must have wanted to shout this. But fearing the Black Dragon King's madness, no one could point it out. They did not want to suffer the ignominious death of a doting father's blow, not in a place like this, but in battle. Their past experiences had kept them alive and taught them wisdom.

"Come to think of it, what happened to those ten guys?"

Those guys, of course, referred to the Ten Dragon Warriors of the Janggang, who had been dispatched to resolve his daughter's personal issue.

"They were all useless. They all failed. They must have been careless. Or they thought of something absurd. For Dad to send them for me, and they can't even do their part, they're really pathetic. They're fools."

The Black Dragon King, instead of reprimanding his daughter's harsh words, patted her back and said.

"There, there! Our good daughter! Don't cry. Your dad will fix it all, so just wait a moment. Dad has a little business at the auction house here. Once that's quickly finished, I'll resolve our daughter's issue."

"Really?"

Hae-hwa's eyes sparkled as she asked. Her tears had vanished as if she had washed them away.

"Of course, of course. Dad has some matters to attend to this time, so I brought many of the children too. So you don't need to worry. I even brought the Three Guardian Laws."

"Oh, really?"

Hae-hwa exclaimed, looking over her shoulder in the direction the Black Dragon King was pointing. Dozens of subordinates and the reliable three Guardian Laws, Ho-gang, Ho-ha, and Ho-cheon, were waiting there, awaiting his command.

"Then. Has your dad ever lied to our daughter! Don't worry."

It was impossible to underestimate the power of those who had captured three warships. That's why he had come here with a small but elite force. Especially the three Guardian Laws, who could be called top-tier martial artists; they were the teachers of the Ten Dragon Warriors.

Having heard that their disciples had been defeated pathetically, they were probably preparing to reprimand their disciples severely upon meeting them. If the Ten Dragon Warriors, imprisoned, knew this, they would have trembled in fear of meeting their masters. They might have preferred to put their necks under a cleaver rather than meet demon-like masters.

"Now, aren't you relieved? Anyone who bothers my daughter, your dad will crush them!"

The Black Dragon King thumped his chest with his fist, telling her to trust him. Then, his daughter called him.

"Dad."

The Black Dragon King replied, "Yes?"

"It's a 'she,' not a 'he'."

"……"

The Black Dragon King, along with his daughter Hae-hwa, led his subordinates to the location written in the letter sent by that insolent, overconfident patient with an enlarged spleen who was clearly not in their right mind. It was a port exclusive to the auction house, located next to it, where various auction items were transported, and sometimes auction ships were docked. However, in the auction house's history, such a dangerous item had rarely been put up for auction. Yet, despite its immense value and the many who desired it due to its origin, there wasn't a single bidder.

Now, next to the auction house after closing hours, a young man in black clothes stood with two Black Dragon ships and one Sea God as a backdrop. His long bangs obscured his face, making his appearance unclear. He held a long iron club in one hand. It was Bi-ryu-yeon, who had returned to his original form and had been waiting since earlier.

It was fortunate that there were no people around. This reduced the chances of his presence being discovered. However, he was slightly displeased with his shortened left bangs. He couldn't cover them as he had before. Still, he managed to pull some of his middle bangs together to conceal them somehow. But the overall impression was still awkward.

'I need to finish quickly and change back to a different appearance. I can't get used to this.'

It was understandable, as he had worn his bangs down for over ten years, and his senses were attuned to it. When he was Yeonbi, it felt like a disguise, and the dissonance was less. But now, back to his original appearance, the dissonance grew stronger. He wanted to get rid of this awkward appearance and return to Yeonbi's form. Therefore, those who made him wait could not be seen favorably.

"Ah, you're finally here. You're so slow. I was so bored waiting that I almost fell asleep."

He yawned and stretched. He appeared remarkably calm in front of dozens of bandits armed with swords and spears.

*Snap*

With a gesture from the Black Dragon King, his subordinates stopped their charge in perfect unison. They faced each other with ten feet between them, but Bi-ryu-yeon seemed unfazed.

The Black Dragon King looked somewhat disbelieving. He had never imagined that such a young brat would be waiting. He looked around, but the "strange old man" mentioned in the urgent report was nowhere to be seen.

"Y-you don't mean… you're the one who sent the letter?"

He couldn't believe that such a young brat had dared to send such an insolent threatening letter to the supreme leader of the Janggang River Water Bandits.

"Yes. Is there something strange about it?"

"You, a brat like you, dared to send such a rude letter to me?"

"Yes."

Bi-ryu-yeon, having no reason to hide, readily admitted it.

"Hah, hah, truly…"

The Black Dragon King seemed utterly bewildered.

"What? Were you waiting to beg for forgiveness on your knees? If so, it's too late."

The incident was too significant to overlook. If he didn't set an example, the entire organization could be wiped out in the worst-case scenario.

"Beg for forgiveness on my knees?"

"Yes, beg for forgiveness on your knees."

"You write difficult words even though you're not smart. That's impossible, as I've done nothing wrong."

Bi-ryu-yeon retorted in a voice full of disbelief.

"You've done nothing wrong? And… and your head is bad?"

The Black Dragon King retorted with a look of astonishment. He harbored a unique sense of self-deprecation about his own lack of intelligence.

"Besides, the wrong is on your side. Attacking someone who was quietly drifting, and then getting robbed. Tsk, tsk, aren't you ashamed to be doing thievery at your age?"

"It's not thievery! It's banditry!"

"It's the same thing. You're still not smart."

For people like these, their own temper was more important than lies.

"Shut up and state your business!"

The enraged Black Dragon King shouted. He looked frustrated that he couldn't rush forward and tear them limb from limb.

"I'm just here to negotiate, with the guest."

"Negotiate what?"

"The price of the ship, of course."

"Hahahaha! You dare to negotiate with this elder? You have quite the nerve!"

The Black Dragon King burst into laughter like a ferocious hound growling. He stepped forward. Whenever he appeared on the water, everyone trembled in fear, so he had never had such a rare experience!

Perhaps to broaden his experience, Bi-ryu-yeon glanced at the Black Dragon King's rugged face and said in a nonchalant tone.

"It seems you are your side's negotiation representative?"

The Black Dragon King's eyes widened, not just with rarity but with absurdity.

"Y-you! You called this body 'mister'! You dare to call me that! In front of me?!"

The Black Dragon King, his face flushed crimson with rage, shouted. Bi-ryu-yeon stared at the Black Dragon King's face, which flushed and paled, and then casually remarked.

"Who are you?"

He wore a look of genuine, innocent bewilderment, as if he truly didn't know who he was.

"Hah, you don't know this body?"

The Black Dragon King asked, on the verge of spiritual deviation due to his utter disbelief.

"How could I know? We haven't introduced ourselves. Aren't you an idiot?"

"I am not an idiot!"

A monstrous roar echoed across Dongting Lake. So loud it put thunder and lightning to shame, his subordinates had to cover their ears.

'What an idiot.'

Bi-ryu-yeon thought, watching the spectacle with a nonchalant expression. People who laugh in such situations are not scary, but those who get angry are not scary at all. Rather, they are merely pathetic.

"When someone hits the nail on the head, they react more intensely. Why are you denying it? Besides, I can tell you're not just an idiot, but a father who dotes on his daughter."

Bi-ryu-yeon said this after glancing at Hae-hwa standing beside him.

"W-what! Did you say everything?"

However, even his subordinates agreed with that point.

"It doesn't seem wrong, does it? Your subordinates agree too."

Bi-ryu-yeon's slowly raised finger pointed at the Black Dragon King's back.

*Whoosh!*

The Black Dragon King's head, with his eyes glaring like daggers, whipped around like a gale. As he shook his head, his subordinates, pierced by his menacing gaze, flinched as if struck by lightning.

'I'll deal with you when we get back!'

The Black Dragon King's fierce gaze seemed to say so. Sensing his earnest intention, his subordinates' faces turned ashen, and they became pale. The Black Dragon King turned his head back towards Bi-ryu-yeon and said, pointing his thumb at his own chest.

"Listen and tremble! I am the ruler of the Janggang, the chief of the Janggang River Water Bandits, the Black Dragon King!"

The Black Dragon King roared with a voice imbued with internal energy.

"Ah, the seller himself."

"Seller? Did you just call me a seller?"

"Shall I call you a buyer? You are the buyer, I am the seller. What's strange about that?"

Bi-ryu-yeon's index finger moved back and forth between the Black Dragon King and himself. He felt no dissonance about this concept whatsoever.

"You brat! Do you think you own these three ships?"

The Black Dragon King shouted.

"No. I'm just an agent. I'm not doing this because I want to. I have unavoidable circumstances."

The 'Sea God,' on which the Ten Dragon Warriors had arrived, was also captured by Yeonbi, not by Bi-ryu-yeon.

"Stop the nonsense! Where is that strange old man?!"

He had business with the main enemy mentioned in the report; he didn't have time to bicker with such a brat here. But things don't always go as planned.

"Strange old man? Ah, that person. I don't know. That damn old man is probably drinking somewhere again. Leaving all the troublesome work to me. Ah, I hate him to death. Why do I have to do this job that doesn't even put much in my pocket! Don't you think it's absurd?"

"W-well… you shouldn't ask me that…"

He was speechless, unsure how to respond as the Black Dragon King was faced with an outburst directed at himself, as if lamenting all the absurdities in the world. He had lost his own rhythm and was caught in Bi-ryu-yeon's flow.

"Hah, as expected, it's no use. I was a fool to expect anything."

"Hmph, sorry."

The Black Dragon King replied with a snort.

"What are you doing? Aren't you going to prepare quickly?"

Bi-ryu-yeon sighed deeply and suddenly said.

"Prepare what?"

The Black Dragon King blinked his large eyes and asked.

"You weren't planning to have a conversation anyway, were you? You weren't going to be persuaded."

"Of course not!"

The Black Dragon King declared it as a boast, not something to be proud of. It made one wonder how he had managed his subordinates.

"Then, for martial artists, there is only one solution."

"And what is that?"

The Black Dragon King, still not grasping the situation, blinked and asked.

"Strength!"

There was no other solution as common and immediate as strength.

"Strength? Power (力)?"

He raised his bulging right forearm and asked again.

"Don't flaunt that unsightly thing. You've ruined my eyes."

Bi-ryu-yeon criticized with a slight frown.

"What's wrong with my muscles?"

The Black Dragon King protested.

"There are people just like you. They mistakenly believe that a muscular physique is popular with women, but that's a grave mistake. Women and men alike don't really like sweaty things. Above all, it lacks elegance."

"What! How dare you disregard my magnificent muscles! I cannot forgive you! Come on! I'll crush you!"

"Hah, is that all you've got…"

He had never intended to negotiate in the first place, so there was no way a conversation would work. And since no conversation could begin, there was no room for negotiation. His master must have sent him here knowing this. To handle these trivial, annoying tasks. It was truly a master's action to leave the cleanup to his disciple after causing so much trouble. Bi-ryu-yeon, however, had no recollection of similar actions by himself that had tormented the Zhuque Group.

"You dare to fight us? You have quite the nerve. You'll regret it when you're crying in the afterlife!"

Bi-ryu-yeon shook his head and said.

"I'm not trying to fight all of you, but just you. So the expression 'us' is incorrect. Why don't we settle this one-on-one, without going through troublesome procedures?"

"Are you serious? You, a young kid like you, are going to fight this elder, the Black Dragon King, one-on-one?"

Bi-ryu-yeon nodded to indicate he was serious.

"Puhahahaha! Puhahaha! Puhahahaha!"

The Black Dragon King burst into laughter. Then, his three Guardian Laws and dozens of subordinates also burst into laughter. Some even held their sides. Only Bi-ryu-yeon remained unsmiling.

"Laugh as much as you want now. You won't be able to laugh again soon."

"Hmph, you're full of hot air! But what can be done about this?"

"Why?"

"This elder is very busy and doesn't have time for such trivial games. I am quite busy."

The Black Dragon King raised his hand as a signal, and dozens of waiting subordinates drew their weapons and stepped forward.

"Cowardly."

He uttered his impression in a nonchalant voice. In truth, expecting fairness from them was ridiculous. The Black Dragon King stood with his arms crossed and said.

"Whether it's cowardly or not can be thought about after winning. Whether on water or on land, if you win, that's all that matters. That's martial arts!"