Book 23 Chapter 5

At the auction house

"There's no one buying."

"Now, I'll ask one more time. Is there anyone who will buy this item?"

The host looked around, but no one expressed their intention.

"Is there really no one who wants to buy it? These are two famous Black Dragon Ships. I dare say it's hard to find such quality. Still no one?"

Silence…

Everyone avoided eye contact, pretending not to care. They looked as if they were intentionally trying not to pay attention.

"I will count to ten one last time. If there are no bidders by the time I reach ten, it will be considered 'unsold'."

The host delivered the ultimatum.

"Is that what they say?"

The disciple said to the master sitting next to him.

"An old man has ears too."

The master replied curtly.

"One… two… three… four… five… six… seven… eight… nine…"

And with a glimmer of hope, he looked around again, but there was no significant improvement.

"Ten!"

Everyone remained silent, and no one raised their hand until the end.

"Two Black Dragon Ships, unfortunately, have not been sold. Please wait for the next opportunity."

*Thump thump thump!*

The host announced, striking the gavel three times. The auction that the master had been so confident about ended anticlimactically.

However, the problem still remained.

'It won't end like this, will it? I hate troublesome things.'

This was because, more than anyone, Bilyeon knew that the master would absolutely not accept this outcome.

"It didn't sell?"

Bilyeon said with a faint smile on his lips, in a slightly annoying voice, as if he were amused. He was in his usual appearance today. This was due to the master's particular(?) tastes. He wore his grass hat pulled down even indoors, for fear of meeting someone he knew. Fortunately, he had looked around a few times and confirmed that there seemed to be no familiar faces.

"Don't laugh. Yours didn't sell either."

"Ugh!"

Not only the two Black Dragon Ships, but also the Sea God captured by Bilyeon, had not sold.

"Hmm, this is a bit unexpected. I thought there would be buyers for such items… Don't you think so, disciple?"

It might seem strange to the master, but it was natural. Even the great master had overlooked one thing this time.

"What's strange? You didn't consider the auction participants' perspectives enough, so it's only natural. The original owners are from the Eighteen Villages of the Yangtze River. From that point on, they are no different from stolen goods. Do you think everyone is a brute like you, Master?"

Even if everyone wanted the Black Dragon Ships, they were afraid of retaliation from the Yangtze River Villages. Whether they paid a fair price or not, it was clear that they would reclaim their lost possessions on the water. This was also something he had overlooked until the items didn't sell, despite his boasting.

"Oh dear, I had forgotten about that point for a moment. I only thought about the quality of the goods and forgot about the buyer's perspective!"

Just like conversation, business also requires more than one other party besides myself.

"Then it's fortunate."

At the master's words, Bilyeon's amber eyes widened.

"Fortunate about what?"

From Bilyeon's perspective, nothing was fortunate.

"Since you know so much, you can take care of this matter, so isn't it fortunate?"

Realizing what the master was about to entrust him with, a bad premonition washed over Bilyeon.

"You… you're not seriously going to entrust me with that, are you?"

However, the master had never once met Bilyeon's expectations.

"No, of course I am. Those two black ships, you sell them. While you're at it, you can sell yours too, so isn't this a great opportunity? Don't you think so, disciple?"

The master commanded in a calm voice.

"Why do I have to do things like that…"

Bilyeon grumbled, his grass hat pulled down.

"Then should this old man do it? Since you weren't around, I had no choice but to do it. Now that I've taught you everything, you have to pay the price. If you've learned, you have to use it. What's the point of learning if you don't use it?"

As expected, the master was someone who never lost an argument to his disciple. For some reason, Bilyeon heard it as: "I raised a disciple to use them when needed, like now."

"Tch, so it's for my retirement plan?"

With a 99.9% probability, Bilyeon was sure.

"You just realized that?"

The master snorted with a laugh. Since he was so confident, Bilyeon found it too bothersome to argue.

"Alright. Ah, I'm busy with other things, but I have to do these chores…"

Although he grumbled, Bilyeon's mind was racing.

"First, it would be good to write a letter to the Yangtze River Villages."

Bilyeon said, contemplating what to write.

"What are you going to write? Are you going to send your regards?"

The master asked in a bored voice. He seemed to doubt its effectiveness. However, Bilyeon was confident in his own way.

"No, I'm holding onto your lost items, so come and get them. Of course, don't forget the reward."

"Ho ho, that sounds like a good idea. Indeed, there's nothing better than a letter to convey one's feelings. Do that."

"I wasn't just playing around after descending the mountain, you know."

A warm letter was all it took to convey sincerity. However, in this case, it would certainly not be a warm letter. Well, the purpose of a letter is limitless, isn't it? Limiting the purpose and effect of a letter to one thing is like killing the potential of the letter itself.

"By the way, Master?"

"Why?"

"You didn't intentionally make a mistake just to pass this task onto your disciple, did you?"

"Who knows? Would I really do such a thing?"

The master replied with a meaningful smile. It was a smile that didn't inspire much trust.

"Master,"

Bilyeon suddenly spoke cautiously.

"What is it now?"

"If I resolve this auction problem well, you'll give me… *that* back, right?"

Bilyeon asked, deliberately using a definitive expression.

"That? What 'that' are you talking about?"

The master feigned ignorance. The master's attitude was even more irritating.

"Oh, you know."

He was talking about the Thunderbolt Sword that had been taken from him—though the master insisted it had been recovered. What else could Bilyeon be interested in right now?

"Stop it. You're just being suspicious. Shoo, shoo."

The master's theory was that acting out of character made one look suspicious rather than cute.

"Tch."

He was a very annoying opponent, not easily swayed by flattery.

"Ah, my words were mistaken. How can I return something you don't own?"

"Oh, don't worry about such trivial things."

Bilyeon pleaded, waving his hand affectionately. It was truly a tearful effort.

"That's disgusting. I told you to stop."

The master warned in a low voice, rubbing his forearm as if he had goosebumps.

"Then will you return it?"

Bilyeon asked, his eyes shining.

Bilyeon's gaze was serious. It wasn't easy for him to become this serious. That meant it was a very important item to Bilyeon. Perhaps this was a case of realizing its value only after it was gone.

"Well… if you handle it well, I'll think about it."

It wasn't a very satisfying answer. The evasiveness was also bothersome.

"You're not going to give me a definite answer?"

Bilyeon protested. The master, who avoided giving a clear answer and dragged out the situation ambiguously, was truly a sly old fox.

"What do you think? Do you think your master would do something like that?"

"No."

At times like this, he regretted being so realistic and unable to indulge in fantasies.

"Good."

Thus, Bilyeon began to write a letter to the Yangtze River Villages Federation.

After a while, the master asked,

"Is it done?"

"It's done."

Bilyeon replied, putting down his brush.

"Alright, then send it via the escort agency. Express delivery. Of course, you'll pay for it."

"My money again?"

"Of course? Should this poor, old master whose retirement pension has been cut pay for it?"

The master asked, feigning a cough. The most unfitting appearance for the master would probably be pretending to be weak.

"Don't do that, it doesn't suit you. Alright. I'll pay. Then I guess I need to go back to the Sky-Piercing Pavilion. I'll see you in five days. Well, it will probably take another two weeks for a buyer to arrive."

The master replied with a smile.

"Okay, I'll be leisurely enjoying drinks here! But it's best not to run away!"

He added,

"Lately, I have a lot of free time."

This meant that he would find it, no matter how long it took.

"That's terrible."

Bilyeon replied curtly.

* * *

Around the same time that Murim Alliance Leader Na Baekcheon received the invitation, a letter also arrived for the Chief of the Yangtze River Villages. The face of the Black Dragon King, who had been boasting about his intelligence and reading the letter in front of his ignorant subordinates, began to change color, from red to purple. This was a sign that he was furious. At such times, one had to be extremely careful, as approaching him carelessly could result in bloodshed.

The content of the letter, which had enraged the hegemon of the Yangtze River with just a few short sentences, was as follows.

Personal letter from the Chief of the Yangtze River Villages Federation.

I will omit the greetings and get straight to the point. We have recently come into possession of three excellent ships, and we are hereby contacting you. We believe you will surely be interested. After all, they are the famous ships known as the Black Dragon Ship and the Sea God.

Believing you to be interested in purchasing them, please come to the pier next to the Ganghōrandō Auction House on such-and-such date at such-and-such evening with the payment.

-Anonymous Sender A.

P.S. However, we will not wait long.

In summary, the message was:

'Your ships have become our ships. If you want them, come and pay the proper price.'

Below, the date and time to bring the money were kindly and detailed, but there was no gratitude. Instead, his teeth gnashed, and his insides burned with fury.

*Snap!*

The Black Dragon King could no longer contain himself and crushed the letter in his hand.

"Hah! Who dares send such a letter! Do you know where this is! Do you know who I am!"

The Black Dragon King roared in anger. He had never received a more disrespectful, arrogant, and infuriating letter than this one. This was a direct challenge to the authority of the Eighteen Villages of the Yangtze River. And that act had long been defined as a 'suicidal act.'

"Fine! If you want to die, I'll kill you! How arrogant to be so pleased with capturing just two Black Dragon Ships and one Sea God! I'll show you how deep the Yangtze River is! I'll make them all fish food!"

And I'll make sure they never rise again! As the hegemon of the Yangtze River had decided, it had to be done exactly as he willed.

The Black Dragon King ordered his adjutant, Jo Gabbi.

"Prepare the men immediately! Top-class combat readiness. Raise anchor and unfurl the sails! We set sail. I, Black Dragon King Hae-eo-gwang, will lead directly! Let's show the surging power of the Yangtze River!"

Adjutant Jo Gabbi bowed at a right angle and replied,

"Yes, I will follow your orders."

The Black Dragon King sprang from his seat, wrapped himself in a dark blue cloak, violently flung open the door, and strode out majestically, shouting,

"Let's go to Ganghōrandō!"