Chapter 108

• The Eye-Appraisal Meeting

In the midst of the noisy chaos, the problem children of the Cheonmu Academy,
the walking trouble-makers, the burning powder kegs, or
the enemies of women, as they were called, the Cheonmu Twin Ghost Shadows, Tang Cheol-gi and Cheon So-hae, were
moving so busily that their eyeballs were about to roll back.

Below the platform he had made, numerous academy students were shouting at them and stretching out their hands.

To the people who were stretching out their hands towards the two with a desperate struggle reminiscent of the hungry ghosts of hell, the two were busy handing out the paper slips they were holding in a bundle.

The white paper slips that the Cheonmu Twin Ghost Shadows were now handing out were a kind of dividend table.

Dividend table! That's right, the dividend table that one receives as a proof of having bet money when making a bet or gambling. Then was this place a kind of betting and gambling den? If one were to ask that, everyone would answer like this.

'No! This is the Eye-Appraisal Meeting hall.'

That's right. According to their claims, this was a special place where one could test their own insight and luck in determining the winner.

This was the place that inevitably appeared around this time, a place that everyone who knew knew, the Eye-Appraisal Meeting hall.

Then what was the Eye-Appraisal Meeting?

This noble and somehow impressive-looking name was, in fact, just another name for a betting and gambling den if one were to peel off one layer. But even though a lot of money came and went depending on the victory or defeat, and the sides of those who cried and laughed were divided, no one called this place a betting and gambling den.

Because the word 'betting and gambling' was considered too vulgar, and the name itself reeked of illegality.

So everyone in the Cheonmu Academy, as if by promise, called this the Eye-Appraisal Meeting. It meant that one was testing their own insight in gauging the opponent's skill level. And then they would say. We have never bet or gambled! We just tested our own insight once. With a little bit of tuition fee added..., they would say.

It was the firm will(?) of the prestigious righteous path families that they could not bring themselves to call it a gambling den, as they had their face and honor. Of course, if one were to open the lid, what they were doing was so similar to a betting and gambling den that it would be almost impossible to find a difference. It seemed that this was what they called 'covering one's eyes and pretending not to see'.

Of course, it was a very surprising thing that such a thing was officially and openly happening in the famous Cheonmu Academy. But one should not overlook the fact that these were still young people in their 20s, full of vigor. They were people who had the curiosity and ability to commit any kind of act.

Besides, it was now the period of the blood-boiling Three Sages Martial Festival. Originally, a duel match was ten times more fun if a bet was placed on it. The difference in feeling when watching a match that one's own supported person was fighting, and when watching a match that was not, was like heaven and earth.

People who were unfortunately unable to participate directly due to their lack of skill were trying to cool down their boiling heat even with gambling. A kind of vicarious satisfaction, shall we say!

It seemed that the academy side was also tacitly condoning it. Because they thought that a positive one would have fewer side effects than a negative one. As long as there were not only enlightened immortals living in a group, in this type of matter, a bet was bound to be established, whether it was an individual or a group. Because if they kept cracking down on it, it would become more and more negative, and it would seep in deeper and deeper, and in the end, it might rot and fester from the inside.

The academy side's judgment was right. The students knew the degree and the line and knew how to be moderate. As it became more positive, they could not help but be conscious of the gazes of those around them, so they would exercise self-censorship and self-purification ability. The students harmonized and adjusted with each other, having their own rules. That had now hardened and become a tradition.

Come to think of it, it seemed that there had been a rebel who enjoyed strange and unique things from the first competition. In fact, to hope that everyone who had gathered here was a model talent was just an impossible dream. As a result of the continuous succession through generations since the attempt of one innovative(?) rebel (or heretic!), the Eye-Appraisal Meeting had now hardened into something like a tradition of the Cheonmu Academy. There were always those who stepped forward even when they were not asked to. They had continued this Eye-Appraisal Meeting for nearly 100 years. They had done well on their own even if they were left alone from above.

There was no way the Cheonmu Twin Ghost Shadows would miss this good opportunity. For various reasons, the progress and operation of this Eye-Appraisal Meeting had been entrusted to the Cheonmu Twin Ghost Shadows.

A young man in a purple silk martial robe, who looked slightly fat, entered this place that had become an open secret. He was none other than Geum Yeong-ho, the successor of the Geumho Merchant Guild, which was said to be the number one merchant family in the Jianghu, and a member of the Vermilion Bird Squad.

The reason why all the money of the Vermilion Bird Squad had been entrusted to Geum Yeong-ho was simple. Because he had an excellent knowledge in this field. Since his family was his family, he had grown up being educated with an excellent sense of money from a young age. Therefore, his friends, who believed in his ability and judgment, had entrusted everything to him. Of course, to concentrate the investment in one place was a very dangerous thing and a risk. But to get something bigger, a risk was an indispensable element.

They had decided to test their luck once. Although their great senior brother was a bit unreliable, they had decided to take a risk with determination. Although it was Geum Yeong-ho, who wanted to quickly handle the responsibility that was being transmitted from the heavy leather pouch in his hand and to be relieved, since there were so many people, he had to wait for a long time for his turn to come. After waiting for about 15 minutes, Geum Yeong-ho's turn finally came.

"Huh? Who is this? Isn't it Yeong-ho!"

The person who had recognized him first even in the midst of the busyness was Cheon So-hae, one of the Cheonmu Twin Ghost Shadows. Since his belief was to befriend the sons of rich families first, he had recognized him even in this situation where his hands were like feet and his eyes were about to roll back. His appearance was always neat, unlike the evaluation of being the top trouble-maker of the academy, but now his clothes were slightly disheveled because he was so busy. But if one were to look at his still neat face, he was a typical appearance of a prestigious disciple who would not be considered a trouble-maker at all.

"You're working hard. It's still a great success. You'll make a lot of profit!"

It was Geum Yeong-ho, who was focusing on the profit, as befitting the son of a merchant. The complexity of the numerous people who had gathered and were jostling in a limited space was reminiscent of a market. In his eyes, the movements of all these people were seen as the flow of money.

"Hahaha! I feel like I want to borrow even a baby's hand! So, who are you going to bet on? Is it the Three-Section Sword, Cheong-heun?"

"As expected, the top prospect seems to be the Three-Section Sword, Cheong-heun."

It was as he had expected.

"Of course. Who can block his sharp sword ki?"

"But since the winning rate is the highest, isn't the dividend low!"

Of course, the higher the winning rate and the more people's votes were gathered, the lower the dividend would be when one won. Of course, on the contrary, if the winning rate became lower, the dividend would become higher. Instead, the risk was that much greater.

"Oh! You're trying to bet on another place. I'm curious where you smelled the money! Then who are you going to bet on? Tell me the place your sharp sense wants. Is it the biggest variable, the Seven Absolutes Divine Sword, Moyong Hwi, who is called the top talent? There have been a considerable number of people who have had expectations for him so far. They must be expecting a new wind."

As he had said, the board was now divided into two sides, Cheong-heun and Moyong Hwi. The name of the Sword Saint had exerted a great power in making people turn their heads from Cheong-heun. But still, the immovable number one was the Three-Section Sword, Cheong-heun. Even for Cheon So-hae, Geum Yeong-ho's judgment was interesting.

Although it was a secret to others, the Cheonmu Twin Ghost Shadows and Geum Yeong-ho had secretly slipped out of the academy and had nurtured a special friendship by shaking dice in the gambling dens of the city. Sometimes as enemies, sometimes as comrades... In the gambling den that unfolded under the night sky, Geum Yeong-ho, as befitting the successor of the Geumho Merchant Guild, the number one merchant guild in the Jianghu, had shown a special talent not only in his sense of money but also in gambling. His excellent sense was something that even Cheon So-hae and Tang Cheol-gi inwardly acknowledged. And that ability was also the reason why the Vermilion Bird Squad had entrusted all their judgment to him.

"Decide quickly. As you can see, I'm a busy person right now..."

Even while talking to Geum Yeong-ho, Cheon So-hae was constantly moving his body. It was amazing that he was doing his work smoothly, as if he were not hindered in his actions even while dividing his attention.

"No! I will bet on Bi Ryu-yeon. Please bet the entire amount in here on that side."

He said firmly and suddenly held out the pouch he had been holding carefully. Cheon So-hae's eyes, who was receiving the pouch, widened. Tang Cheol-gi, who had heard the three characters of Bi Ryu-yeon's name, was also turning his gaze this way. And they shouted in unison.

"Bi Ryu-yeon! On our junior?"

Geum Yeong-ho nodded his head. The fact that Bi Ryu-yeon had joined the Young Lady Lovers' Society, and had even dragged Moyong Hwi in, was a matter that had spread widely in the academy.

"Won't you regret it? So far, only three people have bet on our junior. And it's only a small amount. Besides, I know those people, and it's nine out of ten chances that they bet because of their friendship. They're all our junior's friends."

"Three people! You mean there are people who have bet. I thought there would be none. It's more surprising that there are!"

If it were as expected, they should be the only ones who had bet on Bi Ryu-yeon. It was natural. Who would bet their blood-like money on a first-year greenhorn with unverified skills? The Vermilion Bird Squad and Geum Yeong-ho were taking a risk with the intention of sweeping the betting board when they won.

Of course, they had expected an empty field. But, there were. And not just one, but three... Besides, as the overall winner. Whoever they were, it was clear that they had been treated as crazy by those around them when they had bet. There would have been many people who had stopped them, saying to stop the crazy act.

Now, he himself was risking being treated as that crazy person and was betting on Bi Ryu-yeon, no, the great senior brother. It seemed that the day when the rumor that the Vermilion Bird Squad had gone crazy while preparing for the decisive battle with the Azure Dragon Squad would spread was not far off. It was visible in his eyes that the rumor would spread like wildfire soon. It was something he had been prepared for.

Still, they were in a position of knowing top-secret information that others did not know. And it was information that might act as a major variable in the outcome of the bet. Their situation was different from others. But, what did these people believe in to bet here, on Bi Ryu-yeon? If these people had seen through the great senior brother's skills (although he didn't look like a master at all no matter how you looked at him) and had bet, these people would probably be geniuses. Their insight in seeing people, which was second to none, would be the number one in the world. Or they were just simple fools...

Geum Yeong-ho hoped that they were fools. Otherwise, they might become frightening rivals.

"Won't you regret it?"

Cheon So-hae asked for the last time, receiving the pouch that contained the entire month's living expenses and operating expenses of the Vermilion Bird Squad. It was a statement full of the meaning that it was not too late now, so he should quickly change it.

"I won't regret it. My choice is unchanged."

Geum Yeong-ho's gaze was firm. The piercingly intense gaze was representing the fact that he himself was not joking now. Cheon So-hae also did not argue or try to stop him any more.

"I see. It's a dangerous gamble of all or nothing. I wish you good luck in your judgment. If you win, it won't be a dream to multiply it by 200 times. If you win, that is..."

Cheon So-hae, who had said a meaningful word, confirmed the money in the bag and handed out the dividend table. Geum Yeong-ho, who had received the dividend table, carefully checked the amount and the person written on the dividend table and then carefully put it in his inner pocket. The work he was in charge of was up to here. Now, the rest had to be left to the heavens. Geum Yeong-ho, who had finished his work, slipped out of the crowded crowd.

It was then.

"Hey? Who is this? Isn't it the only son of the Geumho Merchant Guild, who has nothing but money, Geum Yeong-ho, Mr. Geum?"

An unpleasant voice! Geum Yeong-ho's head slowly turned back.

'Spotty! Damn it, how unlucky...'

The person who had called him to a halt with a tone full of sarcasm was the Azure Dragon Squad's Strange Illusion Sword Fast, Do Gwang-seo, whom he did not want to meet and was awkward to talk to. Illusion and Fast, the moment people heard his nickname, they would imagine a skinny body, long arms, and a nimble body. But the person who had seen him directly would realize how big of a mistake they had made. Because he was the owner of a heavy build that was unimaginable for a person who used a fast sword.

It was a mystery how such an illusion and fastness could come out from a lower abdomen that protruded as much as Mount Tai and the fats that were screaming to be saved. Although they were in the same grade, he was a junior disciple of the Hengshan Sect's Wise Dragon, Baek Mu-yeong, and was absolutely obedient to him.