Chapter 106: When the Sleeping God of Gambling Awakens
Chapter 106: When the Sleeping God of Gambling Awakens
I arranged for the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Master to hide in a safe house managed by the leadership of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Since the facility operated under an incredibly secretive and sophisticated system, there was no need to worry about her safety.
Before bidding farewell to the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon, she made sure to leave a final request regarding Lee An.
“Please take good care of your bodyguard.”
Seeing her emphasize it again, it was clear her previous praise for Lee An hadn't been mere flattery.
“Shouldn't it be the other way around?” I joked. “My bodyguard is the one who’s supposed to look after me.”
The Heavenly Flower Pavilion Master smiled at my remark. I had a feeling our connection was only just beginning.
After parting ways with her, our carriage began to race toward its next destination.
“Smiling Demon, those bastards might attempt another ambush. Stay sharp.”
“You should be the one to be careful, Young Master Lee.”
“Is there any reason for me to be targeted?”
“Now that the person they could kill to spite me is gone, they might decide to kill you instead.”
“Would you be upset if I died?”
“For the Cult Leader’s sake, I’d have to pretend to be. Actually, it might be for the best. The Cult Leader would forgive me for anything I did afterward.”
He spoke as if joking, but the man was a volcano that could erupt at any moment. And those bastards were doing everything in their power to make that volcano explode.
I leaned out the window of the speeding carriage. Beyond the blur of passing trees, I saw a sheer cliff in the distance. I had climbed that cliff once before. In my search for materials for the Great Regression Art, there wasn't a single corner of the Central Plains I hadn't visited.
Back then, when I thought about life after regression, I imagined I would spend most of my time training martial arts in a secluded training ground. Yet here I was, passing this place again. Life after regression was proving to be even more hectic than before.
Feeling the wind and reminiscing about my past life, I suddenly glanced toward the driver’s seat.
“You two haven't said a single word to each other, have you? Why don't you have a chat?”
Immediately, Lee An’s voice transmission rang in my mind.
— Please, don't do this. I'm already dying of discomfort.
— So? Are you just going to stay uncomfortable forever?
— It’s much more comfortable to just travel in silence.
It was then that Blue Face abruptly asked Lee An a question.
“How is the work as a bodyguard?”
Both Lee An and I were surprised by his question. Of course, he likely asked out of courtesy toward me rather than genuine curiosity about her.
“As you can see, he isn't an easy person to serve,” Lee An replied.
Blue Face nodded slightly as if in agreement.
This time, Lee An asked, “How about you, Lord Blue Face?”
“I like it.”
If they had been just a bit closer, Lee An would have probably retorted, 'If you answer like that, what does that make me?'
However, the awkward conversation ended there.
That was enough. It was a start. Now that the ice was broken, perhaps the day would come when I’d see the two of them actually chatting.
I pulled myself back inside the carriage.
“Is it proper for a great man to be such a busybody?”
Knowing exactly how I’d respond, the Smiling Demon brought up the 'great man' talk again.
“It’s not about being a busybody; it’s a matter of personality. I just can't stand a stifling atmosphere.”
“Is that 'stifling nature' why you’re trying to strip off my mask?”
“That’s probably part of it.”
“Young Master Lee, that is the very definition of being a busybody.”
After his sharp retort, the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon turned his head toward the window. Smiling Demon, even with all my meddling, you truly are an impregnable fortress.
I chuckled and looked out the opposite window. The cliff I had climbed before my regression was receding into the distance.
*
After traveling for a long time, the carriage arrived at a marketplace bustling with people. The merchants nearby flinched when they saw three masked martial artists step out of the carriage.
Blue Face led the way, and we followed behind him.
“Young Master Lee, do you have a lot of money?”
“I do. Why do you ask?”
“If you have a lot, I was planning to let you squander it all at the gambling den.”
“Careful. If you provoke the Sleeping God of Gambling, the entire den might go bankrupt.”
The Extreme Evil Smiling Demon let out a scoffing laugh.
Inside a small door at the end of an alleyway lay a whole new world. The gambling den was grand and luxurious. Without exaggeration, it was ten times larger than I had expected—bigger than the Main Cult’s Great Training Ground—and filled with an uncountable number of people.
Gamblers were crowded around hundreds of tables, while slender beauties in revealing clothes moved between them carrying bottles of liquor. Everyone was so engrossed in the games that no one paid any mind to us, despite our masks. They didn't care who came or went.
“The scale is much larger than I imagined.”
“Shall I tell you something even more surprising? The revenue here is greater than that of the Heavenly Flower Pavilion.”
I had heard that the pavilion’s income was greater than that of the major merchant groups, which meant this gambling den earned even more than the pavilion.
“The Unorthodox Path Alliance wants to set up gambling dens in this region and take a piece of the pie, while the Murim Alliance wants to wipe this place out entirely. Those Orthodox bastards curse us for ruining people with gambling, but in truth, they just hate seeing money flow to us. Well? What are your impressions of this place?”
“Seeing them so obsessed with gambling in broad daylight makes me want to beat them all into their senses.”
“Then from now on, only grass will be served on your dinner table, Young Master Lee.”
“It’s their own lives; I suppose I shouldn't interfere, right?”
The problem with that kind of life is that one never goes down alone. Borrowing money, stealing, deceiving—after tormenting their families and everyone around them, they cling on until the bitter end before finally collapsing. That was their inevitable fate.
As the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon made his unannounced visit, the managers came rushing out in a panic. They trembled like leaves at the fact that the Smiling Demon himself had come.
As we walked toward their office, we passed a spot where an unusually large crowd had gathered. When the Smiling Demon stopped, a manager quickly reported.
“That man is the son of a local influential figure, and he occasionally bets large sums like that. It seems his luck is in today; we keep losing to him.”
Indeed, looking at the dealer facing him, I could tell from his expression that he was completely overwhelmed by the man's momentum.
“I’ll bet it all on the high numbers.”
The man pushed all the money in front of him forward. The amount was so large that the dealer’s face turned completely pale.
“The result is obvious,” the Smiling Demon remarked.
The manager quickly said, “I will replace the dealer.”
“Wait.”
Stopping him, the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon looked at me.
“Would you like to give it a try?”
“Are you going to cut off my arm if I lose the money?”
“Where did that confidence about bankrupting the den go?”
“Fine. But only for one round.”
I took the dealer’s place. People flinched as I stepped forward in my mask, but the gambling den had the right to change dealers. I quickly shook the cup containing seven dice. The Smiling Demon’s eyes gleamed with interest at my skillful hand movements.
Thud.
I slammed the dice cup down. Once the dice dancing inside came to a halt, I lifted the cup. The sum of the dice was narrowly on the 'small' side.
A groan erupted from the man’s mouth. His winning streak had been broken. The dealer who had been losing to him let out a sigh of relief. I immediately left the table and walked back to the Smiling Demon.
“Fortunately, I was lucky.”
“Was it really luck?”
“What else would it be if not luck?”
“Perhaps the Sleeping God of Gambling has awakened.”
“He hasn't, so let the God of Gambling go back to sleep.”
I left him even more curious with a cryptic smile.
Guided by the manager, we exited through a passage in the corner of the gambling den. There were several rooms along the hallway, which seemed to be where the martial artists guarding the den waited and lived. Passing through them, we entered the manager’s office through a secret door.
The manager brought the ledgers to Blue Face and explained the state of the gambling den to the Smiling Demon. He reported roughly how many people visited per day, how much they earned, and what methods they were using to attract new customers.
Of course, they sent monthly reports to the Main Cult, but when the Smiling Demon visited in person, they reported directly to him. I watched the scene in silence, and the Smiling Demon observed my reaction even while listening to the report.
To be honest, what interest would this process hold for me? Nevertheless, I didn't show any signs of boredom. I made an effort to understand his life. I made that effort visible. I am looking at your world with interest.
Quite a bit of time passed during the report and the review of the ledgers. Though he had joked about cutting off arms, the gambling den was being managed perfectly well. The Smiling Demon gave the managers a few words of encouragement.
This was the core of today’s business. Just as he had done with the merchant group leaders earlier, the Smiling Demon personally encouraged the managers. It was to make them realize that the most terrifying person was watching them. This simple act was the key to keeping his businesses from faltering.
When it came to work, the Smiling Demon was more competent than anyone. Would the Blood Heaven Blade Demon or the One Flower Sword Venerable possess such meticulousness and diligence? I doubted it.
I walked across the gambling den with the Smiling Demon. Lee An and Blue Face followed behind us, and the managers followed behind them. As we were walking toward the entrance through the noise and heat...
Shweeeek! Thwack! Bam!
Starting with the sound of a blade cutting through the air, the sound of tearing flesh and heavy impacts followed almost simultaneously. Two men stood on either side of us.
The dagger of the man on the right had been aimed at the Smiling Demon’s throat. However, before the dagger could touch him, half of the man's face had already been blown away by the Smiling Demon’s palm strike. My sword was buried in the heart of the man rushing from the left.
The coordination of the two men had been exquisite. The man on the left had been cheering about winning money as he turned around, while the other had been running toward him from the opposite side to congratulate him. They were assassins targeting us. They had struck at the exact moment our paths crossed.
The eyes of the surrounding gamblers all turned toward us. But soon, their gazes returned to their tables. Even though two corpses had appeared right next to them, not a single person left the gambling den. Instead, they urged the dealer to hurry up and roll the dice. I found them more terrifying than the assassins.
“Are you alright, Young Master?”
I praised Lee An for her concern. “Your skills have truly improved a lot.”
When the assassin attacked me earlier, her sword had been almost entirely drawn. In the past, she wouldn't have been able to react, but now she had nearly unsheathed her blade.
“If they had attacked me, I would have died.”
“That’s not true. The fact that you almost drew your sword even though you were behind me means that if you had been in my position, you would have cut the opponent down. Your skills have reached that level.”
Lee An looked as if she couldn't quite believe it yet. After talking with Blue Face for a moment, the Smiling Demon walked over to me.
“I didn't expect them to target even you, Young Master Lee.”
“They probably didn't know it was me. Since I’m wearing a mask, they likely took me for one of your subordinates.”
Even if they had known, they might have given the order anyway. The masterminds behind this were people who truly wanted the Main Cult and the Unorthodox Path Alliance to go to war. In their reckless schemes, would even the Heavenly Demon’s kin be an exception?
“They’ve changed their tactics.”
“How so?”
“They intend to move the Main Cult by killing you, Smiling Demon. It doesn't matter if they fail. An enraged Smiling Demon will eventually go on a slaughter anyway. It seems the mastermind intends to use your departure from the Cult to achieve their goals by any means necessary.”
I could feel the Smiling Demon’s 'lava' beginning to bubble even more fiercely. The masterminds were clever. If I hadn't come along, that lava would have already exploded in some form. What they hadn't accounted for was my existence.
Then, Lee An asked cautiously, “If a war breaks out, won't they be in danger as well?”
I shook my head.
“If it becomes a war of mutual annihilation, yes. But realistically, such a war won't happen. Even if a war breaks out, it will end after a certain amount of sacrifice. The losing side will sign a truce while paying massive compensation. To them, war is also a business.”
“They’re madmen.”
“They are extremely selfish people. They don't care if thousands are sacrificed as long as they can seize power.”
I turned back to the Smiling Demon.
“The fact that they’re going this far means they don't have much time left either. It means the situation within the Unorthodox Path Alliance is urgent.”
At my words, the Smiling Demon spoke, radiating killing intent. “They certainly won't have much time left.”
It was the Smiling Demon’s resolve to kill them all. He had already intended to kill the masterminds, but this made it certain. My job was to guide him to deal only with those behind this scheme, without touching the other martial artists of the Unorthodox Path Alliance. If that happened, the successor Bi Sa-in and the Alliance would actually be grateful to us.
Just then, one of the Smiling Demon’s subordinates arrived and delivered an urgent missive. After checking it, Blue Face reported quickly with a tense look.
“It’s an urgent report from Tongcheon Pavilion. They say your name has appeared on the Death Register.”
The Death Register was a mysterious organization shrouded in secrecy that acted as a broker between assassins and clients. They made a fortune from commissions, and rumors said their wealth was vast because there was so much resentment in the world.
“The bounty is one million taels. The Black Kill Organization has reportedly accepted the contract. The ones who attacked just now were likely assassins from Black Kill.”
“So they took it knowing it was me? Even if they succeed in killing me, they’ll eventually be found out and destroyed by the Main Cult.”
I knew why Black Kill had accepted this contract. The Black Murder Lord had joined hands with the mastermind behind this. He intended to use this opportunity to quit the assassination business and dissolve the organization. He didn't care if all his subordinates were sacrificed. He had been promised a massive sum of one million taels along with a new identity and an important position within the Unorthodox Path Alliance.
“Considering the assassinations have begun, Black Kill assassins must be crawling all over Guizhou.”
Despite Blue Face’s report, the Smiling Demon seemed amused.
“What shall we do? Our Young Master Lee said he dislikes seas of blood.”
“I can swim with a smile in a sea made of assassins' blood. Let’s go.”
I didn't necessarily need to take Lee An with me, but I said to her, “You’re coming with me, right?”
“I was thinking of waiting here and doing a bit of gambling.”
“That won't do, Guard.”
“Then I have no choice.”
A flicker of joy passed through her eyes. I knew. I knew how much she wanted to come along. She just hadn't been able to bring it up first, fearing she might be a burden. I had no intention of raising her in a greenhouse. Actual combat was what made a martial artist grow the most.
And the reason I confidently took her with me wasn't just because I would be there. It was because of her sword hilt, worn smooth from grueling practice. It was because of the calluses on her palms.
As if worried I might be concerned, Lee An spoke nonchalantly.
“Don't mind me at all. A heart is supposed to beat on its own, isn't it?”