Chapter 3
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: The White Go Hall
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Away from the bustling streets, under a river bridge.
A shantytown pieced together from crudely woven tents.
That was the Dragon Pearl Gang's base.
Yi Ho-chang, having joined the Dragon Pearl Gang, spent the day there learning about the organization.
For starters, the Dragon Pearl Gang had a hierarchy.
Gang Leader – Deputy Gang Leader – Squad Captain – Squad Leader – Squad Member.
That was the rough structure.
A squad leader oversaw an average of five squad members, a squad captain managed three squads, and the deputy gang leader commanded two squad captaincies.
With a total of six squads, the gang's numbers came to just over forty.
'Not bad for a bunch of beggars.'
Being a group, they naturally had tribute fees.
The currency units were straight out of a wuxia tale.
It started with 1 pun copper coin; 10 pun made 1 mun.
10 mun made 1 nyang tael of silver, or 200 mun equaled 1 nyang tael.
Of course, there were other denominations.
50 nyang taels of silver made 1 silver ingot, and 10,000 nyang taels made 1 gold ingot—from there on, it was pure silver and gold without impurities.
Each about the size of an adult's palm.
In that vein, the Dragon Pearl Gang's daily tribute per squad was 10 pun in copper coins.
Since 1 pun could buy a cheap pancake to fill your stomach, it seemed they'd set it so each member just needed to beg for 2 pun.
Yi Ho-chang didn't think it was a huge amount.
Even if you couldn't make the daily tribute, you just had to cover 7 mun per week.
'This'll do for a temporary stay.'
Though it was a beggars' den, Yi Ho-chang figured he was pretty lucky.
Chun Seom's invitation to join had felt suspicious at first, but living among them, the kids looked cheerful, and everyone had been kind to him as an outsider.
Just then, a burly figure ducked into Yi Ho-chang's tent.
It was Baek Hwi.
"Baek Hwi, you're here."
"Yeah... sure."
Baek Hwi answered awkwardly.
It was understandable.
Not only had he been knocked out cold by a kid half his size—that was embarrassing enough—but when he came to, he'd even lost his squad leader position.
Still, he had no thought of taking it back.
Baek Hwi knew Yi Ho-chang's skills better than anyone.
Seeing his discomfort, Yi Ho-chang chuckled and said,
"Come here and sit in front of me."
Baek Hwi quietly approached and sat down.
As the guy settled, Yi Ho-chang spoke like an uncle giving advice.
"I hear your performance wasn't great?"
Baek Hwi bristled at that.
"Don't talk like you know! You don't even understand..."
"Then what's the problem?"
"...Forget it. It's my issue."
"Fine, whatever. If you don't wanna say, don't. More importantly, when are you handing over the reins?"
Baek Hwi shot him a glare but soon started explaining.
"...A squad leader's duties boil down to three things: managing squad members, recruiting new ones, and regular reports."
Exactly as it sounded.
Tracking members' tribute payments, scouting fresh recruits for the gang, and reporting squad details to the squad captain.
But something felt off.
"The rest makes sense. But didn't you try dousing me with water and punching me the second you saw me? So how are we supposed to recruit?"
"Recruiting isn't required right now... Sigh. Fine, the truth: there wasn't always this rule."
"But?"
"Just know it came from the Red Tiger Gang. I don't know the details. We're just following orders from above."
Red Tiger Gang.
A name that came up now and then. Since he'd be squad leader for a while, Yi Ho-chang made a mental note.
He nodded and asked,
"Alright, what else?"
"Just like you heard. We beg well, pay our tribute, and we're good. By the way, if members fall short, the squad leader covers it. So the leader's gotta take responsibility and beg the hardest."
Hold on.
The squad leader had to beg too?
Yi Ho-chang couldn't hide his surprise.
He'd spent his life playing Go and never held a job.
'And now they want me out hustling?'
This wouldn't be easy...
Then Yi Ho-chang's eyes lit up.
"But we don't have to fill tribute just by begging, right?"
"Right?"
Yi Ho-chang's lips curved into a grin.
"Is there a Go parlor around here?"
"Go parlor?"
"You know, where adults gather to play Go."
"Oh, Go. Yeah, there's a place called White Go Hall in the bustling district. But why?"
Perfect.
With a Go parlor, tribute was no worry.
Yi Ho-chang asked,
"How much money you got?"
"W-Why?"
"Just tell me how much."
What was a Go parlor?
A noble battleground for pro Go players?
No.
Go parlors had the thrill of betting Go.
A true war with money on the line—that was betting Go.
He'd played it in Immortal Assembly Valley; no reason it wouldn't exist here.
Narrowing his eyes, Yi Ho-chang pressed, and Baek Hwi hemmed and hawed before pulling out a single copper coin.
"That's it?"
"Yeah, I paid yesterday's tribute, so this is all for now."
Ha.
His performance really sucked.
So how did he eat?
"Then how do you handle meals?"
"We beg separately for food. Meals come out of whatever's left after tribute."
Yi Ho-chang closed his eyes.
So all the Dragon Pearl Gang provided was a sense of belonging and these crumbling tents?
They did protect the kids, like when Chun Seom showed up yesterday.
But it didn't actually help their situation.
Yi Ho-chang slowly opened his eyes, turning toward the squad members in the corner of the tent.
"You kids eat anything today?"
Bok Gyeom, Gyu Ho, Cheong Ryun, Mun Seong, Chae Gyu, Dae Hyang.
Averages of five per squad, but his had six.
No—eight, including Baek Hwi and himself.
While others averaged five, only Squad 6 had eight because Baek Hwi's was the worst performer.
'More heads to meet tribute, even if performance sucks.'
And these kids looked awfully young—not much help there.
Which only made it more heartbreaking.
'What did these little ones do wrong?'
At worst, be born orphaned beggars.
The kids shook their heads at his question.
Yi Ho-chang said,
"Baek Hwi, you're vice squad leader starting today. Keep an eye on the kids."
"V-Vice? But we don't have that title in the Dragon Pearl Gang!"
"That's why I'm making it now. I'm heading to the parlor quick—wait here. You're better known than me; you'll watch them better."
With that, Yi Ho-chang pocketed the coin and left the shantytown.
Baek Hwi eyed him suspiciously but couldn't bring himself to stop him.
He just glanced anxiously at his squad members.
*
Asking directions along the way, he reached the White Go Hall Baek Hwi mentioned.
But this wasn't like the parlors he knew.
Yi Ho-chang's idea of a Go parlor was a dingy corner spot full of old geezers, but White Go Hall looked like a grand inn.
A classy one at that.
And the patrons coming and going oozed refinement—like a casino if this were modern times.
'The flashier, the better.'
Meant bigger wins.
As he moved to enter,
"Hey, kid. No begging here."
A man blocked him—the door guard at White Go Hall.
Yi Ho-chang replied confidently,
"I'm not begging."
"What?"
"I'm here to play Go."
With that, he flashed the copper coin from Baek Hwi.
The guard laughed at the sight.
"Pfft, kid. Think Go's for just anyone? It's tough—even I suck at it. What makes you think you can play? Quit yapping and scram, or you'll get spanked."
Yi Ho-chang frowned and said,
"Is this how you treat customers?"
"What?"
"Go might be hard for you, but it's easy for me. Stop embarrassing a guest and step aside."
His temper flared mid-sentence.
Still, he'd kept it polite.
The guard's face hardened, and he raised a hand in anger.
That's when—
"Dae Jin, hold up a sec."
Dae Jin was the guard's name.
He lowered his hand and quickly stepped back, bowing respectfully.
Soon, the voice's owner appeared.
A man around sixty, with a striking white beard reaching his navel.
Dressed in fine silk, bowed to by the guard—he clearly held high status.
The elder approached Yi Ho-chang and asked,
"Heh, I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but is that true?"
"Pardon?"
"That Go is easy for you."
Yi Ho-chang nodded eagerly.
"Yes, easy as breathing."
"Heh heh heh, that's amusing. I'm Jo Jung-seon, master of this White Go Hall. Mind if I request a game? If you're legit, I'll welcome you as a guest and treat you right."
Yi Ho-chang's eyes gleamed.
His lips twitched upward unwittingly.
"Fine by me. But one more condition."
"Condition?"
Yi Ho-chang held up the coin.
"You proposed betting Go, so if I lose, I'll stake this—my entire fortune."
Jo Jung-seon burst out laughing at the bold kid.
"Huhu, the more I see, the funnier you get. Deal. If I win, I take the coin. If you win, I'll honor my word plus match your fortune."
Perfect.
The match he wanted was on.
Yi Ho-chang bowed with clasped fists.
"I'm Yi Ho-chang. Please grant me this game."
"Good. I humbly request the same. Follow me."
Yi Ho-chang trotted after Jo Jung-seon.
*
They arrived at a detached annex behind White Go Hall.
A quiet spot Jo Jung-seon used for solitary rest—ideal for a game.
The board was set on the floor, and Jo Jung-seon picked up the white stones.
"I'll take white, so you go first."
Yi Ho-chang nearly laughed.
Nothing like an arrogant foe humbling himself.
Then a great idea struck.
"Hall Master."
"Yes?"
"Since you're handicapping me anyway, how about handicap Go?"
Jo Jung-seon laughed heartily.
"Ha ha, sure. How many stones?"
Yi Ho-chang pondered briefly, then smiled slyly.
"Just three."
"Three it is."
Yi Ho-chang grinned as he placed stones in the upper left star point, upper right star point, and top edge flower point.
"Let's begin."
The game started.
And after some time?
The grin slowly faded from Jo Jung-seon's beaming face.