Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Beyond Humanity
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Chapter 1: Inhuman
“Hah…”
The middle-aged man sitting across from him let out a hollow laugh.
He had an impeccably refined impression. He looked like he belonged in a schoolhouse teaching students, not at a gambling table.
The middle-aged man stuck out his tongue and raised both hands.
“I’m beaten. There’s no way I can win.”
The middle-aged man stood up from his seat.
The murmurs from the crowd grew louder. They were surprised to see him declare complete defeat and withdraw.
“You kept dragging it out—feeling under the weather somewhere?”
“Twisted something last night.”
“I thought maybe you’d hidden a patch on your collar.”
“You think so?”
“That’s what I figured, but no. Care to share how you pulled it off?”
“How’d I pull off what?”
“You didn’t cheat with your hands, didn’t have anyone helping from outside the table… I just can’t figure it out.”
“Don’t overthink it. Gambling’s simple—what’s luck got to do with it? The lucky guy takes it all.”
The middle-aged man smirked.
“You know what? Guys with good luck always seem to have it. At that point, luck’s a skill in itself. I’m genuinely impressed by your skill.”
The middle-aged man turned away.
The crowd parted like the sea. All eyes fixed on his back.
“Hah hah hah, even this scholar couldn’t beat him.”
“This scholar? That’s Yi the Scholar?”
“What have you been watching all this time?”
“No wonder. He’s different.”
“Different or not, the Peach Blossom Young Master’s possessed by a god. Undefeated in a hundred battles—I’ve never seen him lose.”
“Come on, undefeated’s a stretch. That scholar earlier held his own pretty well. He snatched a few big pots in seconds.”
“He let him have those on purpose.”
“On purpose? How much money was on the line!”
“Did you see the Peach Blossom Young Master lose in the end? He planned it all. Planned it.”
“Whatever. Anyway, who’s that girl hanging off his arm?”
“Hey, watch it!”
“Why, why?”
“Mind your tongue. That’s the second daughter of the Yangwon Clan.”
“Oh man, the second daughter of Yangwon Clan? No wonder she’s so pretty!”
“It’s been a while now. They’re always together these days.”
“The Peach Blossom Young Master lives up to his name.”
“No kidding.”
Cheonwi scooped up the dice and tiles with a leisurely smile. The gamblers’ attention burned equally on him and the woman clinging to his side.
“How do you win like that?”
The woman asked.
All eyes turned to them.
They were the ones still lingering, staring dreamily at the silver Cheonwi was raking in.
“Well…”
Cheonwi trailed off.
Ears perked up around him.
That was exactly what they were dying to know—the secret to his unbroken streak with the same thirty-two tiles and two dice.
“I told you earlier. Gambling’s for the lucky ones.”
“Oh, come on, it’s not just that.”
“The world’s like that. No matter what the unlucky try, they can’t win.”
“Pfft…”
Clink clink clink.
The leather pouch stamped with “gold” filled to the brim with silver. Cheonwi lifted it, and the coins inside jingled merrily.
He headed toward the gambling den’s entrance. The woman quickly hooked her arm through his and stuck close. Cheonwi didn’t take the pouch outside. He handed the whole thing to the fierce-looking guard at the door.
“Handle it like always.”
“As you command.”
The man bowed deeply, utterly deferential.
It was enough to make any would-be robbers back off sheepishly.
Cheonwi dusted his hands and stepped out of the gambling den.
The night market sprawled before him. The acrid yet savory smell of roasting meat stung his nose. The woman pressed against his shoulder and asked once more.
“For real, how do you do it? Tell me. No one’s around to hear now.”
“Hahaha. That curious, huh?”
“Yeah! Yeah! I really want to know.”
“Alright, here’s the thing. I can see the next tile ahead of time.”
“Huh?”
“The next one—it shows up in my head, whoosh!”
“Pfft! Liar! Don’t tease me.”
She balled her fist daintily and punched his shoulder. Cheonwi winced theatrically as if it hurt, laughing all the while.
“There’s… something else I want to know. No lies this time.”
“Hmm. Let’s hear it.”
“Pfft…”
“Go on.”
“Well… Gaga always says it. That he’s not really a gambler, that he has a separate job. Something super super scary and dangerous.”
“Yeah.”
Now she called him Gaga.
It was a term for husband.
An endearment loaded with meaning.
“That dangerous?”
“Yeah.”
“Like, die-level dangerous?”
“Die-level.”
“Then… Gaga, do you really have to leave?”
“Probably.”
“You’ll abandon me?”
“I told you last time too. It’s not abandoning—it’s to protect you.”
“Tch… As if.”
“This is dangerous right now too. I’ve told you over and over—if anyone asks about me later, say you don’t know me.”
“No way.”
“You knew what you were getting into.”
“Don’t care. Not thinking about it.”
She clung to Cheonwi’s arm and buried her face in his shoulder. Leaning her whole body on his arm, she matched steps with her lover.
The girl surrendered her body and closed her eyes. She wished the road they walked under the all-night lights would never end. It felt like the whole world held just the two of them.
Step.
Cheonwi stopped. The girl opened her eyes.
A sound disrupted her pleasant reverie. Clang! Clang! The clash of weapons.
“Fighting again?”
“Looks like it.”
People were crowding toward a brightly lit spot in the distance, buzzing with excitement.
The world’s greatest entertainment was watching a brawl—drunks were pouring out of taverns in droves.
“Great Unity Hall and Taihang Clan, right?”
“Yeah.”
“The mood’s been off lately for real. I hear the Nine Sects and Six Great Families have come to town too.”
“Where’d you hear that?”
“Hmph! You think I don’t have secrets? I know everything.”
“The Nine Sects—where?”
“Even Huashan Sect right next door in Shaanxi’s watching this fight closely. Shaolin’s come from Henan. And…”
“And?”
“Jinju something… wait, right—Hebei Peng Clan sent fighters too.”
“Well, makes sense. Shanxi’s the buffer between east and west murim. Everyone’s got eyes on it.”
“How long will the fighting last?”
“It’ll stop soon.”
“Huh?”
“The fight’s ending.”
“How? How do you know?”
“…”
“You’re always like this. Total mystery…”
The girl pouted and let go of Cheonwi’s arm. She put on a convincingly angry face. Cheonwi turned to her. For once, his expression turned serious as he spoke.
“You saw it earlier, right? At the gambling den.”
“Saw what?”
“The knife fight.”
“Yeah, I saw.”
“That’s gambling. Some play fair, some cheat. Others hide daggers in their hearts. The problem is, this world’s one big gambling table. Everyone’s gambling without realizing it. Murim warriors especially. Great Unity Hall and Taihang Clan pitting their strength against each other—it’s gambling too.”
“So the winner takes all.”
“No one knows who’ll win. Fights grow, more people get dragged in, stakes shift. Some bet on Great Unity Hall, some on Taihang Clan… Others might want both crushed. Or maybe peace to return.”
“Then you, Gaga…”
“Like I said, I want the fight to end. That’s my bet.”
The girl’s eyes wavered. She asked,
“You bet too… What did you bet, Gaga?”
“What I always bet.”
She was scared to ask. Her voice barely a whisper.
“What’s… that?”
“My life.”
She gasped sharply. The young man smiled. He soothed her.
“Why so shocked? I told you—it’s die-level dangerous.”
“B-but…”
“It’s fine. It’s what I always do.”
“You could just… not do the dangerous stuff?”
“It doesn’t work that way.”
“Gaga…”
“Don’t worry. Even if it’s die-level, I won’t die. Even if everyone else drops dead, I won’t.”
She stayed sulky, not grabbing his arm. He smiled and called to her.
“Come on, don’t be like that. Come here.”
“No.”
She stood her ground. Cheonwi approached, draped an arm over her shoulder. She relented, letting him pull her along.
“Remember this.”
Cheonwi whispered in her ear.
“No matter what, I won’t die.”
Cheonwi had no bandages anywhere. Though he’d been drenched in blood just yesterday, not a scratch remained.
She knew nothing. She just glared at him, annoyed.
“No one’s immortal. You said you bet your life.”
“You saw it. I don’t play losing bets. Whatever I wager, I won’t lose.”
“As if.”
“I never lose. Even if I do, I’ll get it back.”
“Tch…”
She slyly slipped her hand around his waist. As if never mad, she nestled her head against his chest and walked, fully embraced.
‘I won’t lose either. Never.’
She vowed silently.
Like a girl full of dreams.
Just a dreamy thought.
* * *
He walked an endless back alley.
The man moved without hesitation.
The back alleys between the all-night taverns formed a maze, but he navigated the tangled intersections like someone who’d lived on the streets for decades.
Suddenly, a bright area appeared.
He didn’t linger on the lit path. The women pulled their veiled hats lower and followed. They plunged back into darkness.
They splashed through puddles, kicked aside shattered bottles, threading the alley.
Light bloomed ahead.
They’d emerged onto another bustling street.
Amid the raucous din, the man pressed on without pause.
Murmurs swelled.
The women halted.
Clang clang clang! The clamor of weapons rang out.
“What’s going on?”
Seol-i whispered to Sang. He shook his head, puzzled.
“Not sure, miss. Seems unrelated to us for now.”
The man glanced back at Sang. A glint flashed in his eyes.
Clang! Clang clang!
Weapons clashed without cease. Crowds gathered. A fight spectacle. In the wide marketplace, flashing sword- and saber-glows danced wildly.
Claaang!
Torches and lantern light from buildings shattered off blade tips. Crossing edges dazzled the eyes.
Ooooh!
Cheers rang in their ears.
About fifty spectators. A dozen warriors wielding swords and sabers rampaged through the market center—it was impossible not to stare.
“That’s…!”
Seol-i and Hyang couldn’t look away either. One side wore familiar garb. Spotting a warrior leaping through the crowd, Seol-i gasped.
“Taihang Clan…!”
Indeed.
The airborne warrior slashing downward wore Taihang Clan attire.
Even Seol-i, green to the jianghu, knew of Taihang Clan. One of Shanxi’s top sects, close to the Flame Jade Merchant Guild. Not recognizing them would be weirder.
“Who’re they fighting?”
Seol-i asked. Sang furrowed his brow slightly.
“Great Unity Hall, I’d say.”
“Aah…!”
The foes clashing with Taihang warriors wielded sabers. Four brandished heavy greatswords, one swung a forked double-tip saber. Signature weapons of eastern Shanxi’s Great Unity Hall elites.