The Pursuit Squad's Secret (1)
“Gambling?”
When Cheon Ri Hyeong suddenly brought up gambling, Yu So Un and Wang Yi Sam exchanged baffled glances, utterly at a loss.
“We've caught the traitors, so how could we not have a little game? Don't you agree?”
“Exactly!”
As Cheon Ri Hyeong set the tone, his gang members cheered enthusiastically.
Yu So Un suspected the man was plotting some vicious scheme.
But Wang Yi Sam, apparently oblivious, chimed in.
“Back in my day, I was quite the gambler myself. Whatever game he's got in mind, I'll win it all—no worries.”
“As if that'd be easy.”
Yang San overheard and cut in.
“Cheon Ri Hyeong's gambling isn't your run-of-the-mill sort.”
At that, Yu So Un and Wang Yi Sam turned to him—and recoiled in surprise.
Yang San's face was frozen in a grim mask, like a condemned man mounting the scaffold.
“It's because of his gambling that the gang leader didn't name Cheon Ri Hyeong successor and cast him out of the Iron Palm Gang.”
“Did he blow through the gang's fortune or something? Even so, kicking out your own son seems a bit...”
Wang Yi Sam, a gambling enthusiast himself, asked in confusion, but Yang San shook his head.
“Cheon Ri Hyeong's wagers are on human lives. He's a devil.”
“...”
At Cheon Ri Hyeong's command, the gang members hauled Yu So Un and Wang Yi Sam to the bonfire.
Cheon Ri Hyeong pulled something from his bosom and said,
“Tonight's game will be with these.”
A pair of dice rested in his palm.
Carved from jade, they looked exceedingly valuable—a glimpse into Cheon Ri Hyeong's penchant for high-stakes play.
“It's been ages since we've seen a dice game!”
The gang erupted in cheers.
Wang Yi Sam whispered to Yu So Un, out of the gang's earshot.
“Don't sweat it. Dice are my specialty.”
“There's one thing in this world you can't control at will.”
“What's that?”
“Luck. Good fortune is innate—you can't force it. Dice are the same. They're all about chance.”
“Relax. I've got luck on my side my whole life.”
Yu So Un managed a wry smile at Wang Yi Sam's bold claim.
There was one reason for his over-the-top confidence: bluffing to mask his anxiety.
At any rate, with no other options, they had to trust Wang Yi Sam for now.
“Then let me explain the rules.”
Cheon Ri Hyeong rolled the two dice across his index finger.
“These are my own creation: iron dice.”
Dice are typically carved from wood or bone into perfect cubes, with dots from one to six on each face. The four face gets red dots, hence the name “dice” (red four).
But Cheon Ri Hyeong had replaced the “red” with “iron” from Iron Palm Gang, dubbing them iron dice.
His finger roll revealed why.
“Iron dice are like normal dice for one, two, three, four, or five. But no six—instead, there's an iron palm.”
True to his word, where six dots should be, a black palm print—the iron palm—graced the face.
“What do you think? Perfect for the Iron Palm Gang, right?”
“...”
His voice was mild and courteous, befitting a gang leader's dignity, but bragging about mere dice left Yu So Un and Wang Yi Sam guessing at his true intent.
“There are red and blue iron dice.”
One had red dots, the other blue, as he said.
“The rules are simple. Roll double iron palms—paired palms—and you win.”
Wang Yi Sam tilted his head.
“And if anything else comes up?”
“I win.”
“What? Where's the fairness in that? This isn't gambling—it's a scam!”
Wang Yi Sam exploded in outrage.
The gang, as if anticipating it, burst into mocking laughter.
“Know your odds of winning? One in thirty-six!”
“Whoa, that's huge!”
“Yeah, I'd bet my whole fortune on it!”
“Fortune? I'd throw in my wife!”
“Wahahahaha!”
Unlike Wang Yi Sam, fuming in impotent rage, Yu So Un fixed Cheon Ri Hyeong with a cold stare.
“A famed orthodox sect of the murim, reduced to such cowardice.”
“We've got you captured—surely we deserve some advantage?”
Yu So Un sneered, but Cheon Ri Hyeong merely shrugged with unflappable calm.
“Iron dice have one more rule.”
“What?”
“No stakes, no thrill. If I win, you forfeit collateral—as punishment.”
“Collateral?”
“Yes. If it's one through five...”
Cheon Ri Hyeong folded his fingers one by one.
“...you sever that many fingers.”
“...!”
Wang Yi Sam couldn't hide his disbelief.
“What kind of gambling is this? It's just torture!”
“Don't like it? Roll paired palms and win.”
“...”
Wang Yi Sam swallowed hard, falling silent at Cheon Ri Hyeong's nonchalant tone.
A lifetime murim mercenary, he knew better than to tangle with types like this.
Monsters who killed without blinking.
Yu So Un asked icily,
“And if paired palms come up, do you sever both your wrists?”
“Can't do that. Like I said, we've got you—we need the edge.”
“...”
“Who goes first?”
Cheon Ri Hyeong offered the iron dice.
Unexpectedly, Wang Yi Sam gulped and stepped up.
“M-me! I'll go first!”
Yu So Un eyed him in surprise.
This wasn't gambling—it was torment.
A sadistic pastime for those who toyed with lives.
Wang Yi Sam was a seasoned sword-for-hire, hoarding silver like his lifeblood. One would expect caution, yet he volunteered?
He cherished comrades, that much was clear—but to this extent...
Perhaps, as a lonely mercenary, he treasured these new bonds all the more.
Interesting.
Yu So Un reflected on the bountiful gains from this Sichuan journey.
Provided, of course, they escaped alive.
“Admirable courage. Roll away.”
Cheon Ri Hyeong handed the iron dice to Wang Yi Sam.
In that instant, Yu So Un's eyes sharpened coldly.
No time for sentiment.
The world turns on luck. Even the fortune-blessed stumble eventually. Even the most cursed get one chance in life.
Seize it, and you triumph—that's existence!
Now was no different.
Escape's opportunity would come.
To grasp it, Yu So Un scanned his surroundings like a honed blade.
A considerable time had passed circulating his inner energy.
Seo Baek snapped open his tightly shut eyes and rose.
Huuuuu. He drew a long, deep breath.
His body was in perfect condition.
He could circulate the Shika Heart Method again. Choosing the roundabout path in haste had been wise.
Now, from on high, even distant ravines would sharpen into hawk-like clarity.
Finishing his breath, Seo Baek dashed like the wind.
Soon, atop the peak, he scaled the tallest tree.
A quick survey of the surroundings.
The Iron Palm Gang pursuit squad was spotted with surprising ease.
A thin plume of smoke rose from the distant ravine.
Proof they were building a bonfire, settling for the night.
They hadn't even lit one before, wary of Son Il Seo's group spotting them. Now, they burned boldly—perhaps boiling hunted meat.
What did that say?
Cheon Ri Hyeong no longer feared Seo Baek.
Nay—he was baiting the pursuit.
Only one reason.
Ambush.
Cheon Ri Hyeong had surely detached men for a hidden force.
At least two, at most four.
But with five captives—including Yu So Un, Wang Yi Sam, and Son Il Seo's group—sending a full quartet was unlikely.
Outnumbered by hostages, they'd feel vulnerable.
Two, then.
Two. Too few to take Seo Baek, even in ambush.
Cheon Ri Hyeong likely ordered them to signal upon sighting, not engage.
Once spotted, finishing Seo Baek would be child's play—with hostages as leverage, he had a glaring weakness.
Victory hinged on who spotted whom first.
Find the ambushers, eliminate them, then strike the squad.
Plan set. Time to move.
Seo Baek descended and leaped onward.
A narrow pass between ravines.
There, two Iron Palm Gang members lurked in dense underbrush shadows.
Cold air rising from the hard ravine ground made them shiver.
“Where's that Mo Sam Guk bastard? Freezing my ass off here.”
“Think the kid got him?”
“Nah, what with our numbers? Probably just taking his time with the brat.”
“True. New boss is sharp as hell, but sometimes overthinks. Why bother ambushing?”
“Watch your mouth. Word gets to him, you're done.”
“Pfft, who's gonna hear out here...”
Then—a faint thud-thud.
“Hear that?”
“Dunno. Rock falling?”
As if on cue, both twisted to look behind.
“Who'd climb that cliff?”
“Yeah.”
Behind their brush: sheer cliffs, dozens of zhang high.
Impassable terrain.
Ahead: fog-shrouded abyss, ground invisible. A straight path led to open ground between.
Could one scale vertical rock?
Absurd! That'd make 'em a bird, not a man.
Even a lightness skill master couldn't pass unseen.
Ideal ambush spot!
Cheon Ri Hyeong ordered: hide here, regroup with Mo Sam Guk's trio—or if Seo Baek appeared, tail silently and signal.
By the time he noticed, he'd be surrounded.
“New boss knows his stuff. Spotting this on a map alone.”
“That's why he ditched his old man for the throne.”
“That mouth'll cost you your head someday.”
“Worry about yourself. I'll live another century.”
They snickered, turning back.
Then—another rockfall from behind.
Thud-thud-thud.
“What? Wild animal...?”
The lazy glance turned to shock—mouth agape.
A blue shadow raced down the sheer cliff like flat ground, hurtling toward them.