Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Chapter 37 Jang Cheonpa (5)
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At the fierce retort, the house boss's thick eyebrows twitched.
"What's another reason you won't regret it?"
"Do you have the guts to tangle with me, an instructor of the Divine Martial Academy?"
"Divine Martial Academy instructor?"
The house boss hurriedly scanned him up and down.
He was checking if he really was a Divine Martial Academy instructor.
Meanwhile, Moyong So-hye, who had been watching the situation, quickly tugged at Jegal Tan's sleeve.
"Is this okay?"
"...When we should be keeping it secret at all costs."
Wasn't this the instructor who had even dolled her up to hide their identities?
"An instructor bringing students to an illegal gambling den isn't something that'll end with just a pay cut."
At minimum a pay cut, and if unlucky, even suspension.
"He must have a plan."
He had to.
No instructor without backup would act this recklessly without a strategy.
"Let's watch for now."
The exchange between the Jang Cheonpa leader and Chu Un-hwi continued.
"Tch, so you're from the righteous faction?"
"Your speech is finally getting polite. Why? Don't I look righteous at first glance?"
"From your manner of speaking, you seem right out of our line of work."
"Unless I have some unknown birth secret, I am righteous."
No matter how he thought about it, he seemed close to the unorthodox side.
The house boss muttered as he asked without dropping his guard.
"How about we exchange names?"
His intent to not let an insignificant punk off easy seeped through intensely.
"I am from Silver Hall..."
Silver Hall?
"...Senior Instructor Jang Cheol-sim!"
"Senior Instructor!"
The house boss's expression clouded over again.
"......"
Moyong So-hye's mouth fell open.
After a long moment of shock, Nangong Yun-ho was the first to speak.
"I heard you handle things cleanly in enemy territory without worrying about repercussions."
"I didn't know you'd impersonate a fellow instructor."
At the absurd remark, even Jegal Tan was speechless.
"Even getting caught in an illegal gambling den could be brushed off somehow."
"But impersonating a superior..."
If caught, it wasn't just suspension level.
Minimum dismissal, worst case, imprisonment—a grave offense.
"Ugh. My head."
Jegal Tan staggered at the unprecedented incident unfolding in real time.
Even as that happened, the two men's sharp exchange continued.
"Senior instructor, huh..."
The house boss's eyes narrowed.
"A senior instructor running a game in a place like this illegal den?"
"Can't help it with the meager pay."
"Hold on. You seem too young for a senior instructor."
"Huhu. Do you think someone who inherited the true arts of the Qingcheng Sect can be measured by your cheap yardstick?"
Silver Hall senior instructor.
Backed by the Qingcheng Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects.
Even at the story far exceeding expectations, the house boss's face was full of suspicion.
"Something's off. You feel more unorthodox than a disciple of a famed Daoist sect."
"Huhu. I believe in enjoying deviations actively."
"That's a pretty bold answer for a Daoist disciple."
"Why? Did you think clean clothes and a meek demeanor meant a pure soul inside?"
The house boss, well-versed in how prim folks degenerate in gambling dens, wore an even more inscrutable expression.
Chu Un-hwi spoke.
"Your tongue's too long. Didn't you come here wanting something?"
Why bother with this background check?
Thud.
Crash.
Chu Un-hwi shoved over the pile of silver coins on the gambling table and said,
"I'm here to get this back."
Scared now that you know my backup?
"Kikikikil."
At the frivolous display, the house boss's gaze wavered.
Even a hardened unorthodox veteran couldn't grasp how to react.
"No need for roundabout talk. If you want it back, just hand it over."
"What do you want?"
"A wager."
"A wager?"
"I enjoy games of chance."
Snap!
Snapping his fingers, Chu Un-hwi shrugged his shoulders like a madman.
"How about it? We wager, winner takes all."
"First time seeing someone demand a wager in a spot like this."
"I told you. I've got a real gambler's spirit."
But simple wagers were no fun.
"You pick the game."
At the continued provocations, a faint killing intent flickered in the house boss's eyes before he asked in surprise,
"You're letting me choose the wager?"
The gambling house owner?
Is this guy sane?
"You serious?"
"Exactly three rounds. Any game, settled in three."
If he wins, he'll leave everything behind without a word.
"...Tempting."
"If you're still unsure, one more condition."
Chu Un-hwi held up his index finger.
"If you take even one of the three rounds, count it as my loss."
But double the stakes.
Now even the house boss was at a loss for words.
"...I can't fathom what you're thinking."
"Stimulating gambles make the heart race more."
Why so scared?
With pride on the line, he couldn't refuse now.
'He's possibly a Silver Hall senior instructor. Tricky to lay hands on.'
Suspicious, but the house boss quelled his unease.
'Arrogant punk must have some skill, but you think you're the only one?'
Gambling houses saw martial artists cause trouble daily.
Dealing with pro gamblers betting the house was his job.
Plenty of ways to crush cocky fools with simple tricks.
Especially if it was his specialty.
'The game's already over. Righteous hypocrite.'
Making up his mind, the house boss accepted.
"Fine. Wager accepted."
"Love the decisiveness."
"First wager is..."
"Hold up."
Chu Un-hwi cut him off, raising his palm.
"What's the issue now?"
"Customer service here is trash."
Cheap gambling joint?
Not content with interrupting, the kid called his precious establishment cheap, venom flashing in the house boss's eyes.
But at the next words, he schooled his expression.
"Isn't it courtesy to serve the best liquor to VIPs playing big?"
"Enjoying booze with a big game like this?"
"Make it generous. Gambling drunk is fun too."
At those words, the house boss was convinced.
'Total madman.'
This sealed it.
This guy was definitely a naive scion from a high sect unable to discern right from wrong.
With lingering doubts erased, the house boss laughed for the first time.
"Uhhahaha! What are you lot doing? Bring the best liquor for the gentleman!"
Now just cook him up.
The house boss thought.
The first round was a crushing defeat.
A game contested with shapes and numbers on bone tiles.
Clack. Clack.
Rolling bone tiles in his hand, the house boss taunted.
"Surely a gambler like you knows the rules of bone tiles."
Clatter.
Filling his cup to the brim nonchalantly, Chu Un-hwi replied.
"I know it's left to luck."
"Rules vary by region."
"Enough. No need to explain to me."
Gulping down strong liquor, the more relaxed Chu Un-hwi pointed at the man standing beside him.
"You there."
"M-Me, sir?"
"Yeah. Come throw the tiles for me."
The designated gambling house underling blinked.
It was the one who had slipped up earlier.
"Me, sir?"
Can I really?
At the underling's querying gaze, the house boss cursed inwardly.
'Stupid bastard.'
Throwing tiles takes skill.
Borrowing another's hand means no fancy tricks.
'He's throwing away a chance to end it in one round.'
Boiling inside at the idiot underling, he feigned coolness and nodded.
"If the gentleman wishes, you throw."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Three throws coming up.
At the request for permission, the flushed-faced man waved dismissively, annoyed, while downing another cup.
Clack. Clack.
Thud. Thunk. Thud.
The tiles tossed into the air landed haphazardly, then flipped and stacked.
The result after three throws: Chu Un-hwi's victory.
"Jang Cheol-sim gentleman wins."
Bubble. Bubble.
The narrowed fierce gaze turned on the declaring underling.
'Threw them real well, you cruel bastard.'
But soon the house boss relaxed.
'No. Maybe this guy's just got freak luck.'
Didn't matter.
Bone tiles weren't rigged anyway.
'Gotta lose one round.'
One-sided wins only breed suspicion.
With that thought, he called the next game.
"Next is dice."
Another staffer brought heavy metal dice.
'No matter if Silver Hall senior instructor, can't manipulate heavy dice.'
Above all, he was confident in this game.
Thanks to the hidden mechanism in the dice.
'You'd never dream of it.'
His ring was made of high-quality magnetite.
A skilled artisan had added one function with great effort.
Whirr.
Infuse internal energy, and magnetism doubles.
'I can make any number I want.'
Aiming to settle it swiftly, he tweaked the rules.
"No need to alternate. Roll both at once."
"Then how to decide the winner?"
"Call numbers, closest sum wins?"
"Good. Fits my taste for clear-cut games."
Idiot.
Hiding his thoughts, the house boss picked up the dice.
"I'll go first, alright?"
"No need."
Draining another cup, face redder, Chu Un-hwi said,
"You roll them all. I'm busy drinking."
"Kekeke. Quite the drinker. Hey! Gentleman's cup is empty!"
While he's lost in booze, I'll strip him bare.
But contrary to the house boss's expectations, the game didn't end easily.
"Eight."
"Eight."
"Twelve."
"Twelve too."
Chu Un-hwi matched every number he called.
After several matches, the house boss lost his temper.
"You trying to compete or what?"
"Coincidence. My instincts sync well with yours."
"Smooth talker."
Parrying while eyeing him suspiciously.
'Did he spot the trick and match on purpose?'
It was then.
"Nine."
"Eleven. Finally diverged. Hic."
Numbers split for the first time.
Hic.
Seeing the opponent start hiccuping from the booze, the house boss smirked inwardly.
'Mind's finally clouding.'
Seizing the moment, he hurled the dice.
Whoosh.
As the dice soared, about to infuse his ring—
"Hold it."
The sudden shout disrupted his focus.
'He noticed?'
Silver Hall senior instructor, huh.
'Sharp senses...'
The house boss whipped his head sideways.
But what he saw was Chu Un-hwi handing silver to an underling with a new liquor jar.
"Thanks, really gets the mood going. Hard work fetching the booze."
"Th-Thank you, sir."
Not onto me then.
Snap. Thud.
Relieved, the house boss jolted his eyes to the table.
Roll. Rooo-ll.
The two dice teetered perilously, forming eleven.
"Jang Cheol-sim gentleman. Win!"
Grind.
The house boss gnashed his teeth.