Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Jang Cheonpa (6)
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Bubble bubble.
'Where the hell did it all go wrong?'
He'd already lost two rounds in a row.
Gripping the dice tightly in his fist, the banker narrowed his eyes.
'Did that bastard tamper with them?'
An upper-level instructor from Silver Hall was a peak-level master, after all.
He might even be able to project his internal energy through the air for a short distance.
But he quickly shook his head.
'Impossible.'
At best, he could barely move a small object.
And even that was only possible after breaking through to mid-peak realm.
It wasn't a feat some green rookie could pull off.
'Besides, just moving things around wouldn't let him control the game.'
Moving objects with energy was one thing—precisely producing the cards he wanted was entirely different.
'The little punk's just got damn good luck.'
Suddenly, that cocky attitude made sense.
A kid with skills beyond his years and luck on his side must think the whole world revolved around him.
"Heh heh heh. What a delightful game this is turning out to be."
His slurred tongue clicking away confirmed it.
"Quite confident, aren't you? Got faith in the next round too?"
"Nah, not confident in the next one."
Chu Un-hwi shrugged casually, then threw his head back with a grin.
"I know I'm gonna lose it! Ha ha ha ha!"
'This fucking mutt?'
Killing intent surged up.
He wanted to smash that smug mouth into pulp.
But the banker froze in shock.
"Wooooaaah!"
'When did this happen?'
A massive crowd of spectators had gathered, surrounding them completely.
"A winning streak! Against the banker!"
"What a showdown. The stakes are insane!"
"Stakes aren't even the point. The thrill is off the charts!"
"Never seen the guy before, but he's got real skill."
True to form for gambling addicts, their eyes sparkled at this rare big game.
'Damn. Can't sweep this under the rug quietly now.'
Too many eyes watching.
Only one option left.
'I'll crush him in the next round.'
Hand tricks or rigged tools had been too careless.
'Just rig the game outright so the outcome's decided.'
Recalling his hidden ace up his sleeve, the banker shouted.
"Bring me my domino tube!"
***
Clatter.
A domino tube was placed between the two men.
"Ooh—final round's dominos?"
It looked nothing like a standard tube.
漆 black lacquer finish, inlaid with ivory, edges melted with silver and gold.
Less a gambling tool, more a work of art.
"Looks pricey."
"Only bring it out for esteemed guests."
Sure does.
"Big games deserve fine tools."
The banker's gaze dripped with pity at his unquestioning acceptance.
'Doesn't even suspect it's rigged.'
Halfwit kid.
Pro gamblers eyed unusual items warily first.
Who knew what tricks the opponent had up his sleeve?
That's why they preferred plain, common tools.
But this lucky brat didn't even know that basic fact.
Relieved at his opponent's idiocy, the banker spoke.
"Next game's simple."
"Music to my ears. My head's starting to ache from the booze."
Eyes on the liquor dripping from his loosened lips, the banker lightly shook the tube.
Clack.
Shaking and tilting it expertly, one domino tile popped out.
"Each draws one tile. Highest number wins."
"Simple's good."
"Numbers inside go from one (一) to nine (九)."
"Just draw the nine, then."
"Tie goes to the suit. You know it?"
"Imperial Dragon Seizes Tiger from Afar Victory. Emperor's highest, Chariot's lowest, right?"
"Let's begin."
Clatter clatter.
The banker shook the tube.
'Heh heh heh. You don't know.'
Said one to nine, but only up to eight inside.
Even if luck gave him the highest?
'Can't beat my nine.'
Fingering the hidden nine in his sleeve, the banker smirked confidently.
"Here we—"
"Hold up."
A bystander stood for the first time, hand outstretched.
"What is it?"
"Can't hold myself steady anymore. Mind if I draw first?"
"Fine by me."
Handing over the tube, his opponent shook it half-heartedly.
"Mountain spirits. Dragon king. Mahabaja soori soori."
"Can a Qingcheng Taoist pray to minor spirits?"
"If it wins me the game, I'd dig fermented bean sprouts out a beggar's ass."
Clack.
Tilting it, tile out—Chu Un-hwi slapped his hand over it.
"Gotta reveal together for the thrill, right?"
Thrill my ass.
'Game's already over. Might as well play along for show.'
The banker shook out his tile and covered it.
-----.
-----.
-----.
The crowd fell silent as one.
Gulp.
Someone's throat bobbed, drawing glares—he bowed repeatedly.
All eyes locked on the covered tiles, awaiting the epic conclusion.
Feeling the stares, the banker chuckled inwardly.
'Heh heh. I'll send him to ruin before all these witnesses.'
As he smirked, reaching to swap with his sleeve tile—
"I'll flip first."
Flip.
His opponent turned his tile with a small "Oops!"
"Emperor with nine."
What now?
Best possible hand?
"No need for you to even show."
Shocked, the banker fumbled his sleeve frantically.
'Gone! It's gone!'
The hidden tile had vanished clean.
No need to check his own—it was clearly in the bastard's hand.
Now he saw it: opponent's eyes stone sober, no trace of drunkenness.
'I got played!'
The witnesses erupted at the reveal.
"Whoa! Pulled that?!"
"How's his luck that good?"
"Banker's totally screwed now."
Woooaaah!
Cheers for the clear victory.
But the banker reeled in chaos, ears ringing like a swarm of bees, mind blank.
All he saw was—
"Heh heh. I'll take good care of this."
That infuriating grin as he reached for the piled stakes.
Snap.
Patience snapped; suppressed killing intent stabbed his nape.
Crack!
Flipping the table with his left hand, the banker roared like a demon.
"Grab that fucker!"
Crash!
Chips and dice flew wildly as he kicked off, launching a claw technique at Chu Un-hwi's throat.
"Can't even accept defeat gracefully."
This was black path scum for you.
Killing intent exploding, the banker thrust both hands viciously.
"Die!"
Facing eagle-claw hooks, Chu Un-hwi's hands moved.
Twirl.
Pivoting palms on locked wrists—whoosh! A sharp air-ripping sound, palm strike bursting forth.
Boom!
The forceful energy couldn't be ignored; the banker leaped onto the table to evade.
Aimed to rip throat and chest next.
"Who said you could step on the table?"
But Chu Un-hwi was faster.
Bam!
Kicking the table up—the banker's mid-stomp form wobbled.
Thud.
Crashing back-first onto the table, waves of palm strikes followed.
Papapapak! Boom!
Circling arcs into lines.
Lines binding hands—the banker cried out in horror.
"Wind Thunder Palm?"
Wind: flowing like breeze.
Thunder: crashing like lightning.
Qingcheng Sect's palm art, wasn't it?
True to its fame as one of the Nine Great Arts, his vicious claws got swept into the palm onslaught.
"Tch!"
The banker desperately retreated.
"Hey now."
Kiddo.
Where you rushing off to?
"Gotta ask adults first if you wanna leave."
Thud.
Whoosh.
One step closed the gap; shaking hands unleashed—
Bzzz bzzz!
Hundreds of bees incoming, shadowy palms blurring into countless illusions.
"Stone-Shattering Heaven-Piercing Palms!"
Dozens of fierce penetrative strikes rose; the banker paled, soul fleeing.
'Qingcheng prodigy, they said.'
Mastering two hard-to-attain palm arts at his age.
'Not to be underestimated.'
Gauging his strength from the clash, the banker unleashed full power.
Whoosh!
Ssssh!
Boom boom boom!
Claws met palms—shockwaves hurled nearby tables flying.
Crash crash!
Amid raining chips and coins, their hands tangled rapidly.
***
"It's those bastards!"
"You four are the accomplices!"
Shing. Shing.
Shriiing. Click.
Gambling hall staff and thugs drew blades in unison.
"Agh! What the hell now?"
"Knew it. Should've seen this coming."
"...No way it'd end quietly."
"Stay sharp, everyone. We're unarmed."
As they braced amid tightening encirclement—
"It was a fair game!"
"Cowardly scum. Sharp with knives when taking my money!"
"Yeah! Then we will too!"
The crowd suddenly turned pirate-like.
Some quailed at blades, but desperate gamblers dove into the chaos scooping loose coins.
"Y-You lot! Stop!"
"Halt! Or I'll cut you!"
"You there! I said stop!"
Blades menaced, but reining in jackpot-hungry gamblers was no easy task.
Hall staff floundered in confusion.
"You punks! Stop, I said!"
"Aaaah! Help!"
One staffer finally grabbed a coin-grabber.
"Now!"
Moyong So-hye exploded off the floor, flipping mid-air gracefully.
Whap!
Like a bird of prey, she smashed the descending staffer.
"Guh!"
Thud thud thud!
Toppling tables—he saw escapees' eyes gleam.
"Ch-Chance!"
"Now! Time to recoup losses!"
"Not stealing! Taking back what's mine!"
"Waaah! All mine!"
Chance!
The three plunged into the hellish melee.
"Well, then."
Nangong Yun-ho slipped whipping sword lights, firing short fist strikes.
Thwack!
"Grk."
Big guy, but crumpled foaming at one hit.
Third-rate at best.
Orthodox arts master Nangong Yun-ho felled them sequentially.
Slash! Thud!
Jegal Tan, wielding a scavenged folding fan, dazzled foes with spreads then snapped brows.
Flap! Snap!
Stunned by fluttering fan, reeling back clutching heads—Jegal Tan shook his head.
"Not even post-meal digestif."
Such easy fights were rare lately.
Thud!
Baek Ri-seol struck charging wrist with fingertips, whipped roundhouse kick.
Twirl.
Snatching falling blade mid-air.
"Way too crude to use."
Crunch. Taang!
Gripping to snap the sword, she frowned delicately.
"Breaks at a tap."
Indeed.
Adjusting force to avoid killing was the real hassle.
"Just fighting Silver Moon Bandits days ago, now gambling hall thugs."
Level gap too extreme?
Nangong Yun-ho shook his head at Baek Ri-seol.
"Lady Baek Ri. Best stay alert."
Instructor's setups never end simply.
"You're right."
And sure enough—
Kaboom!
A massive black something hurtled their way.
Followed by the instructor's lazy drawl.
"Hey hey. Watch out there."
He's a bit feral.
Crash!
Smashing tables rolling—the banker tumbled right to Nangong Yun-ho's feet.
"Grr! You little shit!"
Thud thud!
Clearing debris atop him, he rose disheveled, screaming bloody murder.
"I'll kill you!"
Whoosh!
Sudden flames engulfed him.
Rooooar—.
A chilling aura exploded outward.