The Trap in the Gambling Den
I had to admit that I had been pretty optimistic about joining the 7th Class.
And the more I experienced the influence of the branch families firsthand, the more I started to understand why Tang Munseong, despite being the greatest expert in the Tang Clan, couldn't reform the family right now.
“Haa……”
If I wanted to explain why I was stuck cleaning a warehouse instead of training, I'd have to go back a few days.
To create a smooth training environment, I had decided to quickly take control of the 7th Class. While suppressing my fellow members, I had simply offered them a proposal that wasn't a loss for them at all: If you don't mess with me, I'll leave you alone! Just treat me like I don't exist!
But then the instructor, who had been nowhere to be seen, suddenly appeared, and the situation took a strange turn. Not only the members of my own class, but even those from other classes began deliberately picking fights with me.
Eventually, friction led to conflict, and I ended up getting punished for one-sidedly beating them down. At first I brushed it off, but as time passed, I could clearly feel the pure malice of someone orchestrating the whole thing.
“Even the smallest incident gets reported straight to the Tanggidae leader……”
On top of that, a recent announcement had declared that conflicts between Tanggidae members would now face even harsher punishment.
The pieces fit together perfectly. Every little thing was being reported immediately, and disciplinary action followed right away.
“Damn it. Should I just leave the Tang Clan?”
At my current level, I was confident I could make a living anywhere. The problem was that doing so would mean giving my enemies exactly what they wanted.
“Ha! No way in hell.”
I had sworn to endure no matter what and stay in the Tang Clan. While I was diligently cleaning a warehouse that no one used, it happened.
“Young Master San!”
Gi Chae-yun poked just his face around the corner.
“Just call me Sanlong. We're in the same class.”
Despite looking like a cute fifteen-year-old with his youthful, almost feminine features, Gi Chae-yun was actually seventeen, the same age as me. He trotted over with quick little steps.
A guy with a face like that is going to make a lot of boys and girls cry.
“Even so, how could I possibly speak casually to a direct descendant?”
“Haven't you seen me for two weeks? Did your brain rot in the meantime?”
“I'm fine. I never had one to begin with.”
His extremely logical answer made me pause for a second. Wait, is that true?
“I've got a lot of work to do. If you're not going to help, get lost.”
“Can I help?!”
He looked genuinely excited. I let out a sigh.
“If you help, it'll just take longer. Just go.”
At least this chore would end once I left Tang-gata for the upcoming mission. That was a silver lining.
I never thought I'd be looking forward to a mission this much.
Originally, I had planned to make excuses and avoid any missions, but the situation kept forcing me outside.
“Ugh! This dirt just won't come off.”
“Young Master San.”
“I told you, just call me Sanlong.”
“Sanlong-nim.”
Did this guy come here to test my patience?
I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment to swallow my irritation and spoke.
“I'm busy. Why do you keep calling me?”
“Are you really going to keep cleaning like this?”
“Then what do you want me to do?”
Every time I resisted, more punishment came down. Even I had no choice but to endure for now.
Just wait until I finish the Tanggidae course.
This was two steps back for one step forward.
Looking at me, Gi Chae-yun said, “Why has the situation turned out like this?”
“Because I smashed the nose of the punk who picked a fight with me the day before yesterday.”
“And who reported it right away?”
“The instructor.”
Now that I thought about it, there was always an instructor nearby whenever a fight broke out. It was probably the instructor who had been inciting them.
“Why are you asking things we both already know? Are you trying to piss me off?”
“No! No! I came here to offer a suggestion that could resolve this situation!”
“Why are you the one resolving my situation? I keep telling you I'm not the kind of person who can do anything for you. Don't you know my reputation in the Tang Clan?”
Gi Chae-yun shook his head.
“You do have something you can do for me, Sanlong-nim.”
When he held out an old book, I immediately understood what the kid was after.
“Don't tell me this is because of what I showed you last time?”
“Yes! The Poison Bullet Launcher! Its structure is simple, but the principle behind its operation is utterly beautiful!”
As Gi Chae-yun launched into his mechanical engineering worship, I seriously considered knocking him out with the broom.
“Look! I made this based on what you told me, Sanlong-nim.”
A fairly sturdy Poison Bullet Launcher appeared before my eyes. The one I had made was crude as hell, but a real craftsman had turned it into something completely different.
“Hehehe! I used this today to feed three punks some chili powder bullets. Their eyes, nose, and mouth are going to sting all day long.”
Gi Chae-yun smiled wickedly.
Since these kids had some resistance to poison, something like chili powder bullets would probably work even better.
Then something suddenly occurred to me.
“You……”
“Yes. I came here to receive my punishment too.”
“You little—!”
To the guy who had so innocently confessed, I threw the broom and rag.
You came here to get punished but you've just been watching me clean? How shameless.
“You came to get punished, yet you're talking about resolving things and helping and wasting my time! Huh?”
At my outburst, Gi Chae-yun shouted urgently.
“No, it's because I really have a plan for you, Sanlong-nim!”
“That's what I'm asking. Why are you making plans for me?”
“If things continue like this, won't the time I get to talk with you decrease? Then my ultimate dream of creating the Mancheonhwapo—the Ten Thousand Heavenly Flower Cannon—will grow distant! You are the one who gives me inspiration, Sanlong-nim! You cannot be left to rot in a place like this!”
Is this what they call clear-eyed madness? There was a hint of real insanity in his eyes. His intentions were impure, but if things kept going this way, I would lose the hard-earned gains I had obtained from Guya-rim. I decided to at least hear him out.
The inner dan of the Thousand-Year Spider wasn't going to stay in my body forever. It was a shame that it was slowly dissipating instead of being converted into internal energy.
Yawn… I'm dying of sleepiness.
Reducing my sleep to train had lowered my efficiency. It was a vicious cycle.
“Talk while we clean.”
Watching me perform Qi circulation in the middle of the day for the first time in a while, Gi Chae-yun said, “Isn't this whole situation because of the instructor?”
“It's not entirely because of the instructor.”
“But primarily it is, isn't it? If we can just pull the instructor in, more than half of these punishments will disappear. So let's bring the instructor over to your side, Sanlong-nim.”
“What?”
My face clearly said make some sense, so Gi Chae-yun continued.
“We don't even need to make him an ally. We just need him to only listen to you. No matter what happens, make it so that punishment stays within the instructor's discretion.”
Of course that would be ideal, but I had no idea how to make it happen.
“So how the hell are we supposed to—!”
“Did you know?”
“Know what?”
“The rumor that the current instructor is embezzling the 7th Class's operating funds and using them for gambling.”
Now that's interesting.
An instructor's monthly salary was fixed, yet he was constantly hanging around gambling houses? There was only one answer.
“If we catch solid evidence, you'll be able to control the instructor however you want, Sanlong-nim.”
“Evidence, huh……”
My expression grew serious as something flashed through my mind.
“Well, well. All that time I spent in gambling dens is finally paying off?”
“Huh?”
“Looks like I need to take a trip to Chengdu for the first time in a while.”
I decided to finish cleaning in a hurry.
Clack. Clack.
The night in Chengdu of Sichuan Province was dazzling. Red lanterns were hung everywhere, turning the bustling streets as bright as daytime even after dark.
A carriage stopped in a secluded spot, and two boys stepped out.
“I'll be back in two hours. Rest until then.”
“Yes, young master.”
The coachman shook his head as he watched the Third Young Master head toward the gambling house.
“A dog can't stop eating shit. Tsk.”
Still, since he was getting paid, the coachman decided to treat himself to some good food for the first time in a while.
“It's been a while.”
I hadn't visited Chengdu since regaining my past-life memories, but my body seemed to remember the way. My feet naturally carried me toward the gambling house.
Whenever I came to Chengdu, I always started with bars or gambling dens, so the path felt incredibly familiar.
Unlike the brightly lit main streets, the road leading to the gambling house was dark and gloomy. Fitting for a place in the shadows, it was downright sinister.
“Um… this is my first time in a place like this.”
Watching Gi Chae-yun look around with curious eyes, I let out a small chuckle.
“There's nothing good about it. You know the saying, right?”
“What saying?”
“If you win money on your first day at a gambling house, it means heaven has abandoned you.”
Gi Chae-yun looked genuinely curious.
“Huh? But if you win, why?”
“You get addicted to that taste and keep going back. Before you know it, you're completely broke.”
“Ah……”
“So don't get hooked on gambling.”
With those words, I stood at the entrance of the gambling house. The men guarding the door recognized my face and immediately opened it.
Not long after we entered, a man approached us. It was the manager of this gambling house, Jo Sun.
The look on his face as he stared at me practically screamed what a sucker has arrived~.
“Aigoo, Third Young Master. It's been a while.”
“Hasn't it?”
“Indeed. What would you like to play?”
“Never mind that. Can I meet the branch manager?”
“Branch manager? What are you talking about?”
Jo Sun looked completely clueless. If someone who didn't know any better saw him, they would have been fooled completely.
His acting is top-notch, huh?
I had learned by chance while frequenting gambling houses that this place was actually a front for the Haoman branch in Chengdu.
“Are you really clueless? Or are you just pretending?”
“I truly have no idea what you're saying, Young Master.”
For a split second, Jo Sun's eyes seemed to flash with a chilling light.
I didn't notice before, but he's actually quite skilled.
The faint aura he gave off was no ordinary one. I hadn't been able to see it before, but after mastering the Shipdok Shingong, it was clear as day.
Scattered among the crowd were others who had learned similar martial arts. Sometimes disguised as musicians, sometimes as shills.
Hmm.
After assessing the surroundings, I decided to take a step back.
“Ahem. I've been reading too many novels lately and spouted some nonsense. I'd like to play some dice. Is there a good seat available?”
“Aigoo, allow me to escort you.”
“Sanlong-nim, what was that about a branch manager?”
“There is one. Just follow me. You have money, right?”
“Huh?”
“You got your monthly salary from the Tanggidae, didn't you? Lend me some. I'll win it back and pay you. I don't have any money on me.”
Because of all the punishments, I hadn't received a proper paycheck in ages.
“But that's my living expenses……”
“They're feeding and housing you. What living expenses?”
“I use it to make things like……”
Gi Chae-yun showed me the Poison Bullet Launcher.
Yeah, if he was making stuff like that, it made sense that he wouldn't have much money.
“Can I borrow some money?”
“Aigoo, of course~”
Looking at the man whose face screamed jackpot, I entered the gambling house with a fat pouch of coins.
“Whoa!”
From the outside it looked like a shabby house, but inside it was an entirely different world.
Ding~ Ding~
Soft melodies played as groups of people gathered, completely absorbed in gambling.
“It's really big.”
“Compared to the proper gambling houses in Chengdu, this is nothing. The largest one, called Cheongwolru, is two—no, three times bigger than this.”
“Oh… I'd like to see it someday.”
“Let's go if we get the chance. Shall we roll some dice for the first time in a while?”
I started off boldly.
But after about an hour, the money I had borrowed from the manager was almost gone.
“Sanlong-nim… this is going to be a big problem.”
“Hey, relax. Something's about to come soon.”
Like the sound of your life ending?
Gi Chae-yun couldn't bring himself to say it out loud.
Soon, Jo Sun, the manager who had lent me the money, approached.
“Aigoo, Young Master. It looks like you're already out of money.”
“Huh? Already?”
“Would you like to borrow more? Should I send the bill to the Tang Clan?”
“Wait. Wait! It's coming… it's coming… it's coming!”
“What?”
While spouting incomprehensible nonsense, I suddenly grabbed the hand of the man rolling the dice.
It was a perfect Geumna-su—a move worthy of a direct descendant of the Tang Clan.
“W-what?!”
“Young Master!”
“Sanlong-nim! That's—!”
The reason everyone around us was shocked was because I had already pulled out a throwing knife and was holding it.
“Don't you know that cheating in a gambling house gets your wrist cut off?”
“W-what?! Aaaagh!”
Thud!
Without hesitation, I stabbed the throwing knife into the back of the dice-roller's hand.