Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: Festival (3)
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All in.
For a gambler, could there be a more romantic phrase?
If I were a player in that game, I would have applauded such a bold bet and called "Fold."
The problem was, that gambler was Cheong So-so.
I grabbed her slender shoulder to stop her.
“Let’s talk for a moment.”
She insisted on starting while the momentum was good, but I forcibly dragged her to a deserted spot.
“What are you really trying to do? Don't you know thirty silver nyang is enough to buy a decent plot of farmland?”
It was an appeal to common sense.
But Cheong So-so's reply was a spectacle.
“It's not thirty nyang. It's seventy.”
“What?”
“I brought all the money I have.”
At the truth that came from her lips, Myo Hyang and I could only stand there with our jaws agape.
“Actually, I’ve been coming here ever since I arrived in Hanzhong. I brought every last coin I had to win back what I’ve lost.”
I thought she was just a deadbeat, but the problem was more serious than I imagined.
A deadbeat might drain the family pantry, but a gambler could drain the entire family fortune.
If this escalated, she might even end up betting the deed to the Cheong family estate.
‘Hmm…’
I couldn't help but imagine the Cheong family head, furious, dragging her away by the hair.
As I was lost in thought, Cheong So-so's confident voice reached my ears.
“If you’re worried I might lose, don’t be. My Cheong-ah is invincible.”
With that, she showed me the cricket inside the wooden box.
Myo Hyang, with her neat personality, shuddered and stepped back.
“What do you think?”
“What do you mean, ‘what do I think’? A cricket is a cricket.”
“Look closely. Then you’ll understand what I mean.”
At her words, I focused my vision and examined it carefully.
‘Hmm… same number of legs… it has eyes… wait? What is this?’
As I lifted my head in surprise, Cheong So-so gave a meaningful smile.
“Hehehe.”
Indeed. Cheong So-so's cricket was no ordinary cricket.
Not only was it unnaturally large, like Captain America, but the agility it showed in its brief movements was extraordinary.
It was like looking at a supreme master of the cricket world.
That wasn't the only surprising thing.
“I-I can feel ki from it?”
I don't know what she did, but it even seemed to possess a faint amount of internal energy.
“A-Are there spiritual beast crickets?”
As I marveled, Cheong So-so shook her head and said.
“Of course not. No matter how vast the world is, a mere cricket becoming a spiritual beast is absurd, isn't it?”
“Then?”
“I performed the Heaven-Turning Daoist Golden Needle Art on it.”
“…”
“Oh, the Heaven-Turning Daoist Golden Needle Art is a grand technique known as the Cheong family's ultimate secret art. It can restore the vitality of youth even to a dying old man.”
Seriously, using an ultimate secret art on a cricket? Does that even make sense?
“I’ve spent countless sleepless nights adapting the grand art for a cricket. Hehehe.”
*Click.*
She closed the wooden box and continued.
“Today, the reign of Black Line will end, and peace will be restored to the cricket fighting scene of Hanzhong.”
The declaration of a righteous gambler made my head spin, but I roughly understood the situation.
“So, you used your family's ultimate secret art to defeat the cricket of that old man in the ox mask? And you’ve been cooped up in the inn all this time modifying the art so it could be used on a cricket.”
*Nod, nod.*
Cheong So-so’s eyes sparkled as she nodded, and I sighed and asked.
“Alright, so what do you need my help with?”
“What kind of help would one need at a gambling den? I need you to ensure a fair payout.”
Meaning, if the losing side refuses to pay up, I should rough them up a bit.
“...So that’s why you left Grandmaster Yuk behind.”
To prevent word from getting back to the Cheong family.
I was about to give her a piece of my mind, but I decided it would be better to just get this over with and go home, so I nodded.
“Alright. It’s just one match, right?”
“Of course. Black Line won’t last ten seconds against my Cheong-ah.”
After hearing Cheong So-so's confident reply, I called out to Myo Hyang.
“Sister.”
“Yes?”
“How much money do you have?”
Since we were already here, it wouldn't be a bad idea to play a round.
***
A moment later.
When we returned to the cricket fighting table, the old man in the ox mask, called Uno, was still waiting for us.
“Heh heh, I thought you’d run away.”
“Hmph, my Cheong-ah is invincible.”
Seriously, stop using such epic lines for a cricket fight.
Personally, I found it incredibly embarrassing, but a tense atmosphere was building around the table.
It almost felt like watching a life-or-death duel between martial artists.
Amidst the tension, the announcer raised his voice.
“Those betting on Black Line, to the right. Those betting on this lady’s… Cheong-ah, was it? Ah, I see. Ahem, those betting on Cheong-ah, to the left.”
At that, countless silver coins began to pile up on the right.
It was a bigger game than I expected, with what looked like over five hundred nyang.
When the old man called Uno took out two gold nyang and placed them on top of the silver pile, the atmosphere instantly heated up.
And to them, I spoke softly.
“The pot is too small. This won’t do.”
Calling seven hundred nyang small, it was only natural that all eyes turned to me.
“Sister.”
Myo Hyang, with a reluctant expression, poured out nine gold coins on the left.
Following that, Cheong So-so added seventy nyang, and I added thirty, bringing the total bet on Cheong-ah to one thousand nyang.
For the record, the money Myo Hyang bet was public funds from the Hanzhong Merchant Guild.
‘Why on earth does she carry around so much money...’
In any case, as a huge sum piled up on Cheong-ah's side, those who bet on Black Line were flustered at first, but soon broke into smiles.
They probably thought all this money would end up in their pockets.
“If we’re going to do this, how about we match the amount? That would seem fair.”
The taunt seemed to work, as a smirk appeared on Uno's lips.
“Let’s.”
He opened a chest beside him and poured out three hundred silver nyang.
*Clink.*
And so, a big match with a total pot of two thousand nyang was set.
The announcer swallowed hard and said.
“Sh-Shall we begin then?”
*Nod.*
After confirming both sides were ready, he raised his hand.
“Fight!”
The moment Uno and Cheong So-so opened the wooden boxes containing their crickets, a fierce battle began.
*Chirrr-.*
The black cricket, Black Line, let out a beast-like roar and strode forward.
I’ve never examined a cricket closely, but since it dominated the Hanzhong cricket fighting scene, it couldn't be a pushover.
*Gulp.*
I swallowed nervously and turned my gaze to Cheong So-so’s Cheong-ah.
Twice the size of Black Line, its legs an unusually vibrant blue—perhaps due to the internal energy—the cricket dashed forward at high speed, as if showing off its long hind legs.
Then came the clash.
*Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.*
Black Line and Cheong-ah moved their forelegs, clashing fiercely.
“Black Line! Black Line!”
“Go, Cheong-ah!”
The supporters on both sides cheered for their respective crickets.
Just as they had exchanged three moves each.
*Thwack.*
Cheong So-so’s Cheong-ah slammed its foreleg down on Black Line, sending it flying helplessly.
“Gasp! What was that!”
Gasps could be heard from all around.
As if to scold them, Black Line quickly righted itself.
*Chirrr.*
As expected of the champion of Hanzhong's cricket fighting scene, it had some fight left in it.
But Cheong So-so’s Cheong-ah was no ordinary cricket; it was a super cricket, perfected by the Heaven-Turning something-or-other Grand Art.
It was the cricket version of Captain America, completed with the super soldier serum.
Sure enough, when Cheong-ah charged forward, slamming its foreleg down again, Black Line didn't dare to face it and hastily retreated.
Seeing Black Line retreat, Uno began to shout.
“Fight! Fight back!”
Was it because it heard its master's shout?
*Chirrrp.*
Black Line used its long hind legs to launch itself into the air.
It seemed to be going for a jump attack.
*Chirrr—*
But our super cricket, Cheong-ah, jumped at the same time, as if it had anticipated the move.
And it jumped as high as a grown man's height.
“Gasp!”
“No way!”
One of the spectators cried out in shock at the movement.
*CRACK!*
As if to finish the spectator's exclamation, Cheong-ah's foreleg pierced through Black Line's head.
If I had to name the technique, I’d call it a Counter Jump Attack.
“Whoa!”
Cheong So-so cheered, raising her arms in victory.
Just as she had said, Black Line hadn't lasted ten seconds against Cheong-ah.
Myo Hyang, who was next to Cheong So-so, saw the result and stood up with a bright smile.
“Well now, all we have to do is collect our money, right?”
Just as she was about to sweep up the winnings.
“Oh my!”
*Grab.*
The man who had been the announcer until a moment ago snatched Myo Hyang’s wrist.
“Wait a moment. We need to check if there was any foul play.”
A polite tone, but a threatening voice.
If one of the gambling den's men was acting this way, the reason was obvious.
It meant the lost money belonged to the den, and that one of the bettors was affiliated with them.
And that affiliate was most likely the old man, Uno.
Sure enough.
“To bring something that is not a cricket to this sacred ring! What are you all doing?! Subdue these scoundrels!”
A tired old cliché was unfolding right before my eyes.
“Sigh, you people never change.”
*WHAM!*
***
A short while later.
After pacifying the commotion with the peaceful method of my fists, I had the gambling den’s employees kneeling in a line.
“...So, you’re the owner of this gambling den, right?”
“There’s a separate owner. I’m just the manager. Hehehe.”
“Who’s the owner?”
Uno’s eyes darted around as he kept his mouth shut.
*SWOOSH!*
“Hiek!”
I swiped a hand, knocking his mask off, and he fell over in shock.
“Beat them up! Beat them up! Damn it, they took my money right away when I lost, so why won't they let me take mine when I win?!”
Cheong So-so shook her fists excitedly.
“Should I start by killing them one by one, starting from the front?”
“No, that’s not necessary…”
“Sister, what do you think?”
“Hmm… Since this is no different from robbery, how about we forgive them after cutting off one of each of their ears?”
“…”
At her suggestion, everyone’s face turned pale.
Just as the atmosphere turned menacing.
*Clank.*
The door to the gambling den opened, and a group of people entered.
The person leading them was a woman I knew.
“...I had no idea this was your establishment.”
It was Yang Ryeong, the Hanzhong branch manager of the Hao Faction and master of Wolhwa Pavilion.
Though that wasn't the important thing right now.
“They were trying to welch on their bet in this sacred gambling den.”
“There’s also someone who ran off without paying their sacred information fee, so what’s the big deal?”
“Ahem…”
“I’ve heard the gist of it. You won a large sum?”
“Well, something like that.”
Yang Ryeong glared at Uno and asked.
“How much?”
“T-Ten gold nyang.”
At the massive sum, worth about a billion in modern currency, the corner of Yang Ryeong’s eye twitched.
“That is a large sum.”
She then tossed two gold nyang to me.
As I caught them reflexively, her telepathic message reached me.
[That’s the amount after deducting the five nyang you skipped out on before, the two nyang you owe from Nine Dragons Fortress, and finally, the accumulated interest.]
I was speechless at her absurd calculation.
Fine, I could concede the seven nyang in arrears.
But the interest? I could never accept that.
‘What about my relationship with Yong Ma-san?’
We’d eaten breakfast together for nearly a year. Weren’t we practically family?
Between people like us, ‘interest’ was too cold a word.
I immediately sent a telepathic message to protest.
[Then feel free to get that part back from the Sect Master.]
Only a cold reply came back.
‘This damn woman!’
Myo Hyang, who knew Yang Ryeong, tugged at the edge of my clothes.
She seemed worried about the escalating tension.
But who was I?
Was I not Jin Mujeon, the greatest talent of this era, boasting overwhelming martial prowess, innate strategic genius, and world-class administrative skills?
In other words, I could easily dismantle Yang Ryeong’s flimsy logic.
[Isn’t there a saying in gambling dens? If you get caught cheating, you lose a hand.]
[...What do you mean?]
[What do you think I mean? I’m going to cut off one wrist of every man here.]
[Didn’t you say you were like family with the Sect Master?]
[I just disowned him. His subordinate is being hostile to me.]
[...I’ll give you two more nyang.]
[I don’t want money.]
[Then?]
[Make my information fees free.]
[Next time?]
[No, for the next five times.]
Yang Ryeong’s gaze turned icy in an instant.
[If you refuse, these men’s wrists...]
[Fine. But let’s make it three times. Five is too many.]
[Pleasure doing business with you.]
As I walked out with the money, I thought.
‘What a windfall.’
I should save this for a rainy day.