Chapter 119
Chapter 119
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Gambling God
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The group entered Kaifeng. Perhaps because it was a city with such a deep history, the atmosphere felt quite different from other cities. Here and there, old buildings with strangely different shapes stood out amid ordinary structures.
"Looks like the old buildings seem much bigger and sturdier than the recent ones."
Hearing Namgung Myeong's impression, Dan Seolyeong offered her opinion.
"Sloppily built ones would've all collapsed long ago. No way a shoddily constructed building could survive until now."
"Oh, I see... So when was this building made?"
"Who knows. There were countries that vanished long ago, right? Zhou? Wei? Probably built by people from that era."
"Maybe Sui?"
"Who knows. My dad said the Sui Dynasty didn't disappear that long ago."
Dan Seolyeong didn't know much about history either. Just a few stories she'd heard from her father as a child.
She'd spoken confidently about Zhou or Wei, but she didn't actually know how long ago those countries had vanished.
But there was no chance for Dan Seolyeong's ignorance to be exposed. No one in the group knew more about history than she did.
Dang Mujin looked around in admiration.
"As expected, the craftsmanship of ancient people was impressive. I wonder if our descendants will marvel at the buildings and objects made in our generation."
Dan Seolyeong wore a confident expression.
"Of course. Even after hundreds or thousands of years, nothing will surpass Mok Inhang."
As Dan Seolyeong declared it firmly, Namgung Myeong asked.
"Mok Inhang? That thing at Shaolin Temple?"
"Yeah."
"But that wasn't made in our generation. And I heard it's broken and doesn't even move, so how could it be unsurpassed..."
Just as Dan Seolyeong was about to boast proudly about Mok Inhang, Yu Jingwang raised his voice to draw everyone's attention.
"Alright. First, let's find out where the Gambling God is. We'll split up and—"
Yu Jingwang said that, then looked at Dang Mujin and made an "oh" face.
"No, let's look around together. We should find him soon enough."
The reason Yu Jingwang changed his words now was his promise to ensure the safety of Dang Mujin's group.
Yu Jingwang's attitude had changed dramatically over the past few days. At first, it had been the distant relationship of host and guest, but after a huge win at dice gambling, he began treating Dang Mujin's group like lucky charms.
That had still been in the realm of simple favor or superstition, but after raking in even more money at cockfighting recently, Yu Jingwang's demeanor shifted to an extreme degree. He became quite polite not just to Dan Seolyeong, but even to Chusam. Yu Jingwang's trust had moved beyond superstition into conviction.
In any case, nearly twenty people moved in a pack through Kaifeng's streets. Excluding Dan Seolyeong and Chusam, they were all martial artists. Not a single second- or third-rate among them.
It was a force that could easily win a full-on battle against most mid-tier sects, so ordinary folk and even martial artists slunk away from the group.
The group first ransacked the taverns. After all, big gambling dens were always built around taverns.
"Do you know Gambling God Hong?"
"Well, I've heard the nickname, but nothing more."
On the first day, they scoured several taverns but found nothing.
Then, on the second day in Kaifeng, as soon as the group entered a tavern, they felt a strange vibe.
'This is a gambling den.'
Everyone's eyes were hollow.
Unlike typical taverns where people got drunk and chattered noisily, the loud noises here were roars of angry frustration or sighs like the earth was collapsing.
Combined with the oddly melancholic atmosphere, it painted a perfect picture of a gambling hall.
Yu Jingwang looked around and approached a man sitting alone, not participating in the gambling. His posture and expression told the story. He'd lost all his money but couldn't leave the table in case he got lucky.
"Do you know the Gambling God?"
"Of course. Who in Kaifeng who gambles doesn't know the Gambling God?"
"Where can I meet him?"
"I hear his haunts change all the time. But come back here in four days, and you'll see him. He shows up at the gambling tables every five days, and yesterday was that day."
"Hmm. Got it."
As Yu Jingwang turned to leave, the gambler called him back.
"You look new to Kaifeng. What's your business with the Gambling God?"
"I have a favor to ask. You don't need to know more."
"Don't need to know? People looking for the Gambling God are one of two types. Fools who want to challenge him, or cowards who want to entrust their gambling to him. Which are you?"
"Not a coward, but closer to the latter."
The gambler looked satisfied that his guess was right.
"I see. But you won't be able to bet with the Gambling God."
"Why?"
"There are more than a few waiting for him. But I know how to persuade him."
"How?"
The gambler slowly rubbed his thumb and index finger together. Yu Jingwang made a pained face and flicked over a single silver coin. It was a negligible amount compared to what he had, but the gambler seemed satisfied with it.
He lowered his voice as if sharing a great secret.
"When the Gambling God appears, you'll spot him easily. Gamblers will swarm him like clouds. But even pushing through the crowd, getting him to grant a favor won't be easy."
"Get to the point."
The gambler clicked his tongue.
"Over there, there's a tavern called Yukjin House. The Gambling God loves their food. Especially the roast mud duck. Prepare some delicious food ahead and offer it, and he'll roll the dice for you a couple times."
"Hmm... Got it."
Dang Mujin clicked his tongue. Not winning money through gambling, but getting expensive dishes just for rolling dice a couple times. What a lucky bastard. Though it meant his skills were the real deal.
The group poked around the gambling den a bit more before heading back to their lodgings.
*
Four days later, the group headed back to Yukjin House as the gambler had said. But contrary to expectations, they couldn't order food.
"We have a huge backlog of orders today, so we can't take more customers."
As if it were commonplace, the server's voice was calm.
There were more than a few people lined up outside, waiting for their food.
All of them had gleaming eyes and fidgeting fingers—definitely gamblers with favors to ask the Gambling God.
"...This is a snag."
With no choice, the group stepped out of Yukjin House and discussed.
"Looks like we messed up today. How about waiting another five days? Come early, line up, or bribe the tavern for timely food."
"With how many of us there are, waiting? We just kidnap him by force."
When someone made a radical suggestion, Dang Mujin waved it off.
"Foolish thinking. Buy enmity like that, and what if he throws the game on purpose at a crucial moment?"
"Ah, right."
The plan settled on waiting another five days. But that didn't mean heading straight back to the inn to rest.
The group headed to the gambling hall. They figured watching the Gambling God in action—what kind of person he was, how good he was—would at least satisfy their curiosity.
The atmosphere inside the gambling hall was much the same as usual. The Gambling God hadn't appeared yet. As if to confirm it, the gamblers kept glancing toward the entrance.
While other Qingcheng Sect warriors poked around the tables, Dang Mujin's group and Yu Jingwang ordered simple food and plenty of liquor, then sat around a table. The endless mix of joy and sorrow crossing the gambling hall made perfect drinking snacks.
A short time later, the hall grew strangely quiet, and murmurs rose from outside.
"Looks like the Gambling God's here."
"Seems so."
Peeking outside, dozens of people were entering as one mass. But the crowd was too thick to spot the Gambling God's face.
Yu Jingwang stood up.
"I need to see how good he is at gambling."
"Yes. Go ahead."
Yu Jingwang wormed through the crowd, while Dang Mujin's group continued chatting and enjoying their food and drinks.
The Gambling God ended up at the table behind Dang Mujin. Occasionally, Dang Mujin heard huge cheers from behind. Listening to the murmurs, it seemed the Gambling God had crushed a gambler from out of town and swept up the pot.
Moments later, a man shot up from the center of the gambling table and approached Dang Mujin's table.
As he moved, the murmurs stopped, and countless eyes followed him.
But Dang Mujin, focused on his food, noticed the man's presence a bit late. Precisely, when the man stood behind him.
"...?"
Dang Mujin turned around. And spotted a very familiar face.
"...Hong Geolgae?"
Dang Mujin scanned Hong Geolgae up and down.
Hong Geolgae still wore ragged clothes. But everything else seemed completely changed. He'd put on weight, and his face was full of leisure.
That leisurely expression felt incredibly alien. A relaxed beggar—could such a thing exist in the world?
Also, grease lingered uncleaned at the corners of Hong Geolgae's mouth, making it gleam.
To top it off, the gazes of countless people fixed on him and Hong Geolgae. Only then did Dang Mujin realize Hong Geolgae was Gambling God Hong.
"Didn't you go off with Grand Wind Beggar Elder?"
"Yeah."
Yu Jingwang and the Qingcheng warriors approached and surrounded them. Namgung Myeong, Dan Seolyeong, and Chusam also listened to Hong Geolgae.
Dan Seolyeong at least knew his name, but the others knew nothing about him. Hong Geolgae ignored the stares and continued.
"After learning martial arts from Grand Wind Beggar Elder, he told me to go find the Sect Leader. Said with my talent, he might take me as a disciple."
"Sect Leader? You mean the Absolute Peak Expert, one of the Six Venerables and Sages?"
"Yeah. But no way to know where Venerable Sage Elder is, so I've been waiting in Kaifeng."
It clicked then. Kaifeng was where the Beggars' Sect headquarters was.
Dang Mujin examined Hong Geolgae again. Hong Geolgae's skills had advanced dramatically compared to before.
Fortunately, he hadn't broken through to the peak realm like Namgung Myeong. If Hong Geolgae had reached that wall too, the two would team up to tease Dang Mujin. He had no confidence in enduring such a horrific future.
Dang Mujin let out a sigh of relief.
"Anyway, how'd you end up with the Gambling God nickname?"
"No big deal. Just rolled some dice as a side gig while staying in Kaifeng, and it happened."
"So you weren't good at gambling before."
"Yeah. How often does a beggar get into gambling games... Master said I was wrapped in great fortune, and yeah, I do seem lucky. Nothing amazing though."
"If it's not some great skill, how'd you get the Gambling God title?"
"Really, no big deal. I don't always win. Want me to show you?"
Hong Geolgae handed Dang Mujin a die.
"Roll it."
Dang Mujin's die showed 5. Hong Geolgae rolled next. 3. Dang Mujin won.
"Roll more."
Each time Dang Mujin rolled, Hong Geolgae rolled to compare. After ten rolls: 3 wins, 2 ties, 5 losses for Dang Mujin. Average.
"Don't see anything special."
"You'll see if we keep going."
Dang Mujin and Hong Geolgae kept rolling. The group and Qingcheng warriors held their breath watching.
Nothing special happened. Hong Geolgae didn't keep rolling 6s, nor did he win 10-0. But the more they rolled, the harder people's faces grew.
Anyone could see Hong Geolgae won far more. Excluding ties, he won six or seven out of ten on average. Such odds in pure luck gambling were bizarre no matter who looked.
"...Not loaded dice?"
"No way. These are borrowed just now."
Hong Geolgae tossed the dice back to someone waving from afar.
"That's it. In plain gambling like this, I win six or seven out of ten? I lose money sometimes too."
Hong Geolgae spoke casually, but gamblers "sometimes" losing money was absurd. Dan Seolyeong and Namgung Myeong gaped, while Yu Jingwang's face lit up with excitement.
Yu Jingwang looked at Dang Mujin, mouth opening and closing. His desperate expression said it all.
Dang Mujin spoke.
"I know it's weird to ask this right after reuniting, but can you help me out?"
Dang Mujin didn't explain the request in detail. Not because his thoughts weren't clear, but because it wasn't necessary.
And as Dang Mujin expected, Hong Geolgae replied.
"Of course."