Chapter 145: Jangcheon Sect (4)

The gambling den.

Typically, such places are tucked away in dark alleys, but fitting for the city of indulgence, Suzhou, the illegal gambling den was surprisingly located on the lake.

Dozens of large, ornate flower boats were floating on the lake, with grand pavilions built on top of them.

*Fiddle-dee-dee.*

*Thump. Clap. Thump. Clap.*

The colorful lights from the flower boats reflected on the night lake, accompanied by continuous, noisy music.

The group’s feelings were mixed as they watched.

“he said he’d show us another world.”

“Who would have thought it would be an illegal gambling den?”

Baek Ri Seol and Mo Yong So-hye gloomily touched foreheads.

*Creak. Creak.*

They had rented a small boat, as only small boats could navigate to the gambling den.

They had disguised themselves in plain clothes to hide their identities.

They even wore light makeup to look more mature.

Although a proper outing was supposed to be exciting, everyone’s hearts were heavy.

They had left their weapons behind, fearing they would be caught at the entrance.

“If you could bring weapons into a gambling den, there would be a bloodbath.”

They understood the explanation, but it didn’t calm their nerves.

What made them even more uneasy was the instructor, who was constantly arguing with the boatman.

“I told you I’d pay.”

“Two silver coins. Pay up.”

“I’ll pay you double when I win.”

“Not later, pay now.”

“Triple. No, five times.”

“Should I flip the boat?”

After arguing for a while, Cho Un-hwi returned, grumbling.

“Damn. Such a petty man.”

He seemed pettier himself.

But no one said anything.

No one wanted to be thrown into Suzhou.

Cho Un-hwi looked at the students and said.

“You all remember the rules, right?”

“Yes. We’ve learned all the card and dice games.”

“From now on, stay sharp. This is a battle.”

It’s a war fought with math and strategy!

It seemed like a war they didn’t need to fight, but they all repeated after him.

“This is a battle.”

“Strategy and calculation.”

“We’ll fight a great battle.”

*Clap clap clap.*

Jegal Tan, making clapping sounds with his mouth, got hit for being insincere.

“Repeat after me.”

Raising both hands to the sky, Cho Un-hwi shouted passionately.

“Mountain Spirit! Primordial Lord! Please grant us a great win today!”

It was embarrassing.

It felt like everyone was looking at them and whispering.

The boatman’s rowing seemed to speed up.

But a moment of embarrassment was better than violence.

“Please grant us a great win!”

Baek Ri Seol added a clever comment.

“Since we’re on the water, shouldn’t we pray to the Dragon King instead of the Mountain Spirit?”

“Oh, right.”

Cho Un-hwi raised his hands to the sky again.

“Dragon King! Please grant us a great win.”

*Creak. Creak.*

The small boat slid ahead of the others.

***

*Buzz. Buzz.*

As soon as they set foot on the boat, they saw the dazzling banquet hall.

Hundreds of people were engrossed in gambling.

“They say gambling knows no gender.”

“There are quite a few female customers.”

As they looked around, a man tore off his shirt with a groan.

“Damn. My luck is really bad.”

As others around him lamented, “So close” or “You almost had it,” the man downed a bowl of strong liquor and put his last money pouch on the table.

“Deal the next hand!”

The group around him refocused on the gambling.

Similar scenes were happening elsewhere.

“Where’s the instructor?”

Baek Ri Seol looked around and spotted the instructor pointing at them.

He looked like a staff member of the gambling den rather than a companion.

“It’s so noisy, I can’t hear what he’s saying.”

With so many people shouting, it was hard to have a conversation even next to each other.

“I can catch a few words.”

Baek Ri Seol, with her keen senses, picked up a few words.

“Four people. Suckers. Commission?”

What does that mean?

Unlike the others, Jegal Tan seemed to understand.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“……?”

A moment later, the instructor returned, jingling a small money pouch he had received from the gambling den staff.

“Alright. You’ve got the gist of the atmosphere, right?”

The battle begins.

***

They started with a game of tiles.

The game involved throwing white bone-like pieces with drawings to complete a set, and it moved quickly.

*Clatter.*

Once the tiles were thrown, the outcome was decided quickly, making it hard to calculate.

With only basic knowledge of the winning tiles, they quickly lost their money.

After a few attempts, they grew tired of it.

The atmosphere was dull.

For some reason, only half-naked men seemed to enjoy the game of tiles.

“I don’t like it here.”

“It’s dark and smells bad.”

The bearded man throwing tiles looked shocked.

“Ugh. They should wash more often.”

As the only woman stood up, the bearded men gloomily clattered their tiles.

Next, they went to the card table.

This place was relatively clean, and people seemed more refined.

There were even scholars in academic robes.

Women were also present.

“Alright, draw your cards.”

Unlike the random throwing of tiles, drawing cards had a certain elegance.

Shaking the container and drawing colorful paper cards, they calculated the numbers and pictures with an abacus.

“Let’s see. Horse. Deer. Pheasant.”

After drawing three cards, Mo Yong So-hye threw them down in disgust.

“Ugh. Total bust.”

After a few failed attempts, she got bored and looked around.

At another card table, Jegal Tan was sitting upright, handling the cards skillfully.

“I’ll win with the next hand.”

“Damn. I’m wiped out.”

His quick calculations impressed the gamblers next to him.

“How many times has he won?”

“Isn’t he a pro?”

“Wow, he pulled that off.”

Discarding unlikely cards and betting only when confident of winning, Jegal Tan’s pile of silver coins grew.

Seeing Mo Yong So-hye approach, Jegal Tan whispered.

“Card games are about calculation and skill.”

That’s all.

“When you reach the peak of calculation, it’s not a gamble but a confirmation of a predetermined result.”

Boring.

With a calculating look, Jegal Tan stood up.

The gamblers, their noses buried in the cards, jeered.

“Leaving after winning?”

“Did you learn gambling in the bathroom?”

“You’re no good.”

Ignoring the jeers, Jegal Tan calmly stood up.

*Clatter.*

“Have a drink on me.”

He left some of his winnings on the table.

The reaction changed immediately.

“A polite young man.”

“Thanks for the drink!”

“Ha ha ha.”

Their words flipped like a switch, just like the instructor.

“This was expected.”

Jegal Tan winked.

“Where’s the instructor?”

“He said to have fun.”

“We have time. Let’s find Namgung Yun-ho.”

“He’s not suited for a gambling den.”

“Hopefully, he hasn’t lost everything.”

As Jegal Tan turned, putting on airs.

“Woo!”

“Is that possible?”

A cheer erupted.

Namgung Yun-ho was there, holding cards with a stoic expression.

But those who knew him could guess his true feelings.

‘He doesn’t understand why people are giving him money.’

He just accepts it.

“Incredible restraint.”

“Right. You can’t read him at all.”

“Damn. Where did he come from?”

Among the admirers was a gambler who had lost money.

“He bet so recklessly, I thought he had a big hand.”

“But he beat us all with trash cards.”

“Amazing gambler.”

Seeing him counting on his fingers, it seemed he hadn’t memorized all the winning hands.

Mo Yong So-hye shook her head.

“Gambling is about calculation, right?”

“……”

“Isn’t it just luck?”

Jegal Tan stubbornly insisted.

“Beginner’s luck.”

Feeling it was time, they joined Baek Ri Seol, who was causing a commotion.

“Wait. I almost won.”

Her money was almost gone.

“One more hand, and I’ll win it all back.”

Muttering the classic gambler’s line, Baek Ri Seol nervously checked her cards.

*Clatter!*

She threw down her cards with a triumphant look.

“Full house!”

Her opponent, smiling, laid down his cards.

“Royal flush. I win again.”

“Argh!”

Tearing up, Baek Ri Seol bet more money.

“One more hand!”

There was a reason Baek Ri Seol couldn’t get up easily.

Mo Yong So-hye whispered to Jegal Tan.

“Isn’t that a common strategy?”

“Yes. Winning big hands and losing small ones. It’s a common gambling strategy.”

With her money quickly dwindling, Baek Ri Seol’s “one more hand” became three, then five.

Mo Yong So-hye finally pulled her up.

“One hand is enough! Just one hand.”

“Yes, yes. I got it. Now get up.”

“Just one more hand!”

Mo Yong So-hye dragged Baek Ri Seol away.

***

“Sniff. Sniff. I almost won.”

“Sister, you’re broke.”

“One more hand, and I’d have turned it all around.”

They say lovers grow alike, and she was very much like the instructor, who always bet on the big win.

“Where is he?”

It was so crowded it was hard to think.

Fortunately, Mo Yong So-hye, who hadn’t enjoyed gambling, remembered where he went.

“He said something about dice.”

“Ah, the innermost area?”

Asking around, they found the instructor.

And more.

*Bang!*

A man shaking dice in a teacup overturned the cup.

*Clatter.*

As the dice rolled, the man shouted.

“Two!”

The teacup revealed two ones.

The spectators gasped in admiration.

“Impressive. His dice skills are top-notch.”

“With the lowest number, how can anyone beat that?”

“That lucky guy is done for.”

The instructor, indifferently holding the teacup, shook it.

*Thump.*

He overturned the cup and shouted.

“One.”

People started murmuring.

“How can it be one?”

“Right. The smallest number with two dice is two.”

“Is he losing his mind?”

But as the teacup was revealed, they widened their eyes.

“Wow! The dice are stacked on top of each other.”

“Indeed. That’s how you get one.”

“He’s a dice master.”

*Clap clap clap!*

Even the gamblers applauded.

It seemed the instructor had a talent for gambling.

Even impressing the unorthodox people.

“Damn.”

“Not bad, but you’re far from my level.”

*Clatter.*

Throwing the dice, Cho Un-hwi greedily scooped up the silver coins.

“Hehe. Thanks for the meal.”

He placed a pile of silver coins in front of him and licked his lips, wiggling his hips.

“Time to go.”

As they wondered what to do with the instructor, who was delighted with his winnings.

“Hey there. Isn’t it too early to leave?”

A deep voice called out, and a man with thick sideburns appeared.

“Boss!”

Boss?

“I told you to call me the manager.”

The gambler who had called him the boss quickly bowed.

“Sorry, manager.”

“Hmph!”

The man, with a flourish of his sleeves, sat in front of the instructor.

“The night is long. Why leave so soon?”

“There are other things to do besides dice.”

“That’s true.”

Leaning in, the man smirked.

“You can’t leave after causing such a ruckus.”

“Ruckus?”

“Your sleight of hand seemed dirty.”

“You’re mistaken. It was a fair game.”

“We’ll see about that.”

“Oh~.”

The instructor’s lips curled at the threatening words.

The four students remembered the instructor’s words before coming here.

[I’ll show you how to cause trouble without worrying about the aftermath.]

On the lake.

Surrounded by enemies on all sides, how did he plan to leave calmly?

Smiling, the instructor sneered.

“Hey, buddy. Are you sure you won’t regret those words?”