Chapter 146: Jangcheon Sect (5)

At the sharp retort, the thick eyebrows of the manager twitched.

“And why would I regret it?”

“Do you have the guts to tussle with an instructor from Shinmu Academy?”

“An instructor from Shinmu Academy?”

The manager quickly looked him up and down, trying to verify if he was really from Shinmu Academy.

Meanwhile, Mo Yong So-hye, watching the situation, urgently tugged on Jegal Tan’s sleeve.

“Is this okay?”

“…We should be keeping our identities a secret.”

Wasn’t this the same instructor who made them dress up to hide their identities?

“An instructor bringing students to an illegal gambling den isn’t just a matter of a pay cut.”

At minimum, it could lead to a pay cut, and at worst, suspension or even dismissal.

“He must have a plan, right?”

He’d better.

Even as reckless as the instructor was, he wouldn’t act without a plan.

“Let’s watch for now.”

The exchange between the leader of the Jangcheon Sect and Cho Un-hwi continued.

“Tsk, so you’re from the righteous faction?”

“Now your tone is a bit more respectful. Why? Don’t I look like someone from the righteous faction?”

“From the way you talk, you seem more like someone from my line of work.”

“Unless there’s some secret about my birth that I don’t know, I’m from the righteous faction.”

He really seemed more like an unorthodox martial artist.

The manager, muttering, didn’t hide his suspicion as he asked.

“Let’s have a proper introduction.”

It was clear that if he turned out to be a nobody, he wouldn’t be left alone.

“I am from Euncheon Hall…”

Euncheon Hall?

“I am Senior Instructor Jang Cheol-sim!”

“Senior Instructor!”

The manager’s expression darkened again.

“……”

Mo Yong So-hye’s mouth opened and closed silently.

After a moment of shock, Namgung Yun-ho was the first to speak.

“He said he’d handle things cleanly without worrying about the aftermath.”

“I didn’t expect him to impersonate a fellow instructor.”

Jegal Tan was at a loss for words.

“Even if we can somehow get away with entering an illegal gambling den.”

“Impersonating a senior instructor…”

If caught, it wouldn’t just be suspension.

At minimum, it could lead to dismissal, and at worst, imprisonment.

“Ugh, my head.”

Jegal Tan staggered, overwhelmed by the unprecedented situation unfolding in real-time.

Meanwhile, the sharp exchange between the two continued.

“A senior instructor, huh?”

The manager’s eyes narrowed.

“A senior instructor playing in an illegal gambling den?”

“I can’t help it with my low salary.”

“Wait. You seem too young to be a senior instructor.”

“Haha. Do you think you can understand someone who has inherited the legacy of Cheongseong Sect with your cheap standards?”

A senior instructor from Euncheon Hall.

Backed by Cheongseong Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects.

Even with such an unexpected story, the manager’s expression was full of suspicion.

“Something’s off. You seem more like someone from the unorthodox faction than a renowned disciple of Cheongseong Sect.”

“Haha. I believe in enjoying life to the fullest.”

“That’s quite a radical answer for a Taoist disciple.”

“What? Did you think wearing clean clothes and acting proper meant a pure heart?”

The manager, who had seen many people ruin themselves in gambling dens, was even more puzzled.

Cho Un-hwi spoke.

“Your tongue is long. Didn’t you come here for something?”

“Why are you wasting time with this background check?”

*Thud.*

*Clatter.*

Cho Un-hwi knocked over the pile of silver coins on the gambling table.

“You came to get this back.”

“You know who backs me, so you’re scared, right?”

“Haha.”

The manager’s gaze wavered at his brazen attitude.

Even someone as experienced as the manager didn’t know how to react.

“There’s no need to beat around the bush. If you want it back, you have to give something in return.”

“What do you want?”

“A bet.”

“A bet?”

“I enjoy a good gamble.”

*Snap!*

Cho Un-hwi snapped his fingers and shook his shoulders like a madman.

“How about it? The winner takes it all.”

“I’ve never seen anyone so bold even in this situation.”

“I told you, I have a strong gambling spirit.”

But a simple bet isn’t fun.

“You choose the game.”

The manager, who had been glaring with a hint of killing intent, was taken aback.

“You want me to choose the game?”

The owner of the gambling den?

He wondered if this guy was out of his mind.

“Are you serious?”

“Three rounds. Any game, three rounds to decide the winner.”

“…That’s quite tempting.”

“If you’re still unsure, I’ll add one more condition.”

Cho Un-hwi raised a finger.

“If you win even one of the three rounds, I’ll consider it my loss.”

“But double the stakes.”

Now the manager was truly speechless.

“…I can’t figure you out.”

“An exciting bet gets my heart racing.”

“Are you scared?”

With his pride on the line, the manager couldn’t refuse.

‘He might be a senior instructor from Euncheon Hall. It’s tricky to cheat.’

Despite his suspicion, the manager decided to erase his doubts.

‘He seems arrogant, but I’ve dealt with plenty like him.’

Gambling dens often saw martial artists causing trouble.

And dealing with professional gamblers who made outrageous bets was the manager’s job.

There were plenty of ways to deal with an arrogant fool.

Especially if the game was his specialty.

‘The outcome is already decided, you hypocrite.’

Having made up his mind, the manager accepted the challenge.

“Fine. I’ll take the bet.”

“Great.”

“The first game will be…”

“Wait.”

Cho Un-hwi raised his hand.

“What’s the problem now?”

“The hospitality here is terrible.”

“Is it because it’s a cheap gambling den?”

The manager’s eyes flashed with anger as the young man interrupted and insulted his establishment.

But his expression changed at Cho Un-hwi’s next words.

“For a big bet like this, shouldn’t you serve the best drinks?”

“Drinking while gambling on such high stakes?”

“Bring plenty. Gambling while drunk is fun too.”

The manager was now certain.

‘This guy is completely insane.’

He was sure now.

This kid was definitely a clueless disciple from a high-ranking sect.

With his doubts erased, the manager laughed for the first time.

“Haha! What are you doing? Bring the best drinks for our guest!”

Now, it’s time to cook him up.

The manager thought.

***

The first game was tiles.

A game where you compete with pictures and numbers on bone-like pieces.

*Clatter. Clatter.*

As the manager rolled the tiles in his hand, he provocatively asked.

“You know the rules of tiles, right?”

*Pour.*

Filling his bowl with liquor, Cho Un-hwi answered nonchalantly.

“I know it’s based on luck.”

“The rules vary by region.”

“No need to explain it to me.”

Chugging the strong liquor, Cho Un-hwi pointed to a man standing nearby.

“Hey, you.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. You roll the tiles.”

The chosen gambling den staff blinked in surprise.

The same staff who had misspoken earlier.

“Me?”

“Can I really roll them?”

The manager cursed inwardly.

‘This idiot.’

Rolling tiles was a skill.

Using someone else’s hand meant no tricks could be used.

‘He’s throwing away a chance to win in one round.’

Boiling with anger at the foolish staff, the manager nodded coolly.

“The guest wants it, so you roll.”

“Yes, sir!”

“I’ll roll three times.”

Seeking permission, Cho Un-hwi waved his hand dismissively, his face flushed from drinking.

*Clatter. Clatter.*

*Clatter. Clatter.*

The tiles fell haphazardly, the results clear.

After three rolls, Cho Un-hwi won.

“Jang Cheol-sim wins.”

Boiling with anger, the manager glared at the staff announcing the result.

‘You really rolled those tiles with care, you idiot.’

But the manager quickly calmed down.

‘Maybe this guy has a lucky streak.’

But it didn’t matter.

The tiles weren’t rigged.

‘I’ll let him win one round.’

Too one-sided a game would raise suspicion.

Thinking this, the manager announced the next game.

“The next game will be dice.”

Another staff member brought out heavy metal dice.

‘No matter how skilled an instructor from Euncheon Hall might be, he can’t manipulate heavy dice.’

Moreover, the manager was confident in winning this game.

Thanks to a hidden mechanism in the dice.

‘He’ll never suspect.’

The manager’s ring was made of high-quality magnetite.

A skilled craftsman had added a special feature.

*Buzz.*

Infusing it with energy increased the magnetic force.

‘I can make any number come up.’

Planning to end it quickly, the manager changed the rules slightly.

“No need to take turns rolling. We’ll roll at the same time.”

“How will we decide the winner?”

“We’ll call out numbers, and the one closest to the sum of the two dice wins.”

“Sounds good. I like clear outcomes.”

Fool.

Hiding his thoughts, the manager picked up the dice.

“I’ll roll first, if that’s okay.”

“No need for that.”

With a flushed face from drinking, Cho Un-hwi said.

“You roll them all. I’m busy drinking.”

“Haha. You’re quite a drinker. What are you doing? Refill his drink!”

I’ll make you penniless while you’re drunk.

But the game didn’t go as the manager expected.

“Eight.”

“Eight.”

“Twelve.”

“Twelve.”

Matching the manager’s calls, Cho Un-hwi called out the same numbers.

After several rounds of matching numbers, the manager got angry.

“Are you even trying to win?”

“It’s a coincidence. Our instincts seem to align.”

“You’re good with words.”

Despite his retort, the manager was wary.

‘Is he matching my numbers on purpose?’

Then it happened.

“Nine.”

“Eleven. Finally, different numbers.”

“Hiccup.”

Seeing his opponent hiccup, the manager smiled.

‘He’s finally getting drunk.’

Seizing the moment, he quickly rolled the dice.

*Whoosh.*

As the dice flew, he prepared to infuse his ring with energy.

“Hold it.”

The sudden voice startled the manager.

‘Did he notice?’

An instructor from Euncheon Hall?

‘He has sharp senses…’

The manager quickly looked to the side.

But he only saw Cho Un-hwi handing silver coins to a staff member bringing more drinks.

“Thanks for the drinks. You worked hard.”

“Thank you, sir.”

He didn’t notice after all.

*Clatter. Clatter.*

Relieved, the manager turned back to the dice.

The two dice rolled, landing on eleven.

“Jang Cheol-sim wins!”

Grinding his teeth, the manager fumed.