The Elixir’s True Master (3)
Without wasting any time, I borrowed a horse and galloped towards Jinan.
Having lived a life where a single command could resolve everything, this direct action felt invigorating. There’s a certain power that change brings to a person. It also reminded me that change is closely tied to hope.
Upon arrival, I headed straight to the gambling den.
But I couldn’t find Gwak Dosu there. Of course, I considered the possibility that he might be wearing a disguise or a mask like mine.
I didn’t need to find him by face. I just needed to look for gamblers with martial skills.
However, the den was filled with petty gamblers. The stakes weren’t high. If Gwak Dosu was as obsessed with gambling as Gongjong claimed, he wouldn’t be satisfied with such small games.
“Did Gongjong deceive me?”
What if he sent me here and then warned Gwak Dosu to flee?
But that seemed unlikely. Gongjong wasn’t the type to sacrifice himself for someone else. He wouldn’t choose a life of being hunted by Cheondomun just to save Gwak Dosu.
“So, he must be hiding somewhere around here.”
With such a large bounty on his head, he’d be lying low.
Then a thought struck me.
“Could it be? Is there one here?”
Every day, Galsaryang reports on all sorts of happenings across the land. Among them, one thing related to gambling came to mind.
A secret gambling den.
An unauthorized den, often called a “secret den.”
Authorized gambling dens are strictly managed by the Murim Alliance. They impose heavy taxes and set various restrictions to prevent people from ruining themselves through gambling. One of those restrictions is the limit on stakes.
As a result, secret dens emerged.
Despite increased crackdowns every year, they couldn’t be completely eradicated.
“I need to check this out.”
To confirm, I headed to the largest inn in the area.
There are certain people in the martial world who know the most information.
From professional informants who buy and sell information, to merchants, escorts, and wanderers traveling across the land, and the one we can most easily access—the innkeeper.
They hear all sorts of stories from the guests. The source of all rumors in the martial world is the inn.
I settled in the inn and asked the young innkeeper who had worked there the longest. He pointed to an older man.
I called him over. He looked seasoned, with eyes that had seen it all.
The easiest way to get them to talk is money.
I placed ten nyang on my palm.
The innkeeper was startled. Customers usually tip one or two coins, if at all. Many don’t tip at all.
“Answer one question for me, and this money is yours.”
Ten nyang, a rare fortune that might come once in a few years, made his eyes waver.
“Ask me anything.”
“I want to play some cards.”
“There are several gambling dens around.”
“I prefer a quiet place.”
His eyes sparkled. He quickly understood my meaning.
Yes, if he’s been an innkeeper here for over a decade, he would know. But it’s a risky topic to speak about carelessly.
He glanced between me and the money on my palm for a while. Finally, he lowered his voice.
“There is a place for those who prefer quiet.”
“Where is it?”
I didn’t hesitate to place the money in his hand.
Usually, you’d get the answer before handing over the money. But I gave it first.
This choice proved effective.
He lowered his voice further.
“About ten li west, there’s a place called Pungajang.”
“Thank you.”
“But you can’t just walk in. You need a proper introduction.”
I stood up and said, “Don’t worry about that.”
The person who opened the gate at Pungajang was a kindly-looking old man.
“What brings you here?”
I replied nonchalantly, “What else? I’m here to have some fun.”
The old man looked me up and down.
“You’re a new face.”
“I came on Gwak Daehyeop’s recommendation.”
“Which Gwak Daehyeop?”
I casually traced a scar on my cheek with my finger, mimicking the scar described in Gwak Dosu’s wanted poster. If the old man didn’t recognize my gesture, it meant Gwak wasn’t here, or he was using a disguise. In that case, I’d confirm by name.
If Gwak Dosu was here, his name would surely open doors.
The old man chuckled and relaxed his guard.
“Follow me.”
He led me to the back of the building, giving me a few warnings along the way. In short, he was saying I’d be dead if I caused trouble.
There was a sizable building in the rear garden.
The surrounding walls were incredibly high. I could sense the presence of hidden guards among the trees. If my internal energy were fully restored, I could gauge their martial level and even tell if they were yawning or crouching. But for now, I could only sense their general location.
I pretended not to notice and followed the old man, already planning my escape route. Which guard to subdue and where to exit for the quickest escape.
There were two guards at the entrance. They seemed quite skilled. One of them held out his hand.
“Hand over anything that could be used as a weapon.”
I handed him the sword I was carrying. I had left my own sword behind and brought a cheap iron one, so I had no regrets parting with it.
Another man thoroughly searched me, checking my martial level. He finished without much concern.
That reaction was how outsiders perceived my skills. My body wasn’t fully recovered, and my internal energy was only at five years. There was a certain ease in that.
The guard opened the door and said, “Walk straight through here.”
I walked down a narrow, dim corridor. If they decided to kill someone, it would be easy. With mediocre martial skills, walking through here unarmed, a surprise attack would mean certain death.
At the end of the corridor was a door. Two more skilled guards stood there. It was clear that a lot of money changed hands here, so they hired many skilled people.
The lack of strict entry controls with introduction letters or tokens showed their confidence in their martial strength. It also made me wonder if they had some arrangement with the local Murim Alliance branch.
When they opened the door, it revealed a large hall.
Unlike the dreary corridor, the interior was bright and lavish. Well-dressed women served drinks, and musicians played on one side. Crossing that door felt like entering another world.
Large tables were arranged throughout. There were over twenty of them. Each table had anywhere from a few to over twenty people engrossed in gambling.
The atmosphere was entirely different from the regular gambling den I had visited earlier.
These people wore finer clothes and looked much wealthier than those in the regular den.
But they were also more addicted to gambling. People who couldn’t find excitement in regular dens.
Here, they could start with stakes ten times higher than regular dens and bet infinitely. It was a place where one could experience the thrill of heaven and hell in a single game.
I slowly surveyed the room. Noting the layout of the tables, the exits, and the location of the restrooms. Once I had the lay of the land, I began searching for Gwak Dosu.
I recognized him immediately. His hair was long and unkempt, and his beard was bushy, but it was definitely him.
He was brazenly gambling with his face exposed, not bothering to hide the distinctive scar on his cheek.
“This guy? He’s completely lost his fear.”
But soon, I understood why.
There were guards from the secret den scattered throughout the hall. About ten of them, with five concentrated around Gwak Dosu.
At first, I thought they were watching him, but after observing a bit more, it was clear they were protecting him.
Had he set up his own gambling den?
On second thought, that didn’t seem right. If he had, Gongjong would have known.
He must have some close relationship with the owner here. Perhaps he agreed to manage the den or kill someone for them. That’s why he could act so boldly, as if it were his own place.
So, what now?
Killing him wouldn’t be too difficult. A surprise attack while he was engrossed in gambling could take him out in one strike. Then I could cut down anyone who got in my way and escape.
It’s doable, but there’s always the risk of an unexpected master appearing. Plus, a big fight could harm the servers or musicians.
I’ll keep that as a last resort and try to resolve this quietly.
Just then, a seat opened up at Gwak Dosu’s table.
A man stood up, lamenting his bad luck for the day.
Watching him, I thought.
In gambling, the lucky ones aren’t those with good hands. They’re the ones who know when to stand up and leave.
Regardless, I took the seat without hesitation.
I didn’t bother hiding my presence.
In fact, I figured being loud and noticeable would draw less suspicion.
As soon as I sat down, I pulled out my stake and piled it high on the table.
“I’m betting my life. No one leaves until someone dies today.”
The way I spoke must have made me look like an easy mark, just there to lose money, because the man across from me, Gwak Dosu, gave me a sly grin. The scar on his cheek twisted as he laughed along.
“What if you end up dead, huh?”
The gamblers sitting around us chuckled under their breath.
Refusing to be intimidated, I scoffed and replied loudly, “Ha! We’ll see whose luck runs out first. Now, let’s deal the cards!”