The Elixir’s True Master (4)
The cards used at this table weren’t the usual flower cards that ordinary people played with. Instead, they were sword cards. The game involved matching famous sword techniques and internal energy methods to determine superiority.
These cards were primarily used by martial artists, but there were also variations like knife cards, spear cards, and even alliance cards, which represented various martial arts organizations. Each had its own set of rules, slightly modified for different games.
I remember Gal Saryang once saying that after my death, the Heavenly Martial Heart Technique and the Soul-Chasing Asura Swordsmanship would likely be added to the sword cards.
The thought of my martial arts being part of a gambling game made me chuckle involuntarily.
As the game progressed, money started to flow out of my hands. Not just me, but everyone at the table was skilled.
I had brought three thousand nyang with me. A fortune for a regular gambling house, but here, it seemed like I could lose it all in just a couple of hours if luck wasn’t on my side.
Fortunately, while I wasn’t a gambling expert, I had some basic skills.
The best gambler in the Martial Alliance was Baek Seong-won, the leader of the Red Dragon Group. I had learned a few tricks from him during a drinking session, techniques that could be used in a gambling house without relying on martial arts.
Those skills proved quite useful, making it seem like I was a seasoned gambler.
I kept losing three rounds and winning one, over and over.
Just as when I first sat down, I didn’t hide my presence.
“These cards are terrible today.”
One of the gamblers laughed at my complaint.
“Some days are good, some are bad. That’s life.”
I snapped back.
“Shut up! Save that lecture for your kids!”
“Hey, let’s not bring family into this.”
“You’re such an old geezer!”
Everyone laughed, but their eyes were like those of predators eyeing their prey.
Gwak Do-su’s crimes were all heinous murders.
I expected him to be rough and fierce, but at least at the gambling table, he acted differently. He was calm and relaxed, like a great hero. Whether it was a compensation mechanism, a dual nature, or just his love for gambling, I couldn’t tell.
Another hour passed. I had already lost half of my money, fifteen hundred nyang, and with it, the wariness towards me had faded.
Eventually, Gwak Do-su stood up, saying he needed to visit the restroom.
I stood up as if I had been waiting for this moment.
“Hey, I’ll join you. And while we’re at it, let’s switch seats.”
“Hey?”
“There’s no brotherhood at the gambling table. Losers are suckers, and winners are all bastards.”
I looked around at the people sitting at the table.
“Ugly bastard, old bastard, stupid bastard…”
The people sitting there frowned, but I didn’t miss Gwak Do-su.
“Bastard with a scar on his cheek.”
Gwak Do-su’s face twitched for a moment.
“Don’t foam at the mouth over a few coins.”
“Shut up! A few coins? Is that what you call it?”
As I moved towards him with an angry face, a middle-aged martial artist quickly stepped in front of me.
“Move aside! Let go of me!”
The man blocking me glared coldly.
“Calm down.”
“Who the hell are you? I’m a guest here!”
“I said calm down.”
The man’s killing intent made me flinch and step back.
“Why don’t you just stab me with that sword and take all my money? Hmph! I’m done with this.”
I gathered the remaining chips on the table. I was sure they wouldn’t let me leave with half my money still intact.
Sure enough, Gwak Do-su intervened.
“Hey! What kind of behavior is that towards an esteemed guest?”
He scolded the martial artist who had blocked me and approached me with a friendly face.
“Hey, brother. Didn’t you say no one leaves until someone dies?”
“I don’t want to back down either, but… people have feelings, you know?”
“Come on, cheer up. What does that ignorant swordsman know?”
Gwak Do-su put an arm around my shoulder and grabbed my wrist with his other hand.
He injected a stream of internal energy to probe my body. Confirming my lack of internal power, a look of disdain appeared on his face. As if to say, “I knew it.”
Of course, I learned something about him too. At least he had the skill to inject internal energy and assess someone’s power.
“You said you needed to go to the restroom?”
I replied in a slightly softened tone.
“I’m fine. You go ahead.”
“No, let’s go together. I’ll switch seats with you afterward. Sometimes you need to change things up.”
He ended up dragging me along.
When the middle-aged martial artist tried to follow, Gwak Do-su shouted at him to stay put.
“Come on, brother. Let’s relieve ourselves and start fresh!”
Half an hour later.
One of the martial artists waiting glanced towards the restroom.
Another martial artist spoke to the middle-aged man who seemed to be in charge.
“It’s taking too long.”
“Let’s check it out.”
The middle-aged man led his subordinates to the restroom.
As they got closer, a strong smell of blood hit them.
“Damn it!”
The middle-aged man kicked the door open and rushed in. Inside, an unexpected scene awaited them.
A headless corpse lay on the floor.
“That bastard’s dead. Where’s Gwak Do-su?”
A subordinate inspecting the body shouted in shock.
“This is Gwak Do-su’s body.”
“What?”
The middle-aged man’s eyes widened. He quickly examined the body. It was indeed Gwak Do-su.
“Where’s the other guy? Find that bastard!”
The subordinates hurriedly ran out.
“But how did he cut the head off?”
It wasn’t a wound made by tearing. Gwak Do-su’s neck was cleanly severed.
At that moment, one of the subordinates gasped.
“What is it?”
“Your knife, sir…”
The man looked down in shock. The dagger he wore for self-defense was gone.
“When did… Ah!”
He realized that during the brief scuffle when he blocked Gwak Do-su, his dagger had been taken. Despite many eyes watching, no one had noticed, indicating the skill of the thief.
The subordinates who had run out returned.
“The guards at the back door were taken out. It seems he’s already escaped.”
The man gritted his teeth and ordered.
“Send everyone after him! Spread his description everywhere! Now!”
In a deserted forest.
Gong Jong swallowed hard as he stared at Gwak Do-su’s severed head on a rock.
“Why so surprised? Wasn’t this the expected outcome?”
“Haha, you’re absolutely right. But did he put up a fight before dying?”
You’re worried he might have mentioned your name, aren’t you?
“He died before he could.”
“Ah, that’s good to hear.”
“The money?”
“Here it is. Twenty thousand nyang.”
He handed me a pouch filled with small denomination notes. Originally, the bounty was five thousand nyang, but he had personally added fifteen thousand more.
“Congratulations on capturing your family’s enemy yourself.”
Normally, a thorough investigation would follow before a bounty was paid, to confirm the identity of the deceased. Gong Jong was skipping that process and handing over the money.
Of course, he could recognize Gwak Do-su just by the severed head.
“No need to count it, right?”
“Of course not. I’ve checked it twice.”
“As expected, our Chief Gong is meticulous. I like that. Now, prepare to head to the main base.”
“Ah, thank you so much.”
Just as his joy reached its peak, I spoke abruptly.
“But before he died, he said something strange. Claimed he knew the Chief of the Intelligence Department.”
Gong Jong was startled and denied it.
“Nonsense!”
“He said you two conspired to rob the Byeok family.”
“N-no, that’s not true.”
Gong Jong’s voice trembled as he stammered.
“I actually prefer it that way.”
“What?”
“I like people who are a bit worldly. Innocent folks can be frustrating. Sometimes you have to join hands with evil. It allows for bold actions. Don’t you agree?”
“Well, yes, but…”
Gong Jong was flustered by the unexpected words.
“Why did you do it? Be honest. By my standards, that’s not a flaw. It’s a strength.”
Gong Jong glanced between the severed head and me. His internal struggle didn’t last long. He must have decided that since Gwak Do-su had already confessed everything, trying to hide it would only lose him my trust.
“He was a complete scoundrel. He needed to be taught a lesson.”
“Hahaha. Impressive.”
Just as he was relieved by my reaction.
Screeech.
I removed my disguise.
“Long time no see.”
Gong Jong’s eyes widened in shock. It was probably the most surprised he’d ever been in his life.
”…No, you? How?”
I smiled and said.
“If you wanted to teach him a lesson, why take his money?”
The shock was so intense that Gongjong’s whole body trembled as his eyes landed on the pouch slung over my shoulder.
“My money, give me my money!”
“Of course, it’s always about the money with you, isn’t it?”
Gongjong reached for his sword, but I was ready. I moved swiftly, like lightning, and struck first.
Swish! Thud!
The dagger embedded itself squarely in his neck.
“Ugh.”
Gongjong clutched my arm, his eyes pleading. He knew that pulling out the dagger would mean his death, yet his body convulsed with desperation.
I met his gaze with a cold, unyielding stare.
“You were chosen to protect the martial world, not to pull stunts like this.”
This was not just a personal vendetta for me, Byeok Lidan, but also the wrath and retribution of the martial alliance leader, Cheon Hwa-jin.
Gongjong’s face twisted in confusion, unable to comprehend. I had no intention of wasting more words on scum like him, so I mercilessly yanked the dagger out.
He collapsed backward, blood spurting from his wound.
I placed the mask I had removed onto his face. When the body was discovered, it would appear that Gongjong had infiltrated wearing the mask and killed Gwak Dosu.
Surely, someone among the people from the Do-bang would know of their connection, so it wouldn’t seem entirely out of the blue. And if not, what did it matter?
There was no evidence linking me to this.
Leaving the rapidly cooling corpse behind, I headed toward the Heukshi branch in Jinan.
Fortunately, the ten days we had agreed upon had not yet passed.