Episode 117: The First Snow

The first snow of the season had fallen.

Dang Mu-jin and Dan Seol-young sat by the hearth, watching the pinewood fire crackle and pop. The smoke was thick due to the resin, but the roasted chestnuts carried a delightful pine aroma that made it all worthwhile.

Dang Mu-jin scored the chestnuts with a knife, while Dan Seol-young used a poker to stir the fire, ensuring the chestnuts roasted evenly.

Once Dan Seol-young picked out the perfectly roasted chestnuts, it was Dang Mu-jin’s job to peel them.

Handling the ash-covered chestnuts quickly blackened Dang Mu-jin’s hands, and soon enough, both their mouths were stained as well. They rolled the golden chestnuts around in their mouths, gazing out at the falling snow.

Perhaps because it was late in the season, this first snow was different. Instead of shyly disappearing as soon as it touched the ground, it fell generously, blanketing everything in white.

Dan Seol-young broke the silence.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Oh, just this and that.”

Not long ago, Dang Mu-jin had loved the snow, but now it didn’t bring the same joy. Memories of last winter, which had been particularly harsh and cold, lingered in his mind.

Yet, with Dan Seol-young by his side, his heart felt warm. He wondered if, after a few more winters like this, he might come to love the snow again.

A few days later, Yoo Jin-gwang gathered a month’s earnings from the Yoo family escort agency and headed to the gambling den.

Dang Mu-jin and Namgung Myung naturally followed him.

They had no intention of gambling themselves, but watching others gamble was entertaining enough. In fact, it was often more fun to just watch.

Yoo Jin-gwang didn’t mind their company. His confident expression suggested he saw this as an opportunity to showcase his winning streak.

As the three entered the tavern, a man surveying the room commented, “Bringing spectators this time, are we?”

“I’m going to win big today, so I brought some people to celebrate with,” Yoo Jin-gwang replied, taking a seat at a table. Dang Mu-jin and Namgung Myung settled in to watch the show.

A man who seemed to have been waiting approached and sat across from Yoo Jin-gwang.

“Long time no see. Has it been a month already?”

“Yes.”

Contrary to Dang Mu-jin and Namgung Myung’s expectations, Yoo Jin-gwang’s gambling was rather uneventful. The game he chose was overly simple.

Two dice were rolled, and the person with the higher total won. That was it.

Yoo Jin-gwang placed all his money on the table and set the two dice in the center. His opponent rolled first.

A 2 and a 4. Not the worst, but not great either.

Yoo Jin-gwang, looking slightly excited, gripped the dice tightly and threw them with determination. A 2 and a 1. An unusually poor result.

His opponent swept the money off the table, chuckling.

“Well, looks like luck was on my side this time. Lucky me.”

Yoo Jin-gwang hung his head, clenching his fists. Losing a month’s earnings in an instant was no small blow.

But when he finally looked up, his face was filled not with despair, but with hope.

“It’s fine. These things happen! Just a bit of bad luck this time.”

Yoo Jin-gwang stood up abruptly and left the bustling tavern.

The wealthy gamblers watching him seemed to pity him, or perhaps they were mocking him.

The three of them used their lightness skills to return to the Yoo family estate. Dang Mu-jin thought Yoo Jin-gwang’s lightness skills were filled with regret.

The following month, Yoo Jin-gwang headed to the gambling den once more, with Dang Mu-jin and Namgung Myung trailing behind.

Yoo Jin-gwang took the same seat as before and laid out two dice. The man who had taken his money last time quickly sat down across from him.

“Ready for another round?”

“Of course. I won’t back down.”

The opponent casually tossed the dice, grinning at the result.

A 6 and a 3. A solid roll, unlikely to lose.

Yoo Jin-gwang fidgeted nervously, then took a deep breath and rolled the dice. They landed with a 5 and a 5. Yoo Jin-gwang had won.

Though his opponent had lost a significant amount, he remained composed.

“You’re on a roll today.”

“After all the bad luck I’ve had, today had to be good.”

“Heh. You’ve lost quite a bit for it to just be bad luck, haven’t you? Shall we go again?”

“Sure.”

Yoo Jin-gwang pulled his opponent’s money over and combined it with his own, stacking it all on the table. He was betting everything, including his recent winnings.

This time, Yoo Jin-gwang rolled first.

Half an hour later, Yoo Jin-gwang stood rigidly, staring at the table. The pile of money before him was far greater than what he had started with.

The three gamblers who had lost to him looked at him with complex expressions. No matter how wealthy they were, recovering from today’s losses wouldn’t be easy.

Some gamblers whispered as they eyed Yoo Jin-gwang’s masked face.

”…That guy, always losing, but today his luck is something else.”

“Maybe it really was just bad luck before?”

“Could be.”

Yoo Jin-gwang was known for lacking gambling skills and having poor luck.

But today, he had won four consecutive rounds, each time betting everything he had. The money before him was sixteen times what he had started with—more than the Yoo family escort agency could earn in a year.

Yoo Jin-gwang’s initially calm demeanor was now strangely contorted, his breathing rapid. He seemed both elated and overwhelmed, as if grappling with an expectation he couldn’t quite handle.

It was clear to anyone that this was the first time he’d ever handled such a large sum of money.

“Anyone else want to try? I’ll bet it all again!”

Normally, gamblers would eagerly await Yoo Jin-gwang’s arrival, but today, none dared to sit across from him.

After four wins, it seemed like he was due for a loss, but the stakes had grown too high for anyone to risk joining the game.

Winning would mean a massive gain, but losing would result in a loss too great for even the wealthiest to bear.

Yoo Jin-gwang’s hands trembled as he sat at the table, glaring at the other gamblers. No challengers appeared, even after a considerable time had passed.

The tavern owner approached Yoo Jin-gwang.

“Looks like no one wants to take you on today.”

Yoo Jin-gwang finally took a deep breath and began stuffing his winnings into his pockets. There was so much money that he couldn’t fit it all. The tavern owner handed him an extra pouch.

“You’ve made quite a haul. Though it doesn’t seem to make up for all you’ve lost.”

“Well, it was all just bad luck before.”

“Why not celebrate with some fine liquor? I’ll throw in some leftover snacks from earlier at a discount.”

Yoo Jin-gwang hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

“No, thanks. If I get drunk and lose this hard-earned money, it would be a disaster.”

“You could drink at home, no need to worry…”

“No, really.”

It might sound odd, but from what Dang Mu-jin had observed, Yoo Jin-gwang was a frugal man outside of gambling.

Despite being the owner of the escort agency, his attire was modest, and his meals were simple. All the martial artists at the Yoo family estate lived similarly.

Dang Mu-jin wanted to buy some drinks to celebrate the victory, but he hadn’t brought his money pouch. He had hoped for a hearty meal, but the timing was off.

Namgung Myung, however, was different. He pulled out three large silver pieces from his pocket. Though the source of the silver was questionable, it was certainly more than enough for drinks.

“That much? Well, it seems the real big spender was just a spectator… What kind of drink do you want?”

“It doesn’t have to be expensive, just enough for everyone to enjoy.”

“Got it!”

The tavern owner hurried inside and returned with three yokes, each with a jar of liquor hanging from either end.

Dang Mu-jin, Namgung Myung, and Yoo Jin-gwang found themselves carrying the liquor like water carriers.

“Just a moment.”

The tavern owner bustled about the kitchen, reheating a variety of dishes and packing them neatly. The once-cold meat was now glistening with oil, and the dumplings looked like they’d steam when bitten into.

Some of the dumplings seemed freshly steamed.

It was more than just a gesture of goodwill; perhaps the owner was preemptively ensuring there’d be no returns. Though Namgung Myung would likely prefer making more money to asking for a refund.

The tavern owner secured the snack bundles to Dang Mu-jin and Yoo Jin-gwang’s yokes. It wasn’t the most elegant setup, but it was the easiest way to carry everything.

“I’d offer to deliver it myself, but seeing as you’re wearing masks, I doubt you’d want me tagging along.”

“Right.”

The three of them hoisted their loads and left the tavern. The stares they felt on their backs suggested there were many envious gamblers watching them go.

Unlike last time, the three of them didn’t employ any special techniques.

They trudged slowly through the snow that reached their ankles. Despite the heavy burden on their shoulders, even such a walk could be enjoyable.

Yoo Jin-gwang wore a perpetually bewildered expression.

“It’s the first time I’m leaving this place with money still in my pocket…”

His voice trembled slightly, as if on the verge of tears.

“Guess I’m lucky. Maybe it’s because you guys showed up, and now my luck’s finally turning.”

“This has nothing to do with us. It’s probably just a stroke of good fortune,” Namgung Myung replied curtly. Claiming a share of the luck meant sharing the blame for any misfortune too.

Tang Moo-jin asked, “So, what are you going to do with the money you won?”

He asked because it was clear that even with the winnings, Yoo Jin-gwang couldn’t cover the debts of the Jeomchang Sect.

Tang Moo-jin didn’t know the exact amount the sect owed, but he remembered Yoo Jin-gwang saying it would take fifty years to pay it off. It was obvious that the winnings were just a drop in the bucket.

“I’ll have to gamble again. I need to win a few more times.”

“I know it’s tactless to bring this up on a good day, but wouldn’t it be better to just work steadily and pay it off bit by bit? Relying on gambling to make money is hard to understand. For every person who wins big, dozens lose everything…”

This time, Yoo Jin-gwang didn’t explode in anger. Instead, he pondered for a while before speaking.

His story began rather unexpectedly.

“Do you know when I first met my father?”

“No, I don’t.”

“I was thirteen. Even back then, the Jeomchang Sect was poor, and the money we made was barely enough to keep the sect running. Whenever a major conflict broke out, someone had to go far away to earn money.”

“Sounds like your father spent a lot of time away.”

“Once he left, it would be ten years before he returned. I must have seen him when I was three, but I don’t remember those days. So, the first time I really met him was when I was thirteen.”

The liquor jug hanging from his shoulder sloshed with each step, and Yoo Jin-gwang continued his story in rhythm with it.

“Even after ten years, my father recognized me at a glance. But I didn’t recognize him.”

“That’s understandable. I’m sure he wasn’t upset.”

“The problem was that most kids my age were in the same situation. When too many kids don’t remember their fathers, they don’t know how to interact with them. So, I greeted him formally, ‘Nice to meet you, Father.’ His expression turned strange.”

“Hmm.”

“I didn’t know what I’d done wrong, and our relationship was awkward after that. I thought it was normal, but now that I’m a father, I realize how terrible it was.”

The sour smell of alcohol wafted from the jug. Whether it was the alcohol or the money, Yoo Jin-gwang was more talkative than usual.

“Then a few years later, another major conflict erupted. My father went off to fight with other warriors, and the Jeomchang Sect was burned down. He returned to Yunnan after a long time and quietly rebuilt the sect. But then the money problems started again.”

”…”

Though the story was similar to what Namgung Myung had told him, hearing it from the person involved gave it a fresh perspective. It was the hidden story of a great sect and a renowned warrior.

“Someone had to go away again. My father, being the head of the sect, wasn’t obligated to leave, but dozens had to follow in his footsteps. Eventually, I would too. My father didn’t want that, so he sought out the gambling lord and lost. In time, I ended up here in Jiangxi.”

It was a bitter tale.

“You mentioned you have a child?”

“Yes. I came here when my child was five, and now they’re eight. It’ll be another seven years before I can see them. But even after seven years, not all problems will be solved. If I don’t make a lot of money, my son will live like this, and so will my grandson. I don’t want that.”

Namgung Myung interjected, “But if you gamble away what you’ve won, your great-grandchildren will live no differently.”

“My concern only extends to my grandchildren. Worrying about those not yet born is enough. Who can predict fifty years into the future when we don’t even know what tomorrow holds?”

In the distance, the wall of the Yoo family estate came into view. The three of them slowed their pace.

“When I first heard my father lost money gambling, I thought he was a fool. But standing here now, I understand. He had to take a gamble for my sake.”

Yoo Jin-gwang supported the liquor jug with his left hand and shoulder, clenched his right hand into a fist, and raised it high.

“Sometimes I want to take my son and leave Yunnan. But I can’t abandon my father’s life or my identity as a warrior of Jeomchang. This is my only hope to clear all debts. Next month, I’ll win big and return to Yunnan! That’s how I live.”

He finished his story and began to hum a cheerful tune.

Tang Moo-jin listened to the humming as they walked slowly, then asked, “But aren’t you worried? What if you keep failing…”

Yoo Jin-gwang glanced at Tang Moo-jin. His gaze was calm.

Most gamblers only envision themselves winning big, but Yoo Jin-gwang seemed to have thought deeply about what would happen if he lost.

“Gambling is a foolish act, but it has one advantage. When you lose money, only the person who lost is blamed. Has anyone ever blamed a warrior of Jeomchang for not making money? Or ancestors for not leaving wealth? It’s my runaway father and me, who squandered money on gambling, who get blamed. It’s just one shameful father, and that’s it.”

The people waiting for Yoo Jin-gwang at the gate of the Yoo family estate widened their eyes in surprise. The liquor jug, the bundle, the leisurely gait—something was decidedly different about him today.

“But if that fool gets lucky and wins once, everyone can return to Yunnan. If it goes well, everyone benefits, and if it fails, I bear the burden alone. How could I not take such a profitable risk?”

Yoo Jin-gwang lifted the liquor jug high and shouted to those waiting for him.

“Hey! The master has won a ton of money. Let’s drink until we can’t stand!”

No one knows what the future holds. But at that moment, there was no trace of worry on Yoo Jin-gwang’s face.