Episode 119: The Gambler

The group entered Kaifeng, a city steeped in history, its atmosphere distinctly different from other places. Amidst the ordinary buildings, there were ancient structures with peculiar shapes that caught the eye.

“Why do the old buildings look so much bigger and sturdier than the new ones?” Namgung Myung mused aloud.

Dan Seol-young offered her thoughts. “The flimsy ones must have crumbled long ago. Buildings that were poorly constructed wouldn’t have lasted this long.”

“Really? I wonder when this building was built,” Namgung Myung pondered.

“Who knows? Maybe during the Zhou or Wei dynasties, or some other ancient era,” Dan Seol-young speculated.

“Could it be the Sui dynasty?” Namgung Myung suggested.

“Not likely. My father said the Sui dynasty wasn’t that long ago,” Dan Seol-young replied, though she wasn’t entirely sure. Her knowledge of history was limited to the stories her father had told her as a child.

Despite her confident mention of the Zhou and Wei dynasties, she didn’t actually know how long ago they had disappeared. But she didn’t have to worry about being found out; no one in their group knew more about history than she did.

Tang Moo-jin admired the surroundings. “The craftsmanship of the ancients is impressive. I wonder if future generations will marvel at the buildings and objects from our time.”

Dan Seol-young nodded with certainty. “Of course. Even after hundreds or thousands of years, nothing will surpass the masterpiece of Mok In-hang.”

“Mok In-hang? The one at Shaolin Temple?” Namgung Myung asked.

“That’s right,” Dan Seol-young confirmed.

“But that wasn’t made in our time, and I heard it’s broken and doesn’t even move,” Namgung Myung pointed out.

Just as Dan Seol-young was about to launch into a proud explanation about Mok In-hang, Yoo Jin-kwang raised his voice to gather everyone’s attention.

“Alright, first things first, let’s find out where the gambler is. Let’s split up and—” Yoo Jin-kwang paused, catching Tang Moo-jin’s eye, and quickly corrected himself. “No, let’s stick together and look around. We should find him soon enough.”

Yoo Jin-kwang’s change of plan was due to his promise to ensure the safety of Tang Moo-jin’s group. His attitude had shifted dramatically in recent times. Initially, he treated them with the distant politeness of a host to guests, but after a big win at the dice game, he began to see them as lucky charms.

What started as simple goodwill or superstition turned into something more after another successful bet at the cockfight. Yoo Jin-kwang’s demeanor became notably respectful, even towards Dan Seol-young and Choo Sam. His trust had moved beyond superstition to a firm belief.

So, nearly twenty people roamed the streets of Kaifeng together. Except for Dan Seol-young and Choo Sam, everyone was a martial artist, and not a single one was second or third-rate. Their strength was such that they could easily take on a mid-sized martial sect, causing ordinary people and even other martial artists to steer clear.

Their first stop was the taverns. Large gambling dens were often found near taverns.

“Do you know the gambler, Mr. Hong?” they asked around.

“I’ve heard the name, but that’s about it,” was the typical response.

On their first day, they scoured several taverns but found no leads. On the second day, as soon as they entered a particular tavern, they sensed something different.

‘This must be the gambling den.’

The patrons’ eyes were hollow, unlike the usual rowdy, drunken crowd. Instead of boisterous laughter, the air was filled with angry shouts and deep, earth-shaking sighs. The somber atmosphere painted a vivid picture of a gambling den.

Yoo Jin-kwang approached a man sitting alone, clearly having lost all his money but unable to leave the gambling scene.

“Do you know the gambler?” Yoo Jin-kwang asked.

“Of course. Who in Kaifeng’s gambling circles doesn’t know him?” the man replied.

“Where can we find him?”

“I hear he changes locations often. But if you come back here in four days, you might catch him. He shows up every five days, and yesterday was one of those days.”

“Hmm. Got it,” Yoo Jin-kwang said, turning to leave.

The gambler called after him. “You seem new to Kaifeng. What do you want with him?”

“I have a favor to ask. That’s all you need to know.”

“Need to know? People looking for the gambler fall into two categories: fools who want to challenge him or cowards who want him to gamble for them. Which are you?”

“I’m not a coward, but closer to the latter,” Yoo Jin-kwang admitted.

The gambler seemed pleased with his guess. “I see. But you won’t be able to place a bet with him.”

“Why not?”

“You’re not the only one waiting for him. But I know how to persuade him.”

“How?”

The gambler rubbed his thumb and forefinger together. Yoo Jin-kwang, with a reluctant expression, flicked a silver coin his way. It was a pittance compared to Yoo Jin-kwang’s wealth, but the gambler seemed satisfied.

Lowering his voice as if sharing a great secret, the gambler said, “When the gambler shows up, you’ll know. A crowd of gamblers will swarm around him. But even if you get through, asking him for a favor is tough.”

“Get to the point.”

The gambler clicked his tongue. “There’s a tavern called Yukjinru over there. The gambler loves their food, especially the roasted clay duck. If you prepare a delicious meal for him, he might roll the dice for you a couple of times.”

“Hmm… I see.”

Tang Moo-jin clicked his tongue. The idea of getting a meal in exchange for a few dice rolls seemed absurd. The gambler must be quite skilled to command such a price.

The group lingered around the gambling den a bit longer before returning to their lodgings.

Four days later, they headed to Yukjinru as a group, only to find they couldn’t place an order.

“We’re too busy today to take more customers,” the server said calmly, as if it were a common occurrence.

A line of people waiting for their meals stretched out, all with eager eyes and twitching fingers, clearly gamblers hoping to curry favor with the gambler.

“Looks like we’re out of luck,” someone remarked.

With no other choice, the group stepped outside to discuss their next move.

“Perhaps we should wait another five days and come earlier next time, or offer extra money to ensure we get the food on time,” someone suggested.

“With our numbers, why wait? We could just take him by force,” another proposed.

Tang Moo-jin shook his head. “That’s foolish. If we make an enemy of him, what if he deliberately loses at a crucial moment?”

“Ah, you’re right.”

They decided to wait another five days. But that didn’t mean they would just return to their inn and rest.

They headed to the gambling hall, eager to see the gambler in action and gauge his skills.

The atmosphere inside the gambling hall was typical, suggesting the gambler hadn’t arrived yet. The gamblers kept glancing at the entrance, as if expecting him any moment.

While the other martial artists from the Tang clan wandered around the gambling tables, Tang Moo-jin and Yoo Jin-kwang ordered some food and a fair amount of alcohol, settling around a table. The constant ebb and flow of emotions in the gambling hall made for excellent drinking entertainment.

After some time, the gambling hall grew unusually quiet, and a commotion could be heard outside.

“Looks like the gambler’s here,” someone noted.

“Seems so,” another agreed.

Peering outside, they saw a large crowd entering the gambling hall, though the gambler himself was obscured by the throng.

Yoo Jin-kwang stood up. “I need to see how good he really is.”

“Yes, go ahead,” Tang Moo-jin replied.

Yoo Jin-kwang pushed through the crowd, while Tang Moo-jin and the others continued their conversation, enjoying their food and drink.

The gambler took a position behind Tang Moo-jin, and occasionally, Tang Moo-jin heard loud cheers from behind him. Listening to the murmurs, it seemed the gambler had just defeated a challenger from another region, sweeping up the stakes.

A short while later, a man stood up from the center of the gambling table and approached Tang Moo-jin’s table.

As he moved, the murmuring ceased, and all eyes followed him.

Tang Moo-jin, focused on his meal, only noticed the man’s presence when he stood directly behind him.

”…?”

Turning around, Tang Moo-jin was surprised to see a familiar face.

”…Hong Geol-gae?”

Tang Moo-jin looked him up and down.

Hong Geol-gae still wore his tattered clothes, but everything else about him seemed different. He had gained some weight, and his expression was filled with a newfound confidence.

That relaxed demeanor was strikingly unfamiliar. Who would have thought a beggar could exude such ease?

A sheen of oil lingered on Hong Geolgae’s lips, a testament to his hasty meal.

To make matters worse, countless eyes were fixed on him and Hong Geolgae. It was only then that Dang Mujin realized Hong Geolgae was the infamous gambler, Hong.

“Weren’t you supposed to be following Master Daepung?”

“I was.”

Yoo Jinkwang and the martial artists from Jeomchang approached, encircling them. Namgung Myung, Dan Seolyeong, and Choo Sam also leaned in to listen to Hong Geolgae’s story.

Dan Seolyeong at least recognized Hong Geolgae’s name, but the others knew nothing about him. Yet, Hong Geolgae seemed unfazed by their attention.

“After learning martial arts from Master Daepung, he told me to seek out the leader. He said with my talent, I might be accepted as a disciple.”

“The leader? You mean the legendary master, Yukjon Geolseon?”

“That’s right. But I had no idea where Master Geolseon was, so I waited in Kaifeng.”

It suddenly clicked for Dang Mujin. Kaifeng was where the headquarters of the Beggars’ Sect was located.

Dang Mujin scrutinized Hong Geolgae again. His martial prowess had improved significantly since the last time they met.

At least he hadn’t surpassed the pinnacle like Namgung Myung, which was a relief. If Hong Geolgae had also reached that level, they would have both teased Dang Mujin mercilessly. He wasn’t sure he could handle such a future.

Dang Mujin let out a sigh of relief and asked, “So how did you end up with the nickname ‘The Gambler’?”

“It’s nothing special. While staying in Kaifeng, I started throwing dice for fun, and it just happened.”

“Doesn’t sound like you were a natural gambler.”

“Not at all. How often does a beggar get to gamble? My master said I was wrapped in great fortune, and I guess I am lucky. It’s nothing extraordinary, though.”

“Not extraordinary? And yet you earned the nickname ‘The Gambler’?”

“It’s really nothing. I don’t always win. Want to see?”

Hong Geolgae handed a die to Dang Mujin. “Give it a roll.”

Dang Mujin rolled a five. Hong Geolgae followed with a three. Dang Mujin won.

“Try again.”

Each time Dang Mujin rolled, Hong Geolgae would follow, showing him the results. After ten rolls, the score was three wins, two ties, and five losses for Dang Mujin. Nothing remarkable.

“I don’t see what’s so special.”

“Keep going, and you’ll see.”

Dang Mujin and Hong Geolgae continued to roll the dice. The group and the Jeomchang martial artists watched in silence.

Nothing extraordinary happened. Hong Geolgae didn’t roll a six every time, nor did he win ten out of ten. But as they kept rolling, the onlookers’ expressions grew more serious.

It was clear to everyone that Hong Geolgae was winning far more often. Excluding ties, he won six or seven out of every ten rolls. In a game of pure chance, such a win rate was undeniably strange.

“These aren’t loaded dice, are they?”

“Of course not. I just borrowed them.”

Hong Geolgae tossed the dice back to someone waving from afar.

“That’s all there is to it. In a simple game like this, I win about six or seven times out of ten. Sometimes I lose money, too.”

Hong Geolgae spoke as if it were no big deal, but the idea of a gambler only ‘sometimes’ losing was absurd. Dan Seolyeong and Namgung Myung gaped, while excitement lit up Yoo Jinkwang’s face.

Yoo Jinkwang looked at Dang Mujin, his mouth opening and closing silently. His pleading expression said it all.

Dang Mujin spoke up. “I know it’s odd to ask this right after meeting again, but could you help me out?”

He didn’t elaborate on what he needed. It wasn’t that he couldn’t articulate it, but because no explanation was necessary.

And, as Dang Mujin had expected, Hong Geolgae replied, “Of course.”