Episode 174: The Gambling Den
“How can there be two of the real thing in this world?”
When Dang Mujin asked, Yong Ilseon grinned mischievously, like a storyteller about to spin a yarn.
“You’ve come to the right place. This is a tale no one else knows.”
Dang Mujin raised an eyebrow skeptically. Storytellers have a bad habit of beating around the bush, pondering how to get the best reaction instead of getting straight to the point.
Just as Dang Mujin was about to cut to the chase, Hyun Gong stopped him with a telepathic message.
Hold on. To get the full story from a storyteller, you have to coax it out of them.
How do you suggest we do that?
Leave it to me.
Hyun Gong widened his eyes in feigned surprise and addressed Yong Ilseon.
“I can’t even begin to guess what you’re talking about. What does it mean?”
A smile spread across Yong Ilseon’s face. People often pretend to be unimpressed by a good story, but Hyun Gong’s exaggerated reaction had a way of drawing the storyteller in.
“Well, it’s not certain. I’ve never met the Neung Gwang Sword myself.”
“Then how did you come to know there are two Neung Gwang Swords?”
“Well, it’s a bit embarrassing to say, but I’m not just someone who listens to rumors. I think a lot and know how to piece together what I hear.”
Yong Ilseon cleared his throat and continued.
“The Neung Gwang Sword is known for wielding a blade as fast as light, appearing at gambling dens. That’s the word on the street. But I stumbled upon something interesting while eavesdropping.”
Hyun Gong interjected at the right moment.
“Something interesting?”
“Yes. Rumors are usually vague, but the Neung Gwang Sword’s rumors had a peculiar consistency. It was as if they were talking about two different people.”
“So that’s why you think there are two Neung Gwang Swords?”
“Exactly!”
Yong Ilseon clapped his hands in delight.
“I was just suspicious until I heard stories of the Neung Gwang Sword appearing in two places on the same winter solstice. The locations were too far apart for it to be one person. One was said to be young, the other old, yet both wielded a blade faster than light.”
“If it were me, I’d dismiss one as a false rumor. You’re quite perceptive.”
“Ha ha.”
Hyun Gong’s compliment made Yong Ilseon’s cheeks rise with pride. Finding a good storyteller is hard, but finding a good audience is even harder.
Hong Geolgae, who had been listening, chimed in.
“Avoid the old one. The young one is likely Yu Daehyup.”
It was obvious. Yu Jingwang was in his mid-thirties to early forties, hardly old enough to be called ‘old.’
But there was something intriguing about Hong Geolgae’s comment. Namgung Myung asked him.
“Sounds like you’ve met the old Neung Gwang Sword.”
“Yes. Last time, when I was in the north with Wi Daehyup, we went looking for the old Neung Gwang Sword based on rumors, and it ended badly.”
“What happened?”
“Wi Daehyup was attacked by the old Neung Gwang Sword and killed in a single exchange.”
“A single exchange?”
The swordsmanship of the Jeomchang School, which focuses on offense, often results in quick outcomes. In contrast, two martial artists trained in the defensive style of the Wudang School could fight for days.
Even considering that, a single exchange was too short. Wi Hwan was a master who had surpassed the pinnacle.
The skill gap must have been immense, or the opponent’s swordsmanship equally aggressive. Or both.
Namgung Myung asked.
“Is the old Neung Gwang Sword a supreme master?”
“I can’t say for sure.”
Namgung Myung gave Hong Geolgae a knowing look, which made Hong Geolgae grumble.
“How would I know their skill from a single exchange?”
“If it were me, I’d definitely know… No, maybe not! Yeah, I might not know either!”
When Hong Geolgae raised his staff, Namgung Myung took a few steps back. Hong Geolgae sighed and continued.
“Anyway, the old Neung Gwang Sword isn’t Yu Daehyup. He’s a demon.”
Yong Ilseon looked even more pleased. Hong Geolgae’s story supported his theory of two Neung Gwang Swords.
Hyun Gong asked Yong Ilseon.
“You’re certainly not an ordinary storyteller, Yong Do-in. You’re incredibly sharp. So, where can we find the Neung Gwang Sword?”
“Well, I don’t usually share stories for free, but here I am, spilling everything. Both Neung Gwang Swords have a common trait: they frequent gambling dens.”
Dang Mujin clicked his tongue involuntarily. Old habits die hard, it seemed Yu Jingwang hadn’t completely given up gambling.
‘Was he gambling to pay off the Jeomchang School’s debts, or did he just enjoy it?’
Hyun Gong pressed Yong Ilseon.
“Do you know which gambling den the Neung Gwang Sword frequents?”
“Frequently? I can’t say for sure. But I’ve never heard of them staying long in one place, so try a big gambling den. There’s supposed to be a sizable one in Bupyeong County. Why not start there?”
“Hmm. Got it.”
With that, the conversation ended satisfactorily.
Dang Mujin and his companions thanked Yong Ilseon and left the communal sect.
The four of them made their way to Bupyeong County. When they finally reached a rocky hill overlooking the area, they understood why Bupyeong was located there.
Behind Bupyeong stretched a vast plain for several miles, but beyond that, there was nothing but reddish-brown sand extending to the horizon.
“Is that a desert?”
“Seems like it.”
It certainly looked like a desert, but none of them had ever seen one before, so they couldn’t be sure.
They descended the hill and entered Bupyeong County.
Bupyeong was a sizable city, fitting for its location at the northern edge of the central plains, with an estimated population of twenty to thirty thousand.
“I’ve never seen so many foreigners.”
Bupyeong seemed to be a crossroads for foreign merchants heading into the central plains. About two in ten people were foreigners.
Most were merchants from the Western Regions with dark hair, prominent features, and brown skin, but occasionally, they saw people with yellow or red hair and blue eyes. Dang Mujin and his companions couldn’t guess how far these people had traveled.
After a quick meal at a nearby inn, they waited until nightfall. Gamblers tend to sleep during the day and come alive at night.
Once the sun dipped below the desert, they split up to search for the gambling den.
And, as if it were the most natural thing, Hong Geolgae found it.
“Follow me!”
Unlike the small inns that usually hosted gambling dens, Bupyeong’s gambling den was enormous.
It occupied a space as large as a government office, with a building that could easily accommodate a hundred people.
The noise from inside suggested it wasn’t just a large building; it was bustling with people.
But Dang Mujin and his companions were more interested in the guards outside than the gambling den itself.
Unlike other gambling dens that employed a couple of thugs, Bupyeong’s had four guards, and their skills were not to be underestimated. Three were seasoned first-rate fighters, and one had surpassed the pinnacle.
‘They have a master guarding a gambling den?’
It made one wonder how much money was involved to employ such a skilled fighter as a mere guard.
Hong Geolgae spoke to the group.
“I’ll check inside the gambling den. Wait here.”
He entered the den and returned after about fifteen minutes.
“Yu Daehyup isn’t there.”
They hadn’t expected to find him immediately.
But they hesitated to leave. After coming all this way, it would be disheartening if Yu Jingwang appeared and disappeared while they weren’t looking.
After lingering around the gambling den for over an hour, the guards began to show signs of discomfort.
Finally, the most skilled guard approached them.
“Excuse me, gentlemen.”
“Yes?”
“You don’t seem to have any ill intentions, but having skilled individuals like yourselves loitering around makes it hard for us to focus on our duties. If you want to gamble, please come inside. If not, could you step back a bit?”
Though the request was firm, it was clear the guard was trying not to offend them. It was understandable.
“What should we do?”
Dang Mujin and his companions exchanged glances. Should they enter the gambling den, or should they step back?
The outcome had been decided from the start. If they left the gambling den, they’d never find Yoo Jin-gwang.
“We’re going in.”
“Understood.”
Before stepping into the gambling hall, the four of them pooled their money together. All they had was four gold coins and one silver coin.
It was more than enough for travel expenses, but in a gambling den, there’s no such thing as enough money.
Nevertheless, Dang Moo-jin casually handed each of them a gold coin. Hyun-gong, holding the unexpected windfall, looked uneasy.
“I’m going to lose it all, I just know it. I’ve never gambled before. And with all these wealthy-looking people around, I doubt I can just sit down with pocket change…”
Dang Moo-jin shrugged.
“Same here. If we don’t lose everything by the end of the night, it’ll be a miracle.”
“So what do we do?”
“Don’t worry about it. We can afford to lose some money.”
Without further explanation, Dang Moo-jin led the way into the gambling den.
Hyun-gong, still skeptical, followed, thinking, ‘This is going to be a disaster. What if something goes wrong?’
As soon as they entered, the four of them scattered.
While Hyun-gong was trying to figure out the rules of the games, a friendly-looking gambler called him over. Gamblers have a knack for spotting easy targets.
“Hey there, you look like you don’t know the rules.”
“Uh, yeah, that’s right.”
“Come sit by me. I’ll teach you. I’m tired of these familiar faces anyway.”
The surrounding gamblers laughed heartily, and Hyun-gong managed an awkward smile.
“This game is called Ssangnyukgi. You play with black and white pieces, and it’s all about rolling two dice.”
Hyun-gong listened intently. The rules were quite complex, but the gambler kindly played three practice rounds with him without any stakes.
“Think you’ve got the hang of it now? Got any coins?”
“Uh, no coins, just a gold piece…”
“A gold piece, huh? Big spender for a young guy. I’ll lend you a coin for your first game. This one’s yours, and this one’s mine.”
“Got it.”
With two coins as stakes, Hyun-gong and the seasoned gambler began rolling the dice. Surprisingly, Hyun-gong won the first round.
“Wow, maybe you’ve got a knack for this.”
“Haha.”
“I’ll have to win back that coin I lent you. I’ll roll first this time.”
What started with a single coin soon escalated, and before long, the stakes had turned into silver.
In less than two hours, Hyun-gong’s gold piece had found its way into the gambler’s pocket.
Hyun-gong looked around in dismay, but the world of gambling is a cold one, and no one paid him any mind.
He staggered to his feet, just in time to see Dang Moo-jin and Namgoong Myung rising from their seats.
Unlike Hyun-gong, who looked like he’d lost everything, Dang Moo-jin and Namgoong Myung seemed completely unbothered.
Hyun-gong approached Dang Moo-jin and asked, “Did you win anything?”
“Nope. Lost it all.”
Namgoong Myung, who had just joined them, shrugged and showed his empty hands. Hyun-gong’s eyes widened with worry.
“What do we do? We lost three gold pieces just like that!”
“I told you not to worry. Come on, follow me.”
The three of them went to find Hong Geol-gae. Without a word, Hong Geol-gae handed each of them another gold piece.
”…?”
While Hyun-gong was bewildered, Dang Moo-jin and Namgoong Myung headed back to the gambling tables.
Determined to win back his losses, Hyun-gong returned to the gambler and started another round of Ssangnyukgi, only to lose another gold piece in no time.
His heart sank.
Just then, someone tapped him on the shoulder. It was Dang Moo-jin and Namgoong Myung.
To his surprise, they had lost their gold pieces even faster than he had!
Namgoong Myung, unfazed by his losses, said cheerfully, “Let’s go again!”
The three of them returned to Hong Geol-gae, who, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, handed them more gold.
Baffled, Hyun-gong went back to his seat.
After repeating this cycle of losing and receiving new gold pieces several times, Hyun-gong decided to stand behind Hong Geol-gae and watch him gamble instead. Where was all this money coming from?
After a while, Hyun-gong muttered to himself, ”…What is this?”
Hong Geol-gae continued gambling with a nonchalant expression. He didn’t seem particularly skilled, often asking the person next to him about the rules of new games.
Yet, the results were the opposite of Hyun-gong’s. Whether it was dice or Ssangnyukgi, Hong Geol-gae kept winning.
Hyun-gong sent a silent message to Dang Moo-jin.
Is Hong Geol-gae cheating or something?
Nah. He’s just lucky.
Dang Moo-jin’s response was dismissive, but it explained the situation well enough that Hyun-gong didn’t press further.
Just then, Hong Geol-gae lost a round, and his pile of winnings was halved. Even so, having nearly twenty gold pieces left was astonishing.
Hong Geol-gae pushed all his remaining stakes forward and picked up the dice again. Hyun-gong watched the game with bated breath, his palms sweaty despite not being the one rolling the dice.
But Dang Moo-jin showed no signs of concern.
Hyun-gong sent another silent message.
Aren’t you worried? If he loses again, we’ll be broke. We’ll have to get to the capital with no money.
He won’t lose. And even if he does, we have a way to get more stakes.
Dang Moo-jin glanced at Namgoong Myung.
Nearly two weeks passed with the three of them losing money and Hong Geol-gae winning it back.
Normally, winning too much would get you kicked out of a gambling den, but they weren’t expelled. The other three lost money at an incredible rate, maintaining a delicate balance.
Yet, Yoo Jin-gwang hadn’t shown up.
“When’s Yoo Jin-gwang coming?”
“Who knows.”
Their routine of gambling had grown a bit stale, and they started entering the den later and later.
Initially, they went in around dusk, but soon it was closer to midnight.
Finally, one day, just before closing time, they entered the den and spotted Yoo Jin-gwang, eyes bloodshot, focused intently on his game.
Dang Moo-jin was about to approach him but stopped. Yoo Jin-gwang was deep in concentration, and it wasn’t the right time to interrupt.
‘I’ll talk to him once he’s done.’
The four of them spent some time watching other games and chatting with familiar gamblers.
But while they were distracted, Yoo Jin-gwang lost all his money and abruptly stood up.
For some reason, his face showed no signs of regret, frustration, or anger.
Before Dang Moo-jin could approach him, Yoo Jin-gwang left the gambling den.
Dang Moo-jin quickly sent a message to his friends.
But before they could leave the gambling tables, Yoo Jin-gwang returned.
The only difference was that he now wore a black mask.
As soon as he re-entered, he moved with purpose.
Thud.
The entire den shook slightly, and a thin cloud of dust rose.
The once noisy den fell silent, and all eyes turned to Yoo Jin-gwang.
Drawing his sword, he spoke in a low voice.
“Leave your stakes and get out.”