Episode 175: The Gambling Den

Naturally, no one obediently laid down their bets and left the gambling den as Eugene Kwang had instructed.

This was the northern frontier, bordering the desert—a land of rough people, far removed from the influence of the imperial family and the orthodox martial arts sects. And it was a gambling den, no less.

While ordinary folks and wealthy merchants frequented the place, it was also a haven for those who had hit rock bottom, desperate for a windfall to change their fortunes.

Desperation, however, often meant a lack of composure. It wasn’t uncommon for people to lose their money and cause a ruckus.

In the past fortnight, Tang Mujin and his companions had witnessed three such incidents where individuals drew their swords and created chaos. Each time, the situation was resolved when the guards dragged the troublemakers out.

Such disturbances were so routine that the gamblers didn’t fear them; they just complained.

“What are the guards doing?”

“Probably slacking off again. They got an earful last time too.”

Amidst the murmuring crowd, a swordsman stood up and glared at Eugene Kwang.

Judging by his stance, he was a second-rate martial artist. As long as he didn’t run into a true master, he could hold his own.

The swordsman shouted, “Who’s leaving? You leave, before I put a hole in you.”

Though his actions seemed reckless, the swordsman had a rational motive.

‘I’ll just cut down this drifter and pocket some easy money.’

There were two types of troublemakers in the gambling den: those who were so skilled they could overpower the guards, and those whose abilities were too mediocre to gauge.

The latter were far more common. After all, someone with the skill to overpower the guards wouldn’t need to resort to petty robbery in a gambling den.

Moreover, resolving such incidents often came with rewards. You might get free drinks from grateful winners or sneakily pocket some cash to gamble again.

But sometimes, rational assumptions crumble in the face of sheer bad luck. Like when your opponent turns out to be the infamous Lightning Sword.

Eugene Kwang calmly looked at the swordsman, then pulled out a small notebook and skimmed through it.

“Let’s see… A big mole next to your nose. A scar on the left side of your chin. Northern accent. Carrying a sword with a yellow tassel. You’re the one who assaulted a mother and daughter in Parkho Village down south, aren’t you?”

As Eugene recited the swordsman’s despicable deeds, the crowd’s gaze turned cold.

Yet, despite their disdain, no one was surprised. This was a region rife with criminals.

The swordsman replied shamelessly, “So what? You think I’ll beg for mercy just because you said that?”

“No. The girl’s father put a bounty on your head. Two gold pieces for your neck.”

“Two gold pieces? Ha! Try and take it if you can.”

“No, I’ll only take one. Judging by their situation, they’d have to sell everything to come up with two.”

“You think you’re some kind of hero?”

The swordsman sneered, and Eugene replied, “Yes.”

With that, Eugene took a step toward the nameless swordsman.

As his right foot lifted and touched the ground again, his right arm shifted slightly. The sword that had been hanging loosely was now extended forward.

The gamblers, unable to see what happened between those two movements, assumed Eugene had simply thrust his sword with incredible speed.

But unlike the ordinary gamblers, Tang Mujin and his companions saw the entire sequence.

Eugene had raised his sword, beheaded the swordsman in one swift motion, and retrieved his blade. The action was so fast that ordinary eyes couldn’t follow.

In the next moment, the swordsman’s head flew into the air.

To the people in the gambling den, it seemed as if the swordsman’s head had been severed the instant Eugene took a step.

As the headless body knelt and blood sprayed everywhere, the gamblers panicked.

“What just happened?”

“An invisible sword! It’s the Lightning Sword!”

The quick-witted gamblers recognized Eugene’s identity. Only then did the crowd scramble to their feet. Half of them were too shocked to grab their bets, while the other half quickly pocketed their winnings.

Eugene pointed his sword at those who had taken their bets and spoke.

“Many of you have taken your bets. Actually, it’s fine to leave with them.”

Though Eugene’s words suddenly took a different turn, no one moved. It felt like there was more to come.

Eugene pulled out the small notebook again and continued.

“This book contains descriptions and crimes of many people, and I’ve memorized it all. From murderers and rapists to swindlers, petty thieves, those who have assaulted others, and merchants who overcharge or cheat…”

He paused, staring intently at those who had taken their bets.

“If you’ve lived an honest life, feel free to leave with your winnings. But if you have a guilty conscience, you’d better leave the money behind to be forgiven.”

The crowd hesitated, glancing at each other nervously.

Even in this rough northern land, not everyone was guilty of serious crimes like murder or rape.

But wasn’t it common for merchants to overcharge or cheat?

And how many people have never been in a fight?

While it seemed unlikely that minor scuffles would be recorded in that book, the risk of losing one’s head was too great to ignore.

People weighed their options between money and life.

One brave soul raised a hand and asked, “If someone guilty tries to leave with their winnings and gets caught, will you warn them before swinging your sword?”

“No. You only have one life and one chance. We’ll search you, so don’t think you can sneak out with anything.”

Faced with Eugene’s stern demeanor, nearly everyone put their money down.

Even those who had lived ordinary lives mostly left their winnings behind. Who knew if some unknown crime of theirs was listed in that book?

Only a few truly brave and honest individuals dared to take their winnings and leave the den.

Soon, the gambling den was nearly empty, with silver and gold scattered across the floor.

Once only Tang Mujin and his companions remained, Eugene finally noticed them and seemed flustered.

Pulling his mask down further, Eugene addressed them.

“You all look like decent folks. Young, too, so you probably haven’t committed any crimes. Feel free to take your winnings and go.”

Of course, Tang Mujin and his companions didn’t leave, simply staring at Eugene.

An awkward silence enveloped the room. Eugene seemed eager to escape the den, but the sheer amount of money on the floor was a problem.

Eventually, Eugene ignored them and began gathering the scattered money.

Tang Mujin approached Eugene and spoke.

“Uh, Master Yu. Could we have a word?”

Eugene flinched but quickly feigned ignorance.

“You’ve got the wrong person. My surname isn’t Yu. It’s Jin. I’m from Bupyeong.”

As Tang Mujin’s group showed no sign of believing him, Eugene’s hands moved even faster, scooping up the money.

Having collected most of the winnings, Eugene tried to leave the den, but Hyun Gong was already blocking the entrance.

“Step aside.”

“I can’t do that.”

Eugene attempted to use his martial arts to break through Hyun Gong’s defense, but even for Eugene, it wasn’t easy to penetrate Hyun Gong’s ironclad guard.

While Eugene was distracted by his unfamiliar technique, Namgung Myung slipped behind him and pulled off his mask.

As the cool night air touched his face, Eugene hastily covered it with both hands.

“No!”

“Master Yu. We know everything.”

“Ugh!”

Eugene groaned, covering his face for a long time, until he realized there was no escape. Reluctantly, he lowered his hands.

Yet, still clinging to a shred of hope, Eugene awkwardly acted.

“Where am I? I was just sleeping peacefully in my room… And what’s all this money?”

”···.”

“Could it be my chronic sleepwalking? Oh! Isn’t that Young Master Tang? What brings you here? Am I seeing things?”

Eugene’s lie was so transparent that even a child wouldn’t be fooled, yet he skillfully pocketed the money as he spoke.

His mind might have awakened from sleepwalking, but his hands hadn’t.

Tang Mujin decided to play along, realizing that pressing further might drive Eugene to drastic measures.

“···Yes, it’s me, Tang Mujin. It seems your sleepwalking has gotten worse. I didn’t know you had it before…”

“Haha, it’s a recent affliction, you see. Anyway, it’s good to see you after so long. What brings you all the way to the far north?”

“I was asked to find you, Master Yu.”

Despite the pitiful scene he had just witnessed, Tang Mujin’s voice carried a note of relief. Contrary to the rumors, Yu Jingwang didn’t seem to be possessed by a demonic influence.

His behavior wasn’t exactly normal, but it wasn’t the worst-case scenario either.

Yu Jingwang asked, “Someone asked you to find me? Must be someone from the sect, right?”

“Yes, it was Master Wei Hwan’s request.”

At the mention of a familiar name, Yu Jingwang’s expression softened. It seemed he had been quite lonely living in a foreign land with no acquaintances.

“That sounds like Senior Brother Wei. He always treated me like a younger brother since we were kids… Where is he now?”

”…He’s passed away.”

“What?”

Yu Jingwang’s expression changed instantly, no longer the face of a clumsy liar but that of a resolute martial artist from the Jeomchang sect.

“What do you mean? Tell me everything.”

“It’s a long story. First, why don’t you gather your things? The people from Jeomchang are waiting.”

As Hong Geolgae spoke, Yu Jingwang took a few deep breaths and shook his head.

“No, I can’t go back. Not now.”

“Is there a reason? It doesn’t seem like you’ve stumbled upon some great fortune or are deeply engrossed in training.”

Yu Jingwang hesitated, as if there was something difficult to talk about, and tried to avoid the situation.

Yet, he couldn’t shake off Tang Mujin and his companions.

Or perhaps, it wasn’t a matter of whether he could or couldn’t. Yu Jingwang felt an involuntary urge to speak.

Despite his strong will, he was worn out from nearly a decade of living in a foreign land. In the past, he had companions, but in recent years, he had been completely alone.

Moreover, in this vast world, the only people he could confide in were Tang Mujin and his group.

What he was about to say was something that must not reach the ears of the Jeomchang sect.

Yu Jingwang spoke, “I need to make money. Enough to pay off all of Jeomchang’s debts.”

“Money… Jeomchang’s debts? But I thought they were all settled?”

When Tang Mujin questioned him, Yu Jingwang shook his head. Even though he had decided to speak, the words were hard to get out.

After a long silence, Yu Jingwang spoke in a voice as small as a mouse.

”…No. I haven’t paid back a single penny.”

“That can’t be. Didn’t you clear all the debts when you won against the Master of the Golden Pavilion last time?”

“No, I lost.”

“What?”

“I won the first round of dice, but lost the second. I lost everything just one step away from victory.”

Yu Jingwang’s hands trembled pitifully.

What had happened in the past few years to make him so vulnerable?

He no longer seemed like the man who had once faced danger without flinching.

But Tang Mujin quickly changed his mind. Yu Jingwang wasn’t weak.

There are people like that. Those who can stand firm against ten thousand swords but can’t withstand a small pang of conscience. Yu Jingwang was one of those people.

“But didn’t the chief say all the debts were gone? What really happened?”

”…The Master of the Golden Pavilion forgave the debt even after winning the bet. I didn’t want the people of Jeomchang to suffer more, so I accepted his unspoken offer and lied to them, saying we had no debts left.”

“A lie? But if the debt was forgiven, isn’t it over?”

Yu Jingwang shook his head.

“No, a debt only disappears when it’s paid. No one has paid it.”

And in a small voice, he continued, “The people of the sect don’t know, but Jeomchang’s debt still exists. There’s only one way to resolve this. I have to pay it all off secretly and return to Jeomchang.”

“You plan to pay off a debt that the entire sect couldn’t handle, all by yourself?”

“Yes.”

Yu Jingwang’s short answer left Tang Mujin, Namgung Myung, and Hong Geolgae stunned.

Yu Jingwang was a man of unwavering principles, uncompromising with anyone. It was a bit odd that his solution involved gambling, but still.

Namgung Myung interjected, “Wait. Then why did the Master of the Golden Pavilion forgive the debt?”

“I asked him too, but he wouldn’t answer. So I went back a few months later and waited until he did. Eventually, he told me. The debt was forgiven not now, but decades ago.”

Though it wasn’t a long story, Yu Jingwang was slightly out of breath.

“My father, the Flash Sword Yu Gwanil, had come to gamble with the fate of Jeomchang on the line. The same thing happened then. The Master of the Golden Pavilion wanted to forgive the debt even after winning against my father. They were close friends, he said.”

But Yu Gwanil’s reaction was unexpected.

He refused the offer, accepted the debt, and returned to Jeomchang to tell the sect members they owed a massive debt.

A creditor who lent money but didn’t want it back.

A debtor determined to repay a nonexistent debt.

No one was at fault, yet the situation had become hopelessly tangled.

Yu Jingwang murmured with guilt, “My father accepted defeat without lying, even in the same situation. But I compromised clumsily. I don’t know whose way was right, my father’s or mine. But what’s important is that Jeomchang’s debt hasn’t disappeared.”

Yu Jingwang’s story carried an underlying assumption: that one of them, either his father or himself, had chosen the right path.

In other words, Yu Jingwang believed there was no scenario where the debt could simply be ignored.

Finally, Tang Mujin asked, “So, what do you plan to do now?”

“What else? I’m a martial artist of Jeomchang. I’ll pay off the debt and return.”

”…Do you think you can?”

“I have to.”

With a determined smile, Yu Jingwang turned and disappeared from the gambling den.