Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 44

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 44
The Hwawollu Underground Gambling Den was packed with people, but an unusually large crowd had gathered around one particular table.
It was where the Bald Man, Geum Seok-du, was seated.
“Goodness, I’ve won again? If I keep taking all the pots like this, something’s bound to go wrong. Hehe.”
Geum Seok-du swept a pile of silver coins into a large cloth pouch.
The gamblers rolled their eyes as they studied Geum Seok-du.
‘How did he win with such a weak hand?’
‘This doesn’t make any sense.’
‘Is this guy really playing without cheating?’
Geum Seok-du had already won over a hundred taels of silver. It was impossible for the heavens to grant such fortune to only one man, yet winning a hundred taels consecutively defied all reason.
Yet he showed no signs of sleight of hand.
And for good reason….
“….”
“….”
Standing behind Geum Seok-du were massive, imposing men dressed entirely in black robes—disciples of the Black Bear Sect—their eyes gleaming with sharp intensity.
Geum Seok-du grinned and glanced back over his shoulder.
“With the esteemed heroes of the Black Bear Sect watching over me, it seems my hands are blessed with fortune.”
“Does it bother you?”
“Bother me? What could possibly bother me? It’s not as if you’re paying for the view—please, watch freely! By all means!”
Geum Seok-du leaned back with a broad smile, making himself fully visible.
The Black Bear Sect disciples frowned.
“Well then, shall we begin again?”
Without waiting for a response, Geum Seok-du turned back and began dealing the cards.
The moment the cards were dealt, the faces of the gamblers across from him grew even more despondent.
Meanwhile, observing the entire scene from a distance, Seo Ryun’s eyes narrowed.
“Is that truly the man?”
Seo Ryun asked in a tone of disapproval.
His martial skills seemed adequate, though merely third-rate at best. His appearance was shabby, and his behavior was utterly frivolous….
It was incomprehensible why he warranted such attention.
“That’s what I’m telling you.”
“Perhaps it would be wise to reconsider….”
Despite Seo Ryun’s concerned words, Dokgo Myeong merely smiled.
Seo Ryun exhaled sharply and nodded with resolute determination.
“If that is your wish, I shall apprehend him at once.”
“You can’t.”
“Pardon?”
“You can’t. If I could have taken him by force, I wouldn’t have come all this way.”
Seo Ryun’s brow furrowed.
“Young master, though my martial prowess is still lacking, surely I am capable of capturing a mere gambler….”
“Don’t misunderstand. This is a matter of talent, so to speak.”
“A skill, you say?”
“Even I’m not confident I could catch that bastard. Well, I could catch him, but he wouldn’t last a day?”
At those words, Seo Ryun’s eyes widened in shock.
Two masters at their peak couldn’t capture a single third-rate martial artist?
“Then what do you intend to do?”
“What’s so difficult about catching a gambler?”
“…Surely not.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to play some cards. Hehehehe!”
Dokgo Myeong rubbed his hands together eagerly and approached the gambling table.
“Y-Young Master?”
Was he really about to gamble right now?
A direct descendant of the Dokgo Clan, and in a gambling den operated by the Black Bear Sect at that?
‘Surely not that money….’
Seo Ryun’s mouth fell open.
The money the Geumsan Sect Leader had given him, even from his personal funds….
‘He brought it to gamble with?’
Seo Ryun felt a moment of vertigo.
* * *
“I-I’m done playing.”
“Let me see what I’ve got.”
“D-Dammit… my money….”
At Geum Seok-du’s table.
The three gamblers sitting with him could only leave after being completely cleaned out.
“Ah, come on now. It’s not like I’ve been winning the whole time.”
“P-Please stop! We have to eat too! Ugh!”
The gamblers retreated with dejected faces.
Geum Seok-du smacked his lips and glanced around smoothly.
The Black Bear Sect Disciples were looking down at him with sinister smiles.
“You’re quite skilled.”
“Skill? Nah, it’s all luck. Anyway… ahem!”
Geum Seok-du stood up slowly and slipped something into the hands of the Black Bear Sect Disciples.
A glimmering object shaped like a mountain—silver coins.
“…What are you doing?”
“For your trouble during the commotion earlier, and as a token of my sincerity….”
“This isn’t right… well, I suppose.”
The Black Bear Sect Disciples pretended to be reluctant, accepted the silver coins one by one, and chuckled.
“What’s your name?”
“Du-seok, sir. I’ll be sure to pay my respects often!”
Even as he spoke the alias, Geum Seok-du didn’t bat an eye.
The Black Bear Sect Disciple grinned widely at Geum Seok-du’s audacity.
“Now I see you’re quite the sensible fellow.”
“Thank you for the kind words.”
“Enjoy yourself, but mind you—the higher-ups have been taking quite an interest in this establishment lately, so keep things moderate.”
The Black Bear Sect Disciples turned and departed.
Only after they had vanished into the distance did Geum Seok-du exhale sharply through his nose.
“Stingy bastards, just because they won a bit of coin. Tsk, should I call it a day?”
It was just as Geum Seok-du was tidying up his spot and smacking his lips.
“Is this seat available?”
“Huh?”
Geum Seok-du lifted his head.
A young nobleman was grinning broadly as he took a seat.
“I’ve been watching for a while now, and your skills seem quite impressive. Care for another round?”
“Well….”
Geum Seok-du glanced at the young man.
He was strikingly handsome with clean features, though his eyes held a certain sharpness.
Moreover, with an eager expression, he placed all his silver coins onto the table—and the amount looked considerable.
‘Let’s see… his calluses suggest he’s no gambler by trade… yet he’s carrying an absurd amount of money?’
Geum Seok-du deliberated for a moment.
‘Should I take a look?’
Geum Seok-du glanced subtly at those around him before breaking into a grin.
“Well, of course! Come, sit right here.”
“Much obliged.”
The young man—or rather, Dokgo Myeong—smiled wickedly.
* * *
Geum Seok-du thought to himself.
‘I’ve found my mark.’
Where does gambling truly begin?
From dealing the cards? From placing the wager?
That was only for amateurs.
Just as there are masters and novices in the martial world, so too are there ranks in the gambling world. And every gambling master would say the same thing.
‘It begins with seating the mark.’
Geum Seok-du gazed forward with a broad smile.
“Ah, losing again… It seems I’ve truly met a master today.”
“Why not call it a day? You’ve already lost quite a bit. Gambling is meant for amusement, not for staking one’s life—that’s how families are ruined.”
Geum Seok-du offered insincere words while subtly needling his opponent.
The young man’s eyes widened as he bristled.
“Ruined over a mere pittance? Nonsense. I’m fine.”
Geum Seok-du’s eyes gleamed.
The man had already lost nearly a thousand taels, yet he called it small change?
“Are you truly certain?”
“Today, even if I lose every coin I brought, I absolutely must win at least one major hand!”
“Well, it’s not as though you haven’t won at all, is it?”
“What good are petty victories? I need to win big! Don’t even think about getting up until then!”
The young man shouted with eyes blazing.
‘I’ve hooked a live one.’
Geum Seok-du pressed down the corners of his mouth that kept trying to curl upward with his hand.
The cards came around again.
Round after round, they kept coming.
What was supposed to be just one hand became two hours, then four hours slipped away in an instant.
“Ah, was your name Myeong-hyeon? I’m sorry for taking so much from you again.”
“Come now, why say such things? Would I harbor resentment toward you just because I lost some money?”
“Huh, older brother?”
“You’re older than me, so of course you’re my older brother! Now deal the cards!”
“…You want to continue?”
“We can’t possibly stop here!”
“Right, of course not!”
Geum Seok-du tilted his head.
How had it come to this when he’d only meant to play one hand?
‘When did we even drop the formal speech?’
Geum Seok-du blinked as he studied the young man.
“What’s wrong, older brother?”
“Oh, nothing.”
Something felt oddly unsettling.
Geum Seok-du cleared his throat once before speaking.
“Well, Myeong, you’ve already lost quite a bit. Perhaps we should stop here….”
“Be quiet and deal the cards.”
“Right, let’s do that.”
And so Geum Seok-du dealt cards until his hands ached, and he collected winnings until his belly was full.
It was only when the young man named Myeong-hyeon let out a long, heavy sigh that Geum Seok-du snapped back to his senses.
“Hah… I’ve lost everything….”
Geum Seok-du blinked as he gazed into his cloth pouch.
It was overflowing. Silver coins, betting slips, and sums he’d never imagined were piled high.
“Hehe, it seems young Myeong was simply unlucky today.”
“Is that truly luck?”
The young man smiled with a sinister edge.
In that moment, Geum Seok-du felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine.
“What else could it be? Gambling is all about luck!”
“Then would you share some of that luck with me?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Since I’m now penniless, I thought—wouldn’t you buy me a drink? If I receive a drink from you, older brother, perhaps great fortune will come my way!”
“I feel bad about it, so having a separate drinking session feels a bit awkward….”
How could I drink comfortably with the man who took my money sitting across from the man who lost it?
“Ha! If you feel bad, you should buy more drinks! You cleaned out your younger brother’s entire fortune, and now you won’t even buy him a single glass?”
“Well….”
Geum Seok-du, who had been hesitating, reluctantly nodded his head.
“Fine. Then just one glass, just one glass.”
Geum Seok-du rose from his seat.
* * *
Chirp! Chirp chirp! Chirp!
Sunlight streamed down brilliantly from above.
Geum Seok-du slowly opened his eyes at the sound of birdsong tickling his ears.
The ground lay directly before his eyes.
The clear sky was visible on the ground.
Geum Seok-du blinked.
‘…Why is the world upside down?’
Only then did his mind snap into focus.
It wasn’t the world that was upside down—it was him.
His entire body was wrapped tightly in rope and dangling from some tree branch.
‘What, what is this? How did this happen?’
Was he still drunk? No, he hadn’t even drunk that much to begin with.
He had definitely gone to drink with that guy named Myeong-hyeon….
After that, his memory went blank.
That was when it happened.
“Hey kid, looks like it’s time for you to wake up?”
At the sudden voice, Geum Seok-du’s eyes snapped shut in panic.
“Ah, he’s awake.”
He held his breath and squeezed his eyes tighter shut. Only his ears remained wide open.
Soon he heard breathing near his ears.
“I know you’re awake, so get up.”
“….”
“Looks like you want to sleep more. Then I’ll have to put you back to sleep myself.”
“W-wait!”
Geum Seok-du’s eyes flew open.
“D-don’t! I’m awake!”
“Casual speech?”
“No, but I’m older than you….”
“So being older means my fists won’t connect?”
“My apologies. I was wrong.”
Geum Seok-du switched his tone without hesitation.
“W-we were getting along so well, weren’t we? Is this about the money? I’ll return it all….”
“What kind of person do you take me for? I don’t need money.”
“I… I’m not sure what I’ve done to offend you, sir. Why are you treating me this way?”
“I just wanted to have a conversation. Don’t be so frightened.”
This madman.
Tying someone to a tree and calling it a conversation.
“I’ll answer anything sincerely, so could you please let me down? The blood is rushing to my head…”
Dokgo Myeong chuckled.
“Are you planning to detonate a poison pill hidden in your trouser leg once I let you down?”
“…!”
Seo Ryun, who had been listening quietly from behind, was startled.
He hurried forward and yanked up Geum Seok-du’s trouser leg.
“Well, this…”
Indeed, something like a thin, mysterious leather patch clung tightly to the area near his calf. It was so cunningly concealed that it would be impossible to discover even during a body search unless one actually rolled up the fabric.
Dokgo Myeong crossed his arms and glared at Geum Seok-du.
“And you’ve already loosened the rope. Why don’t you just come down on your own?”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“You just finished untying it.”
Geum Seok-du’s face twisted into a bitter expression.
“How did you know?”
“I just saw it.”
“You couldn’t have seen it…”
“If you want to keep hanging there and talking, go ahead.”
“You won’t harm me once I come down, will you?”
Dokgo Myeong nodded.
Whoosh! Thud!
In that instant, the rope binding Geum Seok-du lost its tension and fell away.
Geum Seok-du landed lightly on the ground like a cat, his face breaking into an awkward smile.
“Well. How on earth…?”
Seo Ryun stared at Geum Seok-du with an expression of disbelief.
“Ahem.”
Geum Seok-du cleared his throat a few times before speaking.
“…So, sir. Do you perhaps know me?”
“I know enough.”
“What exactly do you mean?”
Dokgo Myeong smirked.
“Your name is Geum Seok-du, not Du-seok. A foolish disciple that Manpak took in during his final years.”
Geum Seok-du’s eyes widened as if they might split open.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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