Mount Cang School 

The next morning, after hearing Yu Jingwang's story from Tang Mujin and Namgung Myeong, Dan Seol-yeong gave a cold assessment.

"Yu Jingwang… that man seems even crazier than I thought."

Chu Sam's reaction wasn't much different.

"Shouldn't we get out before we get dragged in deeper? Of all the people I've known who dabbled in gambling, not a single one ended well. Aside from the rare few who won an outrageous fortune, gamblers usually just drag everyone around them down and ruin everything."

Tang Mujin and Namgung Myeong knew this, too. Yu Jingwang's reckless attitude of being willing to throw everything away might look impressive at first glance, but no matter how one tried to spin it, something was clearly off about it.

Even so, they couldn't say they completely failed to understand Yu Jingwang and the Mount Cang School martial artists' choice.

"They know full well they're acting strange. The problem is, they just don't have any other solution."

A debt so large it would take generations of labor to pay off.

Leaving that burden to their descendants was hardly an easy road to take. Gambling was simply the only breakthrough they'd been able to find.

Dan Seol-yeong gave Tang Mujin a sullen look, then finally shrugged.

"Well, you're right. And besides, if those fellows want to gamble with their own money, who are we to interfere? But Mujin—don't you dare pick up any bad habits from hanging around strange people."

Her words were clearly aimed at Yu Jingwang, but her eyes kept darting toward Namgung Myeong.

"What? What did I do to deserve that?"

"You know perfectly well yourself… No, never mind."

Dan Seol-yeong forced a contrived smile, cutting off Namgung Myeong's protest before it could gain steam.

***

Three days later, Yu Jingwang came to find Tang Mujin's group. His demeanor was oddly lacking in confidence, as though he were about to ask for a burdensome favor.

"Brother Tang, Brother Myeong. Could you accompany me to Nanchang?"

"Is something the matter?"

"This time, I intend to settle things there."

Even as he spoke, Yu Jingwang rambled on awkwardly, unlike his usual self. The gist was simple: Jiujiang was a small city, and even if he waited another month, there wouldn't be anyone willing to take him up on a wager. If he wanted to raise the stakes, he would have to leave Jiujiang.

"So you mean to throw dice in Nanchang?"

"Not dice. I plan to enter a cockfight."

"Cockfight? You mean chicken fighting?"

"Yes. Cricket fights or dice games are about the same size no matter where you go. But cockfighting carries much larger wagers. I know of a place where the stakes are big enough to risk everything I won last time."

"I see… but why do you want me to go with you? I've never gambled in my life. As for cockfights, I only saw one or two back in my hometown."

When Tang Mujin asked, Yu Jingwang answered sheepishly.

"...I just thought maybe you bring luck with you."

Even he seemed embarrassed by the flimsy reasoning, his voice lacking conviction. But wasn't that just how gamblers always were? What did they really have to put their faith in, other than superstition?

Tang Mujin shook his head.

"We have no plans to leave the Yu Estate. As I told you before, there are enemies targeting us."

"Which is all the more reason to move together. Wei Ying and Wi Hwan will be coming with me as well."

There were three top-class experts at the Yu Estate: the head Yu Jingwang, and the Wei brothers.

So he means to take all the masters along? Well, considering their fate could hinge on the outcome of a few wagers, it's no wonder the Wei brothers are desperate.

Tang Mujin hesitated, weighing the matter.

At the moment, there were so many Mount Cang martial artists staying at the Yu Estate that it might be safer to remain there than to travel with Yu Jingwang.

But the problem was, those martial artists wouldn't be staying idle. They regularly went off on escort missions.

Once a few groups departed, the Yu Estate would no longer be all that safe. Traveling with three top-class masters might be the safer option. Even the Salmak wouldn't dare attack a group with four peak-level experts.

When Tang Mujin remained silent, Yu Jingwang pressed him again.

"You remember I gave you my word of safety when I took you into the Yu Estate, yes? Whatever happens, I'll find a way to protect you. Just this once, come along. I swear, this way is much safer."

In the end, Tang Mujin agreed—on the condition that not only Namgung Myeong, but also Dan Seol-yeong and Chu Sam would accompany them.

***

The party heading to Nanchang was larger than expected. Not only were the three Mount Cang top masters present, but ten first-rate martial artists also followed along.

Aside from those who had to depart soon on escort missions, virtually everyone had joined them.

Nanchang wasn't far from Jiujiang. The group arrived quickly and lodged at a grand, glittering tavern.

"In four days, the cockfight will be held here?"

"That's right."

Unlike ordinary taverns, where the floors were tightly sealed, the second and third floors here had their central sections cut wide open in the shape of a square character. Clearly, the place had been built with spectacles on the first floor in mind.

As the party was looking around, a dry-faced man peered down at them from the third floor. He was clearly a martial artist, yet his presence was strangely faint.

"Master Yu, do you know that man?"

"No. First time I've seen him. His cultivation doesn't look all that impressive either."

Tang Mujin felt uneasy, but it was awkward to confront the man who wasn't showing any open hostility.

While Tang Mujin was still pondering, Yu Jingwang headed straight for the door.

"Where are you going?"

"To check on the condition of the roosters. Since it's come up, you should come too."

The place they arrived at was a small house behind the tavern.

Gamblers were clustered thickly around it, each holding something in their hands, pleading desperately with the owner.

"Hey, Master! Feed this to your rooster! It's broth made from decades-old ginseng—he'll be bursting with strength!"

"I caught a big frog! Please, take it!"

Hearing their cries, Dan Seol-yeong wrinkled her nose.

"What's wrong with them?"

"They think feeding the rooster precious food might help it win—or maybe they want to sabotage it by slipping in something harmful."

Just then, the owner appeared and chased the gamblers away.

"Begone! I've raised fighting cocks for twenty years, but I've never once let them touch food from another's hand!"

Once the crowd dispersed, he began training one of his roosters.

He had the bird peck at fast-moving insects, leap high after morsels of food. His care was so meticulous it looked more like he was training a disciple than a rooster.

"He's really devoted."

Dan Seol-yeong remarked, and Yu Jingwang replied:

"His own profits depend on his rooster's victory. If it wins, he takes a cut of the wagers—three or five percent. If it loses, he gets nothing, and loses a prized rooster to boot."

"Lose the rooster?"

"Cockfights end when one side dies. See those little blades hanging on the wall?"

He pointed to a pair of finger-sized knives. Though crudely made, they were polished free of rust from constant care.

"What are those?"

"Chicken knives—blades strapped to the roosters' talons."

"That's cruel."

When Dan Seol-yeong flinched, Yu Jingwang shook his head.

"On the contrary, those are merciful. Without them, the fight drags on until one rooster dies slowly. That's far more cruel."

"Really?"

"Of course. What can a rooster do? Kick, scratch, peck with its little beak. How long do you think it would take for a bird that size to die that way? But with blades, it's quicker, less suffering, and more exciting for the spectators besides."

"...Even so…"

"And besides, the blades are the only way for the winner to survive."

"What do you mean?"

"In cockfights, you die if you lose—but even if you win, you die if you're too wounded. No one will bet on an injured rooster. The only way to live is to win swiftly and cleanly."

"I see…"

Yu Jingwang seemed to know as much about cockfights as he did about dice games. Whether out of necessity or fascination, it was hard to say.

As the party spoke, the owner finished training the second rooster and went back inside. But there was a third bird in the coop, one he hadn't touched.

Like the others, it held its head high, comb standing sharp. But there was one problem.

Unlike the other two enormous fighting cocks—each twice the size of a normal bird—this one was noticeably smaller. Still bigger than a common rooster, but clearly undersized.

"Hey, Master!"

Yujingwang called out loudly to the landlord. The landlord looked at him with a hint of annoyance, but upon noticing the sword hanging at Yujingwang's waist, his attitude quickly turned polite.

Martial artists had so many ruffians among them that if their mood was upset, one could never guess what sort of havoc they might cause.

"What did you call me for?"

"Tell me, is that little chicken in the coop also going to fight in the match four days from now?"

"Yes. That's right."

"Then why aren't you training it?"

"That one's training was finished long ago. I hadn't intended to send it into a cockfight, though."

"What do you mean by that?"

The landlord let out a deep sigh before answering.

"That one is a backup I kept just in case. In truth, another bird was supposed to fight in the next match."

"And where did that one go?"

"A weasel carried it off a few days ago. Still, I have to make up the three birds, so I had no choice but to send that little one instead."

"So you mean to use it as a throwaway card?"

"Exactly. It's quick and brave, and well-disciplined too, but if it's small and lacking in strength, then none of that matters, does it?"

Normally, even the owner wouldn't speak so directly of winning or losing, but this time the outcome was so obvious that he didn't bother to dress up his words.

Yujingwang nodded and said,

"Then I should bet on that one losing."

Namgung myeong interjected,

"Even so, the payout can't be much. You wouldn't even get back five coins, let alone earn enough to make it worth the trouble."

"Risk is something one must take. If the outcome is certain, there's no reason not to."

Dan seol-yeong gazed fixedly at the little chicken. The little bird seemed to sense her pity, pecking the ground a couple of times before repeatedly looking back at her.

She asked Yu jingwang,

"Do you think anyone will actually bet on that one to win?"

"Some might, chasing after a windfall, but not many."

It was a silly thought, perhaps, but Dan seol-yeong saw something of her old self in the little chicken—someone no one expected anything of, someone who existed only as a stepping stone to the next stage.

In the past, she would have only thought it pitiful and left it at that. But now she was different. She knew that even a life no one had expectations for still carried possibilities.

"If that little chicken wins, the ones who bet on it would make a fortune, right?"

"That's right."

"Then let's bet on that little chicken winning."

Yujingwang frowned.

"Lady Dan, as I told you earlier, nothing matters more than size in these fights. Losing is a foregone conclusion. A person who bets on a thing like that can't even be called a gambler."

Dan seol-yeong scoffed.

"Who said anything about gambling? I hate gambling. A clever person doesn't rely on luck—they find a solution and resolve the problem."

It wasn't until four days later that Yujingwang understood her meaning.

More precisely, it was when the new blades tied to the little chicken's claws sliced clean through the thick feathers of its much larger opponent.

Yujingwang's hands trembled as he clutched the tenfold winnings. A dream was slowly turning into reality.

***

In just a few days, the silver Yujingwang possessed had grown so heavy it could no longer be measured in taels but in entire bars.

"How much more do we need to earn?"

Tang Mujin asked, and Yujingwang replied, his jaw trembling,

"Th–This is enough. With this much, I can go to see the Lord of Ten Thousand Gold."

"Go see him? What do you mean?"

"In the end, the final step is to throw dice with the Lord of Ten Thousand Gold and settle it there. And with this amount… even if the stakes are high, just winning twice with the dice will be enough."

Tang Mujin frowned.

"Why cling to that strange condition? Wouldn't it be better to just move to another region and win a few more cockfights? That's a far surer way—you don't need to leave it up to luck."

"No. That's not my decision to make. The rule of deciding the final outcome by dice was set by the Lord of Ten Thousand Gold himself."

"What a ridiculous rule. Why not just take the money and be done with it?"

"I don't know his thinking either. But the Lord of Ten Thousand Gold is famous for being eccentric."

"Tch."

Tang Mujin felt a deep dissatisfaction. After coming this far, was everything really going to be left up to luck again?

Of course, the fate of the Yu family estate wasn't directly related to him. If they failed, it was the Jeomchang Sect that would go down, not the Tang family clinic. But still, he would rather not see them fall into debt—and even beyond calculation, he simply wanted to see matters end well for those he had come to know.

"You said the Lord of Ten Thousand Gold is in Luoyang, right? Are we going there now?"

"Yes. But we won't head straight for Luoyang. We'll stop at Kaifeng along the way."

Kaifeng. Tang Mujin pictured the route in his mind. Going through Kaifeng didn't add much to the journey—at most a day or two.

But what puzzled him was why they needed to go there at all.

"What business do we have in Kaifeng?"

"I heard that's where the God of Gambling lives."

"The God of Gambling?"

"Yes. I heard not long ago that there's a gambler in Kaifeng with incredible luck. I plan to find him and ask him to throw the dice in my place."

"Do you know him personally?"

"No, I don't. But they say if you ask around the gambling dens of Kaifeng for Mr. Hong, there's no one who won't know the name."

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