A chilling silence fell.

As the large man struck by Cheonyeong's punch fell, the eyes of the men who had come with him widened in shock.

No one had clearly seen Cheonyeong's movement just moments before.

He leaped, and he struck them down.

"Why? Do you guys also need an invitation?"

Under the cold moonlight, his eyes narrowed with a chilling gaze.

Though the words seemed absurd on the surface, spoken alongside the killing intent spreading in all directions, it arrived chillingly on the night breeze.

It was an aura that these so-called ruffians could never approach.

"Ugh..."

"R-Run!"

As the sticky killing intent constricted their bodies, the men who had boldly blocked the path tried to flee hastily like rabbits sensing a tiger's presence.

"I absolutely hate noise."

Cheonyeong's sleeve fluttered with a slight laugh.

Nine needles shot out in different directions as his hand swept across his chest.

Whoosh!

Along with the sound of air being torn, the fleeing men froze like statues, and simultaneously fell to the ground with thuds.

"Ugh, my... my body."

"Why is this?"

They only felt a sharp sensation.

And their bodies had stiffened.

"Hmm, if I leave them like this, they'll scream and call their companions, won't they? That would be troublesome."

With a smile that suited the night perfectly, Cheonyeong approached a nearby man.

Thwack!

Then, without any warning, he struck with all his might.

The man, who had bounced slightly from the ground's recoil, went limp and lost consciousness.

"Huh? Huh?"

One shock after another!

Thwack! Crack!

A series of brutal beatings.

As his companions were driven into the ground by his relentless fists and lost consciousness, the remaining men's eyes grew wider and wider.

"This bastard..."

Thwack!

Only one remained.

"An enemy..."

Bang!

His loud cry cut off and stopped.

* * *

"Huh? Didn't you hear that sound just now?"

"What sound?"

Gwak Saeng-eon, a martial artist of the Heukgal Faction at the entrance of the shantytown, tilted his head and looked toward the entrance.

The moonlight was bright, but it was still night.

It was impossible to see something far away as clearly as in daylight.

"Strange, I think I heard something from where the guards are?"

"What sound?"

"No, I definitely heard something."

As Gwak Saeng-eon stood up from his seat, his companion Jin Woo-tae frowned at the messy mahjong tiles on the table in front of him.

He had finally gotten good tiles after several rounds.

He was just about to recover the money he'd lost all night...

"You bastard! Are you trying to fold the game right now?"

"No, that's not it..."

"What do you mean it's not? Damn it! Stop talking nonsense and sit down quickly!"

"I really heard it! Over there."

"This is ridiculous!"

As Gwak Saeng-eon completely left his seat and walked away, Jin Woo-tae reached out to grab him.

Whoosh!

Bang!

"Huh?"

Within arm's reach.

But Gwak Saeng-eon was struck in the face by something and flew through the air like doing a somersault, crashing down.

"Huh?"

As Gwak Saeng-eon turned his head, his face was covered in blood.

In the stunned Jin Woo-tae's eyes, the ground appeared.

A stone that hadn't been there before?

"What is this?"

Before the confusion could fade, Jin Woo-tae heard a sound piercing the air near his ear.

Whoosh!

Bang!

It was exactly the same as Gwak Saeng-eon's situation. Jin Woo-tae, crashed beside him, lost consciousness immediately.

Tap, tap.

And Cheonyeong slowly walked toward the entrance of the shantytown where they had fallen.

"Meticulous bastards, with plenty of manpower too. Why did they station more guards?"

Cheonyeong looked at the fallen men and chuckled, then examined the surroundings.

There were no more.

There was only one path.

As he walked in with long strides, a downward slope appeared.

"Wow! Impressive?"

Below the slope was a sight he hadn't expected.

A night city spread out in a basin-shaped terrain.

As he entered the downward slope, the noise from the crowded shantytown gradually reached his ears.

Unlike the darkness elsewhere, that place was bright as daylight, and he could see everything people were doing.

On the outskirts, people were gathered in small groups at wooden tables, playing dominoes and mahjong. Beyond that were cockfighting and dog fighting arenas.

Was that all?

Not just chickens and dogs—people were fighting too.

"They said the biggest games are here..."

At a glance, there seemed to be more than ten types of gambling.

Small wooden shops were built to sell alcohol, and there were quite a few of them. Entertainers were positioned here and there to add excitement to the gamblers.

What kind of cheering was this in a gambling den?

And what about the half-naked courtesans?

There were certainly many crazy people.

Some bowed and flattered customers to earn a day's wages, while others endured beatings from their young masters. Yet those people were squandering money for one night of pleasure.

Yes, he reflected.

Hadn't he himself bet money on the outcome of martial arts matches at the Martial Arts Tournament?

No! What's wrong with people gambling with their own money?

Everyone has different ways of living.

Despite thinking this way, it was somehow an irritating sight, and there was no subtlety in Cheonyeong's steps.

Why should he be subtle in a place guarded by mere ruffians?

He came to find Gongsun Cheok, but if trouble arose, he might as well do some cleaning while he was at it.

As he walked down the slope, the noise gradually grew louder.

The loud voices of people—whether conversation or fighting, it was impossible to tell—filled the shantytown.

Everyone seemed crazy.

When he reached the shantytown after the slope ended, the large men guarding it bowed respectfully to Cheonyeong.

They didn't ask for an invitation or referral anymore.

Since they hadn't received a warning from the previous guard, they clearly regarded him as a guest.

Besides, wasn't his clothing of high quality despite being martial attire?

The owner of the Tang Family's textile shop was so careful that Cheonyeong wouldn't be disrespected when traveling abroad.

After the Martial Arts Tournament, he had given some instructions, and the clothes were made with efficiency of movement in mind.

"Young master, which area interests you?"

One large man asked in a friendly manner.

"Which area?"

"If you tell me, I'll guide you kindly."

"..."

"Beasts? People? Or perhaps mahjong or dominoes?"

The large man mentioned various types to entice interest.

Hmm, this is something...

After brief consideration, Cheonyeong took out a silver tael from his money pouch and handed it over.

"Oh, thank you! My name is Ma. If you need anything, just say the word."

His guess seemed correct.

The large man immediately bowed so deeply his forehead nearly touched his knees, and other nearby men looked on with envious eyes.

No matter how freely gamblers spend money, they don't hand over silver taels as tips.

Anyway, this seemed to be their role.

They really work hard.

How could he hit someone working so hard?

He hadn't blocked the path, nor had he caused harm...

Let's try talking first.

I'm someone who likes peace.

"Ma."

"Yes! Young master, just say the word. Where should I take you?"

"By any chance, is there a guest named Gongsun Cheok?"

"Gongsun... Ah! The Gongsun Family Head?"

"You know him?"

"Of course! He's our gambling den's most honored guest. He's already at the VIP table over there, playing right now."

As expected...

This damn swindler was here.

It seemed he was enjoying gambling with the money from selling the mortgaged estate to Cheonyeong.

At first, he probably intended to take the money and run.

But he was caught and dragged here.

While he was at it, he put his hands back into gambling.

That's the nature of gamblers.

When money appears, the first thing that comes to mind is cards.

Just one more hand.

If I just win once properly, what's two hundred taels?

Such thoughts are like a heart disease that one can never overcome by willpower alone.

Crunch.

Cheonyeong gritted his teeth as he asked.

"Where is he?"

"Yes?"

As he asked for directions, Ma looked Cheonyeong up and down.

His clothes were high quality, but...

"Well, young master. I'm not disrespecting you at all, but the VIP table requires at least ten gold taels..."

Tap.

Without a word, Cheonyeong took out another silver tael from his money pouch and placed it in Ma's hand.

Of course, he made sure the golden nuggets gleaming more yellowly than moonlight were visible in the money pouch he had taken it from.

"This way!"

How could there be no effect?

Ma immediately took the lead and escorted Cheonyeong respectfully.

Men shuffling mahjong tiles at tables, people holding betting cards and cheering for the dogs they had wagered money on.

The place Ma guided him to was a tent slightly away from where human fighting took place.

"Ha!"

Cheonyeong couldn't help but laugh absurdly.

Was it because it was a VIP table?

The entrance was extremely ornate.

Women in revealing clothes stood by with wine bottles on small trays, and the soft sound of a pipa flowed from inside.

"Here it is."

"Here? Gongsun Cheok is here?"

"Yes."

"Ah, I see."

A chilling killing intent bloomed in Cheonyeong's eyes.

This bastard had really gotten comfortable.

With the money he swindled from me!

"Just trust me. I'll help you join the game..."

As Ma was speaking with a smile, Cheonyeong walked into the tent without permission.

"Huh? Young master! Wait a moment."

But it was already too late.

Flap!

Cheonyeong tore open the fluttering cloth hanging at the entrance.

"Who?"

At the sudden situation, those concentrating on cards turned their heads to look.

And then their eyes met directly with Gongsun Cheok.

"Huh?"

Gongsun Cheok's eyes widened as he held the cards he had been examining.

"Young master, this is the VIP table. It seems you've taken a wrong turn..."

The rough-looking men inside tried to escort Cheonyeong out with polite words.

"You, you bastard."

But in Cheonyeong's eyes, only Gongsun Cheok was visible.

"Young master, this won't do. We have rules..."

Slap!

Cheonyeong roughly brushed away Ma's hand that had caught up to him.

Rules?

What rules in a gambling den?

And what did it matter if they existed or not?

Cheonyeong walked toward Gongsun Cheok.

"Young master, this is difficult..."

Thwack!

Cheonyeong's fist drove into the mouth of the man blocking his path.

"Argh!"

The man with all his teeth—both upper and lower—knocked loose, bleeding, fell backward.

"Shut up and get out of the way!"

Cheonyeong glared with a deeply furrowed face, and the atmosphere instantly became menacing.

The gamblers around Gongsun Cheok retreated in shock, and the rough-looking men inside surrounded Cheonyeong.

"You damn bastard! Do you know where this is...?"

Thwack!

"This bastard..."

Bang!

Among the men blocking Cheonyeong's path, none managed to finish their sentences.

As unconscious men piled up at his feet, the terrified Gongsun Cheok's eyes widened as if they would split.

"Y-You... Family Head Tang."

"You, you bastard. You sold me a mortgaged estate?"

"Th-That is..."

"Shut your mouth! If I hear even a loud breath from now on, I'll really kill you."

At the thunderous shout, the frightened Gongsun Cheok clamped his mouth shut.

Cheonyeong saw promissory notes spread across the gambling table as if they were replacing gambling funds, and his face contorted.

"You... surely? You didn't spend all of it?"

"..."

"You bastard! Why aren't you talking?"

He had said not to talk.

But startled by the fierce aura, Gongsun Cheok muttered quietly.

"Th-That is... I was just about to win..."

"What? You lost it all?"

"Ah, that is..."

"What about the mortgaged money? Did you pay that back?"

"I was trying to..."

"Ha!"

Without detailed explanation, he understood everything.

That bastard lost it all.

"Listen, you come with me. Let's have a conversation, just the two of us."

Cheonyeong grabbed Gongsun Cheok by the collar and tried to leave.

But Ma blocked his path.

"Young master, this is difficult. Two silver taels aren't enough."

His face was furrowed, and behind him were many rough-looking men.

What expression did they have when they were gambling?

Why did they all look like that?

"Sigh, really, today wasn't the day for this."

Cheonyeong sighed and spoke with narrowed eyes.

"Get out of the way. My mood is shit right now? If you block me, you really die."

(End of Chapter)