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“So Miho and I headed to Sichuan first.”

We were meeting with the great leader of the Sichuan branch, Tang Mugyeok, to get the latest scoop.

“We’ve found the Tao King.”

Tang Mugyeok, who had been gazing at me with a blank stare, continued, “And it seems that Dongbang Mu-gyeol has the intention of not returning to the Central Plains at all.”

“No signs of him coming back from the southern barbarians?”

“None whatsoever.”

“It’s been almost a year since I requested help… so what now?”

“I suppose a trip is in order.”

I had a hunch that finding Dongbang Mu-gyeol meant making a trip to the southern barbarians. A year seems short, but in the martial arts world, it’s a considerable amount of time. Generally, a martial artist doesn’t just vanish for no big reason.

Tang Mugyeok continued, “If you want to know the whereabouts of the southern barbarians, it would be quicker to ask Wan Poison Gate in Yunnan. While our network is broad, we don’t have dedicated branches there.”

“So that Wan Poison Gate is the overlord of that area?”

“You could say that. Within Yunnan, there aren’t any martial factions that can compete with them, so they’re probably the best source of information.”

I didn’t think it was the right time to go looking for Dongbang Mu-gyeol just yet. Traveling to the southern barbarians through Yunnan would surely be a long and perilous journey, especially since I had other matters to take care of first. I organized my thoughts and said to Tang Mugyeok, “Then please share whatever you know about the Tao King.”

“Sure thing. The Tao King has been showing up in the Sichuan Martial World for about two months now, but for some reason, he’s barely moved from one gambling house.”

“A gambling house?”

“Indeed, the largest one in the provincial capital—Shu Han Gambling House.”

Shu Han Gambling House wasn’t just the biggest in the city but also the largest gambling spot in all of Sichuan, where Mahjong was particularly popular. This wasn’t a shabby third-rate establishment; it was frequented by high officials and wealthy individuals, functioning almost like a social club. Hence, the amounts exchanged here weren’t something your average person could fathom.

As Tang Mugyeok elaborated, his brows furrowed in concern. “And because of that, everyone’s in a bit of a jam.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you know the win rate of the Tao King, Wall of the Outer District when he plays? It’s an astonishing eighty-five percent.”

“…!!”

“And he doesn’t even lose at Mahjong! He showcases a divine level of skill when it comes to that game.”

Eight-five percent! That was an outrageous win rate, meaning if he played a hundred games, he’d win eighty-five of them. Plus, never losing at Mahjong meant he truly deserved the title of King of Gambling. I blinked in disbelief, thinking, “Isn’t he just rigging the games?”

“Everyone thought that at first too. But that’s not the case. Even the best gamblers have tried to figure out his strategies but only found extraordinary card reading, psychological warfare, and sheer luck. In fact, a few of them tried to con him and ended up with their wrists cut off.”

“……!!”

“Because of that, guests at Shu Han Gambling House have drastically decreased, and it’s barely operational now.”

“That’s….” I paused, then added, “That’s risky. Is he trying to get killed?”

Indeed. In gambling, even if you might win all the time, there are parts where you simply shouldn’t win. The essence of gambling often carried violence, and the absurd amounts of money or stakes involved could lead to murder or threats at any point. Especially if high-ranking officials, gamblers, and dark forces were involved, wiping the floor clean could lead to severe countermeasures.

In response to my question, Tang Mugyeok smirked. “His martial abilities are substantial enough for him to go unchecked in Shu Han Gambling House. But the elite factions of Sichuan have their eyes on him, so he’ll probably be assassinated soon.”

Assassinated! If the head of an information organization like Tang Mugyeok was this confident, then the Tao King was indeed in a dire situation. If he were kidnapped or killed, I wouldn’t be able to glean any information about Dongbang Mu-gyeol, which would be a serious problem for me.

‘I’d planned to stop by Extreme Tiger’s place first, but it looks like I need to find the Tao King right away.’

I thought for a moment before asking, “Which factions are specifically targeting the Tao King?”

“That information will cost fifty silver coins.”

I couldn’t believe how bold he was being. “Do you think fifty silver coins are just some kid’s name?”

“Haha, once we give you the info, we’ll be putting ourselves at risk too, so please understand.”

With no other choice, I reluctantly handed him the fifty silver coins. Even though I had plenty of money, I was slightly unnerved by Tang Mugyeok’s insatiable greed. After taking the coins, he opened his mouth.

“There are six factions in total.”

“That many?”

“Clear Stream Sect, Four Talents Sect, Blood Flame Gate, Twin Star Knife Gate, Absolute Dragon Faction, and Heavenly Heart Association.”

“……”

A heavy feeling sank in my chest. The Clear Stream Sect was one of the Nine Great Sects, while the Four Talents Sect was the dominant force in Sichuan. Thankfully, the Ami Sect wasn’t mentioned, but it was still strange that the nuns’ sect would get involved in gambling affairs. I couldn’t help but blurt out, “What reason would the Nine Great Sects or the Four Talents Sect have for getting involved with the Tao King?”

“The Elder of Clear Stream Sect tried to lecture the Tao King and lost a famous sword in the process. And the Four Talents Sect has never been fond of him anyway, as their leader dislikes the chaos he brings.”

“Hmm.”

“Blood Flame Gate and Twin Star Knife Gate have historically supported Shu Han Gambling House but have drawn in other forces now, while Absolute Dragon Faction is an emerging sect in Sichuan. Heavenly Heart Association was originally a secret religious group that has transformed into a martial arts faction.”

I scratched my head. “Ugh… This is maddening. Are Absolute Dragon Faction and Heavenly Heart Association really taking jobs with Shu Han Gambling House?”

“Indeed. Absolute Dragon Faction wants to capture the Tao King to enhance their reputation, and I assume Heavenly Heart Association would feel the same way.”

This headache just grew. If Tang Mugyeok was right, there were six competitive factions in the Sichuan Martial World grooming to kill the Tao King. Just thinking of how many experts I’d have to clash with made my mind reel in despair.

“Is there an Elder from Clear Stream Sect or from the Four Talents Sect… or any particularly strong experts?”

“I don’t know the specifics, but there are rumors that the Clear Stream Sect Elder himself is getting involved to reclaim his honor. As for the Four Talents Sect, I’m not sure. Other factions will likely have peak experts showing up…”

“And peak experts?”

“Peak Experts aren’t common at all. If they do come, it’ll probably be the leader of Clear Stream Sect or the clan leader of Four Talents Sect, or maybe the leader of Heavenly Heart Association, but would those lofty individuals really come all the way just to take down one Tao King?”

“That’s a relief…”

Then Tang Mugyeok gave me a bewildered expression. “Relieved? Are you really planning to go rescue the Tao King?”

“Of course.”

“Since the Tao King’s martial prowess is at its peak, he can’t be easily touched in Shu Han Gambling House. But since powerful factions in Sichuan are keeping a close watch on him, he will likely be killed soon.”

Killed! If Tang Mugyeok, an information expert, was so sure of this, the Tao King was undoubtedly in genuine danger. If he got kidnapped or killed, I wouldn’t hear anything about Dongbang Mu-gyeol, creating major trouble for me.

‘I initially planned to stop by Extreme Tiger’s, but I need to find the Tao King right now.’

As I thought, I asked, “Can you tell me specifically which factions are targeting the Tao King?”

“That info will cost fifty silver coins.”

I was irritated. “Seriously? Are you even listening to yourself?”

“Haha, once we give you the information, we’ll be taking a risk as well, so please bear with us.”

I had no choice but to pull out fifty silver coins and hand them over. Though I had plenty of money, I was somewhat appalled at Tang Mugyeok’s audacity. After receiving the coins, he began listing off the details.

“There are six groups.”

“That’s a lot of work!”

“Clear Stream Sect, Four Talents Sect, Blood Flame Gate, Twin Star Knife Gate, Absolute Dragon Faction, and Heavenly Heart Association.”

My heart sank even further. I mean, the Clear Stream Sect was one of the Nine Great Sects and the Four Talents Sect was the strongest in Sichuan. At least the Ami Sect wasn’t in the mix, but still, it was odd for the nun sect to join a gambling business. I blurted out my confusion, “What on earth do the Nine Great Sects or the Four Talents Sect want with the Tao King?”

“The Elder of Clear Stream Sect tried to scold the Tao King and ended up losing a famous sword; the Four Talents Sect has never liked him anyway,” Tang Mugyeok explained as he chuckled.

That gave me pause. “Hmmm, that’s interesting.”

“Blood Flame Gate and Twin Star Knife Gate have historically supported Shu Han Gambling House but have drawn in additional forces. Absolute Dragon Faction is an emerging sect, and Heavenly Heart Association used to be a secret group that’s now becoming more legitimate.”

Scratching my head, I sighed in exasperation, “Great, so Absolute Dragon Faction and Heavenly Heart Association really are in cahoots with Shu Han Gambling House?”

“Exactly! They want to capture the Tao King to boost their own reputations, so it’s likely they’ll pull out all the stops to do it.”

What a massive headache! According to Tang Mugyeok, six prominent factions in the Sichuan Martial World were gearing up to take down the Tao King? Just thinking about how many experts I’d face sent shivers down my spine.

“Do any of the elders from Clear Stream Sect or the Four Talents Sect… or any particularly powerful experts exist?”

“I don’t know all the details, but there are rumors that the Elder of Clear Stream Sect is personally stepping in to regain his honor. I’m not sure about the Four Talents Sect. I’d wager other factions will probably have peak experts involved.”

“Are there any peak experts?”

“Peak Experts are quite rare. If they show up, it might be the leader of Clear Stream Sect, the clan leader from Four Talents Sect, or the head of Heavenly Heart Association; however, would those lofty individuals seriously come just to capture one Tao King?”

“Well, that’s a relief…”

Then Tang Mugyeok looked incredulous. “Wait, relieved? You’re really planning on going to rescue the Tao King?”

“Absolutely.”

“Because the Tao King’s martial skills are at their peak, nobody can readily touch him at Shu Han Gambling House. This has led to Blood Flame Gate and Twin Star Knife Gate feeling anxious, thus dragging in additional factions.”

I chuckled lightly, “That’s something I’ll take care of.”

“Oh, good luck with that…” he mumbled.

“Could you tell me the location of Shu Han Gambling House next? I’ll handle the rest myself.”

Tang Mugyeok nodded and eventually gave me the location and a rough map. It seemed like it would only take about twenty li to reach it.

Once I left that meeting, I turned to Miho. “So Miho, what do you think I should do?”

Miho chewed on some sweet rice cake dumplings she’d gotten from Dongyoung. Honestly, she didn’t have much to do with the situation and was merely observing. But it seemed she was listening, as she suggested, “You should go ask Mangnyang. Don’t jump into things and regret it later.”

“Now you’ve gone and hurt my feelings.”

“Don’t be so sensitive. You asked her because you didn’t have confidence in the first place, right?”

Miho, still sulking, continued, “Just remember this: While it’s great to try and avoid regret, if you rely too heavily on Mangnyang for wisdom, it might lead to even bigger regrets later.”

“Hmm…”

“The most important decision ultimately has to be made by you, and significant matters should be handled by you directly to minimize future issues. And when seeking advice, don’t doubt it unnecessarily. That’s all I’ll say on the matter.”

I nodded in understanding. “You’re right. Thanks, Miho.”

Much like Miho pointed out, I found myself often contemplating whether to seek wisdom from Mangnyang. In important matters, I could consult him without hesitation, but I would worry if I was being too reliant on him. Miho’s words provided a solid guideline for me.

Approaching Shu Han Gambling House with Miho, I quickly arrived there. The place hadn’t changed much, but Mangnyang seemed different.

‘He’s gotten stronger.’

It had only been a little over a year, but Mangnyang had amassed considerable internal strength and martial skills. He must have quickly adapted his abilities while handling the Black and White Lotus technique. Spotting me, Mangnyang was delighted as he sat in the Great Hall reading.

“Long time no see! How have you been?”

“Of course. I brought you a little something.”

I presented him with the clothing I had brought from Dongyoung. After inspecting a couple of garments, Mangnyang remarked, “Is this the ninja’s stealth clothing?”

“Right.” I had procured it with Miho’s help, forcing my way through one of the three famed families, the Sengaji family, who were also known as the Hattori family and were prominent under the current Shogunate.

“Hehe… This is putting a spark in my collecting tendencies.” Mangnyang seemed particularly fond of the clothing. I pushed my luck and took out a doll and Dongyoung’s sword, which Mangnyang admired before grimacing at the sword.

“This is made from inferior metal. It’s meaningless as a keepsake.”

“Hmmm, is that so?”

“The doll is well-crafted. I’d heard Dongyoung’s craftsman was top-notch, and it seems true to its reputation.” For a while, Mangnyang indulged in examining the keepsakes I brought, thoroughly enjoying them. When he felt satisfied, he looked at me and said, “Thank you for the gift.”

“It was nothing.”

“Now, tell me what’s happened lately.”

And I narrated everything that had transpired until now. Mangnyang seemed lost in thought, then said, “Nothing too outrageous. Just follow my lead.”

“How do you mean?”

For about half a moment, I listened to Mangnyang’s plan. After hearing it all, I couldn’t help but marvel, “Impressive…!!”

“The key part is not just saving the Tao King. It’s important to ensure you don’t create unnecessary grudges in the process.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Oh, and when you return, make sure to stop by as I have something important to tell you.”

“Got it.”

Originally, I had intended to share something significant upon my return, but things had turned urgent, so it felt like it should be postponed. I figured I could focus on the current matter at hand following Mangnyang’s plan without issues.

With that thought, I quickly prepared to head to the Four Talents Sect.

“I have a request for the clan leader.”

Confronting Tang Mugyeok, the leader of the Four Talents Sect, I confidently stated, “If you could procure the Inner Dan of the Human Face Pillar, would you halt your attempts to capture the Tao King and assist me instead?”

Tang Mugyeok let out a loud laugh. “Hahaha… you’re funny, coming here and saying such nonsense.”

“I mean it. The Four Talents Sect and the Tao King don’t have a significant grudge against each other, do they?”

“Haha… Well, personally, I would like to capture that irritating guy, but you’re right; he hasn’t exactly done anything wrong. So I could possibly agree to help.”

Then, with a loud laugh, Tang Mugyeok added, “Except the fact that the Human Face Pillar doesn’t even exist! Hahaha.”

It seemed Tang Mugyeok thought I was just joking around because I hadn’t visited in a while. But I gave it some thought before asking, “What if we place a bet?”

“What? Are you serious?”

“If I win, you’ll grant my request. If I lose, I’ll give you three gold bars.” I plopped three gold bars on the table.

Thud!

Tang Mugyeok’s jaw dropped in astonishment.

“Also, please lend me some techniques to counter poison.” His expression turned sharp, a hint of killing intent escaping.

“Baek Woong, I’ve looked out for you because you possess exceptional talent. Even if you were just teasing today, I wouldn’t have minded. But now that you’re being this serious, you’ll need to take responsibility for what you say.”

“What do you want?”

Tang Mugyeok picked up the gold bars and handed them back to me. “Would you be willing to wager something like gold bars? If what you say is a lie, then you owe me your life.”

“Understood.”

I nodded, then borrowed the techniques and left the sect. Utilizing my skills, I headed to the Ruins of Xuyou. Upon reaching the ruins, I noticed Miho curiously looking around as I approached the Human Face Pillar, which was firmly embedded in the cliff.

Having been dead for quite some time, the Human Face Pillar was now more of a mummy. As I lifted its slightly stiffened body, I gingerly placed it into my wooden armor. To my surprise, even with a significant size disparity, it fit without any hassle in mere moments.

‘The size doesn’t matter when it comes to storage.’

With the Human Face Pillar in tow, I intended to return to the Four Talents Sect. Just then, Miho tugged at my sleeve, looking disappointed.

“Baek Woong… Can’t we keep that spider?”

“What?”

“It looks delicious…” Miho seemed eager to transform the Human Face Pillar into a cuisine.

Shocked, I replied, “What if it’s poisonous?”

“Not at all, it’s just in a fantasy realm! Foxes love spiders, after all.” Her expression was filled with longing. I hesitated but eventually patted her head.

“I’ll catch you one from the ruins of Moon Sovereign later.”

“Mmm… You’d better keep your promise.”

“Of course.” Seeing her adorable expression gave me a bittersweet smile. Despite her beautiful appearance, she was indeed a great demon in essence. After double-checking to ensure I’d taken everything of importance from the Xuyou ruins, I headed back to the Four Talents Sect.

Arriving back in front of Tang Mugyeok, I pulled out the Human Face Pillar’s remains from my wooden armor.

Thud!

“Huh… Huh?! Huh?!” Tang Mugyeok looked completely stunned, losing his ability to speak. His mind raced with thoughts about how I managed to produce the Human Face Pillar from a tiny wooden armor and how I had brought it back so quickly.

Grinning, I interjected, “You owe me a favor now.”

“Of course… of course… Hahaha! The Human Face Pillar… the Inner Dan…!!” His eyes were glowing, and he seemed to forget the world around him.

Raising his head to look at me, he blurted out, “You’ll give me this corpse?”

“Absolutely! But in return, you must help me out with the Tao King’s situation as best you can.”

As soon as I replied, Tang Mugyeok regained his focus and nodded zealously.

“Of course! Whatever pests have been interfering, I’ll wipe them out!”

“I understand that Clear Stream Sect Elder is involved, along with Blood Flame Gate, Twin Star Knife Gate, Absolute Dragon Faction, and Heavenly Heart Association.”

He chuckled, “The Elder of Clear Stream Sect… that’s likely Dual Sword Elder. That old fool really can’t keep his cool…”

To Tang Mugyeok, other factions appeared inconsequential. As a member of the Five Great Families and a prominent figure in Sichuan, they didn’t warrant his attention. His icy smile returned as he added, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll lead the Wan Poison Squad to Shu Han Gambling House myself.”

“Please do.” I thanked him.

Pausing, Tang Mugyeok glanced at me and asked, “Baek Woong, are you married?”

“…….”

“My youngest daughter, So-hye, is a truly lovely girl…”

Feigning urgency, I quickly changed the subject. “Oh! I have to run an errand!”

“Would you like to have some tea before you go?”

No thanks, I must insist!” I dashed out of the Four Talents Sect like a bat out of hell. Alongside Miho, I made my way back to the provincial capital and soon arrived at Shu Han Gambling House. Though Tang Mugyeok offered to make a move, the journey from the Four Talents Sect would take at least a day. Before that, I needed to identify the movements of Tao King, Wall of the Outer District.

To enter Shu Han Gambling House, it took about ten silver coins. For a mere escort, it was a hefty fee that might take a year just to scrape together. Sure enough, after handing over the coins, even the gatekeeper frowned at me, saying, “Uh… apologies, but could you please come back in nicer clothes next time? It’s a place of prestige…”

“I’ll remember that for next time.”

“You may enter.” With that, I entered Shu Han Gambling House with Miho beside me, her laughter ringing in the air.

“Honestly, that gatekeeper would’ve sent us back because of our attire!” Miho chuckled, “Though it seems business isn’t great here!”

“Which suggests that the Tao King is indeed here.”

Not long after, Miho and I found ourselves on the first level of the massive five-story Shu Han Gambling House, where several Mahjong tables were set up. Among them, the central table drew everyone’s eyes, featuring four players engaged in an intense game.

One woman, in particular, stood out; donned in purple garments with a sharp beauty about her. Quietly, she was raising her Mahjong tiles, causing the expressions of other players to invert.

“N-no way…”

“Hu!”

Moments later, the woman’s clear voice rang out, “Thirteen Orphans.”

Whoa…!!

In that instant, the viewers around the table erupted in astonished whispers.

“Oh my gosh…!!”

“Is this real?!”

It seemed they had been monitoring the game from the beginning. All were dressed in elegant attire, adorned with half-masks. Likely, they were high-ranking figures or affluent individuals secretly attending the Shu Han Gambling House.

‘Looks like the Tao King is putting on a show for entertainment.’

Meanwhile, the middle-aged player across the table wore a crushed expression. He hung his head low, muttering, “How… how did you manage to do that in this situation…?”

The beauty coldly replied, “Thank you for passing me the East Wind tile.”

“Nooo…!!” The middle-aged player shrieked as he collapsed backward in a faint. Those on standby rushed over and carried him away, murmurs of disbelief following from the audience.

“I can’t blame him for passing out…”

“Wasn’t there seven thousand on the line?”

“That guy is now bankrupt. But the top player from the province can’t just get wiped out by the Tao King like that…”

Seven thousand! It was an unimaginable amount of money for a single gambling round. Yet it seemed one hand alone had sent him spiraling into debts he couldn’t handle. The crowd wore expressions that mingled interest with dread.

And amidst all of this, I had come to a realization.

“That’s the Tao King.”

Though I hadn’t confirmed anything until now, I knew without a doubt that this woman was the Tao King, the greatest gambler in Sichuan, and claimed to be the best in the world too.

 

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