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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
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“Hohohoho.”
Tang Guanglie laughed as he looked at Ho Cheon-an.
Certainly, Ho Cheon-an’s gambling skills were extraordinary.
Even Tang Guanglie had been cleanly fooled.
Tang Guanglie acknowledged that Ho Cheon-an’s gambling techniques had reached a profound level.
And he roughly understood what Ho Cheon-an was trying to say.
Although there were unpleasant words like gambling addiction, the gist was that he had to start again from the very basics of mindset.
“It seems this Tang Guanglie has been underestimated too. The Family Head will have to go all out now.”
However, Tang Guanglie had no intention of accepting Ho Cheon-an’s assertion.
He had to retrieve the secret weapons from Tang Do-gyeong as soon as possible.
So it was difficult to accept the claim that they should leisurely build up from the basics.
Moreover, as someone who had enjoyed gambling all his life, he had a certain pride in his gambling skills.
Although he recognized that Ho Cheon-an was a gambler who had reached a divine level, he couldn’t just let his gambling skills be belittled to this extent and move on.
He thought that he needed to prove his level to that outcast, quickly acquire the techniques, and defeat Tang Do-gyeong.
With that thought, Tang Guanglie accepted Ho Cheon-an’s proposal.
“Let’s follow the general shell game rules. The stakes are 100 taels from the family treasury, just one round. In other words, if the Family Head’s assets exceed 51 taels, you win, and if mine reach 100 taels, I win. Do you agree?”
“I agree.”
“Good. The usual payout should be 3 times, but considering the difference in skills, let’s make it 4 times.”
The gambling match between Ho Cheon-an and Tang Guanglie was a shell game with 1 die and 4 cups.
Generally, in the common shell game, there are 3 cups, and if you bet money and guess correctly, you get back double.
In professional gambling houses, the shell game uses 4 cups, and if you guess correctly, you get back triple.
The 4 times payout meant it was a very advantageous game for Tang Guanglie.
“Then let’s begin.”
Tang Guanglie concentrated and activated his eye technique.
From Tang Guanglie’s perspective, it was a game that would end as soon as he won the first time, so naturally, he tried to exert his best concentration.
However, Tang Guanglie had no choice but to open his mouth wide while staring with bulging eyes.
The moment it started, he lost track of the die, and the shell game ended without him being able to find the die’s appearance after losing it.
“Wh-what is this…”
A situation where he couldn’t even see a trace of the die after seeing it enter the cup at first!
“Hoho, since the Family Head said he would go all out, I should also go all out with my humble abilities.”
Ho Cheon-an indeed used his full strength when facing Tang Guanglie, just like when he faced Tang Do-gyeong. That full strength meant fully utilizing his hand techniques.
But do gambling techniques only consist of hand techniques?
Under the framework of gambling, hand techniques are clearly an important domain, but that’s not all.
Ho Cheon-an’s shell game, which seamlessly linked and demonstrated great gambling techniques, was entirely different.
“The second cup.”
“Wrong.”
The die was inside the fourth cup.
Tang Guanglie swallowed his saliva and concentrated for the next round.
However, while he was trying to raise his concentration, didn’t the second cup move slightly?
At that moment, Tang Guanglie’s attention was briefly caught there.
And at that moment, the cups and die started spinning.
Only then did Tang Guanglie realize that even when they were using two dice, Ho Cheon-an had been going easy on him.
It was literally a test to gauge Tang Guanglie’s level.
Tang Guanglie realized that although he had thought he was discerning the die’s movements, he actually wasn’t.
Ho Cheon-an had just been operating at a level that Tang Guanglie could discern.
“…The fourth one.”
Even after ten rounds, Tang Guanglie couldn’t even follow the trace of the die. Tang Guanglie let out a hollow laugh.
A wall.
Tang Guanglie was feeling the wall called Ho Cheon-an.
It was a situation where he couldn’t even stretch out his hands or feet, only getting his nose hit!
Still, Tang Guanglie didn’t lose his concentration.
After all, it was Tang Guanglie’s conviction that gambling was ultimately a battle of concentration.
‘I saw it!’
Was it possible because he raised his concentration to the point of his head throbbing?
Tang Guanglie managed to grasp the die, even if only faintly.
He literally discerned Ho Cheon-an’s technique for a moment.
‘Yes, there’s plenty of hope. There are still stakes left. No matter how divine the gambling technique is, it can’t remain unbreakable forever!’
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Tang Guanglie bet only one tael at a time and strived to grasp Ho Cheon-an’s technique.
The more the shell game was repeated, the more he was able to spot the die.
“Ahem. My throat is dry. May I have a sip of water before we continue?”
“Hoho, of course, Outcast Ya.”
Tang Guanglie tried to maintain a solemn expression as he looked at Ho Cheon-an.
It seemed he was trying to break the flow as his technique was gradually being discerned.
Tang Guanglie’s eye technique could even discern Ho Cheon-an’s expression hidden under the black hat.
Despite sensing the crisis and interrupting the game, Ho Cheon-an’s face remained utterly calm.
However, Tang Guanglie felt a tremor from Ho Cheon-an’s demeanor itself.
No matter how good he was at gambling, Ho Cheon-an was still in his early twenties.
Although his expression management was flawless…
‘The difference in years lived cannot be ignored.’
After a brief break, Tang Guanglie could be certain of that thought.
‘He’s shaking a bit more.’
Minor mistakes started to catch his eye.
However, it wasn’t at a level where he could completely discern the gambling technique.
The taels had already been reduced to around 25.
‘I saw… it?’
Tang Guanglie tried to frown but suppressed it with superhuman concentration.
If he provided a clue that the technique had been broken, Ho Cheon-an’s technique could change again, so he had to capture it in one go.
There was still a chance of winning.
This gamble was really infinitely favorable for Tang Guanglie.
He only needed 51 taels to win, and the 4 times payout meant that if he discerned the shell game, he could win the game in one go by betting just 13 taels.
If he won back 7 or 8 taels that Ho Cheon-an had taken through dozens of shell games, he would break even.
Thinking that way, Tang Guanglie felt at ease.
As he became at ease, Tang Guanglie’s concentration reached its peak.
He could predict not only the die’s movement but also Ho Cheon-an’s hand movements and even his intentions bit by bit.
‘Hoho, you’re getting impatient.’
As if sensing that Tang Guanglie was gradually catching up to his technique, Ho Cheon-an’s hand movements became even more intense.
Even more flashy and dazzling techniques.
Although Tang Guanglie felt the gap widening again as he was barely keeping up, he didn’t become anxious.
He was confident he could catch up again.
Ho Cheon-an became the one running away, and Tang Guanglie became the one chasing.
Tang Guanglie thought he could catch Ho Cheon-an before the taels ran out.
The taels were reduced to 17.
Tang Guanglie was still losing track of the die’s flow.
He acknowledged the difference in skill.
After all, it wasn’t a technique that could be fully discerned just by concentrating for a shichen or two.
However, there were occasional instances where he could spot the die.
‘I saw it.’
Luck was also a part of gambling.
Tang Guanglie realized that the die’s final flow consisted of one of the few moves he could discern.
The third cup.
Tang Guanglie pondered and then stacked the taels.
One.
Two.
Three…
As the taels piled up, he felt Ho Cheon-an’s eyes waver slightly.
“Ho, are you going for the win?”
Ho Cheon-an’s ridiculing voice sounded like a victory trumpet to Tang Guanglie’s ears.
The taels stacked in front of the third cup totaled 12.
Ho Cheon-an also straightened his posture, and Tang Guanglie did the same.
“You seem confident in winning, so why don’t you bet all the taels?”
“Hoho, this match is to have the teacher acknowledge my skills, so there’s no need to go overboard.”
“Indeed.”
Ho Cheon-an tilted his head and turned it to the side.
His gaze met the Feng Ying Hall Master, who had been watching the gambling match between the Family Head and the outcast while constantly swallowing his saliva.
“It’s a big match, so how about you open it?”
“…Alright.”
The Feng Ying Hall Master opened the first cup.
Naturally, there was no die.
He also opened the second cup without hesitation.
Again, there was no die.
The Feng Ying Hall Master swallowed his saliva and placed his hand on the third cup.
The shell game Ho Cheon-an was demonstrating now was truly extraordinary.
If they lost here, it would be difficult to discern the technique within five rounds.
It was the actual deciding point.
The Feng Ying Hall Master lifted the third cup in one go.
“…It’s not there?”
Tang Guanglie muttered unconsciously.
Tang Guanglie’s gaze turned to Ho Cheon-an.
Seeing his calm smile, Tang Guanglie’s mind was instantly thrown into chaos.
Instead of the stunned Feng Ying Hall Master, Ho Cheon-an moved and lifted the fourth cup.
The die was there.
“Unfortunately, it turned out this way.”
The gambling rounds until now flashed through Tang Guanglie’s mind.
The hand techniques he thought he was gradually catching up to.
Ho Cheon-an’s attempts to hide his agitation.
He gradually regained composure and raised his concentration.
And Ho Cheon-an feeling impatient seeing himself like that.
Seeing the corners of Ho Cheon-an’s mouth slightly raised, Tang Guanglie felt that what he had thought was the flow of the gambling rounds built up until now shattered into pieces.
Since when?
From where?
Tang Guanglie couldn’t guess the exact point, but he realized the fact that he had been played by Ho Cheon-an’s scheme.
‘It can’t be, it can’t be…’
Tang Guanglie followed the restarted shell game with his eyes.
Indeed, the technique had become familiar.
He could follow the flow of the shell game more easily than before.
Tang Guanglie had his eyes open, but inwardly, he tightly closed his eyes and lamented.
He should have made the bet when he was 100% confident.
He had trusted the brief glimpse at the end and made the bet.
Shocked by the loss of twelve taels, Tang Guanglie’s five taels disappeared like snow melting under the sun due to his shaken spirit.
As the last tael disappeared, Tang Guanglie let out a sigh of regret.
If he had been a bit more cautious…
If he had twelve more chances, the right moment would have surely come.
“You seem to have a lot of regrets.”
At Ho Cheon-an’s words, Tang Guanglie laughed hollowly.
“The match has already ended, so what’s the point of having regrets?”
“Then do you want to continue?”
“The taels have already disappeared, so what can I bet?”
Ho Cheon-an held out a tael in front of Tang Guanglie.
Then he smiled, hooking his middle finger with his thumb.
Making a gesture that seemed to signify money, Ho Cheon-an said,
“I’ll lend you ten taels for one finger flick.”
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