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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
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Humans are creatures that learn.
I am also human, and I have learned.
The Tang family motto: [Repay kindness twofold, repay resentment tenfold].
It’s truly an impressive motto, but let’s review it once.
Why was such a phrase designated as the family motto in the first place?
Tang Do-gyeong stirred up all of Sichuan just to complete one martial art.
Tang Do-yeon locked a Family Head’s guest in a carriage and raced down a slope at top speed.
What about Tang Guanglie?
Throughout the week-long lecture, he expressed admiration after admiration, but occasionally, his eyes flashed.
During break times, he sometimes rubbed his forehead while staring at my black hat.
To be precise, he was targeting my tempting forehead hidden under the black hat.
The more I met and experienced the Tang family members, the more desperately I felt.
Ah, these guys just do whatever they want, regardless of kindness or resentment!
That’s why they set up such a motto to emphasize the concepts of kindness and resentment!
Look at that, look at Family Head Tang Guanglie’s eyes.
I had genuinely passed on gambling techniques without holding back for a whole week, and thanks to that, he had won.
And the Family Head himself clearly understood that fact.
Is that all?
When Tang Do-gyeong showed signs of controlling the stakes, he even admitted with his own mouth that he had been in a state of gambling addiction.
Moreover, it was a situation where he had personally expressed his gratitude.
Yet, his gaze was far from ordinary.
Even though I was congratulating him on his victory, Tang Guanglie’s eyes were fixed on one spot.
Forehead!
A gaze precisely aimed at my forehead!
A forehead with wrinkles created by raising the eyebrows with all his might to establish a defensive posture!
The determination to finger flick even if he had to endure dozens of flicks in return was oozing from him.
Tang Guanglie was also a Tang, and the Tang family members were people who had to do what they wanted to do.
Eyes filled with the urge to finger flick, kindness be damned!
Let’s say I let the Family Head finger flick me once.
What would Tang Guanglie, who was aiming for the flick, be thinking?
It’s a shame to pay back only one flick when I received more than a dozen.
Should I flick a bit harder?
Yes, even though Outcast Ya is only second-rate, he should be able to endure it if I inject a bit of internal energy.
Yes, since I received thirteen flicks, I can flick one a bit harder.
In a situation where he so desperately wanted just one flick, could Tang Guanglie consider my life while flicking?
I don’t think so.
Do you trust the Tang family members?
Do you trust Tang Guanglie’s self-control?
I’d rather lick a castle than trust the Tang family.
If I trust the Tang family, I’m not Ho Cheon-an but Nyang Cheon-an (Cat Heaven-an).
Since it seemed like Tang Guanglie was about to challenge me to a finger flick battle, I hurriedly opened my mouth.
“Family Head, you haven’t finished wrapping up all the matters yet.”
As I said before, since humans learn, I, too, had been fooled by the Tang family members, so I had prepared a countermeasure.
“…Teacher?”
Tang Guanglie had a bewildered face at my words.
I looked at Tang Guanglie with the most proud gaze possible.
He must have gained confidence from the match with Tang Do-gyeong.
It wouldn’t be strange if he challenged me to a gamble while he was at it.
I moved slowly with my hands behind my back, heading towards the gambling table.
Not only Tang Guanglie’s questioning gaze but also the gazes of the Feng Ying Hall Master and Tang Do-gyeong followed me.
I, Ho Cheon-an.
A 7-year veteran of acting as a Sichuan outcast.
Although I specialize in villainous roles, I can also act out other characters.
Today, I am a ‘teacher who rejoices together with the student’s achievement while gently pointing out missed points’.
A subtle smile and a leisurely gait.
But I fill my whole body and gestures with conviction and confidence.
At my actions, Tang Guanglie’s eyes were filled with as much question as determination.
“You need to wrap things up.”
The gambling table where I gently raised my hand had the secret weapons Tang Guanglie had won today.
“Hmm… Of course, returning the secret weapons to the direct line members is an urgent matter. But first…”
“‘Return’ the secret weapons? Oh my… Family Head.”
When I spoke in a reproachful tone, Tang Guanglie also hesitated.
“I’m cautious about discussing the Tang family’s rules as an outsider, but will you simply return the secret weapons to the other Tang family members, just as you bestowed secret weapons to Brother Tang earlier?”
“Shouldn’t I do that? Of course, I definitely need to give them a lesson, but…”
I asked with an unwavering smile, like a teacher throwing a koan, hoping for the student to find the correct answer.
“Do you really intend to do that? Family Head, you worked hard to retrieve the secret weapons from Brother Do-gyeong through gambling.”
At my words, Tang Guanglie smiled bitterly.
“Hoho, are you saying that I should distribute the secret weapons through gambling? There’s no guarantee that those kids can win… Most of the direct line kids became serious in their matches against Do-gyeong. They probably don’t have any secret weapons left that they can’t wager as stakes.”
“That’s right, Outcast Ya. Most of them are in a situation where they don’t even have secret weapons left to train with, which is why the direct line members are gathered outside this Family Head’s quarters.”
The Feng Ying Hall Master added.
“Family Head Tang. What was the content of the request you made to me?”
“That was… to teach gambling.”
“That’s correct. But the request to teach gambling wasn’t the real problem you wanted to solve, was it? Defeating Brother Do-gyeong in gambling was just the primary issue.”
“…Hoho.”
It seemed that Tang Guanglie still couldn’t grasp what I was talking about.
Yes, his mind must be filled with thoughts of having a finger flick battle with me, so how could my words even reach his ears?
“The shell game isn’t a gamble that anyone can win with just luck, right?”
Tang Guanglie nodded while still staring at me with a puzzled expression.
“If you have luck and stakes, anyone can win a round.”
“Hoho, that’s right, Teacher Ya… I…”
He was probably going to say, ‘What are you trying to say?’
I quickly interrupted before he could finish.
“Family Head, you said that the direct line members need a ‘lesson’. I have a feeling that I taught you the means for that on the first day.”
I curled my finger to make a circle.
Tang Do-gyeong looked at me with an expression that said, ‘What is that?’ but the eyes of Tang Guanglie and the Feng Ying Hall Master widened.
“…Ha… haha…”
Tang Guanglie burst into laughter.
“Hahahahaha!”
Tang Guanglie was a top master who was considered one of the best in the martial world and also the head of the Tang family.
But he got finger flicked on his forehead?
Of course, he had no choice but to engrave it in his mind.
No, regardless of being the Family Head, getting finger flicked naturally makes one angry.
But who was the one who finger flicked him?
What did I do for him?
I, Ho Cheon-an.
The person who injected the essence of gambling for a whole week.
Thanks to that, he achieved a magnificent victory over Tang Do-gyeong, his gambling skills rapidly improved, and he even retrieved all the secret weapons.
Tang Guanglie would want to finger flick me, but he himself would know well that it was a shameless act.
That’s why he couldn’t bring it up right away and was just shooting glances.
“If I may be bold, I asked the Feng Ying Hall Master to gather all the direct line members who suffered losses.”
“That’s right! Since rumors had already spread and the direct line members who lost their secret weapons were gathering at the Family Head’s quarters, Outcast Ya requested me. He asked me to gather all the direct line members who suffered losses…!”
Perhaps he had realized my grand scheme.
The Feng Ying Hall Master spoke in an excited tone and looked at me with reverent eyes.
“Just how far ahead did you foresee, Teacher…!”
Yes.
If you want to finger flick, you should flick.
That’s why I gathered them.
The scapegoats who had a justification for Tang Guanglie to finger flick to his heart’s content.
“Wahahahaha! Yes! Teacher Ya is right! What was lost in gambling should be returned through gambling! And give them a lesson too! Hahahaha!”
The Family Head wagers secret weapons, and the direct line members get finger flicked and gamble.
The direct line members receive finger flicks, gain a stinging life lesson, rub their foreheads, and take back their secret weapons.
Rather than feeling pangs of conscience while thinking of finger flicking a benefactor, it’s better to finger flick…
No, to impart lessons to rightful individuals.
Resentment towards me?
No, there was no such thing as resentment in the first place!
It was just a misunderstanding!
I had planned up to this part and was just a gambling teacher who had delivered finger flicks to the Family Head as a means to set things right.
All my actions and advice were for the sake of the Tang Family Head.
It was a means for physical therapy and a prophecy foreseeing the current situation.
It definitely wasn’t that I thought ‘Ah, that was fun’ while finger flicking the Tang Family Head’s forehead.
Realizing that, even the resentment he had harbored would all dissipate.
As if my prediction was correct, Tang Guanglie’s eyes staring at me while bursting into laughter were crystal clear.
Seeing the eyes with not a trace of resentment, I gave him one last satisfied gaze and smile, then pulled down my black hat.
“Feng Ying Hall Master!”
“Yes, Family Head!”
“Bring in all the direct line members gathered outside the Family Head’s quarters!”
“As you command!”
I patted the shoulder of Tang Do-gyeong, who had a puzzled expression, not understanding the situation.
“Brother Do-gyeong, let’s excuse ourselves. It seems the Family Head and the Feng Ying Hall Master will be quite busy.”
“Hmm… I don’t really understand what’s going on, but I have a feeling things have been resolved well.”
Tang Do-gyeong showed a good-natured smile.
“Brother Ya, you’ve been staying in the Tang family for a long time, but I haven’t had a chance to treat you properly. Would it be alright if I treat you to a meal today? Father, Mother, and Ryeo-ah all seemed eager to meet you.”
Are you sure they want to meet me?
You’re terribly dense, aren’t you?
Such words rose to my throat, but Tang Do-gyeong’s proposal was exactly what I needed, so I nodded with a smile.
“Alright, I also wanted to share a drink with you, Brother Do-gyeong.”
Lastly, I grabbed my black hat and slightly bowed my head to the Family Head.
Tang Guanglie nodded at me.
“Well, we’ve received the Family Head’s permission. Let’s go.”
“Hahaha! I’ll lead the way!”
I walked out of the Family Head’s quarters, shoulder to shoulder with Tang Do-gyeong.
I could see the direct line members rushing into the Family Head’s quarters.
But now, whether sparks flew from their foreheads or blood splattered…
It had nothing to do with me.
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