Chapter 333
But that very evening, a huge obstacle arose in old man Maeng Gwang-gae's plan.
"No... why on earth isn't she leaving the gambling house?"
I thought that when the gambling house's business hours ended, the Green Snake would surely come out of the gambling house and go to her hideout.
Since I had properly put the Manlihyang on her, I had vaguely thought that I could just follow her when she was in her hideout and kidnap her.
But an unexpected variable arose.
The scent of the Manlihyang I had put on her did not move away from the gambling house. As if she were a person who only lived underground, she did not take a single step outside the gambling house.
"Unhwi! Did you put the Manlihyang on properly?"
"Of course. I put it on properly. You said it wouldn't react unless it was put on a person, right?"
"Keu-eung... that's right."
It was said that the Manlihyang has a restriction that it can only be activated when it is put on a person's bare skin, not just anywhere.
So the fact that he can feel the Manlihyang now means that the Manlihyang is definitely on her bare skin.
Since I had definitely put it on her hand when the Green Snake touched the calluses on my hand, it means that there is no way I could have failed.
"Then no way... is she eating and sleeping in that gambling house basement? I thought there would at least be a path leading outside."
"I thought so too. When I stealthily tested Hwang-jo, he definitely said that there was a separate door leading out of the Green Snake's room."
"But we can't just rush in there now!"
The path from the Rabbit Room to the Green Snake's room was very long and complicated.
Even if we set aside how many strong martial artists there are, she could notice the commotion while we are rushing in and escape first.
Of course, we could drive her outside like that and catch her as she runs away, but if we are unlucky and end up fighting against the full force of the Evil Faction Alliance, we might lose her.
Of course, if that happens, we can somehow prevent the Evil Faction Alliance from using this gambling house as a source of funds, but as long as the Green Snake is alive, she can make something like this again anytime, anywhere, so it's best to catch her here.
"For now, let's do this."
"What should we do?"
"It seems we can't finish things today... for now, let's keep gambling and go up to the higher rooms. As long as we don't get caught with the Formless Heaven Creation, there will surely be a chance to be alone with the Green Snake on the way up to the Tiger Room."
"I see. What about my senior brothers?"
"Your senior brothers will also gradually and naturally increase their win rate and steadily go up to the higher rooms. They'll probably go up to the Fox Room by tomorrow. Right now, since you're the only one with an exceptional win rate, you're getting a lot of attention, but if your senior brothers also start to stand out, the bastards will surely be flustered."
"I see. I'll do that."
There is an easy way, but unfortunately, that method cannot be used.
There is no choice but to break through with a direct attack.
"For now, you should rest a little, sir."
"I'm fine even if I don't rest."
"But if you rest, won't you be able to face the enemies in a more refreshed state tomorrow? If, by any chance, your Formless Heaven Creation gets caught, then it'll be a really big problem."
"Hmm... I'm really fine..."
Although Maeng Gwang-gae said he was fine, it seemed he didn't dislike me taking care of him.
"I'm going to go and rest now too, so you should definitely rest too, elder. Got it?"
"Yes. I understand."
I, after leaving Maeng Gwang-gae's room, left the inn altogether.
I thought about going to our room, but since my senior brothers were sleeping, I didn't want to disturb them.
So I had no choice but to go outside.
"Huh?"
When I went outside.
I came across a person who I didn't know whether to be happy to see or not.
"Oh? Isn't it Mr. Hwi? Do you live here?"
"Mr. Chun. What brings you here?"
"There's a place that serves delicious noodles just ahead. I came out to have lunch. Were you on your way somewhere?"
"No. I just came out to look around the neighborhood since I have nothing to do until the gambling house opens."
"That's great. Then would you like to have a meal with me?"
"Alright. I'll buy the noodles."
"If that's the offer, there's no reason to refuse. Hahaha!"
He, laughing heartily, led me to a restaurant not far away.
He, as if he were used to it, ordered two bowls of noodles and, sitting across from me, opened his mouth.
"Seeing things like this, it seems there really is such a thing as fate. I mean, we met by chance like this today too. Come to think of it, wasn't it a very amazing coincidence that we met at the gambling house like that?"
"Hee-hee... that's right. When I first met you, Mr. Chun, I think you were trying to give me some advice about gambling."
"Ahem... wasn't that just a meddling I did without knowing that Mr. Hwi was a god of gambling? I'm embarrassed. Haha!"
He, as if he were embarrassed, roughly glossed it over with a laugh and continued, "What are you planning to do tonight?"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm asking if you're going to rest one more day, or if you're going to act as a god of gambling again starting today."
"Of course, I have to go out tonight. I don't have enough time to earn money, do I?"
"Haha! Good. I'll go there today too."
Just in time, the noodles came out, and we stopped talking for a while to eat the noodles.
But from a while ago, the way Chun-mong looks at me is unusual.
It's not a hostile atmosphere at all. Should I say it's a feeling closer to goodwill?
He probably thinks that I am Hwi-un, even though I denied it yesterday.
"But, Mr. Chun."
"Yes?"
"How long are you planning to stay here? You seem to have been in this village for quite a long time."
"As a matter of fact, I was getting tired of living here. I was actually planning to leave the day before yesterday, but I happened to meet you, Mr. Hwi. In fact, my fun right now is not in this gambling house, but in you, Mr. Hwi."
He said that and smiled brightly.
In that smile, for some reason, I felt like he was saying, 'I know all about your identity.'
"Although I'm not a person who usually asks such things... if I want to contact you again later, what should I do?"
"Yes? Contact me?"
"We've had a drink together, talked, and eaten together, and for some reason, I feel like we get along well. I was just thinking that it would be nice to exchange letters once in a while."
"Hee-hee... I'm also a person who wanders the Central Plains without a fixed place. I don't have a place to send a letter to."
"Hmm. Is that so?"
"Yes. I think you, Mr. Chun, will understand my feelings well."
"Well. That's right. I'm also a person who wanders the Central Plains. But I do have a base. And that is my brother's house in Chongqing. You must have a place like that too, Mr. Hwi."
I shrugged my shoulders.
It's not like I can say that my home is the Wudang Sect.
No, to be precise, if Chun-mong had spoken after figuring out that I was Unhwi, I might have told him it was the Wudang Sect.
But what Chun-mong is chasing now is the Self-Taught Swordsman, Hwi-un.
Although Hwi-un is me, in fact, he is a martial artist who has no real existence in the world.
So Hwi-un cannot have a base. Just like I did in my past life.
"Judging from your expression... it seems you really don't have one, not that you don't want to tell me. I was rude."
"It's not rude. It's just the truth."
Sometimes, I fall into a strange sentiment.
A moment just like now.
Should I say it's the point where the self-reliant swordsman of the past and the current Wudang Sect's Unhwi meet?
It's not that everything about the Self-Taught Swordsman of that time was painful and sad, and it's not that every aspect of the current Wudang Sect's Unhwi is good and happy.
But when I solve the various problems and difficulties I face at this point, the experience of my time as a self-reliant swordsman is of great help.
At times like that, I have this thought.
'Self-Taught Swordsman, Unhwi. You. You've lived quite diligently and faithfully.'
Is it because it's been quite a while since I've lived as the Wudang Sect's Unhwi?
Sometimes, my past self and my current self are thought of as separate.
But, still, I am sure of this.
That my past self is also me, and my current self is also me.
"Oh... I'm sorry. I think the atmosphere suddenly became serious because I brought up a pointless story."
As if I had made a serious expression for a moment, Chun-mong, flustered, apologized to me.
"Ah! No. I was just thinking about something for a moment. Anyway, this noodle. It's very delicious, isn't it? It's not that far from the inn I'm staying at, but I never dreamed that there was a place like this."
"I usually go around and taste all the restaurants in a village when I visit. Because only then can I find a delicious hidden gem like this."
I, with a very serious face, said that and then laughed inwardly at Chun-mong, who was eating noodles again.
When I was about to get up after finishing the noodles, Chun-mong naturally paid for the noodles.
"Mr. Chun. I said I would buy."
"No. How much money have I earned thanks to you, Mr. Hwi? You can just let me win that much today, can't you?"
He answered with a kind smile.
We, after agreeing to meet there again around the time the gambling house opens, parted ways.
No matter how much I think about it, I think Chun-mong is a really nice person, and I, without going straight into the inn, turned my steps to another place again.
Because it was still too early for my senior brothers to wake up from their sleep.
***
Time passed, and I returned to the room only in the late afternoon.
My senior brothers, as if they had just woken up before I came in, all looked disheveled.
"Hwi-ya. Where have you been?"
"I just went to check out what the neighborhood looks like. We might have a chase here, so we have to have a firm grasp of the terrain."
"We should have gone together."
"No. Where would you go when you're so tired? Before Elder Maeng Gwang-gae comes, hurry up and get up, wash up, and get ready. We have to go to the gambling house today too."
At the words 'gambling house', Senior Brother Un-mi looked back at me and said, "Yes. We have to. But Unhwi-ya, we're in big trouble."
"Why?"
"That thing called gambling. It seems to be surprisingly fun. I think I know why people get addicted."
"Uh... you shouldn't get addicted to gambling. If you feel any signs of it, you have to tell me anytime."
"Hahaha! Fortunately, it's not to the point of being completely addicted. I don't know if I should say it's a relief or not, but the money we bet here is actually much less than the money we earned at the tomb of the Meteor King a while ago... should I say it feels a little like a child's play?"
Senior Brother Un-mi said that and then burst out laughing as if he found it funny himself.
It seemed he found it funny that a Wudang Sect Taoist who had nothing had suddenly come into a lot of money and his heart had grown bigger.
"Yes. Even if it's not here, if you go around with me, you'll have plenty of opportunities to earn more money in the future. Let's take it slow with the same mindset as now."
"Yes, I understand. We'll go first, so you come slowly today too."
"Yes, senior brother."
A little while later, after my senior brothers and Maeng Gwang-gae had all left for the gambling house, I also, after leaving a time gap so as not to be suspected of being a group, left the inn.
"Mr. Hwi! Why were you so late? I've been waiting for a long time."
But I was able to meet Chun-mong again, who greeted me warmly.
"Did you wait here to go with me?"
"That's right. I have to protect our god of gambling in case something happens to him, don't I? Hahaha!"
He, laughing heartily, walked ahead.
Although it would be annoying if he approached me so familiarly like this, for some reason, it didn't feel annoying.
Because I knew that Chun-mong's attitude towards me was complete goodwill.
(End of Chapter)