Hyeonjilmusin - Chapter 105



Only Krnovel

105. Confident Gambling (2)

“Honestly, there is nothing more precious to me than the wall right now.”

O Jong-yo said. Everyone nodded. Byeok-ha is a famous sword and a treasure that is counted among the best in the martial arts world.

There was no way that the merchants who came here casually, just to have fun, would be carrying such treasures. To be honest, even if they had, they would not want to gamble like this.

Namgung Hwi shook his head.

“The value I’m talking about isn’t the value when you sell it. I’m telling you to take out what you think is the most valuable right now. Whatever it is, it’s fine.”

The merchants’ eyes became strange at Namgung Hwi’s words. What a very abstract statement. It was a statement that could easily be abused.

“I have no intention of arguing about the items. I also want to let you know that it won’t affect my relationship with my family or those people. After all, if my father finds out that I gambled with the wall, he’ll probably beat me to death.”

Namgung Hwi hammered home the point. That meant he would turn a blind eye even if they used blatant tricks.

In addition, it is said that there is no problem in the relationship with Namgung Se-ga, which the merchants are worried about. This is essentially setting the stage.

Still, no one was able to move easily. At that time, Oh Jong-yo drank the alcohol that was in his seat and then poured some more alcohol. He poured roughly and filled the glass to the brim, causing the alcohol to overflow.

Oh Jong-yo lifted the glass full of alcohol.

“Then I’ll take this drink.”

I smiled bitterly inside. Because I knew that Oh Jong-yo was capable of doing something like that.

Even with such shameless behavior, there was no excuse or change in expression. And Namgung Hwi also had no change in expression.

The merchants took notice and began to hang up cheap goods. Some merchants were guilty of conscience and mumbled incoherently, but no one paid any attention.

Of course, not all merchants were like that. Some merchants actually pulled out valuable items.

“This is a bracelet made of jade from Yunnan. As you can see, it is pure and perfect without any impurities. It is worth about four thousand nyang of silver. It is nothing compared to the ones on the wall, but it is my most treasured piece of jewelry.”

“I am a prayer bead made from Hwangwhari (黃花梨) of Haenam. I believe that everyone knows that Hwangwhari of Haenam is depleted these days.”

As I watched the merchants hanging their wares, I was overcome with a strange feeling. I had heard the names of the people here in my past life.

But those who sold truly valuable items were later praised as great merchants, while those who sold their consciences became mediocre merchants or went to prison for corruption. Knowing the future made it fun to watch.

“What are you going to bet?”

Namgung Hwi looked back at me. Before I knew it, everyone except me had put their own treasure or conscience on the line.

“Hmm. What should I bet?”

I searched through my bosom. I had no real treasures, nothing of value.

“Isn’t there something you think is most valuable? Then it’s a bit of a shame.”

When I couldn’t easily give it up, Namgung Hwi said. I shook my head.

“There is something precious, but I don’t think the unit price is right.”

“Unit price? Do you have something more precious than a wall?”

“It’s much more expensive.”

Everyone looked at me as I spoke. They seemed surprised that there was something I could confidently say was more valuable than the wall.

“Then let’s see what it is?”

“You are watching now.”

“what?”

“It’s me.”

Everyone’s eyes, including Namgung Hwi’s, blinked. It seemed as if they were interpreting what I said.

“I will help those who are on the other side of the ground once. Of course, it is not an unreasonable request. It is a rare opportunity.”

“No matter what, that’s a bit much. Are you trying to joke around?”

One of the merchants frowned. I laughed in vain. The merchant who had said that was the one who had hung up a cheap piece of jewelry worth perhaps fifty nyang.

“This is nothing but a robbery.”

“I’ve already learned only bad things.”

Some of the merchants started to gossip about me. Namgung Hwi shook his head.

“If it’s truly worth it, then do it.”

“Yes. But it’s not embarrassing, it’s somewhere in the middle of the stakes.”

“Average? Didn’t you say it was better than Byukha?”

“There are people who put their conscience on the line. Compared to them, it is of much less value. That is something that cannot be undone.”

The merchants’ faces turned red at my words. Namgung Hwi remained silent for a while and then laughed loudly. The merchants who had sold cheap goods immediately refuted.

“Aren’t you the most shameless one? In fact, you didn’t bet anything. In the meantime, if you say something absurd, you won’t be able to change your words later.”

“Then I will be the one selling my conscience. But don’t worry. I am not a merchant who would sell my remaining conscience.”

“Is it worth that much?”

“yes.”

“How shameless.”

“Whether you have acted shamelessly or not is something only you know. Ask yourself. At least I am not ashamed.”

I shrugged. The merchants said nothing. Namgung Hwi was still smiling.

“Ah, that’s interesting. Fighting among merchants is just as brutal as fighting with a sword.”

Namgung Hwi laughed so hard that he wiped his eyes with his fingers.

“Yeah. Well, let’s do that. What can we do if he says so? As the head of the household said, it’s his own fault for being embarrassed, not ours.”

“But on what board do you put these?”

“If we bet on every game, there won’t be any money left. There can’t be that many valuable things. Let’s bet on people. Bet on who you think will win.”

Namgung Hwi said. That was true. And it also greatly lowered the difficulty of gambling.

“I’ll bet on myself. Of course.”

“I, I will also bet on Prince Namgung!”

“me too!”

Naturally, all the stakes were on Namgung Hwi. It was to the point where I wondered if this gamble was worth it.

On the other hand, I was worried. When I look at Namgung Hwi, I can’t really gauge his skills. Since I know his review index, it’s only natural that he’d be strong.

“Hmm. Now that I think about it, isn’t this gambling?”

Namgung Hwi muttered with satisfaction. He thought that maybe he had no intention of hanging a wall in the first place. No matter how promising a late Jisu was, hanging a family’s sacred water was an act that went against his character.

“If it all comes down to me, this gamble is meaningless. Some merchants ended up selling their consciences.”

Namgung Hwi laughed heartily.

It was only then that I realized what Namgung Hwi was thinking. Namgung Hwi just wanted to rip off the merchants.

Having taken away the pride of the merchants, in return they are taking away the conscience of the merchants and making them feel ashamed. It was such a sophisticated method that even I was impressed.

The other merchants who realized Namgung Hwi’s thoughts also blushed. A merchant who opened his eyes and cut off his nose to a man. That was also something that took away his pride. However, since it was something he had brought upon himself, he could not protest.

“Then let’s pretend this gamble never happened and go back to playing like we always did, betting salt or something.”

“wait a minute.”

I raised my hand. Everyone looked at me.

“I will bet on myself.”

Everyone fell silent at those words. The expressions of those looking at a crazy person were a bonus.

It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. Of course, I am honest, as I told the merchants. My help in knowing the future will be more valuable than any of the goods here.

And it’s almost a known fact that Namgung Hwi will win. I might be eliminated in the middle. So if I think about it rationally, I think it’s right for me to quietly endure Namgung Hwi’s tricks.

But there were too many things on the other side for that to be the case. Sure, there were some trash that didn’t even pay for alcohol, but there were also a lot of expensive things, and there was even a sword called the Wall.

“Is my wall so desirable?”

Namgung Hwi spoke as if he was feeling uneasy. He couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

His plan was complete only when the board was invalidated, so that he could mock the merchants who sold their consciences without any gain, blinded by the wall.

“That’s not it.”

“So what? Are you saying you can beat me?”

“That’s not it either.”

“Then what?”

“It’s true that the merchants who sell such trashy items have no conscience. But I can’t just stand by and watch someone steal the merchant’s pride like this. It’s embarrassing.”

I laughed. The merchants looked dumbfounded. They also thought that they had been fooled by Namgung Hwi, but they couldn’t bring themselves to retaliate.

“That’s funny. You’ll protect the pride of the merchants who slandered you?”

“It was just kept by accident. I just don’t like it when Prince Namgung returns and says that the merchants were like that.”

The merchants who had been gossiping about me couldn’t make eye contact. In the end, I was the one who saved their face. Of course, I wouldn’t get my conscience back, but I was glad that I didn’t get to play around with them. They should be grateful for that alone.

Even Son Yeong-ui, who had always been hostile, nodded his head now.

Even the unemployed may have a sense of camaraderie, but merchants also have a strong sense of community. There is a reason why there are so many names like Huizhou merchants, Shanxi merchants, Shangbang, and Sanghoe.

“Okay. I admit I was underestimating the merchants a bit.”

Namgung Hui admitted it obediently.

“But that doesn’t change the fact that it was a foolish choice.”

“I heard that swordsmen often hear things like that.”

“I can’t beat you with words.”

Namgung Hwi smiled. I smiled back.

The second half began with the tables turned like that.

The non-competitions after the board changed ended blandly. In this rule where only the winner is chosen, only Namgung Hwi and I were chosen.

The other drones didn’t really want to be a spectacle, so they finished quickly, and Namgung Hwi and I finished as quickly as we could. I don’t know if Namgung Hwi had the same thoughts, but I was trying to hide the pattern from Namgung Hwi as much as possible.

It was different from the usual times when salt had to be settled and the abacus had to be pounded in the middle of each fight. The fighting was truly a chaotic affair. Before half an hour had passed, all the fighting was over, leaving only the last fighting.

“So this is what happened in the end.”

“That’s right.”

In the end, the only ones left were Namgung Hwi and me.

It was also quite dramatic that Namgung Hwi and I met in the finals. If it had been normal, we could have met in the middle.

“I never thought I would end up sharing a sword with a merchant.”

“I am honored to share my sword with the renowned reviewer, Prince Namgung.”

“Your martial arts were impressive. You are the second best fighter I have ever seen.”

“Who is first?”

“What can I say? It’s Senior Geumgeom (Golden Sword).”

Geumgeom Na Han-geol (羅翰杰). A person of great standing who is the leader of the best swords in the world and a member of the best five swords in the world. It was quite a proud thing to be mentioned right after him. He was a senior whom I respected as a merchant.

Brain energy flowed out of Namgung Hwi’s body, and a hazy mist spewed out from my body. A strange light flowed out of Namgung Hwi’s eyes.

“You’ve been hiding your accomplishments until now.”

“There was no need to reveal everything.”

“Then shall we begin?”

“great.”

Namgung Hui’s Byeokha and my Songmungogeom (松紋古劍) were drawn at the same time.