Midnight. It was a time when there were no signs of life.

Tang Do-gyeong arrived as requested at midnight, and Yu Sa-yeon welcomed him.

“So, does this mean I’ll get a probation period for a few days to see if I can live as a Sacheon Outcast?”

“That’s right. You wouldn’t say you’re doing this just for money. Let’s start by spending some time with the Outcasts and then discuss it.”

“Hmm… I understand.”

Given his peak stage mastery, Tang Do-gyeong was assigned to the 3rd floor. Outcast Inn has a four-story layout: the 1st floor is the living space, the 2nd for the Outcasts’ rooms, the 3rd is special rooms, and the 4th is Yu Sa-yeon’s residence.

Around In-shi (3 AM), I got up and headed out for early morning training.

“Senior Ho is training?”

“Did the sun rise from the west today?”

“Ugh.”

I know I can no longer improve, but to the Outcasts, I probably look like a lazy kid who just gambles instead of training. The reason I was swinging my sword since dawn was to observe Tang Do-gyeong, so the Outcasts weren’t entirely wrong.

As I practiced sword techniques after a long time, the Outcasts came down, and Tang Do-gyeong also arrived. His joining had already been announced during the duel yesterday among peers, and many Outcasts gathered to train with him in the early morning.

“Today, I will explain the basics of the Mangho Fist for about half an hour.”

Is the Mangho Fist a technique created by Tang Do-gyeong? All the Outcasts stopped training and focused on him, and I also learned the basic technique of the Mangho Fist, [Double Tiger Fist].

[[You have somewhat understood a part of the Mangho Fist.]]

[You have acquired the basic technique of the Mangho Fist [Martial Art: Double Tiger Fist].]

[You lack the skill level to use this technique.]

“Tsk.”

Most martial arts performed with the body start from the top tier. Resisting collisions with weapons requires mental energy, after all. Those who mainly use fists sometimes employ gloves or shin guards, but it’s common to protect the hands and feet with only a layer of leather.

The reason for fighting using only bare hands is that it’s advantageous regarding mental energy, so it’s fair to say that true mastery starts with barehanded techniques.

The reason I was out here swinging my sword since dawn was to check if Tang Do-gyeong was truly teaching genuine martial arts to the Outcasts.

I am Ho Cheon-an.

The man who prided himself on knowing everything about the Martial World.

In reality, I didn’t know everything, but I was a veteran enough to swagger like I knew all that was in the game [Martial World] I used to watch.

When meeting Tang Do-gyeong in Martial World, I had three choices: fight, ignore, or recruit him. To do so, I needed to understand his mastery, martial arts, and characteristics. The key to recruiting him was the martial technique.

While gifts are fundamental for recruitment, if I present him a martial technique, it would be easy to turn him into an ally. If I were to meet Tang Do-gyeong as an opponent, surprisingly, the easiest way to defeat him would be to set off a poison bomb. His pattern shows he wouldn’t back down even against poison, so if I could just hold out until the effect of the antidote he carries wears off, I could win unexpectedly easily.

I knew all about Tang Do-gyeong’s limitations and the martial arts he possesses.

However, the Tang Do-gyeong living in this world of Martial World is someone I do not know.

No matter how veteran one is in Martial World, how could they know the personal histories of every character?

I could only grasp matters related to the scenarios occurring in Martial World. Just knowing a few fragmentary facts doesn’t mean I know Tang Do-gyeong.

Take Miss Yeo Il-ye, for example. Having lost her parents to the Outcasts, I didn’t expect her to regard me as a benefactor even if I gave her enlightenment. Besides the fact that “she lost her parents to Outcasts,” many facets of Yeo Il-ye’s inner self contributed to the outcome we see now.

I couldn’t even begin to guess whether Tang Do-gyeong was releasing the techniques he struggled and sweat over to the Outcasts who were essentially strangers to him.

Even though curiosity about why he was doing this kept creeping up, solving the incident took priority.

“I can’t just keep calling you ‘hey’, so can I call you Brother Ya for now?”

“Do as you wish.”

“Thank you, Brother Ya.”

I hope the “Ya” of Ya-ba-wi doesn’t mean that. Anyway, the gambling game began. As I observed Tang Do-gyeong, who was furrowing his brows and concentrating, my conscience, which faintly remained inside, poked at my heart.

Keeping Tang Do-gyeong in Outcast Inn was beneficial for both him and the Inn. If he becomes a Sacheon Outcast, it would only lead to mutual unhappiness. It’d be better for him to be captured and cool his head in a brain cell—a better choice for his life.

No matter the member of the Tang Clan, under rumors of being one of the same crew as Sacheon Outcasts, life wouldn’t be easy.

Yet, crafting a plan to deceive the confident Tang Do-gyeong into staying at Outcast Inn while aiming for a backstab left me with a hint of guilt.

I also wanted Tang Do-gyeong to lose fairly at the gambling table.

The reason Tang Do-gyeong cannot win this match against me is simple.

It’s because this match is fundamentally [gambling].

A martial arts expert is not a god. He’s merely an expert in martial arts. While one with abundant mental energy might see everything easily, there are many fields that cannot be approached just by having a lot of mental energy.

Well, maybe someone like a Heavenly Demon or Sword God could manage that. At that level, a disparity in abilities might let them easily snatch away a victory from me.

But what if I were matched against Dogwi in this situation?

Simply winning one round would be enough. Even if I spread all my skills—including psychological tactics—there’s a chance I could lose the Blood Jade Plaque before an hour passes.

Tang Do-gyeong is a peak martial arts expert, but in terms of gambling, he’s below third tier. Dogwi is an ordinary person, but among the gamblers I’ve encountered as Ho Cheon-an, he’s the best. If there were levels in gambling, he’d surely be peak level or above.

Martial artists believe that their physically trained bodies and martial arts mean they’re the best at everything, but that’s just nonsense from amateurs.

Do you think learning martial arts means that’s the end of life? If you want to beat a gambler at a gambling table, learn the techniques of gambling!

If Tang Do-gyeong purely aimed to beat me to reclaim the Blood Jade Plaque, he should have lost long ago. There are only four cups, and whether one misses or not, if he just randomly picks, he’ll eventually hit the answer.

Just watching the gambling techniques would gradually increase his proficiency in those techniques. However, that presumes he’s willing to learn. Just watching magic tricks on YouTube for fun won’t let you see through the tricks. You need to intend to learn and closely analyze them at a slow speed to gradually grasp them.

Given the current situation where Tang Do-gyeong is only trying to observe my techniques with his eyes, there’s no possibility he can win.

In hostile relationships, advice can come off as provocation, but in this case, it wouldn’t be bad to speak.

Today, I watched as Tang Do-gyeong stumbled around, and I paused with my cup.

“Brother Tang.”

“Speak.”

“What’s your purpose in challenging me to this gambling match?”

“To reclaim the Blood Jade Plaque, of course.”

“I see. So you’re solely focused on defeating me?”

“Isn’t that natural? That’s why I’m so focused.”

“But I feel like I’m fighting a martial artist whose arms are tied.”

Tang Do-gyeong frowned. His expression was a mix of confusion and anger.

“If you wish to win at gambling, you must decipher the essence of gambling itself rather than just tracking the dice with your eyes.”

“…!”

“I am not your training assistant in Tang Clan. If you truly want the Blood Jade Plaque back, pay attention to the hands, not the dice.”

Tang Do-gyeong didn’t respond. Neither did I; I merely moved my hands. Until the agreed-upon hour passed, there was silence between us.

We silently pointed at the cup and continued mixing until the time was up.

What choice Tang Do-gyeong would make would be revealed only tomorrow.

* *

“Tang Great Hero! I am Jeong Sam of the Half-Moon Blade! Welcome to the Sacheon Outcasts!”

“Hahaha, aren’t the true names of the Outcasts a secret? Please refrain from revealing them while we’re taking the test.”

“Isn’t half of it a Sacheon Outcast already? At least let us know your name!”

From the moment I first saw Jeong Sam seven years ago, I thought he looked like a conniving brat, and now he’s causing trouble. The Outcast Inn, which had just barely maintained its anonymity, collapsed as soon as Jeong Sam named himself.

Whether it’s the Jeong Woo faction or the Bo Hwa faction, they all seem to look at Tang Do-gyeong with favor. Even the Bo Hwa faction must have the same urge to share their names with him.

Once the floodgates opened, the Outcasts who were fond of Tang Do-gyeong eagerly began to reveal their names. Naturally, the Jeong Woo faction was in a position where they had to act first, given both their claims and their urgency.

As the introductions neared an end and the two factions kept each other in check, I raised my hand to signal the two.

“Ohohoho!”

“Hehehe!”

When the two laughed, their attention momentarily turned toward me.

Black Cat. Even though she runs the Black Shadow Qi Technique, she exudes charm. Yu Sa-yeon. Just the innkeeper. Although her age might make her quite mad if mentioned, she manages herself well—not someone who would be treated as a spinster anywhere.

While it’s true that the Outcasts likely wouldn’t have romantic feelings for Yu Sa-yeon anyway.

Nevertheless, seeing the two laugh in the inn, which gave off a widower’s vibe, made for a picturesque scene.

“So, what kind of man is your ideal type?”

Perk up.

An ideal type for Black Cat? That’s certainly news the Outcast members would want to hear.

“Well, I don’t like men who get into trouble without a plan. Seeing someone who thinks all problems can be solved with just enthusiasm drains all affection for me. How can you trust someone who gets you into trouble?”

“Hmm. Isn’t being passionate not a bad thing?”

“Passion is different. Even if there’s a fire inside, one must know how to embrace it and endure. What kind of charm does a person who just does as they please while saying it’s okay, even if they bring someone into a difficult situation, have? It makes no sense to hope for favor while causing trouble for someone else.”

“That’s true. Boldness and recklessness are entirely different. It’s hard to like someone who burns themselves out over something with no chance of success.”

“Exactly. No matter how much of a martial artist you are, someone who draws their weapon at the drop of a hat isn’t great, either.”

For now, I’ll ease into some light rivalry.