What could the lingering attachment I have to the Martial Arts World be?
I couldn’t find the answer alone, but now I’m not alone. I’m a married man now. I can gather my wives and utilize our collective wisdom.
Thus, during dinner, I unraveled the conversation I had with Wi Seoryeon today.
“Well, since you mentioned a tentative retirement, it’s a bit concerning.”
“Attachment… Could it be related to the Unknown Elder lingering in your heart?”
At Hyeok Gi-rin’s question, I shook my head. Matters related to the Unknown are homework. Finding the core stone and training the Array Formation can be done even after retirement.
Above all, Array training is not something that leaves attachments. Why? Because achieving mastery in it requires an immense amount of time.
I am Ho Cheon-an.
It took me about six years to master gambling.
With the help of the trivia I learned in the modern age, I spent countless sleepless nights pouring funds into gambling houses, twisting my body for six long years. If gambling took that long, how tough do you think practicing Array Formation, notorious for its difficulty, would be?
Even if I don’t eat or sleep and just practice diligently, it would take at least ten years. If I want to train in Array Formation while maintaining a life, I’d be looking at over twenty years.
Above all, Array training can be done even after retirement.
“Are you perhaps unhappy with your nickname? You’re no longer the Sacheon Outcast or even an Outcast, continuing to use the title Brain Knife Outcast seems a bit…”
Nickname.
Indeed, it’s difficult to change a nickname upon retirement. In fact, I’d say it’s practically impossible.
What does retirement mean in the Martial World? There’s no strict definition like laws, but it generally means staying low-key so that you won’t be discussed by name or nickname anymore.
It means avoiding actions that would create rumors or spread fame, so it’s natural that nicknames born from rumors wouldn’t change.
Changing a nickname is akin to altering the perception that people have of me, and I wouldn’t know what I’d have to do to change how people view me now.
Brain Knife Outcast isn’t a bad nickname, so I might as well keep it.
After pondering for a while, I couldn’t pinpoint anything solid.
“Isn’t there still some time left until the meal concludes? How about taking it easy?”
“Hmm. Let’s do that.”
Yeah, let’s think leisurely in the Central Plains way. There’s still a week until the meal is finished, and converting my tentative retirement into a full retirement afterward isn’t a daunting task.
Besides, just like Wi Seoryeon gave me a hint, it wouldn’t hurt to listen to opinions from others.
I should seek insights from the other guests tomorrow.
With that plan set, the next day arrived, but I couldn’t ask the other guests for their thoughts.
“Master Seo Mun-yeon!”
The unexpected visit from Seo Mun-yeon and Jegal Seong-chan left me unable to greet them without a guilty expression.
Because the current security posture of the Ho Ga Mountain Lodge was certainly not friendly to uninvited guests. With the Emperor, high-ranking officials, and famous martial artists gathered, many would try to sneak in just to get their names noted by powerful figures and celebrities.
Given the situation, it must have taken quite an effort for Seo Mun-yeon and Jegal Seong-chan to deliver their message amidst the crowd of uninvited guests.
“Congratulations on your marriage. It took quite a while.”
“How did you come to this occasion? Anyway, glad you made it.”
“I was hiding briefly from troublesome matters within the Array but heard about your wedding. I hurried, but it seems I arrived a bit late.”
“Glad to have you!”
Seo Mun-yeon offered a vague smile while watching Hyeok Gi-rin bouncing excitedly. Seo Mun-yeon must have been quite surprised when she learned that Hyeok Gi-rin was Princess Yuya.
As Seo Mun-yeon and my wives dismissed the awkwardness and shared greetings, I exchanged pleasantries with the unfamiliar Jegal Seong-chan.
“Nice to meet you. I am Ho Cheon-an.”
“I’ve heard that name before. I am Jegal Seong-chan, the Array Master of the Jegal Clan.”
Seo Mun-yeon’s husband, Jegal Seong-chan, was a more handsome man than I expected. With a bearded appearance and an air of integrity and intellect in his eyes, he seemed like a Confucian scholar, the sort who wouldn’t glance at anything other than the path of gentlemen.
It was surprising that such a guy is learning the Arrays with Seo Mun-yeon.
Seeing the meaning in my gaze too clearly, Jegal Seong-chan cleared his throat and wore an awkward expression.
“I’ve heard a lot about you from Mun-yeon. Thanks to you, we were able to reclaim our connection, so I consider you a benefactor.”
“Oh, no, it’s quite the opposite. To the contrary, she owes us a great debt. I’d like to repay that someday, so if there’s anything you need, please don’t hesitate to tell me.”
And so we took some time getting to know each other. While we were at it, a representative from the Jegal Clan hurried over, creating a bit of commotion, but it was eventually settled.
It seemed those two had a good time practicing the Arrays without the Clan’s permission.
“…That’s a misunderstanding. The time spent with Mun-yeon reduced the time needed for establishing the Moyong Clan’s Arrays, and that’s all.”
Jegal Seong-chan desperately tried to explain, but in the end, it meant he was slacking off.
Well, even with a long business trip, it’s common for schedules to go awry, and considering it was about time reintegrating a couple, that could be forgiven.
Hmm.
I wonder if a guy who seems to be living sans laws would do such a thing. Should this be considered corruption or simply learning how to live like a person after meeting Seo Mun-yeon?
Anyway, the visit from Seo Mun-yeon and Jegal Seong-chan was quite a pleasant surprise. I confirmed that Seo Mun-yeon was doing well, we could show our married life, and we could consult on training in the Arrays.
“Are you saying you want to learn the Arrays?”
I looked at Jegal Seong-chan with a quizzical expression. Well, it’s not easy to accept that a Hwa-gyeong Martial Artist would want to learn Arrays at this stage. But since he deemed it necessary, I nodded.
“I am aware that mastering the Arrays takes time. I won’t ask you to teach me for my entire life, but I’d like to consult whenever I hit a wall in my training.”
“That seems quite doable.”
Securing Jegal Seong-chan and Seo Mun-yeon’s assistance means I won’t have to worry about hitting a wall while training Arrays. Having such a solid safety net for my homework gives me a sense of satisfaction.
The only disappointing aspect is that the lingering connection in my heart just won’t budge.
In the end, I could only clearly recognize that Array training is not the answer.
Frustrated, I wanted to seek some hints from Wi Seoryeon, but regrettably, I got very busy after hosting Jegal Seong-chan and Seo Mun-yeon.
“Brain Knife Outcast Great Hero, I’m sorry but there’s someone you need to confirm…”
“Someone named Song Sang-cheol claims to have a connection to you.”
After handling uninvited guests so far, the arrival of exceptions like Seo Mun-yeon and Jegal Seong-chan threw everything into a conundrum, and the guards, who were dealing with all uninvited guests, didn’t know how to handle the situation now that exceptions had presented themselves.
I too had this niggling instinct that there might be someone genuinely connected among the uninvited guests, so I couldn’t just brush it off.
And upon receiving the report, it turned out the uninvited guests weren’t small in number – enough for it to be worth checking. Even considering they were just blowing wind, very few would dare show up at the lodge without an invitation, and among those, only a select few remained as they braved the guard’s vigilance and the pressures of the Imperial army and renowned martial artists.
Until now, I’d dealt summarily with uninvited guests, and for those arriving in the future, the guards decided to apply pressure once and report any who managed to endure.
Discounting today, there were only five days left until the feast. So, I figured there wouldn’t be many bold enough to show their faces now.
“Someone named Seong Soo-cheol from the Central Capital has come.”
“Send him back.”
As I expected, the next day, only about five uninvited guests showed up, a manageable number.
Aside from the lack of clues about my lingering attachment, the feast moved along without a hitch.
Sure some disagreements arose, but as I worried initially, no major skirmishes broke out, and the relationships among the guests progressed smoothly as intended.
Samayeom and Jae Sang-hae chatted at a table, while my pals freed themselves from Sabok Seol and attempted to obtain some energy-boosters from Maki. My mother-in-law and Yu Sa-yeon bonded over their commonality of running businesses as women.
When I first met Sara, Hyeok Gi-rin glared ominously from behind, claiming I took Seo Gong from her, but now he mixed in with Sara and Tang Rye-ah, joyfully playing and sharing laughs with both.
Even surrounded by girls, he felt no discomfort; truly an idol.
Amidst such useless thoughts, I was watching Master Un-jong and the Elder Tang Clan’s intense game of Go when one of the guards approached me with a perplexed expression.
“Great Hero, a man named Dogwi is here.”
Dogwi?
I blinked in surprise at the unexpected visitor. Dogwi, Dogwi. It wasn’t accurate to say I didn’t have any ties with him. After all, he was the one who assisted me in mastering gambling and we had met in a much-improved way at the Nangyang gambling house.
This guy came as a guest. An unexpected arrival led me to hesitate momentarily, but I thought it wouldn’t be so bad to invite him as a guest. He could be a suitable opponent for Tang Do-gyeong or Wi Seoryeon.
“Let him in. I will welcome him as a guest.”
Although my consent was given, the guard hesitated before speaking again.
“Well, he’s not here to attend the wedding.”
“Huh?”
“He stated he wishes to challenge you as a fellow gambler.”
Dogwi.
He’s issued a challenge.
* *
In the center of the banquet hall, a gambling table was set up.
The guests, who had been peacefully engaged in conversation, started moving toward the gambling table as the event unfolded.
With my appearance on stage, the guests’ anticipation surged.
“Oh, it seems the Brain Knife Outcast Great Hero will personally showcase his gambling skills.”
“I’ve been curious about them. They say the Hero’s gambling skills are unmatched, but I had no opportunity to witness them.”
Fortunately, the atmosphere was positive.
Generally, martial artists look down on gambling skills, but after witnessing Wi Seoryeon and Tang Do-gyeong’s games for over a week, the guests had somewhat tossed aside their preconceived notions.
“I wonder who will be opposing Ho Cheon-an Great Hero.”
“It must be the Heavenly Demon, right? Or perhaps the Poison Doctor.”
Then Dogwi took his place in front of me. Naturally, the guests buzzed. They saw Dogwi as an ordinary person who hadn’t even practiced martial arts, so they probably thought he wouldn’t stand a chance against me.
“A notable gambler, huh…?”
“Hmmm. I don’t really know much about the gambling scene.”
Oh well, all this chatter would quiet down once the game began.
Ultimately, the best way to demonstrate oneself in any field is through skill, and Dogwi was indeed a capable gambler.
I took in Dogwi’s appearance after not seeing him for years. His clothes were covered in dust, his legs showed signs of many arduous journeys, and it was clear he’d indeed endured hardships. Considering he was from Sacheon, regarding my meeting him in Nangyang, he must have continued wandering around the Central Plains since then, honing his skills.
I couldn’t gauge how much Dogwi had improved. But just looking into his eyes gave me the impression that he was no easy opponent.
When I first met Dogwi, he had potential but was too fiery and soft. The fact that he managed not to flinch in a life-or-death situation was commendable.
But at that moment, what was Dogwi risking? Money? The money belonged to the Master of the Video Tower, so in the end, what he was betting was his own life.
And yet, Dogwi prioritized his pride over his life and lost when I provoked him.
In contrast, the Dogwi I met in Nangyang was like a cold slab of metal. He had let everything go, and like a sharpened blade bent solely on defeating me, he was hauntingly threatening. His previously lacking disposition had been completely filled.
So, I raised the stakes even higher.
Despite the edge of Dogwi’s cold logic resting upon my neck, I continued to increase the stakes, toying with the blade.
To resist the fear and danger, one needs the heat that burns within their heart.
Having no fiery spark left within his chest, Dogwi ultimately succumbed to defeat.
Has Dogwi managed to overcome his vulnerabilities once more? Whether he has or not, one thing I could certainly confirm was this:
Dogwi had grown since I last saw him in Nangyang.
The eyes staring back at me from Dogwi revealed nothing. Instead, as with an ordinary person, I felt excitement, tension, and anticipation—all I could see was that he was hiding his true strength.
This was proof he had perfectly veiled his own capabilities.
The game hadn’t even started, making this merely an exploration phase, yet it meant he was already at an equal level with me in this phase.
So he had indeed qualified as a worthy opponent for the final gamble.
Why do I call this duel my last chance?
It all comes down to the stakes.
Because, in the end, gamblers always push themselves to their limits when the stakes are high. Even if my connection to Dogwi continues, there can’t be a bigger bet than this.
In front of the Emperor, high-ranking officials, and the multitude of renowned figures from the Martial World.
This would be the match that determines who among us truly wins.
It’s also my opportunity to finally prove my rumored gambling skills to the world, and for Dogwi, a chance to gain fame or to declare publicly his victory over me.
Though nobody knows what the future holds, I can’t help but think there won’t be a greater game than this.
As someone not actively involved in the Martial World, I’d gradually fade into obscurity, and regardless of the outcome, Dogwi would gain notoriety. Even should we face each other again in the future, this match would likely never reach this level of scale or dramatic framing again.
Thus, this is the last game.
That’s why, even amidst the feast, I accepted this match. If I just use the banquet as an excuse to delay, the mere act of postponing could become another lingering regret.
I already had some unidentified attachment lingering in the Martial World; I couldn’t afford to let it grow.
“Thank you for accepting this confrontation.”
“You’re quite informed.”
“I know that challenging you during a wedding is quite disrespectful.”
I threw a light taunt, but Dogwi remained unaffected as he replied.
“However, I will offer my apology after this match concludes.”
Is that your resolve?
I silently accepted that resolve and picked a coin instead of dice to decide who makes the first move.
“It seems like it will be a long game; let’s not tire ourselves out, how about deciding the outcome with the coin toss.”
Suggesting to toss a coin instead of rolling the dice implied we shouldn’t drain our energy before we even began. In other words, it meant we would rely purely on luck to toss the coin.
Dogwi nodded, understanding my intentions.
“Sounds good. I’ll take the heads.”
“Then I’ll take tails.”
Taang!
The round coin placed on my finger soared high into the air. Rising to a height only easily seen by the extraordinary, even ordinary martial artists would find it hard to track, the coin couldn’t withstand gravity and began to descend quickly.
Ting!
Having fallen, the coin collided with the gambling table, spinning audibly as it bounced back into the air and began its dive once more.
In reality…
At the point where I had established the action of tossing the coin, I had already gained the advantage.
Not that I had tampered with the coin.
It was because I possessed [Luck].
The idea that having a choice is inherently beneficial is a timeless truth.
If Dogwi’s true skills could stand up to mine in a dead heat, destiny would surely intervene, allowing me to make the choice.
If Dogwi’s skills were such that I could beat him outright, luck wouldn’t get involved, and he’d keep the first move.
Even if I lost the first move, knowing Dogwi’s skills wouldn’t surpass mine lets me know I can edge ahead somehow.
I was aware this might be a bit cunning… but wasn’t the gambling world fundamentally cruel?
Ting!
As I pondered and followed along with the bouncing coin, I couldn’t help but manage my expression.
The spinning coin stood upright without leaning toward either side.
Being in possession of [Luck], I couldn’t explain this outcome.
The only explanation was but one.
Dogwi also possessed [Luck].
In other words,
Dogwi, like me, had mastered the skills of gambling.
