The King of Unofficial Martial Arts Betting
The arena where the match takes place is a deep pit.
The fighters are below, while the spectators who have placed their bets are above.
In other words, those involved in the unofficial martial arts betting fight in the sunken area.
I do not know when the arena became like this.
However, the division of up and down has a clear meaning.
First, if the fighters try to escape, they are easily attacked by the bettors.
It is designed to force them to fight from a disadvantageous position.
Even bettors who do not know martial arts throw stones or daggers.
It means, "I placed my money on you, how dare you run away?" This is the same whether it’s a chicken fight or a dog fight.
The more money at stake, the more the spectators are above the fighters.
Second, it makes it easier for the spectators to catch any foul play.
Betting is, quite literally, a place where primal force is contested, so poison is prohibited.
It is the strength of a person that wins, not poison, which is considered cheating.
Third, it shows the architectural structure that the bettors, who place their money, are above the fighters.
Even if it is not true in reality.
Fourth, those above have various tricks to maintain their power and lead the match as they wish.
While unofficial martial arts betting is about primal fights, it also mixes in the political struggles of the powerful bettors.
This is what I know.
Thus, the undefeated Dongbangyeon became the king of unofficial martial arts betting not only through his own strength but also because he has a secret organization of wealthy bettors as allies, allowing him to maintain his position as king.
It is hard to explain in words, but... in any case, once you fight, you gradually realize these corruptions.
And those who realize these corruptions and are not part of the established powers inevitably meet their demise.
So here we are again, at the betting arena.
After all, it is a place where humans fight against each other.
I approached the bettors' area and placed a large bundle containing over ten thousand nyang.
The betting was already underway below.
Even if I threw ten thousand nyang down there immediately, Dongbangyeon would not come out right away.
I also needed to face the bettors here, and I needed their permission for the event to take place, which takes time.
In other words, I had to engage in at least a preliminary match for the bettors to gauge whether my event would be successful.
It is my responsibility to challenge Dongbangyeon with ten thousand nyang.
However, the money that exchanges hands over this victory or defeat belongs to the bettors.
After I settled in, the guests who had been watching me from the inn began to gather in the betting arena, filling the seats.
Among them was Jeomsoui Ilbo.
As someone who had been here for a long time, Ilbo reported my inn's martial arts match to the manager conducting the betting.
A moment later, when the match of the fools ended, someone announced with a voice mixed with internal energy, “I hear there is someone who dares to challenge Dongbangyeon!”
It sounded like a casual tone, as if speaking to a friend.
The owner of this voice was the betting manager, Pyeonggunja.
The name literally means "ordinary military advisor," but calling oneself ordinary is rather close to excessive arrogance.
In reality, he is quite a pompous fellow.
After hearing the explanation from Jeomsoui Ilbo, Pyeonggunja pointed directly at me. “Is it true that you are the challenger?”
The spectators and bettors sitting in the audience all turned their eyes toward me.
Naturally, a match involving Dongbangyeon is a chance to make a lot of money, and everyone’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
I simply replied to Pyeonggunja's question. “I am the challenger.”
Pyeonggunja pointed at me and said, “Another clueless newcomer has come to lose his money. Let’s give a round of applause for that foolishness.”
When no applause came, Pyeonggunja continued, “Who knows? This friend might be an incredible master, and today, Dongbangyeon’s undefeated legend might be broken.”
Booing erupted from the audience. “Pyeonggunja, stop with the boring talk and get on with it.”
Naturally, the bettors judge based on what they see.
Pyeonggunja continued explaining to me, “To summon Dongbangyeon, you need to show something. There’s no way to confirm your skills without a match. If you call too loudly, no one will dare to challenge you, so how about a light sparring match for one thousand nyang? It’s a one-on-one exchange based on the outcome.”
If I win, I gain one thousand nyang; if I lose, I lose one thousand nyang.
It’s a simple method of martial arts betting.
I nodded. “Set it up.”
Pyeonggunja scratched his head and sighed. “Why are the young ones today so short with their words? The world... Alright, everyone heard that? Is there anyone who will challenge the man who dares to challenge Dongbangyeon? The bet is one thousand nyang. It doesn’t matter if it’s barehanded or with weapons. Anyone? Oh, come on. There can’t be no one.”
Three young men moved simultaneously from the audience and stepped down to the arena floor.
Pyeonggunja said to them, “Who said anything about a three-on-one? After a stare-down, two of you can leave.”
The three looked at each other, and the strongest one remained while the other two, licking their lips, returned to the audience.
Pyeonggunja introduced the remaining man. “As everyone knows, but this newcomer might not, let me introduce him. He is a frequent participant in the one thousand nyang matches, known as Banggyeok. Don’t know Banggyeok? Seems like only this newcomer doesn’t know.”
Of course, the newcomer is me.
I certainly know Banggyeok.
In fact, I have lost money to him before, so I cannot claim ignorance.
Pyeonggunja insists on reintroducing Banggyeok because such behavior encourages betting.
Everything said and done here is tied to money.
“What’s with a shield in the martial world? But once you see Banggyeok fight, that notion disappears. As everyone knows, Banggyeok lost to Dongbangyeon before. In other words, he is a man who has been silently training for revenge. Now, let’s simply get into the betting for the outcome. Banggyeok is white, and this newcomer challenger is black.”
The attendants began to move around, and betting commenced.
Pyeonggunja did not even call me out to hide my information.
Yet, countless amounts of money poured from the audience.
This time, the attendants took notes while collecting money simultaneously.
Only then did Pyeonggunja call me. “Newcomer, come down. Leave the money there. We will take care of protecting the funds, so don’t worry.”
That was true.
I handed the bundle to the approaching attendant.
The attendant, as if trained in martial arts, skillfully extracted the silver coins and confirmed one thousand nyang.
I set the bundle down and slowly descended into the arena.
Pyeonggunja chattered away. “You’re quite relaxed, aren’t you? Now, we’re about to close, so those who want to bet on this relaxed man should put in more money. Time to empty your pockets.”
Even with such blatant talk, these gambling addicts willingly open their pockets.
I walked to the center and looked at Banggyeok for the first time in a while.
He was in his mid-thirties, carrying a large iron shield on his back like a turtle shell, with a dagger at his waist.
As I looked at Banggyeok, I momentarily wondered if this was a dream or reality.
I could only smile.
Banggyeok, a calm man, observed me with a smile without saying a word.
Although I had lost to him in my past life, I felt no particular emotion, so I did not speak as usual.
Pyeonggunja surveyed the audience and then said, “You two, get ready. Audience, wrap it up. I will count to ten.”
After the countdown, the entire audience fell silent.
Pyeonggunja stood between Banggyeok and me and declared the start of the match. “One thousand nyang martial arts, let’s begin. The one who dies in the fight is just unlucky. The winner can buy a drink with one thousand nyang today. I hope neither of you dies and that you can fight until you grow old here. Unofficial martial arts betting…”
Pyeonggunja took out a folding fan and drew a vertical line in the air. “Start.”
Banggeok drew his shield and gripped the dagger.
While shields may sometimes be treated as useless in the martial world, they are not in betting.
A shield is an effective fighting tool.
And this man learned how to use a shield on the battlefield.
He is a skilled fighter who can easily toy with the clumsy third-rate martial artists.
However, he has never challenged Dongbangyeon, remaining in a position where he occasionally earns one thousand nyang.
And now, he is a man who has a vast gap between us.
I drew out my black cat and said, “Let’s take it easy, turtle man.”
Banggyeok narrowed his eyes and swung the dagger as he advanced.
I deflected the dagger with my black cat and immediately kicked out, striking the shield.
With a thud, Banggyeok was pushed back.
I had only used external energy, but perhaps thinking my kick was weak, Banggyeok grinned.
I laughed along with him. “You’re amusing.”
“Hehe.” Banggyeok chuckled softly and charged again.
This time, I infused my black cat with internal energy and swung it, then executed the same kick, this time filled with internal energy.
Boom!
Banggyeok, startled while raising his shield, was sent flying in a straight line and lost his balance, rolling several times on the ground.
When Banggyeok sprang up, I was already airborne.
Like a representative of foolish men, I executed a flying kick and struck the shield again.
Boom!
This time, Banggyeok hit his forehead against the inside of the iron shield and rolled on the ground repeatedly.
When he got up, his forehead was torn, and blood flowed freely.
Closing the distance again, I used my black cat to push the dagger away and, like a drunken fool in a street fight, lifted my foot to stomp on the shield repeatedly.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Bang! Thud!
I stomped with external energy, then infused internal energy, alternating my kicks as I pleased.
The key to this match was to show kicks that were so lacking in skill that they could not be seen as the work of a hidden master of the martial world.
Banggyeok completely hid behind his shield, holding it with both hands like a turtle, blocking my kicks.
I muttered while stomping on the shield, “This guy has really turned into a turtle.”
Boom!
As I infused internal energy and stomped again, Banggyeok’s urgent voice finally came out. “I give up!”
I sheathed my black cat and looked at Pyeonggunja. “Give me my money.”
Pyeonggunja stared at me blankly. “…”
“One thousand nyang.”
Pyeonggunja approached me, pointing a finger while scolding. “What are you doing? You need to show your skills properly for the event to succeed!”
I glared at Pyeonggunja and whispered, “Pyeonggunja, you bastard, don’t talk nonsense or you might get slapped on both cheeks. Just announce the results.”
Pyeonggunja frowned and glared at me. “…”
When I raised my right hand, Pyeonggunja took a defensive stance with his fan and shouted, “Newcomer wins! Banggyeok loses!”
After the victory declaration, I exchanged glances with Pyeonggunja for a moment before speaking. “What? Why?”
Pyeonggunja scoffed and turned away.
The few daring bettors who had invested in me all shouted in unison.
Among them was Jeomsoui Ilbo, who clenched his fists and let out a roar.
I could clearly see the future of the young bettor. ‘Jeomsoui is a promising profession, but that fool… oh dear.’ On one hand, it was a bit bittersweet since that promising profession only applied to me.
Pyeonggunja waved his fan and watched me. “Hey, I know you’re eager to face Dongbangyeon, but today, you need to bring in more bettors to ignite the event. I’ll treat you well today, so rest easy. We’ll wrap things up today and set up a fight for tomorrow. Got it?”
I nodded at Pyeonggunja and replied, “Let’s do that.”
“And that young punk, can’t you fix your tone a bit?”
I pointed a finger at Pyeonggunja. “If you want to fix my tone, it’ll cost you two thousand nyang. I’m giving you a discount since you seem older than me.”
Pyeonggunja turned his head sharply, spat on the ground, and commanded the attendants, “Guide the challenger to the Phoenix VIP room.”
“Yes.”
As Pyeonggunja fluttered his fan and disappeared, Banggyeok, who had been dusting himself off, called out to me. “Hey, young man.”
I turned to Banggyeok. “What?”
With a calm expression, Banggyeok said, “Be careful of Pyeonggunja. Why is he so prickly?”
I looked around and replied to Banggyeok’s words. “Why? Does Pyeonggunja use beauty or cunning?”
Banggyeok looked at me with a surprised expression. “Have you... been here before?”
“Have you seen me here before?”
“Never.”
Banggyeok tilted his head.
I took a silver coin from the bundle the attendant brought and tossed it to Banggyeok.
He looked at me with a puzzled expression, as if he had never received a silver coin after losing in betting.
I pointed at Banggyeok and grinned. “It must sting, so eat some soup. Don’t act up with a shield when you have no skills.”
That was something Banggyeok had said to me before.
Back then, it was probably, “Don’t act up with a sickle when you have no skills.”
I chuckled, collected Banggyeok’s one thousand nyang, packed it into the bundle, and headed toward the Phoenix VIP room.
I was curious if the beauty scheme I had only heard about would be present today.