Chronicles of the Lazy Sovereign

Chapter 82: The Slacker, Runs Wild (3)

Wi Yeonho shouted in a sharp voice.

“Why are you so late!”

“My apologies. I didn’t expect the round to take this long. I arrived too early and ended up looking around the local shops.”

“Why! You should’ve just come after I was dragged off as a slave!”

“Hahaha, as if someone like you would ever be in that situation.”

“Tch.”

Leaning back in his chair, Wi Yeonho asked,

“You brought what I asked for, right?”

“You mean this. Boys!”

At that moment, a commotion erupted outside the gate, and several strapping men entered, each carrying a large chest.

Thud! Thud!

As the chests hit the floor, a heavy thump echoed through the room.

“Wh-What is this?”

Kang Cheonrip’s eyes widened as he stared at the chests.

Wi Yeonho grinned with satisfaction.

“They said I could set the stakes however I wanted if I just brought the money.”

At Wi Yeonho’s signal, the chests were opened.

In that instant, it was as if the entire room had lit up. The dazzling radiance pouring out from the gold inside the chests stole the attention of everyone present.

“H-How much is all that?”

“Unbelievable.”

The onlookers stared in awe at the kind of fortune they’d never seen in their lives. Today truly was a day of spectacles.

A well-built man smiled and said,

“As requested, one hundred nyang. Ten thousand in silver! All prepared in gold, just as you specified.”

“Good work.”

“Not at all.”

Kang Cheonrip gasped and cried out.

“A-Aren’t you Ha Daebung of the Silver River Pawnshop?”

“Pleasure to meet you, Manor Lord Kang.”

“What on earth brings you here?”

“Our client requested our support. He insisted it had to be delivered in gold, which took some time.”

“Goodness...”

Cold sweat began to drip from Kang Cheonrip’s forehead.

He had won his place here through gambling... Well, won or not, he wasn’t a total novice. If what Ha Daebung said was true, then that brat over there had foreseen all this and set up the board accordingly.

“The next round’s stake will be one hundred nyang.”

“Young Master!”

Suddenly, the revived Jin Soa rushed over to Wi Yeonho.

“My shoulder feels a little stiff.”

“Which one?”

Without hesitation, Jin Soa pulled out an acupuncture kit from his robe and began sticking needles into Wi Yeonho’s shoulders in several spots. Now that his identity had already been revealed, there was nothing to hold back.

“Ow!”

“Hm, I may have gone a bit hard. It’ll feel refreshing in a bit, so please relax.”

If the ancestors of the Sacred Hand Grounds knew that their medical arts were being used to loosen the muscles of gamblers, they’d rise from their graves.

Ah, though Jin Soa’s father wouldn’t be able to rise.

“You said one hundred nyang?”

“Yes.”

Kang Cheonrip’s eyes began to twitch.

One hundred nyang in gold.

This was no ordinary round. A true match was about to unfold—the kind seen maybe once a year even in major cities like Beijing, Luoyang, or Henan.

“You’ve come well prepared.”

When Wi Yeonho praised him, Ha Daebung offered a faint smile.

“How could I treat your order with anything less than care?”

“You’re keeping the collateral safe, right?”

“I’ve hidden it where not even my wife could find it.”

“Good.”

Wi Yeonho nodded.

The item he had entrusted to Ha Daebung in exchange for borrowing the money was none other than the golden sword bestowed upon him by the Second Prince.

“If you lose that, we all die.”

“That’s not something one can afford to lose unless they’ve gone mad. I’ve staked my life to guard it, so don’t worry. But more importantly, please make sure to retrieve it quickly. It makes my skin crawl just having it.”

“You worry too much.”

Ha Daebung gave a subtle grin. It was a professional one, but this kind of game was one he welcomed.

The commission he would earn just from lending money for a short while was no small sum. No matter how you looked at it, this was a lucrative deal.

“Low risk, too.”

While it was an item that couldn’t be easily sold, considering its value, Wi Yeonho’s household would do everything in their power to retrieve it.

And since Ha Daebung already knew that the Grand House of Wi in Guangdong was Wi Yeonho’s home, there was no loss for him. If Wi Yeonho won and paid back immediately, that was fine; if he lost, even better. The longer he held it, the more storage fees he would earn.

‘I’m not Daebung, he’s the real bung—slacker.’

Ha Daebung looked on with interest. A person in possession of the Royal Inspector Sword couldn’t be ordinary. There was no way he wouldn’t be curious about the kind of match Wi Yeonho would show.

“What are you doing? Bring the money.”

“Y-Young Master, preparing another sixty nyang in cash right this moment is difficult.”

“Bring everything you have, and you can make up the rest with a promissory note.”

“If that’s acceptable…”

Kang Cheonrip realized the situation had gone beyond the point of no return.

He had already made the declaration in front of a crowd, and with the branch head of the Silver River Pawnshop watching, backing out now would destroy his credibility.

If he withdrew here, the Golden Flower Manor might avoid a loss, but Kang Cheonrip would no longer be able to retain his position as its Manor Lord.

“Understood.”

In the end, Kang Cheonrip decided to trust Dokbi and take the gamble.

“Bring it.”

When he quietly gave the command, Janggu nodded and quickly ran upstairs.

“It may take some time. Would you care for some tea...”

But seeing Wi Yeonho dozing off with his head tilted to the side, Kang Cheonrip was left speechless.

‘Is that bastard’s balls made of steel?’

Even he was feeling his heart pounding—so how could this kid, who barely had any gambling experience, be so bold?

To fall asleep in a situation like this!

Jin Soa, unfazed whether Wi Yeonho was asleep or not, continued placing acupuncture needles and massaging his body, now looking ready to even start moxibustion.

'That kind of guy is the legitimate heir of the Sacred Hand Grounds?'

Though Kang Cheonrip had a hand in the downfall of the Sacred Hand Grounds himself, he at least held a sliver of respect for the place as a human being. But seeing Jin Soa’s behavior now, that respect was rapidly vanishing.

As money flew down from above, Kang Cheonrip struggled to calm his pounding heart.

Even if the Golden Flower Manor was the largest gambling house in Hubei, one hundred nyang in gold wasn’t some child’s name—it was ruin if he lost. And for Kang Cheonrip himself, it wouldn’t just be financial ruin.

'I can win.'

He kept repeating to himself.

Once a gambler became swayed by the stakes, it was all over. Whether it was a one-nyang silver game or a thousand-nyang gold match, one had to maintain the same mindset. That was what made for a true master of gambling.

And Dokbi, as far as Kang Cheonrip knew, deserved to be called exactly that.

“Dokbi, what do you think? You can win this, right?”

“Were you speaking to me?”

“Hohoho, yes, to you.”

Dokbi remained unchanged from the beginning.

“Keep this in mind. If we lose, it’s all over. Both you and I are finished. Make sure you don’t lose, no matter what.”

He knew such words could become a burden. But staying silent simply wouldn’t ease his mind.

“Don’t worry.”

Yet Dokbi remained calm, not even fazed by those words.

“It’s been a while since I played a game this big. It’s a little exciting. Would you care to pour me some tea?”

“You mean now? Boys! Bring some tea! Make it Dragon Well!”

“No, please make it leaf tea.”

“That’ll do for you?”

“Familiarity helps me stay calm.”

“All right, bring leaf tea!”

Soon, gold and silver taels were stacked in front of Dokbi like a mountain.

Kang Cheonrip made up for the missing twenty nyang in gold with a pawnshop note.

“It’s a note issued by the Great Continental Pawnshop.”

“Let me see.”

Without much comment, Ha Daebung took the note and checked it.

“Hmm, it’s genuine. Young Master, the stake is ready…”

Ha Daebung turned to Wi Yeonho, then clicked his tongue reluctantly.

“Excuse me, Young Master Jin.”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t this a bit much?”

Wi Yeonho was fast asleep with acupuncture needles bristling from every inch of his body like a porcupine, while Jin Soa was pondering whether there were any remaining spots to stick more needles.

“I felt this much was necessary.”

“At this rate, he might die.”

“Yes, sir.”

Looking a bit downcast, Jin Soa quickly began removing the needles with deft hands.

“Young Master, time to wake up now.”

“Mmmm…”

Once all the needles were removed and Jin Soa shook him, Wi Yeonho slowly raised his head.

“What the? Did I roll on the ground or something? Why does my whole body feel all prickly?”

“…You must be unwell. Let’s finish quickly and get some rest.”

“Is that why?”

As Wi Yeonho tilted his head in puzzlement, Jin Soa discreetly hid his acupuncture kit behind his back.

“Are the stakes ready?”

“Confirmed.”

“Then let’s end this.”

Wi Yeonho stretched and straightened his posture.

“Hoo.”

Watching him, Kang Cheonrip inhaled sharply. Seeing Wi Yeonho act so relaxed, like he was in his own house, somehow made the pressure mount.

“Dokbi.”

“Time to step back now.”

“…Will you be all right?”

“From here on, it’s the domain of masters. I understand your concern, Manor Lord, but please don’t interfere further.”

“I trust you.”

Kang Cheonrip took several steps back. From Dokbi’s tone, he could sense that he was recognizing Wi Yeonho as an equal.

“Huhu, did you plan all the way to this moment when you set up the board?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m asking if you threw the last game on purpose.”

“Who does crazy things like that? Of course I want to win.”

“…Then why call in the Silver River Pawnshop master?”

“My mother said a man’s back pocket should always be full. Whether you’re gambling or bluffing, having money never hurts. So I called him in just in case.”

This kid was impossible to read.

Sometimes, he seemed shrewd and clever, but other times, he was utterly hopeless and clueless—a textbook slacker.

'Doesn’t matter.'

Kang Cheonrip no longer cared about what kind of person Wi Yeonho was. What mattered now wasn’t his character, but the single match that lay ahead.

In a calm voice, Dokbi spoke.

“Begin.”

“Is it my turn?”

“It is.”

“All right?”

Wi Yeonho pulled his chair forward and sat down.

“Well then, shall we begin?”

Wi Yeonho didn’t waste any time.

He grabbed the dice cup and swept up the line of dice laid out on the floor.

Shaaak!

In one smooth motion, Wi Yeonho gathered the dice and shook the cup a couple of times in midair before slamming it down onto the floor.

Clatter.

The dice rolled across the ground, spinning round and round before they began revealing their faces one by one.

“Six!”

As if rehearsed, the bystanders began shouting the numbers as the dice stopped.

“Six!”

With two dice showing sixes, the crowd’s voices grew louder.

“Six!”

A third!

“Six!”

And a fourth!

“Six!”

“Waaaaah! That’s five sixes!”

“Quiet! Be quiet! There’s still one more rolling!”

Everyone leaned forward in unison. In their eyes, the final die was slowly coming to a stop.

“I-It’s stopping!”

“My heart’s pounding—I can’t watch!”

“If you can’t watch, move!”

At last, the die came to a halt, and the final face slowly turned upward to show itself.