Three Eight-Chapter 20

"Did you win a bit?"

Hongju was forcibly dragged to the table. The can of coffee he was holding was snatched by Guppping’s rough hands and handed over to Mijin.

"I lost. These guys didn’t even give me a break, even though I’m a rookie."

"They’re just seasoned players trying to take advantage of a good, innocent person."

Guppping laughed heartily as he helped Mijin with her outerwear. He didn’t forget to scoop up the piles of cash on one side of the table.

"My bro’s going to the market, but I’ll drop you off on the way. Mijin, you and your friend should pack up."

The atmosphere shifted as the game was being wrapped up. Then Doksu, taking Mijin’s place, sat down and spoke.

"Hey. I thought we were going to play without using skills, but you’re already leaving?"

"Play more. Who says you can’t?"

As Guppping and Doksu steered the conversation, Hongju fidgeted, nervously glancing at Mu-gyeong. He was sitting there, fiddling with the stacks of bills, not really touching the cards, just tapping them lightly with his fingers.

"How about we play a few more rounds? What do you think, CEO Mu-gyeong? Looks like there’s still plenty of cash left."

"Sure."

"We need one more person... Hongju, you’re not busy, right? Come here."

Hongju swallowed hard at Yang Siljang’s call. He took a quiet step forward, but Mu-gyeong’s eyes subtly followed him. His lips parted slightly, asking in a cryptic manner.

"Didn’t you say you weren’t a player? Do you know how to play?"

That was the question Hongju ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) wanted to ask. Why was he getting involved in the game when he said he wouldn’t catch the cards? He knew he was walking into danger. What was he thinking? But with so many eyes on him, he couldn’t say a word.

Yang Siljang unceremoniously pushed Hongju into the chair next to Mu-gyeong. With his coat draped over his shoulders, Mu-gyeong seemed even more imposing and powerful.

"Come on, teach him how to play. I had to get him to try a few times before. Can CEO Mu-gyeong teach him to play?"

Mu-gyeong met Hongju’s gaze and nodded quietly.

"......"

If he had known it would end up like this, he wouldn’t have bothered learning how to play. It felt suffocating.

"Hongju doesn’t have a penny, right? I’ll give him some pocket money, but he has to return three times the amount, okay?"

Mijin tossed a bundle of 10,000-won bills in front of Hongju. Her friend also added a bundle on top of it.

"We’ll leave first. Go on and make your life a success with Sam-pal Gwangdeng."

"Guppping! Get a new deck of Hwatu."

Guppping nodded and left the room with Mijin and her friend. In the hallway, they could be heard shouting at a thug to run an errand. As Mu-gyeong returned the money Doksu had left earlier, a new deck of cards arrived.

Yang Siljang and Doksu quickly set up the rules, and Yang Siljang took the first hand. With sharp flicks of his fingers, the cards slid neatly into place.

"Ki-ri?"

When he held out the cards to Mu-gyeong, Mu-gyeong tapped the center of the deck with his fingertips, signaling that he would fold.

"Okay. Let’s go."

Each player threw a bundle of bills onto the table. Yang Siljang handed out one card to each player with a light motion.

"Take your cards."

The cards went around in a counterclockwise direction, and Hongju pulled the card in front of him to check it. It was the July card.

"Starting lightly, huh?"

Doksu piled another stack of money on top of the previous one, signaling the start.

"Call."

Hongju also added a million won for his turn. But the game didn’t start yet, as Mu-gyeong remained silent. Hongju glanced at him, wondering if he was going to fold. As their eyes met, it seemed like Mu-gyeong had been staring at him the entire time.

"......"

Hongju felt a wave of confusion at the unclear look in Mu-gyeong’s eyes. Mu-gyeong gave an inaudible laugh, his expression unreadable.

"I’ll call too."

The pot continued to grow, steadily accumulating until it was Yang Siljang’s turn to act. Everyone seemed to be casually warming up for the game, feeling each other out.

"Let’s go, let’s go."

Yang Siljang dealt another card to each player. Hongju, hiding his cards in his palm, took a quick glance at his hand.

The new card was from May. Combining the July and May cards, the total was 12, which was two points. With just two points, it wasn’t a winning hand. Doksu, who also seemed to have a bad hand, clicked his tongue and withdrew.

"Ugh, Dai."

But Hongju didn’t fold; he raised his bet.

"I’m putting in three hundred."

He had judged that it would be better to risk it all and take a chance on overturning the game.

The growing stacks of money slipped sideways as they were added to the pile. Mu-gyeong continued to chuckle as he held his money.

"I’ll take it."

"Hmm."

Yang Siljang, stalling by rubbing his chin, casually tossed two cards onto the table. He was folding.

"I’m Dai. Let’s see your cards, the two of you."

Hongju, with a sure hand, turned over his bright red Hwatu cards.

"Two points."

Mu-gyeong checked his hand and turned over his cards, revealing that he had a much better hand. He had matched the bet, indicating that he had a good hand.

Hongju’s eyes shifted to Mu-gyeong’s fingertips.

"One point."

The February and September cards gave him a total of 11, meaning he had one point. By one point, Hongju had won.

"Wow, CEO Mu-gyeong, you were so brave with just one point! You can really play, huh?"

"......"

Why wasn't he folding with such a useless hand? He knew how to read his cards. Hongju clenched his teeth hard, unable to show his frustration.

With stiff, mechanical movements, he gathered the cards. His shuffle wasn’t particularly fast, but it was smooth enough.

Tap, tap. The satisfying sound repeated a few times.

He held the shuffled deck in one hand and extended it toward Doksu. Doksu casually cut a few cards from the top and placed them aside on the table.

Meanwhile, Mu-gyeong propped his chin up and watched Hongju with keen interest.

Yang Siljang, placing his bet, noticed and made a comment.

"Mu-gyeong, you don’t have to stare so hard. The kid doesn’t know how to cheat."

"That’s not why I’m watching."

Hongju glanced at Mu-gyeong.

Even while tossing his money into the pot, his gaze lingered on Hongju’s face with unwavering interest.

"......."

If Mu-gyeong was wary of cheating, he would’ve been watching his hands, not his face.

Feeling exposed, Hongju awkwardly averted his eyes and dealt the cards.

He placed his final set of cards and belatedly tossed in his bet.

Sliding his hand under the newly drawn cards, he checked them.

A March kwang.

Not bad, but in this situation, folding was the better option.

"I’ll raise."

Mu-gyeong pushed forward a thick stack of cash.

Yang Siljang smirked, visibly excited.

"Shall we raise the stakes a bit?"

"Yang Siljang, you must have something good. You’re being obvious."

Flashing his gold tooth, Yang Siljang shoved a hefty pile of cash to the center.

"Calling and raising five hundred more."

"Wow, you must really have a good hand. Fine, I’ll call."

Doksu counted his cash and tossed in five stacks.

When it came back to Hongju, he laid his cards down.

"I fold."

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Now, the game was down to three players.

Hongju distributed another round of cards to the remaining players.

They each checked their hands—except for Mu-gyeong, who didn’t even bother looking before tossing another bundle of money into the pot.

The pile of cash in the center had grown into a thick mound.

"I’ll match and raise five hundred more."

Hongju furrowed his brows slightly.

If he kept playing recklessly like this, he was going to lose everything.

His stack was still high, but at this rate, it would be gone in an instant.

"Oh-ho."

Yang Siljang twitched an eyebrow, stalling for time.

Even though he had been the one to raise earlier, he was now hesitating because no one had backed down.

"Man, what’s with you guys? Tsk, I’m too scared to continue. I fold!"

"I’ll call."

Doksu, unfazed, matched Mu-gyeong’s bet.

With the round complete, it was time to reveal their cards.

Mu-gyeong went first.

"Nine points."

A July card and a February card.

A gap-o, the highest hand among the numbered ranks.

Did he really bet all that money just by checking one card?

Was he that confident, or just clueless?

Then again, his opponent was Doksu, an active player. Hongju couldn’t let his guard down.

Mu-gyeong remained relaxed, but Hongju watched Doksu’s fingers intently.

"Ah, seven points! I could’ve wiped the table if I had one more."

Doksu flipped his cards over with a dramatic sigh.

Mu-gyeong won the pot.

Sweeping the scattered cards together, Mu-gyeong nudged his chin at Hongju—a silent order to organize the winnings.

"......."

When did he learn how to do that?

Hongju wordlessly stacked the thick wad of cash in front of Mu-gyeong.

The invisible wall between them grew even taller.

Tap, tap.

Mu-gyeong slowly, but precisely, began shuffling the deck.

Was it because he wasn’t wearing gloves?

He seemed much more skilled than the last time Hongju saw him do this.

Still, the small Hwatu cards looked tiny in his large hands.

"......."

Not a casino boss, but rich and busy.

Not a gangster, but a hell of a fighter.

Not a pro gambler, not even interested in gambling, but knew his way around the cards.

Who the hell was he, really?

Hongju stole a glance at Mu-gyeong’s hands.

"You’re watching my hands."

Tap, tap.

Mu-gyeong continued the shuffle, chuckling quietly.

"Well, what else am I supposed to watch at a card table?"

Hongju casually straightened his posture, pretending to focus on stacking the bills.

Doksu, amused, chimed in.

"Hongju, are you worried that Mu-gyeong might be cheating? Come on, if anything, you should be watching me. I’m the real player here!"

"So I’m nothing, huh."

Yang Siljang feigned offense, mixing a hint of sincerity into his tone.

Then, suddenly, he grabbed his beer and chugged it down, pretending to be anxious.

Hongju, watching this forced act, didn’t miss Mu-gyeong’s hand suddenly reaching into his view.

It was a signal to shuffle.

"House rules."

Hongju tapped his fingertips lightly against the cards.

A small gesture, but Mu-gyeong’s gaze lingered on his hand for longer than necessary.

"Let’s go to school."

Doksu tossed a million-won bundle into the center.

The others followed suit, adding their bets.

Mu-gyeong dealt the next round of cards.

Each player pulled their hand toward them, checking their luck.

"Ugh, I need a damn byeol if I want a ddang."

Doksu muttered just loudly enough for everyone to hear.

A byeol—he must be talking about the October card with the maple leaf illustration.

Was he bluffing, or did he really have it?

One thing was clear—Yang Siljang had reacted.

"Forget about getting a ddang, just fold already."

Yang Siljang acted unfazed, but confidently shoved two towering stacks into the pot.

The bills tumbled into the growing pile.

"Fine, I’ll call!"

Doksu grinned, pushing forward an identical stack of cash.

Hongju glanced at his hand—October Cheongdan.

If Doksu really had the October card, then his chances of holding 10-ddang were low.

That meant, as long as the next card wasn’t April, he wouldn’t lose to a higher-ranking combination.

The October + April pair was the ultimate "Jang-ddang", the strongest hand in Seotda.

"I call."

Hongju did the math and started betting—with the intention of losing.