CHAPTER 7

Hogu (호구)

"That's quite heavy. Were you planning to go for a drink after this?"

"When did you even...?"

Dangon looked utterly incredulous.

Well, of course he would.

Not only had I flawlessly executed a movement technique that supposedly took at least three months to master, but I even managed to steal a martial master's satchel with skillful ease.

Of course, no matter how much of a genius I might be, mastering the Shadow Phantom Step in such a short time was impossible.

The truth was, I had used a little sleight of hand—nothing more than a trick.

「Young Lord! I followed your instructions, so please show mercy—」

'Alright. I'll consider it this time.'

「Thank you! I desire nothing but reincarnation, so command me as you wish!」

I had only used Shadow Phantom Step to approach Dangon—the actual theft of the satchel had been done by a specter. I had secretly hidden one inside the satchel beforehand.

While I wasn't yet able to physically interact with objects due to my unfinished Core Energy Cultivation, something like this was still child's play.

But Dangon, who had no way of knowing that, looked completely baffled.

"Could it be that you've already mastered Shadow Phantom Step—?"

"I don't even have access to the Martial Arts Library, so how could I have learned it in advance?"

"…Then how in the world did you—?"

"Maybe I'm just more of a genius than the Storm Knight himself."

I took exactly thirty silver coins from the satchel and returned the rest.

Thud!

Dangon was too stunned to even pick it up. The satchel hit the floor with a dull sound, its seams nearly coming apart.

"Master Dangon, don't you have anything else? This is too boring."

His face twisted in frustration.

Meanwhile, I grinned.

Siiick!

Got a big catch.

Two Hours Later

"This... can't be happening..."

Dangon lay sprawled on the ground, looking utterly defeated.

Why?

Because he had just lost every last bit of his money.

He truly was a tree that kept on giving. Every time I prodded him, he eagerly fell into the trap.

'Just one more round! One more, Young Lord!!'

'No money? Ha! That's nothing—I'll just go withdraw more! Stay right here, I'll be back from the bank in no time!!'

'Hah! See? No matter how talented you are, Young Lord, Phantom Butterfly Step might be one thing, but Wild Wind Movement is on a whole different level!'

'What? One more round? Hahahaha! Young Lord, listen… Wild Wind Movement is the proud secret technique of our Storm Division! There's no way—huh? Wait…?!'

'N-no! Nooooooo!'

'Please! Please, not this money! Have mercy! Forgive me! Pleaaaase!'

By strategically losing a few rounds on purpose, I lured him deeper and deeper into the game.

In the end, Dangon was completely wiped out.

He had likely revealed most of his secret techniques.

Even the old techniques of the Storm Division, which Kowloon Manor had always taken pride in.

But that was only natural.

Even though I had never trained in martial arts in my past life, I wasn't lacking in insight.

After all, I had been surrounded by top-tier masters all my life.

Especially my master, who often demonstrated sword techniques directly in front of me.

Because of that, my ability to discern martial techniques had been honed to an extreme degree. I could see through most techniques instantly, down to their core principles.

Not to mention, for the past two months, I had been steadily training Poisonous Dragon Heart Art and Twelve Crushing Strikes of the Storm Tiger, refining my control over this body.

With just minor adjustments, I could absorb martial techniques as easily as a sponge soaks up water.

Of course, I had only memorized them, not mastered them. I couldn't use them in actual combat just yet.

But that would only take a little practice.

Now that the atmosphere was just right...

Should I throw in the final bait?

"This feels too incomplete to end here."

"...I have nothing left to wager."

With his dark circles and exhausted face, he looked like a walking corpse.

"But there's still one thing left, isn't there?"

"One thing...?"

"Wild Wind Dance."

"!!"

Thud!

I grinned as I dropped the heavy satchel on the floor.

"I'll bet everything I have on this. What do you say?"

"...But Wild Wind Dance—"

Dangon shifted uncomfortably, unable to finish his sentence.

Of course, he would hesitate.

Wild Wind Dance was the very identity of the Storm Division.

The Storm Division was legendary in Sichuan's martial world.

They had crushed the influence of Mount Qingcheng and Emei Sect, and even halted the advance of the Heavenly Demon Cult into the central plains.

Thanks to them, Sichuan Tang Clan had risen to power, securing dominance over western China.

Only Storm Division warriors were permitted to learn Wild Wind Dance.

Once activated, it summoned raging winds that shredded everything in their path.

If poison was mixed into it, the battlefield would turn into a graveyard.

If throwing weapons were added, the entire area would be devastated.

Naturally, Sichuan Tang Clan protected Wild Wind Dance with the utmost secrecy. It was one of the few techniques not even recorded in Heavenly Demon Martial Records.

And I intended to obtain it.

"I know. The clan forbids passing it on without permission."

"But—"

"But there's an exception, isn't there? A direct subordinate of the Storm Division Leader can teach it."

"!!"

"Even if you're treated like an outcast, you're still the eldest son of the branch family's head. That gives you the right."

"...…"

Dangon bit his lip hard.

Because he couldn't deny a single word I said.

His usual easygoing demeanor vanished.

Instead, his eyes turned razor-sharp, exuding the presence of a true elite warrior of the Storm Division.

Whoosh!

The pressure made my skin tingle.

Not bad.

It even surprised me a little.

I had only ever seen his lazy, unmotivated side.

Was he hiding this all along?

"Wild Wind Dance is our very soul. No matter how skilled you are, Young Lord, I cannot allow it to be treated as mere gambling stakes."

Oh, the pride.

But there was something he didn't know.

I was a master of persuasion.

"Does it look like I'm treating it as a mere bet?"

"Isn't that what this is?"

"No."

"Then what—"

"How frustrating. Do you think I made all these bets just for the sake of gambling?"

"?"

For the first time, confusion crossed his face.

I sighed dramatically.

"I'm convincing you. That I have this much talent."

"!"

"If I had just asked to learn Wild Wind Dance outright, would you have agreed? No—you'd have laughed in my face."

"!!"

"If I hadn't provoked you like this, I wouldn't have even had a chance."

"So forget the bets. Just look at me, Tang Yunhui."

I locked eyes with Dangon and delivered the final blow.

"Do I look unworthy of inheriting the Storm Division's legacy?"

"!!!"

A storm of emotions raged in his gaze.

And then, after a long silence, he sighed.

"...I had heard that Young Lord had changed, but this is beyond change—you're practically a different person."

A pause, heavier than a thousand words.

"Have you been hiding your true self all this time?"

"Maybe."

"...Fine. I will show you Wild Wind Dance."

And so, a white tornado engulfed the training grounds.