[TS] Became a Peach Saint – Chapter 272

A drop of sweat rolls down Grandfather Gwonma’s neck.

Thanks to that, the air feels heavy and sinks down.

*Tap-tap-tap!*

Grandfather Gwonma’s hand moves so fast it becomes a blur.

At the same time, my left eye twitches, and the world slows down.

*Thud!*

I grab Grandfather Gwonma’s wrist right on time, and his Adam’s apple bobs.

“Why, why are you doing this?”

“Grandfather, you shouldn’t do that.”

“Wh-what? Do you have proof? What are you talking about?”

The way he stammers is proof enough.

“Ah, come on, you were cheating.”

“Keke, you rascal Gwonma. If you got caught, just pay the fine.”

“Tsk!”

The playing cards Grandfather Gwonma throws scatter across the floor of the octagonal pavilion next to Heukryonggak.

“Now only Grandfather Gunsa is left.”

“It won’t be easy.”

Grandfather Gunsa sweeps up the scattered cards and starts shuffling them.

This time, he’s being honest.

*Thud.*

After shuffling, Grandfather Gunsa tosses a card in front of me.

I peek at the corner—it’s an April card.

After checking the card, I glance at Grandfather Gunsa’s face, but it’s completely expressionless.

He’s a tough opponent.

You can’t read his hand from his face at all.

*Clink.*

Grandfather Gunsa checks his own card and tosses a handful of coins onto the floor.

“10 jeon.”

“You’re coming in strong.”

“If you’re scared, you can just die.”

It’s the rule of the game: check one card, place a bet, then receive the last card.

My first card isn’t bad. Among the combinations with April, it’s mid to high tier.

“Bird!”

Just then, Baekseol delivers a quick report.

A bird means it’s a January card.

A good card.

“Hmm. Baekseol keeps looking at my cards.”

“Maybe she’s curious. She’ll love it if you pet her once.”

Hearing my words, Grandfather Gunsa gently moves his hand and carefully pets Baekseol’s tiny head.

Thanks to that, the grandfather’s lips, which had been expressionless, curl up slightly.

“Good!”

“Hoho, she’s a mystical creature.”

“Peep!”

“Hmm. Yulseo (squirrel), come here too.”

“Danpung.”

“Yes, Danpung.”

As Danpung scurries over and gets a careful pet, the grandfather’s smile grows even brighter.

Like Grandfather Arthur, these feisty elders seem to show a lot of affection, contrary to their words.

*Clink.*

“I’ll take it.”

“Ahem!”

The grandfather shuffles the cards again and tosses one in front of me.

I peek at it—it’s a September card.

A Gusa card. Not the worst, but not great either.

If it’s not paired with January or February, it’s still playable.

“Flower!”

‘Which flower?’

“Flower!”

Telepathy isn’t working.

Come to think of it, there are many types of birds and flowers.

In the game, January, February, April, and August cards are all birds.

I don’t know if Baekseol saw a crane, a nightingale, or a lark.

*Clink.*

“20 jeon.”

He’s going all in.

Birds and flowers.

If we’re talking about the worst possible hand you can make, it’s definitely “Gwangddang.”

My hand isn’t even “Mungusa,” just a plain “Gusa” hand.

*Clatter.*

As I pushed all the money piled in front of me forward, Grandfather Gunsa, who had been expressionless the whole time, finally showed a hint of confusion on his face.

“Take it, all of it.”

“Huh… Haha. Young one, you’re going to lose everything at this rate.”

“Grandfather, you’re rambling. If you lose it all, you’ll end up like the other grandfathers behind you.”

Grandfather Gunsa glanced at the other grandfathers watching from behind.

*Gulp.*

His Adam’s apple bobbed noticeably.

“You should at least take what’s left. Grandfather Gunsa is a wise man, after all.”

“……”

My bold betting clearly caught Grandfather Gunsa off guard. He must have never gambled before.

A long, awkward silence followed.

“……You’re dead.”

“Let’s go!”

The game of “Seotda” I started with 100 coins ended with me having 440 coins.

It was just for fun, not a huge amount of money.

Since two coins can buy a bowl of noodles, I basically won enough for about 220 bowls.

“What was your hand?”

“I had April and September.”

“WHAT!?”

When I showed my hand, Grandfather Gunsa’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

“Hahaha! Grandfather Gunsa, you got completely owned by Ga-eul!”

Grandfather Grim Sword burst into laughter, and Grandfather Gunsa flipped over his own hand.

It was a combination of January and February, an “Alli” hand.

If we had continued, it would have been a rematch.

“I’ll use this as travel money when I go out.”

*Clatter.*

As I swept the scattered coins into my storage space, the numbers started piling up.

───

[Player Points: 0P]

[Remaining Amount: 1.43 billion won]

[Remaining Amount: 89 gold, 46 silver]

[Remaining Amount: 1 gold, 2 silver, 814 copper]

───

One copper coin is worth 1,000 won. A silver coin is worth 1 million won, and a gold coin is worth 20 million won.

This place doesn’t have an exchange booth nearby like a tower, nor do angels instantly exchange coins for you, so it’s just piles of coins everywhere.

Looking at the points displayed on the floor, it seems I’ll have to climb the tower soon to earn some gold.

“You know the flower card game I taught you is only played with coins, right?”

“Hahaha, of course.”

Grandfather Changma, who had been watching from behind, let out a hearty laugh and sat back down in his seat.

Even though we only played with the smallest unit of currency in this world, the coins, my stash grew to 600,000 won.

If this were silver or gold coins, I’d be ruined in an instant.

“Grandfather, Grandmother, I think I’ll head out now. It’s about time to get moving.”

“Hmm, already?”

The lively atmosphere of the pavilion instantly fell into silence.

They don’t seem too happy about me leaving.

Even though we’ve been playing games like this, they still act like this.

“Don’t worry too much.”

“No, we’re just concerned about you… Oof!”

Grandfather Grim Sword’s mouth was covered by Grandfather Dokma standing next to him.

They seem to get along so well that just watching them makes me feel good.

Then, Grandmother, who had been quietly watching, reached over and gently patted my head.

“Alright, kiddo. Have a safe trip. You should leave now to reach Hefei before sunset.”

“Yep!”

“And I’ll take care of sending the medicine you saved for Autumn to your grandfather.”

“Ah, I already sent it.”

“Sent it?”

Grandma’s gaze turns to the sky.

In the sky of the Cheonma Shin Guild, birds like pigeons and hawks are flying around in large numbers.

“We need to do something about those quickly, I can’t tell them apart.”

Grandma seems to have understood that I sent the herbs and alcohol through the messenger birds.

“But why are there so many birds?”

“It seems the Murim Alliance has figured out we have Shin Yi with us. Judging by how they’re frantically sending those expensive messenger birds, they must be in a hurry.”

“Huh? That’s some shady business.”

“Kekeke, indeed. Shady business.”

I can’t help but think there are as many patients as there are birds in the sky.

It’s a crazy world in many ways.

“Grandma, Grandpa, I’ll be going now.”

“Alright, kiddo. Do you have the jade token I gave you?”

At Grandma’s words, I rummage through my belongings and show her the jade token I received when we first met. She nods.

“If anything happens, make sure to show it to the other party.”

“Yep! Thank you!!”

“If you find yourself in an unavoidable situation, break that jade token.”

“This?”

Grandma nods once more without answering.

“Hmm… Okay! I’ll keep that in mind!”

“Alright, take care and come back safely.”

“Yes! I’ll be back!”

***

As we pass through the stone gate called Bimun, which I first came through with Grandma in the carriage, a cliff immediately unfolds.

Behind us is a cave that leads outside, and hidden in the bushes covering the stone gate next to the cliff is the carriage.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay!”

“Awesome!”

The faces of Grandma and Grandpa, who repeatedly urged me to take the carriage, flash through my mind.

“They’re good people, right?”

“Good!”

“Awesome!”

Originally, the purpose of coming here was to blow air into the fluffballs’ noses, so I’m not keen on taking the carriage.

Clomp, clomp.

As we walk towards the exit, the sound of footsteps echoes inside the cave.

Ding!

“Baekseol, food.”

“Good!”

Ding!

Rustle.

“Danpung, food.”

“Peet!”

As I raise my palm, Danpung jumps down from my shoulder and starts picking up the seeds.

“Let’s see.”

I unfold the crumpled paper handed to me by Grandpa Gunsa with one hand, and it’s densely filled with scribbled writing.

There must be so many sick people.

“First, go to the Murim Alliance, meet their leader or go to Shaolin Temple. Where should we start?”

Both are too busy eating to answer.

As I continue reading the note, I feel the sunlight shining brightly.

As we pass through the cave, the first thing that hits me is the clean air filling my nostrils. It naturally lifts my mood.

“Wow, the air is nice.”

“Awesome.”

“Do you like it too, Danpung?”

“Awesome!”

With cheeks full of seeds, Danpung wags its tail. It seems to really like it.

“The weather’s nice, let’s take it slow and have some fun.”

“Alright!”

According to Grandfather Gunsa, this place is so vast that you can’t help but curse at how huge it is.

“Prepared for this very moment!”

Reaching into the space, I pull out what I grab, and what Man-wook rescued comes into view.

“This is it. Yata!”

“Yeah!”

“Pit!”

Vroom! Vroooom─!

Grabbing the clutch and twisting the throttle, the motorcycle roars as it idles.

“Let’s go…!!”

The motorcycle shoots forward along the dirt path.

“Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!”

“Shi! Hee! Hee! Hee! Hee! Heen! Na! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!”

“Pee! Hee! Hee! Hee! Hee! Heet!”

Screech!

“Whoa, hold up.”

Pulling the brake, the motorcycle stops with a cloud of dust.

After just a short ride, my whole body feels like it’s shaking.

“Did my butt split in two?”

“Pee-peet!”

“Wait, butts are supposed to be two pieces, right? Danpung, you genius squirrel?”

“Peet!”

If we keep riding on this unpaved road full of rocks, my butt might split into four pieces.

“No choice. Let’s take it slow.”

Gwaaaaang─!!!

“Pee! Hee! Hee! Hee! Hee! Heet!”

“Ba! Ba! Ba! Ba! Ah! Ahp!”

“Ba! Ba! Ba! Ahp! Da! Da! Uh! Uhl! Muh! Muh! Uhk! Uh! Uh! Uht! Uh! Uh!?”

Baekseol seems like she didn’t eat enough.

***

As we keep moving forward, I see people in the distance surrounding a cart, swords drawn.

Screeeech—!

As I approach and slam on the brakes, a cloud of dust rises, and everyone’s eyes turn to me.

“What, what is that?”

Their eyes are filled with confusion.

“What, it’s the Punglim Three Brothers. You wanna die?”

“Gasp! Hah, hah, Han So-jeo…”

“Talking like a noble. If you don’t wanna die, hand over everything you’ve got. Now.”

As I walk toward the Punglim Three Brothers, a cry reaches my ears.

“Peeee—eet!”

“Danpung, we already stopped.”

“Peet?”

Danpung tilts their head and finally looks around, late to the party.