Martial Arts Masochist

“Shall we play a round of scorpion game?”

“Scorpion game?”

The surrounding beggars slapped their foreheads and tried to play it cool.

‘Scorpion game!’

‘Seojin, are you sure about this!’

‘Ha ha! A real man can’t back out of this!’

Dang Soran found the scene worrying yet amusing.

Just watching Han Seojin always brought out these laughs.

And above all…

“…”

The fact that he was fighting this Jegal Yong to claim her—it made her heart ache fiercely.

During the day, he was always so dry and distant, pushing her away.

At night, he tormented her to an unbearable degree, shaming her so much she wondered if he hated her.

Right now, more serious than ever, he was trying to shatter all her engagements.

With every moment, her feelings for him deepened… Dang Soran could feel it.

She could thank Cheongwol a hundred times over for this and it wouldn’t be enough.

…It was a connection Cheongwol had brought her.

“Explain it.”

Jegal Yong whispered.

“Here, hand over the pouch.”

At Han Seojin’s words, Gwak Du swallowed hard with worried eyes and handed over a pouch of appropriate size.

Dang Soran perked up her ears, listening intently.

“You see this pouch. It has two openings, just big enough for our hands.”

“And then?”

“We put a scorpion inside and wait. First one to pull out their hand loses.”

“…What?”

“Yes?”

“Pardon?”

Jegal Yong, Dang Soran, and Dang Jiwoon all reacted with surprise.

Even Dang Jeokcheon let out a groan.

“Hmm.”

Jegal Yong pressed the issue.

“What if we get stung by the scorpion?”

“That’s the whole point of the game. If you’re scared, pull your hand out. It’s a test of courage.”

At that simple yet idiotic rule, Jegal Yong shot up from his seat in protest.

“What kind of stupid game is this? Waiting to get stung? It’s not even fun, and you could get seriously hurt!”

“That’s why I said it’s not a game for you scholar types.”

The Beggars’ Sect beggars burst into laughter all at once.

What had seemed like hearty guffaws before now looked like pure mockery aimed at Jegal Yong.

Jegal Yong flushed red and glanced at Dang Soran.

As if hoping she’d say something.

“Isn’t it a bit much for a grown man to be shooting pleading looks at a woman…?”

Han Seojin murmured to Gwak Du, just loud enough to be heard.

Jegal Yong’s face turned red then pale, but he soon sat back down.

“Fine…! Let’s do it!”

“Oh?”

“You want to test my courage? You’ll regret it. Anyway…! A guy who’s never had to muster courage in any real situation…!”

Han Seojin replied calmly.

“…There aren’t many who’ve overcome a life as frightening as yours.”

“What?”

“Ah, never mind. Enough talk—prove it with actions now. Gwak Du Uncle?”

At that very moment, Gwak Du swallowed again and fetched another pouch.

“…These are red-tailed scorpions caught outside the city today. Be careful. Even Young Master Jegal will be bedridden for days if stung.”

“No.”

That was when Dang Jeokcheon finally intervened.

He gestured to his retainers behind him, and they produced something else.

A small glass vial containing a black scorpion.

“Ah, Father…!”

Dang Soran paled at the sight, but Dang Jeokcheon didn’t flinch.

“…This is a Black Ultimate Scorpion. How about we use it? Won’t kill you, but you’ll be laid up for ten days. It’s only fair for a Beggars’ Sect game—who knows the state of their scorpion? This evens the odds.”

Jegal Yong’s eyes wavered first.

“D-Dang Clan Leader?”

Gwak Du stammered in panic.

“H-Black Ultimate Scorpion…? E-Even if Young Master Jegal is a martial artist, our Seojin could die if…”

Han Seojin never took his eyes off Jegal Yong.

“Sounds good.”

“What?”

“I’m in no matter what. You?”

“…”

Jegal Yong’s pupils shook.

Dang Jeokcheon watched him too.

Dang Soran couldn’t identify the hot surge rising in her chest.

But one thing was clear: she couldn’t look away from Han Seojin.

It was more dangerous than she’d thought, and she wanted to stop him… but she couldn’t even consider interfering.

The thought of getting in the way of a man pursuing his goal didn’t cross her mind.

Especially not with Han Seojin, who sometimes dominated her.

“…F-Fine, I’ll do it.”

Jegal Yong answered.

Han Seojin slipped his hand into the pouch first.

Jegal Yong followed suit.

In the small opening between them… Dang Jeokcheon uncorked the vial and tipped it over.

The scorpion slipped right inside.

“Ugh…!”

“Urk!”

Dang Clan retainers, Beggars’ Sect beggars… everyone watching groaned.

Only then did Jegal Yong’s composure crack.

Cold sweat beaded on his skin, and his eyes darted restlessly.

Han Seojin, by contrast, was serene.

“…Young Master Jegal. I trust you know… using inner energy is cheating?”

“W-Who doesn’t know that.”

Han Seojin grinned.

“Right? Good.”

At the same moment, Han Seojin roughly shook his hand inside the pouch.

“Whoa!!”

“Ugh…! S-Seojin!!”

Everyone groaned as if witnessing something horrific.

Jegal Yong even grabbed Han Seojin’s shoulder with his free hand.

“C-Calm down, damn it!!”

Han Seojin kept talking.

“Why keep acting up? Scared? Pull out then.”

It was the dismissive certainty that Jegal Yong was the bigger coward fueling his actions.

It didn’t take long for all eyes, once fixed on Jegal Yong, to shift slowly to Han Seojin.

Then Han Seojin suddenly raised his voice in surprise.

“Argh! The scorpion touched my hand!”

“P-Pull it out!”

“No, I’m not pulling out. I’d rather die. You pull out, Young Master Jegal.”

“I-I’m not pulling out either!”

“Then we keep going.”

Even Dang Jeokcheon let out a hollow laugh at him.

“…Have you ever seen such a madman.”

He then glanced steadily at Dang Soran.

Dang Soran met her father’s gaze before turning worried eyes back to Han Seojin.

She’d laughed earlier, but not anymore.

Worry for Han Seojin made her heart pound anxiously.

Jegal Yong was now baring his teeth, unable to stem the cold sweat.

Ma Childuk spoke up.

“I always knew Seojin had guts, but…!”

Gu Yeong added,

“Hey, you idiot! That’s enough!! It defeats the purpose! A Black Ultimate Scorpion could kill you…!”

Gwak Du was the same.

“Seojin. What the hell are you doing this for…?”

…Others might not know, but Dang Soran had to.

All for me.

Han Seojin is doing this for me.

Just watching made a surge of emotion well up, threatening tears.

Finally, Han Seojin let out a deep sigh and steadied his hand.

Jegal Yong, momentarily lowering his guard, said,

“Why…? A-Are you giving up now?”

“Poke.”

“Gahk!”

With a sharp yelp, Jegal Yong yanked his hand out first.

“It stung!! It stung me!! D-Dang Clan Leader…! The antidote!!”

His panicked, ugly flailing was pathetic for all to see.

A flicker of change crossed Dang Jeokcheon’s eyes.

He ordered his retainers.

“Here, the antidote…”

“No need.”

It was Han Seojin who spoke.

His hand was still inside.

“I just poked you. You weren’t stung by the scorpion.”

At that, Jegal Yong regained his wits and examined his own hand.

No scorpion sting anywhere.

Just a small, dirt-smeared crescent nail mark.

Dang Jeokcheon chuckled dryly.

“Ha ha… Well now.”

“Urk!”

The humiliated Jegal Yong finally raised his voice.

“You bastard!! You think I’d accept such a moronic game?!”

“Losing and making excuses?”

“You might have nothing to lose, but I do! The stakes aren’t the same! A man with everything loses more in death than one with nothing—don’t pretend otherwise! The bets on the table are different!”

“How can you say that when both lives are equally noble?”

“That’s the point—noble lives, but what hangs in the balance differs! If I die…! The power upholding my family…!”

Sensing the beggars’ steady gazes on him, he quickly changed tack.

“A-And besides! You cheated!! How dare you stab someone’s hand to deceive and win!”

“Strategy. Pure strategy.”

“It’s fraud! And judging courage on a game of pure luck? If you’d been stung first, you wouldn’t have acted like this!”

Ssshh…

In that instant, Han Seojin pulled out his hand.

Everyone froze.

Dang Jeokcheon included.

In his hand: the Black Ultimate Scorpion.

It thrashed wildly, its stinger buried deep in the back of Han Seojin’s hand.

“I told you. Stung or not… the one who pulls out last wins.”

Jegal Yong’s mouth finally shut.

“……”

“Young Master Jegal. I held it so it wouldn’t sting your hand, right?”

“G-G… Mmph!”

Dang Soran barely stopped herself from rushing to Han Seojin.

She clamped both hands over her mouth to stifle her groan.

Jegal Yong asked,

“…Why go this far…?”

It was the question Dang Soran wanted to ask.

But then, foam bubbled at his lips.

He staggered backward and collapsed.

Only then did Gwak Du drop all pretense and shout,

“Dang Clan Leader! Antidote!! Antidote!!”

Gu Yeong snatched the scorpion from Han Seojin’s hand and crushed it underfoot.

“Seojin…! Seojin, you crazy bastard!!”

Ma Childuk gripped Han Seojin’s wrist tightly, blocking the blood flow.

“Brothers! I’ll suck out the poison with my mouth!”

The Dang Clan retainers rushed to tend to Han Seojin.

Dang Soran wanted to run to him too, but she knew there was something more urgent.

Snap…

She grabbed Dang Jeokcheon’s hand.

“…Father…”

Dang Jeokcheon gazed leisurely at the dumbfounded Jegal Yong.