Chapter 353: Chapter 353

People always had something they wanted to have.

Regardless of age or gender, it was natural for those who had a lot to want even more.

Dan So-mi.

This small child had once lost everything.

Her home, her friends, her parents, and even her hometown.

In a situation where she could not return and could do nothing, she met Dan Woo-hyun and regained many things, obtaining even more.

Originally, human greed was endless.

Therefore, Dan So-mi was being greedy today as well.

In front of Dan So-mi, a man was busily spinning cups. Many people placed bets here and there, and before long, the sounds of mixed joy and sorrow could be heard from all over.

Watching this, Dan So-mi’s eyes sparkled.

She was secretly gambling without anyone knowing.

Since she slipped in among the adults to place bets, no one would know how much money this small child had won.

“Hey, how about you stop at that?”

“Just… just a little more…”

“I’m telling you, something really bad might happen if you keep going.”

Hong Jin-rang looked around anxiously.

Winning money was good.

With the luck So-mi possessed, she would never lose. However, if she kept taking money, the gambler’s eyes would naturally follow her, and trouble would surely brew.

Moreover, this was not Yueyang.

It was Changsha.

Since this was a place where Hong Won-chang’s power did not reach, a big problem might occur if they were not careful.

Hong Jin-rang glanced to his side.

He saw Ju Ji-yak standing next to Dan So-mi, her eyes sparkling. Since being together meant not losing money and bringing in several times more than her pocket money, she could not stop.

Hong Jin-rang let out a long sigh.

“I think it would be best to stop at that…”

Just because a large crowd gathered did not mean they would not be noticed. If the gambler noticed something strange and recognized Dan So-mi, the ruffians nearby would definitely not stand still.

Although the ruffians would not be able to harm So-mi, he felt an unnecessary sense of anxiety.

“Here!”

At that moment, Dan So-mi placed her money on one of the cups.

Instantly, the gambler’s eyes changed strangely.

Although he thought he had collected a lot of money, a significant amount was missing, and on second thought, he felt like all of it had gone to this small child.

“Is it here, kid?”

The gambler asked, keeping his eyes on Dan So-mi.

It was a look that realized this child had won the money. Hong Jin-rang looked troubled, but Dan So-mi and Ju Ji-yak did not care about his gaze at all.

“Yes! That is right.”

“So-mi, it is here, right?”

“Yeah!”

The gambler smirked.

The people around them also laughed with absurd expressions. The sight of young children coming to gamble was funny enough, but they were placing bets as if they were certain.

Even the place where Dan So-mi betted was a spot where not a single person had bet.

“Now, look. It is not in here.”

“It is, though?”

“Huh?!”

The gambler looked at the cup with a startled expression. He clearly remembered putting it in the adjacent cup, so how could the die be in this one!

“Great job, So-mi!”

“Wow!”

The two children hopped around with excited expressions. Since even the onlookers stared blankly, how flustered must the gambler be?

The corners of his mouth trembled.

“You… managed to guess it right.”

“I am very good at this. Our Grandpa Sa told me that I was born with a talent for this kind of thing.”

“…That is not a compliment, So-mi.”

“Huh? It is not?”

“…”

Seeing her tilt her head with an innocent expression, Hong Jin-rang held his head and shook it.

Those old men, what on earth were they saying to a young child?

None of them were normal.

“That is enough, let us go now! If you keep going, I will run and tell on you.”

“Ah… okay! I… I got it.”

At Hong Jin-rang’s threat, Dan So-mi eventually gathered her money and turned around. Ju Ji-yak also looked clearly disappointed, but she knew well that without So-mi, there was no point in doing it.

As the three children slowly began to walk away, the gambler glanced at them.

Several ruffians watched the children for a moment and then carefully followed them.

* * *

“What are you going to do with the money you earn like that?”

Ju Ji-yak asked with a puzzled expression toward Dan So-mi, who was walking with quick, short steps. Although they had earned it together, Dan So-mi was strangely obsessed with money.

Last time, when they set up the street stalls, did she not practically snatch pocket money from Zhuge Un?

“Hmm… about this.”

Dan So-mi thought for a moment and then suddenly turned around. She then looked at Hong Jin-rang and Ju Ji-yak standing behind her and smiled brightly.

“I am saving money to go on a trip with Dad when I grow up.”

“Huh… what?”

“Huh?”

The two of them tilted their heads as if they had just heard something incomprehensible.

Who was earning money for whom?

“You see, my dad has no money… So So-mi has to earn a lot so we can go on a trip to the Central Plains together.”

“…”

“Who has no money?”

“My dad.”

Dan So-mi tilted her head.

Then, the two of them showed strange expressions. Their faces were very odd, as if they had heard something completely absurd.

“What is wrong?”

“No… it is nothing.”

“Hey… So-mi, do you know who the richest man in Hunan is when you say that?”

“Huh?”

At Hong Jin-rang’s question, Dan So-mi looked as if she had no idea what he meant. She truly did not seem to know the fact that her father was called the richest man in Hunan.

Indeed, since he saved money so stubbornly and tried not to spend it, it could only look to Dan So-mi’s eyes as if he had no money.

“I, I see, so that is why you are saving money.”

“Yes, So-mi is lucky, right? So I should use that while I am still young to make lots of money.”

“At least you are self-aware…”

“…”

Dan So-mi smiled brightly.

This small child, who knew nothing at first, also changed her thoughts about what she possessed as time went by.

She now knew what she did not know before.

Dan So-mi had finally realized that she was several times luckier than other people.

‘Moreover, she is thorough!’

To confidently say that she would use that luck to earn money from childhood, she was indeed that parent’s child.

While walking for a long time with those thoughts, Hong Jin-rang suddenly stopped walking.

Before they knew it, they were walking in a deserted place, and a group of men suddenly blocked their way.

He recognized their faces.

They were the ruffians who were next to the gambler a moment ago.

“Listen well, Jin-rang. So-mi’s luck might be strong, but it will not always go in a good direction. You must watch over her well from the side.”

Recalling what Namgung Cheon had once told him, Hong Jin-rang frowned. Indeed, just as that old man said, it seemed So-mi’s luck was not unconditionally good.

Of course, in this case.

‘It should be called reaping what one sows…’

Hong Jin-rang smirked and clenched his fists.

Even so, it was like throwing an egg at a rock.

Even knowing that, Hong Jin-rang did not loosen his fists.

“Hey, kids. If you just leave what you have and go, we won’t do anything to you.”

At the man’s words, Ju Ji-yak frowned.

Although she expected something like this to happen, she felt unnecessarily annoyed to see these common ruffians say such clichéd words that could be heard anywhere.

Glancing to the side, Dan So-mi’s expression was not much different.

If it were in the past, Dan So-mi would have been at least a little scared, but now she looked at the men in front of her without changing her expression.

Then, she tilted her head and opened her mouth.

“Ah, the people who were at the place where we gambled earlier…”

“Be quiet! Shut up and just hand over what you have and go! Otherwise, you will be taught a harsh lesson.”

The ruffians raised their voices and threatened.

In truth, they could not possibly like threatening such young children. However, as people who received money, they had no choice since their employer ordered it.

Therefore, they wanted to end this unpleasant task as quickly as possible.

Just then.

-Bwahaha! Who dares to do such a shameful deed in broad daylight!

Suddenly, a man’s voice was heard.

Soon after, someone leapt and appeared.

He landed after performing a dazzling lightness art as if flying on the wind, and then swung his fists at the ruffians.

Thud, thud!

At the consecutive fierce sounds, the children flinched.

A violent resonance erupted, sounding like watermelons bursting.

The large men fell backward with cries of horror, and the one who suddenly appeared burst into a loud laugh while looking at them.

“Bwahaha! Are you kids alright?”

He walked over and bowed his head to the children.

The three children looked up at him and opened their mouths before they knew it.

A giant of nine feet.

Even someone of eight feet could be considered enormously tall.

Was it not said that even Guan Yu, a general famous as the God of War, was eight feet tall? Even if one searched the Central Plains, there would be few who possessed such a height.

However, the person in front of them was close to nine feet.

Their necks hurt from looking up so far just to barely see his face.

Knowing this, the man also bent his waist and asked.

“You… you are huge.”

“Bwahaha! This older brother is quite tall! I do not fall behind anywhere!”

The man seemed to have a great deal of pride in his height.

In addition to his tall stature, the rugged muscles attached to his body looked sufficient to make any enemy feel fear.

“Yes, are you hurt anywhere?”

“No! Thank you, mister.”

“Haha, although I have aged a bit… mister, call me older brother.”

“Yes, mister!”

Dan So-mi replied with a bright smile.

At that moment, the man frowned.

“Are you listening to me?”

“Hehe, yes, of course I am listening. But mister is indeed a mister.”

“…I… I see. You are a bolder child than I thought.”

The man laughed with an absurd expression. However, looking at Dan So-mi, who was still grinning, he felt good for some reason and stretched out his hand before he knew it.

Just as he was about to pat her head.

Dan So-mi slightly avoided his hand.

“Only my dad can touch my head.”

“Oh? Is that so? It seems you like your dad very much.”

“Yes! To So-mi, Dad is the best.”

Instantly, the man’s expression turned mysterious. He quietly looked at Dan So-mi’s face, and as if he remembered something, he stroked his chin and asked.

“So-mi, So-mi, is your surname Dan?”

“Yes! I am Dan So-mi.”

At that single word, the man raised his eyebrows and wore an extremely warm expression. Yet, strangely, his gaze looking at Dan So-mi shone with various colors.

“I see… you? That one?”

At the incomprehensible question, Dan So-mi tilted her head.

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