Summary

The Way of the Snake

In a quiet village, there lived a wealthy merchant named Murata. He was indeed rich, but his methods of earning money involved some shady dealings. Every night, Murata secretly gathered with his gambling companions to hold illegal games. No one knew the details of his life, but there were those who were watching the flow of his money.

One day, a new customer arrived at Murata's door. His name was Jabazaki. He had heard about the games that Murata was running and became intrigued. Murata welcomed Jabazaki with a smile and taught him his ways. Jabazaki was also a master of gambling, but his techniques were unique. The cards he played always seemed to carry a mysterious power.

That night, Murata and Jabazaki decided to gamble together, wagering the fate of the village. However, the two, who should have been close as a couple, began arguing incessantly due to their strong connection. Jabazaki waited for the opportunity to steal Murata's money, while Murata fell for every trick Jabazaki set for him. In the end, Murata lost all his savings and realized he was now completely in Jabazaki's hands.

Ultimately, Murata understood what he had done and came to witness the end of the path he had chosen. The saying, "Where there are snakes, there are snakes," truly applied here. By living in the underworld, Murata would bear the cost of his choices for the rest of his life. Standing in the village square, he seemed to symbolize the foolishness of choosing his own path. And the shadows of new gambling would continue to lurk deeper in the village.