Chapter 238: The Truth of the Past

"Hit!"

At the card table, Yan Jing remained silent, continuously asking for hits.

So what if he really lost a third of his assets? Couldn't they see that Old Man had already started his verbal offensive in the distance?

He had pricked up his ears and eavesdropped just a moment ago, taking in all of Old Man's youthful experiences.

If Tiger could truly learn to control his fortune, even just a tiny bit, what did a so-called third of his assets in Stage B matter? So what if he lost them?

Not to mention, he had conveniently learned Old Man's youthful secrets in the process, which would make raising his Loyalty Level much easier later on.

Thus, without batting an eye, he kept asking for hits.

Of course, there was also a minor secondary reason:

He simply refused to believe it. Was he really not going to draw Ten and a Half even once today?

"Dealing cards."

The shadow spoke. Soon, two cards were dealt into each of their hands.

"Player speaks."

Yan Jing picked up his card, took a glance, and instantly perked up.

A King!

It was here!

The battle to prove Yan Jing's fortune.

Opposite him, Shi Le saw Yan Jing's expression and smiled coldly.

Did he draw a good card? Fortune fluctuated; he was already prepared to fold.

At most, he would just lose the ante.

"Hit!"

Yan Jing raised his hand, and a playing card skimmed across the gambling table and into his hand.

Yan Jing took a deep breath and peeled back the corner of the card.

A Jack!

He knew it! No baby cries every day, and no gambler loses every time!

"Hit!"

A Queen!

"Hit!"

A Jack!

"Hit!"

A King!

Shi Le sat up straight, sensing that something was amiss. That was five cards. If he didn't bust on the next card, it would be a six-card low hand.

According to the rules, he would have to pay three times the ante.

Looking at the five half-point cards in his hand, Yan Jing also realized something was wrong.

He believed he had luck, but—this fortune was getting a bit too hot to handle.

Glancing back, he saw Tiger sitting cross-legged on the ground with his eyes tightly shut, having assumed the position at some unknown point. He understood.

It wasn't his fortune arriving; it was his cheat.

Whatever! A cheat was still a kind of luck! Borrowing a tiger's might to show off was still showing off!

He felt a sudden flash of inspiration and slapped the table, standing up:

"Two cards!!!"

Then, under the crowd's shocked gazes, Yan Jing didn't even look at the new cards he received. He simply flipped them over and slammed them onto the table.

Double Jokers!!!

...

"Player wins!"

By this time, there were no more half-point cards left in the deck.

In this single wave, Yan Jing had revealed the last seven half-point cards. There was no possible way for Shi Le to win.

"Double card raise, seven cards all half-points, a seven-card low hand is seven times. A total of fourteen times the ante."

The shadow spoke:

"Dealer loses 70 pieces of land."

In an instant, the situation reversed.

Shi Le's gaunt cheeks were now written with absolute shock.

He had worked painstakingly for half the day, yet Yan Jing had won it all back in a single round, leaving Shi Le at a net loss of 30 pieces of land.

Seven half-point cards!!!

He had only ever drawn that during practice!

Most importantly, there were no half-point cards left in the deck. In other words, it was now impossible for anyone to get Ten and a Half. There was no point in continuing the game.

Even if one won, the stakes wouldn't be high.

His breathing quickened. That feeling of having victory in his grasp only to plummet into the abyss the next second made him feel as though he had returned to his very first time at a gambling table.

The nervousness of having his wins and losses controlled by the dealer, along with the terror that taking a single step back meant falling into the abyss, made his heart pound violently in his chest. His hands, resting on the table, trembled slightly.

"Next game."

He tossed the cards in his hand aside and looked at Yan Jing opposite him, trying desperately to conceal the slight tremor in his voice:

"You choose."

"All right."

Yan Jing nodded. Just as he was about to speak, Tiger's voice rang out from behind him:

"Young Master, play dice."

"All right."

Yan Jing nodded and slapped the table:

"We'll play dice!"

[Please choose: highest roll, lowest roll, or guess the numbers]

"Guess the numbers, Young Master,"

Tiger said softly.

At this moment, Tiger's tone was calm, completely devoid of his previous sleaziness and cowardice. It was as if he had become a different person.

"Guess the numbers!!!"

Yan Jing raised his hand.

When in Minhu, one had to act like those from Minhu. A man destined for great things had to trust his subordinates.

The matters he truly valued were no longer on this gambling table. In a flash, the playing cards on the table were replaced by a massive dice cup.

"The shadow generated by the Regional Grid will roll the dice. There are ten dice in total. Both sides will guess how many are high and how many are low. Each will choose to ante or raise. The closest guess wins."

The shadow reached out and picked up the dice cup, placing the ten dice inside one by one.

It shook the cup vigorously. A few seconds later, it slowly came to a halt and set the cup down on the table.

"Previous round's winner speaks."

The shadow looked at Yan Jing.

"Five high, five low."

Behind him, Tiger spoke softly.

Yan Jing immediately placed his bet, putting down ten pieces of land.

Opposite him, Shi Le's breathing quickened slightly.

Ten pieces of land were equivalent to half of his entire current net worth.

At the gambling table, the person with the most chips would always have the advantage.

He looked at the wooden table in front of him, closed his eyes, and began to recall the shadow's motions as it shook the dice cup.

He had, of course, seen and heard it clearly.

Are you kidding? He was the master of Baile Manor. He started playing Pai Gow at five, guessed flower cards at eight, learned Mahjong at ten, and mastered every folk gambling game by thirteen. He killed his opium-addicted father, took every cent of the family's assets to the gambling tables, and lost every last bit of it!

After that came borrowing. Once he finished borrowing from his blood relatives, he borrowed from extended relatives, and after that, his friends.

It was only when he had nowhere left to borrow from and had wagered half his life away that he finally tasted victory for the first time.

Because that time, he wasn't sitting at the table.

He was the one watching the table for someone else.

It was from then on that he first learned the inner workings of the trade, learned about cheating, and learned about so-called fortune.

It was also from then on that he finally understood why he lost—it wasn't that he lacked the destiny for it, it was because the others were playing dirty!

He did have the destiny for wealth! If they played dirty, he would play even dirtier than them!!!

Since then, the gambling addicts who died by his hands numbered in the thousands. The families he ruined were innumerable, and the gambles he played were in the millions.

So, of course, he heard the dice inside that cup clearly.

But that was exactly why he hesitated.

Because it should have been six high and four low inside that cup.

But the man opposite him—no, the person standing behind that man—had called five high, five low.

Ten pieces of land...

To him right now, it was half his fortune.

Which was the equivalent of stepping half a foot into the Third Tier.

This made his heart tighten involuntarily.

No, he must have misheard something just now.

The man opposite him had been tapping his hand on the table the whole time. He had tuned out that interference, but there had actually been the sound of footsteps mixed in as well.

Yes, that was it.

He wiped the sweat from his palms:

"...Five high, five low."

"Both sides have guessed the same ratio. Proceeding to point guesses. Guess the high dice first."

The shadow looked at Yan Jing:

"Dealer speaks."

"The five highs are one six, one five, and three fours."

Yan Jing spoke according to what Tiger had said.

"Player speaks."

Shi Le wiped his hands vigorously against his pant legs:

"One six, one five, and two fours—"

These were the four high dice he had managed to hear earlier.

But he couldn't name the fifth one.

Because he felt there were six low dice.

Now, he could only use the process of elimination. The low points he was certain of were... Amidst his hesitation, time slipped away bit by bit. The shadow beside them began to count down:

"Three, two—" "And another six!"

Shi Le was certain that the die couldn't have been a one before the shaking began. Excluding the one, regardless of which way it tilted, a six was the most probable outcome.

"Opening the dice cup now."

The shadow lifted the lid of the dice cup. Shi Le stared intently at the dice on the base, as nervous as a greenhorn stepping into a casino for the first time.

"One six, one five, two fours."

He quickly locked onto the dice he had correctly judged, then carefully searched for the last one. But after looking for a long while, he couldn't find a second six or a third four. He instantly grew confused:

"What's going on—"

"The dice are four high, six low."

The shadow stated flatly. Shi Le froze and lifted his head.

"According to the rules, both guessed five highs, and since the Dealer's points are smaller, the Dealer wins this round."

Shi Le stared wide-eyed at the dice. The shadow's subsequent words were like static, completely failing to register in his ears.

He kept his gaze fixed on those dice for a long time. He took a deep breath, then, trembling, he looked up at the cloud-like fortune hovering above.

At that moment, the fortune that had once blotted out the sky was rapidly draining away.

Because he had just relinquished his own fortune.

"Heh, haha—"

His eyes lost focus for a second. He let out a few dry laughs, then raised his eyes to look at Yan Jing opposite him, his gaze more vicious than ever before.

It was as if he wanted to swallow Yan Jing whole.

"Again!!!"

He remembered himself the very first time he sat at a gambling table. He had had nothing back then either, yet he had still made it to where he was today!

It was nothing more than walking the path he came from one more time!

The shadow finished shaking the dice.

"Dealer speaks."

"Five high, five low."

Yan Jing said, wagering 5 pieces of land.

"Two high, eight low!"

Shi Le snarled viciously.

He had already tested it out—the other party was completely inept at listening to the dice!

As long as he trusted his own judgment, it was impossible to lose!!!

However, just as his voice faded, a violent rainstorm suddenly broke out from the sky.

His expression changed drastically, and he shouted:

"Open the cup, quickly—"

But it was already too late. The rain came down far too fiercely, stinging as it struck their skin and loudly battering against the dice cup.

Anyone could guess that the dice inside had definitely moved.

His face instantly turned ashen. Eyes wide, he looked up at the fortune hovering overhead. Now, only a small, puddle-sized patch of formless cloud remained.

The next second, the shadow lifted the cup:

"Four high, six low. Dealer wins!"

"Again!!!"

Shi Le looked as if he'd gone mad. He had the skill! He had the experience!!!

He had merely run out of luck for a moment. As long as he kept going, there would eventually be a time he would win!!!

"Five high, five low. Dealer wins."

"Again!!"

"Six high, four low. Dealer wins."

"Again!!!"

"Seven high, three low. Dealer wins."

"Again!!!!!"

He screamed until his voice grew hoarse, each shout louder than the last. Eyes bloodshot, he stood in the rain like a drenched, solitary wolf.

The surrounding spectators couldn't help but fall silent.

This time, however, the shadow did not roll the dice again. Instead, it stated flatly:

"The Player no longer has the 5 pieces of land required for the ante. Dealer speaks. You may define the stakes yourself."

"If the Dealer refuses to change the stakes, this Special Grid event concludes. Faction No. 7 fails and is declared bankrupt."

The torrential rain battered the gambling table, causing the wood to tremble violently. Yet, when the rain fell around Yan Jing, it seemed to be blocked by an invisible barrier, turning into crystal droplets that rolled off toward the ground.

Yan Jing smiled. He looked at Shi Le opposite him, who was utterly devastated and shocked at how he had completely run out of chips:

"Are you still betting? If you are, I'll change the stakes."

"Tell me about the time you murdered my father."

"I'll give you 5 pieces of land for it."

5 pieces of land. A humiliating wager.

Yet, upon hearing this, Shi Le acted as if he had seized his final lifeline. He nodded frantically:

"I'll bet! I'll bet!!"

He could feel it; it was the next round. The very next round! He still had his arms, still had his torso—he could offer them all in an exchange with Heaven. As long as he could pique New Heaven's interest in this gamble, as long as he could get New Heaven to bet on his side, he still had a chance to turn things around!

"It was Bai Qiu! He came to me back then and brought up the Ancient Relic business."

"Betting with New Heaven cost money, and I was broke. I was out of money, and those degenerates didn't have much to their names either. It wasn't nearly enough for me. I had no choice but to agree to his deal!"

"Transporting Ancient Relics requires manpower, and those desperate gambling addicts would do anything for cash. I sent everyone who owed me money over to him, telling them that as long as they helped deliver a package, their debts would be wiped clean. They agreed! You can't blame me! You can't blame me!!"

"But before the Ancient Relic business could start, he said two problems had to be resolved. The first was the Mei Family. They had Actor Cultivators who could spot the flaws in our face-swapping. The second was the Luo Family, because they controlled the most underhanded businesses in Bianliu County and were well-informed. If we didn't eliminate them, word was bound to leak!"

"He told me he had the backing of someone Across the Lake and said to just go through with it!"

"First, I schemed to get several Luo Family higher-ups buried in gambling debt. Then, I had them borrow money from the younger Luo Family members. Once the younger generation ran out of money, they were too afraid to demand it back from the higher-ups, so their only option was to come to me and gamble as well! In the end, we forced many of the Luo Family descendants to their deaths."

"Bai Qiu had people print newspapers about this, ready to publish at any moment. As long as it was exposed, the righteous reputation your Luo Family always touted would be ruined. Once we told your father about it, he had no choice but to come and negotiate a price with us."

"But the debts those people owed were enough to span a hundred years. How could your father afford to pay them off? He wanted to fight, but on our side, we had me, Bai Qiu, Tang Lian, and Lin Changgui. He had no other choice. He was forced to gamble against us."

"Lin Changgui had a crop that slowly dissolved a person's consciousness. Your father's mind gradually crumbled. He couldn't resist my ability and began to love gambling."

"Why did he lose all his money?!" Yan Jing asked the crucial question.

"Because of you! Because of you!"

Shi Le clutched his head with both hands and suddenly began laughing maniacally. "I don't know where Tang Lian saw you before, but the version of you she painted was identical. It could even recount its own past! Your father's consciousness had been eroded; he couldn't tell the difference at all."

"We told him that you had racked up gambling debts and made your father choose. If he left the gambling table, you would spend the rest of your life paying them off! Your father claimed to be righteous his whole life, but in the end, his righteousness didn't hold up. He chose you and threw away your entire family's fortune!"

"You jinx! You absolute curse!!! You're the one who killed your father! Are you satisfied now?!!"

"I'm satisfied."

Yan Jing nodded:

"Here are your five pieces of land. Let's continue."

For some reason, his voice carried a hint of coldness.

But amidst the equally chilling rain, Shi Le failed to notice it.

He stared excitedly at the newly transferred five pieces of land. His consciousness hastily returned to the black veil, his hands frantically tapping all over his body as he stared up at the sky with fanatical fervor:

"I'll give it all to you! These are all for you! Everything I have after I die is yours too! Let me win! Let me win!!!"

He opened his arms toward the sky, cheering fanatically as he watched his fortune gather overhead once more.

Then, he returned to the gambling table.

"Quick!! Hurry up and start!!!"

He urged the shadow relentlessly.

The shadow picked up the dice cup and began shaking it.

He closed his eyes, hearing the clattering of the dice with absolute clarity. Even the images from inside the cup materialized in his mind.

Even through the fierce storm, he heard it all vividly.

Yes! This was it!!

He was going to win!!!

"Dealer speaks."

The shadow looked at Yan Jing.

"Can the Player speak first?"

Yan Jing smiled.

"The Dealer decides."

"Let the Player speak first."

Yan Jing said softly.

"Heh, boy, trying to copy me? Trying to follow my lead!!!"

Shi Le burst into laughter. "If the number of dice and the points end up exactly the same, the one who speaks first wins!!!"

"This time it's three high, seven low: 6, 5, 5, 3, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1!"

Shi Le rattled off all the points in a single breath. In dice guessing, this was known as calling the heavenly points. If he got it all right, the payout would be ten times the ante.

Yan Jing smiled.

Then, under everyone's deathly stares, he spoke softly:

"Ten sixes."

"..."

"Stop joking around!!!"

Shi Le stood up, slamming his hands on the table and roaring:

"Who do you think you are?!! Ten sixes!!! If you're going to bet, then bet properly!!!!"

But Yan Jing said nothing, merely smiling as he looked at the hands Shi Le had slammed onto the table.

Shi Le reacted at that moment, suddenly feeling as though he had been plunged into an ice cellar. His heart seemingly stopped for a beat.

His hands trembling, he said in horror:

"Impossible! This table shouldn't move!!! Right? Isn't that how it is? Didn't you say we were competing in fortune?!"

He looked at the shadow beside him and asked frantically, wanting a concrete answer.

But the only response he received was the shadow's indifferent voice:

"That was the rule for the previous game."

Then, under Shi Le's vacant gaze, the dice cup was lifted.

"Ten fives. Dealer wins."

Ten fives? Yan Jing nodded. He really thought it was going to be ten sixes.

He stood up and walked toward Old Man and Tiger.

Behind him, Shi Le ran over like a madman:

"No, no, no! Give me one more chance! Give me one last chance! Just one ante, one ante is fine!"

He fell to his knees on the ground, begging Yan Jing.

"Kneel with your own body, Manor Master Shi."

Yan Jing smiled:

"As for the ante, I refuse."

"You have nothing left."

Yan Jing leaned down and spoke softly:

"Haven't you noticed—"

"What do you mean?"

Shi Le froze, then looked in horror at Xu Qiao'er's body. At that moment, streams of weird energy were rising from all over it as if being dispelled, turning into tendrils of smoke that drifted up into the sky.

"No, no, no!"

In absolute terror, he sent his consciousness fleeing back into the black veil.

"It's just dropping to the Third Tier! I'm just dropping to the Third Tier!!! Everyone goes through this! I won't die!!!"

His eyes wide, he kept muttering as if trying to comfort himself.

But the next instant, a massive, sky-obscuring hand seemed to reach down from the sky and sweep toward him:

"No!! Don't!!!!"

Then came Shi Le's miserable screams.

The giant hand tore Shi Le's body apart piece by piece like a ragdoll. Then, carefully selecting the pieces it liked, it held them in its palm as dark red liquid dripped from between its fingers, before retreating back into the sky.

Inside the black veil, only a pitch-black, indescribable mass remained, sluggishly repeating a single sentence:

"Bet, let's bet."

"Bet, come bet."