Chapter 192: A Game of Chance
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The sudden turn of events was unexpected; the clouds that hovered around the Residence of Nine Supremes was wary of the Divine Edge.
"To think, this saber has such an ability. How intriguing."
Yun Yang immediately considered the possibilities. "If it’s equally effective on any cloud or fog-related air particles, would it aid me if I journey to places that are mysteriously surrounded by mist all year long or odd spots engulfed in miasma?"
Yun Yang was delighted, despite being aware that the effect of the Divine Edge towards anything air related still needed further verification. For now, it was more important for him to clean up the six mystical beasts’ corpses.
Holding the saber, Yun Yang took the beasts’ mystical pills out swiftly and dried their external layer with mystical Qi before performing a simple cleaning process; the mystical pills that were enveloped in the beasts’ flesh and blood then turned clean and round.
Yun Yang seemed to be extremely familiar with the process and was undoubtedly pa.s.sionate about it.
It was a fortune after all.
What should he do with these mystical pills though? Should he give them directly to Emmie as nourishment or should he pa.s.s them on to the four n.o.ble young masters for auction in exchange for his and Emmie’s cultivation resources?
Honestly, the gains would be greater and the results further-sighted if he pa.s.sed them for auction to the young masters. Yet, Yun Yang could feel Emmie moving in his subconscious s.p.a.ce. It was twisting and turning around, calling out softly and pleading to be fed; Yun Yang knew about the benefits and losses but he had still given half of his pills to Emmie anyway.
Emmie delightfully received the mystical pills and placed them around its roots, digging a pit with its tendrils and burying them inside. After a while, it grew increasingly ecstatic.
Both its leaves swayed together, its emerald tendrils waving about in a joyful dance as it made happy noises, just like a child who was thrilled upon getting tasty food.
Pauper Yun Yang had unsparingly given away half of his recently acquired loot but feeling Emmie’s joy, he could only felt his heart turning into mush. With a chuckle, he returned at once.
He had a feast that awaited him. As long as things went smoothly, there would be another G.o.dsend to be pocketed; another step to getting rid of his status as a pauper!
…
"Boss is inviting us to gamble?" Dong Tianleng held the letter, wearing a face of shock and disbelief. It was weird; they were asked to gamble, but they were not allowed to lose.
"Let’s go! Why not?" Chun Wanfeng’s eyes were radiating avarice. "I’m so free these days that my b.a.l.l.s hurt…"
Xia Bingchuan quipped, "What you don"t have can"t hurt you."
Qiu Yunsan was somewhat curious, asking instead, "How come there is no news about that old eunuch? He said he would give us the Luminary Paste… what has happened to this old b.a.s.t.a.r.d? Do we need to notify boss and go look for him directly in the palace? The Luminary Paste is a big deal! There’s a portion for boss too."
The rest of the young masters gave him a side-long glance simultaneously while Dong Tianleng raised his tone and said, "Oh, Young Master Qiu seems to be rather desperate for Luminary Paste. Tsk tsk, I heard that it’s good for men. Tsk, Young Master Qiu is so anxious for it. What does this signify, I wonder?"
Chun Wanfeng quipped from the side, "Young Master Qiu can’t do it anymore!"
"I see, so Young Master Qiu can’t do it anymore…" Xia Bingchuan added on.
Qiu Yunsan was enraged. "Who said that? All of you are talking nonsense! We have to go support boss tonight; we should be discussing how we’re going to win. How many silver taels should we be bringing? And should we set any secret signals, just in case?"
Dong Tianleng guffawed then.
"Qiu Yunsan is diverting the topic again. It looks like this fellow really can’t do it anymore. Oh my G.o.d, Young Master Qiu, how old are you? Are you already... failing? Sigh, I suddenly feel unsophisticated being with you…"
Chun Wanfeng added oil to fire, "People say that one takes the behavior of one’s company. If there"s one who can"t do it, will the others follow suit as well? Young Master Qiu, maybe you’d want to stay further away from us…"
Xia Bingchuan agreed heartily, "Right, right. Exactly what I was thinking!"
Qiu Yunsan was fl.u.s.tered as he bellowed, "You’re the only one who can’t do it, all of you can’t do it! I only wanted to attain some benefit for everyone, who would have known that all of you would bear such vile thoughts? Do you still know what shame is?"
Dong Tianleng guffawed while slapping the table. "Qiu Yunsan really can’t do it anymore… Qiu Yunsan can’t…"
Dong Tianleng’s voice was loud and deafening, his words traveled far; Qiu Yunsan’s face had turned a shade of purple.
He dashed over to cover the former’s mouth. "Brother, you be my blood older brother, alright… Keep it down…"
…
The young masters from Spring, Summer, and Autumn Family were still chortling with their mouths wide apart all the way until the Towering Wind Pavilion; their laughter so loud and hearty that they could be heard even a few streets away.
Qiu Yunsan followed behind grumpily, his expression ugly.
Shui Wuyin rolled his eyes when he saw these men. He could hear the three lunatics’ laughter from three streets away. The sound of their laughter actually got nearer and entered Towering Wind Pavilion; furthermore, they were still laughing after entering the pavilion. Were their laughing acupuncture points pressed all at the same time?
"Hahaha… is this the casino hahaha?"
"Hahaha… the environment is not bad hahaha…"
"Hahaha… why is the boss not here yet hahaha?"
…
Shui Wuyin genuinely wanted to holler, "F*ck you! What is there to laugh about? Each one of you is mad…"
Before long, a big group arrived, under the lead of Yun Yang; there were over sixty foreign gamblers.
There were quite a number of foreign generals who had come. Those who had stayed back in the inn were mostly old seniors while these people whom Yun Yang had brought were basically under the age of forty.
Once they entered the Towering Wind Pavilion, their eyes gleamed.
Upon their entrance, Forbidden Mystical Rock lined the walls on both sides, the floor, and the ceiling. The same rock layered the bottom and even the sides of the game tables in the hall, gleaming faintly with a red radiance.
Those were the highest qualities of Forbidden Mystical Rock.
These qualities would prevent even a Tenth Perfection grandmaster from using mystical Qi to cheat. Even if no one noticed, the highest grade of Forbidden Mystical Rock would gleam in white to warn everyone of any hanky-panky that might be going on.
"This is a good place indeed."
The bearded general’s eyes shone brightly at once. "I truly enjoy a fair compet.i.tion! This casino has the most Forbidden Mystical Rock I"ve ever seen!"
The four popinjays stood up at the same time. "Boss, long time no see."
Yun Yang chortled and introduced the two parties to each other.
When the generals heard the word ‘boss’, most of their expressions darkened. After everything, these men were the followers of this rascal?
They were thinking that if Yun Yang did not play, they could easily avoid a certain amount of cheating but now that these four men were his followers, the probability of them cheating increased significantly.
However, curiosity was painted on most of their faces as they looked at Yun Yang. How could the four young masters of the four n.o.ble families call this fellow a boss?
What was going on?
A lot of them could not help rea.s.sessing Yun Yang.
After all, it was a known fact that the young masters of the four n.o.ble families were unimaginably prideful and arrogant. Even when they were popinjays who knew nothing much, their sights were still set immensely high.
How could they have awarded someone the t.i.tle of "boss"?
They were either entirely convinced, completely subdued by force, or this person had an earthshattering quality hidden within him.
There would not be any other possibility other than these.
No matter which one it was that Yun Yang possessed, it was still better to keep an eye on him now than to let him become a danger later.
In spite of it, everyone’s attention was rapidly attracted by the game tables.
However dangerous Yun Yang was, it was something that could be discussed later. One should enjoy to the fullest when there was a gamble today, problematic characters should only be spoken of tomorrow!
"We’re all brothers, coming to the game table. Come, come, we only acknowledge gold and silver taels here. We acknowledge treasured gems and precious resources as well, mystical stones and mystical crystals are accepted too."
Dong Tianleng hopped onto the table and hollered, "Come, come. What do you all want to play? Dice? Pai gow1? Those with preferences, there are the mahjong tables over there… F*ck, this casino is top graded; there are all sorts of gambling devices. Good, good, great! Come, come, let’s take this one. This young master will be the banker for this table, whoa! Come, come! Abracadabra… ca – ca – ca!"
Those who heard him could not help turning to look at the madman.
Was this young master from the Dong Family an impostor?
The legendary n.o.ble young master was actually like this?
Everyone was here today to play the game of chance; they had just watched for the first round – everyone was a veteran gambler. After the first round, it would be clear if there were any rackets being run here.
Obviously, Dong Tianleng and the other three young masters were absolute amateurs; at least they were not people who would play tricks!
The group of generals swarmed over them.
Each of the four n.o.ble young masters had temporarily become bankers for a game, chasing the original dealers of the casino away. Immediately, they were hollering and cheering; gold and silver taels, as well as banknotes, were flying everywhere…
Another dozen people had gone to another table to quietly have a game of mahjong… Did they have something to talk about?
Shui Wuyin calmly welcomed everyone as he went around tables to supervise; his arms were behind his back while he paced around, a faint smile on his face. It looked like everyone was already losing themselves in the fun…
"It’s so merry today, so many unfamiliar faces. Let me play too?" A quiet voice could be heard by the door.
A man dressed in white had appeared at the casino, as clean as one could be.
Yun Yang frowned and glanced at Shui Wuyin, who wore a look of surprise.
After the herd of scapegoats had entered, the casino had been closed. How had this person come in?
Shui Wuyin maintained a straight face as he smiled and greeted the man amicably, "How do I address you, friend?"
The man in white answered coldly, "Friend? I would not dare to a.s.sume so if I were you. I am only a gambler. Your respectful one has opened doors to do business, you won’t turn away a visiting customer, would you?
Shui Wuyin’s smile grew gentler as did his tone. "Everyone within the Four Seas is a friend. Since you have come here, you are my honorable guest. Why does it matter how I address you?"
The man in white seemed to wear a mask of ice as he replied coldly, "Let me repeat myself, I’m not your friend. Neither are you mine."
As Yun Yang watched the uninvited guest, he had the strangest feeling that the man in white was rather familiar but he had obviously not seen this person’s face before…
Hold on…
Yun Yang suddenly recalled a clear memory; it was the white silhouette that First Court King Qinguang was chasing with all his might the other night!
Translator Note:
1Pai gow (牌九pái jiǔ): a Chinese gambling game played with a set of 32 Chinese dominoes in major casinos.