“Is that so…”
Hearing Chen Junan’s answer, Qiao Jiajin fell silent for a few seconds before a look of relief washed over his face.
So this cycle ends here too, huh?
Come to think of it, it wasn’t such a bad thing. After all, everyone had already “echoed.” The next time they woke up, they’d all be sitting together again, safe and sound—naturally, that was a good thing.
“Ha.” Qiao Jiajin shook his head and said softly, “Liar, don’t worry. I’ll always see you as a brother.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he slapped the “dao” Qi Xia had handed him onto the table with a look that seemed ready to face death.
“What…?” The Earth Monkey couldn’t comprehend Qiao Jiajin’s actions. “Have you completely given up?! You’re still choosing to *call* in this situation?!”
“What do you know?” Qiao Jiajin grinned. “I just feel like calling. If you don’t like it, hit me.”
The Earth Monkey’s expression darkened, his anger palpable. “Are you sure you’re done betting?”
“No.”
Qi Xia interrupted him softly, then stretched out his right hand. His eyes, now devoid of light, fixed directly on the Earth Monkey as he asked:
“How many *dao* can I trade for a right hand?”
“What…?” The Earth Monkey couldn’t believe his ears.
“Earth Monkey… I’ll go easy on you…” Qi Xia mustered all his strength to flash a cold smile. “I’m betting my right hand. You can cover it with *dao*. Once the cards are revealed, my right hand is yours.”
“How could I possibly agree to such a rule?!” the Earth Monkey roared. “This is nothing like what we agreed on!”
“Then you can bet your right hand too…” Qi Xia’s voice was icy. “If my right hand can’t be exchanged for *dao*, then put yours on the line as well.”
“You—” The Earth Monkey weighed his options and decided against tangling with this madman. “Fine. Your right hand is worth one *dao*. Take it or leave it.”
“One *dao*, huh…?” Qi Xia nodded. “Then I’ll bet more.”
“More…?”
“I’ll wager both my hands, both my feet, and my head. Does that count as five *dao*?”
“You’re a goddamn lunatic… Do you even know what you’re doing?” The Earth Monkey was stunned. “Are you seriously asking me to dismember you right here?”
“That’s fine too…” Qi Xia replied. “Just tell me—does this count as five *dao* or not?”
The Earth Monkey pressed his lips together, then turned to glare at Qiao Jiajin. “Dammit, you saw his cards, didn’t you? Are you really going to *call* on a bet like this?”
Qiao Jiajin didn’t answer. Instead, he frowned and asked, “First, answer Liar. Does it count as five *dao* or not?”
“Goddammit…” The Earth Monkey muttered under his breath. “None of you are using your brains…”
“Well?” Qi Xia pressed.
“Fine.” The Earth Monkey nodded. “I’ll put up five *dao*. You’re betting your limbs and head. *Dao* are worthless to us Earthly Zodiacs anyway—consider it me buying your life!”
He rummaged through his belongings before scattering a handful of small spheres onto the table—exactly five of them.
Including the Earth Monkey’s “entry fee” and the two *dao* he had already bet, he had now put up a total of eight.
After arranging the *dao*, the Earth Monkey turned back to Qiao Jiajin.
“What about you? Gonna bet your limbs and head too?”
Qiao Jiajin thought for a moment before decisively placing his hand on the table. “Fat Monkey, you might not know this about me…”
A faint smile crept onto his face, his gaze clear and unwavering.
“If Liar tells me to call, I’ll do it—even if I know it’ll kill me. He’s already let me live longer than I should’ve. Every day since then has been borrowed time.”
The Earth Monkey’s brow furrowed, his expression growing complex. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke slowly. “Alright. If you’re done, then… I’ll raise—”
“I’ll raise again.” Qi Xia cut him off. “Earth Monkey, that was just my limbs and head. I haven’t even put my *organs* on the table yet.”
“What…?”
“I mean… the *organs* of both of us.” Qi Xia’s face remained blank. “I don’t know if you can handle an even bigger bet—my sanity, my intelligence, my life in every cycle from now on. If you can take it, I’ll put it all on the line.”
“You… you’re saying…”
“I plan to earn enough *dao* in this round to buy all six of our lives.” Qi Xia’s voice was quiet. “I just wonder if you dare to match me.”
Every word sent a chill down the Earth Monkey’s spine.
He felt utterly exposed, like a child playing a game of deception against an adult.
“You…” He swallowed hard. “You *know*?”
“I don’t know anything. I just want you to *call*.” Qi Xia replied. “You can match my wager or cover it with *dao*.”
Nearby, Qiao Jiajin and Chen Junan exchanged glances. Even though neither Qi Xia nor the Earth Monkey had revealed their cards, the latter already seemed rattled.
“What a terrifying man…” The Earth Monkey muttered, slightly dazed. “And it’s only the fifth round…”
“So—do you call or not?” Qi Xia pressed. “Earth Monkey, you left a huge flaw. That’s why I’m betting everything I have—everything I can possibly offer—on this round. I’m going all-in. Tell me, which part can you match?”
The Earth Monkey fell silent.
His lips parted as if to speak, but after several attempts, he swallowed his words.
The foul wind outside crept into the room, swaying the dim bulb and casting shaky shadows.
After a long pause, the Earth Monkey slowly pushed his cards forward and whispered, “I fold.”
The sudden turn of events left Chen Junan and Qiao Jiajin bewildered. Even the distant trio of Tian Tian and the others widened their eyes in shock.
What had just happened? Why had the Earth Monkey folded outright?
The Earth Monkey flipped his hidden card over.
It wasn’t Zheng Yingxiong’s “Great Heat” at all—it was “Grain Buds.”
“Grain Buds”—April 21st.
The Earth Monkey’s “Spring Festival” was “1-1,” “Grain Buds” was “4-2-1,” and “She Day” was “2-2,” totaling only thirteen points.
Even though Qi Xia and Chen Junan’s hands had *busted*, Qiao Jiajin’s hand had fourteen points.
They had won.
The room sank into a prolonged silence.
Each person’s thoughts were different, yet all were filled with countless questions.
The Earth Monkey had been holding *that* card all along?!
“What… was my flaw?” The Earth Monkey finally spoke.
Qi Xia exhaled in relief, leaning back in his chair before pointing at the Earth Monkey’s hidden card.
“Bloodstains.” His voice was weak. “You thought you were clever—deliberately smearing blood on a small card to mimic Zheng Yingxiong’s from last round, then pushing everyone out with raises. That *is* a gambling tactic. But you still lost to me.”
“How…?” The Earth Monkey gritted his teeth. “How could you know I faked those stains?”
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