Chapter 657: The Great Defeat

“Property… certificate?” Qiao Jiajin hadn’t heard the term before, “You mean the ‘deed’?”

“Yeah! Deed, property title, land deed—whatever you call it. My hand is fucking unbeatable right now,” Chen Junnan said. “If I whipped out a Beijing property deed right now, I’d make Monkey lose so hard his ass turns red.”

“Handsome lad, that fat monkey’s ass is already red.”

“Then I’ll make it turn pale.”

Earth Monkey glanced at Chen Junnan, the corner of his mouth curling into a mocking sneer.

That sneer made Qi Xia feel uneasy. Chen Junnan had been playing mind games since the first round, but now it seemed Earth Monkey was no longer affected. Was he really that confident?

Seeing Chen Junnan silent, Earth Monkey spoke softly, “If you didn’t bring your property certificate, you can bet your life. I’ll match it.”

At Earth Monkey’s words, Chen Junnan’s usual smirk faded. Even someone as reckless as him could sense the shift in Earth Monkey’s aura.

It seemed the other man truly wasn’t afraid of his taunts or bluffs anymore.

“You’d match if I bet my life?” Chen Junnan asked expressionlessly.

“Indeed. If you dare bet, I dare match.”

Chen Junnan looked down at his cards: “Rainwater.”

This year’s “Rainwater” fell on the “21st of the first lunar month”—”1-2-1.”

Combined with the “Start of Spring” (“1-6”) he’d drawn earlier and the “Spring Festival” (“1-1”) in the center of the table, he had a full five “1s” in his hand.

With such a strong hand, why was Earth Monkey egging him to bet his life?

Chen Junnan racked his brain but couldn’t figure out Earth Monkey’s motive. Was this a stroke of luck, or was there a catch?

If he staked his life here, would Earth Monkey really go down with him?

Things that seemed too easy always felt suspicious. Chen Junnan’s instincts screamed that he was walking into a trap, though he couldn’t quite articulate why.

He never played by “rules”—only by “gut feelings.” And right now, Earth Monkey felt dangerous.

But when he glanced at Earth Monkey’s “face-up card,” his confusion deepened.

“Qingming Festival”!

Earth Monkey had a “3-6” in his hand and a “1-1” on the table. How could he be so bold?

Could he really assemble five numbers?

Or did his “hidden card” include a “2-4-5,” completing a straight?

“You messin’ with me?” Chen Junnan muttered, frowning. “What kind of card has ‘2-4-5’ all at once?”

After a brief pause, he looked up—not with clarity, but resignation.

“Too complicated…” He scratched the back of his head. “This game’s beyond me.”

“Oh?” Earth Monkey smirked. “So you won’t bet your life?”

“I’m a ‘good general,'” Chen Junnan grinned. “And what makes a ‘general’ is that provocation works like a charm on me. Listen up, Earth Monkey—my life—”

“Stop!”

Qi Xia’s sharp command cut him off.

Chen Junnan froze, turning to him.

“Not yet…” Qi Xia said gravely. “Chen Junnan… wait a little longer…”

“Old Qi…” Chen Junnan’s voice softened. “You really don’t seem okay. You good?”

“I’m fine… focus on the game. Your life isn’t on the table yet… just wait…”

“Got it.” Chen Junnan nodded, then turned back to Earth Monkey. “Sorry, Monkey. Even a ‘good general’ has to listen to his ‘lord.’ Catch ya later.”

Earth Monkey knew Qi Xia and Chen Junnan were the trickiest opponents—one unpredictable, the other a master liar.

No matter how he looked at it, he had to tread carefully and avoid falling into their rhythm.

“If you don’t bet your life now, you might miss your chance to kill me,” Earth Monkey said.

“Well, I’m thrilled for ya,” Chen Junnan shot back without hesitation. “Another monkey life saved. Go celebrate with some dumplings tonight.”

Silence settled briefly before Earth Monkey scanned the group again. “No one else raising the stakes?”

At this point, everyone shook their heads, eager to see the showdown.

With most now grasping the rules, they had some confidence in their hands—especially since Earth Monkey’s visible cards didn’t seem threatening.

First, Sweet flipped her hidden card: “Grain Buds,” giving her “four 1s.”

Next, Xiao Cheng revealed “Winter Solstice,” with a strong hand of “five 1s,” plus “two 2s” and “two 3s.”

Chen Junnan’s “Rainwater” gave him “five 1s.”

Qiao Jiajin’s “New Year’s Eve” showed “three 1s.”

Then Qi Xia unveiled “White Dew” and “Great Snow,” combined with “Spring Festival,” forming “three 8s” and “four 1s”—a hand even stronger than Xiao Cheng’s under traditional rules.

With Zheng Hero already out, Qi Xia held the strongest hand at the table.

All eyes turned to Earth Monkey’s hidden card. Given what they knew, no matter what he had, it couldn’t beat Qi Xia.

So why had Earth Monkey’s demeanor shifted so drastically?

Under the group’s gaze, Earth Monkey flipped his card.

“Spring Equinox.”

Silence fell.

This year’s “Spring Equinox” was the “21st of the second lunar month”—”2-2-1.”

Combined with “Qingming Festival” (“3-6”) and the “1-1” on the table, Earth Monkey’s best possible hand was “three 1s” and “two 2s.”

That couldn’t beat even Chen Junnan’s “five 1s,” let alone Qi Xia.

Had Qi Xia… won?

The thought crossed everyone’s minds, but the round felt off.

Earth Monkey had acted supremely confident, even goading Chen Junnan to bet his life—only to reveal such a weak hand. What was his game?

“Monkey, you screwed up?” Chen Junnan taunted. “Did you mistake this ‘Spring Equinox’ for ‘ten thousand 9s’?”

Qi Xia straightened, leaning back in his chair, stroking his chin.

Earth Monkey’s behavior was bizarre.

No matter how you tweaked the rules, comparing three cards for strength, his numbers couldn’t form a winning hand.

Earth Monkey said nothing, merely sweeping his gaze over the group.

Seeing their confusion, his lips curled slightly. “Ladies and gentlemen, my thanks. This round is mine.”