The young man was startled at first, then slowly revealed a fierce expression: “Fine, let’s open it… Don’t you dare regret it…”
The three of them opened their dice cups one after another, revealing their numbers.
The young man first glanced at the middle-aged man beside him—his dice showed four “fours” and one “five.”
Instantly, the young man let out a sigh of relief. Earlier, he had called for “eight fours.” Now, the middle-aged man had four “fours,” and he himself had one “one,” which added up to five “fours” already.
As long as Earth Monkey had three “fours,” he wouldn’t lose.
Moreover, Earth Monkey had initially called for “six fours,” which strongly suggested he had multiple “fours” in his hand.
But when Earth Monkey lazily opened his dice cup, the previously noisy crowd fell into abrupt silence.
Inside his cup were three “twos” and two “threes.”
“You son of a—!” The young man slammed the table, feeling utterly played. “You didn’t have a single ‘four,’ yet you opened with ‘six fours’?!”
“Is there a rule against it?” Earth Monkey tossed his cup onto the table, took the cigarette from his mouth, and pinched it out between his thumb and forefinger. “I didn’t have any ‘fours,’ but I figured you guys did.”
“You… you…”
“Besides, you could’ve called ‘open’ too. Maybe I would’ve lost?” Earth Monkey pulled out another cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a drag. “A bet’s a bet. No one gets to whine about it.”
Though his logic was sound, calling “open” at the very start after hearing “six fours” was an incredibly bold move. If the three of them had actually held six “fours,” the caller would’ve lost immediately.
“This old monkey’s got some tricks,” Chen Junnan muttered to Qiao Jiajin. “Playing mind games.”
“Gambling was never about luck,” Qiao Jiajin replied. “Too many factors influence the game, especially in a battle of wits like this. Those who rely on luck never win.”
The young man stared at the dice cups on the table, torn between frustration and rage. The onlookers around him had already begun whispering among themselves.
“Damn it… he played me…”
Earth Monkey smirked coldly. “Can’t handle losing? If you’ve got a death wish, go ahead and make trouble.”
“I…” The man knew full well what it meant to cause a scene in front of an “Earth-level” figure. He wouldn’t even need a “Divine Beast” to intervene—Earth Monkey alone could tear him apart.
“Fine. I lost.”
The young man pushed the pile of “chips” in front of him toward Earth Monkey, then stood up to leave.
“Hold it.” Earth Monkey tapped the table. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’m out of chips. I’m leaving,” the young man said.
“Oh, what a shame.”
Earth Monkey’s expression was half-amused as he pointed at a faded handwritten sign on the wall behind him. It had just two lines:
Entry fee: Two “chips.”
Exit fee: Ten “chips.”
Slowly, Earth Monkey lifted his gaze to the young man. “Two ‘chips’ to get in, play all you want, keep whatever you win. But since I’m running this place, I’ve got overhead to cover.”
“You—”
The young man froze, patting his pockets. He had already lost all his chips—where would he find ten more to buy his way out?
“I provide the venue, free cigarettes—charging a little extra isn’t unreasonable, is it?” Earth Monkey said. “Otherwise, winners take off, losers bail—how’s a business supposed to run like that?”
“Y-you… wait—” The young man hesitated. “Look, give me some time… I’ll go play somewhere else… I’ll get the ten chips—”
Earth Monkey glanced around the room. “Sure thing. Mahjong, pai gow, dice, cards, slot machines, pinball—take your pick. But… you got any capital?”
“I…”
Panic flashed across the young man’s face. He turned to the crowd, then suddenly grabbed Chen Junnan’s arm.
“Bro… can you lend me ten chips to buy my way out?”
His voice trembled—he was truly desperate.
“Sorry, pal. I’m broke too—down to my underwear,” Chen Junnan said with an apologetic grin.
“Bro!” He then seized Qiao Jiajin, but Qiao was just as penniless.
“Damn, I’m down to my undershirt…” Qiao Jiajin chuckled awkwardly.
He’d seen too many like this in gambling dens. When they lost everything, they’d beg anyone nearby, naively believing someone would bail them out—that they’d win big later and repay the debt.
But how could anyone trust a gambler’s word? If they were capable of winning big, why were they flat broke now?
Repay? With what?
After begging in vain from everyone around him, the young man’s face twisted in panic. “Two! Just lend me two! I’ll go play another table—I’ll pay you back right after!”
Yet the crowd remained cold. A stranger dying because he lost all his chips—was that really so unusual in the “Land of Finality”?
People died here every day. Today was no exception.
Everyone clutched their own pockets tighter, avoiding the young man’s pleading gaze.
“Damn it!” the young man roared. “One! Just one chip! I can turn it around with just one!”
Earth Monkey slowly stood, pulling on a pair of grimy gloves. “Ladies and gents, step aside. The house has some after-sales service to handle. You know what they say—red means prosperity, blood brings fortune.”
Realizing the danger, the young man bolted. Earth Monkey lunged, his bulky frame soaring through the air as he flew toward him.
Trying to outrun an “Earth-level” with just his legs was laughable. Before the young man could take three steps, Earth Monkey landed on his shoulders, crouched down, and lightly tapped the top of his head.
The next second, the young man’s eyes flooded crimson. His limbs twitched briefly before he collapsed, motionless—clearly dead.
“Heh.” Earth Monkey flipped down, chuckling. “Looks like my killing technique’s improved. Didn’t even spill a drop.”
The crowd showed no visible reaction to the “Earth-level” killing someone. After all, they’d already seen “Celestial-levels” slaughter countless people today.
“Alright, folks, don’t mind the mess.” Earth Monkey waved a hand. “No blood, but still good fortune. You’re here to relax—don’t let a little hiccup ruin the fun.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage