Mutual Deception in Gambling
The energy within them was not deeply entrenched, so it would soon be released.
"If you speak anything other than a shout or a question, I will draw this dagger. Once the energy is released, if you are faster than me, you may draw it as well. Accept it as a life-and-death decision, and I will grant you death. If you cannot speak yet, just blink."
The first to speak was the black-clad spirit, who had been struck first, and the white-clad girl blinked her eyes.
"The energy has only been released."
The black-clad spirit breathed heavily, as if intoxicated.
I asked him, "Did the Commander Ping order you?" The black-clad spirit looked at me with regret for having released his energy. "……."
I tilted my head and said, "You’re not thinking straight? I understand. That can happen. You probably can’t judge who else you should be afraid of yet. That’s completely understandable."
I lightly placed my index finger on the hilt of the dagger and asked what felt like my final question.
"Did the Commander Ping order you?" If there was no answer, the only gift I would give would be the dagger.
The black-clad spirit hurriedly replied, "Yes."
I removed my finger from the dagger and said, "You were a bit too close there. You said your name was the black-clad spirit? Don’t get it twisted. Even if I kill you, the white-clad girl is still alive. If you die, she will be so frightened that she will have to tell me more than you would, right? Get your head straight."
The black-clad spirit immediately replied, "Understood."
I suddenly looked at the white-clad girl.
She quickly opened her mouth.
"My energy has also been released."
I snapped my fingers and said, "Good. From now on, let’s answer my questions in sync. You both answer at the same time. The first person to hesitate will be stabbed by the dagger and ascend to the heavens. I’m curious who will die first. First question, who is the superior of Commander Ping? One, two, three."
The two answered simultaneously.
"The Gambling King."
I clapped my hands in a lackluster manner and praised them.
"Correct. Your lives have been extended. Second question, if the Gambling King is above Dongfang Yan, say 'above'; if below, say 'below.' You understand what I mean, right?" I moved my fingers around for further explanation.
"Above or below, above or below, my life is hanging by a thread. One, two, three."
The two matched their responses.
"Above!" "Oh……."
I stroked my chin.
In fact, I already knew this, but the problem lay in the third question.
I had a feeling that both the black-clad spirit and the white-clad girl would know the answer.
However, I was doubtful whether they would provide the correct answer.
"I will count to three slowly for the third question. Answer well. Who is the Gambling King? One, two, three."
"Uncle Gu Yangfu."
I was inwardly surprised but replied with a calm expression.
"Uncle Gu Yang? The owner of the Fallen Guesthouse?" The black-clad spirit and the white-clad girl answered simultaneously.
"Yes."
I touched my hair for a moment.
When I thought of Gu Yangfu from my past life, the first thing that came to mind was, 'A man who does not make enemies.' He was also a good-hearted man who often treated others to free drinks and did not press for debts, and he himself enjoyed gambling, wandering around and losing money.
Yet, he always lived without a frown, a generous man was Gu Yangfu.
Thinking back, he was quite old, and everyone used honorifics when addressing him. 'This is surprising.' Was it a competition between the Zha and Fallen Guesthouses? Suddenly, I thought that Dongfang Yan might be a disciple of Gu Yangfu.
I said to the black-clad spirit and the white-clad girl, "Good work."
After checking their released energy again, I laid them down one by one on the bedding.
I left the center empty as if I were lying there, and this time, I infused a considerable amount of energy into the acupoints of the black-clad spirit and the white-clad girl.
I pinched the cheek of the black-clad spirit and said, "You took the spring medicine, so you’ll have some lewd dreams."
I lowered the foot of the bed to cover the two, then gathered my dagger and headed toward the Fallen Guesthouse.
As I suddenly appeared at the Fallen Guesthouse, all the guests turned to look at me.
A very brief silence passed before conversations resumed. 'What a meaningful moment of silence.' As I sat down, the waiter, Zhao Ba, approached me.
"What can I get you?" Zhao Ba was someone I knew, but he couldn’t act like it.
I spoke to Zhao Ba, whom I hadn’t seen in a while.
"Any white liquor."
"There’s no such thing as 'any'."
"Bring me something, it’s boring."
"Yes."
A moment later, I looked at the dried fish that came out with the white liquor.
It was quite an expensive fish for a basic side dish at an inn, which felt strange.
As I poured a glass of white liquor and sat in a daze, the owner of the Fallen Guesthouse, Gu Yangfu, walked out with a bleary gaze and looked at me.
"I’ll pay for that drink, so let me have a taste. A gambler I’ve never seen before."
I immediately poured a drink for Gu Yangfu, who sat across from me.
Gu Yangfu took out a peculiar incense carved in the shape of a finger and lit it.
I had never seen such incense before, and it was even made of jade.
Gu Yangfu took a deep puff of the incense smoke and then sipped from my glass of liquor, his gaze fixed on it.
Since he wasn’t drinking, it was only natural for his eyes to wander.
Gu Yangfu said to me, "Give me another drink."
Suddenly feeling annoyed, I gestured toward the white liquor with my chin.
"Pour it yourself."
I deliberately replied informally and then looked around at the other guests.
I hadn’t turned my head toward them, but seeing a few of their expressions stiffen made me chuckle.
Truly, what a world like an onion.
I felt that in my past life, I had survived without knowing anything.
Gu Yangfu spoke while drinking.
"You don’t drink."
When I didn’t respond, Gu Yangfu said, as if resigned, "I will apologize for the spirit and the girl. It seems Commander Ping got caught playing tricks."
He seemed to have realized that I already knew everything, so he thought there was no point in hiding it.
Still, it was surprising that he revealed his identity so quickly.
Gu Yangfu suddenly glanced at the guests and waved his hand.
Instantly, all the guests in the inn stood up and left.
Once the guests had all exited, Gu Yangfu smiled, showing his wrinkled face.
"Young man, you didn’t come here to ruin my business, did you? The challenge fee is ten thousand liang, plus the gamblers’ dividends, totaling fifty thousand liang. This is my sincerity, so just take this and leave. There are indeed some black-clad masters who take the money without fighting, but I’ve never sent anyone away with fifty thousand liang."
"Fifty thousand liang?" Gu Yangfu nodded with a smile.
"Fifty thousand liang."
I replied to Gu Yangfu, "Most of those who challenged Dongfang Yan are dead, right? Occasionally, those who win also die or go missing within a few days."
Gu Yangfu’s bleary eyes were gradually coming to life.
"You… why are you acting like this all alone? Did I kill someone you know? Did Dongfang Yan kill your brother or your master? You seem too young to have lost much money gambling. Why say such things? Especially when I’m treating you kindly."
Just then, someone burst into the inn, and Gu Yangfu raised his hand.
"Stay still."
Glancing over, I saw a fierce-looking man with a battle-hardened gaze glaring at me.
A tall figure, skilled in both internal and external martial arts, the king of gambling, Dongfang Yan.
Dongfang Yan brought a chair and sat closely beside me, crossing his arms as if to keep watch.
Gu Yangfu extended his hand toward me and said, "My thoughts haven’t changed. Fifty thousand liang. I’d like to hear your thoughts."
Dongfang Yan spoke up.
"Why fifty thousand liang for this guy?" Gu Yangfu interrupted Dongfang Yan.
"Be quiet. He’s still my guest."
I looked at Gu Yangfu and Dongfang Yan and said, "What you’re doing isn’t martial arts gambling; it’s cheating."
Gu Yangfu replied, "Isn’t that how business goes? It’s just the difference between small and large enterprises. Most profitable businesses are indeed scams."
"Compared to your methods, the bandits and the river thieves are actually more innocent."
Gu Yangfu asked me, "My business hasn’t harmed you, has it? If it has, I’ll raise the negotiation fee."
I tapped my fingers on the table and said, "The biggest problem with gambling is that it’s fun. It’s hard to quit. Those who find something more enjoyable than gambling can quit, but there aren’t many things in the world as fun as gambling. People might sacrifice their entire fortune and even cut off their hands and feet just to stop."
As I suddenly brought up gambling, Gu Yangfu smiled faintly.
"You understand well."
"Up to martial arts gambling, there’s a legitimate aspect, but cheating is different. You regularly pay off local black-clad masters or forces to keep them away. Since you have a lot of money, you probably spread a lot of it around. One day, if a family man comes here and loses everything and dies, that’s just too natural. The surrounding black-clad forces take money from you to expand their influence. It’s not outright banditry, so it’s hard for the white-clad forces to break you. You’re quite something in many ways."
Gu Yangfu asked me, "Are you not interested in negotiating?" "I am."
"Speak comfortably."
"A matter that starts with gambling should end with gambling. Let’s have a game of cheating."
"What kind of cheating?" I proposed to the Gambling King and Dongfang Yan.
"In the arena, all of you." "……."
"Let’s fight. If you win, I die; if I win, I take everything here."
I observed Gu Yangfu’s expression.
"What do you think? Owner of the Fallen Guesthouse, Gambling King Gu Yangfu. Are you confused because it’s too favorable for you? Or are you a bit scared of losing everything in one go? You’re in a dilemma, aren’t you? Whatever it is, this absurd proposal is gambling."
Even in this situation, Gu Yangfu, true to his title as Gambling King, assessed the conditions.
"What happens if I refuse?" "If you refuse, a worse hand will come up for you."
"Why?" I lightly scratched my cheek and replied, "Tomorrow, my subordinates will arrive in full force. Tonight is your most favorable hand."
Dongfang Yan said to Gu Yangfu, "This guy seems crazy; let’s do it."
Gu Yangfu, being the Gambling King, seemed cautious and did not respond immediately.
In a way, this caution was expected.
Gu Yangfu never engaged in fights he could lose.
However, that was what I disliked the most.
"Gambling King… hiding your identity, getting challengers drunk, using beautiful women, using spring medicine, doing everything to weaken them before facing Dongfang Yan, and if you lose, ambushing and killing them, burying the dead, treating the gamblers to drinks with the money earned, pretending to be a good person, and regularly bribing powerful black-clad forces. Is that how you live to earn the title of Gambling King?" I called out to Gu Yangfu as I had in the past.
"Uncle Gu Yang, you’re quite the remarkable gambler."
"I find it puzzling. If you’re so confident, why not just kill us both right here? That would be more advantageous."
"That would be more advantageous?" I glared at the two with a serious expression.
"You’re not thinking straight. Just because we’re from the same inn doesn’t mean we’re on the same level. I’m someone who lives in the martial world, while you are gamblers living in the gambling house. The levels are different, the essence is different. If you’ve lived your life cheating others, why not try a proper gamble just once? Gambling King, stop using your petty tricks."
In that moment, Dongfang Yan exuded a killing intent, and I stared at him.
Gu Yangfu reached out his hand toward Dongfang Yan to calm him down, then asked me, "You say you’re from an inn? What’s your true identity?" I thought my words had slipped out, but I revealed the truth as it was.
"I am the owner of the Zha Inn."
I swallowed the thought inwardly.
He is indeed crazy, but he’s not a madman yet.
Gu Yangfu replied, "Let’s do that. Gather your subordinates and head to the arena. No matter how I think about it, that’s the most advantageous for me. As long as you don’t regret it."
I nodded.
"Living without regrets is also a virtue of a martial artist. Let’s go, you little pests."
As I stood up, Dongfang Yan stood up with me.
He was a head taller than me.
Dongfang Yan looked down at me and said, "There are all sorts of strange people wanting to die."
"Oh, you have a bit of authority in your tone? Is it because you’re the king of martial arts gambling? Strict, solemn, serious, is that it? Impressive. Hey."
As Dongfang Yan, suppressing his anger, took a deep breath, Gu Yangfu behind him spoke in a subdued tone.
"Calm down until we reach the arena."
I turned around while watching the expressions of the two.