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Why is this bastard here, too?
The moment Sha Lifei saw the man upstairs, his face twitched, and he instinctively stepped back.
The man was Yuan Qu, leader of the White Ape Gang. He had been born with strange features, and his mother had been little more than a street woman. Growing up, he suffered constant abuse as he roamed the streets and learned all sorts of vicious tricks.
Even at a young age, he had earned the nickname “Demon Ape.”
Unlike the Iron Blade Gang’s leader, Yuan Qu specialized in underhanded street fighting techniques. Though he had later apprenticed under Zhou Pan and displayed decent talent, he had started too late. His indulgence in wine and women had also ruined his foundation. Thus, he had only barely reached the Dark Jin Realm.
He ranked the lowest among Zhou Pan’s “Eight Vajras,” but his reputation was no less notorious. He was infamous for being cunning and malicious.
The eastern district was the White Ape Gang’s territory. This gambling house, however, was said to be backed by a noble from Chang’an, so powerful that even officials dared not interfere. Naturally, the White Ape Gang usually kept its distance.
Sha Lifei had deliberately chosen the gambling house, yet he had still run into Yuan Qu.
Damn luck…
At the same time, Yuan Qu listened to a few whispered words from a subordinate. A sinister smile spread across his face.
“It’s related to that kid? Go, bring him back. Let’s have a chat.”
“What are you doing?!” Sha Lifei immediately yelled, “Zhou Pan’s lackeys are trying dirty tricks before the duel! Everyone here, bear witness!”
Yuan Qu’s expression darkened as he growled, “Fuck! You’re asking for it!”
At that moment, an elderly man in a wealthy merchant’s robe stepped out of the room. He was short, plump, with a white beard and a kind smile.
He stroked his beard and chuckled. “Why get angry over such a small matter, Chief Yuan? You're in the Jinbao Gambling House. The man only raised his voice. He hasn’t broken any rules. If you start calling for blood, it puts me in a difficult position.”
His tone was polite, but there was no room for negotiation.
Sha Lifei quickly nodded. “Exactly! I was born loud, so what? Do people with loud voices get beaten up now?”
The old man smiled. “Who keeps their voice down in a gambling house anyway? Let the guests enjoy themselves. If you want to bet on the duel, that’s perfect. I’m interested too. Afu, bring out the boards.”
A stern-faced man stepped forward, vaulted over the railing with a clean flip, and landed silently.
“Nice!” Many jianghu figures in the hall applauded his skill.
The man cupped his fist, then walked to the main platform. He took two boards and swiftly wrote the names of Li Yan and Zhou Bai. Then, he added the odds.
Li Yan wins: 1 to 1
Zhou Bai wins: 1 to 0.5
Yuan Qu, who had finally calmed down again, revealed a thin smile. “Boss Wu, your spread is really small.”
Having heard rumors that the gambling house’s backer had fallen into trouble, he had rushed over in hopes of buying it. Unfortunately, the owner had refused and even embarrassed him publicly.
Though annoyed, Yuan Qu didn’t want to escalate things. After all, he was trying to exploit the other party.
Boss Wu smiled calmly. “It’s just for fun. As long as everyone is happy, it’s fine. Chief Yuan, care to join?”
Yuan Qu was about to refuse, but his gaze suddenly shifted.
“Since you want to play, Boss Wu, I’ll join. I’ll bet two thousand taels of silver. Do you dare take it?”
Boss Wu’s expression didn’t even change as he waved his hand. A ticket was written and delivered upstairs.
“Bold move, Chief Yuan!”
“Generous as always, Boss Wu!” Yuan Qu then shifted his focus to Sha Lifei below. “You seem confident in that kid. How much are you betting?”
Sha Lifei stiffened, but he quickly puffed his chest. “He’ll win. I’m betting everything I have!”
He pulled out a heavy pouch and slammed it on the counter.
The clerk opened it, and his expression turned strange. It was mostly copper coins, with barely any silver. “Total, nineteen taels, five mace…”
Before he finished, Sha Lifei plucked out a tael of silver. “Gotta keep some for food.”
The clerk sighed. “Eighteen taels, five mace.”
Laughter erupted across the hall.
Even Yuan Qu smirked. “Poor bastard, want to borrow a few hundred taels of silver?”
“No thanks.” Ignoring the ridicule, Sha Lifei took his ticket and walked out.
He wasn’t a fool. It was completely alright to lose his own money. However, the second he borrowed from those people, his life would be over.
Loans came with brutal terms. Collectors would harass him endlessly, adding fees for everything. Such tactics had driven small traders mad.
They used dying debtors against jianghu figures. They would bait fights, then involve officials in the disputes. It was a perfect trap. Sha Lifei knew better than to deal with them. The moment he made his way outside, he ran off at full speed.
Realizing that Sha Lifei couldn't be baited, Yuan Qu lost interest. Turning to Boss Wu, he muttered, “Think it over. My price is low, but it’s going to be silver in your hands. If things go south, others will come circling.”
He left with a smirk. Behind him, Boss Wu’s smile remained, but the look in his eyes darkened.
Meanwhile, the white-robed con artist shouted, “Hey, there’s a life-and-death duel! Betting on lives is even more exciting! Zhou Bai is the Zhou Family’s rising pillar. Bet on him, and profit is guaranteed! But if you want big gains, bet on Li Yan! Double your money in no time! Don’t miss it! Short on cash? Come to me…”
Soon, gamblers rushed to place bets, including cart drivers, dockworkers, brokers, and even disguised bandits.
All kinds of people gathered as the news spread quickly across Xianyang.
***
Meanwhile, outside, Yuan Qu’s subordinate approached him. “Boss, Sha Lifei slipped away.”
Yuan Qu waved him off. “Let him go. He’s not important. Anyway, what did you find?”
“He went to the Zhang Family Martial Arts Hall. After he left, Zhang Yuanshang started making arrangements. The doors were closed, though; we couldn't see anything.”
“I see…” Yuan Qu narrowed his eyes and grunted, “This might not be safe. Go invite Mr. Chen and find Zhou Bai. I’ll visit Master.”
His men split into three groups while Yuan Qu headed west to a large residence. Ordering those who followed him to wait outside, he reported his arrival respectfully.
“Is Master home?”
“Yes. Uncle Yuan. Please come in.”
When he left a few minutes later, a carriage followed behind him. Inside was a large iron cage covered with red cloth. As the cage rattled violently, the suppressed growls of a beast came from inside it.
