The dealer began shaking the dice cup.
One hand pressed firmly on the lid, the other braced the bottom. But the hand on the base was already preparing for a bit of trickery.
In gambling dens, it's common knowledge that anyone sitting at the dealer's side knows a bit of gambling craft. Sleight of hand? A prerequisite. And for the dealer, such skills had to be second nature.
What this particular dealer didn't know, however, was that sitting across from him was a young man flanked by two people—one of whom, the white-haired elder, was a veritable legend among northern con artists.
And while Qiao Wei might not be an expert in cheating techniques, he was still a grandmaster in his own right. His eyes alone could pierce through illusions like swords through paper.
So when the dealer made his move, both Qiao Wei and Uncle Li noticed it instantly.
As for the young master—he hadn't even bothered looking. The moment the dealer began shaking the dice, he tilted his head back and started admiring the ceiling with great enthusiasm.
His hands, however, remained quite active—teasing and pestering the girl beside him: Li Xiaoye.
His excuse was always the same, delivered with innocent earnestness:"Oh no, why is my hand dirty again? Tsk, guess I'll need to wipe it off..."
Li Xiaoye blushed furiously, enduring his roguish advances in silence. She knew that her godfather now stood firmly on the young master's side. Without Mt. Tai supporting her, she could only resort to nonviolent resistance.
Whenever his hand crept up her thigh, she would glare at him with eyes sharp enough to kill—eyes that seemed to scream of blood and betrayal, that denounced him as a shameless lecher in a thousand silent accusations.
But the young master's skin was thicker than iron. Her fury and silent protests bounced off him harmlessly. His face remained solemn, his gaze sincere, as if he were performing a noble and sacred duty.
"I have a cleanliness issue," he explained solemnly. "Even a speck of dust bothers me. Can't help it—this table's been touched by who knows how many hands. I have to place my bets, handle my money... naturally, I get dirty."
Li Xiaoye's understanding of the young master's shamelessness deepened profoundly.
Earlier that day, she had heard him sing—his voice sorrowful, grand, full of haunting emotion. For a moment, she had almost forgiven him. But now? Now she saw the truth.
"He's an utterly incorrigible scoundrel!" she thought furiously."All he ever thinks about are naked women! No—how can I think like that?! I'm a good girl, I shouldn't have such dirty thoughts. But this pervert... he's beyond saving! Oh Heaven, why won't you send down thunder to strike him dead?!"
Oblivious to the storm raging in Li Xiaoye's heart, the young master finally removed his hand from her soft thigh once the dealer finished shaking. He lazily reached for his silver notes.
"What should we bet on this time?" he asked Qiao Wei and Uncle Li.
Qiao Wei chuckled coldly. "This round? Bet on anything, you'll lose."
Uncle Li added, voice low and sinister, "Might be better to spend a little silver… buying that dealer a new pair of hands."
The young master glanced at them, instantly understanding.
He then looked at the dealer—cold sweat dripping from his brow, face pale as paper, eyes wide with terror. Qiao Wei and Uncle Li's piercing stares were enough to freeze his blood.
The young master smiled. "Running a casino isn't easy. Let's not push too hard. No need to back him into a corner."
Qiao Wei raised an eyebrow. "Well, well... since when did the young master grow a heart?"
Uncle Li snorted. "This soft-hearted mercy doesn't sound like the young master I know."
The young master stood and casually replied, "The Qin family owns casinos too. In our largest house, if a guest wins more than two hundred thousand taels, the floor bosses usually step in to tip the scales. We've only won a bit over twenty thousand, and others have followed our luck, adding another ten thousand to the house's losses. This little joint probably can't afford that. We're all in business—let's be reasonable. Alright, let's cash out. Qiao, Li, bring the chips. Let's collect our silver."
Qiao Wei muttered under his breath, "You never said that when we caught a flower thief... Why spare these guys just because they're not our competitors?"
Uncle Li sneered, "If someone dared to cheat under my nose, I'd break both his hands, at least. Young master, you're far too generous today."
He made no effort to lower his voice. The dealer trembled visibly. Around them, other gamblers began to stir.
"What?! The dealer was cheating?" someone shouted.
"No wonder I lost every damn round!"
"Kill the bastard!"
A dozen enraged gamblers leapt onto the table and started pummeling the dealer. Others rushed in wielding whatever they could grab—chairs, stools, chips, taels, notes, shoes, knives, cleavers, even a pig-slaying blade or two.
Amid the chaos, the young master, Li Xiaoye, Qiao Wei, and Uncle Li slipped out.
The dealer's screams echoed behind them. The casino's guards arrived, but none dared intervene. After all, it was their dealer who cheated. If he got beaten to death, that was his problem.
Casinos feared nothing more than getting caught cheating—it could destroy their reputation forever. Even killing the cheater wouldn't restore trust.
The young master shook his folding fan, sighing. "Uncle Li, you really wrecked them. They'll probably lose half their clientele over this."
Uncle Li sneered. "If they can't afford to lose, they shouldn't be running a casino. And if they cheat, they deserve what's coming. Don't tell me you're feeling sorry for them?"
The young master grinned. "If someone crosses me, they pay. Have you ever seen anyone survive after making a move on me? That dealer tried to con me—this is just a lesson. If you run a casino and can't take losses, then maybe find another line of work."
He waved his fan, adding with flair, "Besides, I let the guy off easy. It's not my fault the crowd beat him senseless. See? I am merciful! Let's go cash out and treat ourselves to a feast—we're spending every last coin we won today!"
They swaggered over to the cashier, exchanging chips for twenty-four thousand taels in silver notes. Just as they turned to leave, the bouncer who had first led them in rushed up, bowing deeply.
"Gentlemen, please wait. Our boss heard of your gambling prowess and would like to challenge you to a personal game."
The young master waved him off. "Forget it. I've won enough today. Tell your boss to go check on that dealer—they'll be lucky if he's still alive."
The bouncer chuckled. "Don't worry about him. He deserved a beating. But our boss said... if you refuse this game, you may regret it."
The young master's smile vanished. "What did you say? Are you threatening me?"
The bouncer's expression didn't change. "Not me, sir. That's just what my boss said. If you have a problem, take it up with her."
Qiao Wei stepped forward, cold smile on his lips. "So eager to sell out your boss? Aren't you afraid she'll gut you later?"
The bouncer shrugged. "My boss is no petty woman. As long as none of you tell her what I said... she'll never know."
Qiao Wei narrowed his eyes, scanning the man. His gaze sharpened like a blade. "Three Young Master, how about we accept the challenge?"
The young master frowned. "Qiao, gambling is all about knowing when to stop. Why stir up trouble now?"
Qiao Wei replied with layered meaning, "That's true—not just with gambling. In life too, we must know when to step away. But this isn't your time to walk away yet, young master. Some battles... we can't avoid."
The young master rubbed his chin, thoughtful. "Alright, I'll listen to you. But when the game starts, don't leave me hanging—I don't know a damn thing about gambling."
Qiao Wei and Uncle Li nodded. "Just tell us how much you want to win."
He turned to the bouncer. "Lead the way."
The man bowed. "This way, gentlemen…"
As he turned to lead them, Qiao Wei stepped forward, patted him lightly on the shoulder, and whispered into his ear:
"Your 'Cloud Shadow Phantom Step' from the Mysterious Cloud Sect needs work. If it were perfected, you wouldn't have slipped up when you walked."
The bouncer froze—but only for a second. Then he smiled stiffly. "I don't know what you're talking about, sir."
Qiao Wei chuckled, "It's nothing. My young master's in charge here—I don't dare speak out of turn. After you."
As they followed him upstairs to the casino's VIP room, Uncle Li leaned in and whispered to Qiao Wei, "That was a bit harsh, don't you think? Using a move like that on a mere underling?"
Qiao Wei smiled enigmatically. "I hate it when people try to play tricks in front of me."
The two old foxes continued whispering to each other as they entered the suite.
The moment the young master stepped into the lavishly decorated VIP lounge—an opulence bordering on obscenity—he stopped in his tracks, as if struck by lightning.
His entire body trembled, and he stood there, dumbfounded… frozen.