The thrill lies in the wager.

Qian Le said, "I didn't expect you to enjoy gambling, young master. But I wonder how much capital you have. And by the way, Yuan Teng still owes the gambling house five thousand taels."

Zhang Ling replied, "I have no money, but my uncle does. Zhong Chentian from the Zhong Residence on North Street is my uncle. If I lose, including that five thousand taels, Master Qian may go directly and collect from him."

The moment Qian Le heard this, his eyes lit up. Of course he was aware that Zhong Chentian was the wealthiest apothecary in all of Luochuan County. Normally, a merchant shouldn’t use the term ‘residence’ for his household, but the Zhong family was so rich that even the county magistrate could be bribed. Thus, officials turned a blind eye. There was a young master called Zhang Ling in the Zhong family, and in the minds of these people, Zhang Ling was just a fool who only knew how to recite sages’ texts. Qian Le immediately made an inviting gesture.

"So it’s Young Master Zhang. In that case, I must see for myself your gambling skills."

Zhang Ling asked, "How do we play?"

"It’s simple. There are three dice on the table. I shake the dice cup, and you only need to guess big or small," Qian Le explained.

He picked up the dice cup on the gaming table, gave it a gentle shake, and finally slammed it down on the table.

"Please, young master."

"Three, three, and four. Small," Zhang Ling said. Just now, as the dice cup was shaken, he held his breath and concentrated. Though he’d never gambled before, recently, apart from martial arts training, he’d been practicing his hearing as well—often needed in combat to discern positions by sound. With his improved spiritual strength, telling the sum of the dice was now child’s play.

Qian Le opened the cup, and the numbers revealed were four, five, and six.

Qian Le smiled. "You lost the first round, Young Master Zhang. Would you like to continue?"

Zhang Ling frowned slightly, resting his hand on his chin, silent and full of suspicion. After a moment’s thought, he straightened up and smiled. "Let’s keep going."

Qian Le shook the dice cup once more. When he stopped, Zhang Ling said, "Two, two, and four. Still small."

But as the cup was lifted, the dice showed five, five, and six. At this, Yuan Teng, standing by, began to get anxious.

"Brother, maybe we should stop."

At last, Zhang Ling understood. He had been observing Qian Le and those around him. Judging by their breathing, they were all ordinary men. Zhang Ling was sure his judgment could not be wrong. No matter how skilled Qian Le was, he could not have changed the dice by sleight of hand alone.

Unless there was a master secretly altering the dice with inner strength—but such experts would never stoop to this, and even if one did, the likes of this gambling house could never afford to hire them. So Zhang Ling was certain Qian Le was cheating.

He placed his hand beneath the gaming table, and with his inner strength sensed an outcropping under Qian Le’s side of the table. He felt a chill in his heart: So, you dare to cheat me? Well, since you play dirty, I’ll destroy you.

Zhang Ling returned to himself and said, "Master Qian, if we’re going to gamble, why not raise the stakes?"

"Oh? How much does the young master wish to wager?" Qian Le replied, excitement in his voice.

"How about this: one round decides it all. If I lose, you get a medicinal field from the Zhong Residence," Zhang Ling said with a wave of his hand.

At these words, the crowd gasped in amazement. No one expected Zhang Ling to dare bet so much. Beside him, Yuan Teng and Huang Hao tried to stop him, but Zhang Ling pushed them aside.

"I wonder if Master Qian dares accept?" Zhang Ling’s words were sharp, clearly taunting Qian Le.

Feigning boldness, Qian Le replied, "Since Young Master Zhang wishes to play big, I shall accompany you. If I lose, besides the money you’ve lost earlier and the five thousand taels, the entire gambling house will be yours."

The private room erupted again, with shouts and jeers—some mocking Zhang Ling for risking his family’s medicinal field.

Qian Le silenced the room, picked up the dice cup, and shook it once more. With a loud thud, the cup landed heavily on the table. He grinned smugly. "Young master, place your bet."

"Triple ones. I still bet on small," Zhang Ling said, staring confidently at the cup.

"Are you sure, young master?"

Qian Le reminded him, while his hand crept beneath the table to trigger the mechanism, flipping the dice faces under the cup.

Zhang Ling nodded deeply. "I’m sure."

Just as Qian Le opened the cup, Zhang Ling sent out a burst of inner strength, flipping the dice back to their true faces.

The cup was lifted, revealing three ones. The crowd was stunned, and Qian Le’s face was a picture of disbelief.

With a triumphant smile, Zhang Ling said, "Master Qian, it seems I’ve won."

Qian Le stood frozen, as if he had not heard Zhang Ling at all.

Zhang Ling raised his voice, "Master Qian!"

Qian Le finally recovered, forcing a smile. "Of course. Our Lucky Silver Gambling House values its reputation above all. May I ask if Young Master Zhang would like to continue?"

"Master Qian, you’ve lost the gambling house itself. Have you any capital left?" Zhang Ling shot him a mocking glance.

Qian Le chuckled awkwardly. "I still have some private funds. As long as you wish, I will accompany you."

"No, thank you," Zhang Ling declined with a smile. "Today’s game with Master Qian has been thoroughly enjoyable."

Qian Le’s face darkened instantly. The room fell silent, and all eyes fixed on Zhang Ling.

"Young Master Zhang, are you sure you won’t reconsider?"

Feeling the tension in the air, Zhang Ling held his ground. "No need. Hand over the deed to Lucky Silver Gambling House. My brother is waiting for me at home for dinner."

"This room is full of my people," Qian Le said with a wave, and all his men surrounded Zhang Ling. "Young master, either you pretend nothing happened and walk out of here—I’ll call you a friend—or..."

"Qian, you—" Yuan Teng tried to charge forward but was stopped by Zhang Ling.

"And if I refuse?" Zhang Ling no longer bothered with pretense, confronting Qian Le directly. "If you do this, who will ever dare to gamble at your house again?"

Qian Le sneered. "No one will know you ever entered my gambling house, so how could it affect me?"

"Get him!"

All his men lunged at Zhang Ling. With a light leap, Zhang Ling jumped out of their encirclement. Yuan Teng knocked aside those in his way and guarded Huang Hao.

"Yuan Teng, take Huang Hao and go," Zhang Ling said.

Yuan Teng hesitated. "Brother, what about you?"

The others attacked Zhang Ling again, but he dodged them with ease.

"Just go. This lot can’t stop me," Zhang Ling replied.

Yuan Teng no longer hesitated. He grabbed Huang Hao and ran for the door, some of the men chasing after them. Suddenly, Yuan Teng stopped, swung his heavy fists, and knocked down his pursuers before quickly fleeing the gambling house.

By now, the commotion had attracted the attention of people in other rooms, and the entire gambling house erupted into chaos.