I understand what Yu Shuang was saying.
She was hinting that I should use money to take a shortcut, skipping the process of searching for clues and uncovering the truth, and jumping directly to the final step of personally avenging my enemy.
I had to admit, it was a good suggestion. It was much more reliable than my current approach of fumbling in the dark, cautiously probing for information.
But if I skipped the process for everything and went straight to the result, what would be the meaning of life?
So, without thinking any further, I prepared to refuse her offer.
However, just then…
As if she had guessed what I was about to say, before I could even speak, Yu Shuang suddenly opened her handbag and took out a bank card, handing it directly to me.
Then, I heard her lower her voice and say, "This card has a balance of ten million. The PIN is six sixes."
"As long as you agree to cooperate with me, and after Ying Baolin figures things out here, you help me cover up and buy me some time…"
"Besides the fifty-fifty equity split, I'll personally give you another twenty million!"
"This ten million is a deposit, and the other ten million will be given to you after the job is done!"
"Don't rush to refuse me. Think carefully about what this ten million can bring you."
"And what can you do with this ten million?"
Yu Shuang's generosity made me secretly marvel.
Twenty million plus a 2.5% stake in a casino for ten years – not many people would have such boldness!
I knew very well that if Ying Baolin were the one talking to me today, let alone the 2.5% equity, he wouldn't even offer the ten million deposit.
To be fair, in the world of the Thousand Doors and the Blue Path, Yu Shuang, as a woman, had more courage than most men!
But even so, I still couldn't agree.
Just as I had thought, skipping the process and going straight to the result was meaningless.
So, I refused Yu Shuang once again.
However, this time, I proposed a different condition for cooperation.
That is, Yu Shuang should first trick the Thousand King Token from Yun Jin, and then temporarily lend it to me to lure out the real culprit who harmed Uncle Tuo.
After bringing the culprit to justice, I would return the Thousand King Token to Mr. He in Haojiang before the Thousand King Tournament next year.
At the same time, I would use the special privilege of the Thousand King Token to register for the fourth Thousand King Tournament and directly secure a spot for one person in the final nine-person showdown.
One person would be directly qualified, while the other would compete normally and strive to advance to the finals. Then, we would join forces to win the final and exchange the Thousand King Token for a 10% equity reward for ten years.
As mentioned earlier, the winner of the Thousand King Tournament in 2009, in addition to the usual Thousand King Token that changed hands every year, would also receive an additional 5% equity dividend from the Grand Lisboa Casino, which was only completed in 2007!
This means that the ultimate winner of the fourth Thousand King Tournament, if they chose to exchange the Thousand King Token for equity, would receive an unprecedented 10% casino equity dividend over ten years!
If I'm going to play, I might as well play big!
There are just over four months until the Thousand King Tournament on March 12th next year. Yu Shuang's skills are undoubtedly top-notch.
And I can also use this time to constantly hone my own abilities.
As long as we can successfully enter the finals, with both of us working together, there might be a chance to win.
I thought that Yu Shuang, even if she didn't agree to the proposal immediately, would at least ponder it and consider it.
But to my surprise, when she heard me mention winning, Yu Shuang immediately sneered, "Win? Heh! You must be dreaming!"
"What do you think Haojiang is? Mr. He's influence far exceeds your imagination!"
"The Thousand King Tournament, funded by him, attracts gambling masters from all over the world every time!"
"If Lu Mingtai were telling me this, I would definitely agree without a second thought! Because my initial goal in finding him was for next year's Thousand King Tournament!"
"But your master… he's dead!"
"Now, if you tell me personally that you can fight five opponents by yourself like Lu Mingtai used to, then forget about cooperation, I can even give you the Thousand King Token directly!"
"Come on, answer me… can you do it?"
Hearing this, I was stunned.
I didn't expect that Yu Shuang's initial purpose in finding me was to establish contact with Uncle Tuo through me and then join forces with him to participate in the new Thousand King Tournament.
No wonder she was so determined to settle for less now; her best option was gone.
Seeing me frozen on the spot, Yu Shuang stood up and looked at me, saying, "Chen Xiang, in the martial world, there are no eternal friends, only eternal interests!"
"No matter what unpleasant things have happened between us in the past, ever since Mo Pingqiu leaked the matter of the Thousand King Token to Ying Baolin…"
"You should understand what fate awaits us if Ying Baolin discovers the entire cause and effect."
"It is said that wealth moves people's hearts. The wealth that the Thousand King Token brings to a person is immeasurable!"
"Once Ying Baolin officially enters the game, not only will you and I be eliminated, but we might even lose our lives because of this matter."
"Even if you refuse my proposal, I won't take this bank card back!"
"Of course, you can choose not to accept it, but…"
"I hope that if Ying Baolin makes any moves later, you can inform me in advance."
"Because helping me is actually helping yourself!"
After speaking, Yu Shuang prepared to leave the coffee shop.
As she stepped down the stairs, Yu Shuang suddenly stopped, turned back, and looked at me, saying, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend! After Ying Baolin appeared, you and I are no longer enemies!"
"Think carefully about what I've said! If you change your mind, remember to contact me anytime!"
After saying this, she left quickly without lingering for another second.
Watching the receding figure of the queen bee, I suddenly felt a sense of confusion.
We, who had been fiercely fighting before, were having such a harmonious conversation today.
After thinking for a long time, I finally realized: the world of adults has always been about interests, not right or wrong!
...
After returning, as I was replaying the conversation with Yu Shuang in my room…
Cheng Minglang suddenly pushed open the door from the outside.
As soon as he entered, Cheng Minglang immediately asked me, "Chen Xiang, are you still going to do what you promised Zhu Wenjing?"
"What is it?" I asked, somewhat bewildered.
In the past few days, due to the continuous high-intensity competitions and being entangled with the matter of the Thousand King Token, I had completely neglected the people around me.