I never imagined that checking out the card room for Yu Shuang would bring such great disaster upon myself!
The old saying goes: the softest persimmon gets squeezed the hardest.
Judging by the situation, Zhang Zifeng and his group were clearly after me, most likely seeking revenge for the severed fingers!
This scene before me must be the most dangerous situation I've encountered since leaving the textile factory!
In a remote, impoverished town like this, no one would dare intervene no matter what Zhang Zifeng and his men wanted to do to me.
After all, this is a cold, indifferent era that only recognizes money, not feelings!
My only hope now is to... stall!
Stall until Leng Meng shows up.
But will she show up?
Seeing me freeze in place, Zhang Zifeng immediately killed the engine and got out of the car. He, along with the other three from the Qian Tuan, slowly advanced towards me.
Though they clearly had me cornered, they weren't in a hurry.
Their demeanor was like a cat playing with a mouse!
When they stopped less than three meters away from me, Zhang Zifeng halted his steps.
Glancing at my somewhat flustered expression, Zhang Zifeng's lips curved into a sinister smile once more.
Pointing at me with his right hand, which was missing three fingers, Zhang Zifeng twisted his face and said, "Kid, didn't expect this, did you? Your old man... is back!"
Upon hearing this, I remained silent, merely staring intently at Zhang Zifeng.
"Heh heh."
With a cold laugh, Zhang Zifeng first raised his right hand, then turned and pointed at the three men behind him, gritting his teeth and shouting, "Because of you, each of us brothers had three fingers chopped off!"
"How do you plan to settle this? You tell me!!!"
As he spoke, I could feel the hatred in Zhang Zifeng's tone.
Daring not to seek revenge on Yu Shuang, Zhang Zifeng placed all the blame on me.
It was obvious that Zhang Zifeng believed my appearance had altered his original plan.
Hearing his words, after calming my mind, I replied in a deep voice, "How do you want to settle it!?"
Glancing at me coldly, Zhang Zifeng smirked meaningfully and said, "Heh heh, it's simple!"
"As a gambler, the most important thing is your hands! Especially the hand used for the tricks, it's worth ten thousand gold!"
"I don't think you'd deny that, would you?"
In response, I remained silent, not daring to reply rashly.
Seeing this, Zhang Zifeng suddenly laughed again.
In the glow of the setting sun, his eyes instantly erupted with a flickering flame.
I knew it was the fire of hatred.
Ignoring my silence, Zhang Zifeng spoke directly, "Let me be clear, kid!"
"When you're in this business, it's all about the money! Especially for gamblers like us."
"My Zhang Zifeng's Longxi Qian Tuan may be small in number, but we are strong and formidable! So..."
He paused, then holding up his left hand to form a large "five," Zhang Zifeng lowered his voice and said, "Five million!"
"Give me five million, and our grievances... will be settled! "
"Otherwise, I'll take you with me right now!"
"And in a place where heaven and earth can't hear you, I'll chop off all your fingers and toes!"
Hearing Zhang Zifeng's words, I couldn't help but frown involuntarily.
This is truly outrageous, like grass growing on the plains!
Let alone five million, I wouldn't even give five thousand!
I remembered Uncle Tuo once saying that in gambling, unless you're caught cheating red-handed, you are never allowed to back down or show weakness, no matter what happens!
Even if your life is threatened, you must not!
This is the dignity of a gambler!
As long as you're not caught cheating on the spot, then the other party is bullying you with their power.
The martial world is this big, the gambling world is this narrow, and the gambler's circle is this small.
Once you choose to inexplicably back down, there will be a second, a third, and even an nth time!
You won't need any evidence; as long as they control you, they can simply pressure you, and you'll have to comply, whether you want to or not!
After that, in the vast martial world, in the gambler's circle, you'll have no place to turn.
Recalling Uncle Tuo's words, I no longer felt helpless or panicked.
Taking out my cigarette case from my pocket, I fished out a Red Nanjing, lit it, and took a deep drag, then said with a light smile, "No money, definitely not!"
"If you want to take me, I'll run now!"
Hearing my words, Zhang Zifeng laughed again.
But this time, it was a laugh of anger.
"Heh heh. I've changed my mind. I'm not taking you. You can run!"
"Come on! Run!!! Run now!!!"
"I want to see where the hell you think you can run to!!!"
"Old Wu, do it!"
As soon as Zhang Zifeng finished speaking, Old Wu, standing behind him, drew a cleaver from his waist and strode towards me.
Seeing this, I decisively turned and fled!
...
Just as I was desperately running, trying to escape unscathed from the gleaming cleavers of Zhang Zifeng, Old Wu, and the others...
Baolee Card Room.
At the very end of the second-floor corridor of the card room, there was an office.
At this moment, in the brightly lit office, Shi Jianguo and Cao Jie stood respectfully before the desk, awaiting instructions from Queen Bee Yu Shuang.
After an unknown amount of time.
Her lips curved slightly, and with a wrist as bright as the moon, Yu Shuang picked up her wine glass and said casually, "It's... about time to send charcoal in the snow."
"Xiao Jie, take your men to check around the hotel where Chen Xiang used to stay."
"Being cornered by four people, he can't run very far."
"Remember! No matter what the situation is when you get there, you must insist that you were unaware of anything!"
"Just say that you rushed over immediately after receiving my call."
"If the Qian Tuan people refuse to back down, then call me, and I'll speak with them!"
Hearing Yu Shuang's command, Cao Jie responded decisively, then turned and left.
After Cao Jie left, as if curious, Shi Jianguo asked with a puzzled expression, "Sister, isn't it a bit late to go now?"
"No!"
Yu Shuang, with surprisingly steady eyes, said coldly in a voice devoid of any emotion, "Chen Xiang is someone I observed for a long time before deciding to win over and cultivate!"
"Just watch! He won't surrender easily, nor will he sit idly by and wait for death!"
Hearing this, Shi Jianguo quickly asked, "Since he won't, why didn't we earlier..."
But before he could finish, upon seeing the cold glint in Yu Shuang's eyes, he immediately shut his mouth in fear.
After lifting her delicate face and taking a large gulp of red wine, Yu Shuang asked nonchalantly, "Xiao Shi, do you still remember why I opened the card room here?"
Hearing this, Shi Jianguo immediately nodded and replied, "I remember you saying that the gambler who saved you from Gu Yadong back then might be hiding here!"
"That's right!"
"And I suspect that Chen Xiang... is that gambler's apprentice!"