Chapter 3: The King of Kings

  There were a few young people in the crowd who knew Xu Wei, and they whispered: "With Xu Jiu's reputation, 500 taels is too little, and 1,000 taels is not much..." As soon as they finished speaking, they quickly hid into the crowd. No way, Xu Jiu's reputation was too notorious, if he lost today, he would never be able to hold his head up high in Xiajin again, so it's better to leave a way out for himself.

  Xu Wei listened and turned his head to Yang Jin with a smile: "How about it? Do you want to bet or not?"

  The latter thought to himself, with his own skills, winning Xu Wei wouldn't be easy as turning over his hand? Even if he valued it at 10,000 taels, what could he do? Moreover, he would let him lose willingly and have nothing to say. With this in mind, he loudly shouted: "Good! In consideration of your name, Xu Jiu, 500 taels! Someone, bring the equipment!"

  That robust man in the flower robe responded with a sound, turned into the inner room, and after a moment, he came out holding a shiny wooden sword. The crowd let out a burst of exclamations, this time it's really going to be a good show! Rarely seen in ten years! Really regret not bringing my wife and kids to see this scene!

  Yang Jinman thought that these young punks, no matter how arrogant they were, still had shallow skills and their fights were just childish play-fighting; when they saw real knives and guns, they would be scared out of their wits.

  Kuai Xu Wei's expression remained unchanged, he didn't even bat an eye at the knife, and loudly called out: "Yang Yan!"

  Yang Yan let out a loud shout, puffed out his chest and raised his head as he stepped forward, roaring: "Ninth Brother, just give the order, we'll charge into the knife mountain and fire sea!"

  "Put your left hand on the table." As soon as Xu Wei's words fell, Yang Yan, who had been holding his head high and chest out, suddenly shrunk! He blinked a few times, staring at Xu Wei for a while before squeezing out a few words: "Bet? Bet my...my hand?"

  Zhang Qing's first reaction was to laugh, but thinking of Xu Wei's notorious stinky hands, he felt a chill and stepped forward to advise: "Xu Jiu, this isn't the time for showing off, do... you have confidence?"

  Xu Wei turned his head to look at the two "newly acquainted" friends, and said seriously: "If I lose, I'll give you my right hand as compensation. How about that?" Although this person is rough, he has always been a man of his word, and no one doubts his credibility.

  Yang Yan nodded immediately, making a gesture of "good" : "Good! If we lose, you and I brothers will become a lone arm double thief, the name is also extremely loud!" After speaking, he remembered Xu Wei's "brilliant" performance in the casino before, and added a sentence in a low voice: "Forget it, if we lose, you don't have to pay me an arm either."

  Xu Wei chuckled and patted Yang Yan's shoulder. Yang Jin, who was about to get angry, thought carefully and realized that Xu Wei hadn't actually said he would bet his own hand. If they really got into a fight, it wasn't certain that he could take him down. Moreover, since he had already won against Xu Wei, when Xu lost, he would cut off Yang Jin's arm, and Xu Wei's reputation would be even more notorious. The people of Xiajin County would know that Xu Wei was just a cowardly scoundrel!

  "Cut the crap! Let's get down to business, what's the bet?" The crowd watched in anticipation as Yang Jin couldn't wait to chop off Yang Yan's delicate little hand.

  "You follow the host's convenience, you decide." Xu Wei said casually.

  "Alright, let's bet on the double six then?" Yang Jin stretched out his hand and scooped up the six dice, holding them tightly in his fist. But if one looked closely, they could see that his tightly clenched hand had some slight movements.

  Xu Wei seemed completely unaware of it and nodded slightly. He immediately turned his head and asked: "What is Go?"

  "Ah!" Yang Yan, who was holding his sleeves and had a white left hand on the gambling table, almost fainted when he heard this! Ninth brother, are you really stupid or just pretending to be? Even if you're that foolish, you should at least know about "Double Six". When we were 12 or 13 years old, I even lost my lucky money on it. You went back and stole money to buy firecrackers, got caught by your dad, and got a good beating, spending the whole New Year's in bed. Have you forgotten all this?

  Zhang Qing couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, nervously saying: "You're not joking with me, are you? Liang Lu, using six dice as the game, same colors are valuable, mixed colors are cheap..."

  Before he finished speaking, Xu Wei had already said to Yang Jin: "Alright, let's bet on Go, you go first."

  "Fine young man! You still dare to let your grandfather go first, wait for death!" Yang Jin was secretly delighted, and didn't say much. He squeezed the dice in his hand, making a crisp sound, and then lightly tapped them onto the table, before gently tossing them into the large bowl in the center of the gambling table.

  Everyone felt that he had poured out his heart with this splash. Especially Yang Yan, who puffed up his cheeks and blew hard, although he knew it would have no effect, but the dying struggle was still necessary, at least to comfort himself.

  The crisp sound of the dice hitting the porcelain bowl lingered on, and the crowd that had dispersed earlier gathered again. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the large sea bowl. That mischievous dice seemed to be deliberately teasing people's nerves, refusing to settle down. Countless people secretly swallowed their saliva.

  These people actually hope that Yang Jin will win, so that Xu Wei will not dare to dominate the county of Xiajin from now on. If it really goes as they wish, then Yang Jin can be said to have eliminated a scourge for Xiajin.

  When the last die fell, a burst of exclamation erupted from the crowd!

  "Haha, I've thrown a 'wild goose'! This time I'll definitely win!" Behind Yang Jin, his subordinates burst into loud laughter! He himself also had a pleased expression, calmly and leisurely looking at Xu Wei.

  "My arm is broken......" Yang Yan let out a mournful cry, his body going limp. Zhang Qing's hands were quick, and he caught him, but his face was also filled with gloom. They're done for, the opponent had thrown out "Wild Goose Formation" right from the start, leaving no room for maneuvering. Sigh, Xu Wei had made a big mistake this time! He was too rash! Too ignorant of the situation! Although he usually acted like that.

  It turned out that Xu Wei was still in the lead, stretched his neck to take a look at the bowl, and saw that the opponent had thrown four 3-pointers, one 5-pointer, and one 2-pointer.

  "What is 'Wild Goose'"?

  Zhang Qing sighed and said with a hint of resentment, "Four threes are called 'Wild Geese', you want to win him? Unless you roll out 'Full Garden Spring' or 'Mixed River Dragon'." He figured it was also strange that Xu Wei was pretending to be ignorant, so he didn't even bother to explain these professional terms.

  Xu Wei asked again: "What if I also roll a 'wild goose' but the remaining points are more than his?"

  "Alright." Zhang Qing didn't say anything more.

  Xu Wei slightly nodded, rolled up his sleeves, and slowly picked up the six dice from the bowl, just like an old woman in the fields carefully picking up scattered grains.

  He wasn't in a hurry, but someone was more anxious than him. Yang Jin was extremely impatient and said: "A great man does things with a loud thunderclap and a strong gust of wind, it's all about being decisive and swift. You're so wishy-washy, you might as well go weave shoe soles! Haha! Haha! Ha...". He laughed loudly for a while, but found that no one was following along with him, so he dryly coughed twice and awkwardly shut his mouth.

  Everyone's attention was drawn to Xu Wei, and Yang Yan's gaze never left his right hand for a moment. In his heart, he secretly prayed: Buddha, oh Buddha, bless me to keep this left hand intact, and from now on, I will reform and wash my heart clean, no longer colluding with Xu Wei. Tomorrow, I'll go read the classics of sages!

  Xu Wei finally grasped all six dice in his palm, and with a flick of his left hand, he pointed at Yang Jin's nose: "Take a good look." As soon as the words were out, his right hand swung freely, and the six dice fell into the bowl. After throwing them, he didn't give it another glance.

  "This cursed dice! How come it still doesn't stop!" Some were so impatient that they had already cursed out loud.

  Yang Jin was confident of winning, but seeing Xu Wei's appearance, he didn't dare to be careless and stared at the bowl with wide eyes.

  "One of three..."

  "Two three..."

  "Three three..."

  "Another 'wild goose'!" The old fellow who had just started scolding, hastened to shout out, for fear that others would get ahead of him.

  When the last dice fell, the whole room was silent! Yang Jin's eyes were wide with wonder, his mouth twitching uncontrollably - how was this possible? He had seen it clearly just now, but hadn't seen Xu Wei use any sleight of hand. Zhang Qing, who had been watching without much hope, also leaned over to take a look, and he too was stunned.

  Yang Yan couldn't hold back anymore. He didn't care about any rules, and with a "swoosh" sound, he jumped onto the table, stuck out his butt, stretched his head to take a look, then suddenly turned around to glance at Xu Wei, and burst into loud laughter: "Haha, four threes, add...". Who would have thought that after Ninth Brother's serious illness, not only did his personality change, but his luck also changed. It's really a case of turning disaster into fortune!

  "Add two, six!" It was that "fear of being left behind" guy from just now. Yang gave him a white eye, and he was in an extremely good mood at the moment, otherwise he would really have to find him for a good chat.

  Xu Wei may be only slightly older than Yang Jin, but he has genuinely won against him!

  "You still have this move?" Zhang Qing's scrutinizing gaze seemed to see not Xu Wei, but another person.

  Xu Wei put down his sleeves again and shook his head: "Just luck."

  Yang Yan'ang stood up straight and pointed at Yang Jin's nose: "What else do you have to say? Are you not going to let him go for the money?"

  Yang Jin got into trouble and ended up losing to Tai Nainai's family, not only did he lose but also had to release the person and pay 480 taels of silver as compensation. This was no small amount. At this time, he looked at Xu Wei seriously for a moment before speaking: "The person can be released, but the silver must be repaid through gambling debts." This approach was not very honorable and was almost like cheating.

  His subordinate let go of Ma Er, who had lost both money and face today. He walked over to Xu Wei with his head hung low and said, "Ninth Brother, a great favor is not to be thanked."

  Xu Wei nodded and turned to Yang Jin, saying: "Forget it, consider the debt settled." This guy must be crazy, 480 taels of silver is enough for them to eat and drink lavishly for a year or two without any problem!

  "Wow! Xu Jiulang is so bold, so righteous!" The crowd burst into applause, but it wasn't entirely sincere. Most of them were just relieved that Xu Wei hadn't lost and would continue to dominate the county. Four hundred and fifty taels of silver, given up without batting an eye - who else in Xiajin County had such magnanimity? Ah, no, such foolishness.

  Yang Yan stood on the table with his hands on his hips and a proud expression, but no one paid attention to him for half a day. Just as he was getting frustrated, he heard this and quickly got down: "Ninth brother, is that it?" Xu Wei didn't respond. Ma Er opened his mouth to say something, but ultimately didn't say anything, his face darkening as he stared at Yang Jin with a fierce gaze before lowering his head. He had been following Xu Wei since he was young and had never suffered such a great loss. After being beaten, he thought to himself, "You just wait, once Ninth brother arrives, I'll make sure to tear down this crappy store!" But now that Ninth brother said it's over, there's nothing else to do...